In-play, in-picture adverts will not be part of ITV’s coverage of the Nations Championship in July, but the 20-second slots, shown before a scrum, are set to return for the November Tests and next year’s Six Nations.
The abundance of opportunities in ITV’s schedule in July, with an expanded 48-team football World Cup dominating the airwaves, means advertisers’ spending has been directed elsewhere.
During their debut at this year’s Six Nations, the scrum slots, one of which was available per half, were bought up by blue-chip companies such as Samsung and Virgin Atlantic.
During the segments, audio from the stadium dipped, the screen was split in half and an advert was played in the right-hand part of the screen. Some viewers criticised the concept as intrusive.
Six Nations chief executive Tom Harrison said the adverts may be “a little bit uncomfortable” for viewers in the UK who, unlike those in the US and Australia, are only used to adverts appearing around, rather than during, play.
The Nations Championship pits the northern hemisphere teams who compete in the Six Nations – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy – against southern hemisphere sides South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, plus invited sides Fiji and Japan.
It starts on Saturday with six games, with a further six on 11 July and 18 July before concluding in November.
The coach of former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack had called her a “psycho” and was playing mind games with her before her death, an inquest has heard.
Cusack, 27, was found unconscious by her father David at their family home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023 and died the same day.
An inquest at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court heard on Tuesday that Jonathan Morgan had made comments about Cusack’s weight and her relationship while he was Sheffield United’s women’s team manager.
Grace Riglar, who played for the team and was in a relationship with Cusack, said Cusack was “anxious” about Morgan joining the club after her experience of working with him at Leicester City.
At the inquest, she said: “I think it was stuff she told me about her previous experience prior to Jonathan coming to Sheffield.
“I think she said that they played a game against a team while Jonathan was the manager. She had done something on the pitch and Jonathan called her a psycho from the sideline.
“I don’t think she let anyone know those types of comments affected her, but they did and they made her uncomfortable.”
She told the inquest Morgan joining United was a big cause of Cusack’s stress.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is available through the BBC Action Line
Riglar added Cusack thought the coach had made a “personal attack” on her by not putting her in the starting line-up for matches.
She said: “She was used to starting every game, she was an important member of the team. When Jonathan came, she was in and out from the starting team a bit.
“Her going from starting, to being on the bench quite a lot… she saw that as a setback. That impacted her a lot.
“I just think she almost felt like it was a bit of a personal attack, and that Jonathan was playing mind games with her by starting her one week and dropping her the next.
“She just felt those little things were intentional.”
Welcome back to The Times’ Lakers newsletter, where we’re buckling up for what will surely be a bumpy free agency period.
Free agency negotiations can officially begin today at 3 p.m. PDT, but there have already been several eyebrow-raising moves. Blockbuster trades between Milwaukee and Miami, Charlotte and Minnesota, and Memphis and Portland are three massive shots during the offseason transaction salvo.
And those weren’t even technically free agency transactions.
Now the real fun begins.
All things Lakers, all the time.
Get all the Lakers news you need in Thuc Nhi Nguyen’s weekly newsletter.
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Golden (State) reunion?
They already won an Olympic gold medal together. The mere concept of LeBron James and Stephen Curry playing together for an NBA championship is the stuff of ticket-selling, TV-viewership legend.
With James being what many consider the best free agent in this class, the superstar will be at the center of nearly every phone call through the Lakers’ El Segundo facility this summer. Between retirement, returning and relocating, James has plenty of choices for his future. Teams are starting to line up with their offers.
Signaling what will be a frenetic week, Draymond Green opted out of his contract, ESPN reported Monday morning, sending alarm bells across the league that the Warriors could be cooking up cap magic to potentially lure James to the Bay Area.
The idea was that with a restructured deal with Green, Golden State could offer the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception to James. They could then try to pull off a trade to bring Anthony Davis for a “Big 4.” Eyeball emojis were wide open on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
One NBA executive told my colleague Broderick Turner that James could play for the Lakers on a one-year, $30-million deal if the team wants to offer that much. It would still be a significant pay cut from the $52.6 million James made last year.
The 41-year-old is already the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status, according to Forbes. How much will a few million dollars matter to him?
During his twilight NBA years, James, according to the now-infamous statement to ESPN from his agent Rich Paul last year, wants to prioritize winning. There’s no guarantee that staying with the Lakers would make them the top team to overtake the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder, but there is some proof of concept. Raise a mental banner for that 16-2, Luka-Austin-LeBron stretch.
In the West, at least, the top teams are trending young. The Thunder were the youngest team ever to win a title in 2025. The Spurs figure to be a championship contender for a long time behind Victor Wembanyama, 22, Stephon Castle, 21, and Dylan Harper, 20. The Timberwolves’ controversial trade for LaMelo Ball in exchange for fan favorite Naz Reid to Charlotte also netted Minnesota one of the league’s biggest young stars.
James, Davis, Curry and Green would be a star-studded zag toward experience when the rest of the league is zigging toward youth. The Warriors already flirted with “The Expendables” ensemble strategy with Curry, Green, Al Horford and Jimmy Butler last year.
Sequels are rarely better than the original, and in this case, the original wasn’t even that good.
By already agreeing to a four-year, $185-million deal with Austin Reaves, the Lakers are getting close to running back their own roster. As expected, Deandre Ayton opted into his $8.1 million player option.
After the 27-year-old’s up-and-down play last year, simply getting Ayton back will not stop questions regarding the Lakers’ center position.
While watching a thrilling NBA Finals and the highly anticipated Western Conference finals showdown between the Spurs and Thunder, the league saw the importance of shooting. Free-agent sharpshooters Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard are on the market, and defensive stopper Marcus Smart will leave a hole in the Lakers’ roster after opting out. The 32-year-old guard greatly outplayed his $5.9-million option and is deserving of a multi-year deal.
When it came to his own future, James was vague at the end of the season. James’ on-court influence could persist for years, whether in L.A. or somewhere else. But his decisions won’t necessarily be his own.
James mentioned conversations with his family as important steps in the offseason process. Maybe just as important as the opportunity to chase a fifth championship is the chance for the father of three to fulfill his family responsibilities.
