Sophia Wilson, after giving birth to her daughter Gigi in September, returned to the United States Women's starting lineup for the first time since 2024. Wilson, who earned her 59th cap and 41st start on the night, hadnt shared the pitch with fellow "Triple Espresso" member Trinity Rodman in 17 months. After a brief feeling-out period, though, the pair looked like they hadnt missed a beat up top. 'More grounded, more present' Wilson told reporters this week that shes gone with a slicked-back low bun easy and efficient, two very important traits when youre a new mom. Wilson, who gave birth to her daughter Gigi in September, has returned to action with the Portland Thorns this NWSL season and was called back into USA camp for the first time since the 2024 Paris Olympics for this window against Japan. "I feel more grounded, more present, and I think thats how I view the game as well," Wilson said ahead of her first match back with the national team. "I realized that my career is going by, and while Im still in my prime years, I want to enjoy it all. You cant play soccer forever, unfortunately. So I think just being present, more than anything, is what Im trying to take from being a mom." While Wilson didnt find the back of the net a familiar sight for a striker with 24 USA goals she was directly involved in several chances across her 67 minutes. Whether it was her service to the far post, runs in behind Japans press, or her off-ball movement creating space for players like Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Heaps pushing higher, Wilsons impact was clear. In the postgame press conference, Emma Hayes made a point to highlight that effort. "Thats the first time Sophs had to play in a game at that level since the Olympic gold medal final, so Im proud of her for that." Wilson is the 18th mother to play for USA and after logging 70 minutes on Saturday night, shes now within touching distance of another milestone. If Wilson scores in one of the next two matches, shell become the ninth mother to score for the national team. 'It felt like it was the right game to play Soph ' Despite a lengthy absence, Hayes told media members that this felt like the right game to get Wilson back in the starting lineup. "It felt like it was the right game to play Soph, and I knew she'd probably only play 60 minutes," she said. Hayes added that the time is now to start getting some of these players back to playing together, especially as the window closes in on World Cup qualifying. "We don't have a lot of windows left, so we need to get some of these players playing back together again," she said. Almost two years in the making Wilsons most recent match for the USA women's squad was on Oct. 27, 2024, vs. Iceland, and her most recent goal was on Oct. 24, 2024, so it's been quite some time away from the national team. "I'm proud of her to come into that, and it takes a bit of time to find that rhythm. And I think she gave it everything she could," Hayes said. "One of the things I said to her is she's got to build her way back to it, but I'm really pleased with her." What comes next? Hayes has said that Wilson's time will be managed, as this is still her first time back in camp since giving birth. However, USA is playing Japan twice more, and it is likely she will continue to be worked in by the U.S. manager.

Former India head coach and renowned commentator Ravi Shastri gave a memorable reaction after Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya hit a boundary towards the stand named after him.

Rookie contracts are richer than ever thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement

Dick Vitale is preparing for another battle with cancer.Vitale, the legendary sports broadcaster and a former head coach at the then-University of Detroit and the Detroit Pistons, announced Monday he has been diagnosed with cancer for a fifth time. He said he's "four-for-four" in beating cancer, and he's ready to make it "five-for-five.""The best news I can share today is this," Vitale said in a statement from ESPN. "I feel fantastic."Vitale, 86, was diagnosed Monday with melanoma in a lung and the liver, and he said he plans to undergo treatment immediately.Previously, Vitale was diagnosed and beat melanoma, lymphoma, vocal cord cancer and lymph node cancer.Vitale, long one of ESPN's top college basketball game analysts, has worked a lighter schedule in recent years, as he's battled several cancer diagnoses. He first was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, and battled several diagnoses through late 2024. After an extended leave of more than a year-and-a-half, he returned to the air in February 2025 to broadcast a Duke-Clemson game. This March, he worked an NCAA Tournament First Four game, alongside Charles Barkley, with ESPN loaning the broadcast legend to Turner Sports for the night.Vitale joined a fledgling ESPN in 1979, following four seasons as head coach of Detroit (leading the school to the Sweet 16 in 1978), and one-plus seasons as head coach of the Pistons.Detroit Mercy's Calihan Hall now features Dick Vitale Court. He was 79-29 as head coach of Detroit.Outside of his broadcasting career he's called more than 1,000 games, building a popular "Dickie V." brand with catchphrases like, "Awesome, baby!" Vitale has been a passionate and tireless fundraiser for pediatric cancer research. His foundation has raised more than $100 million. That work will continue, he said Monday."I've lived a hell of a life, and I'm more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer," said Vitale, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "No child should ever have to go through what I've experienced. I am grateful beyond words for all the support I've received, and I'm already looking forward to this year's annual gale on May 1. I really feel we will raise $12 million to add to the $105 million we've already raised."tpaul@detroitnews.com@tonypaul1984This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Dick Vitale, iconic broadcaster, diagnosed with cancer for fifth time

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said before the draft Monday night that the league is looking to play a game outside North America for the first time in 2027.

Kiki Rice is the Toronto Tempo's first-ever WNBA draft pick. The Tempo selected the UCLA guard sixth overall in the first round Monday, 10 days after adding its first players in the WNBA expansion draft.

There are concerns that star half Mitch Moses could become unsettled at the Eels amid the clubs early season struggles.

The move comes as the Socceroos gear up to travel to the USA for the World Cup.

Texas A&M running back LeVeon Moss visited the Texans, per a league source.Moss, a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection, rushed for 404 yards and six touchdowns last season. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry as he returned from a knee injury two seasons ago when he led the team with 765 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns with a 6.3 average per run.Moss has run the 40-yard dash in the 4.5 range with a 31 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 9-11 broad jump and 16 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press.Moss rushed for 114 yards and one touchdown as a freshman and was named the Aggies Top Offfensive Newcomer.Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com

It is the couple's first visit to Australia since 2018 when they were working royals.