The Bison’s rise to the top mirrored the struggles faced by people of color at a particularly tumultuous time in the Civil Rights era. Howard defeated St. Louis University in December 1971 to win it all, but had that national title stripped by the NCAA over player eligibility.

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It was a rude awakening for Lincoln Phillips, Howard’s head coach, who arrived in the U.S. in 1968 from Trinidad and Tobago to play for the Baltimore Bays in the North American Soccer League. Phillips, who on the field faced shots from the likes of Brazilian soccer legend Pel茅, was learning a hard lesson in dealing with American bureaucracy.

At the time, Phillips was in a new land trying to develop a new sport to Americans. The Bays, his professional club in Baltimore, folded, but Phillips stayed in the country. Phillips hooked up with the NASL鈥檚 Washington Darts and spent countless hours giving clinics and that led to a role at Howard.

At Howard, Phillips added to the school’s rich diversity and recruited talented players from the Caribbean, his native area, and West Africa. His first Howard team in 1970 made the NCAA semifinals and a year later celebrated its NCAA championship win over St. Louis University in the Orange Bowl.

“I remember Jesse Jackson came in to our locker room and told us, ‘You guys have to understand this is not just soccer. It is more than that,'” Phillips recalled. “You are representing your race. You are representing the game. You are ambassadors, and ambassadors must be at their best not often, but always.”

Phillips had only been in the U.S. three years; most of his players were newcomers as well and were just coming to terms with what it meant to be Black in the early 1970s. The 1971 Howard Bison handled the pressure, celebrated their title and received a congratulatory telegram from President Richard Nixon. The Bison declined an invitation to the White House, wanting to avoid politics in the election year of 1972.

At the time, The Washington Post called players Alvin Henderson, Keith Aqui and Mori Diane “heroes” in a city unaccustomed to sports championships. Sadly for Howard, not everyone shared the team’s joy.

In January 1972, the NCAA received an anonymous letter asking college athletics’ governing body to look into the eligibility of some of Howard’s players. While the investigation went on, Howard tried to repeat as champions, but lost to St. Louis University in the semifinals. During the season, the NCAA declared several Howard players ineligible.

, Phillips, while gracious in losing the 1972 semifinals, made his raw feeling known in a speech at a banquet in front of the nation’s top college soccer coaches.

“We played against this entire wretched system of this society,” said Phillips. “I would say the NCAA is guilty of practicing racism. St. Louis did not beat Howard University last night. They beat the remnants of what was left of Howard University.”

The NCAA completed its investigation into the Howard men’s soccer program in January 1973. The penalties levied to Howard were harsh. The NCAA stripped the Bison of their 1971 NCAA title. In addition, Phillips’ program could not compete in the 1973 tournament.

“When I was informed of the decision, I cried,” Phillips said. “I was in disbelief, but I had the support of my family and the university. Suddenly, the students and the entire school were interested in the soccer team and rallied behind us because they felt we had been unfairly treated by the NCAA.”

The pain of losing to the NCAA only fueled Phillips and Howard’s determination in 1974. The Bison went through the entire season without losing or tying a game. They were on a mission, and once again beat St Louis to win the NCAA championship.

“We won that championship and it was one of the greatest feelings I ever had in my life,” Phillips said. “I do not know if we had lost that game if I would have ever coached in my life again. Everything would have ended right there for the players, and me with a loss. That is how we felt. We had to win.”

This time, there were no anonymous letters to the NCAA to trigger an investigation. Howard become the first HBCU to win an NCAA championship 鈥� and it did not end for Phillips, who stayed at the school until 1980, developing young players on and off the field.

“It was good a culture,” said Phillips. “Even some of the players that came in who were not very good students had to keep up. When they saw their other teammates getting A’s, they had to do it too. When players come from Africa or the Caribbean, they come to school not to get B’s and C’s. And not in physical education, but in law or medicine or engineering they are some serious students.”

Phillips is 81 now and still in a tracksuit, actively coaching and living the game of soccer. He lives In Columbia, Maryland, and is one of the living legends and pillars of a strong soccer community.

In fact, it is possible to this day to run in to Phillips on a soccer field, a champion in so many ways.

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Golf is not a good walk spoiled for Silver Star medal recipient and retired U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Cordova, but instead an important escape from the trauma of war as the husband and father of two daughters transitions into civilian life.

