Gift Monday scores her 4th goal this season and Spirit down Courage 3-1
WASHINGTON — Gift Monday scored her fourth goal of the season to cap a 3-1 Washington Spirit victory over the North Carolina Courage in Sunday's lone National Women's Soccer League match.
Courtney Brown and Brittany Ratcliffe also scored for the Spirit, who are undefeated in four straight.
Brown scored her first goal of the season in the 24th minute for the Sprit (7-3-1). Just moments later, Casey Krueger sent a perfectly placed ball in to Ratcliffe, who headed the ball to the opposite post and into the side netting.
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Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL Fans React to Breaking Nick Chubb News
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New York Times
23 minutes ago
- New York Times
Braves takeaways: After 14th loss in 17 games, manager and players still searching for answers
SAN FRANCISCO — If anyone was surprised to see the Atlanta Braves lose 4-3 Sunday to the San Francisco Giants, apparently they haven't been watching the Braves play. Because lately, that's what the Braves do: They lose, usually by one run. They have lost 14 of 17 games, their worst stretch since a 3-14 skid April 21-May 10, 2016. That was the week before Fredi González was fired and replaced by current manager Brian Snitker, who has helped develop a winning culture in Atlanta over the past seven years but is struggling mightily with this underperforming team and its flawed roster. Advertisement The Braves have a seven-game losing streak, matching the 0-7 skid they had to begin the season, the first time they've had multiple skids that long in a season since 2016. They are 10 games under .500 (27-37) for the first time since finishing 72-90 in 2017, the year before their current streak of seven postseason appearances began. Oh, it's bad. 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Harris and Albies are among just 27 major-league qualifiers with .650 or lower OPS, with Harris having the 13th lowest. If Allen, who shared time at the beginning of the season with Orlando Arcia, had 14 more plate appearances to qualify, Allen's .575 OPS would be seventh lowest in the majors. That'd make it one-third of the lineup ranking in the bottom 30 of baseball in OPS, and the combined stats of the left-field tandem are right there with them. Advertisement The Harris and Albies situations are especially problematic because both are in what should be the prime of their careers; in Harris' case, barely entering the prime. He's a fourth-year major leaguer, only 24. And while the center fielder's defense remains elite, Harris has regressed annually at the plate. Meanwhile, Albies is 28 and should be squarely in his prime but instead plays like he's on the downside. 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USA Today
34 minutes ago
- USA Today
After Eagles' FA defections, do Cowboys or Giants have NFC East's best DL?
After Eagles' FA defections, do Cowboys or Giants have NFC East's best DL? NFC East teams feature defensive line units that would all rank among the best in the entire NFL. While the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Washington Commanders have invested heavily in their offensive lines and receiving rooms, the defensive lines have been the mainstays of the division for a long time. Eli Manning is a Hall of Fame candidate thanks to the Giants' DL being catalysts for two Super Bowl runs. They've recently drafted two defensive ends in the top five, traded for a starting edge rusher, and paid the best one-technique in the NFL, who was also a first-round pick. The Eagles' pass rush, led by a defensive line that had three first-round picks, tormented Patrick Mahomes in route to a Super Bowl blowout. Washington has seen former top picks Chase Young and Jonathan Allen depart, but still have Daron Payne and continue to invest in the line in free agency and the draft. Dallas just paid Osa Odighizuwa, signed Dante Fowler Jr., drafted a defensive end in the second round three of the past four seasons, and Micah Parsons was a first-round selection. 4. Washington Commanders Dorance Armstrong followed Dan Quinn over from Dallas to become a starting defensive end for the Commanders. He played 60% of the snaps, 600-plus for the first time in his career, and became a solid starter. He achieved his highest totals in QB knockdowns, pressures, and tackles, but his lowest sack total since 2020, and his missed tackle percentage increased by over 10%. His run defense needs to improve. Pro Football Focus graded him at 46.4 against the run compared to a 76.4 pass rush grade and a 68.9 overall grade. Armstrong isn't a star, but he is a positive starter for Washington. The other defensive end spot needs to be upgraded. Clelin Ferrell is a solid edge setter, but doesn't offer much of a pass rusher. Deatrich Wise is a veteran rotational defensive end who is a decent backup. He has averaged 42 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and five tackles for a loss a season. Jacob Martin is another option, but he hasn't been as productive as Ferrell or Wise. The strength of the team has long been the defensive tackle position, featuring Jonathan Allen and Payne. However, Allen signed elsewhere as a free agent, and Payne had a down year in his first season in Quinn's system. Quinn's defenses have difficulty stopping the run, and this issue persisted last year. Washington was the third worst in rush yards allowed and yards per carry. Payne might be in decline due to age and attrition. Allen is going to be replaced by free agent signing Javon Kinlaw and 2024 second-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton. ] Eddie Goldman is the backup for Payne. 