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USA Today
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sol Ruca is capturing the attention of everyone in WWE: 'The sky's the limit for her'
You'd think Sol Ruca was born to wrestle. She has flashy moves, an acrobatic specialist who can move just about any way she desires. She's high-flying, willing to be the daredevil to make the crowd gasp while making it look effortless. The charisma has arrived and has blended with her in-ring talent. Plus, have you seen her finisher, the Sol Snatcher? She looks like a natural. Of all the women on the NXT roster, it's fair to say she has the highest ceiling among the young crop of stars. That's what makes this fact crazier: She has been wrestling for only three years. 'I still am pretty, pretty green,' Ruca told USA TODAY Sports. 'I do feel like I am getting closer and closer to confidently saying, 'I think I got this.'' It certainly looks like she has the hang of it. The opportunities are crashing toward her like waves, and it's like she's on a surfboard, riding them flawlessly. She's the NXT Women's North American Champion and Women's Speed Champion, the latter of which could be considered a main roster title. She has appeared on SmackDown, allowing more of the WWE universe to get a first look and be wowed by the talent. And it's not just fans who are enthralled by her, but plenty of wrestlers are taking notice of 'the future' of the business. Getting into wrestling Wrestling wasn't part of Ruca's childhood. Instead, it was gymnastics. From Ontario, California, Ruca – whose actual name is Calyx Hampton – spent much of her youth at Wildfire Gymnastics in Orange County. Starting there at the age of 8, Ruca was already collecting hardware in California, winning state and regional titles during her 10 years with the club. She committed to Oregon's acrobatics and tumbling team before her senior year of high school. In Eugene, she was a vital member of a Ducks squad that reached the national semifinals every year she was there. It wasn't until after Ruca graduated college that WWE reached out to her about trying out. She was a social media influencer, showing off her acrobatic skills that piqued the interest of WWE. In March 2022, Ruca became one of the new recruits at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, and quickly impressed trainers. Although gymnastics and wrestling share some similar aspects, it was a dramatic learning curve for someone just getting in the business. Someone who really helped with learning the ropes was Alba Fyre. Ruca recalled a time Fyre was helping classes and when she locked up with her, Ruca realized 'this is how it should feel. This is what it's all about.' It clicked, and she was ready to run with it. Creating the Sol Snatcher Ruca made her in-ring debut just three months after reporting. It was a hot first year, and she went viral when she debuted the Sol Snatcher, a springboard flip cutter that stunned fans. 'I felt like I could pick up moves pretty quickly and the fundamentals pretty quickly, just because that's what gymnastics was,' Ruca said. It took around a month for Ruca to come up with the Sol Snatcher. The original version of the move was to be a stunner instead of a cutter, but it meant Ruca landing on her bottom, which would eventually get painful. 'I had to workshop that a little bit, and decided that the cutter was just the best option for longevity and executing it flawlessly,' she said. Ruca practiced the move on a squishy ring at the performance center and eventually built up the courage to try it in a match. Now, she arguably has one of the most exciting finishers in the company. She wouldn't say hers is the best in all of wrestling, but if you just consider the 'flashy, flippy' wrestling, she'll say she's at the top. 'I'm happy that I tried it when I did, because once I did that, it went viral, and I kind of just shot off from there,' Ruca added. How injury helped Sol Ruca Ruca was picking up steam, but it came to a screeching halt when she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in April 2023. It could have been a major setback for someone on the rise. Turns out it was a blessing in disguise. For as impressive as Ruca was, it was a challenge learning to wrestle – especially when it was all new to her. Yes, you have to physically perform, but there are mental aspects that were really testing a former athlete. 'In order to really grasp professional wrestling, you need to know the psychology,' she said. 'You need to know how to put a match together, and I think that is probably the hardest thing for most athletes. Being able to be in a match and be in the moment, instead of just doing all your stuff and hitting hard and doing all that, you have to actually put on a whole performance and put on a character in a show. 