This month, James was celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Cavaliers’ championship with teammates, a trip that overlapped with Father’s Day. When he returned, his daughter Zhuri handed him a handwritten golf-themed card: “You are the best by par” she wrote inside.
“When you retire,” the page-long note James posted on Instagram read, “I can’t wait for you to be at all of my games like I was at yours.”
James, he wrote on social media, instantly cried.
Rock the vote
Setting the LeBron James of it all aside, which unrestricted free agent would you most want to return to the Lakers next season? Slide into my inbox at thucnhi.nguyen@latimes.com with your answer!
Rui Hachimura
Marcus Smart
Luke Kennard
Jaxson Hayes
Favorite thing I ate this week
Khinkali (Georgian soup dumplings) from Cheeseboat in Manhattan.
(Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)
I’ve recently seen social media posts of people trying to eat food from as many countries as possible without leaving a single major city. I may adopt this as a new NBA road trip side quest, and we can now add Georgia to the travel menu.
While in New York City for the draft, I stopped at Cheeseboat, a family-run Georgian restaurant in the Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan. It’s named after Georgia’s traditional khachapuri bread that is shaped like an open boat and filled with delicious melted cheese, but my favorite dish we had was the khinkali soup dumplings filled with ground beef, spices and herbs. I just love dumplings, and because you use your hands to eat them — picking them up by the little dough handle is advised — they’re a little less fussy than the Chinese xiao long bao.
While Fuchs’ first senior managerial role saw him win just nine of 31 matches in charge of the Exiles, he got off to a victorious start in cricket whites.
Bowling first, Fuchs returned figures of 2-20 from his 3.2 overs and also contributed to a run out as Grindleford dismissed Riverside Notts for 150.
“His bowling, he was throwing it but it was alright,” Mahmood laughed.
“It was his first game, so it is what it is. We gave him the benefit of the doubt and didn’t say anything to him.”
During the run chase, Fuchs batted at number six, scoring 12 runs off 18 deliveries, including a four and that six as Grindleford triumphed by one wicket.
“When he got out, he was chatting to all of us. He was a very, very nice guy,” added Mahmood.
“It was a surprise to actually see him there because it was so random. It’s a random game on a Sunday and we just see a Premier League winner there.”
Fuchs is not the only former footballer who has swapped between the two sports later on in life.
Former England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn plays for Cornwall’s over-50s side. Ex-Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann once represented Cheshire side Alderley Edge’s second team while still contracted at City.
Current Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff is also spending his summer break playing for Tynemouth in Division 1 of the North East Premier League.
During his football career, Fuchs made more than 650 appearances for club and country that included six seasons at the King Power Stadium.
As well as winning both the Premier League and the FA Cup, Fuchs won 78 caps for Austria and was captain at Euro 2016.
Cardiff loose-head prop Rhys Barratt and Dragons back-row forwards Harri Keddie and Ryan Woodman all made their international debuts in Twickenham, but miss out on the squad for the three Tests.
Wings Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Tom Rogers, centres Bryn Bradley and Joe Roberts, fly-half Jarrod Evans, scrum-half Ellis Bevan, lock or flanker Freddie Thomas and back-row forward Olly Cracknell also miss out.
Leicester open-side flanker Tommy Reffell makes the cut after being overlooked by Tandy for the autumn internationals and Six Nations.
“We have selected a squad of 33 players for the Nations Championship to mirror what will be required for the World Cup in 2027,” said the head coach, who cut 11 players and lost Jenkins.
“We are building a lot of competition among our group of players, which is what we want to have, and there were some tough calls to make.
“We have an exciting opportunity over the next three weeks in a brand-new competition and can’t wait to get our campaign started against Fiji on Saturday.”
Louis Rees-Zammit, Max Llewellyn, Tomos Williams, Rhys Carre, Nicky Smith, James and Reffell could not face the Baa-Baas because they play for English clubs, but all return for the Nations Championship fixtures.
The loss of Jenkins means that Tandy is down to three specialist locks – Ben Carter, Teddy Williams and Adam Beard, who is included fresh from playing for Montpellier in their Top 14 final defeat by Toulouse on Saturday.
The former Ospreys second-row forward, who lost his starting spot to Carter during the Six Nations, came on in the final quarter in Paris.
“He has been with us for two campaigns, is battle-hardened and is really experienced,” said Tandy about Beard.
Wales had already lost centre Louie Hennessey, tight-head prop Keiron Assiratti and hooker Liam Belcher to injury before cutting down their squad.
MEXICO CITY — Mexico advances to the second round of the World Cup backed by its strong record in the group stage and a formidable fortress — Azteca Stadium — where it will host Ecuador on Tuesday at 6 p.m. PDT in a knockout match airing on Fox and Telemundo.
El Tri became the first Mexican team to win all three of its group stage matches at a World Cup — a perfect finish accompanied by fan support rarely seen before, with more than 80,000 packing Azteca Stadium for two of its games and more than 800,000 surrounding El Ángel de la Independencia statue to celebrate wins.
Coach Javier Aguirre’s third stint leading the national team, which began in 2024 amid skepticism, has sparked World Cup fever in the streets of Mexico City, which have filled with fans wearing green jerseys, along with their dogs, cats and even ducks decked out in the national team colors.
“We’re motivated, but nothing is decided yet,” Mexico forward Armando González said. “Earning points is useless because now comes the important part — do-or-die matches. We’re focused on that.”
Mexico’s Armando González controls the ball in front of South Africa’s Ime Okon during on a World Cup match on June 11 at Azteca Stadium.
(Eduardo Verdugo / Ap Photo/eduardo Verdugo)
The winner of the match will face the winner of the contest between England and Congo on July 5 at Azteca Stadium.
Mexico has also been solid on defense, keeping three clean sheets while scoring six goals.
“We respect all our opponents,” said Mexico defender Jesús Gallardo, who sat out the last group stage match against Czechia. “We know this is the World Cup and every team is playing to win. We’ve won our three matches, and we’re proud of that. But we haven’t won anything yet. Ecuador has played well. We know they’re a very dynamic, very strong team.”
