Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
March 3, 2020 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
This past week Major League Soccer began its 25th season with 26 teams, the American Hockey League officially approved the relocation of the San Antonio Rampage to Las Vegas, Nevada next season and the National Women's Soccer League named Lisa Baird as its new commissioner. Highlights from this week are from Major League Soccer, the National Women's Soccer League, Major Arena Soccer League, XFL, NBA G League, NBL Canada, American Hockey League, ECHL, Western Hockey League, United States Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Pacific Coast League and Major League Rugby.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
First goal in Nashville SC history scored by Walker Zimmerman:
Top Five Goals of the Week
Time to Recap Week 1 in MLS
National Women's Soccer League
The league's eighth season includes nine teams set to face off in a single table, 24-game regular season - with 12 home games and 12 away games - in which every team will take on each opponent three times.
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has named Lisa Baird as the new Commissioner. In her role, Baird will be responsible for overseeing all operations for the league and NWSL Media with a focus on growing revenues and audience while elevating the profile of the league globally. She will begin the position on March 10. Baird joins the NWSL from New York Public Radio (NYPR), where she served as the Chief Marketing Officer for more than a year.
NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird Introductory Message
Major Arena Soccer League
This goal from Guilherme Dos Santos not only tied the game for his Florida Tropics SC against the Tacoma Stars, it was the 1,900th goal scored in the MASL this season.
FOOTBALL
XFL
St. Louis BattleHawks quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, New York Guardians defensive end Jarrell Owens and Houston Roughnecks linebacker DeMarquis Gates were named the OurSports Central XFL Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Unsung Hero of the Week, respectively, for week four of the XFL season.
Los Angeles Wildcats quarterback Josh Johnson to Saeed Blacknall for a 42 yard touchdown reception.
Young fan receives ball from St. Louis BattleHawks quarterback Jordan Ta'amu - smile is priceless.
HUGE sack, fumble and TD for the Houston Roughnecks Edmond Robinson
"My dad introduced me to the game, so it's real tough." Tampa Bay Vipers RB Jacques Patrick was overcome with emotion after scoring his first professional TD
Indoor Football League
The Spokane Shock announce the signing of former University of Alabama quarterback Blake Sims. Sims broke the Alabama single season passing record with 3,487 yards for 28 touchdowns on the season. The versatile quarterback played a key role in Alabama's playoff run.
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
Top Plays of the Week.
National Basketball League of Canada
NBL Canada cuts volume nine
BIG3
The BIG3 and CBS Sports announced a partnership today for the league's upcoming fourth season. Select games will be broadcast on CBS Television Network on Saturdays throughout the summer, starting on June 20 through the BIG3 Championship Game on August 29, except over Fourth of July weekend. CBS Sports will feature 24 games over the 10 event days of the season with all selected games airing live on CBS.
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
Calgary Roughnecks Zach Herreweyers gets his second of the night driving and then leaping through the air to cut into their deficit.
Rochester Knighthawks Doug Utting goes coast to coast for first NLL goal
John LaFontaine takes it the length of the field, then scores his 1st of the year with an impressive airborn finish to give the New England Black Wolves a 13-9 lead over the Halifax Thunderbirds.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
American Hockey League President and Chief Executive Officer David Andrews announced today that the AHL Board of Governors has approved the transfer of ownership of the San Antonio Rampage AHL franchise to the Vegas Golden Knights, as well as the relocation of that franchise from San Antonio, Texas, to Henderson/Las Vegas, Nev., effective with the 2020-21 season. The Golden Knights' AHL affiliate will play at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for the 2020-21 season.
Dylan Sikura sealed the win for the Rockford IceHogs in the shootout victory over the Texas Stars.
ECHL
Top Five Plays of the Week from Feb. 17th to Feb. 23rd.
Western Hockey League
2020 NHL Draft prospect Bryan Thomson of the Lethbridge Hurricanes comes up with a big glove save during Saturday's game against Brandon Wheat Kings.
United States Hockey League
Plays of the Week: Week 19
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Raphael Lavoie nets the 100th goal of his QMJHL career (86 with the Halifax Mooseheads + 14 with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens) thanks to a perfect Félix Bibeau pass.
BASEBALL
Pacific Coast league
The Texas Rangers put on a show with their top 3 minor league baseball plays.
OTHER SPORTS
WorldTeam Tennis
The Philadelphia Freedoms will play their home games this season at Drexel University's Daskalakis Athletic Center.
The Orlando STORM, Florida's only professional tennis team, will have new leadership on, and off the court as the 2020 World TeamTennis season launches on Sunday, July 12 at 5 pm against the Philadelphia Freedoms. Former ATP Tour Professional and Veteran Tour Coach Jay Gooding brings over 20 years of professional tennis experience to the STORM's sideline as the team's new Head Coach.
Major League Rugby
Week 3 - Top 5 Tries - 1. Save Totovosau for San Diego Legion 2. Carl Meyer for NOLA Gold Rugby 3. Julian Dominguez Widmer for NOLA Gold Rugby 4. Frank Halai for the Austin Gilgronis 5. Devereaux Ferris for San Diego Legion.
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
• Discuss this story on the National Women's Soccer League message board...
National Women's Soccer League Stories from March 3, 2020
- Pride in the W-League: Round 13 & 14 Recaps - Orlando Pride
- North Carolina Courage Release 2020 Preseason Schedule - North Carolina Courage
- Portland Acquires USWNT Defender Becky Sauerbrunn from Utah - NWSL
- Orlando Pride Signs 2020 NWSL Draft Selections Courtney Petersen & Konya Plummer - Orlando Pride
- Utah Royals FC Acquires Elizabeth Ball from Portland Thorns FC - Utah Royals FC
- Thorns FC Acquire Defender Becky Sauerbrunn from Utah Royals FC for Defender Elizabeth Ball, Allocation Money - Portland Thorns FC
- Last Week around the Leagues - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
