Sports
Hayes inspired a USWNT turnaround – but expectations remain as high as ever
PARIS — The USWNT was on message all Olympics. Joy and belief. Trust and confidence. A fresh start under Emma Hayes.
After winning gold on Saturday at Parc des Princes in Paris, while many of the questions the players faced were about the game and the emotions and the medals around their necks, there were still a few that lingered on the past — especially last summer and the turnaround of this team over the past year from their worst World Cup finish to the top of the podium again.
The thing about this team, though, no matter what they accomplish, there’s always an eye to the future.
“We know there’s so much more in us, there’s so much more potential in the way we can play, the way we can break down opponents,” USWNT captain Lindsey Horan said in the final press conference, itching to don her goggles and start spraying champagne in the locker room with the rest of the squad to celebrate their 1-0 win over Brazil in the gold medal match.
“My gosh, the way the team is now and seeing the potential for 2027, it’s very exciting.”
USWNT captain Lindsey Horan says there is much more to come from this side (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
As much as the players have left the narrative around 2023 behind, it will shadow them for a while yet — at least until 2027 begins and a result comes there. That same old pressure is back, the expectations the same as ever: win, win, and win some more.
GO DEEPER
What we learned from Emma Hayes’ victorious USWNT at the Paris Olympics
Under head coach Hayes, though, it feels like there is a new pressure valve that wasn’t there before. There are karaoke machines, nail technicians, coffees, her being forced into watching more TikToks than she ever expected (or wanted). She’s met them where they are, as players and as people.
“We’ve been having so much fun,” forward Trinity Rodman said on Saturday after the match. “But again, we still push each other hard. There’s a misconception of, ‘Oh, they laugh and dance all the time at training. They’re not serious.’ We just proved to everyone that we are and that we take this very seriously.”
Big shout to @Nike for one heck of a celebration party 🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/EXQXC6PyhW
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 11, 2024
Maybe this Olympic gold proves they can have it all: the performances on the field, the goofiness off it, and joy threading through every moment, even as they had to find new depths in the summer heat of France against some of the best teams in the world.
If this team meshed so well in such a short period of time, if Hayes got so much right in her first 10 games as manager that it resulted in a gold medal, then maybe it’s more than fair to be thinking about three years down the line.
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USWNT on goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher: ‘We’re making her a little more mushy gushy’
But first, there’s so much that needs to happen between now and the next World Cup, which takes place in Brazil. Though FIFA has confirmed a schedule of international windows and competitions, from 2025 to 2029, a lot is still unknown — and there’s nothing firmed up about when World Cup qualifiers would be in 2026.
In the immediate future, everyone goes back home. Players will get a break, but there’s the rest of the NWSL season to play. Hayes noted at one press conference she still hasn’t even packed up her stuff at Chelsea’s facilities due to the speed at which she departed her previous role. There’s at least a little time here for a breather.
Hayes will now have a little bit of downtime (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
U.S. Soccer has the next four games booked, including three home matches in a row during the October window (back-to-back friendlies against Iceland in Austin and Nashville, then another against Argentina in Louisville).
Then they’ll head back to Wembley, this time with Hayes as their manager. The last time the USWNT played in England’s national stadium in London, it was a narrow loss to the Lionesses that came in the wake of the release of Sally Yates’ report into systemic abuse across the NWSL. This November, there should be no additional context needed, just a head-to-head that should be fodder for bragging rights for a while, maybe even into 2027.
Most importantly, Hayes and her technical staff, the players, and the federation have some space to intentionally start building — not just for 2027, but across the youth teams, their relationship with the NWSL, USL Super League and other international pro leagues, and more.
Hayes knows that expectations are as high as ever. And her days of being “a heart surgeon in the middle of emergency surgery” are finally over. She said Saturday that she believed she joined the USWNT at the right moment.
“Trust me, I know what this jersey means,” she said Saturday. “But I’m not going to let it strangle me, far from it.”
Back when Hayes first officially started her role in May, she worked hard to reframe the conversation from results to process, from the team’s worst-ever FIFA world ranking (they dipped to fifth) to what they could achieve.
