Sports
USC women’s basketball smothers Saint Mary’s ahead of Big Ten opener
On Tuesday night at Galen Center, a light crowd cheered hard for the defense. Any time the Trojans fought off a jump-ball, any time they chased down a loose ball, any time the team quickly transitioned to offense off one of the 18 defensive rebounds, the arena DJ asked the fans to cheer on the hustle.
“DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE!”
As Saint Mary’s (5-4) turned the ball over 29 times, USC (6-2) took advantage of each opportunity it made by cruising to a commanding 79-33 victory over the Gaels. The Trojans flexed on both sides of the court. They held the visiting team to single-digit points in the last three quarters of the game and led by as many as 46 points, never giving up the lead.
Senior Londynn Jones led the Trojans with 17 points while going 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.
“We made them look rougher than they are,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “It’s a really good team who played some other Power Four teams really tough and challenged us to get better this week, which we did.”
The Gaels never stood a chance against the Trojans. After finishing the first quarter up by four points, the USC defense exploded with six steals while forcing nine turnovers and holding Saint Mary’s to four points in the second quarter. Saint Mary’s shot 27% from the field and went 2-of-13 from the three-point line.
Three USC players scored in double figures while contributing on defense as well. After earning her second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor of the season, Jazzy Davidson had 14 points, three blocks, six assists and four rebounds. Senior Kara Dunn had 15 points with five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Jones, who came off the bench to lead the team in scoring, added four steals.
The Trojans earned 13 fast break points, quickly moving the ball up the court after defensive stops. They shot 46% from the field and 76% from the free-throw line.
“We’re making sure that our execution is really good and that we’re giving all of our effort into every single play and making sure that we are getting better at boxing out,” Dunn said. “We’re making sure we’re getting better at moving the ball.”
The Trojans did not take the game lightly, with the bench scoring 33 points and scoring 24 points in two separate quarters. USC aims to maintain its strong execution when it hosts No. 5 Washington on Sunday.
“I think we’ve really made a concerted effort to work and get better,” she said. “It’s not just getting better at jumpers or getting better at a play, it’s mentally saying, ‘Do we need to talk more?’”
USC’s communication was strong throughout Tuesday’s game. Saint Mary’s players felt pressure from two Trojans every time they touched the ball. If a shot was missed, USC took care of the rebound.
“It’s a huge energy boost,” Dunn said of the dominant performance. “I feel like it brings us together, it connects us.”
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Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper and his girlfriend were both arrested on domestic violence charges on Friday.
Both Cooper and his girlfriend were held on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief, according to Douglas County jail records.
An argument broke out between the two over cheating allegations, according to TMZ.
(Left) Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) looks on after a defensive play in the overtime period of the AFC Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 17, 2026. (Right) Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief in Colorado. (Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images; Courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
The pair, who have been seeing each other on and off for years, were hanging out at Cooper’s residence when she confronted him over his alleged infidelity. The woman grabbed Cooper’s phone and threw it against a wall, and then eventually regained control of the device to go through it, the arrest affidavit said, according to TMZ.
Cooper and the woman then struggled for the phone, which Cooper eventually retrieved after a physical struggle. He then demanded that the woman leave his home, or he allegedly told her he would break her cell phone, the probable cause affidavit said, per TMZ.
After the woman did not leave, he bit down and broke the screen on the iPhone, according to the affidavit.
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Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief in Colorado. (Courtesy of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
Cooper had a hearing at 9:45 a.m. in a Douglas County courtroom, and a follow-up hearing will be held on Monday, when Cooper is expected to enter a plea, according to 9NEWS.
Following the hearing, Cooper was released on a personal recognizance bond, according to 9NEWS’ report.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Broncos and Cooper’s agency for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper stands on the field before the game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Dec. 21, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Cooper, 28, has been with the Broncos since they drafted him out of Ohio State in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, and he has spent all five seasons of his career with Denver.
In 17 games last season, Cooper recorded 50 tackles and eight sacks and was a key member of the Broncos’ stout defense. In his career, Cooper has played 81 games, recording 266 tackles and 31.5 sacks.
The Broncos signed him to a four-year, $60 million contract extension in November 2024.
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Alison Lee is trying to balance a major championship and motherhood.
So far, so good.
The former UCLA standout shot a 68 at Riviera Country Club on Friday to inch to the top of the leaderboard in the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open, putting the devoted mom in prime position for a weekend run at her first major victory.
Lee grew up in Valencia, and that’s where she’s staying this week so her parents can watch their 13-month-old grandson, Levi Todd Kidd, who late Friday afternoon was perched on his mother’s lap in the scoring tent.