Cordova is native of Mechanicsville, Maryland, and he fought in Afghanistan, specifically at the Battle of Kamdesh, which was the subject of the movie 鈥淭he Outpost.鈥�

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It is very different from Cordova’s current battleground: the fairways, bunkers, and greens of golf courses as part of the PGA of America’s flagship military program, the.

“Golfing provides incredible relief from everyday stressors we go through by being out on a course,” said Cordova. “I know that sounds contradictory to many golfers, because golfing is an incredibly frustrating sport when you do not hit the ball well and brings out some pretty raw emotions.”

Those raw emotions that golf can stir are nothing compared to what the servicemen and women experience dealing with all the responsibilities of military life and service to their country. Cordova admits his military life is an indescribable experience that probably only other veterans can relate to, and that is why he believes so strongly in the PGA Hope program.

introduces golf to veterans and active duty service members to support the emotional, social, and physical well-being through a developmental six to eight week program led by PGA professionals. That is not to say instruction by the game’s biggest stars 鈥� PGA professionals 鈥� are the instructors found at your area golf course.

While golf is the centerpiece of the program, it is only part the story. To be part of a community is important in all walks life, but can be especially therapeutic for veterans. PGA Hope offers camaraderie, community, and connects veterans who might have suffered PTSD or loss of limbs a point of light as they transition into an uncertain post-military world.

“Going out and golfing with your veteran buddies is a lot of fun and also very productive,” said Cordova. “You are not sitting around and drinking to the bottom of a bottle and saying ‘woe is me’ and reflecting on your military time in a poor way. Getting out on a golf course is a better avenue and something I hope other veterans will consider.”

Currently, the PGA Hope program engages with more than 7,500 veterans at more than 215 locations. That sounds impressive, but part of Cordova’s mission is growing the program and getting more golf clubs to have a PGA professional trained on military culture and to interact with veterans so the vets don’t feel so isolated when they try to get involved.

“For me as a veteran, and I think other veterans, going to a golf course is a very peaceful, pristine place and contradictory to the images in our minds of war zones,” said Cordova. “Veterans should not blowoff golf as a game for an elitist or thinking they are too old to try. You are never too old to try.”

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“When I finally made the team before the World Cup in 2014, what hit me was the guys who did not make the team”, said Beckerman. “I knew how crushed they were and knew what the feeling would be like. I had more compassion about the guys not making it instead of the feeling I finally did it 鈥� this is my dream come true.”

USMNT 26-man roster

Goalkeepers: Matt Turner (Arsenal), Sean Johnson (NYCFC), Ethan Horvath (Luton Town) (3)

Fullbacks: Sergi帽o Dest (Barcelona), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Joe Scally (Monchengladbacj), Shaq Moore (Nashville) (5)

Central defenders: Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) (4)

Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Leeds United) , Weston McKennie (Juventus) , Yunus Musah (Valencia), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Christian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) (7)

Forwards: Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Tim Weah (Lille), Gio Reyna (Dortmund), Jes煤s Ferreira (FC Dallas), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Haji Wright (Antalyaspor) (7)

Read more on the U.S.’s World Cup roster here.

“We have some players at top clubs,” said Beckerman. “It is amazing to see now that guys are playing important roles in the Champions League and all the top leagues in the world. We have some experience even though we are a young team. That experience at a high level will help going into the World Cup.”

One player that Beckerman is excited to see at this year’s World Cup is Brenden Aaronson who leads a new wave of potential American stars. Hailing from Medford, New Jersey, and nicknamed the “Medford Messi,” Aaronson is only 22. He was developed in MLS by the Philadelphia Union and played in Austria before going to the Premier League and Leeds United.

“The amount of work Aaronson does for the team is incredible,” said Beckerman. “The pressing, the chasing, the tackling, and now you see his quality on the ball and how comfortable he is out there. If he gets going, then the U.S. will have good games as well.

Beckerman played 20 years in Major League Soccer and earned 58 caps for the United States including starting all three group stage games at the 2014 World Cup. Still involved in the game, Beckerman is the head men’s soccer coach at Utah Valley University and co-owner of the Annapolis Blues professional soccer team 鈥� and is seeing the talent level rising.

“These kids are growing up with pro soccer teams in their backyard,” said Beckerman. “They are growing up with high level of soccer on TV from a very young age … it is much different than when I grew up.”

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When Beckerman started his professional journey in 2000, MLS had only a dozen teams. Now the league is closing in on 30 clubs.

