Shiffrin gets World Cup skiing record 87th win
Two minutes after earning her 87th career win, Mikaela Shiffrin finally understood the significance of setting the record for most World Cup victories.
In the middle of the awards ceremony, a man in a red jacket unexpectedly stepped forward from the crowd and that was the moment Shiffrin first realized what it all meant to her.
It was her brother, Taylor, who had secretly flown in to Sweden and now came over to hug her.
“I've said it the whole time, I don't know how to define that,” Shiffrin said about the record. “But when you have these special moments ... seeing my brother and (sister-in-law) Kristi and my mom (and coach, Eileen) in the finish today, that's what makes it memorable.”
Shiffrin set the outright World Cup record for most career victories by winning a slalom Saturday, breaking a tie with Ingemar Stenmark on the all-time overall winners list between men and women. Shiffrin had matched the Swede's mark of 86 wins with victory in a giant slalom Friday.
“Pretty hard to comprehend,” said Shiffrin, who crouched and rested her head on her knees after finishing the final run. Runner-up Wendy Holdener of Switzerland and thirdplace home favorite Anna Swenn Larsson came over to congratulate her.
The victory gave Shiffrin the outright record 12 years to the day after her first race on the World Cup, as a 15-year-old at a GS in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic.
Soccer
NWSL OFFICIALLY ADDS UTAH BACK TO LEAGUE >> The National Women's Soccer League and Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake announced the second iteration of the Utah Royals on Saturday. The Royals were part of the NWSL for three seasons from 2018 to 2020.
“When we acquired Real Salt Lake last year, we said it was a matter of when, not if, the NWSL would return to Utah. This has always been an integral part of our mission,” RSL coowner David Blitzer said in a prepared statement.
The NWSL is expected to add another team for 2024, with a Bay Area expansion team bringing the league to 14 teams. A future team in Boston is also planned.
Golf SCHEFFLER HAS LEAD AT PLAYERS ON
RECORD DAY OF SCORES >> A long day at The Players Championship has ended with Masters champion Scottie Scheffler in the lead.
Playing 26 holes onn Saturday because of rain delays, Scheffler birdied his last hole and shot 65 to build a two-shot advantage over Min Woo Lee of Australia. Lee is the younger brother of U.S. Women's Open champion Minjee Lee. He had a 66 after a bogey on his final hole.
For Scheffler, who won this year in the Phoenix Open, a victory would send him back to No. 1 in the world. Jon Rahm, the current No. 1 and three-time winner this year, withdrew before the second round with a stomach ailment.
Tom Hoge set the record on the Players Stadium Course when he holed a 10-foot putt for his 10th birdie of the round for a 62. Nine players had previously shot 63 over a 30-year
Online: Saturday's EarthquakesColorado game was still in progress when this edition went to press. For details and more on the Quakes, go to mercurynews.com/sports.
span, most recently by Dustin Johnson in 2022.
Men's college basketball
TEXAS ROLLS PAST KANSAS TO WIN BIG 12 >> Dylan Disu overcame early foul trouble to score 18 points, Marcus Carr and Sir'Jabari Rice added 17 apiece, and No. 7 Texas silenced a heavily pro-Kansas crowd in a 76-56 romp over No. 3 Kansas in the finals of the Big 12 Tournament.
After going more than two decades without a Big 12 tourney title, the Longhorns (26-8) have won two of the past three.
Jalen Wilson scored 24 points to lead the Jayhawks (27-7), who were the defending champs.
EDEY LEADS PURDUE BACK TO BIG TEN TITLE GAME >> Zach Edey had 32 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 5 Purdue beat Ohio State 80-66 in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Boilermakers (28-5) took control late in the first half and cruised made their second straight final, where they'll meet Penn State.
Freshman Roddy Gayle Jr. led Ohio State (16-19) with a career-high 20 points.
HOUSTON REACHES AAC FINAL BUT SASSER'S HURT >> Jamal Shead had 16 points and nine assists as top-ranked Houston advanced to its fifth American Athletic Conference championship game in a row with a 69-48 win over Cincinnati.
The Cougars led throughout, even after ACC player of the year Marcus Sasser left with an apparent groin injury late in the first half. Coach Kelvin Sampson says Sasser will be reevaluated but says the senior guard might not play Sunday.
J'Wan Roberts finished with 16 points and eight rebounds for Houston (31-2). Landers Nolley II had 14 points for Cincinnati (21-12).