Erik Lira, Raúl Jiménez and Brian Gutiérrez will join Gallardo returning to the lineup after sitting out Mexico’s last match. Gutiérrez had a yellow card and was held out against Czechia to avoid a second yellow card and suspension. Gilberto Mora, 17, started in place of Gutiérrez and had a tremendous performance.
“We have to focus on what we do on the field; we want the fans to cheer us on,” Gallardo said. “We want to bring them a lot of joy.”
Following the convincing 3-0 victory over Czechia while resting some starters, the atmosphere on the Mexican team has been very relaxed, with several videos showing the players joking around with each other. Some of them have been training together for nearly two months because Aguirre arranged a monthlong training camp ahead of the World Cup.
“That’s why these past few months have gone by so quickly. Even though they’re always joking around, we know that we have a brother right beside us who would give his life for us,” González said.
On the other side, Ecuador arrives after advancing as one of the best third-place finishers, having closing Group E competition with four points — a stark contrast to its performance in the South American qualifiers, where Ecuador finished second only to world champion Argentina.
At the World Cup, Ecuador began the tournament with a tough last-minute loss to Ivory Coast and then failed to score against debutant Curacao. But when Ecuador had its back against the wall and needed to beat Germany in the final group-stage match, it pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the German team 2-1 to secure its spot in the next round.
That inconsistency makes Ecuador a wild card.
Mexico’s Luis Romo celebrates with Jesus Gallardo, Erik Lira and Johan Vasquez after scoring against South Korea during a World Cup match at Guadalajara Stadium on June 18.
(Silvia Izquierdo / Ap Photo/silvia Izquierdo)
“That’s what life is all about — having faith, having confidence. The team is very united,” said Sebastián Beccacece, Ecuador’s Argentine coach. “We’ve always remained calm and cautious in the face of adversity.
“The team is united, obviously full of enthusiasm and energy — like all national teams — but also tired, especially due to the schedule. Still, that’s no excuse. We’re driven by enthusiasm and the desire to make history; we’ll build our efforts on these foundations.”
Ecuador has also had to move quickly to plan for the match against Mexico. Following Thursday’s victory, Ecuador didn’t know it would be facing Mexico until Saturday morning. The team tried to travel to Mexico City on Sunday, but it ran into logistical problems and had to do so on Monday.
“Traveling to the Azteca Stadium is going to be a bit of a challenge,” Agustín Delgado, the all-time leading scorer for the Ecuadorian national team, said in an interview with Claro Sports. “That ultimately takes its toll in a match of this magnitude.
“This generation has what it takes for this World Cup and another one after that. They’re very young players. They haven’t reached their full potential yet; they have a lot to give.”
Unlike the game against Czechia, altitude won’t be as big a factor, since the Ecuadorian national team plays its home games in Quito, which sits at an elevation of 9,350 feet — making it the second-highest capital city in the world and more than 2,000 feet higher than Mexico City. It also has players who compete for clubs accustomed to playing at Mexican altitudes, such as Pedro Vite of Pumas and Enner Valencia of Pachuca.
Ecuador boasts proven talent such as Moisés Caicedo of Chelsea in England; William Pacho of Paris Saint-Germain in France; Piero Hincapié of Arsenal; and Joel Ordóñez of Club Brugge in Belgium.
“It’s a close match; there are star players on both teams,” said Álex Aguinaga, a former Ecuadorian player and Liga MX legend who is now a commentator for Fox Sports. “Ecuador’s defense is much more solid; it has players who handle the defensive zone very well.
Mexico fans cheer during a World Cup game against Czechia at Azteca Stadium on June 24.
(Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
“It’s so close, but I think it’s going to come down to a single goal.”
Ecuador will also try to capitalize on the pressure stemming from the fact that Mexico has won only one match in its entire history in knockout rounds — in 1986 when it played at home against Bulgaria and won 2-0. Between 1994 and 2018, Mexico was eliminated in the second round of the World Cup on each of the last seven occasions it reached that stage.
Mexico has never lost a match at Azteca Stadium in a World Cup, and its last defeat in an official match was against Honduras in a qualifying match in 2013.
“I think right now all the opponents are going to be tough; none of them will be easy,” said Obed Vargas, an Atlético Madrid player who has come off the bench for Mexico. “We’re taking it one game at a time, but for me, we have to make it to the final.”
The Round of 32 has already delivered shocks, shootouts and scenes that will live long in World Cup memory.
After Paraguay stunned Germany and Morocco sent the Netherlands home on penalties, Tuesday brings three more games, with France, Norway and co-hosts Mexico all looking to avoid becoming the next big casualty.
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Ivory Coast face Norway, France meet Sweden and Mexico take on Ecuador as three more places in the last 16 are decided.
Here is what we know:
What is Tuesday’s schedule?
Ivory Coast vs Norway (noon/17:00 GMT) at Dallas Stadium, Texas, in the US
France vs Sweden (5pm/21:00 GMT) at New York/New Jersey Stadium in the US
Mexico vs Ecuador (7pm/02:00 GMT on Wednesday) at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico
Ivory Coast have found European opposition difficult at the World Cup while Norway have traditionally fared well against African teams. They have lost only two of their 19 meetings with CAF nations across all competitions.
The Opta supercomputer calculates Norway as the clear favourites to progress.
Across 25,000 pre-match simulations, Norway won in normal time 56.1 percent of the time, while Ivory Coast claimed victory in 21.6 percent. A draw after 90 minutes, sending the tie to extra time, occurred in 22.3 percent of simulations.
Norway are also strongly backed to reach the Round of 16 and equal their best-ever World Cup finish, while Ivory Coast will need to produce one of the tournament’s biggest upsets to keep their campaign alive.
What is the prediction for France vs Sweden?
France and Sweden are familiar opponents, having met 23 times across all competitions. France hold the advantage with 12 wins to Sweden’s six, while five matches have ended level.
Despite that long history, this will be their first-ever meeting at a FIFA World Cup.
The Opta supercomputer gives France a commanding edge heading into the Round of 32.