'In athletics, you don't get that opportunity. You have to be serious the whole time. So I think that's another thing that athletes, as well as myself, struggle with at first.' It was during her injury recovery when Ruca got to just take time to observe. Actually watch wrestling. See what the best of the business do. Just study it instead of studying and performing at the same time, which led to feeling a bit lost at times. By the time she was cleared to return, Ruca was a 'completely different person' who understood how to succeed. 'I had a better understanding of what I was doing. I had more of a set goal of how I want to be perceived and kind of like how I want to portray myself on TV,' she said. 'I think just having that time off, it was tough, but I think it was definitely necessary for my career to be able to just take a step back.' Since then, Ruca has been on a tear. She has become a bonafide wrestler, looking far from a person who is still in their formative years of being in the ring. Not only is she capturing attention for her skills, but she's also stealing hearts with her personality. Ruca has also formed a partnership with Zaria, dubbed ZaRuca, that has become a fan favorite friendship. It all led into what was a massive April for Ruca. She won the Women's Speed title, and in the same week, won the NXT Women's North American Championship in a thrilling six-person ladder match at Stand and Deliver, becoming one of the big winners of WrestleMania weekend. She's still a double champion, and now seemingly working almost any and all shows. 'It's been crazy, to be honest,' she said. 'Going from nothing to double champion and getting the opportunity, not only to work with NXT talent, but going up to Raw, Smackdown and defending the Speed title against people that I've never been in the ring with before. I just feel like I'm getting so much more experience this way, and I'm just improving every single time I go out there.' Catching the eye of WWE stars Ruca has certainly caught the eye of wrestlers on all levels of WWE. Jordynne Grace, who has officially been with the company for six months, has noticed who is the future of the company in NXT. She feels like she can tell who could be in the main event of WrestleMania one day. When asked by USA TODAY Sports which star Grace thought of, the first one who came to mind was Ruca. 'You've seen her wrestle. It's actually ridiculous,' Grace said. 'She's been wrestling, what, two to three years at this point? So, you can only imagine what she's going to be able to do in the future.' And she has the attention of arguably the most decorated woman in WWE. Charlotte Flair competed against Ruca in the fatal four-way tag team championship match at Evolution, and was the recipient of a Sol Snatcher. That interaction has the 16-time champion already itching for a match, knowing the potential. 'I'm looking forward to a one-on-one with Sol Ruca,' Flair said. 'I just think the sky's the limit for her.' All of the opportunities and praise could certainly get to Ruca's head, but it's far from reality. A permanent residence on the main roster is the goal of every NXT star, but Ruca feels like her time on the brand is far from over. She still is constantly learning and in need of it, while wanting all critiques and criticism with it. She also feels like getting that main roster experience helps her training with fellow NXT stars so they can improve their stock. Did a lot of work and pressure find Ruca quickly? Sure, but she's ready for it. She's excited to 'show the world what I got,' proving she has the makings of a major star. There's no telling how far Ruca can go. Not bad for someone just getting into wrestling. 'I love where I'm at, and can't wait to keep doing it,' Ruca said.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Padres must prove they're worth 'bold move' at MLB trade deadline
WASHINGTON — One hundred games into a season is typically long past time a ballclub has its identity firmly established. Yet the San Diego Padres know it's not too late to show the world exactly how good they are. And more specifically, to prove to club president A.J. Preller that their squad is worthy of the aggressive moves for which he's so renowned. 'We need to show him what we're capable of,' All-Star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. tells USA TODAY Sports, 'to see what kind of bold move he'll make.' For now, the Padres have proven they're playoff caliber: They hold down the final wild card spot in the National League and lurk just 3 ½ games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. They began the second half by winning two of three games at Washington, the start of a 10-game humidity tour that will afford them climate-controlled indoor baseball in Miami before four games at St. Louis precede a return to San Diego's saner dew points. It was on this almost exact trip last year – also the first after the All-Star break - that the Padres won seven of nine games, going from .500 team to a club that gave the Dodgers the hardest punch of the playoffs before losing a five-game NL Division Series. And after that post-break burst, Preller juiced up the bullpen, swinging deals to land All-Star relievers Jason Adam and Tanner Scott, a just reward for a club that earned it. Now, these Padres face something of a last dance. Oh, it's never over in San Diego, not when veterans like Manny Machado ($350 million through 2033), Xander Bogaerts ($280 million, 2033) and Tatis ($340 million, 2034) are wrapped up well into the next decade, and eight other players locked into multi-year deals through at least 2027. But a mini-window of sorts is closing: Starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Michael King, the major pieces of their pivot to deal Juan Soto to the New York Yankees, are free agents after this season. The extent to which San Diego attempts to retain them this winter, or backfill the rotation via free agency, should be telling about the near-term fate of the franchise, which lost its franchise scion when owner Peter Seidler passed away in November 2023. While overflow crowds at Petco Park and the many long-term commitments ensure the Padres will stay competitive, coming years may suggest a re-tooling or at least easing the foot up on the gas. For now, though, there's still a pennant to chase, and a case to make. 'This is the stretch,' says Cease, who shrugged off a first half in which he posted a 4.88 ERA to strike out 10 in his first start after the break. 'Obviously all the games are important. But this is really, probably going to define who we're going to be at the end of the day.' With a president of baseball operations surely watching closely. 'I don't think in terms of that,' says Cease, 'but the better position we're in you know the more aggressive he's probably more willing to be. 'But he's probably going to be aggressive either way.' And Preller would be augmenting a club that, despite its 54-45 record, knows there's a little more in the tank. 'Didn't let 'em breathe' The Padres were hard to miss at the July 15 All-Star Game, what with five representatives led by Tatis and MVP candidate Manny Machado. Yet the remainder of their reps came from one unit: The bullpen. They were well-earned nods, with Robert Suárez leading the majors with 28 saves and Adam (2.05 ERA) and lefty Adrian Morejon (1.83 ERA, 0.81 WHIP) dominant almost every time out. Yet Adam and Morejon have already pitched in 48 games, one less than the major league leaders in that category. Jeremiah Estrada has logged 47 appearances. And the Padres have played 55 games decided by two runs or less, second-most in the majors. Fortunately, they're 34-21 in such games, yet the bullpen has burned a lot of high-leverage fuel to prop them up, and the sustainability questions will swirl if there are any late-inning hiccups. To put it bluntly: The Padres need to start kicking some teams' butts. 'Didn't let 'em breathe,' an approving manager Mike Shildt said after the Padres jumped the Nationals in an 8-1 victory to claim the series Sunday. 'If we continue to do that – we add on – watch out. 'This team will be even more dangerous than it already is.' That victory was jump-started by Machado and Tatis drawing first-inning walks and Bogaerts jumping All-Star MacKenzie Gore for a first-inning grand slam; it was 5-0 after one inning and 8-0 after three. And it continued Bogaerts' tear; he's raised his batting average 40 points since June 19, his .382 average second in the majors in that stretch. Bogaerts, who turns 33 Oct. 1, has had an uneven first two years in San Diego, his OPS falling 102 points to .688 last season. Yet he's back at his familiar shortstop post and exemplifying this Padre group's ethos: Make good swing decisions, get the ball in play, catch the ball and run the bases aggressively and smartly. Bogaerts' 16.2% strikeout rate is his best since 2015, when he was 22 and in his first full season with Boston. The Padres' 695 strikeouts are fewest in the NL – 68 less than the nearest playoff contender, the Cubs. 'Just trying to swing at strikes,' says Bogaerts, who has stolen 16 bases in 17 attempts. 'Keep working and keeping the same routine.' Shildt is a bit more effusive. 'Just looks under control. Balanced. Everything looks smooth. He's got a lot of (stolen bases), right there with Tati. And he's playing as good a shortstop as anybody in baseball. 'We're getting an All-Star version of Bogey.' A division shot, a shot in the arm As they pass the 100-game mark in Miami, the Padres can feel good in who they are, and what is at stake. 