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NWSL National Women's Soccer League

Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
August 31, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)


This past week the Indoor Football League team in Las Vegas announced it will be known as the Vegas Knight Hawks; the ECHL's Norfolk Admirals unveiled an affiliation agreement with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes; the NBA G League's Motor City Cruise named DJ Bakker the franchise's first head coach; and NWSL expansion team Angel City FC named Freya Coombe as head coach. Highlights from this week are from the Indoor Football League, Canadian Football League, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, National Women's Soccer League, Major League Soccer, United Soccer League Championship, United Soccer League One, Big3, Women's National Basketball Association, NBA G League, Premier Lacrosse League, Major League Rugby and American Ultimate Disc League.

FOOTBALL

Indoor Football League

The Foley Entertainment Group announced the organization's newest venture. The newly acquired Indoor Football League franchise will now be known as the Vegas Knight Hawks. The Knight Hawks will be the eighteenth current and active member of the IFL. The organization also announced that the team has hired Mike Davis as their first head coach in franchise history. Davis joins the Knight Hawks after serving as the Defensive Line Coach for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts.

Welcome To The IFL: The Vegas Knight Hawks

National Arena League

After a rollercoaster season filled with nail biting defeats & thrilling upset victories in 2021 the Carolina Cobras fans witness a sixth ranked Cobras team upset teams in a back to back road series that rose the Cobras from last to 4th place in the NAL and immediately into a NAL playoffs run. The Carolina Cobras Ownership extended an offer to continue Head Coach Resignalo's tenure as Head Coach of the Carolina Cobras and to expand his role as the team General Manager where he will oversee more duties for the franchise beyond the football field.

Canadian Football League

Line judge Georgina Paul and Head Linesman Tom Cesari made history as the first husband and wife to officiate a game together in The Hamilton Tiger-Cats - Montreal Alouettes game.

The Ottawa REDBLACKS needed some big plays to keep it close with the 1st place Saskatchewan Roughriders, and receiver RJ Harris delivered in a big way.

Sean Thomas Erlington Goes UP. Sean Thomas Erlington does not care for your open-field tackle.

HOCKEY

ECHL

The Norfolk Admirals, proud members of the ECHL, announced they have officially signed an affiliation agreement with the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes are based out of Raleigh, NC which is located less than three hours from Norfolk. Geographically, it is the closest city to Norfolk that occupies an NHL team. The Hurricanes become the seventh affiliation in Admirals franchise history. The team has been affiliated with the Chicago Blackhawks (2000-2007), Tampa Bay Lightning (2007-2012), Anaheim Ducks (2012-2015), Edmonton Oilers (2015-2017), Nashville Predators (2017-2018), and Arizona Coyotes (2018-2019).

Norfolk Admirals announce new NHL affiliation with Carolina Hurricanes

Florida Everblades President and General Manager Craig Brush announced that the Everblades have extended their affiliation agreement with the NHL's Nashville Predators. The Everblades have served as a developmental affiliate for the Predators and their primary developmental affiliate, the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals since the 2019-20 season.

North American Hockey League

The Chippewa Steel have announced the hiring of Casey Mignone as Head Coach for the 21-22 Season. Mignone becomes the fourth coach in the Chippewa Steel franchise history. Mignone most recently served as the Associate Head Coach & General Manager of Hockey Operations for the St. Cloud Norsemen of the North American Hockey League for the past two seasons. He also spent one season with the Rochester Grizzlies of the NA3HL and two seasons with Division III Johnson and Wales University as an Assistant Coach.

After reaching the Robertson Cup in just their second season, the Maine Nordiques are hungry for more in year three.

The Minnesota Wilderness begin their quest for the Robertson Cup in a new division with some familiar foes.

Western Hockey League

Alex Kannok Leipert spent his entire WHL career with the Vancouver Giants, serving as team captain for the past two seasons.

United States Hockey League

Bryn Chyzyk has been promoted to General Manager of the Waterloo Black Hawks as Shane Fukushima leaves the organization August 31st to join the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers, the Black Hawks announced. In addition, the team has also named Andrew Weiss Assistant General Manager after he previously served as Assistant Director of Player Personnel.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

NHL Post Draft Interviews - Robert Orr - taken in the 5th round - 136th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes

SOCCER

National Women's Soccer League

Angel City Football Club (ACFC) announced the hiring of Freya Coombe as Head Coach. Coombe is ACFC's first coach and the first hire by newly-appointed Sporting Director Eniola Aluko. She is the current head coach of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) NJ/NY Gotham FC and will join ACFC after the 2021 NWSL season concludes. Coombe joined NJ/NY Gotham FC (previously Sky Blue FC) in Sept 2019 as Interim Head Coach and the appointment was made permanent at the end of the 2019 season. Coombe guided the team to a Challenge Cup semi-final in 2020 and Challenge Cup final in 2021.

