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CTV News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Vancouver Whitecaps look to snap two-game skid against Los Angeles FC
Vancouver Whitecaps' Tate Johnson, front, is upended by Los Angeles FC's David Martinez during the first half of an MLS soccer match, in Vancouver, on Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps are in unfamiliar territory — looking to snap a losing skid. A 5-3 defeat to expansion side San Diego FC on Wednesday marked Vancouver's second loss in a row. It's the first time this season the team has dropped back-to-back games. The result saw the Whitecaps (10-3-5) slip to the No. 2 spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. They'll strive to reclaim first place Sunday when they visit Los Angeles FC (7-4-5). Even after a pair of losses, there's no panic among the 'Caps, said head coach Jesper Sorensen. 'It's about believing in what we should be good at and what we should be doing well,' he said. 'We're in a very good position. We've earned our position. So we earned the right to step aside a couple of times. But we, of course, have to get back into winning things as well. But it's a difficult position.' There are lessons to be taken from Wednesday's loss, he added, including that the team needs to play with courage and without hesitation. 'Of course we got punished pretty hard,' the coach said. 'That's what it is. But also that we shouldn't wait to start taking initiative — we should take it right away.' LAFC is a team Vancouver knows well — Sunday's matchup will mark the 14th time the two sides have clashed since April 2023. The last bout came May 11 at B.C. Place, where the 'Caps fell behind early before rallying to earn a 2-2 draw. The Whitecaps need to play with more intensity to collect all three points this time out, said defender Mathias Laborda. 'We have to step forward and do a good game,' he said. With elite players — including striker Denis Bouanga — on the roster, L.A. presents a number of offensive threats, Laborda added. 'They're a really good team. They have really good players with quality. So we expect a really good game,' he said. L.A. is coming off a tough run at the FIFA Club World Cup where they finished at the bottom of their group with two losses and a draw, but is unbeaten in the club's last nine MLS games (4-5-0). The club is one of the better teams Vancouver has faced this season, Sorensen said, and Sunday's contest will be a difficult one. 'We know that they have some players we have to give special attention to. We know they have some things in their play that they're very good at and we have to take care of,' the coach said. 'But we also know we're a pretty good team ourselves and we have to also believe and trust in what we are doing. And then believe that that's how we're going to win the game.' VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (10-3-5) AT LAFC (7-4-5) Sunday, BMO Stadium GOODBYE GIROUD: Olivier Giroud is set to play his final game for LAFC on Sunday. The club announced Friday that is has 'mutually parted ways' with the famed French striker. Giroud signed with L.A. in May 2024, but has struggled in MLS, putting up five goals in 37 games across all competitions. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?: LAFC has been solid at BMO Stadium this year, posting a 6-1-1 record in MLS play. The Whitecaps have been one of the league's best road teams, though, and are 4-1-3 away from B.C. Place. LOCKED DOWN: Despite giving up five goals on Wednesday, Vancouver has conceded the fewest goals in the Western Conference (19) and is tied with San Diego for the best goal differential (+15) in the West. This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith of The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
Fox Sports
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Mercury face the Aces on 6-game win streak
Associated Press Las Vegas Aces (7-8, 3-6 Western Conference) at Phoenix Mercury (12-4, 6-4 Western Conference) Phoenix; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury comes into a matchup against Las Vegas Aces as winners of six straight games. The Mercury are 6-4 in Western Conference games. Phoenix is 1-1 in games decided by less than 4 points. The Aces' record in Western Conference action is 3-6. Las Vegas has a 3-5 record against opponents over .500. Phoenix averages 10.4 made 3-pointers per game, 3.1 more made shots than the 7.3 per game Las Vegas allows. Las Vegas averages 80.7 points per game, 1.7 more than the 79.0 Phoenix gives up to opponents. The teams square off for the second time this season. The Mercury won the last matchup 76-70 on June 15. Satou Sabally scored 22 points to help lead the Mercury to the win. TOP PERFORMERS: Sabally is averaging 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Mercury. Sami Whitcomb is averaging 10.7 points over the last 10 games. A'ja Wilson is averaging 21.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, two steals and 2.8 blocks for the Aces. Jewell Loyd is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Mercury: 8-2, averaging 86.7 points, 34.4 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 8.6 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.7 points per game. Aces: 4-6, averaging 79.2 points, 33.1 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 41.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.2 points. INJURIES: Mercury: Alexa Held: out (chest). Aces: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus: out (personal), Megan Gustafson: out (leg). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Fox Sports
