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Boston Globe
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Boston Legacy FC begins building its roster with first player signing
The Legacy said Karich's deal runs through the 2027 season with an option for 2028. Advertisement Karich played college soccer at Santa Clara for two seasons and was the West Coast Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and the WCC Freshman of the Year in 2022. She has also played for the US national team at multiple levels, including the under-23 team. 'We're very excited to welcome Annie Karich to Boston,' Related : Karich scored two goals and had two assists as a sophomore at Santa Clara in 2023. Her player page on Santa Clara's athletics website listed her personal interests as surfing and spending time with family and friends. Advertisement At SC Freiburg, she appeared in 36 games. The Legacy will begin play in the NWSL in March of 2026, The team recently 'It's impossible to have players afraid to take risk. This is the style I want to see,' Patão said. 'I want to see brave players, who want to play beautiful football, challenge themselves, go one-v-one if necessary.' Karich is expected to join Legacy FC in January, when it begins to prepare for its inaugural season. Matt Pepin can be reached at
Al Arabiya
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
College star Oliver Tarvet wins in Slam debut at Wimbledon and could face Alcaraz next
Oliver Tarvet changed into his University of San Diego gear moments after a straight-set victory in his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon on Monday. The 21-year-old British qualifier, who is ranked No. 733, beat Leandro Reidi of Switzerland 6–4, 6–4, 6–4. A bigger test awaits the communications major in the second round: he'll play either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or Fabio Fognini. 'I'm just really overjoyed to be in this situation,' he told the BBC in an on-court interview. 'It's my first tour-level event. To come out here, come through qualifying and also win first round at Wimbledon, have a chance to play maybe Carlos on Wednesday is just truly incredible. It's just a dream come true.' Tarvet hugged friends moments after his victory on Court No. 4 and took a San Diego cap from one of them. He then changed out of his shirt and donned a T-shirt with a similar SD logo. Collegiately, Tarvet was recently named the West Coast Conference player of the year for the second straight year.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren is Fourth Zag to Win NBA Championship
Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren becomes the first Zag to come home with an NBA championship as a primary contributor for the franchise. Here are the four Zags that have won the NBA Finals: Adam Morrison (2009 and 2010 with the Los Angeles Lakers) Advertisement Ronny Turiaf (2012 with the Miami Heat) Austin Daye (2014 with the San Antonio Spurs) Chet Holmgren (2025 with the Oklahoma City Thunder) Along with Holmgren, his two teammates and West Coast Conference alums will hold bragging rights over the rest of their NBA colleagues. That's Santa Clara Broncos' Jalen Williams and Saint Mary Gaels' Alex Ducas. While Oklahoma City was led overall by the NBA's Most Valuable Player and NBA Finals MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't have done it without the defensive anchor. 'He affects the game at a high level every night. Tonight was no different. He was everywhere, blocking shots, rotating, switching on guards. He's amazing and so much more room to grow.' - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Chet Holmgren via ABC Advertisement Holmgren broke barriers on the way to the title with the Thunder, becoming the third Gonzaga player to have a 20-point game in the NBA Finals, joining Utah Jazz's John Stockton and Miami Heat's Kelly Olynyk. Along with that, he's the second Zag to record a double-double in the NBA Finals (Stockton did it three times in 1997, and Holmgren has done it twice). Most importantly, Holmgren now owns the NBA Finals record in a Game 7 for blocks with 5. He finished with the second-most blocks at 43 through the 2025 NBA Playoffs. 'I've been through so much personally this year, not only in a hit, but other things playing too. I'm proud of these guys for holding it down while I was out. I'm proud of myself for never quitting. Broken bones, bruises. It's all temporary. But this is forever.' - Chet Holmgren via ABC Throughout those seven games, the lanky seven-footer averaged 12.3 points per game on a 39.5 field goal percentage to go along with 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Holmgren struggled shooting from deep (15.8 three-point percentage), but made up for it with his ability to protect the rim and guard 1 through 5. This was an exciting series to watch, despite what the television ratings might reflect about the two small-market teams going head-to-head. Part of that was due to Indiana Pacers' Andrew Nembhard and his relentless effort on the defensive end when guarding the NBA MVP. Advertisement His energy was infectious throughout this run for the Pacers, locking up the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell and the New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson on his way to claiming the Eastern Conference title. Nembhard left it all on the floor and stepped up as the lead guard when Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton went down in Game 7 in the first quarter with an Achilles injury. During this run, Nembhard collected 35 steals, which is the fourth-most in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game throughout the NBA Finals. This won't be the last time the two Zags make it to this stage. Holmgren is just 23 years old, and Nembhard is 25. The future shines bright as they continue their already successful careers in the league. If healthy, Holmgren is an NBA All-Star, and Nembhard is an All-NBA defender. Both are well on the path to receiving a massive payday as well. Advertisement Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho More from
USA Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Gonzaga forward Ben Gregg wants to showcase shooting in draft workouts
Gonzaga forward Ben Gregg wants to showcase shooting in draft workouts Ben Gregg had a down year shooting last season, and the former Gonzaga forward has made that a point of emphasis in workouts ahead of the 2025 NBA draft. Gregg averaged 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 35 games as a fifth-year senior with the Bulldogs. He ranked 10th in the country in 2-point field-goal percentage (72.9) and ninth in the West Coast Conference in offensive rebounds (67). The 6-foot-10 standout shot 27.1% from 3-point range on two attempts per game this past season after converting 37.7% from beyond the arc over the previous two seasons. He wants to show teams that he can be a consistent floor spacer at the next level. "I think my numbers, I struggled last year," Gregg said Tuesday after working out with the Portland Trail Blazers. "My 3-point numbers were a little down last year, so I just want to prove that I can still shoot the ball, and it was kind of an off-year for me." Gregg finished in double figures 13 times last season, with four 20-point performances. He tied a season-high with 24 points on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting from the field in a win over Portland on Jan. 25, becoming the ninth player in conference history with 10 made shots without a miss. The 22-year-old is also working to improve his defensive abilities to better guard smaller players. He understands that skill set will be required to get on the court at the next level. "Obviously, defense I need to improve is the biggest feedback (from teams), being able to guard quicker guys," Gregg said. "Guys at this level are so fast and athletic, so just being able to stay in front of quicker guys has been the main thing for me." Gregg said his workout with the Trail Blazers on Tuesday was his fifth this draft cycle. He is scheduled to visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, with additional stops to be scheduled over the next three weeks, before the draft on June 25-26. The former Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year isn't currently projected to be selected this year, although he isn't getting caught up in mock drafts or things beyond his control. He wants to stay prepared for his next workout and continue to improve both on and off the court. "I'm running my own race right now," Gregg said. "I'm not really focused on the number where I'm getting drafted, where I get drafted to or if I get picked up (as) a free agent after the draft. I'm just kind of running my own race, and whatever happens, happens. Everything happens for a reason; it's God's plan. I'm taking it day by day and enjoying the process."
San Francisco Chronicle
28-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
How St. Mary's baseball marched to second-ever NCAA regional with zero NIL money
St. Mary's baseball, a program whose history dates to 1872 when it was introduced as the school's first sport, has never played under the lights at home. It isn't a figure of speech. There are literally no lights at Louis Guisto Field. Gaels home games begin no later than 2 p.m. — and 3 p.m. after Daylight Saving Time. When winning seasons became the norm during Eric Valenzuela's first stint at the helm from 2014-19, opposing teams would occasionally make full use of their offensive timeouts, to which the St. Mary's dugout relentlessly exclaimed, 'We don't have lights!' Whether it was a tactic to draw the game past sundown or simply coincidental, Athletics starting pitcher and Gaels alumnus Ken Waldichuk remembers well how the team's favorite chirp emerged as the calling card for good baseball in Moraga. 'We embraced it, honestly,' Waldichuk said. 'Not having lights and being in that situation kind of brought guys together.' Valenzuela left for Long Beach State following the 2019 season after having led St. Mary's to four straight 30-win seasons, by far the most in school history, during a stretch that included the program's first NCAA regional appearance in 2016. Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes and MLB All-Star Tony Gonsolin were starting pitchers for that famed group of Gaels, whose legacy was finally matched last weekend. St. Mary's won the West Coast Conference tournament to automatically qualify for the program's second regional appearance, again under the leadership of Valenzuela, who returned as head coach in the summer of 2023 after four seasons in Long Beach. The feat seems more impressive this time around. In 2016, pay-for-play name, image and likeness (NIL) deals and a practically no-holds-barred transfer portal would not be implemented for another half decade. In 2025, success in college athletics is afforded to those with the deepest pockets. More than half of the NCAA tourney's field of 64 is made up of Power 4 teams (34). St. Mary's is one of a select group of mid-major teams included for winning its conference championship. As a result, Valenzuela and company find themselves as a four seed in a Corvallis, Ore., regional that features No. 8 national seed Oregon State, USC (Big Ten) and TCU (Big 12). It's safe to say all three programs have various levels of NIL backing. The NIL money spread across St. Mary's current roster? A whopping total of $0, Valenzuela told the Chronicle. 'There's absolutely no NIL with this current team at all,' Valenzuela said. 'We're not going to have the luxury of a lot of these programs, even in our conference, that have NIL and have a ton of it. … We're not there just yet.' All told, Valenzuela lost six of nine starters from a 2024 lineup that brought the program back above .500 last season at 34-22 (16-8 WCC) after consecutive campaigns with records of 25-26, 25-30 and 23-28 in his absence. Roster turnover heading into this season was inevitable from what was a senior-heavy team. But the Gaels also failed to retain catcher Bear Harrison (Texas A&M), who started 42 games with a .322 batting average and eight home runs as a freshman, outfielder Dalton Mashore (South Carolina), an All-WCC second-team selection, and 6-foot-11 pitcher Jason Reitz (Oregon), whom Valenzuela said would've likely been a weekend starter. Valenzuela cited internal conversations about potentially establishing an NIL budget and funding more baseball scholarships when the allowable number by the NCAA expectedly increases from 11.7 to 34 as part of the House v. NCAA settlement. What steps may be taken, while valuable, are also unlikely to make St. Mary's baseball competitive in the NIL marketplace overnight. Valenzuela knows any high school, junior college or transfer recruits who land with the Gaels won't be the ones chasing money. 'The times have totally changed,' Valenzuela said. 'You never know what a Tony Gonsolin or a Ken Waldichuk or a Corbin Burnes would have done if they were in this era.' For what it's worth, Waldichuk said he thinks he would've stayed. The development he received in three years at St. Mary's after joining as a preferred walk-on in 2017 was well worth it once the New York Yankees spent a 2019 fifth-round pick on him following his junior season. He said his cost of tuition was almost entirely covered once he was put on a partial athletic scholarship after posting a 2.00 ERA as a true freshman reliever. In his final two years, Waldichuk said he had to pay about $1,000 per semester. Every St. Mary's baseball player pays some portion of tuition, according to Valenzuela, who acknowledged maybe one or two are close to attending the school for free but that 'a lot of them are paying the majority.' Meanwhile, some starters at Power 4 programs, especially in the SEC, not only have their tuition covered — they regularly net money off of NIL deals. The independent variable in Valenzuela's success has been his staff. Associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Daniel Costanza has coached alongside Valenzuela for 12 years. And under hitting coach Jack Meggs, who was retained from the program's previous staff, the Gaels boast a top-50 batting average in the country (.301). Fueling that are All-WCC first-team first baseman Eddie Madrigal, whose average is a team-best .372 with 21 home runs and 77 RBIs, and outfielder Aiden Taurek, who is batting .336 with 10 homers and 45 RBIs in his first year as a starter. 'If I'm a coach at a Power (4) school, I'm looking at schools like ours who found ways to be successful with limited resources — I'm going to try to hire those guys,' Valenzuela said. The deeper the Gaels go this postseason as the Bay Area's only chance at a College World Series berth in Omaha, Neb., the farther they'll be from home. But their future on the grounds of Louis Guisto Field at Brother Ronald Gallagher Stadium will only brighten in the years to come. The town of Moraga recently approved outdoor light fixtures to be installed at the ballpark. Gone are the days of an afternoon first pitch thrown against the backdrop of bleachers marked by the handful of parents who could get off of work early. Valenzuela said he always has believed night games could increase exposure for the program across the broader Lamorinda area, ripe with young baseball talent. To enlighten those who have been in the dark: Since 1967, St. Mary's baseball has fielded 12 teams that won at least 30 games, including the past six coached by Valenzuela. 'If you compare Coach V to probably any other coach in the country, he gets more out of what he has than just about anybody,' St. Mary's president Roger Thompson said.