Across 25,000 pre-match simulations, France won in normal time 75.1 percent of the time, underlining their status as one of the tournament favourites. Sweden were victorious in just 9.5 percent of simulations, while 15.4 percent of matches were level after 90 minutes and required extra time or penalties.
What is the prediction for Mexico vs Ecuador?
Mexico and Ecuador have met only once before at the FIFA World Cup, with El Tri claiming a 2-1 victory during the group stage of the 2002 tournament.
Recent meetings have been far more evenly matched. The sides are unbeaten against each other in their last three encounters, with all three ending in draws, raising the possibility that this Round of 32 tie could be decided beyond 90 minutes.
The Opta supercomputer gives the tournament co-hosts the edge but expects a competitive contest.
Across 25,000 pre-match simulations, Mexico won in normal time 47.1 percent of the time, compared with 23.7 percent for Ecuador. A draw after 90 minutes occurred in 29.2 percent of simulations, making extra time a realistic possibility.
Factoring in extra time and penalties, Mexico’s chances of reaching the Round of 16 rise to 61 percent, while Ecuador are given a 38.9 percent probability of progressing.
Which teams have advanced to the Round of 16 and who has been eliminated?
The tournament has now moved into the Round of 32. So far, these teams have advanced to the Round of 16:
Canada (defeated South Africa 1-0)
Brazil (defeated Japan 2-1)
Paraguay (defeated Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw)
Morocco (defeated the Netherlands on penalties after a 1-1 draw)
What else is happening?
Morocco stuns Netherlands on penalties
Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the FIFA World Cup last 16 after a dramatic 1-1 draw following extra time in Monterrey.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero, saving Crysencio Summerville’s penalty before Ismael Saibari fired home the decisive spot-kick to send Morocco through.
Morocco will now face Canada in the Round of 16 in Houston on Saturday.
The match appeared to be heading for a Dutch victory after Cody Gakpo, playing just days after he and his partner announced the loss of their unborn child, put the Netherlands ahead midway through the second half.
Gakpo’s emotional World Cup goal
Cody Gakpo broke down in tears after scoring for the Netherlands against Morocco, just two days after he and his partner announced the loss of their unborn child.
The forward chose to remain with the squad despite the tragedy and received a standing ovation from Dutch fans when he was substituted in extra time.
Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo, kneeling, is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco [Ricardo Mazalan/AP]
Saibari celebrates with his mum
A heartwarming moment goes viral as Ismael Saibari, who scored the decisive penalty kick against Netherlands, celebrates Morocco’s big win with his mother on the pitch.
Germany suffers shock early exit
Germany’s campaign came to a stunning end on Monday as Paraguay pulled off one of the greatest upsets in tournament history, winning a dramatic Round of 32 tie on penalties.
Paraguay took a deserved 1-0 lead into half-time after Julio Enciso headed home from Matias Galarza’s cross in the 42nd minute.
Germany responded eight minutes into the second half when Kai Havertz glanced in Florian Wirtz’s cross to level the match at 1-1.
With neither side able to find a winner in extra time, the tie went to penalties. Havertz missed Germany’s opening spot-kick and the Germans failed to convert three of their five attempts, allowing Paraguay to seal a famous 4-3 shootout victory and book their place in the last 16.
Paraguay declares national holiday after stunning Germany
Paraguay President Santiago Pena declared Tuesday a national holiday after the country’s shock penalty shootout victory over Germany secured a place in the FIFA World Cup last 16.
Paraguay stunned the four-time world champions 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time on Monday, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Paraguay became the second South American nation to declare a national holiday after a surprise World Cup victory over Germany. Ecuador was the first, doing so after its 2-1 group-stage win over the four-time champions.
Translation: Giant Paraguay! Today, an entire country celebrates. It celebrates the victory of a team that represents the deepest part of our identity: the grit, the faith, and the strength of a people who never give up. Thank you, Albirroja, for gifting us this immense joy and for once again uniting millions of Paraguayans under the same flag. Decree No. 6280: the best things are worth the wait. Let’s go Paraguay!
US homeland security chief celebrates Iran’s exit
US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he “danced a happy dance” after Iran were eliminated from the World Cup.
Iran missed out on the Round of 32 on goal difference after a stoppage-time winner against Egypt was ruled out for offside, with their elimination confirmed when Algeria and Austria drew 3-3 on Sunday.
Speaking during a World Cup briefing on Monday, Mullin said he was “glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back”, adding he was happy when Iran’s visas were revoked and the team left US soil. He also said Iran had required more attention from US authorities than any other team at the tournament.
The comments add to Mullin’s public dispute with the Iranian team. Earlier in the tournament, he alleged members of Iran’s travelling delegation had attempted to bring someone with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into the United States, an accusation the Iran Football Federation dismissed as “false, fabricated and entirely baseless.”
Everton are close to agreeing a deal with Chelsea to sign winger Tyrique George following his loan spell.
The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan on Merseyside, with an option to buy for £25m, but Everton have renegotiated an upfront fee to one with add-ons.
George made 11 appearances for Everton, starting once, but impressed manager David Moyes during his four-month spell at the club.
In May Moyes described him as “an excellent boy” with an “excellent work-rate” when asked about the possibility of a permanent move before the final match of the season.
Attacking midfielder Merlin Rohl is also set to make his loan move permanent following a successful spell from SC Freiburg last season, while Idrissa Gana Gueye and Seamus Coleman have departed after their contracts expired.
George, who came through Chelsea‘s academy, has been available for transfer for the past 12 months.
He held talks with RB Leipzig last summer, while a £22m move to Fulhamcollapsed on transfer deadline day in September 2025.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are continuing their squad rebuild under new manager Xabi Alonso.
They have signed Marco Palestra from Atalanta and retain interest in Crystal Palace‘s Maxence Lacroix, Como’s Jacobo Ramon and Rayo Vallecano full-back Pep Chavarria.
However, the club are also looking to reduce the size of their squad after finishing 10th in the Premier League and failing to qualify for European competition.
That means fewer matches and reduced revenue from broadcasting and matchdays, while Chelsea remain under a Uefa settlement agreement for the next three seasons after breaching financial regulations last summer.
