Phoenix Rising snap Real Monarchs’ win streak at league-record 9 matches
In a game that was delayed due to heat concerns, Phoenix Rising FC used sweltering temperatures to cool off the hottest team in the United Soccer League.
It took just one goal to tie the first-place Real Monarchs SLC, 1-1, at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex in Scottsdale on Saturday — snapping the Monarchs' league-record ninematch win streak.
Florida, LSU playing for championship at College World Series in Omaha
On May 20, Florida and LSU tied for the Southeastern Conference regular season title at 21-9 – two games ahead of anyone else. Even though Florida took two of three at home from LSU in late March, there was no tiebreaker, coin flip or playoff.
They did not play the next week in the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala., that LSU won. They both reached the College World Series but have not met yet here either. That happens now. No. 3 seed Florida (50-19) and No. 4 seed LSU (52-18) will finally settle the SEC championship – and the national championship while they’re at it – in a best-of-three series beginning Monday at TD Ameritrade Park.
“Just like an SEC weekend, just more at stake. Something’s got to give,” LSU shortstop Kramer Robertson said.
Christmas-Kelly, Wings win fourth straight, 96-82 over Sun
Karima Christmas-Kelly scored 24 points and the Dallas Wings beat the Connecticut Sun 96-82 Sunday for their fourth win in a row.
Theresa Plaisance added 16 points while Skylar DigginsSmith a 10-point led into the break and, after Alyssa Thomas grabbed a rebound and took it coast-to-coast to pull the Sun within two, Dallas used a 10-0 run over the next 2:06 to make it 70-58 with 54 seconds left in the third quarter.
Connecticut (6-6) trimmed its deficit to 70-65 on a 3-pointer by Shekinna Stricklen with 9:11 to play, but got no closer and went more than 3½ minutes without a made field goal as the Wings led by double figures after Plaisance hit a 3 to make it 80-70 with 6:26 remaining.
Thomas had 19 points and Jonquel Jones added 14 and 12 rebounds for the Sun, who had their five-game win streak snapped.
Healthy after kidney transplant, Merritt qualifies for world meet in 110 hurdles
Aries Merritt will be making a return to the world championships. This time, with a working kidney.
The world-record holder Merritt finished second behind Aleec Harris in the 110-meter hurdles at the U.S. track and field championships Sunday. His place — as long as it was top three — didn’t really matter. He just wanted a spot.
Merritt won bronze at 2015 world championships in Beijing with his kidneys barely functioning because of a genetic disorder. He received the transplant from his sister less than a week later. Now healthy, he’s ready to see what he can do with worlds being held at the venue where he won an Olympic gold medal during the 2012 London Games.
“I always felt once I was healthy, all it would take is for me to put in the work,” Merritt explained. “That’s something I’ve been lacking. I haven’t been able to put in the work in two years.”
Harris proved uncatchable as he finished in 13.24 seconds. Merritt was 0.07 seconds behind, and former University of Oregon football player Devon Allen took third.