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Washington Spirit rookie Croix Bethune suffers season-ending knee injury throwing out Nats first pitch

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Washington Spirit rookie Croix Bethune suffers season-ending knee injury throwing out Nats first pitch

Croix Bethune’s head-turning rookie season came to an abrupt end when she suffered a torn meniscus while throwing out the first pitch at a Washington Nationals game last week.

The injury will require surgery and will land Bethune on the season-ending injury list, the Washington Spirit said Wednesday.

Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez said the injury occurred during the ceremonial first pitch.

“She had a problem making the first pitch in the baseball game,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “She is not going to be available this season. It is part of life. You have to keep going.”

The 23-year-old packed more accomplishments in her first half-year as a professional than many players squeeze into a full career. Bethune was selected third in the 2023 NWSL Draft, with Washington trading defensive anchor Sam Staab to obtain the pick. It paid off swiftly as she became an instant starter in the wake of Ashley Sanchez’s departure via a trade on the same day. Bethune took home NWSL Rookie of the Month honors in March/April, May and June; no other player had previously won the award in back-to-back months, much less three in a row.

The strong form for her club helped her land on the United States women’s national team, first as a training player for Emma Hayes’ first camp in June and making her debut in a July tune-up friendly before being named as an alternate for the 2024 Olympics. An injury to Jaedyn Shaw saw Bethune get promoted to the 18-player squad, where she made one appearance from the bench as the USWNT returned to gold-medal standing.


(Jeff Rueter / The Athletic)

Despite this knee injury, Bethune still projects as the favorite to take home NWSL Rookie of the Year — if the litany of monthly honors wasn’t enough evidence toward that point — and challenge for a Best XI honor.

In 1,389 regular season minutes, she scored five goals and logged 10 assists. Her 15 goal contributions is tied for 5th in the league as of Sept. 4, 2024. Those 10 assists are far ahead of joint second-ranked Sophia Smith and Temwa Chawinga’s six, and had her tied with USWNT icon Tobin Heath for the NWSL’s single-season record, which Heath set in 2016.

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The Spirit will understandably take a cautious approach to Bethune’s rehabilitation. The midfielder suffered three ACL tears during her time in high school and college, a fact that may explain why two teams passed on her in the 2024 Draft. In announcing her injury, Washington clarified that she will remain with the team throughout her recovery, working closely with the Spirit Performance, Medical and Innovation department.

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(Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)

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Michigan football staffer who had alleged affair with Sherrone Moore still employed by university

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Michigan football staffer who had alleged affair with Sherrone Moore still employed by university

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The football staffer who allegedly had a romantic relationship with fired head coach Sherrone Moore is still employed by the University of Michigan.

The woman has served as Moore’s executive assistant. 

“There is no change in her employment status,” a Michigan spokesperson told Fox News. 

The woman received a massive pay bump between 2024 and 2025.

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Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore appears via video in court in Ann Arbor, Mich., Dec. 12, 2025. (Ryan Sun/AP Photo)

The individual allegedly linked to Moore, whose LinkedIn profile lists her as an executive assistant to the head football coach at the University of Michigan, made just over $58,000 in 2023 and 2024, according to public payroll information. In the 2025 fiscal year, though, her salary jumped to $99,000, according to a salary disclosure report from the University of Michigan.

During Moore’s arraignment Friday, prosecutors alleged he and the staffer had been in an “intimate relationship for a number of years,” which they say the woman ended on Monday. Prosecutors further claim Moore sent multiple text messages and made phone calls that prompted the woman to report the situation to the university and cooperate with its investigation.

Moore was released from jail Friday on $25,000 bond, according to police records obtained by Fox News Digital. 

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However, it’s unclear whether Moore will be returning home to his family. 

Moore’s attorney, Joseph Simon, declined to say whether the coach will be going home to his wife and three children while speaking to reporters at an Ann Arbor courthouse Friday. 

FIRED MICHIGAN COACH SHERRONE MOORE ACCUSED OF STALKING VICTIM ‘FOR MONTHS’ IN POLICE DISPATCH AUDIO

“I’m just going to not answer that question,” Simon said when asked if Moore was “going to be able to go home.”

