Sports News

Finally Friday!

Share

Content warning: This section contains mention of sexual misconduct.

The GIST: Amid repeated calls for his resignation after he forcibly kissed Spain’s captain Jenni Hermoso as she accepted her FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) medal on Sunday, Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales announced early this morning that he is not stepping down, insteading vowing to fight for his post. You can’t make this sh!t up.

The no-background: Following swift backlash to the kiss (among other lewd gestures), Rubiales released a bullsh!t “apology” earlier this week, apparently eager to brush all criticism aside and ignore the calls for his removal, even as Hermoso herself urged action.

• FIFA, the world’s governing soccer body, also announced disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales yesterday.

The latest: Still, in an impassioned speech at today’s RFEF extraordinary general assembly, Rubiales said the kiss was “mutual and with consent.” He shared that he would not be forced out of his role due to a “witch hunt” and “false feminism” and called the last five days a “social assassination” of his character.

• Not only that, but Rubiales doubled down on backing Spain’s controversial women’s national team head coach, Jorge Vilda, reportedly offering him a four-year contract extension and increasing his salary to half a million Euros next year.

• As a reminder, 15 players from Spains’ women’s national team resigned in protest against Vilda last September, citing a toxic and unprofessional work environment.

• Sadly, Rubiales’ speech was received with a mighty round of applause as he blew kisses to the majority male assembly. To quote USWNT star Megan Rapinoe, what kind of upside-down world are we living in?

The pattern: Unfortunately, women’s soccer and misogyny go hand in hand. In the past year alone, an investigation uncovered widespread misconduct within the NWSL, CanWNT played under protest as they fought for equal treatment from their federation, and Zambia’s head coach was accused of sexual misconduct by his players.

• And after all that, last week, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had the audacity to say that the onus is on female footballers to “convince us, men, what we have to do” when speaking about equality in the game.

Zooming out: Women's soccer has never been more popular, yet players are still fighting for protection on the field, in the locker rooms, and even in moments of glory. When will it end?

The GIST: Say bonjour to your weekend plans because the 2023 US Gymnastics Championships are officially underway, with Olympic hopefuls looking to impress in San Jose, CA.

• This is the last meet before the five-woman and five-man rosters drop for the world championships in October, where spots in the Paris 2024 Olympics are on the line.

Simone Biles: After taking a nearly two-year hiatus following her battle with “the twisties” at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Biles was back like she never left at the U.S. Classic earlier this month, dominating her way to the all-around title.

• So it’s no surprise Biles is again the favorite heading into the weekend. A win would make her the oldest U.S. women’s all-around champion and the first gymnast — woman or man — to win eight U.S. all-around titles. They don’t call her the GOAT for nothing.

Other gymnasts to watch: Fellow Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee headlines the field alongside Biles, with Olympic medalists Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles rounding out the star-studded lineup. As for the men, two-time reigning champ Brody Malone is out with injury, leaving Asher Hong and last year’s runner-up Donnell Whittenburg as the ones to watch.

• The men started the party last night, but it’ll be a GNO when the women’s action begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Peacock, with the fun continuing through the weekend. Flippin’ stoked.

Couldn't get enough of this year’s WWC? Same. There was nothing better than watching superstars like Spain’s Alexia Putellas and Australia’s Sam Kerr ball out…if only there was a way to be part of their championship quests. Enter: Topps and their UEFA Women’s Champions League Chrome collection, the perfect way to express your fandom.

These cards put the “beautiful” in the beautiful game. Plus, the thrill of chasing down your favorite player’s card is almost as fun as watching Kerr hunt down the net.

• Check out the UEFA Women’s Champions League Chrome collection. Who knows, you might even have a newly crowned World Cup champ in your hands.

⚽ Lionel Messi continues to tear through the American soccer scene — his Inter Miami CF squad booked a spot in next month’s US Open Cup final. Now see what Leo will do in his first regular-season MLS game, tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET against the NY Red Bulls.

🏒 Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews just got paid. The standout center signed a four-year, $53M extension on Wednesday, making him the highest paid player in NHL history.

🍁 After one round of play at the CPKC Women’s Open hosted in Vancouver, Japan’s Yuka Saso leads the field at 6-under par, while American Rose Zhang sits tied for third.

⛳ Americans Collin Morikawa and Keegan Bradley and Norway’s Viktor Hovland are in a three-way tie for first after yesterday’s opening round at the Tour Championship in Georgia.

⚾ Oft-injured Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg announced his retirement from pro baseball yesterday. The former No. 1 overall draft pick will always be remembered for his electric start in the bigs and his 2019 World Series MVP performance.

🏅 On Wednesday, American Katie Moon and Australian Nina Kennedy agreed to share the pole vault gold medal at the World Athletics Championship after more than two hours of back-and-forth competition. Sharing is caring.

🏀 FIBA World Cup: USA vs. New Zealand — Tomorrow at 8:40 a.m. ET — ESPN2

• The tourney favorite red, white, and blue boys begin their quest to avenge their seventh-place 2019 World Cup finish as Olympic qualifying action tips off in Manila.

🎓🏈 NCAA football: No. 13 Notre Dame vs. Navy — Tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET — NBC

• The No. 13 Fighting Irish fittingly kick off Week 0 action over in Dublin, Ireland, taking on the unranked Midshipmen. Hut, hut, hike.

⚾ LLWS US Championship: Texas vs. California — Tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET — ESPN

• It all comes down to this. Only one American team can advance to Sunday’s Little League World Series final and it’ll be either the All-Stars from the Lone Star State or the youngsters from the City of Angels.

🏎️ F1: Dutch Grand Prix — Sunday at 9 a.m. ET — ESPN

• The paddocks are reopening after a month-long break — can anyone stop Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in his home country race?

You look like you could use one last summer getaway. Explore all the glitz and glam that Tinseltown has to offer by entering to win a five-day trip to Hollywood with accommodations and some activities covered.

• What are you waiting for? The red carpet is calling your name. Enter for your chance to win today.