“Are the USA at their best possible position today?” she asked at a lengthy sitdown with reporters upon her arrival in the States. “No, but it’s about where we finish when we need to that matters to me. So I want to focus on that instead of where we are in the world rankings, where we are in comparison to Spain.”
The only gap she was interested in then was the one she saw between their play on the field and what they could be at their full powers. On Saturday, not even a full three months into her tenure, she was asked what she makes of that gap now.
Hayes smiled. “We are so excited at our potential,” she answered.
“We are so looking forward to the things we can do together. Of course, tonight we have a gold medal, but it doesn’t mean it ends there. We want so much more for ourselves because we’re competitors. But we’re just at the beginning. About 75 days in, baby.”
And with that, it was time for them to join the party surely already raging in the locker room. Goggles were waiting. The pressure might always still be there, but it could wait for another couple of days. After all, there’s 1,046 to go until the first kick in Brazil.
(Top photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Sports
ESPN’s Stephen A Smith hears boos from WrestleMania 42 crowd
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LAS VEGAS – Danhausen’s curse may be real after all – just ask Stephen A. Smith and the New York Mets.
While the latter dropped their 10th game in a row, Smith got his share of the curse on Saturday night during Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. Smith was in attendance for WWE’s premier event of the year and heard massive boos from the crowd.
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith was sitting ringside to watch the action. The ESPN star appeared on the videoboard above the ring at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He appeared to embrace the reaction and smiled through it.
The boos came after Danhausen appeared on “First Take” on Friday – much to the chagrin of the sports pundit. Smith appeared perplexed by Danhausen’s appearance. Smith said he heard about Danhausen and called him a “bad luck charm.”
Danhausen said Smith had been “rude” to him and put the dreaded “curse” on the commentator.
WWE STAR DANHAUSEN SAYS METS ‘CURSE’ ISN’T EXACTLY LIFTED AS TEAM DROPS NINTH STRAIGHT GAME
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith is far from the only one dealing with the effects of the “curse.”
Danhausen agreed to “un-curse” the Mets during their losing streak. However, he told Fox News Digital earlier this week that there was a reason why the curse’s removal didn’t take full effect.
“I did un-curse the Mets. But it didn’t work because, I believe it was Brian Gewirtz who did not pay Danhausen. He did not send me my money so it did not take full effect,” Danhausen said. “Once I have the money, perhaps it will actually work because right now it’s probably about a half of an un-cursing. It’s like a layaway situation.”
Danhausen enters the arena before his match against Kit Wilson during SmackDown at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on April 10, 2026. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
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On “Friday Night SmackDown,” WWE stars like The Miz and Kit Wilson were also targets of Danhausen’s curse.
Sports
After 55 years as a broadcaster in L.A., Randy Rosenbloom is leaving town
It’s time to reveal memories, laughs and crazy times from Randy Rosenbloom’s 55 years as a TV/radio broadcaster in Los Angeles. He’s hopping in a car next Sunday with his wife, saying goodbye to a North Hollywood house that’s been in his family since 1952 and driving 3,300 miles to his new home in Greenville, S.C.
“When I walk out, I’ll probably break down,” he said.
He graduated from North Hollywood High in 1969. He got his first paid job in 1971 calling Hart basketball games for NBC Cable Newhall for $10 a game. It began an adventure of a lifetime.
“I never knew if I overachieved or underachieved. I just did what I loved,” he said.
Randy Rosenbloom (left) used to work with former UCLA coach John Wooden for TV games.
(Randy Rosenbloom)
John Wooden, Jerry Tarkanian and Jim Harrick were among his expert commentators when he did play by play for college basketball games. He called volleyball at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games for NBC and rowing in 2004. He’s worked more than 100 championship high school events. He did play by play for the first and only Reebok Bowl at Angel Stadium in 1994 won by Bishop Amat over Sylmar, 35-14.
“There were about 5,000, 6,000 people there and I remember thinking nobody watched the game. We ended up with a 5.7 TV rating on Channel 13 in Los Angeles, which is higher than most Lakers games.”
