Washington's 21 lead Wichita State past South Florida 73-68 in AAC Tournament
Wichita State plays No. 1 seed and 16th-ranked Memphis on Friday to begin the quarterfinal round.
Washington had nine rebounds for the Shockers (19-13). Bijan Cortes scored 20 points while shooting 8 of 12 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line and added seven assists.
The Bulls (13-19) were led by Jayden Reid, who recorded 19 points. Kobe Knox added 15 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Brandon Stroud also recorded 10 points and seven rebounds.
Washington put up 13 points in the first half for Wichita State, which led 38-28 at halftime. Cortes led the way with nine second-half points.
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Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gymnast who sparked FBI sex abuse inquiry into coach tells AP she's proud to come forward
Gymnastics Abuse Inquiry IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Recalling the damage her now-arrested coach inflicted on her and many of her gymnast friends, Finley Weldon said she feels a sense of pride. Free from the grip that Sean Gardner had during her years of training at an Iowa academy known for producing Olympians, Weldon told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that she is among the few who survived his abuse and are still in the sport. The 18-year-old is heading into her freshman year at Iowa State University, where she'll be a member of the Cyclones gymnastics team. She spoke with the AP on Wednesday, less than a week after Gardner was arrested on a child sexual exploitation charge. 'I didn't want him to take away anything from me, especially something that I love,' she said. 'None of the girls that I started with or went through the things that I did with Sean are still doing gymnastics today. So that's something I'm very proud of.' She's also happy she's made a difference, in the same way gymnasts she admires — such as Aly Raisman, an Olympian whose visceral accounts of abuse by Larry Nassar shined a spotlight on the trauma gymnasts went through and how authorities failed to curb it. The AP generally does not identify victims of sexual abuse, but Weldon said she wanted 'my name out there because I was the one who did come forward.' 'I felt like I needed to speak out to stop it from happening to other little girls, so they didn't have to go through what I went through,' Weldon said. 'I knew it would just be a continuous cycle if nobody did.' Gymnasts reported abuse to watchdog in 2022 The FBI said Tuesday it believes Gardner 'targeted children' while coaching at Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, and gyms in Mississippi and Louisiana where he worked dating back to 2004. Gardner, 38, didn't return AP messages left on his cellphone before his arrest, and has not entered a plea to the charge. A public defender who represented him after his arrest hasn't returned messages. Another former gymnast at Chow's, the academy known for producing Olympic gold medalists Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas, first reported sexual abuse allegations against Gardner to the U.S. Center for SafeSport in March 2022, alleging he fondled her during training sessions, according to an FBI affidavit. That girl provided the names of six other of Gardner's potential victims, according to the affidavit. Weldon said she spoke with a SafeSport investigator about her abuse at the time. SafeSport, a watchdog created after the Nassar scandal to investigate misconduct complaints, informed the West Des Moines Police Department about the allegations. It suspended Gardner from coaching or having contact with any gymnasts in July 2022. In its first statement on the case, Chow's Gymnastics said Thursday that it fired Gardner in response to the suspension, even though the facility wasn't told the details of the allegations and SafeSport hadn't issued an official finding of misconduct. The police department said its investigation was closed in 2022 when the initial accuser decided she did not want to pursue charges. Weldon said police never reached out to her in 2022 but she's unsure whether she would have wanted to press charges then. She said she came forward in April 2024 at age 16 after she matured and began to realize the severity of her abuse. She praised police for doing 'an amazing job' keeping her informed about the progress of the case. 'It's definitely taken awhile, but I mean, even I didn't realize how many steps there would be to charge him with anything,' she said. Police defend investigative efforts Iowa investigators say they searched Gardner's home in May and seized electronic devices that contained images of nude girls from a hidden camera Gardner placed in the bathroom of a Purvis, Mississippi, gym where he previously worked. West Des Moines Police Sgt. Daniel Wade said Wednesday the department sought the FBI's assistance in mid-July when the case's 'scope started to broaden.' Asked why the department didn't involve FBI sooner, he said, 'We call the FBI when the time is right.' Gardner is charged in federal court in Mississippi with producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct related to the alleged hidden camera. Federal and state investigations remain active, and additional charges are possible. Wade defended the department's investigative efforts over the last three years. He said investigators 'went as far with it as we could' in 2022, without a victim seeking charges and have been conducting a thorough investigation since receiving the new complaint in 2024. Wade declined comment on whether investigators reached out to Weldon and other potential victims identified in 