McKennie goal gets U.S. going in frigid 3-0 victory over Honduras
Weston McKennie and Walker Zimmerman had first-half goals to give the U.S. an early spark on a frigid night and a fresh Christian Pulisic scored after entering in the second half to lead the Americans over Honduras 3-0 Wednesday night in a World Cup qualifying match.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner didn’t have to make a single save for the Americans, who emerged from the pandemic-prompted winter session in second place with three matches remaining.
The kickoff temperature was 3 degrees (minus-16 Celsius) with a minus-14 wind chill at a site picked by the U.S. Soccer Federation along with Columbus, Ohio, for optimal homefield advantage over opponents from tropical countries.
The Americans beat El Salvador 1-0 last Thursday, when it was 29 degrees in Ohio and lost 2-0 to host Canada on Sunday in Hamilton, Ontario, when it was 22. The weather in Minnesota was a another level of cold, the coldest in U.S. team history and violating USSF guidelines for safe outdoor play and ending with a 1-degree temperature.
Still, the match was a sellout — an announced crowd of 19,202 — with redwhite-and-blue-clad fans clutching their complimentary hand warmers and however many layers they could find in their closets. Players wore skin-tight thermal tops and black gloves, but most of them had bare skin exposed on their knees as they jogged and jumped around on the grass at 3-year-old Allianz Field.
McKennie had on two sets of gloves, peeling off one pair as he came to the bench after being replaced in the 84th minute. The star midfielder scored on a header in the eighth minute, fittingly after joking on a video interview the day before that his big head ought to minimize any discomfort from a frozen ball in the February chill.
That was McKennie’s ninth international goal, his second in World Cup qualifying, and it would prove to be enough. SPIRIT’S RODMAN SIGNS RICHEST NWSL CONTRACT >> The Washington Spirit have signed Trinity Rodman to the richest contract in the history of the National Women’s Soccer League.
The extension with the 19-year-old daughter of NBA great Dennis Rodman is worth at least $1.1 million over four years, according to the Washington Post.
Octagon Soccer, which represents Rodman, announced that the deal makes Rodman the league’s highest-paid player.
Rodman was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL draft by the Spirit, which went on to win the league championship. She scored seven goals and had seven assists, and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year.
Rodman was also named the 2021 U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year following her rookie season with the Spirit. She earned her first call-up with the national team for its January camp.
College men’s basketball
NO. 4 PURDUE GETS 4TH STRAIGHT VICTORY >> Jaden Ivey scored 21 points and Zach Edey added a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, leading No. 4 Purdue to an 88-73 win over Minnesota.
Senior guard Eric Hunter Jr. added a careerhigh 20 points and the Boilermakers got double-figure scoring from four players.
College football FIVE-STAR LB PERKINS COMMITS TO LSU >>
Five-star linebacker Harold Perkins made a National Signing Day decision to play for LSU next season.
Perkins’ commitment gives the Tigers the 12thranked recruiting class in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite.
Perkins, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound product of Cypress Park High School in Cypress, Texas, is the No. 2-ranked linebacker in the nation.
Perkins tabbed LSU over Alabama, Texas A&M, Texas and Florida. 5-STAR OL CAMPBELL SIGNS WITH TEXAS >> Five-star recruit Devon Campbell, the nation’s top-ranked interior offensive lineman, signed with Texas.
Campbell is a 6-foot3, 310-pound tackle out of Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas. His No. 1 ranking is per the 247Sports composite. He also is the No. 9-ranked player overall nationally.
Campbell chose the Longhorns over Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia and Southern California.
Texas has the No. 5-ranked recruiting class in the nation and is No. 1 in the Big 12.
WNBA
JEWELL LOYD STAYING WITH SEATTLE STORM >> Jewell Loyd is staying in Seattle and Breanna Stewart will be returning, too, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
“Jewell is a special talent with a tremendous work ethic and having her back greatly improves our chances of contending for a fifth championship,” said Storm coach Noelle Quinn.
Stewart will sign a oneyear deal for the supermax salary of $228,094 with the Storm. That potentially gives her one more season with point guard Sue Bird, the WNBA’s all-time assist leader who announced on social media that she’d return for one more year.