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Alex Morgan Bids Farewell As NWSL Attendances Surpass 1.5 Million

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Alex Morgan Bids Farewell As NWSL Attendances Surpass 1.5 Million


The third-highest crowd of the NWSL season witnessed the last-ever game of Alex Morgan’s career on the day total attendances surpassed 1.5 million for the the first time.

A crowd of 26,516 were at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego to see the United States Women’s National Team legend Morgan play for just 16 minutes of the game against North Carolina Courage until she was substituted on her final appearance before retiring from the professional game.

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Earlier in the day, total attendances for the regular NWSL season had gone past the 1.5 million mark for the first time in the league’s eleven-year history during the match between Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride. It is the third successive year in which the league has attracted more than one million spectators.

Last season, 1,424,208 fans watched the 132 regular season matches in the league. This figure was surpassed last Sunday during the game between Angel City and Chicago Red Stars. With seven weeks of an expanded league campaign left to play, it now seems inevitable that the NWSL will record attendances in excess of two million.

In spite of the increased number of games to be played, the 1.5 million mark was broken in the 132nd match of the season – the same total of games played last year. Average attendances are up for the fourth successive season, currently standing at 11,477 per game.

Morgan’s well-publicised farewell swelled the crowd for San Diego’s 1-4 defeat to North Carolina Courage. In her farewell speech she joked that “95” of her friends and family were in attendance. “I know people have come here from Alaska, Massachusetts, Colorado, Florida, all around the country.”

When Morgan played in the first NWSL campaign in 2013, a total of 375,763 attended the 88 regular season games, an average of just 4,270. Her side then, Portland Thorns, had the highest-season average of 13,320, as they would in eight of the first ten years. Now new franchises, like Angel City and San Diego Wave, have surpassed them bolstering the league’s figures.

Despite their lowly league position, The Wave are averaging 20,408 this campaign pulling in four of the the five largest crowds of the year. This has put them on course to become the first NWSL side in history to average over 20,000 in successive seasons.

The largest crowd of the NWSL season was recorded at Wrigley Field when 35,038 saw the visit of Bay FC to Chicago. However this is only one of two matches in this campaign to register among the all-time top ten attendances for the NWSL indicating a more sustained growth of crowds throughout the league. Currently, every club is averaging above 5,000 for the season.

These figures make the NWSL far and away the best supported professional women’s sports league in North America. Crowds in the Mexican Liga MX Feminil averaged at 2,072 in the Apertura and 2,456 in the Clausura.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League in the United States pulled in a total attendance of 392,259 last season averaging 5,448. In 2023, the WNBA averaged 6,615 per match but pulled in a total attendance of 1,587,488 over 212 games. Currently at 1,526,407, this mark will be surpassed by the NWSL next week.

Despite a season of record-breaking attendances in the English Women’s Super League (WSL), the total attendance from the same number of games (132) reached 971,977, an average of 7,363. This marked a 41% increase on the previous season when the total attendance reached 689,297.

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After playing six of their eleven games at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal averaged an attendance of 29,999 over the season. It is a figure they are set to break this season with at least eight matches at the club’s main stadium, pushing the WSL also past the one million mark.



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San Diego, CA

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

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Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title


OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.

“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.

So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.

With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.

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The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.

Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”

One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.

“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”

Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run.  Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.

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Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.

“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.

As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.

Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”

Francis Parker High’s Jordan Brown shoots against Westview High during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.

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The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.

“She’s a great player,” said Brown.

“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”

Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.

“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”

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Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.

Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.

About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”

Francis Parker High's Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Francis Parker High’s Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.

Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.

“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.

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Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.

“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”



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5 things to know about Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei

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5 things to know about Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei



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Joan Endres – San Diego Union-Tribune

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Joan Endres – San Diego Union-Tribune



Joan Endres


OBITUARY

Born January 1939 in Cincinnati Ohio. Died February 14, 2026, in San Diego, California, with her sons at her side. Her beloved husband Dean passed away in 2010.

Joan was the only child of Thomas and Edna Palmer. In 1943, the family moved to San Diego, where Joan graduated from Helix High School in 1956.

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In 1957 Joan married Dean Endres of San Diego, where they raised two sons. Joan followed her two great passions outside the home, the Arts, and Gardening. Both activities being a way to bring beauty to others and to the community.

Joan received a degree in Environmental Design from San Diego State University, and afterwords worked at UCSD, for the Campus Architect.

As an artist, Joan worked in various media, especially ceramics. She was active in many cultural and arts organizations, eventually becoming President of the Combined Organization for the Visual Arts (COVA). Later she turned to gardening, with the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca Community College and the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County.

Joan is survived by her son Jeff and wife Katrin, grandson Jackson, and son Todd Endres, all of La Mesa, and sisters Alice Buck of Phoenix, Elaine Kennedy of San Diego, Nancy and husband Don Jones of Vista, Eva Budzinski of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and their children and grandchildren.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Joan in the near future. Those who wish to attend should contact celebratejoanuvart@gmail.com to receive details when they are confirmed. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests a donation to the Water Conservation Garden or the Diego Visual Arts Network (SDVAN).

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