2022, saying only that police opened 'lines of communication with different people' that later paid off. Weldon said she met with investigators Tuesday and they asked her to identify herself in an image Gardner allegedly secretly took of her in a vulnerable stretching position. Protecting the 'male figure in my life' Weldon said her goal since she was a girl was to reach the elite level in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic program for those who aim to compete internationally. She said she started training at Chow's after her family moved to Iowa in 2015. She began taking private lessons with Gardner two or three times per week shortly after he joined Chow's in September 2018, when she 11 years old. Weldon said she was struggling as her parents went through a divorce and her father was largely absent from her life. She said Gardner sought to fill that role by telling her she could tell him 'anything' and that he would always be there for her. In hindsight, she said he was manipulating her in order to gain her trust. Finley's mother, Julie Weldon, said she heard concerns about Gardner from other parents at Chow's early on and asked her daughter whether her coach had ever done anything inappropriate. Finley said she falsely told her mother no because she was protecting the 'male figure in my life.' Inappropriate behavior progressed She said Gardner began touching her inappropriately in 2019 during lessons, beginning with long hugs and pats on the back. She said his behavior progressed, and he began touching her butt during the hugs and requiring her to stretch for extended periods in positions that exposed her vagina and anus out of her leotard. She said around 2020 he began touching her vagina while spotting her during exercises. She recalled once telling him not to put his hands there and he claimed it was an accident because her 'leotard was slippery.' Weldon recalled reaching her breaking point with Gardner after a 2021 training in which he yelled and threw shoes at her, telling her she'd never reach elite status. She said she walked out and told her mom she wanted to quit. She said many of her classmates quit or didn't return because of Gardner's conduct after the gym shut down during the pandemic. But while he made her hate gymnastics at times, she continued training when her family moved to Texas and then to Utah. She said she eventually proved Gardner wrong by earning elite status and a spot on a Division 1 team. After news of Gardner's arrest, Weldon saw his jail booking photo in the AP story. She said she was struck by how much heavier and unkempt he appeared. 'He's definitely like gone through a spiral,' she said. 'I think he probably just had so much guilt built up in him that he kind of turned into that.'
San Francisco Chronicle
35 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Alcaraz and Djokovic could get early US Open tests. Venus Williams draws No. 11 seed Muchova
NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will face potential difficult American opponents when they begin their quest for another U.S. Open title. Venus Williams, meanwhile, returns to the event at age 45 against No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova, a past French Open finalist who has reached the semifinals in New York the past two years. That was one of the early highlight matches after the draws were conducted Thursday for the men's and women's singles tournaments. Those begin Sunday, a day earlier than in the past, and a pair of recent U.S. Open champions could be tested early. Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, starts against Reilly Opelka. Opelka, a former top-20 player before injuries, is 6-foot-11 with a powerful serve that he rode to the fourth round in New York in 2021. Alcaraz won his lone U.S. Open title the following year and has gone on to add four more Grand Slam titles. Djokovic owns a men's record 24 of them, including four at the U.S. Open. Seeded seventh, he will face Learner Tien, a 19-year-old left-hander who upset Daniil Medvedev en route to the fourth round of this year's Australian Open. Now playing infrequently outside of the majors at 38 and having fallen to No. 7 in the rankings, Djokovic could have to beat 2024 U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz, the No. 4 seed, in the quarterfinals, then Alcaraz in the semifinals and No. 1 Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, in the final. Williams was given a wild card by the U.S. Tennis Association into a tournament where she won two of her seven Grand Slam singles titles, and will be the oldest player to compete in singles at Flushing Meadows since 1981. But she faces someone who has shown the ability to raise her game in the biggest tournaments. Muchova, after falling in the 2023 French Open final, got to the semis in New York later that summer and again last year. No. 3 seed Coco Gauff, who won her first major title in the 2023 U.S. Open, will first face Ajla Tomljanovic, the Australian who beat Williams' younger sister, Serena, in her final match in 2022. The potential quarterfinals on the men's side are Sinner vs. No. 5 Jack Draper, and No. 3 Alexander Zverev vs. No. 8 Alex de Minaur in the top half of the bracket. The bottom half could be Alcaraz vs. No. 6 Ben Shelton, and Fritz vs. Djokovic. The women's quarters could be defending champion and No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka vs. No. 7 Jasmine Paolini, and No. 4 Jessica Pegula vs. No. 5 Mirra Andreeva on the top half. The other side could see No. 2 Iga Swiatek vs. No. 8 Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of Swiatek's romp in the Wimbledon final, and Gauff vs. No. 6 Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Vikings' perfect Terry McLaurin trade proposal to Commanders