In addition to growing the game in the stands, MLS teams now have established academies with developing talent who are attracting attention from overseas.

“We are attracting kids at a very young age and we have the facilities to develop them,” said Beckerman. “A lot of these kids have been better places to train than some of the kids in Europe. That goes hand-in-hand with the talent rising and getting guys to top clubs and historic clubs in Europe.”

The U.S. begins play at the World Cup on November 21 against Wales, and is in a group that includes England and Iran.

“I would love to see us go on a nice run to get in a conversation to win it this year,” said Beckerman. “It might not happen yet, but I am a super positive about this group, that they can get the whole country rocking about soccer 鈥� and then we host the World Cup in four years.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: 草莓传媒鈥檚 Dave Johnson is part of ownership group with Kyle Beckerman.

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The footgolf tournament, hosted 草莓传媒’s Dave Johnson, will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

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Footgolf uses a soccer ball, and a hole big enough to accommodate one. Unlike regular golf, if a shot goes astray, it’s still easy to find the ball. But like regular golf, there are hazards 鈥� and the difference often comes down to putting.

“Yes, it helps to start with a big kick, but it is all about the short game,” said Alex Bearman of District Sports, an organization that works to connect the city through soccer. “So, touch is important, and that means using the side of the foot versus the instep, and then guiding it to the hole.”

Footgolf got its start in the Netherlands in 2009 and by 2012, the first FootGolf World Cup was established. According to the American FootGolf League, about 10,000 players book tee times every month, and there are courses in 31 states.

“It is really kind of a unique experience and a great time out with friends,” Bearman said. “As a long time soccer player who has gotten a little bit older and not as quick on the field, it is still nice to enjoy part of the game with friends on the course.”

Multiple sclerosis affects the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, which make up the central nervous system that controls everything we do. A recent study suggests the average cost of MS treatment in the U.S. is now around $88,487 per year.

The tournament is organized by District Sports and the Federal Triangles SC.

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He sold red, white and blue snow cones with the slogan “Be Patriotic — Eat a Snow Cone.” Now, some serious green — at least $100,000 — is up for grabs to Georgetown student and alumni entrepreneurs at the Leonsis

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Think the TV show “Shark Tank,” except it is titled “Bark Tank” — fittingly, since the Georgetown mascot is a bulldog. The competing entrepreneurs won’t be be barking, but they will have three minutes to convince a panel of judges that their idea is the best during Wednesday’s event at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

“There is something magical about starting your own company,” said Leonsis, a member of Georgetown’s Class of ’77. “I wanted to bring that ethos and create a prize at Georgetown. We pick winners and give gifts to get kids started. It is not an investment; it is, ‘Here is some money, and now go and make your idea into something that is real.'”

There are eight finalists for this year’s “Bark Tank,” and there will be more than one champion. Usually, three or four winners are selected.

Leonsis appreciates his alma mater for creating this platform, which he says makes starting your own business an attractive option instead of working for someone else.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy,” Leonsis said. “Right now is the best time to start a company, especially when the economy is bad. There is real need out there, and if you can solve that problem and get funded you will be a real growth company when the economy turns.”

The eight finalists for this year’s competition are:

Budeli

Carlos Bello and Jinsung Bach (B’22)

Budeli is a property tech amenity that partners with residential complexes to provide $2 food delivery for apartment residents with no tips or hidden fees.

Dreame

Victor Dreame (C’23)

Dreame provides women and queer people with life coaching, tools and advice through social media to help them attract the romantic partner and life of their dreams.

LUCIO

Victoria Gomes-Boronat (G’22)

LUCIO is a social gaming platform that uses shared interests, shared experiences and geolocation matching algorithms to connect users of similar interests, age and proximity, providing research-supported ways to bond through gameplay and other shared experiences.

Tessen

Kilian Liptrot (L’23)

Tessen designs innovative camera products inspiring photographers to travel often and carry light.

Homemade in DC

Mackenzie Loy (B’22)

Homemade in DC is an online marketplace connecting local food entrepreneurs to businesses, offering corporate catering and custom gift boxes that are sourced locally from women, people of color and LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs.

Chestr

Besart Copa (SFS’22)

Chestr is a universal, single-click wishlist that lets you save items, add them to lists, share them with friends and track discounts.

Proxy Foods

Panos Kostopoulos (G’22)

Proxy Foods offers the world’s first B2B flavor optimization AI platform specifically created for alternative proteins. By consolidating and transforming billions of data points into answers, food companies can develop better products, faster, through computational modeling and guided innovation.

