Seven years after she left the National Women's Soccer League as its most prolific scorer, Sam Kerr marked her return to the league with her first goal since rejoining Gotham FC, an equalizer against Portland Thorns.
The Australia striker was her own toughest critic, admitting she did not think much of her overall performance at Providence Park. But her goal in the 62nd minute saw Gotham tie 2-2, adding to goals from Midge Purce, Renee Lyles and Jessie Fleming. Jayden Perry was later sent off for the Thorns.
"I'm obviously happy to score, help the team, but I expect more from myself," Kerr said post-match. "So I wasn't too happy with how I played. Quite disappointing, to be honest.
"I thought we were quite poor today. But we're probably lucky to get away with the tie in the end. I guess I am happy… that we didn't lose."
Kerr's return has been one of the most significant acquisitions in Gotham's history. The 32-year-old signed with the reigning NWSL champions through the 2030 season after leaving Chelsea this summer, returning to the club where she starred when it was still known as Sky Blue FC.

#league

Noah Lyles ran a world-leading 9.79 seconds as he claimed an impressive victory in the 100m at the US athletics championships.
He also equalled his personal best, which he set in winning gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, with the run at the Icahn Stadium in New York City.
The previous best 100m in 2026 was the 9.82 set by Jamaica's Oblique Seville in June.
"I think I made that 'I'm still the world's fastest man' statement," said Lyles.
The 29-year-old American finished ahead of Ronnie Baker in second and third-placed Kenny Bednarek, who were both given a time of 9.88s, while former world champion Christian Coleman was fourth in 9.93.

#noah

Olympic gold medallist Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson eased into the 100m semi-finals at the US athletics championships on Thursday.
Lyles, who captured 100m gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024, won his heat in 9.97sec to book his semi-final berth with the second-quickest time of the day behind the 9.96 posted by former world champion Christian Coleman.
Richardson, the 2023 world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medallist, topped the women's heats in 10.90sec.
She will be a heavy favorite for the ****** le on Friday, with Melissa Jefferson-Wooden -- a treble gold medallist at last year's world championships -- opting to race the 200m only this week.
Lyles called his championships opener a good warm-up "just to get the engine firing".

#lyles

NEW YORK (AP) — Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles cruised through their first-round races of the 100 meters on Thursday at the U.S. track championships.
Richardson had the top time of 10.90 seconds in the women's race. That was despite taking an extra moment in the starting block to make sure she didn't false start and shutting it down early to conserve energy. Richardson is a big favorite to win with reigning 100-meter world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden skipping the event to focus on the 200.
The semifinals and final will be held Friday at Icahn Stadium.
Lyles, the reigning Olympic champion, started slow — just like Richardson — but quickly powered up to full speed. He finished in 9.97 seconds to edge Ronnie Baker in the second heat. The top time was turned in by Christian Coleman, who went 9.96 in the first heat. Kenny Bednarek, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 200, won his heat as well.
Bednarek and Lyles were involved in a shoving and shouting match at U.S. championships last summer as they crossed the finish line of a hotly contested 200-meter final at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

#olympic

The Philadelphia 76ers began summer league play on Thursday when they took on the Detroit Pistons in Las Vegas. It offered up the first opportunity for them to see what they have in their younger pieces in a competitive setting. They have been practicing all week, and now is the time to get in an actual game.
The summer Sixers began with a 101-93 win over the Pistons at The Pavilion. There were some sloppy moments, as there always are in the summer league, but the Sixers have to be happy with what they saw from the young players in the summer league opener.
Rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. finished with 18 points and seven **** ists while Johni Broome had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Isaac Johnson had 20 points off the bench and Dante Maddox Jr. had 21 points while Amani Lyles had 11 points.
Here are the player grades following the win:
Welcome to the league, Mr. Philon. The No. 22 overall pick went to work early as he knocked down his first three triples on the night. He had the ball on a string, too, as he really showed off his handles when pressured by Detroit’s guards. The shooting tailed off after the hot start, but his ability to get into the paint and make things happen either by finishing at the basket or making a play for a teammate was impressive in this one. The Sixers have to be happy with what they saw in this one. He will challenge Tyrese Maxey for having the best handles on the team. There is a lot of work to do, but Philon showed off a lot of his game in this one.