'I know we have a good team," says Bogaerts. "We have to play some really good baseball. We have a tough stretch coming up and a big second half, so hopefully we can get there.' Indeed, 29 of their next 35 games are against teams with winning records; the Padres are just 20-32 against teams better than .500 this season. Things aren't optimal, but you can see help from here. King, currently on the injured list with a pinched nerve in his right shoulder, is throwing bullpen sessions and hopes for an August return. In his stead, Nick Pivetta – signed when the veteran righty hit a free agent road bump due to the qualifying offer – is pitching better than he has in his nine-year career. Jackson Merrill, who probably should have won NL Rookie of the Year honors last year, has been slowed by a pair of IL stints yet still has a runway to salvage the rest of his sophomore season. And for better or worse, they'll be done with the Dodgers by Aug. 24 after playing them six times in a 10-game stretch. Of their final 27 games, 10 are against the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox, the two worst teams in baseball. 'We have a chance to win the division out here,' says Tatis. 'We got a lot of baseball ahead of us. It's a matter of taking care of business and staying consistent.' And then there is the deadline. The Padres' needs are not unlike almost every other contender: A starting pitcher. Another outfield or DH bat, preferably right-handed. And perhaps another reliever, though the Padres are dealing from a position of strength rather than the relief misery many other clubs find themselves in. 'There is great talent in this room,' says catcher Martin Maldonado, the 38-year-old veteran of six Houston Astros playoff runs. 'The pitching staff is amazing.' In fact, the Padres believe, whatever additions arrive can only build upon something solid. Perhaps they will push them to a division title, a round deeper in the playoffs. Point is, the Padres have put themselves in position to reap those rewards. 'Almost every facet of the game we've been good,' says Shildt, citing the consistency of the team's at-bats as the last piece to slide into place. 'I do feel like we're in a good spot and trending to a great spot.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Meet the USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason All-ACC football team for 2025
Will Clemson football add a 23rd ACC championship trophy to its collection in 2025? Our team of USA TODAY Sports Network experts who cover the league thinks so. The Tigers lead the ACC with nine selections to our preseason all-conference team. They also boast the preseason Coach and Player of the Year in Dabo Swinney and Cade Klubnik, respectively. Here's a look at the ACC's top offensive and defensive players entering 2025 — as well as our predicted order of finish: Offense Quarterback: Cade Klubnik, Clemson Running back: Isaac Brown, Louisville* Running back: Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech Wide receiver: Antonio Williams, Clemson* Wide receiver (tie): Caullin Lacy, Louisville; Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech; Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson Tight end: Justin Joly, N.C. State Offensive line: Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech* Offensive line: Francis Mauigoa, Miami Offensive line: Blake Miller, Clemson Offensive line: Pete Nygra, Louisville Offensive line: Brian Parker II, Duke Defense Defensive line: TJ Parker, Clemson* Defensive line: Peter Woods, Clemson* Defensive line: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami Defensive line: Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech Linebacker: Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh* Linebacker: Wade Woodaz, Clemson Linebacker: Sammy Brown, Clemson Defensive back: Avieon Terrell, Clemson* Defensive back: Chandler Rivers, Duke Defensive back: Terry Moore, Duke Defensive back: Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU Special teams Placekicker: Collin Rogers, SMU Punter: Jack Stonehouse, Syracuse All-purpose: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh *Unanimous choice Preseason awards Coach of the Year: Dabo Swinney, Clemson Player of the Year: Cade Klubnik, Clemson Newcomer of the Year: Cade Klubnik, Clemson Predicted order of finish Clemson Miami SMU Louisville Georgia Tech Duke Florida State Pittsburgh Virginia Tech N.C. State Syracuse North Carolina Boston College Virginia Wake Forest California Stanford Poll participants: Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer; Derrian Carter, Greenville News; Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal; Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat; JD McCarthy, FSU Wire; Zack Pearson, Tar Heels Wire; Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat; Anna Snyder, Fayetteville Observer; Alex Turri, Clemson Wire. Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@ and follow him on X at @brooksHolton. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: All-ACC preseason football team 2025 from the USA TODAY Sports Network
USA Today
2 days ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
NASCAR at Dover live updates: Lineup, weather forecast, how to watch race
