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Angel City embarks on a ‘new beginning’ in dominant, season-opening victory

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Angel City embarks on a ‘new beginning’ in dominant, season-opening victory

Neither Alexander Straus nor Mark Parsons were around when Angel City played its first NWSL game in 2022. But they didn’t miss much; in four years the team had one winning season and made just one playoff appearance.

So Straus, in his first full season as coach, and Parsons, 15 months into his job as sporting director, decided to raze the club and its sad history and start over. And that break from the past couldn’t have been much clearer than it was in the opening game of the team’s fifth season Sunday, a 4-0 rout of the Chicago Stars.

“There is a little bit of a new beginning,” Straus said.

The performance was the most dominant in club history and the margin of victory matched Angel City’s largest ever. It was also the team’s first season-opening win since 2022.

“We’re a completely different organization than we were at the end of last year,” Parsons said.

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For one thing the players are already having a good time, something that rarely happened the first four seasons. So if there was a black cloud hovering over the team when Straus and Parsons arrived, it has lifted — at least for one afternoon.

“It’s a lot different than last year,” said teenager Kennedy Fuller, who opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. “We’re just having fun. We’re expressing ourselves and we’re playing how we want to play and we’re doing what we’re able to do and what we’re good at.

“We’re OK to make mistakes. And so that really drives us to want to do better.”

Fuller said that new attitude is the product of having Straus for a full preseason camp. The coach arrived midway through last season and never had a chance to fully implement the aggressive, attacking style he wants to play. Those lessons took hold this winter.

The second big change was to the roster. Six of Sunday’s starters weren’t with Angel City at the start of last season and three of them — Evelyn Shores, Ary Borges and Maiara Niehues — scored. Borges also picked up her first Angel City assist.

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“He kind of got his time to really structure us how he wanted. And he was able to bring in players that he thought were going to fit his style,” Fuller said of Straus. “With that, we were able to kind of mold into the team that he wants.

“Our meetings were very long and our trainings were very long, and so we were really able to focus on exactly what he wanted.”

Fuller’s goal was the only score in a first half Angel City dominated but the second half was just eight minutes old when Shores doubled the lead, heading in a Fuller corner for her second NWSL goal. Borges, a Brazilian international, made it 3-0 in the 66th minute, jumping in front of Chicago’s Maitane López to intercept a short goal kick by Alyssa Naeher, then beating the Stars‘ keeper cleanly with a left-footed shot from the center of the box.

Niehues, another Brazilian international, closed the scoring in the 70th minute on a right-footed shot from the center of the box. Iceland’s Sveindis Jonsdottir, got the assist on that goal. Of the four goal-scorers for Angel City, only Borges, who also had an assist in her Angel City debut, is older 21.

For Straus, part of the challenge now is convincing his young team that it can get better while also preparing it for the struggles that undoubtedly await.

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“So we take this, we learn from the experience of what we were successful with today, and we keep that,” he said. “And when we try things that fail, we try again.

“From a coaching perspective, you have games like today and it’s great and it’s fantastic and it’s amazing. But I do exactly the same job when we when we lose. And [the] players do the same job. The outcome is something that sometimes is out of [our] control.”

Also likely to temper Straus’ excitement is that Sunday’s performance came against a team that finished last in the 14-team NWSL in 2025 and hasn’t had a winning record since 2022. Angel City’s long-suffering fans certainly still need to be convinced things have changed because the announced crowd of 16,813 on a beautiful sun-splashed afternoon at BMO Stadium was the smallest ever for an Angel City opener.

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That was the only sour note of the day, though. In fact, the franchise got a second, arguably more important, victory in the 63rd minute when defender Savy King came off the bench to play for the first time since collapsing on the same field 10 months ago. King was rushed to a hospital and later underwent surgery to address a heart abnormality, which temporarily left her career in doubt.

Those doubts ended Sunday.

“The game is so much bigger than playing 90 minutes on the field,” Fuller said. “She came back and she was like, ‘I’m gonna play. And I’m gonna be better than I was.’

“To see her step on the field and have so much confidence, to be able to have that back in our environment, is so crucial. To be able to get that moment in front of her family, in front of her hometown, is so, so special.”

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Draymond Green refuses to let Charles Barkley bury the Warriors, delivers cutting Rockets jab on air

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Draymond Green refuses to let Charles Barkley bury the Warriors, delivers cutting Rockets jab on air

Wednesday night on “Inside the NBA” was less of a pregame show and more of a roast session as Draymond Green joined the desk.

