The Sportsletter - Puddle Jumpers 🇺🇸

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BY JEFF YODER

MAR. 7, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

Only 10 days to brackets and I’m already feeling the madness. Sports are gonna sports. Lots to cover as we speed towards the weekend...

Two men’s college hoops teams won conference regular-season titles last night — Houston (Big 12) and Tennessee (SEC) — and the NHL Trade Deadline is starting to hum. But first, the USWNT revenge tour resumes. They earned a spot in the Gold Cup final thanks to a thriller with Canada in field conditions you have to see to believe.

⌛️ Selection Sunday: 10 Days

Letter Rip!

  SOCCER  

A Gold Cup Splash Match 🇺🇸

Photo: Carmen Mandato / USSF / Getty Images

USWNT Holds Off Canada in Flooded Penalty-Shootout (2-2, 3-1 PKs) to Reach Inaugural Gold Cup Final

You want some scintillating March soccer? The U.S. Women’s National Team has you covered. Last night’s Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup semifinal between the USA and Canada in San Diego was a wet and wild ride that looked more like a flood-warning weather alert than a soccer match. It concluded with goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saving the day in a penalty shootout (2-2, 3-1 PKs). And after last year's World Cup collapse, the inaugural Women's Gold Cup appears to be a chance at redemption for the USA. 

The Recap: Canada responded both times the U.S. took a one-goal lead on Wednesday night, answering the 1-0 deficit with a late-match header to force extra time (1-1). They answered again after Sophia Smith (99') put the USWNT on top (2-1) in extras. Canada's Adriana Leon earned a penalty in the 127th minute (seven minutes of stoppage time after 30 minutes of extra-time). That's more than two hours of game play in a flash flood just to go kicking from the spot. This thing didn't end until 1:30 am ET. But at long last, Naeher couldn’t be beat. She stopped three of Canada’s PKs to earn a dramatic win and punch the U.S. through to the Gold Cup final. They’ll face Brazil on Sunday after their win over Mexico (3-0).

Goal Sheet (Semifinals)

🇺🇸 Jaedyn Shaw (’20)

🇨🇦 Jordyn Huitema (82’)

🇺🇸 Sophia Smith (99’)

🇨🇦 Adriana Leon (120+7’)

Fun Fact: 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw is the first player in USWNT history to score in each of her first four starts.

Watch: USWNT Wins Rain-Soaked Thriller Win Canada (2-2, 3-1 PKs) to Reach Gold Cup Final

Concacaf W Gold Cup Final

🇺🇸 USWNT vs. 🇧🇷 Brazil (Sun. 7:15 pm ET, CBS/ESPN)

Read More

CBS Sports: USWNT Advance to W Gold Cup Final by Weathering Rain Storm in Unplayable Conditions

Yahoo! Sports: Puddles, Absurd Conditions Mar (And Aid) USWNT’s Wild Win Over Canada

  NHL  

Major Trades on Ice 🏒

Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images

The Top NHL Trades of the Week Before Tomorrow's Trade Deadline (3:00 pm ET)

The NHL trade deadline is picking up steam! We’ve already seen six valuable player swaps in the past 48 hours with the deadline looming. One of the most notable deals involves Vladimir Tarasenko joining the league-leading Panthers. Florida (90 pts) is red-hot in the midst of a six-game win streak and three wins or more ahead of the field. Adding Tarasenko on the wing won’t hurt. The Avalanche were also involved in multiple deals as Colorado looks to shore up gaps and push through a loaded Central race. Expect more negotiations in the next 24-plus hours before Friday’s deadline (3:00 pm ET). Here’s a look at the most recent trades from the last two days (current as of the time of writing).

Notable Recent Trades

C Alex Wennberg (Kraken) → Rangers

*Kraken Receive Picks

C Casey Mittelstadt (Sabres) → Avalanche

*Sabres Receive Bowen Byram

D Sean Walker (Flyers) → Avalanche

*Flyers Get Ryan Johansen & 1st-Round Pick

RW Vladimir Tarasenko (Senators) → Panthers

*Senators Receive Picks

C Adam Henrique (Ducks) → Oilers

*3-Way Trade With Lightning

RW Anthony Mantha (Capitals) → Golden Knights

*Caps Receive Picks

NHL Trade Deadline: Friday (3:00 pm ET)

Read More

CBS Sports: 2024 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker

The Athletic: NHL Trade Grades: Tarasenko is a Great Get for the Panthers

  POWERED BY  

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Spring is almost here, and that means outdoor enthusiasts can rejoice! If you’re looking for a do-it-all shoe, look no further than the Men’s Hoka Transport from Hansen’s Shoes. Get ready for the weather to warm up so these bad boys can take you to the streets, the park, or anywhere in nature your feet desire.