“I will say over the last few months it’s been tough,” Lee conceded earlier this week. “But we had a breakthrough last week and he’s sleeping a lot better. Therefore, my life has been a lot easier.”
Lee, who shot 70 on Thursday, likewise could be on the verge of a career breakthrough. She has yet to win on the LPGA Tour.
“To win in basically my backyard would be super cool,” she said.
She isn’t the only local player with momentum heading into the weekend. Fellow Bruin Patty Tavatanakit is three shots off the lead, as is Allisen Corpuz, who played at USC.
In Gee Chun reacts her par putt on the eighth hole during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
On an afternoon that was cooler and grayer than Thursday, the woman ranked No. 1 in the world got back on track. After shooting a 73 in the opening round, Nelly Korda relocated her rhythm with four birdies on her way to a 67, earning some cheers from a gallery that, though relatively modest, was the biggest of the day.
Lee was among a small group of players who shot a 68. That included “Dumbo” — South Korea’s In Gee Chun — who got that nickname years ago because of her exceptionally keen hearing. She has embraced the moniker. The Disney character adorns her golf bag and is her driver headcover, and her fans refer to themselves as the “Flying Dumbos.”
Chun is in the hunt for her fourth major championship, having won the Open in 2015, Evian in 2016, and Women’s PGA in 2022.
Were Chun to win this tournament, she would be in rarefied air with bookend victories separated by 11 years. According to Elias Sports Bureau, among women with multiple U.S. Open titles, Meg Mallon had the longest gap (13 years apart), followed by Annika Sorenstam (10 years).
Of course, there’s a big difference between being at a logjam atop the leaderboard on Friday and lifting the Harton S. Semple Trophy on Sunday.
“Just stick to the game plan, nothing changes,” Chun said of her mindset heading into the weekend. “I don’t want to think about the future to put extra pressure on me.”
Jennifer Kupcho, who led the field with a 66 on Thursday, has her own way of dealing with external pressure. She talks to her mom before and after a tournament — but not during it.
Ruoning Yin hits out of a green side bunker on No. 17 during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday. Yin is tied with Lee for the lead at four-under through 138 holes.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“Me and my mom kind of have an understanding,” she said, “like, ‘Just don’t text me. I don’t want to hear from you if I play good. I don’t want to hear from you if I play bad. We’ll talk at the end of the tournament.’”
Kupcho, raised in Colorado, said she hasn’t banned her folks from attending, “But I don’t think they’re going to.”
Maybe she could have used a sympathetic ear Friday. After leading outright Thursday, she came back to earth Friday with a 73 but was still only a shot off the leader.
Jennifer Kupcho hits out of a fairway bunker on No. 9 during the second round of the 81st U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The same could not be said for Michelle Wie West, who followed a 75 with a 74 — a deflating finish for the LPGA legend who came out of retirement to use her final year of exemption to play at Riviera.
“Obviously I would be lying to say I wasn’t disappointed. I would have loved to have made the cut today, granted all day,” Wie West said. “But I had a blast honestly, with playing here at Riv, such a special week to have played it, and to have family, friends, a lot of familiar faces coming out, it was a lot of fun.
“I hit some good shots, hit some good putts, and kind of felt that feeling again, which is awesome.”
Nelly Korda misses a birdie putt on No.3 during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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If you watched Caitlin Clark on Thursday night and thought she looked a little different in the second half of the Indiana Fever’s win, you’d be correct.
Clark told reporters after the Fever’s 83-71 victory over the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse that she vomited during halftime and didn’t spare any of the nauseating details.
“I haven’t puked that much in a really long time,” Clark said, via ESPN. “But then I felt fine. I felt light. So, I was running around feeling good in the second half, but [I] feel OK. Obviously, I’m losing my voice a little bit. But I’ll be good.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark looks on during the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 4, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
Clark powered through the illness, finishing with 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. She also tied her own WNBA record in the process.
During the win, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 150 points and 50 assists in a season. She first achieved the feat last season.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark looks on during the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 4, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
The win was a needed one for the Fever. Head coach Stephanie White and Clark became the talk of the WNBA after a video of their heated sideline exchange went viral. The win snapped a two-game losing streak and brought them back to over .500, at 5-4.
Clark said everybody this week looked in the mirror and found ways to improve.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts to a foul in the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 4, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
“A lot of people have called and asked me how I am, and I said, ‘What do you mean? I’m great,’” Clark said. “I think a lot of self-reflection from everybody (this week), like look yourself in the mirror and find ways to get better. That’s certainly what I did.”
Clark will try to overcome her illness when the Fever look to build on their positive momentum against the New York Liberty on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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