The Golden State forward started going at it with Charles Barkley as the Mound Round of Rebound poked fun at the sinking ship that is the Warriors dynasty.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on April 10, 2026. (Rocky Widner/NBAE)

The tension started when Sir Charles decided to eulogize the Dubs while looking Green dead in the eye.

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“It’s over for the Warriors. No disrespect. It ends for every old team,” Barkley said.

“You had your run; you get old; you let Klay go. You and Steph are on the backside of your careers; it just passed you by.”

WARRIORS’ STEPH CURRY GETS CANDID ABOUT EVENTUAL NBA RETIREMENT

Barkley kept his foot on the gas.

While he gave the Warriors credit for “one of the greatest runs ever,” he made it clear that Father Time remains undefeated in the paint.

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“Sports … listen, sports are for young people,” Barkley added. “You hope to have a great long career, but sports … nobody wins when they’re 37, 38.”

NBA TV analysts Charles Barkley and Chris Webber speak to Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green after Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 7, 2017. (John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated)

In predictable fashion, Draymond was unable to stomach the banter.

He waited for the opening and went for the jugular, referencing Barkley’s infamous sunset years in Texas.

“Yeah, I mean, I think the goal is just to not look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform,” Green fired back.

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The jab was a direct hit on Barkley’s ring-chasing era in Houston, where the Hall of Famer was famously a shell of his MVP self.

Green then shifted into a rare moment of veteran self-awareness and admitted the Warriors are in a transitional phase, but insisted the pedigree matters more than the box score.

“I think understanding what is success at this point is key for us,” Green explained. “Knowing and understanding that it may not be realistic to win a championship, but can we continue to build to that so that once we leave this organization, it’s still in a great space?”

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Despite Draymond’s talk about maintaining a winning pedigree, this year was a harsh wake-up call for the Golden State faithful.

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Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors react during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on March 21, 2026. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

The Warriors’ season went out with a whimper as they finished 10th in the West and were bounced immediately in the play-in tournament.

Barkley might think the light is fading, but Draymond is clearly going to keep swinging on his way out.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela 

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No Triple Crown: Golden Tempo will not run in Preakness

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No Triple Crown: Golden Tempo will not run in Preakness

There will be no Triple Crown winner in horse racing this year. There won’t even be an attempt.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux on Wednesday announced Golden Tempo, the horse that made her the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, would skip the Preakness Stakes next week at its temporary home, Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

Just hours after Golden Tempo returned to the racetrack at Keeneland for the first time since his victory Saturday at Churchill Downs, DeVaux posted a statement on X.

“After much thoughtful discussion as a team, we have decided that Golden Tempo will bypass the Preakness Stakes,” the statement read.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run. The enthusiasm from racing fans, our owners, and our entire team has meant more to us than we can properly express. Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort. His health, happiness, and long-term future will always remain our top priority.”

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The Preakness, set for May 16, is the second leg of the Triple Crown, followed June 6 by the Belmont Stakes, which for the third straight year will be contested in Saratoga, N.Y. Since 1978, the only horses to sweep all three races are American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018.

Golden Tempo is the second straight horse and third in the last five years not to run in the Preakness. Sovereignty, who did not participate last year, won the Belmont and later the Travers and was voted Horse of the Year.

Unlike in the past, trainers almost never run horses with just two or even three weeks’ rest. That has prompted talk that the Preakness — which has been run 14 days after the Derby since 1950 — and Belmont could be moved back to allow horses more time between races. Sports Business Journal reported last month that the Preakness was “set to make a historic shift to one week later,” though many trainers have said that won’t make a difference.

DeVaux was asked the day after the Derby if having the Preakness four weeks after the Derby would make her decision easier.

“I mean, it would make anyone’s decision easier, but that’s not the Triple Crown,” she said. “So, the Triple Crown is hard to win for a reason. And I appreciate the history of it.

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“You know, the horses are definitely different. They’re not built the same. They’re not trained the same as back then, but current times have shown that it can be done with the right horse.”

There is no shortage of horses aiming for the Preakness, which is limited to 14 starters. One of those — and the likely favorite if he runs — is Crude Velocity, who won the Pat Day Mile on Saturday at Churchill Downs in just his third career start. But trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the Preakness a record eight times, has yet to decide whether he wants to run the horse in two weeks.

“I’m still on fence,” Baffert said Wednesday via text. “Tempted but I’m not leaning yet.”