Built for lifestyle and performance, the Men’s Hoka Transport is designed with a 30% EVA midsole, a Vibram EcoStep Natural outsole that uses 90% oil-free components and Cordura RE/CORTEM with 100% recycled polyester. Too fancy? I’ll simplify: The Transport is water resistant and built to reduce scuffs so it can go virtually anywhere. It’s a shoe that’s both active and tough, rugged and light, and built for taking on everything Spring has to offer.

👟 Move into Spring with the Men’s Hoka Transport from Hansen’s Shoes.

  HIGHLIGHTS   🎥

🏀 NBA

Warriors def. Bucks (125-90)

*Dubs Outscore Bucks 32-9 in 4th Quarter

Magic def. Wizards (119-109)

*Orlando Rallies From 21 Down to Win 5th Straight

Kings def. Lakers (130-120)

*De'Aaron Fox Scores 44 Points

⚽️ Champions League (Round of 16)

Man. City def. Copenhagen (3-1)

*City Advance Easily on Aggregate (6-2)

Real Madrid draw RB Leipzig (1-1)

*Madrid Survive Scare to Advance on Agg. (2-1)

🏒 NHL

Avalanche def. Red Wings (7-2)

*Cole Makar Nets Hat Trick in Colorado Rout

Maple Leafs def. Sabres (2-1, OT)

*Auston Matthews Fires OT Winner

🏀 NCAA Basketball

M: #1 Houston def. UCF (67-59)

*HOU Wins Conference in 1st Season in Big 12

M: #2 UConn def. #8 Marquette (74-67)

*Alex Karaban (23 pts) Ends Scoring Slump

M: #4 Tennessee def. #17 S. Carolina (66-59)

*Dalton Knecht (26 pts), Vols Win SEC Title

  STORYLINES  

🏈 The Top-50 NFL Free Agents

The NFL offseason attention now turns to a 2024 free-agent class that features a Pro Bowl quarterback and a strong cast of defensive standouts. Here’s a top-50 look at free agents who could be available when the new league year begins. (FOX Sports)

🏀 The Wait & Weight for Bronny James

The world is watching impatiently as LeBron’s oldest son tries to follow in his father’s impossible footsteps. But despite unfathomable pressure, Bronny isn’t crumbling. “It’s who he is as a person,” says USC coach Andy Enfield. (The Ringer)

⚾️ MLB Spring Training Player Buzz

Scouts are descending on Florida and Arizona to get their first looks at live action. Plenty of the players they are watching are new versions of themselves. Here are 10 standouts who have impressed evaluators in the early days of spring training. (ESPN+)

  NEWS   📰 

🏀 Khaman Maluach, Top Big Man in 2024 Class, Commits to Duke (ESPN)

🏀 Isaiah Thomas Signs Contract With Jazz’s G-League Team, Eyes NBA Comeback (B/R)

🏈 Nick Saban Says Player Attitudes ‘Contributed’ to Retirement Decision (Yahoo! Sports)

🏀 Zion Williamson Vows to Enter Future NBA Dunk Contest If Selected to All-Star Game (SI)

🏈 Veteran TE Zach Ertz Signs 1-Year, $5 Million Deal With Commanders (NBC Sports)

🏈 Broncos Give Russell Wilson Permission to Begin Meeting With Other Teams (CBS Sports)

🏈 Bills’ Jordan Poyer & Tre’Davious White Among Salary Cap Cuts in Buffalo (B/R)

🏈 Mitch Trubisky Reportedly Joining Bills as Josh Allen’s Backup QB (Yahoo! Sports)

🎾 Rafael Nadal Drops Out of Indian Wells Due to Health, ‘Can’t Lie’ to Self (ESPN)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

Tonight's Must-Watch List

🏀 NBA

T-Wolves at Pacers (7:00 pm ET, NBALP)

Heat at Mavericks (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Celtics at Nuggets (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

🏒 NHL

Maple Leafs at Bruins (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Capitals at Penguins (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Canucks at Golden Knights (10:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

⚽️ Concacaf Champions League

FC Cincinnati vs. Monterrey (7:00 pm ET, FOX)

Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami CF (9:00 pm ET, FOX)

🏀 NCAA Basketball

M: #5 Arizona at UCLA (9:30 pm ET, ESPN)

W: Women’s Pac-12 Tournament Full Schedule

⚾️ MLB Spring Training

Braves at Red Sox (1:00 pm ET, ESPN App)

  POLL   📊

Question of the Day

Which of the top-3 teams (projected No. 1 seeds) do you think has the best chance to win the men's NCAA Tournament? (click to vote)

#1 Houston (27-3)

#2 UConn (27-3)

#3 Purdue (26-3)

Poll Results

Yesterday, we asked: Do you think the Dartmouth Basketball team forming a union is a good thing for college sports and athletes? It's scary hours in college athletics.

Yes — 28.4%

No — 71.6%

Thanks for participating in the polls. If you want to continue the conversation surrounding breaking news, debates and our Question of the Day, follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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