SEATTLE — Cole Young hit two home runs to back eight strong innings from George Kirby as the Seattle Mariners came from behind to beat the Angels 6-2 on Monday night.
Dominic Canzone also went deep to help Seattle (43-43) get back to .500 and stay a half-game behind the first-place Texas Rangers in the American League West.
Zach Neto doubled to center field leading off the game against Kirby (7-7), and Denzer Guzman singled two pitches later for a 1-0 lead. Neto hit his 18th home run in the third — a two-out shot that made it 2-0.
Kirby gave up a one-out double to Josh Lowe in the fifth but struck out the side — including Neto — to end the inning. The right-hander used 16 pitches to get six straight outs from there until Lowe doubled leading off the eighth.
Kirby issued his only walk, to Neto, with one out before striking out Guzman looking and Nolan Schanuel swinging on his 100th pitch.
Kirby gave up seven hits and fanned seven before José A. Ferrer pitched a scoreless ninth.
Young led off the third against Angels rookie Ryan Johnson (1-3) with his eighth homer to cut it to 2-1. Josh Naylor walked and stole second in front of Young’s two-out shot in the sixth off Mitch Farris to make it 6-2.
Randy Arozarena was hit by a two-out pitch in the fourth before advancing on a two-base fielding error by Guzman at third base on a grounder from Naylor. Both runners scored on Cal Raleigh’s bloop single for a 3-2 lead.
Canzone hit his 13th homer to make it 4-2 in the sixth, a leadoff shot against Farris.
Johnson gave up three runs (one earned) in five innings. Farris was tagged for three runs in three innings.
“I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the US soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.”
He added: “There wasn’t a single team that we had to spend more time dealing with than Iran.”
Iran were only permitted to enter the US the day before their first two matches and had to leave on the same day as the game, under the terms of their visas.
Those restrictions were eased for their final group game in Seattle, allowing them to arrive two days early, but they again had to return to Tijuana after Saturday’s match.
Iran coach Ghalenoei said that the US, co-hosts of the World Cup with Canada and Mexico, had “treated us very unfairly” and that his squad had been given “less than half” the training window it needed to prepare.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi added: “This kind of tension undermines the joy of the World Cup. I felt the tension from the first moment we arrived.”
Mercedes’ George Russell took his second win of the season with victory from pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen recovered from a crash in the final part of qualifying to finish second at Red Bull’s home race, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli in third.
Russell’s win moves him back up to second in the drivers’ standings, 40 points behind team-mate Antonelli.
BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson answers your latest questions before this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
I think a pole position under a yellow flag sets a dangerous precedent, because it’s clear that from now on, everyone will continue to push hard after a small slow down, or else their lap will be cancelled. I’d be curious to hear your opinion – Lorenzo
George Russell’s pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix, the foundation for his victory on Sunday, came about in controversial circumstances.
According to the rules, Russell did nothing wrong.
Marshals trackside initially waved a single yellow flag when Max Verstappen crashed at Turn Nine.
Kimi Antonelli mis-read the light board as a double yellow, and backed out of his lap – the correct response for what he thought to be the case. Under a double yellow, drivers have to “slow down and be prepared to stop”.
But under a single yellow, a driver does not have to abandon their lap. They only have to not set a fastest time in the relevant section of the track.
Russell complied with this, but the rest of his lap was fast enough to put him on pole anyway.
The concern here is less the specifics of these rules, but whether the correct flag was shown in the circumstances.
The answer to that has to be no.
Verstappen crashed at the fastest corner on the track, which is taken at close to 140mph.
Turn Nine is notoriously challenging, with its downhill entry, and an exit kerb that’s easy to over-run.
Both Verstappen and Antonelli questioned the decision to show only a single yellow at the time, when Verstappen’s car was in the barrier at this corner as other drivers were seeking to set what would be their fastest laps of the weekend.
Verstappen described it as “quite crazy”.
Antonelli said: “There was a car in the wall in a fast corner. I don’t know why it didn’t go double-yellow straight away, because it’s a super-quick corner, and if you go off at the same time, it can end up very badly. That was a bit confusing.
“For sure it’s something that needs to be reviewed, especially when it happens in a high-speed corner.
“If it’s a slow-speed [corner], single yellow can be OK but fast corners should be double yellow straight away.”
To underline the point, within 20 seconds, race control upgraded the flag to a double yellow, but everyone had completed their laps by then.
Rangers are reportedly poised to sign Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandor, with Jack Butland moving in the opposite direction, as Aberdeen, Dundee, Dundee United and Motherwell are said to have received bids for key players.
SACRAMENTO — Teoscar Hernández was back from a hamstring injury, and a little bit humble. He was about to play his first game in a month for the Dodgers.
“I don’t think they really need me in the lineup,” he said, with a hint of a smile.
Hernández hit 58 home runs over his first two seasons with the Dodgers, each of which ended in a World Series championship, so of course they need him. But, in his absence, the Dodgers had more than doubled their National League West lead.
No matter: The Dodgers boosted their division lead to 11 games Monday, with a 9-4 victory over the Athletics. Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy and Andy Pages homered to highlight a 17-hit attack.
The Dodgers are on pace to win the NL West by 21 games. They boast the best record in the major leagues at 55-30, and Ohtani and the Traveling All-Stars remain baseball’s best road show.
Before the game, a guy setting up one of the merchandise stands here pointed to all the Dodgers gear for sale. He wore a Dodgers cap. He said he wished he had more Dodgers stuff to sell, because the crowd would be overwhelmingly in favor of the Dodgers.
And so it was, one day after San Diego fans complained of all the Dodgers partisans at Petco Park. In Sacramento, where the wandering home team wears a Sacramento patch on one jersey sleeve and a Las Vegas patch on the other sleeve, there were loud cheers for Ohtani and Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, and loud chants of “Let’s go, Dodgers!”
Every Dodger in the starting lineup had two hits except for Betts, who had one.
Eric Lauer, imported to fortify a starting rotation without Glasnow and Snell, worked six innings to record the victory. He gave up three runs and four hits in the second inning, no runs and four hits over the other five.