Global Pal

Neal Singal (B’23)

Global Pal empowers small and medium-sized restaurants through an easy-to-use, cost-effective mobile payment platform.

This year’s Bark Tank judges include Ted Leonsis (Founder, chairman and CEO of MSE), Zach Leonsis (President for Media and New Enterprises at MSE), Peter Biche (CFO of MSE), Grant Hastings (SVP for New Enterprises at MSE), Andrew Wallace (investment officer at Revolution Acceleration) and Fazeela Rashid (partner at Revolution Growth).

Editor鈥檚 Note: 草莓传媒鈥檚 Dave Johnson works for Monumental Sports and Entertainment as the radio voice of the Washington Wizards.

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The Washington Spirit don’t have a chance to defend its National Women’s Soccer League title, but the NWSL championship game set for Saturday at 20,000-seat Audi Field is trending toward a sellout crowd.

It’s a testament to the rising popularity of professional women’s soccer that the support is so strong at a neutral venue between the Portland Thorns and Kansas City Current. Saturday’s season finale will put the exclamation mark on a postseason with average attendance of 21,495 over four games.

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“We know that athletes in the NWSL are cultural icons that are household names,” said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. “People watch what they do on and off the pitch as a representation of what is possible for women and girls. For that reason, sponsors and media partners are recognizing that this is a place to invest resources and get a return on investment.”

While working to grow its fan base, the NWSL has also had to deal with scandal and protection of its players. The recently released Yates report on systemic abuse in the NWSL included allegations of sexual harassment against former Thorns head coach Thorns Paul Riley.

Riley last coached the Thorns in 2015 and moved on to lead other teams in the league before more allegations of abuse surfaced against him last year with the Carolina Courage and he was fired. Merritt Paulson, who is part owner of the Thorns and Major League Soccer Timbers, recently resigned as the team’s CEO and there have been calls for him to sell his teams.

“We do believe coming out of this we will be a best in class organization,” said Berman. “We are addressing some of the issues that we know are unique to the NWSL. These are broader cultural issues that women and girls face in our society. We believe this is an opportunity to get it right not just for our athletes but for everyone else who experiences these challenges.”

The NWSL is the third attempt at a professional women’s soccer league in the U.S. The Women’s United Soccer Association launched in 2001 featuring early stars of the game like Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain. It only lasted three seasons. A circuit called Women’s Professional Soccer tried again in 2009, but also only lasted three seasons.

The NWSL seems to have staying power. In addition to a postseason attendance boom, expansion teams in San Diego and Los Angeles were successful at the gate and the championship contending Current has broken ground on its own 11,000-seat stadium in Kansas City set to open in 2024.

“We believe we are at that critical turning point where women’s sports and women’s soccer and the NWSL in particular are about to take off,” said Berman. “We have the World Cup next summer and we know how incredible that is as a moment in time to bring tailwinds into the pro league. We have seen that happen before and that adds to our excitement for next season.”

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As the Wizards begin their journey into the 2022-23 season, Bradley Beal is back from a wrist injury that ended his season after only 40 games. Beal signed a contract extension in the off-season and says he is committed to the process of getting the Wizards to the proverbial next level.

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Beal is entering his 11th season in the NBA and has established himself as one of the game’s elite players. Twice in his career, Beal has averaged over 30 points per game, but the Wizards do not want Beal to have to feel like he needs to score 30 points per game.

Keeping 7-foot-3 center Kristap Porzingis on the floor will be critical to the Wizards’ success. Porzingis has not been able to play in more than 57 games in any of the past five seasons, but after joining the Wizards in a trade last February, he was durable and dependable on an All-Star level.

In playing 17 of 18 games in a four-week span to close last season Porzingis averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Porzingis was one of only six players in the league last season to produce that kind of stat line including LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The ‘big three’

Porzingis’s presence on the floor makes a difference at both ends of the floor. When he protects the paint, Porzingis either alters or block shots and is agile enough to close out big men who shoot from the outside. In addition, Porzingis’ ability to knock down outside shots opens up the floor for Beal and others to create and score.

This Wizards team should be able to score. In NBA circles, the popular belief is that every team needs a “big three” to succeed. With Kyle Kuzma to go along with Beal and Porzingis, the Wizards seem to have their “big three.” Kuzma not only had career-high 24 double-doubles last season, but, also like Beal, set a career high in assists last season.

There is the potential for the Wizards’ offense to flow. The addition of pass-first point guard Monte Morris already showed in preseason to be a wise acquisition. Morris played for head coach Wes Unseld Jr. when he served as an assistant in Denver and with his understanding of the team’s system; he immediately took charge of the offense.

Will Barton also joined the Wizards from Denver and his ability play and guard multiple positions has been a real asset. In preseason, Barton played both shooting guard and small forward, developing chemistry with Kuzma in the frontcourt. Barton very well could be part of a starting five with Kuzma, Porzingis, Beal and Morris.

In the NBA, it really does not matter who starts. The key is to be part of the rotation and Rui Hachimura certainly will be. Due to Hachimura only played in 42 games last season. However, this preseason, he was Washington’s most consistent player, averaging almost 15 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Hachimura needs to pick up where he left off last season beyond the arc. In 27 games after the All-Star break, he shot almost 46% from 3-point range.

Now about the defense

The Wizards were not terrible last season 鈥� they ranked 16th in the NBA in opponents points per game. With their potential to score, Washington does not need to be dramatically better on defense, but just be better three or four possessions a game.

It really is that fine a line. It is not about gambling and going for steals, it is just about being more active.

In the preseason, the Wizards were more active on defense. They created more deflections and, without gambling, came up with 39 steals in four games. That is a positive, but rebounding is also a part of defense and Washington needs to be more physical. In four preseason games, the Wizards were outrebounded 219-166.

Deni Avdija is getting closer to a return from a groin injury that kept him out of the entire preseason. In his two seasons, Avdija has demonstrated that he can guard four positions and thrives on big challenges like containing Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Under the radar, the addition of veteran guard Delon Wright is already having an impact. Wright plays with an edge the Wizards need and in the preseason finale against the Knicks finished with 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. Washington finished going +20 whenever Wright was on the court.

“Everybody’s goal is to make the playoffs,” said Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard. “I think we’ve got to see the improvement on the defensive end. I think we addressed that in the summer. You find out in the winter what you did in the summer.”

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Since the area’s Major League Baseball teams 鈥� the Nationals and Orioles 鈥� are carried by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, the majority of NBCSW鈥檚 programming already focused on Monumental’s teams.

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MSE already held a 33% stake in NBCSW and currently operates the streaming service Monumental Sports Network. In 2016, MSE signed a long-term partnership with the company, then known as CSN Mid-Atlantic, that covered the exclusive regional network television rights to the games of the Capitals and Wizards.

鈥淲e at Monumental Sports & Entertainment are incredibly excited to have reached an agreement to acquire NBC Sports Washington, an important business for our current and future core business operations,鈥� said Zach Leonsis, Monumental’s president of media and new enterprises. 鈥淐omcast NBCUniversal has built a strong regional sports network in NBC Sports Washington. We look forward to further enhancing and innovating on the already best-in-class experience that our fanbase enjoys of watching live sports, for years to come.鈥�

When the deal was made in 2016, MSE was given two representatives on the NBCSW鈥檚 six-member board of directors. NBC Universal was the owner of NBCSW, which began in 1984 as a regional sports network known as Home Team Sports.

At the time, it was unheard of for home games of sports teams to be televised locally for fear of hurting ticket sales. Now, it’s the norm for all games to be televised, and the past 40 years have seen a boom in ticket sales for all major league sports.

NBCSW is available on about 25 cable television providers, primarily in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. It’s estimated the channel reaches more than 4.7 million households in the Mid-Atlantic region.

草莓传媒 is a media partner with NBC Sports Washington.

草莓传媒’s Dave Johnson is the radio play-by-play voice of the Wizards.

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The Mystics have the WNBA’s top overall defensive rating and limit opponents to a league best 29.7 points per game in the paint. Armed with those numbers, the Mystics’ quest for their second title as they close out their 25th anniversary season begins Thursday in Seattle against the Storm with Game 1 of a best-of-three series.

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“I think the feeling around the league is ‘watch out for Washington if they can score consistently,'” said Mystics head coach Mike Thibault. “We have shown with our defense not only can we compete with the best teams in the league, but we can beat them.”

The Mystics’ steel-on defense starts with Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins and Alysha Clark who according to Thibault have defense etched in as part of their identities as players. All have been on the WNBA’s all-defensive team.

