Morgan helps U.S. women capture She Believes Cup title
Former Cal star Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson scored and the United States defeated Brazil 2-1 on Wednesday night to win the SheBelieves Cup for the fourth straight year.
Japan, which defeated Canada 3-0 in the earlier match at Toyota Stadium, was runner-up in the fourteam, round-robin tournament held in Frisco, Texas. All four SheBelieves Cup teams will play in Women's World Cup this summer in Australia and New Zealand.
Morgan's curling goal sailed out of reach of Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena. Morgan now has five goals all-time in SheBelieves matches.
It was Morgan's 14th goal since the birth of her daughter in 2020, giving her the national team record for most goals as a mom.
Swanson scored in the 63rd minute, her fourth goal of the tournament and seventh overall goal this year, matching her total of all of last year.
Swanson, formerly Mallory Pugh, married Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson in December.
Ludmila scored in stoppage time for Brazil to avoid the shutout. It was the first goal the United States has allowed this year. The United States is undefeated in five overall matches. MLS COULD EXPAND TO SAN DIEGO OR LAS VEGAS >> Major League Soccer hopes to pick a 30th team by the end of the year.
“San Diego and Las Vegas are the most likely,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said during a kickoff event at the league's new television studio built together with Apple TV.
“The 30th team will come at some point soon,”
Garber said. “We'd like to get that announced by the end of the year.”
He mentioned Detroit; Phoenix; Sacramento and Tampa as other expansion possibilities.
NFL
EX-COLLEGE COACH TAGGART JOINS RAVENS >>
The Ravens are expected to hire former Florida Atlantic, Oregon and Florida State head coach Willie Taggart as their running backs coach, their first staff tweak under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, according to multiple reports.
Craig Ver Steeg coached the Ravens' running backs in 2021 and 2022.
Taggart, 46, played quarterback and coached for Harbaugh's father, Jack, at Western Kentucky and then served as quarterbacks coach for Jim Harbaugh at Stanford from 2007 to 2009. TITANS RELEASE LEWAN, WOODS >> The Tennessee Titans released three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan for a failed physical and also released veteran wide receiver Robert Woods and kicker Randy Bullock.
Tennis DJOKOVIC HOPES TO PLAY IN U.S. >>
Novak Djokovic has asked American authorities for special permission to enter the United States to play tennis tournaments in California and Florida despite being unvaccinated against the coronavirus, the top-ranked Serb said.
The Transportation Security Administration has said the requirement for foreign air travelers to be fully vaccinated against the disease would be in place at least until mid-April. The tournament in Indian Wells will be played from March 6-19 and the Miami Open is scheduled from March 20-April 2.
SABALENKA STILL UNBEATEN THIS YEAR >> Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka improved to 13-0 this year with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Jelena Ostapenko to reach the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships.
The second-ranked Sabalenka will next face Barbora Krejcikova, who beat fellow Czech player Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2.
Earlier, top-ranked Iga Swiatek reached the quarterfinals by beating Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 6-0.
Golf
PGA, LPGA TO COMPETE IN MIXED TEAM EVENT >>
PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players will compete for a $4 million purse on network television as the tournament long known as the Shark Shootout becomes a mixed team event this year with 16 teams.
“By joining forces with the PGA Tour to host a mixed event where the top male and female golfers in the world compete alongside each other, we're going to deliver a memorable and entertaining experience for all golf fans, showcasing our players' incredible skills in a new context to a new audience,” LPGA Tour Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said.
“This is an important step forward for golf, women's golf and the LPGA.”
The Grant Thornton Invitational will be Dec. 8-10 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. Still to be determined is the format for the 16 teams.
MLB
ASTROS' MCCULLERS TO MISS OPENING DAY >>
Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. says he will miss opening day for the World Series champions because of a strained muscle in his pitching arm.
McCullers, sidelined for the first 4 1/2 months of last season while rehabbing from a right flexor pronator strain, noticed soreness after a bullpen session last week.
He had an MRI on Tuesday night. He told reporters it showed no structural damage to his elbow but will delay his start.