He conducted interviews with NFL Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Johnny Unitas and boxing greats Robert Duran, Thomas Hearn and Sugar Ray Leonard. He’s worked with baseball greats Steve Garvey and Doug DeCinces. He called games with former USC coach Rod Dedeaux. He was in the radio booth for Bret Saberhagen’s 1982 no-hitter in the City Section championship game at Dodger Stadium. He was a nightly sportscaster for KADY in Ventura.
Randy Rosenbloom, left, with his volleyball broadcast partners, Kirk Kilgour and Bill Walton.
(Randy Rosenbloom)
He was the voice of Fresno State football and basketball. He also did Nevada Las Vegas football and basketball games. He called bowl games and Little League games. He was a public address announcer for basketball at the 1984 Olympic Games with Michael Jordan the star and did the P.A. for Toluca Little League.
Nothing was too small or too big for him.
“I loved everything,” he said.
He called at least 10 East L.A. Classic football games between Garfield and Roosevelt. He was there when Narbonne and San Pedro tied 21-21 in the 2008 City championship game at the Coliseum on a San Pedro touchdown with one second left.
Probably his most notable tale came when he was doing radio play-by-play at a 1998 college bowl game in Montgomery, Ala.
“I look down and a giant tarantula is crawling up my pants,” he said. “My color man took all the press notes, wadded them up and hit the tarantula like swinging a bat.”
Did Rosenbloom tell the audience what was happening?
“I stayed calm,” he said.
Then there was the time he was in the press box at Sam Boyd Stadium and a bat flew in and attached itself to the wooden press box right next to him before flying away after he said, “UNLV wins.”
Recently, he’s been putting together high school TV packages for LA36 and calling travel ball basketball games. He’ll still keep doing a radio gambling show from his new home, but he’s cutting ties to Los Angeles to move closer to grandchildren.
“I’m retiring from Los Angeles. I’m leaving the market,” he said.
Hopefully he’ll continue via Zoom to do a weekly podcast with me for The Times.
He’s a true professional who’s versatility and work ethic made him a reliable hire from the age of 18 through his current age of 74.
He’s a member of the City Section Hall of Fame and the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He once threw the shot put 51 feet, 7 1/2 inches, which is his claim to fame at North Hollywood High.
One time an ESPN graphic before a show spelled his name “Rosenbloom” then changed it to “Rosenblum” for postgame. It was worth a good laugh.
He always adjusts, improvises and ad-libs. He expects to enjoy his time in South Carolina, but he better watch out for tarantulas. They seem to like him.
Sports
Becky Lynch enters exclusive WWE club with Women’s Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 42
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LAS VEGAS – Becky Lynch entered an atmosphere no other WWE women’s superstar has ever reached as she won the Women’s Intercontinental Championship over AJ Lee on Saturday night at WrestleMania 42.
Lynch became the first person to hold the Women’s Intercontinental Championship three times after she pinned Lee. She first won the title against Lyra Valkyria in June 2025 and then again against Maxxine Dupri in November.
Becky Lynch celebrates with the belt after defeating AJ Lee during their women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
She dropped the belt to Lee at the Elimination Chamber, sparking a monthslong feud with her.
Lee gave Lynch the chance at the title in the weeks prior to WrestleMania 42. But it appeared Lee played right into Lynch’s plans. Despite arguing with referee Jessica Carr for most of the match, Lynch was able to tactfully tear down a rope buckle and use it to her advantage.
Lynch hit Lee with a Manhandle Slam and pinned her for the win.
WWE STARS REVEAL WHAT MAKES WRESTLEMANIA SO SPECIAL: ‘IT’S THE SUPER BOWL OF PRO WRESTLING’
AJ Lee reacts after losing to Becky Lynch in their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
It’s the second straight year Lynch will leave Las Vegas as champion. She returned to WWE at WrestleMania 41, teaming with Valkyria, to win the women’s tag titles. She will now leave Allegiant Stadium as the women’s intercontinental champion.
Lynch is now a seven-time women’s champion, three-time women’s intercontinental champion and two-time tag team champion.
Becky Lynch withstands AJ Lee during their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Lee’s reign as champion ended really before it could really begin. WrestleMania 42 was her first appearance at the event in 11 years. It’s unclear where Lee will go from here.
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