Offseason acquisition Elizabeth Williams is a defensive stopper who has also earned WNBA defensive honors. In addition, Thibault thinks rookie Shakira Austin is one of those rare players who, in their first season in professional basketball, excels on the defensive end.

With her presence, Elena Delle Donne adds to the defensive mix and is one of the best shot blockers in the WNBA. This past season Delle Donne played in 25 of 36 regular season games after appearing in only three games since the Mystics won their title in October 2019. Delle Donne has had to deal with back issues but is working hard to return to MVP level.

“She is literally putting in some days eight hours (a) day just to be ready to play,” said Thibault. “That kind of commitment allows her to go out and average close to 20 points a game and six and seven rebounds a game. That takes a special dedication to her craft and to wanting to be one of the best players in the league.”

In the WNBA playoff format, Seattle will host the first two games of the series because they were 2-1 in regular season games against the Mystics. One of those Mystics losses was decided on the last possession and pushed the Mystics down to the fifth seed even though they had the same record as the fourth-seeded Storm.

If the Mystics can secure a win in Seattle, then they would host the decisive game three Wednesday, Aug. 24, at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Congress Heights.

In 2018 the Storm swept the Mystics for their first WNBA title. The championship series loss motivated the Mystics, who responded by winning it all in 2019. The Storm lifted the trophy again in 2020.

Seattle is led by forward Breanna Stewart, who led the WNBA in scoring for the first time in her career, averaging 21.8 points. She is also the first player to repeat as The Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year.

“We are going into a series that is a very even matchup,” said Thibault. “People will be saying the winner of this series can win the whole thing”

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The has scheduled a matchup between “The College Park Boys,” a team of former Terrapins, and “DawgTalk,” a team of former Hoyas, for Saturday on the pavilion court at the University of Maryland’s Xfinity Center.

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“After four or how many years you are at your school, you build a fan base,” said Chris Wright, who played at Georgetown from 2007 to 2011 and serves as the general manager of “DawgTalk.”

“It is a great opportunity for us to reconnect and also build pride and unity in our schools,” Wright said.

“DawgTalk,” will feature Aaron Bowen, Jason Clark, Greg Monroe, Jagan Mosely, Rodney Pryor, Henry Sims, D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Greg Whittington and Wright.

Travis Garrison played at Maryland from 2002 to 2006 and is the general manager of “The College Park Boys,” which will include Melo Trimble, Terrell Stoglin, Anthony Cowan Jr., Damonte Dodd, James Gist, Ekene Ibekwe, Sean Mosley and Byron Mouton.

Getting Maryland and Georgetown on the court in men’s basketball hasn’t been easy. The two schools are separated by less than 20 miles, but since December 1979, the Terrapins and Hoyas have only played against each other five times and one of those times in 2001, they were forced to because it was an NCAA tournament game.

“It’s not really a rivalry between Georgetown and Maryland because we have not played enough,” said Wright. “The players from Georgetown and Maryland go against each other in summer league, but we need to play each other every year. I hope this alumni game helps to rekindle the matchup.”

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The Baltimore Orioles are in wild card contention and enjoying a breakthrough season in 2022, but their fans on Saturday will be able to party like it is 1992.

As part of the Orioles 30th anniversary celebration of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the team offered on tickets for the Aug. 6 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The pricing, where tickets were as low as $4, was only available to fans who bought tickets by July 11.

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The first 15,000 fans over age 15 will get a special anniversary T-shirt.

Before the 5:05 p.m. game, Hall of Famer Eddie Murray will lead a group of former players who will be honored, including Robert Andino, Chris Davis, Jay Gibbons, Chris Hoiles, Rodrigo Lopez, Jeff Reboulet, and the starter of the first-ever game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards Rick Sutcliffe.

On the concourse behind home plate, a 30th anniversary exhibit will be updated to feature highlights from the returning players and in-game entertainment will include some of the top musical hits of the last 30 years, plus vignettes of fan-favorite moments at Oriole Park since 1992.

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The D.C. Sports Hall of Fame class of 2020 includes Len Elmore, Bob Geoghan, Mark Johnson, Mark Lerner, Alan Webb, Christy Winters Scott, and the 2021 Washington Spirit.

Names of Hall of Fame members are displayed at Nationals Park.

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“The D.C. Sports Hall of Fame is grateful once again for the support of our collaborative host organization, the Washington Nationals, and the Lerner family to hold our induction ceremony at the ballpark on July 31,” said D.C. Sports Hall of Fame selection committee chairman Bobby Goldwater.