The Daily Racing Form reported Ocelli, the maiden who finished third in the Derby, is now expected to run in the Preakness. Trainer Whit Beckman told the Form he had Ocelli jog Wednesday and “he looked better than great.”

Added Beckman: “You wouldn’t know this horse ran Saturday. He’s made of something different. Every indication he’s given me is to point to this race. … We’re having fun, the horse is having fun. If everybody’s having fun, why stop the fun?”

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According to a news release from the Preakness, other horses under consideration who didn’t run in the Derby are Chip Honcho, Corona de Oro, Crupper, Express Kid, Great White, Iron Honor, Napoleon Solo, Pretty Boy Miah, Silent Tactic, Taj Mahal, Talkin, Talk to Me Jimmy and The Hell We Did.

The Racing Form reported jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode Golden Tempo to his Derby win, will ride Chip Honcho in the Preakness.

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Joey Chestnut reflects on return to hot dog eating contest after contract dispute, temporary ban

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Joey Chestnut reflects on return to hot dog eating contest after contract dispute, temporary ban

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The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest two years ago was unusual in that it was missing the greatest competitive eater of all time.

Joey Chestnut, a 16-time winner of the event, was not eligible to participate in 2024 after he signed a deal with Nathan’s rival Impossible Foods. Chestnut was still on the outs months before the 2025 competition when he announced that he and the organizers had found common ground on sponsorships. 

That brought Chestnut, now a 17-time winner after taking the belt again last year, back to Coney Island.

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Joey Chestnut wins the men’s competition at Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City on July 4, 2025. He returned to compete for a 17th win after missing the 2024 event due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

“It was great. The audience is awesome, it’s electric. It’s good to be back after mending some fences,” Chestnut recently told Fox News Digital. “I do what I love. I got the best job in the world. I get to eat, travel, beat the heck out of people, and meet happy people. So it was great to be back.”

Chestnut’s return to the grand stage was, well, grand. Credit is due to Patrick Bertoletti, who downed 58 dogs and buns in Chestnut’s absence to take home the title two years ago. But Chestnut hasn’t posted a number that “low” since 2010. And while the Coney Island Nathan’s still had a decent crowd, it doesn’t compare to when Chestnut is on stage.

For the greatest of all time, though, it was never about a comeback — just winning and celebrating Independence Day.

“It’s never about me. It’s not even about the hot dogs. It’s the Fourth of July. It’s an eating contest, but really, it’s a Fourth of July celebration, it’s a celebration in New York. And that contest, it’s hard to describe exactly,” Chestnut said.

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Joey Chestnut prepares to compete in the men’s competition at Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City on July 4, 2025. He returns to compete for a 17th win after missing the 2024 event due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

JOEY CHESTNUT REVEALS FOODS HE WON’T EAT IN COMPETITION AS HE TOURS MINOR LEAGUE STADIUMS FOR LOCAL DELICACIES

“It’s an event, it’s more than just an eating contest. It’s part of the Fourth of July celebration for New York City, and I’m just a very little part of it. And when it comes to that celebration, I’m very happy that I was able to come back and be part of people’s Fourth of July.”

Chestnut won his first title in 2007, taking down the dynastic eater that was Takeru Kobayashi. Since then, he’s won 17 of the last 18 events he has competed in. Matt Stonie pulled off an upset in 2015.

In his return to Coney Island, Chestnut downed 70 hot dogs, an improvement from the 62 he ate in 2023. So clearly, there are no signs of slowing down. But Chestnut knows time is ticking, and he wants to make the most of it.

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“When I was younger, I could gain weight and then lose it really quick. Now, it’s a lot more work, but I still love it. And I know my body,” Chestnut said. “But as long as I’m competitive, as long as it’s fine, and I’m healthy. I’m going to be involved. I was just talking to a guy who, he’s 58 years old and he’s been doing this since I got started. And so he’s still able to do it. I’m like, ‘All right, I can do this.’ I got a couple more years, and we’ll see.”

Joey Chestnut wins the men’s competition at Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City on July 4, 2025. He returned to compete for a 17th win after missing the 2024 event due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

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“It really is, like, I really feel like it’s one of the best gigs that there is. I get to travel, eat, and, dude, it’s the funniest thing,” Chestnut said. “After I do this eating, I’m all sweaty, greasy, messy, and then people want to take pictures with me. It’s the funnest thing in the world.”

“As long as I can, I’m gonna be doing it.”

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