The post Vikings' perfect Terry McLaurin trade proposal to Commanders appeared first on ClutchPoints. Every NFL preseason brings its own share of drama, but few stories can swing momentum quite like a blockbuster trade rumor. The Minnesota Vikings are suddenly in the thick of such speculation. Facing a precarious situation with their wide receiver corps, the Vikings are being linked to one of the league's most dynamic pass-catchers. That's Washington Commanders star Terry McLaurin. The possibility of McLaurin donning purple and gold has fans buzzing. With both teams facing pressing roster questions, the pieces could line up for a deal that makes sense for all involved. Vikings' Preseason at a Crossroads The Vikings find themselves at a critical juncture regarding their wide receiver corps as they contend with injuries and suspensions that have depleted their depth. Enter McLaurin, the dynamic two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver of the Commanders. He has publicly requested a trade amid contract extension stalemates. For the Vikings, acquiring McLaurin could be the boost they need to elevate their passing offense. Meanwhile, the Commanders seek to maximize value in trading a high-caliber player entering the final year of his contract. Why McLaurin is a Perfect Fit for the Vikings Minnesota's wide receiver group is in disarray, with Jalen Nailor sidelined indefinitely, Rondale Moore out for the season, and Jordan Addison facing suspension. That leaves Justin Jefferson without the support he needs, and the Vikings searching for answers. McLaurin, with his elite route-running, contested catch skills, and yards-after-catch ability, would instantly address those concerns while forming a dangerous tandem with Jefferson. His track record of production gives young quarterback JJ McCarthy a proven target to stretch defenses and keep the offense humming. Again, McLaurin has formally requested a trade after holding out of training camp amid stalled contract negotiations, though Washington insists it wants to keep him. Their stalemate raises real questions about his future. For the Vikings, the possibility is enticing: pairing Jefferson and McLaurin in Kevin O'Connell's offense would be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Here we'll try to look at and discuss the Minnesota Vikings' perfect Terry McLaurin trade proposal to the Washington Commanders. The Vikings' Proposed Trade Package If the Vikings are serious about pursuing McLaurin, they'll need to balance their immediate needs with the Commanders' long-term outlook. The perfect deal might look like this: Vikings acquire: Terry McLaurin (WR) Commanders receive: 2026 second-round draft pick and WR Tai Felton This package provides the Commanders with what they want most: draft capital and youth. A second-rounder in 2026 ensures long-term value, while Felton offers Washington a developmental receiver with upside. For the Vikings, the trade secures an elite talent who can impact the game from Day 1. He would elevate their passing attack to one of the most dangerous in the NFC. Minnesota's Perspective For the Vikings, the benefits are apparent. McLaurin immediately plugs into an offense that's struggled to find a consistent WR2 alongside Jefferson. Right now, Minnesota cannot afford to waste another season lacking reliable firepower. McLaurin's ability to line up outside or in the slot, win contested catches, and produce after the catch make him an ideal complement to Jefferson. Of course, the Vikings must also be prepared to pay. McLaurin will likely command a deal in the range of $33 million annually, similar to recent extensions given to top-tier receivers. Committing to that figure would signal that Minnesota is all-in on surrounding Jefferson and McCarthy with elite weapons for the foreseeable future. Washington's Perspective For the Commanders, trading away McLaurin is painful but practical. Extension talks have stalled. As such, the risk of losing him for nothing in free agency looms large. By moving him now, Washington sheds a hefty contract and secures meaningful assets to aid their rebuild. Felton, while unproven, offers intriguing potential. Paired with young talents already on the roster, he gives Washington another developmental piece. Meanwhile, the second-round pick bolsters their long-term draft flexibility. For a team reshaping its identity under new management, this kind of return provides stability and planning power. A Win-Win Scenario A trade sending McLaurin to Minnesota is the definition of a true 'football trade.' Both sides get something they need. The Vikings add a proven playmaker to keep pace in the NFC North, while the Commanders gain draft capital and a prospect to soften the loss of their star receiver. The success of this deal hinges on two factors: how Minnesota values draft picks relative to proven talent, and whether Washington decides the long-term headache of negotiating with McLaurin outweighs his on-field production. Looking Ahead The NFL preseason often brings speculation that fizzles, but Terry McLaurin's situation feels different. His trade request has forced Washington into a corner. On the other side, Minnesota's receiver crisis has created an opening. The Vikings' proposed package of a 2026 second-rounder and Tai Felton may not blow fans away at first glance. However, it could be exactly the kind of pragmatic, mutually beneficial deal that both franchises need. Related: Vikings' perfect Adam Thielen trade proposal to Panthers Related: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson gets 'freaky' endorsement from JJ McCarthy
