Month: April 2025

Washington Capitals’ star Alex Ovechkin set the all time NHL scoring record Sunday, netting his 895th goal on a powerplay to surpass the record held by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky – also known as the “Great One” – had held the record for over 30 years until Ovechkin scored the goal during the Caps’ away game against the New York Islanders on Sunday (which the Isles would go on to win, 4-1).

After he scored, Ovechkin slid to the ice belly-first and shouted with delight, as fans of both teams roared in support and chanted his name. Ovechkin’s teammates also raced onto the ice following the record-setter, where he was mobbed and the game paused for more than ten minutes for an official celebration. Both benches emptied as the Capitals and Islanders lined up to shake Ovechkin’s hand.

Gretzky joined Ovechkin on the ice alongside Ovechkin’s mother, wife and children, as well as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, for a mid-game ceremony. Ovechkin said in a TV interview following the game: “What a moment for hockey, what a moment for my family, myself, this organization, my teammates. Obviously, it’s huge.” 

Ovechkin set the all time scoring record in his 20th NHL season, playing in 1,487 games.  At 39 years old, he is the second-oldest forward in the NHL this year. Gretzky, who was also in his 20th season when he scored his 894th goal, said: “They say that records are made to be broken, but I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that.”

As Ovechkin made his way to center ice and applauded the crowd for their support, he poignantly raised his gloves skyward making a gesture to his father Mikhail who died in 2023 at the age of 71. Ovechkin’s mother Tatyana told her son during the ceremony: “Your dad would have been so proud.” (per ESPN).

Editorial credit: Jai Agnish / Shutterstock.com

The UConn Huskies defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks in a dominant 82-59 win at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday for a record 12th college women’s basketball championship. The Huskies are now the first Division I team with a dozen championships, all of which have come under head coach Geno Auriemma.

Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong scored 24 points apiece, while senior guard Paige Bueckers addeded in 17 points in the win. The second-seeded Huskies (37-3) outshot the No. 1 Gamecocks (35-4) 48.4% to 34.4%. They led by as many as 32 points. Huskies coach Auriemma said after the game: “It’s amazing to have three people like that on the same team. You would think Sarah was graduating the way she plays. But all three of them complement each other so well.”

Bueckers, who is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft next month, will now turn pro after leading the Huskies to four Final Four appearances. Fudd, who made 9 of 17 shots, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Strong, who collected 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks, finished the tournament with 114 points, an NCAA record for a freshman.

Bueckers also became the Huskies’ all-time leader in career points in the NCAA tournament. Over her four-year decorated career with the Huskies, Bueckers scored 477 points in the tournament – the third-most in history, trailing only Caitlin Clark and Chamique Holdsclaw.

Editorial credit: fitzcrittle / Shutterstock.com

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a finger tendon injury.

Maxey’s agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, confirmed the news to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who posted on X: “Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey is expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season with a finger tendon injury, sources tell ESPN. Maxey has been sidelined since March 3 and has attempted to rehab the finger, but still is dealing with discomfort and needs treatment.”

Charania followed up his post by writing: “The Sixers’ three All-Stars – Joel Embiid, Paul George and Maxey – all ultimately ruled out for the 2024-25 season. Maxey averaged a career-high 26.3 points in 52 games while leading the league at 37.7 minutes a night.”

Maxey has been sidelined since March 3 and is still dealing with discomfort; Sixers coach Nick Nurse had said of a recent workout, “It went just ‘medium.’ It didn’t like ‘Oh, that was great,’ you know? So it’s just medium, but he’s [Maxey] still working.”

In 52 games this season, the 24-year old Maxey has averaged a career-high 26.3 points with 6.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds. He also made his first All-Star team and was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2023-24, despite sooting a career-low 43.7% from the floor this season.

Editorial credit: Paul_Charles / Shutterstock.com

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade that the United States will host the 2031 Women’s World Cup. The USA was the lone bidder for the tournament; they previously hosted the 1999 and 2003 Women’s World Cups.

ESPN’s Emily Keogh reported on Thursdayy that the United Kingdom will host the tournament in 2035 thanks to a joint bid from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom has never hosted a Women’s World Cup.

Infantino said: “As part of the bidding process, we received one bid for ’31 and one bid, valid bid, I should add for ’35. The ’31 bid is from the United States of America and potentially some other Concacaf members together, and the ’36 bid is from Europe from the Home Nations so the path is there for the Women’s World Cup to be taking place in ’31 and ’35 in some great countries and some great nations to boost even more the women’s football movement.“. Infantino also told reporters that FIFA wants to expand the Women’s World Cup field to 48 teams from 32.

English Football Association president Mark Bullingham said in a news release: “As part of the bidding process, we received one bid for ’31 and one bid, valid bid, I should add for ’35. The ’31 bid is from the United States of America and potentially some other Concacaf members together, and the ’36 bid is from Europe from the Home Nations so the path is there for the Women’s World Cup to be taking place in ’31 and ’35 in some great countries and some great nations to boost even more the women’s football movement. We are honored to be the sole bidder for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035. Hosting England’s first FIFA World Cup since 1966, along with our home nations partners, will be very special. The hard work starts now, to put together the best possible bid by the end of the year.”

U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation announced last April they withdrew a joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup to focus on a 2031 bid. That tournament will be held in Brazil. Mexico is expected to be a joint host for the 2031 tournament.

Editorial credit: ArifAsif / Shutterstock.com