Dodgers starting pitcher Eric Lauer worked six innings to record the victory. He gave up three runs and four hits in the second inning, no runs and four hits over the other five.
(Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
He is 3-0 with 2.88 earned-run average in six starts for the Dodgers, the last three of them classified as quality starts.
Glasnow and Snell are weeks away from returning, and maybe more, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said they would not lose their job because of injury.
“Eric coming over here knew that this was the deal, right?” said Roberts, who posted his 999th career win. “Until they get back. We just don’t know when. He’s just got to stay focused on doing his job. Then when that time comes we’ll see what happens.”
In the top of the second, the Dodgers bunched four hits, all singles — the first by Hernández, beating out an infield single in his first at-bat since the hamstring injury — to take a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, the A’s also bunched four hits, including a Colby Thomas home run, to take a 3-2 lead.
The rest of the Dodgers’ scoring: a solo homer by Muncy and a two-run homer by Pages in the fourth, a three-run homer by Ohtani in the sixth, and an RBI single by Freeman in the eighth. The A’s scored the final run on a wild pitch in the ninth.
Miguel Rojas said the Dodgers have flourished in the wake of significant injuries because the organization places a priority on developing players and giving them a fair shot at playing time, citing Pages, infielder Alex Freeland and pitchers Justin Wrobleski and Emmet Sheehan, as well as wise trades for supplementary players, including infielder-outfielder Tommy Edman and outfielder Alex Call.
Shohei Ohtani tosses his bat after hitting a three-run home run for the Dodgers in the sixth inning against the Athletics on Monday night.
(Sara Nevis / Associated Press)
“It’s not living with the narrative of ‘We’re buying championships and spending money,’” Rojas said. “Yeah, we’re spending money to get good players. But we’re not really basing our success just on that.
“The front office does quality work on getting the right players and putting the puzzle together. I feel that’s the reason why we can afford losing a couple guys in the middle of the year, because we have a full team that is ready to step up.”
Still, Rojas conceded none of that would matter without Ohtani, Freeman, Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. And, yes, Rojas said, the Dodgers do have an irreplaceable player.
“It’s going to be really hard if we lose Shohei,” Rojas said. “It’s going to be a little bit different than losing another player. Having Shohei at the top of the lineup every single day and doing both sides of the ball has been really helpful.”
Ohtani gave the Sacramento crowd what it wanted to see: a majestic 432-foot home run, with a supercharged, 112-mph exit velocity. On Wednesday, the last day of the Dodgers’ only scheduled visit here before the A’s move to Las Vegas in 2028, he’ll take the mound to give the people more of what they want to see.
South American football expert Tim Vickery felt a typical Paraguayan spirit shone through on the day.
“Paraguay love adversity,” he said.
“If you’re looking for someone to relate to in this World Cup, look for Paraguay. That Welsh word ‘hwyl’, that grit and drive, when it gets difficult, that’s when they come alive.
“They’ve come through adversity to knock out a giant of European football. It’s not always pretty, they play within their limitations, but what drama, what a story.
“The objective in this tournament was to make Paraguay feel represented and they’ve done that in full.”
Paraguay now play either two-time champions France or Sweden iin Philadelphia on Saturday (22:00 BST).
Paraguay’s president Santiago Pena had already declared a public holiday after they had sealed World Cup qualification with a game to spare.
Now, with a place in the last 16 secured, attention turns to what he might have in store next for the celebrations.
Head coach Alfaro said he spoken to the president yesterday.
“He might declare another national holiday,” he joked.
“I want all of Paraguay to enjoy this. We may have our defects, but we have a heart that never gives up, and that’s what keeps us alive.”
Former LakersMalik Beasley and Ed Davis were charged with wire fraud conspiracy and bribery in sporting contests by federal prosecutors in a sweeping indictment that included four other co-conspirators.
Both played one season with the Lakers during long careers, Beasley in 2022-23 and Davis in 2014-15.
According to the indictment, Beasley illegally manipulated his performance to ensure gamblers won prop bets two years before he played for the Lakers and one year after.
Davis — described in the indictment as Beasley’s “gatekeeper” — allegedly collaborated to manipulate Beasley’s performance when they were Minnesota Timberwolves teammates during the 2020-21 season and did so again four times during the 2023-24 season while Beasley was with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The illegal activity allegedly began during a Jan. 26, 2024 game between the Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Beasley averaged 11.3 points that season and 11.7 during his career, but scored three points in that game.
In total, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly placed fraudulent wagers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars on Beasley’s fixed performances.
Also indicted were NBA player agent Paolo Zamorano, William Brown, Robert Gorodetsky and Ernesto Plascencia. They are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests and money laundering conspiracy for allegedly bribing Beasley to manipulate his performance. Zamorano was Davis’ agent.
Several of the defendants were arrested Monday.
“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, bribing then-NBA player Malik Beasley to fix his performance in multiple games in order to place fraudulent wagers, enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks,” said Joseph Nocella Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Bribery and insider betting schemes like this one involving former NBA players and a current NBA player agent who exploited inside NBA information for profit erode the integrity of American sports and victimize the sports-watching public.”
Beasley, 29, has been under investigation for more than a year and sat out the 2025-26 season. The Detroit Pistons offered him a three-year, $42-million contract last offseason but rescinded it when informed by authorities that the nine-year veteran was suspected of participating in the illegal gambling scheme.
At first glance, neither player seemed to be vulnerable to bribes from gamblers. Beasley has made $59.2 million during his career, including a career-high $15.6 million with the Lakers. He averaged 11.1 points in 26 games that season.
Davis, 37, played for eight teams in 12 seasons before retiring in 2022 having made $47.2 million.
However, prosecutors allege that Beasley borrowed substantial sums from Davis to pay off gambling debts and attempted to repay him through the illegal activity. A year ago Beasley was successfully sued by his former agency for $2.5 million over a contract dispute. He also was sued for $6 million by South River Capital, a company that specializes in making loans to athletes.