Moore has been married to wife Kelli since 2015, and they have three daughters together — Shiloh, Solei and Sadie. Simon also declined to comment on the “mood” of his client after Moore was charged. 

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The conditions of Moore’s release require him to wear a GPS tether and continue mental health treatment and forbid him from communicating with the victim.

Moore was fired Wednesday, and the University of Michigan quickly announced it found credible evidence he had an “inappropriate relationship” with a staffer. Moore was then detained by police Wednesday after news of his dismissal broke. 

Moore was arraigned in court Friday on stalking and home invasion charges. According to prosecutors, he faces a felony charge of home invasion in the third degree and two misdemeanor charges of stalking and breaking and entering without the owner’s permission.

Both misdemeanor charges are related to a “domestic relationship.”

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Michigan Wolverines head football coach Sherrone Moore during warmups before a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago Nov. 15, 2025. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

When Moore was fired from his position as head coach, prosecutors said, it prompted him to visit the woman’s home. 

Moore then allegedly “barged” his way into the residence, grabbed a butter knife and a pair of kitchen scissors and began threatening his own life. According to prosecutors, Moore allegedly told the staffer, “My blood is on your hands” and “You ruined my life.” 

Prosecutors claimed Moore “terrorized” the staffer and that they believed him to be a “risk to public safety.” 

Fox News’ Patrick McGovern contributed to this report.

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Prep talk: National Football Foundation All-Star Game set for Dec. 20

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Prep talk: National Football Foundation All-Star Game set for Dec. 20

As if Simi Valley coach Jim Benkert doesn’t have enough things to do, he’s taken on the task of putting on the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame high school all-star games Dec. 20 at Simi Valley High.

At 4 p.m. there will be a flag football game featuring players from the San Gabriel Chapter against the Coastal Valley Chapter. At 7, players from Ventura County will take on Los Angeles County in an 11-man game.

Agoura’s Dustin Croick is coaching the West team that includes his outstanding quarterback, Gavin Gray. Taft’s Thomas Randolph is coaching the East team that has a strong group of quarterbacks, including Michael Wynn Jr. of St. Genevieve.

Simi Valley High will be the site for all-star football games on Dec. 20.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

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Tickets are $10 and will help pay for the growing costs of all-star games, from uniforms to insurance.

Benkert, one of the winningest coaches in state history with more than 300 victories, said he’s determined to make it work.

“We’re trying to keep all-star games alive,” he said. “If we don’t do it, there’s nothing.”

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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Utah’s winningest coach to step down after 21 seasons: ‘Honor and a privilege’

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Utah’s winningest coach to step down after 21 seasons: ‘Honor and a privilege’

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The Utah Utes will be ending an era when they play against Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl Dec. 31.

It will be head coach Kyle Whittingham’s last game as head coach after the 66-year-old announced Friday he is stepping down. Whittingham is the winningest coach in program history, going 117-88 over 22 seasons. 

“The time is right to step down from my position as the head football coach at the University of Utah,” Whittingham said in a statement Friday. 

 

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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham on the sideline during the first half against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, Nov. 15, 2025. (Chris Jones/Imagn Images)

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to lead the program for the past 21 years, and I’m very grateful for the relationships forged with all the players and assistant coaches that have worked so hard and proudly worn the drum and feather during our time here.”

Whittingham co-coached the Fiesta Bowl with Utah in 2004 and then took over as the permanent head coach the following season. Whittingham led Utah to a winning record in 18 of his 21 seasons.

This season, Utah is 10-2 and at one point ranked No. 13 in the AP poll, just missing out on the College Football Playoff (CFB).

BILL BELICHICK BREAKS UP WITH MEMBERS OF UNC COACHING STAFF AFTER TUMULTUOUS SEASON

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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kan., Nov. 28, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

Whittingham was named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1981 in his senior year. 

Before becoming a coach, Whittingham played in the USFL and the CFL from 1982 to 1984. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at BYU.

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Whittingham joined the Utah staff in 1994 and rose through the ranks. He began as the defensive line coach and eventually became the defensive coordinator before becoming the team’s head coach. 

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His final game on the sideline will be the team’s bowl game against Nebraska. Whittingham, who is 11-6 in bowl games as a head coach, will look to end his tenure with a win on Dec. 31. 

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