LEN ELMORE: Len Elmore was an All-American and All-ACC center at the University of Maryland where he remains the Terps’ all-time leading rebounder and only player with both 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points. A 10-year pro in the ABA and NBA, the respected attorney is a TV analyst and member of the Knight Commission for Intercollegiate Athletics.

BOB GEOGHAN: Bob Geoghan was an influential force in the area’s basketball community for more than 40 years as the creator of the McDonald’s All-American Boys and Girls Games, Capital Classic High School All-Star Game, Washington Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame, and Nell and John Wooden Leadership in Coaching Award. The lifelong Washingtonian died earlier this year.

MARK “TOO SHARP” JOHNSON: The native Washingtonian is considered one of the area’s greatest-ever boxers, as a three-time world champion, the first African American and second American to win a world flyweight title and the youngest inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012.

MARK LERNER: Mark Lerner is a native Washingtonian who has had exceptional accomplishments in combining community engagement, philanthropic initiatives and business acumen as the managing principal owner of the Washington Nationals, as a partner in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, in many area civic and charitable leadership positions, and as a laureate inductee of the Washington Business Hall of Fame and Junior Achievement of Greater Washington.

ALAN WEBB: The Reston native and South Lakes High School standout is the fastest miler in U.S. history and was the first high school runner to break the 4-minute barrier indoors, a Big Ten cross country and 1,500-meter champion at the University of Michigan, a three-time 1,500-meter national champion and a 2004 U.S. Olympian.

CHRISTY WINTERS SCOTT: Widely considered to be the greatest-ever female basketball player at South Lakes High School, she led the Seahawks to a 29-0 record and the 1986 Virginia AAA state title as a senior and was named the consensus D.C. Metro Area All-Met player of the year.

As a University of Maryland star, Winters Scott finished among the all-time leaders in most of the Terps’ statistical categories and first team All-ACC as a senior. She has been a highly regarded basketball commentator and a successful coach with championship seasons at her high school alma mater.

TEAM OF DISTINCTION 鈥� 2021 WASHINGTON SPIRIT: The Spirit captured the 2021 NWSL championship, the first in the team’s history, with an inspirational demonstration of perseverance and resilience to rise above all challenges and distractions.

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Those are rugby terms and teams from Premier Rugby Sevens, who will play a tournament beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday at the home of D.C. United. The competition is in its first year and features some of the best male and female rugby athletes in North America, including several Olympians.

Matches are set for The District Tournament this Saturday, July 16th. Watch for free on or go to for tix!

鈥� Premier Rugby Sevens (@prsevens)

PR7s is unique with each of its four franchises known as the Headliners, Loonies, Loggerheads and Experts fielding a men’s and women’s team, with men and women earning equal play. There is an incentive for the men’s and women’s teams to support each other because their combined success counts toward the PR7s United championship.

To put it another way, it would be like if the Mystics and Wizards victories were combined in the quest for a championship.

Rugby sevens is a form of rugby union, but teams are made up of seven players playing seven-minute halves, instead of the usual 15 players playing 40-minute halves. The condensed format allows for a total of 12 matches to be played on Saturday, including a men’s and women’s final.

“It is super fast-paced and there is physicality,” said Olympian Abby Gustaitis, who went to the University of Maryland and plays for the Headliners women’s team. “There are big hits. It is full contact and all we are wearing is mouth guards and cleats.”

Speed and finesse are also a big part of rugby sevens. While the field of play is smaller than traditional rugby union, there are still fewer players with more room to compete. The game also has few stoppages of play.

“It is not like football where we are stopping to huddle up and say call out a play, like ‘blue 42,'” said Gustaitis. “Rugby is an art. It is nonstop decision-making and critical thinking on the fly. Communication and trust in your teammates are essential.”

While the players literally connect through contact on the field, part of Gustaitis’ attraction to rugby is community. She has discovered the rugby world to be as much about developing friendships as it is earning victories.

“Everyone is sharing a drink after the match,” Gustaitis said. “We all socialize and hang out together off the pitch. But we try to battle it out on the pitch. It doesn’t matter if it is your best friend across from you, you hit them as hard as you can.”

Gustaitis grew up in White Hall, Maryland, northeast of Baltimore, and excelled at other sports, including basketball, but did not become active in rugby until 2010 during her time in College Park. Still, her rugby success might be traced to her childhood.