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Los Angeles hosts Chicago, looks to end home slide
Associated Press Chicago Sky (4-11, 1-7 Eastern Conference) at Los Angeles Sparks (5-11, 3-9 Western Conference) Los Angeles; Sunday, 4 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles Sparks takes on Chicago Sky looking to break its four-game home losing streak. The Sparks have gone 1-6 at home. Los Angeles is eighth in the WNBA with 8.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Dearica Hamby averaging 2.6 offensive boards. The Sky have gone 2-7 away from home. Chicago gives up 87.9 points to opponents and has been outscored by 10.0 points per game. Los Angeles is shooting 43.8% from the field this season, 2.0 percentage points lower than the 45.8% Chicago allows to opponents. Chicago averages 77.9 points per game, 8.6 fewer points than the 86.5 Los Angeles allows to opponents. The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last meeting on June 25 the Sky won 97-86 led by 27 points from Kamilla Cardoso, while Azura Stevens scored 21 points for the Sparks. TOP PERFORMERS: Hamby is averaging 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals for the Sparks. Kelsey Plum is averaging 15.6 points over the last 10 games. Elizabeth Williams is averaging 6.7 points for the Sky. Ariel Atkins is averaging 14.8 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sparks: 3-7, averaging 81.4 points, 34.3 rebounds, 18.8 assists, 7.1 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 89.1 points per game. Sky: 3-7, averaging 77.3 points, 34.7 rebounds, 18.9 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.9 points. INJURIES: Sparks: Cameron Brink: out (knee), Rae Burrell: out (leg). Sky: Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Fox Sports
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Minnesota hosts Connecticut following overtime win
Associated Press Connecticut Sun (2-14, 2-6 Eastern Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (13-2, 11-1 Western Conference) Minneapolis; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota Lynx hosts the Connecticut Sun after the Lynx took down the Atlanta Dream 96-92 in overtime. The Lynx are 7-0 on their home court. Minnesota leads the Western Conference with 84.2 points and is shooting 46.5%. The Sun are 1-8 in road games. Connecticut has a 1-8 record against teams above .500. Minnesota's average of 9.3 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.5 more made shots on average than the 8.8 per game Connecticut allows. Connecticut averages 71.6 points per game, 3.3 fewer than the 74.9 Minnesota gives up to opponents. The teams meet for the second time this season. The Lynx won 76-70 in the last matchup on May 23. TOP PERFORMERS: Courtney Williams is averaging 13 points, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals for the Lynx. Napheesa Collier is averaging 16.0 points over the last 10 games. Saniya Rivers is averaging 6.8 points, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals for the Sun. Tina Charles is averaging 14.7 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Lynx: 8-2, averaging 83.2 points, 33.7 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 7.9 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.6 points per game. Sun: 1-9, averaging 70.1 points, 29.3 rebounds, 16.4 assists, 7.6 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 38.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 88.4 points. INJURIES: Lynx: None listed. Sun: Marina Mabrey: out (knee). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Los Angeles FC takes home winning streak into matchup with the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10-3-5, second in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles FC (7-4-5, sixth in the Western Conference) Los Angeles; Sunday, 9:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: LAFC -130, Vancouver +342, Draw +264; over/under is 2.5 goals BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles FC hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps looking to prolong a three-game home winning streak. LAFC is 6-4-4 against Western Conference opponents. LAFC ranks fourth in the Western Conference giving up 23 goals. The Whitecaps are 9-1-4 against Western Conference teams. The Whitecaps have a 1-2-0 record in games they score just one goal. Sunday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The last meeting ended tied 2-2. TOP PERFORMERS: Denis Bouanga has scored eight goals and added five assists for LAFC. Cengiz Under has one goal and two assists over the last 10 games. Brian White has 10 goals for the Whitecaps. Pedro Vite has scored three goals over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: LAFC: 4-1-5, averaging 2.2 goals, 6.4 shots on goal and 5.0 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.4 goals per game. Whitecaps: 4-2-4, averaging 1.7 goals, 4.1 shots on goal and 5.3 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.3 goals per game. NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: LAFC: Jude Terry (injured), David Emmanuel Martinez Morales (injured), Nathan Ordaz (injured). Whitecaps: Giuseppe Bovalina (injured), Ali Ahmed (injured), Sebastian Berhalter (injured), Jayden Nelson (injured), Brian White (injured), Sam Adekugbe (injured), Ryan Gauld (injured). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