“These defendants allegedly operated an illegal betting ring in an attempt to unlawfully earn hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., FBI Assistant Director in Charge. “As alleged, Malik Beasley allowed himself to be bought and altered his game-time performance to line pockets of Ed Davis and his other co-conspirators.”
Prosecutors also allege Beasley rigged his performance during three games with the Bucks in 2024 — a Feb. 27 game against the Charlotte Hornets, a March 10 game against the Clippers and a March 21 game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Five current or former NBA players have been indicted as part of the FBI investigation into illegal sports gambling and insider information trading. Veteran guard Terry Rozier is facing four charges, while former Lakers assistant coach Damon Jones and former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter have pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The expansive gambling indictment also ensnared Hall of Fame player Chauncey Billups and several organized crime figures.
Trejo has played for several first and second division soccer clubs in the South American country since 2023 and signed on with the northern Venezuela-based Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira earlier this year.
On Sunday, Trejo’s club announced the deaths of his family in an Instagram post.
“Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira profoundly laments the irreparable loss of the wife and sons of our player Lucas Trejo,” the team wrote. “[The deaths] occurred on June 24th during the earthquake that shook the entire country.”
When the earthquakes struck, Trejo was at a training session in the capital city of Caracas while his wife Yanina and children— Aarón and Ainhoa— were at the family home in the severely affected beachfront city of La Guaira.
Trejo’s brother-in-law Ricardo Ardiles told CNN Español that the Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira defender rushed home after the temblors and was “emotionally overwhelmed” as he dug through rubble for days in search of his family.
“What he found was a horrific scene,” Ardiles said last week. “He found absolutely nothing of what the building itself had been.”
Trejo was far from the only athlete gravely affected by the seismic activity in Venezuela.
Former Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira player Héctor Bello also lost his wife Andrea during the earthquakes. She died while protecting their infant daughter, who was later found alive by rescue teams.
“I’m going to make sure our baby remembers how wonderful you were, how much you loved her,” Bello wrote in an Instagram post honoring his wife. “I’ll tell her the story of how you saved her, how you gave your own life for our daughter, how you were a brave woman who, even with your last breaths, never abandoned her.”
“Venezuelan football bids a heart-wrenching farewell to a young man who represented our country’s colors with pride, commitment and love,” a social media statement from the federation read. “His passing has plunged the entire Vinotinto family into mourning and leaves an indelible mark on all those who shared moments with him both on and off the pitch.”
Eighteen-year-old Razan Sijaa, who played for Caracas Fútbol Club, 14-year-old Víctor Palacios of Club Sport San Augustín’s academy and 17-year-old prospect Ricardo Veloz were also killed by the quakes.
Locally, the family of Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas narrowly escaped tragedy and were doing OK after the earthquakes.
“Literally two blocks away from where my family was, two buildings collapsed — the whole building,” Rojas told reporters last week. “I’m lucky, to be honest with you guys. I’m really lucky to have my family still alive and with me. I’m not taking this for granted.”
According to Rojas, his wife and kids were in Caracas, which is approximately six miles south of where the quakes struck. His wife was there to renew her passport, and the kids were going to try to get Venezuelan citizenship. He added that his sister was in Los Teques, Rojas’ hometown about 17 miles south of the coastal destruction.
“It’s really tough to see teammates of mine and players that I played with at some point in my career lose family members, to lose kids,” said Rojas, who spent years playing baseball in La Guaira. “It’s really devastating. It’s been really hard for me to go to sleep at night.”
She’d been out for over a year, her long, arduous recovery from a season-ending knee injury kept almost completely under wraps. But as JuJu Watkins took her place in front of a microphone for the first time since returning to practice this summer, the USC superstar could barely contain her gratitude.
Asked Monday what the best part about being back has been so far, a big smile crept across Watkins’ face.
“Honestly everything,” Watkins said. “Like I don’t even know, the smallest stuff just gets me excited.”
Watkins’ return is a momentous mile marker for a team that has serious national title aspirations this season. Her status remains uncertain, and reporters in attendance Monday were told not to inquire further about Watkins’ specific recovery timeline. But Watkins did say that she’s already been able to scrimmage during USC’s summer practice and that she’s “feeling back like myself.”
“It’s just been a long time coming,” Watkins said. “I’ve just been working out and grinding every day so that I could be in position, so to see all of that hard work pay off right now, it’s really fulfilling.”
Watkins was a two-time consensus All-American and the Associated Press Player of the Year in 2025, when her knee buckled that March during a breakaway in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The injury, a torn ACL, wouldn’t just derail a possible title run for USC that season, but also upend the Trojans’ trajectory for the next one.
Facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation, USC missed Watkins dearly. The Trojans finished their frustrating campaign 18-14 before losing in the Round of 32.
As she sat out, Watkins said she struggled to keep still. Patience didn’t necessarily come naturally. She found herself leaning on others, she said, like Dallas Wings point guard Paige Bueckers, who went through her own ACL recovery.
“She was constantly checking up on me, sending me texts, encouraging me,” Watkins said of Bueckers. ‘I really appreciated that.”
Coaches suggested she pour that energy into her teammates. So she took solace in doing the little things, like arranging the locker room chairs during pre-game.
“Just to watch her take something that was so difficult and pour herself into everything that went into last year was something I’ll never forget,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “I really do take a lot of inspiration from it.”
The silver lining, coming out of a season without their superstar, was the emergence of freshman Jazzy Davidson, who came to USC to play alongside Watkins. Instead, she ended up winning National Freshman of the Year and becoming a rising star in her own right,
This month, Watkins and Davidson were finally able to take the floor together, just as Gottlieb had once envisioned. She’d waited quite a while for that pairing, she reminded Monday. But Davidson, she thinks, will be all the better for having survived her freshman season without Watkins.
“You just come back with a different level of confidence,” Gottlieb said. “I hope she brings with her every experience she had because who had more experience than Jazzy in terms of a freshman year where she handled so much?”
Now, with Watkins back and Davidson set to take another step forward, there won’t be so much pressure on the Trojans’ newest top recruit.