“I grew up with two older brothers so I was always getting bashed around,” Gustaitis said. “It is nice to now be able to use physical play in a legal manner on the field.”

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Through soccer, Rooney has fame and money, and glitz and glamour might surround him, but his working-class roots flow through him. Before Rooney boarded a London-to-D.C. flight in June 2018 to join United as a player, he tweeted, “Let’s get to work D.C.” And with Rooney pulling the strings in midfield and scoring goals, the Black and Red went from last place to the playoffs.

Now, the challenge is for Rooney to deliver as D.C. United’s new head coach. While working papers are sorted out, Rooney will have to wait, but on the field, the team cannot. Just like when Rooney arrived four years ago, United is dwelling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, and just like four years ago, he is not wasting time getting started.

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Rooney only arrived at Dulles Airport late Sunday night and has already has been a presence at training sessions. Out-of-contract players in the English Premier League have already called Rooney. At his introductory press conference, Rooney was wearing a tracksuit. To be clear, Rooney is not coach until the paperwork is done, but that can’t stop his mind.

England gave the world football, or soccer as we call it, and he is that nation’s all-time leading scorer. Rooney’s drive and determination are as legendary as his accomplishments — five English Premier League championships with Manchester United, a UEFA Champions League title and a FIFA Club World Cup trophy.

Coaching is a serious business, and I’ve seen that Rooney has the temperament to succeed on the sideline. Rooney is demanding, and he starts with himself — that’s how he achieved all he did. Watching him practice as a player over 18 months with D.C. United, I never saw him take a break, and he always coached and encouraged his teammates.

When he left D.C. after the 2019 season, he joined Derby County as a player with an eye toward coaching. The team was looking to make a push for promotion from England’s second tier back to the EPL, and when Rooney arrived, they appeared to have the resources to make it.

Unfortunately, Derby County spiraled out of control of the field with financial difficulties, and no longer had the money to seriously compete. Amid the chaos, Rooney took over the coaching reins and was a calming influence. The club was on the verge of going out of business, and Rooney stayed all business.

Despite a depleted roster, Derby County became the team in the English Championship that other teams did not want to play. Rooney’s players channeled his fight and his anything-is-possible attitude. As the team sold players to stay afloat, Rooney had to turn to developing and playing younger players from the team’s academy.

Derby County produced upset wins over some of the English Championship’s bigger clubs, including Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, all of whom were promoted to the EPL. Rooney kept that team together, and if not for a 21-point deduction imposed by the English Football League for financial irregularities, Derby County would have comfortably avoided relegation.

All you need to know about Rooney’s commitment to coaching is how he handled himself at Derby County. As they sank lower and lower, Rooney kept his head and his expectations of his players high. That’s true leadership. If a person of Rooney’s stature walked away from the situation, it would have been easily understood and forgiven.

“What I made of it was, he was serious about his craft,” said D.C. United owner Jason Levien. “He is a lover of the game of football, and he really wants to manage, and he really wants to lead. I love the way he had the team fighting. There were times he fielded sides filled with academy players. The team responded to it. His never-say-die attitude came through again.”

Rooney is approaching coaching the same way he did his playing career. Success on the sideline will follow.

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Sources confirmed with 草莓传媒 that Rooney has agreed to terms to take up the vacant coaching role. He arrived at Dulles International Airport Sunday evening.

BREAKING: Multiple outlets are reporting Wayne Rooney is returning to become the new manager for . Below is showing Rooney arriving at Dulles Airport.
He played two and half seasons in DC in 2018-2020, scoring 25 goals in all competitions.

鈥� Jos茅 Mauricio Uma帽a (@Jose_M_Umana)

United’s interest in bringing the former English striker on Friday.

As a player, Rooney energized United on and off the field when he arrived in mid-2018. In 48 matches with D.C., Rooney scored 23 goals and led the club to two playoff appearances.

After the 2019 season, Rooney returned to England to play for Derby County in the English second division. He eventually became the team’s manager, but Derby County, saddled by financial problems, was relegated to England’s League One in the third division.

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United fired former head coach Hernan Losada just six matches into this season and the Black and Red have compiled a record of 3-6-3 under interim head coach Chad Ashton.

D.C. United is coming off a 7-0 loss on the road against Philadelphia on Friday and plays Columbus at home Wednesday. It is not clear when Rooney will take over as United’s head coach but more details are expected later in the week.

草莓传媒’s Jos茅 Uma帽a contributed to this report.

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