The National Women's Soccer League announced that Angel City FC and Racing Louisville FC have agreed to a trade involving the playing rights of forward Christen Press. Racing has exchanged the rights to Press for Angel City's natural first-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, $75,000 in allocation money and roster protection from the club during the 2021 Expansion Draft. Her NWSL playing rights were originally acquired by Louisville during the 2020 Expansion Draft from the former Utah Royals FC.

Christen Press signs with NWSL club Angel City FC. Welcome home, Christen..

A match-winning performance in a comeback win get OL Reign Megan Rapinoe Budweiser Player of the Week honors for Week 14.

A fantastic top-hand save gives OL Reign Sarah Bouhaddi Verizon Save of the Week honors for Week 14

Major League Soccer

The MLS All-Stars defeated the LIGA MX All-Stars in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the 2021 MLS All-Star Game at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. MLS is now 8-5-4 vs. international opposition in the MLS All-Star Game. This was the second time facing a team from Mexico (previously: 3-1 vs. CD Guadalajara in 2003, in Carson, Calif.)

Jonathan Rodríguez opens the scoring for Liga MX to give his side a 1-0 lead over MLS at the half. But a set piece-header from Jesus Murillo brings things level for MLS late in the second half to force a penalty shootout. After several saves from Man of the Match Matt Turner, Ricardo Pepi seals the win for the MLS over Liga MX in the 2021 MLS All-Star Game.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced that the club has parted ways with head coach Marc Dos Santos and assistant coach Phillip Dos Santos, effective immediately. Whitecaps FC director of methodology Vanni Sartini will lead the team as acting head coach. Assistant coach Ricardo Clark and goalkeeper coach Youssef Dahha will remain with the first team staff.

United Soccer League Championship

The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week Presented by Cleer Audio for Week 18 of the 2021 regular season, with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC forward Russell Cicerone voted Player of the Week after recording his first professional hat trick in the Hounds' 4-1 victory against Atlanta United 2 at Highmark Stadium.

USL Championship Goal of the Week - Luis Solignac - El Paso Locomotive FC

United Soccer League One

United Soccer League One Goal of the Week - Aaron Molloy - Forward Madison FC

BASKETBALL

BIG3

After two games of action the 2021 Big3 Championship teams are set. After dropping a record 35 points, Trilogy Captain Jarrett Jack has his team in the championship.. They'll play 3-Headed Monsters next weekend.

Top 10 Plays of the 2021 Season.

Top 10 Dunks of the 2021 Season.

Top 10 Blocks of the Season.

Women's National Basketball Association

2x WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne returned to the court on for the first time in 682 days. In her first two games back with the Mystics, she's averaging 17 PPG and 4 RPG.

Phoenix Mercury Brittney Griner dunks vs. New York Liberty

NBA G League

The Motor City Cruise announced that DJ Bakker has been selected to serve as the franchise's first head coach. Bakker has spent the last three seasons as an Assistant and Player Development Coach under Dwane Casey and served as the Pistons summer league head coach in 2019. Bakker is entering his ninth season overall in the NBA. He got his start in Chicago working in the Bulls' video department. Bakker has also worked as a Regional Advanced Scout for the Orlando Magic and a Player Development Assistant for the Dallas Mavericks.

NBA G League Alums Top 10 Dunks 2020-21 Season

LACROSSE

Premier Lacrosse League

PLL Top 10. The Best of Salt Lake City - Quarterfinals

National Lacrosse League

Jonathan Donville (Oakville, ON / Cornell Univ.), Ryan Lanchbury (Burlington, ON / Univ. of Richmond) and Tehoka Nanticoke (Six Nations, ON / Univ. of Albany) were the first three players selected in tonight's National Lacrosse LeagueEntry Draft, held virtually. Donville was the first overall pick by the expansion Panther City Lacrosse Club; Lanchbury went next to the Georgia Swarm; and with the third selection the Buffalo Bandits grabbed Nanticoke.

OTHER SPORTS

Major League Rugby

Following the second annual Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft, Dan and Pete catch up to discuss the teams selections.

American Ultimate Disc League

The Top 10 plays from Week 12 of the 2021 AUDL season.

Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.

Check out the National Women's Soccer League Statistics



National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 31, 2021


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.


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