NASCAR Cup Series drivers take on the Monster Mile on Sunday, July 20, in an afternoon race at Dover Motor Speedway. The 1-mile track in Dover, Delaware, marks a return to ovals following a race on the streets of Chicago and road-course race in California wine country at Sonoma Raceway. Both races were won by Shane van Gisbergen – his third victory on a non-oval circuit this season. The rest of the paddock will welcome the more familiar grind of ovals, although just six active drivers have won at Dover, with Kyle Busch leading with three victories. Denny Hamlin has conquered the Monster Mile twice in the last six years, including last season, while Chase Elliott has also taken the checkered flag twice. But the favorite on Sunday might be Kyle Larson, last year's runner-up and the 2019 winner, who has eight top-five finishes in the past 14 races at Dover. Sunday's race also marks the penultimate round of the NASCAR in-season challenge, which is down to four drivers: No. 6 seed Ty Gibbs vs. No. 23 seed Tyler Reddick, and No. 12 seed John Hunter Nemechek vs. No. 32 seed Ty Dillon. The two drivers that come out on top of the two head-to-head battles at Dover will compete in the final next week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a $1 million prize on the line. USA TODAY Sports will have full coverage of the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Follow along for updates and highlights: NASCAR LAWSUIT: 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports lose charters for Dover after ruling NASCAR Cup race at Dover: Start time, TV, streaming Watch the NASCAR Cup race at Dover on Sling Who is on the pole for the NASCAR Cup race at Dover? After Saturday's qualifying was canceled because of inclement weather, Chase Elliott was awarded the pole position via NASCAR rules for setting the lineup without qualifying. NASCAR combines owners' points, a driver's finishing position in the preceding race and his fastest lap time in that race to rank the drivers and deterimine the lineup. This metric placed the Hendrick Motorsports driver in the top spot; Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe will also start on the front row. DOVER LINEUP: Full starting grid for AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Open Championship: TV channel, streaming, tee times, pairings for final round Sunday
Scottie Scheffler enters the fourth and final round of the 2025 Open Championship on top of the leaderboard. Scheffler shot a 4-under par 67 in the third round at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. He's lived up to the billing as the World No. 1 and tournament favorite. He took the lead on Friday during the second round and has pushed his score to 14-under, putting him four strokes ahead of Haotong Li, who is second on the leaderboard at 10-under. Matt Fitzpatrick is in third place at 9-under. He had finished the second round in second place before slipping into third on Saturday. Rory McIlroy, a native of Northern Ireland, is among a group of four golfers (Chris Gotterup, Harris English and Tyrell Hatton the others) tied for fourth place at 8-under. USA TODAY Sports will have complete final round coverage from Royal Portrush, so make sure to check back for live updates. Open Championship 2025 leaderboard Leaders after Round 3. Click here for the latest leaderboard updates and tee times. Where to watch Open Championship: TV channel, streaming Sunday Live coverage of this year's Open Championship will be provided by NBC, USA Network, Golf Channel and Peacock. Live streaming is also available via Fubo, which is offering a free trial for new subscribers. All times Eastern Watch the 2025 Open Championship with Fubo The Open tee times today: British Open pairings For a full list of tee times, you can find Sunday's starts here. All times Eastern 2025 Open Championship odds British Open odds according to BetMGM, as of the conclusion of Round 3: 2025 Open Championship predictions Predictions made ahead of The Open Championship: Brady Kannon writes: "Rahm played tremendous golf from tee-to-green at Oakmont — one of the very best in the entire field — but his putting was awful. He finally found a hot putter on the final day, shot a 67 and finished seventh. Not only am I looking for the top players and good current form, but I also want golfers who are well-versed in links-style golf. Rahm fits the bill as he has finished top-7 at the Open Championship in three of the past four years and has won the Irish Open three times." Alex Myers writes: "If you had said before the season that McIlroy would be coming back to his home country with three wins and a major under his belt in 2025, you'd have made him a clear favorite." Nick Hennion writes: "For Straka, his distance won't be punished at the Open like it would at the Masters and PGA. That should allow his two best attributes – iron play and putting – to shine. Amongst all PGA Tour players this season, Straka ranks second in SG: APP, first in greens in regulation percentage and 16th in SG: Putting. Based on those factors, the price alone is worth it for Straka to claim his first major title."
