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NWSL Plans a One-Month Season With a 25-Game Tournament In Utah

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The top American ladies’ soccer group said it had organized to come back to the field one month from now. Yet, will the entirety of its stars appear?

The National Women’s Soccer League on Wednesday spread out an aggressive, and conceivably dangerous, plan to come back to the field late one month from now for its first rounds of a season that should begin in April yet wound up slowed down by the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the timetable that alliance authorities laid out Wednesday morning, the nine N.W.S.L. groups would assemble in Utah in late June and complete their whole season as a 25-game competition more than 30 days.

The proposed occasion, to be known as the N.W.S.L. Challenge Cup, will be an Olympic-style competition with a gathering play stage and afterward an eight-group knockout competition. The games — the first is set for June 27 — will be the alliance’s first rivalry since last October’s title game, and will succeed just through a blend of cautious arranging, broad infection testing, severe wellbeing conventions and no limited quantity of favorable luck.

And every last bit of it relies upon the players’ ability to partake, the nonappearance of new episodes and many tests when the games show up in Utah.

“Each player will have her own decision to make,” Lisa Baird, the N.W.S.L’s. new magistrate, said on a telephone call. “We will not require anybody to play in the tournament.”

Regardless of whether a player chooses to take part or not, she will get her full pay just as her clinical and lodging benefits for the 2020 season, Yael Averbuch, the official chief of the N.W.S.L. Players Association, said in a phone meet.

The entirety of the matches will be played in the Salt Lake City rural areas of Herriman and Sandy, the home of one of the class’ groups, Utah Royals F.C.

Under the configuration the N.W.S.L. has proposed, each group would play four games at the 5,000-seat Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman to decide seedings for an eight-group knockout round that will follow. The elimination rounds and last (set for July 26) would be played at the bigger Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, the home of the Royals.

No fans will be permitted to go to the games. CBS will communicate the competition opener and the last, and different games will be demonstrated live on the CBS All Access spilling stage.

Dell Loy Hansen, the Utah Royals proprietor, and his association will be the accepted host. Hansen, who likewise claims the Major League Soccer group Real Salt Lake and the two Utah arenas, will utilize his group’s sweeping preparing complex to oblige the entirety of the groups’ preparation and rivalry needs.

The N.W.S.L., which had considered proposition from three other potential host urban areas, plans to collaborate with two region inns to house each of the nine groups and their staff individuals in what the class is calling the N.W.S.L. Town — a semi isolate exertion that intends to reduce the danger of coronavirus contamination for all included.

“We want them to stay in the environment, but we want the environment not to feel like a restriction,” Baird said.

Hansen, who likewise talked on the telephone call, assessed that the town arrangement would incorporate around 300 players and 500 authoritative staff individuals. Players, generally, won’t be joined by their families, however those with youngsters will be permitted to bring them, and any vital parental figures.

The lodgings will have spaces for relaxation and recreational time, and inn staff individuals will be close by to suit non-soccer demands — whatever it takes, fundamentally, to keep the players on location.

“We just kind of opened the checkbook and said, ‘Get whatever they need,’” Hansen said.

Subtleties of the occasion are not last. As of late as Tuesday, class authorities and the affiliations speaking to the association’s average players and the individuals from the United States ladies’ national group were all the while arranging testing and disengagement conventions, best practices to abstain from contracting or spreading the infection, and off-the-field ensures for the groups and their players both during pretournament camps in their home urban areas and at the Utah occasion itself.

“Our hope is we are able to work with the league to make sure that as many players as possible feel that this is a not only a safe but exciting thing to participate in,” Averbuch said. “But there are players with unique health situations, family situations, who may decide not to participate, and that’s totally fine.”

Lists will be concluded by June 21, which is the principal day groups will be permitted to show up in Utah. Baird said the alliance was working with a migration legal counselor to make sure about visas for its worldwide players in the midst of new worldwide travel limitations.

It is indistinct what number of individuals from the U.S. ladies’ national group, who speak to the heft of the association’s best players and marquee attractions, will participate. The colleagues stay split on playing, as indicated by two individuals with information on their arrangements, with some anxious to get back on the field and others careful about the wellbeing and injury dangers of a packed season played — aside from the elimination rounds and last — on counterfeit turf and during a pandemic.

All things considered, the group’s capacity to produce an arrangement that would spare its season when other ladies’ alliances have fizzled qualifies as a triumph. Under the initiative of Baird — who has recognized the significance of expanding on the energy of the ladies’ World Cup triumph and a solid class season in 2019 — the N.W.S.L. has figured out how to sign three new advertisement accomplices: P&G and Secret, which will fill in as introducing supporters for the Challenge Cup, and Verizon, which reported a multiyear concurrence with the group on Wednesday.

“Our belief is it could — could — pay for itself,” Hansen said of the tournament. “But that will be seen at the end, and there are always expenses that aren’t foreseen.”

For the entirety of their arrangement, association authorities recognized that coronavirus diseases could rise inside the competition network inside the long stretch of rivalry.

During its arranging procedure, the N.W.S.L. gathered a 15-specialist team to make testing and contact-following conventions to attempt to guarantee that play could proceed notwithstanding a disease inside the competition bubble.

“The goal is not shutting down the tournament, or a team, with one positive result,” said Dr. Daryl Osbahr, an individual from the team, who said that the board of trustees had not decided what number of positive tests would close down the competition totally.

Matthew Ronald grew up in Chicago. His mother is a preschool teacher, and his father is a cartoonist. After high school Matthew attended college where he majored in early-childhood education and child psychology. After college he worked with special needs children in schools. He then decided to go into publishing, before becoming a writer himself, something he always had an interest in. More than that, he published number of news articles as a freelance author on apstersmedia.com.

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India Takes 1-0 Lead as Gill’s 87 and Rana’s Three-Wicket Haul Sink England

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India Takes 1-0 Lead as Gill’s 87 and Rana’s Three-Wicket Haul Sink England

India started their three-match ODI series against England on a winning note, securing a four-wicket victory in the first match at VCA Stadium on Thursday. The win was powered by Shubman Gill’s 87-run knock and a three-wicket haul from debutant Harshit Rana.

England’s Innings: A Strong Start but a Sluggish Finish

After winning the toss, England skipper Jos Buttler opted to bat first. Openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett gave their team a flying start, adding 73 runs in just 53 balls. Salt was particularly aggressive, smashing 43 off 26 deliveries, including three sixes and five boundaries. However, a mix-up between the wickets led to his unfortunate run-out.

England then suffered a setback, losing two wickets in quick succession. Harshit Rana struck on his debut, dismissing Duckett (32) with a brilliant diving catch by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Soon after, Harry Brook was dismissed for a three-ball duck, reducing England to 77/3.

Veteran batter Joe Root (19) tried to stabilize the innings alongside Buttler, but Ravindra Jadeja trapped him LBW before he could make a significant impact.

Buttler and Bethell’s Effort Goes in Vain

Despite the setbacks, Jos Buttler played a responsible innings, scoring 52 off 67 balls, marking his first ODI half-century in India. He stitched a crucial partnership with Jacob Bethell, who contributed 51 off 64 deliveries, including three fours and a six.

However, once Buttler fell to Axar Patel in the 33rd over, England collapsed from 170/4 to 206/7. Rana sent Liam Livingstone (5) back to the pavilion, and Mohammed Shami cleaned up Brydon Carse (10). Jadeja then struck again, dismissing Bethell LBW, leaving England all out for 248 in 47.4 overs.

India’s Bowlers Shine

  • Harshit Rana (3/53) made an impressive debut.
  • Ravindra Jadeja (3/26) was economical and deadly.
  • Mohammed Shami (1/38) kept the pressure on.

India’s Chase: Gill Anchors the Innings

Chasing 249, India had a shaky start. Yashasvi Jaiswal, playing his maiden ODI, was caught behind for 15 off 22 balls. Skipper Rohit Sharma’s poor form continued, as he departed for just 2 runs.

Despite early setbacks, Shreyas Iyer took charge with a 31-ball half-century. His 59-run knock, featuring two sixes and nine boundaries, shifted momentum in India’s favor. He also shared a 94-run stand with Gill in just 64 balls, accelerating India’s chase.

Gill and Patel Take India Home

After Iyer’s dismissal, Axar Patel was promoted to No. 5, forming a 108-run partnership with Gill. Patel played a composed innings, scoring his maiden ODI fifty (52 runs off 58 balls).

Gill, on the other hand, paced his innings brilliantly. Battling cramps, he played some exquisite shots, hitting 14 boundaries in his 87-run innings off 96 balls. Unfortunately, he missed out on a century when Saqib Mahmood cramped him for room, leading to a catch at mid-on.

Despite his departure, India comfortably chased the target in 38.4 overs, winning with 11.2 overs to spare.

Series Status and Next Match

With this win, India leads the three-match series 1-0. The second ODI will be played in Cuttack on Sunday, where England will look to bounce back.

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NFC Secures Pro Bowl Games Victory with Flag Football Win Over AFC

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NFC Secures Pro Bowl Games Victory with Flag Football Win Over AFC

For the third year in a row, the NFC dominated the Pro Bowl Games and showcased its strength in flag football.

One week before the Kansas City Chiefs sought their third straight Super Bowl title, the NFC achieved its own three-peat, beating the AFC 76-63 in all events, including a 56-50 victory in the flag football matchup on Sunday.

Flag football’s dominance continues


Since the Pro Bowl switched to flag football in 2023, the NFC has gone undefeated in the new format.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff led the charge, earning Offensive MVP honors after completing 11 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns.

On defense, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. made a huge impact in his first Pro Bowl, intercepting New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and returning him eight yards for a touchdown, earning him the Defensive MVP award.

A competitive leap with a big incentive

The shift to flag football has increased competition as players are not as concerned about injury risks compared to the previous tackle format.

However, a financial incentive also played a role in the NFC’s determination to win.

“We prepared to win,” exclaimed Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. “They told us what the price was, and I thought, ‘Maybe we should do something more.'”

Each member of the winning team took home $92,000, while the member of the losing team received $46,000.

A winning formula for the future of the Pro Bowl


After years of debate over the format of the Pro Bowl as a result of the declining intensity of tackle football, the flag football model appears to have revived the event.

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, who has played in both versions, has expressed a clear preference for flag football.

“I like this more because it gives the fans a chance to see our faces and who we are off the field,” Baker said. “We compete, but we keep it very civil.”

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold agreed: “Vlag is a lot of fun, especially after the season where the guys have been kind of chill for three weeks. It’s good to make a game like this.”

Skills Battle Highlights


In Sunday’s additional skills challenges, the NFC continued its dominance by winning the relays and tug-of-war competitions, while the AFC vouched for a victory in the “Point Perfect” event.

With three consecutive Pro Bowl victories, the NFC has cemented itself as the team to beat in the new era of flag football.

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Lamar Jackson Expresses Frustration After Ravens’ Playoff Exit Against the Bills

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Lamar Jackson Expresses Frustration After Ravens' Playoff Exit Against the Bills

After another disappointing playoff exit, Lamar Jackson made it clear he wouldn’t pin the Baltimore Ravens’ 27-25 AFC Divisional loss to the Buffalo Bills on Mark Andrews’ dropped pass during a critical late-game 2-point conversion.

Instead, the reigning NFL MVP channeled his frustration toward the Ravens’ three uncharacteristic turnovers.

“Every time we’re in situations like this, turnovers play a role,” Jackson said, slapping one hand against the other. “We can’t have that, and that’s why we lost the game. You can see it — we’re moving the ball beautifully, but we need to hold on to the ball. I’m sorry for my language, but this is frustrating. I’m tired of it.”

Despite the turnovers — including two by Jackson — the Ravens had a chance to force overtime in the fourth quarter. Jackson connected with Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 27-25 with just 1:33 remaining.

On the ensuing 2-point conversion, Jackson’s pass hit Andrews in the chest, but the ball slipped through his hands as he fell backward in the end zone.

“There’s no one with more heart or fight than Mark,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “We wouldn’t even be in this position without him. Destiny is shaped by how you handle moments like these, and Mark will respond with resilience.”

Andrews declined to speak with reporters following a game in which he made rare mistakes. Before Sunday, he hadn’t dropped a pass since Week 6. Against the Bills, he dropped two, including the pivotal 2-point conversion, and fumbled near midfield during the fourth quarter — only the second fumble of his career.

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton defended his teammate. “One play doesn’t define anyone,” he said. “Mark is the all-time-leading touchdown receiver in Ravens history. For anyone to criticize him is unfair. He’s been a consistent leader and workhorse for this team.”

Jackson also offered words of support for Andrews. “I’m just as hurt as Mark,” he said. “This loss isn’t on him. It’s a team effort. Everyone played a role. Mark has been incredible all season, and sometimes things just don’t go our way. We need to figure it out as a team.”

Jackson, however, wasn’t immune to errors. After throwing a career-low four interceptions all season, he threw one early in the game and fumbled on the following possession while scrambling under pressure. It was an uncharacteristically erratic performance, marking his fourth postseason game with both an interception and a fumble.

“Protecting the ball is the top priority, and I didn’t do that,” Jackson admitted. “As the leader, I need to set the example, and I didn’t deliver today. That’s on me.”

The Ravens have yet to win back-to-back playoff games during Jackson’s seven seasons as their starter. Now, he’ll face another offseason with the elusive Super Bowl remaining just out of reach.

“I have to get past this because we’re so close,” Jackson said. “I’m tired of being right there. We need to seal the deal, punch that ticket, and get it done. It starts with getting better in the offseason.”

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