Reports: Former Canada coach Bev Priestman touted to take over Wellington Phoenix FC
The club hinted at the hire with a social media post showing a hand knocking on a door with the sign 'Wellington Phoenix A-League Women's Head Coach' and the tagline 'Tomorrow.'
Wellington finished ninth in Australia's 12-team A-League last season at 7-13-3.
In May, Wellington announced that assistant coach Amy Shepherd would serve as interim head coach until a permanent appointment is made in late July, which coincides with the end of Priestman's one-year FIFA ban.
Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi were all handed one-year suspensions by FIFA in the wake of New Zealand's Olympic Committee filing a complaint with the International Olympic Committee's integrity unit, alleging drones were flown over a pair of pre-tournament practice sessions. All three are no longer with Canada Soccer.
The 39-year-old Priestman has ties to the Wellington club through her wife Emma Humphries, a former New Zealand international who is the club's academy director.
Priestman spent five years with Canada Soccer in a variety of coaching roles before returning in June 2018 to her native England, where she served as coach of England's women's under-18 side and assistant coach with the senior English women.
Priestman succeeded Kenneth Heiner-Moller as Canada women's coach in November 2020 and was a nominee for FIFA Women's Best Coach in 2021 and 2022.
In her first go-round with Canada Soccer, Priestman served as director of its developmental EXCEL program and had stints as coach of the under-15, under-17 and under-20 women's sides. She was also an assistant coach to John Herdman while he was in charge of the women's team.
Before that, she spent 4 1/2 years with New Zealand Football, serving as head of football development before leaving in June 2013 to join Herdman in Canada.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025
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USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone among winners and losers from U.S. track and field championships
EUGENE, OR — Four days of competition are complete at the 2025 U.S. track and field trials. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden accomplished the sprint double, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was golden in the 400 and Noah Lyles was braggadocious as he won another 200 national title. On the field, Valarie Allman continued her reign over the discus and Tara Davis-Woodhall leaped to the top mark in the world in the long jump. The U.S. track and field championships served as the qualifying stage for next month's world championships in Tokyo, Japan. USA TODAY Sports was on the scene at Hayward Field for all the action. Here are the winners and losers from the track and field competition: WINNERS Melissa Jefferson-Wooden wins 100-200 double Jefferson-Wooden dominated the 100, leading from start to finish. She crossed the line well ahead of the other competitors with an impressive personal-best and world-leading time of 10.65. It's tied for the fifth fastest time in the history of the event. MORE: Sha'Carri Richardson fails to advance to final round of 200 just days after arrest "Amazing," Jefferson-Wooden said following her win in the 100. "I've been dreaming of days like this, and it's finally starting to come true. Right now the sky is the limit. I just got to keep working toward bigger and better things." Jefferson-Wooden wasn't done after the 100. On the final day of the championships, Jefferson-Wooden accomplished the sprint double by winning the women's 200, running a personal-best 21.84. She was the only sprinter to run sub-22 seconds in the race. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shines in 400 McLaughlin-Levrone is dominating her new event just like she did her old one. McLaughlin-Levrone easily won the women's 400 with a gold-medal winning time of 48.90. The four-time Olympic gold medalist came up just short of the American record (48.70) that's stood for almost 20 years. MORE: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone nearly breaks American record in 400 with stunning performance 'Everyone talks about the American record of course, that's gonna come when it's supposed to come,' McLaughlin-Levrone said after the win. McLaughlin-Levrone already owns the American and world records in the women's 400-meter hurdles. Kenny Bednarek wins first national title Bednarek ran a personal-best 9.79 to win his first national championship in what was a fast men's 100 final. The top seven finishers all ran sub-10 seconds. "It's about damn time," Bednarek said after winning his first national championship. "I always knew I had the capability of doing it but I just had to believe in myself. This year I feel like I started living up to my expectations." Bednarek's 9.79 is the second fastest time in the world this year. Noah Lyles boasts as he won men's 200 Lyles had to come from behind to beat Kenny Bednarek in the 200. Lyles passed Bednarek with less than 10 meters remaining in the race and stared him down as he crossed the finish line, running a world-leading time of 19.63. An annoyed Bednarek pushed Lyles after his boastful gesture. 