Saniyah Hall marks the third straight No. 1 overall prospect to sign with Gottlieb and USC, but she steps into a decidedly different scenario than the other two did. In addition to Watkins and Davidson, the Trojans also brought in two other top freshmen in Sitaya Fagan and Sara Okeke, as well as two priority portal adds in Ryann Bennett and Pania Davis.
“With the talent that’s on the team,” Hall said, “I think it could be something that’s very special.”
That starts with Watkins, who, in spite of a year away, apparently hasn’t skipped a beat in her return.
“I feel like she’s back like she never left,” guard Kennedy Smith said.
Men’s defending champion Jannik Sinner and women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka both arrived at Wimbledon with question marks hanging over them but answered the doubters with contrasting first-round victories.
Italy’s Sinner – playing his first match since his shock collapse and defeat in the second round of the French Open on a scorching day in Paris – was stretched to the limit by Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic but survived, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 on Monday.
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Sabalenka, who left Paris in a “deep, dark place” after losing the last 10 games of her quarterfinal against Diana Shnaider, followed Sinner onto Centre Court and breezed past Serbian qualifier Teodora Kostovic 6-2, 6-3.
While world number one Sinner, the overwhelming favourite in the absence of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, lived to fight another day, there were some early seeded casualties.
Norway’s 11th seed Casper Ruud was handed a tough draw in the shape of big-serving Pole Hubert Hurkacz and duly lost 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(7), while 12th seed Andrey Rublev was edged out in a five-set battle against fellow Russian Roman Safiullin, losing a deciding set tiebreaker 14-12 after missing two match points.
There was heartbreak too for surprise French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska as she lost 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 to Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew on Monday after the Pole fell and hurt herself while on match point.
Several women’s seeds moved through on a day mercifully cooler than the heatwave that gripped London last week.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka once again dressed to impress, walking on court in a Kill Bill-inspired white kimono and tennis shoes that shone as the 14th seed beat Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5.
American fourth seed Jessica Pegula beat Darja Vidmanova 7-5, 6-3, while newly crowned French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, seeded fifth, beat Magda Linette 7-5, 6-4.
Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic had far too much experience for young wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic, whose defeat was one of many on a miserable day for home players.
Home hopes ebb away
It was a grim day for the home nation, who failed to celebrate a single victory.
Twenty-one players, including 12 wildcards, were in the first-round draw, but after Emma Raducanu withdrew with an injury on the eve of the tournament, she was followed on Monday by Jack Draper, who announced he was also pulling out with an arm injury.
Ten British players lost, including British number one Cameron Norrie, seeded 26, beaten in five sets by inspired American qualifier Michael Zheng.
Sinner’s meltdown in the Roland Garros furnace against Juan Manuel Cerundolo had raised questions about his durability in long matches, but he answered those, albeit in relatively cool conditions, against Kecmanovic.
Sinner racked up his 94th Grand Slam match win, equalling the Italian record of Nicola Pietrangeli, but shed plenty of sweat and a little blood in reaching that mark, his white shoe stained red after injuring a nail in a fall.
“It was a little tight in the beginning; I didn’t play at my best, but I tried to get into it,” he said. “I’m happy I turned it around because the third set was very tough to swallow.”
Sinner had a point to go two sets to one ahead but lost it, and Kecmanovic pounced. Sinner was in danger of becoming only the third defending Wimbledon men’s champion to lose in the first round, but dominated from then on and later said his foot injury was not serious despite the pounding it took during his third-longest match at Wimbledon at three hours and 30 minutes.
“I’m actually surprised that they let me keep playing, because my all-white outfit turned into a little red,” he added.
New generation triumph
Court One fans expecting to see Raducanu in action were left disappointed as the replacement match saw home hope Harriet Dart beaten by Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko.
Next up was a duel between two more former US Open champions, Daniil Medvedev and Marin Cilic, but that fell flat as Cilic was made to look all of his 37 years as eighth-seed Medvedev romped to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win.
Two of the new men’s generation lit up the opening day.
Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, cheered on by a large contingent of fans in yellow football shirts, beat Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-3, before heading off to watch Brazil beat Japan to reach the last 16 at the World Cup.
Rising Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar, also aged 19, made an impressive debut, beating British wildcard Felix Gill 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.
Kerr signs with the NWSL champions until 2030, returning to the US league after six years spent with Chelsea in England.
Published On 29 Jun 202629 Jun 2026
Australian striker Sam Kerr has signed with Gotham FC, the reigning champions of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States, the club announced after the iconic player ended her dazzling career with Chelsea, which saw her win five Women’s Super League titles.
Kerr, who was a free agent, signed the contract on Monday that will see her play in New York through the 2030 season. She previously played in the city between 2015 and 2017.
The all-time leading regular-season goal-scorer for the North American league recorded 116 goals across all competitions with Chelsea and was the 2023 Ballon d’Or runner-up.
“This club was an important part of my journey, and to come back at this moment, with everything Gotham has built, is really special. The ambition here is clear, and I’m looking forward to helping this team compete for trophies and create more history,” Kerr said in a statement.
The signing is a fine coup for the NWSL, which saw several players exit for opportunities in Europe last year, and brings one of the game’s brightest talents to the biggest sports market in the US.
“Sam is one of the defining players of her generation and a game-changing talent who has consistently delivered at the highest levels of world football,” Yael Averbuch West, the president of football operations for Gotham, said.
“Bringing Sam back to Gotham is a landmark moment for our club, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Kerr played 119 career regular-season games (113 starts) across her seven seasons with three teams in the NWSL, including three years with Sky Blue FC (now Gotham FC) from 2015 to 2017.
After playing the 2018 season with the Chicago Red Stars, Kerr played a season for the Perth Glory in her native Australia (2018-19) before returning to Chicago in 2019. She joined Chelsea in the Women’s Super League in late 2019.
Despite her six-and-a-half-year absence, her 77 regular-season goals are still an NWSL record. In 2017, she won the Golden Boot and MVP awards with Sky Blue FC after a season in which she scored 17 goals in 22 games.
Kerr will debut for Gotham after the NWSL’s transfer window opens on July 14. Gotham host the Washington Spirit on July 15 in the Queens Classic in New York.