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Gout Gout says he'll have to withdraw from the world junior championships after straining his hamstring in training, a decision that takes one of the rising stars of track and field out of next month's meet.
"Unfortunately I suffered an injury to my left hamstring last night at training in Brisbane," the 18-year-old Australian sprinter posted on Instagram on Thursday. "I received this morning the MRI report, unfortunately the news is not good and I will not be able to compete in Eugene."
Gout said his focus now was on rehabilitation for the hamstring tear and he planned to "come back in 2027 better and stronger and faster."
"I have no other possibility but to accept this situation. I understand this is part of athletics."
Gout has already spent time training with Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles and has set an international record faster than Usain Bolt could produce at the Under-20 level. He was a strong favorite for gold at the Aug. 5-9 world juniors in Eugene, Oregon.

Position-wise, the Los Angeles Lakers have two main holes on their roster: the starting wing or forward spot, and a true center who can back up Walker Kessler. As far as that starting wing or forward spot, there aren't many options on the free agent market.
The Lakers reportedly have two options for that spot. They can either bring back forward Rui Hachimura, who is a free agent and remains unsigned, or take a flyer on Jonathan ***** inga, a 23-year-old who has tantalizing athleticism and potential but hasn't put it together in five pro seasons.
According to insider Jake Fischer, ***** inga is L.A.'s top choice at that position right now; in fact, he reported on Bleacher Report that Hachimura is "not a priority to the Lakers."
"There's definitely Lakers interest in ***** inga too," Fischer reported. "... The Lakers, to my understanding, were very in on ***** inga yesterday, they've maintained contact there. There's definitely a pitch that's been made about the opportunity he could have to help Luka Doncic contend in the Western Conference… Rui Hachimura, to my understanding, is not a priority for the Lakers… We keep hearing ***** inga stuff. I believe Trey Lyles was another name on the Lakers list before he went to Minnesota earlier today…
"I don't think Rui is going back there at all. I do think Los Angeles, and have been told that Los Angeles has interest in Jonathan ***** inga. They were a team that had interest in ***** inga by way of sign-and-trade last summer as well as ***** inga's restricted free agency was kind of being dragged out all summer long with the Warriors until he signed his one-plus-one contract that ended up having him get traded to Atlanta. So Jonathan ***** inga, to my understanding, is the Lakers' top choice right now at the wing spot of all the guys left on the board."

The Paris Diamond League event is set to go ahead despite high temperatures leading to French police requesting the meeting be called off.
The heatwave that has hit Europe has seen the mercury soar in the capital, with World Athletics organisers adapting the schedule as a result.
Those that brave the swelter will enjoy a star-studded line-up, including Noah Lyles – the Olympic 100m champion takes on a previous holder of that ***** le in Lamont Jacobs as part of a strong sprinting field.
Mondo Duplantis chases more pole vaulting success while Femke Broeders-Bol steps up to the 800m in an intriguing move from the hurdler, and faces a tough task against Audrey Werro, who is in red-hot form. Matthew Hudson-Smith is among the British hopes – he goes in the 400m.
Here’s everything you need to know.

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) — Olympic champion Noah Lyles set the world best time in the rarely contested 150 meters at the Golden Spike meet on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old American sprinter clocked 14.67 seconds to beat a field of runners including Australia’s sprint sensation Gout Gout.
Lyles, who won the 100 at the Paris Games and is four-time world champion in the 200, capitalized on a fast start before using his speed to cruise to the finish line.
He beat the previous best set by Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson at 14.92 in April at Miramar, Florida.
Sinesipho Dambile of South Africa finished second Tuesday in 14.78, also beating the previous best, and Gout was third in 14.96.