'It's unsportsmanlike (expletive),' Bednarek said after getting the silver medal. 'I don't deal with that.' MORE: Noah Lyles taunted Kenny Bednarek as he won 200 at U.S. track and field championships Lyles, who hasn't raced a lot this year, said the win proves that he's still on top. 'If they ain't gonna beat me now, they ain't gonna beat me ever,' Lyles said. Masai Russell has 100 hurdles crown Russell gestured as if to put a crown on herself after winning the women's 100-meter hurdles in convincing fashion, clocking in at 12.22. Russell is on an impressive run. She's the reigning Olympic champion, a two-time national champion in the event and is ranked No. 1 in the world this season. 'Winning the Olympics put a little more pressure on myself. Like now I feel like I have a standard to uphold. People expect something from the reigning Olympic champion,' Russell said. 'I don't think I would've been blessed with that title if I wasn't able to carry the weight of that.' Tara Davis-Woodhall jumps to top mark in world On the first day of the U.S. championships, Tara Davis-Woodhall leaped 23 feet, 4 ½ inches to win the women's long jump. It's the top mark in the world this year. Davis-Woodhall is coming off a women's long jump gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Valarie Allman's undefeated streak continues Allman tossed 234 feet, 5 inches to win the women's discus by more than 20 feet. The two-time Olympic champion hasn't lost in the event since 2023. She is the No. 1-ranked discus thrower in the world as she heads to Tokyo. LOSERS Track and field fans located outside of Oregon Eugene, Oregon, is affectionately known as Track Town, U.S.A. for its rich track and field history, and University of Oregon's Hayward Field is a state-of-the-art track and field stadium. But this year was the 14th time Eugene's hosted the championships. Logistically, traveling to the city and hotel lodging aren't very convenient. Plus, there isn't an array of tourist attractions. It would behoove USA Track and Field to periodically change the host site for the national championships. Los Angeles is a logical location. Afterall, the 2028 Olympics are in LA. Sha'Carri Richardson Unfortunately for Richardson, most of the news she made was off the track. Richardson was arrested after an alleged incident at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, according to a police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports. According to the report, Richardson was arrested for domestic violence. Richardson competed in the women's 200 but didn't advance to the final round. Joe Kovacs misses team in men's shot put Kovacs was upset in the shot put. The two-time world champion finished fourth with a put of 72 feet, 5 inches. Josh Awotunde won the event with a personal-best toss of 73 feet, 8 ¾ inches. Athing Mu-Nikolayev comes up short in 800 Mu-Nikolayev failed to qualify for the world championships in the women's 800. She placed fourth in her semifinal heat and didn't advance on time. Mu-Nikolayev is the American-record holder (1:54.97) and won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in the 800, but she's struggled recently to regain her form. Mu-Nikolayev admitted she's had a difficult time mentally and physically the past year but is finding her way back. The good news is she ran a season-best 1:59.79 in the semifinal round and is still just 23 years old. 'I think I'm still pretty fit. 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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Noah Lyles shoved by Kenny Bednarek for 'unsportsmanlike' taunt at USA Track and Field Championships
Track isn't considered a contact sport, but there was plenty of contact at the end of the U.S. 200-meter final in Eugene, Ore. The rivalry between Olympic track stars Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek entered another chapter Sunday, as things briefly got physical between the two. Cooler heads prevailed as things did not escalate, but the contact between Bednarek and Lyles quickly made the rounds, as did their quotes after. Here is more to know about the brief incident between Bednarek and Lyles, and what each track star has said about the run-in. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Kenny Bednarek-Noah Lyles shove It was a tense 200-meter final, as Bednarek got out to an early lead ahead of Lyles and the rest of the runners. As they neared the finish, however, Lyles gained a late lead and stared down Bednarek, who was one lane over. Lyles earned a first-place finish with an impeccable time of 19.63 seconds, but as he crossed the finish line, he was pushed by a visibly irritated Bednarek. Immediately after the push, Lyles turns around and backpedals with his arms outstretched, as if he were asking Bednarek if there was a problem. Bednarek gestured back similarly before attempting to shake Lyles' hand. The two shook hands and exchanged words, but the back-and-forth did not seem to ease the tension. MORE: Why Noah Lyles runs in diamond chain link necklace | How Kenny Bednarek earned 'Kung Fu Kenny' nickname "Noah's gonna be Noah," Bednarek said after the race. "If you wanna stare me down, that's fine. I ran five rounds; he's fresh. He can line it up again when we're both fresh, and we can see what happens, because I'm very confident I can beat him." Bednarek added that "What [Lyles] said doesn't matter, it's just what he did. It's unsportsmanlike s—, and I don't deal with that." Lyles took a different approach after the race, saying "No comment" when asked about the run-in with Bednarek, while three-time Olympic gold medalist Rai Benjamin joked that the tension is "good for the sport, I guess." With the personal rivalry growing, there are sure to be plenty of eyes on the next event that will feature both Bednarek and Lyles.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Noah Lyles taunted Kenny Bednarek as he won 200 at U.S. track and field championships
EUGENE, OR – Noah Lyles had something to say after winning gold in the men's 200 meters at the U.S. track and field championships. Lyles ran a world-leading 19.63 to get the gold in the 200, but he had to work for it. Lyles was behind Kenny Bednarek at the turn. He pulled even with him with roughly 10 meters remaining. Lyles turned to look at Bednarek as he ran past him with only five meters remaining and continued to stare him down after he crossed the finish line first. Bednarek retaliated by giving Lyles a slight push before the two shook hands. 'Noah is gonna be Noah. If he wants to stare me down that fine,' Bednarek said after the race. 'I'm very confident I can beat him. What he said doesn't matter. It's just what he did. It's unsportsmanlike (expletive) and I don't deal with that.' Sha'Carri Richardson fails to advance to final round of 200 just days after arrest Lyles didn't comment when asked what compelled him to taunt Bednarek. 'It felt really good,' Lyles said following the win. 'If they ain't gonna beat me now, they ain't gonna beat me ever.' It's Lyles fifth national championship in the 200. Lyles said he had no doubt he would be victorious with roughly 80 meters left. 'We came off the turn and I saw how far Kenny was and I was like, 'As long as I can keep him in my pocket then I can catch him,'' Lyles explained. 'We got to the straight away, we passed the 60 meters left mark and I'm like, 'Yeah, I'm coming for him.' He ran out of energy and he ran out of momentum and mine was just starting to hit it.' The 200 has always been Lyles' marquee event despite being the defending world champion in both the 100 and 200 and the Olympic champion in the 100. Noah Lyles vs. Kenny Bednarek didn't disappoint in a tense 200m. 🍿📺 NBC & Peacock USA TODAY Sports was on the ground for the final day of action at the U.S. track and field championships. Here are the highlights from the competition: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden leaves no doubt in women's 200 Jefferson-Wooden is a national champion in both the 100 and 200. Jefferson-Wooden ran a personal-best 21.84 to win gold in the 200. She was the only sprinter to run sub-22 seconds in the race. 'It's something I've been working toward,' Jefferson-Wooden said after winning the sprint double. 'I'm excited. I get to say I completed the double at the U.S. championships, which is very hard by the way. It's not easy.' Melissa Jefferson-Wooden dominates the 200m to become the first athlete since 2003 to complete the 100m/200m double at nationals. 😲📺 NBC & Peacock Anavia Battle took second, running a season-best 22.13. Gabby Thomas barely got the third and final qualifying spot, running a 22.20 in a photo finish for third place. Valarie Allman remains undefeated this season Allman continued her dominant run in the discus. She tossed 234 feet, 5 inches to win gold. Her mark was over 20 feet better than all other competitors. Allman is undefeated in two seasons. She hasn't lost since the 2023 world championships. The two-time-Olympic champion heads to the world championships as the No.1 ranked discus thrower in the world. Donavan Brazier wins exciting 800 Brazier was in fourth after the first lap, but sprinted past the pack during the final 60 meters to win the men's 800 with a personal-best time of 1:42.16 Cooper Lutkenhaus placed second and broke the under-18 world record (1:42.27) in the process. Donavan Brazier is BACK! High schooler Cooper Lutkenhaus breaks the U18 world record with a 1:42.27 in second! 😱📺 NBC & Peacock Dalilah Muhammad earns national title The 35-year-old crossed the finish line first in the women's 400-meter hurdles to win her first national championship since 2019 and fifth overall. Muhammad won gold in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2016 Olympics. She's said this will be her last year of competition. Track legend Dalilah Muhammad punches her ticket to the world championships with a victory in the 400m hurdles! 🙌📺 NBC & Peacock Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