3. Philadelphia Eagles The Eagles suffered several losses to their defensive line this offseason, which is why they fell to third in the division. Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Brandon Graham, and Bryce Huff are a lot of production to replace. Nolan Smith Jr. had a breakout season in his sophomore campaign with 6.5 sacks, eight tackles for a loss, and 15 pressures. The former first-round pick will step in as a starter and is expected to be a quality player. He is a light edge rusher, but had a run defense grade of 77.6 and a missed tackle percentage of only 2.3%. Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche have been successful pass rushers, but Uche hasn't been the same since his breakout season in 2022, and Ojulari just hasn't been able to stay healthy. Jalen Carter is a game-changer as a pass rusher and could develop into the next Aaron Donald. He isn't as impactful as a run defender; PFF graded him under 60 against the run. His playmaking ability will raise the play of everyone around him. Jordan Davis has one job: to take on double teams and open up holes for linebackers and one-on-one blocks for Carter. Moro Ojomo is going to try to fill the shoes of Williams. 2. Dallas Cowboys Parsons is everything a team wants in a star pass rusher. He has posted generational numbers that place him in the ranks of Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White, with no less than 12 sacks, 23 QB hits, 41 pressures, 12 tackles for a loss in any season. Osa Odighizuwa is the other lineman with game-changing abilities on the defensive line. His plays behind the line of scrimmage might seem light, with only five tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks, but his 23 QB hits and 33 pressures indicate the type of impact he has in the backfield. The key to Odighizuwa taking the next step could be an improved rotation around him. He played over 850 snaps, accounting for 78% of the defensive snaps on the season. Dante Fowler Jr was a double-digit sack guy for the Commanders and could have another season with 10 or more sacks with Parsons and Odighizuwa taking all the double-team blocks. The young edge rushers rotating with them are all full of potential. If one or more of their second-round picks, Marshawn Kneeland, Donovan Ezeiruaku, or Sam Williams, can be productive defensive ends, their edge unit could be elite. Solomon Thomas was brought in by the new defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton, who had previously coached Thomas with the New York Jets. Thomas hasn't lived up to his draft status, but he is a high-character, high-motor player who is in the best shape of his life. Thomas doesn't have to start, but if he can provide productive snaps to allow Odighizuwa to get a rest. Mazi Smith and Jay Toia will be the one-technique tackles next to Odighizuwa and Thomas, and could be the key to how special this defensive line could be. 1. New York Giants Abdul Carter is a ready-made edge rusher who will have an immediate impact from his first snap. He had a 92.4 pass-rush grade and a true pass set pass rush grade of 93, with a pass rush win-rate over 22%. He will start on a team that includes Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns as defensive ends. Burns was acquired via trade last offseason and quietly had another good year. He started every game and had his highest tackle and tackles for a loss total. He added 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, eight batted passes, and 34 pressures. The starting duo of Burns and Carter could be one of the best duos in the NFL. Thibodeaux hasn't developed as the Giants had hoped when they drafted him with the fifth overall pick. FA pickup Chauncey Golston had more sacks and tackles for a loss in 2024 than in his first three seasons combined. The Giants could've found an up-and-coming defensive end to rotate in, and that could make them the best edge group in the league. The reason New York is first in these rankings is Dexter Lawrence. He is possibly the best defensive player in the NFL, but he plays one of the least appreciated positions in football, one-technique. His PFF grades are all over 80, and his overall grade is 89.9. In 12 games, he had nine sacks and eight tackles for a loss at a position that is about stopping the run. Lawrence has zero weaknesses, impacting the game with pressures, stopping the run, and his missed tackle percentage was only 4.3%. The team has little besides him at defensive tackle, but they drafted Darius Alexander to be the future DT next to Lawrence. You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @
