Naomi Girma is going to play at home in Northern California with the U.S. team this month for the first time since a send-off game for the 2023 Women's World Cup.Coach Emma Hayes announced Wednesday that Girma, who was born in San Jose and played at nearby Stanford, will be on the roster for the United States when they play a three-game series with Japan, starting on April 11 at San Joses Pay Pal Park.Her last national team appearance in her hometown was in a 2-0 victory over Wales ahead of the 2023 World Cup."Playing for the national team in the Bay always just feels like kind of surreal, and seeing a lot of people who come to support me, who were there when I was playing club soccer, just playing for fun, and being like, Wow, I cant believe that were all here and weve made it this far. So it always is really special for me, Girma said.Girma's Stanford teammate, Sophia Wilson, was named to her first roster in 15 months after taking last year off for the birth of her daughter. Defender Tierna Davidson, who tore her ACL last season, will also return.I think its a great test for us, Girma said about Japan. Theyre a great side, just won the Asian Cup. And I think theyre very organized in their defense, but then also in their attack and they bring something different to a lot of other opponents that we play. So I think its always a good test for us to measure ourselves against them.Girma plays professionally in England for Chelsea. She joined the Women's Super League club in early 2025 on a $1.1 million transfer from the San Diego Wave. The defender scored her first WSL goal last weekend in a 4-3 victory over Aston Villa to move the Blues into second in the standings behind Manchester City.She made her debut for the national team in 2022. She has appeared in 52 games with the United States and played on the squad that won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.Wilson was left off the U.S. roster for the recent SheBelieves Cup as she worked her way back from maternity leave with her club team, the Portland Thorns. Wilson has played in 58 games for the national team, scoring 24 goals, including three at the Olympics in France.Davidson, a left-back, last played for the United States in February 2025 before she was injured playing for Gotham early in the NWSL season. She has played in 67 matches for the national team. Hayes said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters that she will be on limited minutes. The return of those experienced players, coupled with Hayes integration of the under-23 player camps alongside the senior camps, has put the national team in a good place 15 months out from the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, Girma said. Seeing a lot of younger players be able to come into a full team camp and not really miss a beat, and not seem like they dont know whats going on, or feel like its a little bit too much, I think that transition has become really smooth. And I think with having some players come back in that werent in last year, its a really exciting time for our team, Girma said. "We have a big pool who now has experience, whether its in the last year, in the last couple years, ready to fill any role that we need.After the match in San Jose, the series against Japan will move to Seattle's Lumen Field on April 14. The final game is set for April 17 at Dick's Sporting Good's Park in Commerce City, Colorado.The roster by position with club affiliation:Goalkeepers: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United).Defenders: Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (Chelsea), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC), Emily Sams (Angel City), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC), Gisele Thompson (Angel City), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave).Midfielders: Sam Coffey (Manchester City), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes), Claire Hutton (Bay FC), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes).Forwards: Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns).___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Everton's latest financial accounts have disclosed that the club transferred ownership of Goodison Park and their Women's Super League side to Roundhouse Capital Holdings Ltd for a combined sum of 49.2million.The transaction effectively saw the Merseyside outfit sell these assets to themselves, as Roundhouse Capital Holdings Ltd is the very same corporate vehicle through which The Friedkin Group completed their takeover of Everton in December 2024.This accounting manoeuvre generated nearly 50m in revenue on paper, providing a significant boost to the club's financial position following years of struggles under previous ownership.The financial impact of these sales proved substantial, with Everton's annual losses plummeting from 53.2m to just 8.6m.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayThis reporting period spans from July 2024 through June 2025, encompassing both the final campaign at Goodison Park and the initial half-year of Dan Friedkin's stewardship following The Friedkin Group's acquisition.The stadium and women's team disposals accounted for a considerable portion of this dramatic improvement in the club's bottom line.Notably, this marks Everton's eighth consecutive year of recording losses, though the club had reportedly been confident of remaining within the Premier League's permitted 105m loss threshold over a rolling three-year period even without these transactions.Everton are far from alone in employing such financial strategies within English football's top flight.LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Wales fans boo 'God Save The King' in 'meaningless' Northern Ireland stalemateTiger Woods provides update on his golf future as he breaks silence following arrestThomas Tuchel reveals 'scary' concern for England after disappointing defeat to JapanNewcastle United have undertaken a comparable arrangement, transferring St James' Park to a related entity within their ownership structure.Meanwhile, both Chelsea and Aston Villa have opted to separate their women's teams from the main club operations, generating significant sums in the process.Villa valued their women's side at 55m, whilst Chelsea recorded a figure of 200m for their equivalent transaction.The Stamford Bridge club has additionally disposed of hotel properties in recent years as part of efforts to satisfy profitability and sustainability regulations.Following their departure from Goodison Park, Everton have relocated to the newly constructed Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley Moore Docks, a venue boasting capacity exceeding 52,000 seats.The club achieved record revenues approaching 200million during their final Goodison campaign and anticipate this figure climbing by approximately a quarter to nearly 250m at their new home.From next season, the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules will be replaced by a squad-cost ratio system, which restricts clubs from allocating more than 85 per cent of their revenue towards player-related expenditure.Everton believe separating the women's team will enable it to develop commercially as an independent operation.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Mills says the announcement of his sacking from the BBC had led "to the publication of rumour and speculation".

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Aprs le toll provoqu par les chants racistes et islamophobes entonns lors du match entre l'Espagne et l'Egypte Barcelone mardi soir, la Fifa dispose d'un arsenal juridique pour sanctionner la Roja, responsable de son public.

Sameer Rizvi's spectacular unbeaten 70, coupled with Tristan Stubbs' solid 39*, orchestrated a stunning turnaround for Delhi Capitals. After a disastrous start at 26 for 4, the duo forged an unbroken 119-run partnership to chase down Lucknow Super Giants' 141 with ease, securing a memorable six-wicket victory.

The President of Italian National Olympic Committee, Luciano Buonfiglio, met today at the Giulio Onesti Olympic Preparation Centre (CPO) in Acqua Acetosa the Italian mens national rugby team. The Azzurri are preparing for the Guinness Six Nations Championship clash against England national rugby union team, scheduled for Saturday at 17:40 at Stadio Olimpico.Buonfiglio offered his encouragement to the squad and to head coach Gonzalo Quesada, congratulating them for the performances delivered in the opening matches, which have confirmed the growing competitiveness of the group and its increasingly prominent role in the prestigious competition.The foundations are now in place for another unforgettable day, as the President hoped at the end of his brief address, which was greeted by the applause of the national team.

Canadian Olympian Josh Liendo capped an historic week of swimming at the NCAA championships on Saturday in Atlanta, posting a wire-to-wire victory in the 100-yard freestyle for a record-tying fourth consecutive title in the event and ninth overall.

Prosecutors closed an investigation on Monday into the death of Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer who crashed at the 2024 road world championships and was not found for more than one hour, finding no criminal intent.