Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
Published on November 8, 2022 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
This past week LAFC won its first Major League Soccer Cup, the Canadian football League awarded the 2024 CFL Grey Cup to the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, and the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association signed head coach Cheryl Reeve to a multi-year contract extension. Highlights from this week come from Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League, Canadian Premier League, United Soccer League One, Canadian Football League, Women's National Basketball Association, NBA G League, American Hockey League, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Major League Rugby, National Lacrosse League and the International League.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
The Los Angeles Football Club won the first MLS Cup in club history, defeating the Philadelphia Union 3-0 in a penalty-kick shootout after the game was tied at 3-3 after extra time. LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy was named the 2022 MLS Cup MVP presented by Audi after substituting on in the 117th minute and saving two penalties in the shootout. Capping off a terrific season, LAFC became the second team since 2012 to win MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield in the same season.
Here are the highlights.
LAFC fans, players celebrate MLS Cup title with parade at Exposition Park
Major League Soccer announced that Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar has been named the 2022 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player, after winning the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi during his record-breaking season. Mukhtar recorded 21 goals and seven assists in his final 22 games of the season, which culminated in a league-high 11 goals since the start of August. The German playmaker had a historic month of August, becoming just the fourth player in MLS history to total at least 12 goal contributions (eight goal, four assists) in a single calendar month. With Nashville fighting for a playoff spot down the stretch of the season, Mukhtar recorded 10 combined goals and assists as part of Nashville's club-record four-game winning streak from August 21 to September 3.
National Women's Soccer League
The NWSL Championship between the Kansas City Current and Portland Thorns FC had 915,000 viewers on CBS, a +71% jump from last year.
NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that Juan Carlos Amorós has been named the club's new Head Coach. The 38-year-old, Amorós, who last season led the Houston Dash as their interim head coach to a fourth-place finish and the team's first-ever NWSL playoff appearance, has been signed by Gotham FC to a three-year contract. Amorós brings a wealth of experience across global soccer to Gotham FC, having served as a head coach of clubs in the top leagues in Spain, England, and the U.S. Prior to his stint in Houston, Amorós was coach of Real Betis Féminas from 2021 - 22 and led them to a club-record unbeaten streak in Spain's top division.
Portland Thorns FC announced that the club has exercised midfielder Christine Sinclair's option for the 2023 season. It will mark Sinclair's 11th season with Portland. A member of Thorns FC since the club's inaugural NWSL season in 2013, Sinclair is the club's all-time leader in games played (157), games started (152), minutes played (13,393) and goals scored (59). In the NWSL, she is one of just two players to score a goal in every year of the league and currently ranks second all-time in goals, sixth in games started, eighth in minutes played (13,348) and ninth in games played in league history.
United Soccer League Championship
San Antonio FC will host Louisville City FC in the 2022 USL Championship Final Sunday night as the two No. 1 seeds from their respective conferences meet at Toyota Field with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and SiriusXM FC (Ch. 157). The clash between San Antonio, the top overall seed in the playoffs, and Louisville City will mark the first meeting between the two clubs in their histories. It will also mark the first time since the Championship moved to a two-conference structure that the top seeds from both conferences will play for the league title.
Canadian Premier League
The Canadian Premier League revealed that Vancouver FC will officially be the league's newest club, to begin play next season in 2023. The club's name, logo and colours were launched at an in-person event at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C on Wednesday night. Owner and former Canadian men's national team forward Rob Friend also announced that industry veteran Afshin Ghotbi, 58, will lead the club as the first head coach in club history.
We Are Vancouver Football Club
United Soccer League One
South Georgia Tormenta FC was crowned the 2022 USL League One Champions after a last-minute winner by Jamil Roberts sealed the team's first-ever professional title, and the club added its second title of 2022 after obtaining its first title in the summer of 2022 with Tormenta FC's W League team's 2-1 title win in Minnesota. Kazaiah Sterling was named the 2022 USL League One Final MVP is Kazaiah Sterling. Sterling provided an assist and a goal to be the protagonist of the match.
Here are the highlights
USL League One announced that Richmond Kickers forward Emiliano Terzaghi was voted the 2022 USL League One Most Valuable Player for the third consecutive season. With the honor, Terzaghi becomes the first player in American outdoor professional soccer history to be named Most Valuable Player in three consecutive seasons. This season, the three-time Golden Boot winner and reigning back-to-back MVP became the first player in league history to score 10-plus goals in three or more seasons. Terzaghi's 17 goals were the second-most scored in a single season behind the Argentine's own record of 18 set a season ago.
The United Soccer League (USL) and United Soccer League Players Association (USLPA) announced they have achieved the historic first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for USL League One. The USL Players Association and the League One Board of Governors both ratified the five-year agreement this week; it is effective immediately and runs through December 2027.
USL League One announced that Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Sporting Director Darren Sawatzky was voted the 2022 USL League One Coach of the Year. Operating with a lethal offense and stout defense, Darren Sawatzky picked up the second-most regular season points and wins in league history in a stellar 14-7-9 season that saw Richmond finish atop the League One table in its best overall finish since 2013. What's more, Richmond's 21 points gained from a losing position and 54 goals were the most in a regular season in league history.
MLS NEXT Pro
Houston Dynamo 2 head coach Kenny Bundy signed a contract extension with the organization. Bundy led Dynamo 2 to a berth in the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro playoffs with a 14-5-5 record and the team finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Western Conference. Dynamo 2 finished unbeaten at home with a 10-0-1 record and closed their first campaign in MLS NEXT Pro tied for the fewest goals conceded in the league with 22.
FOOTBALL
Canadian Football League
Canada's most prestigious sporting event is returning to the West Coast. The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced that the 111th Grey Cup in November 2024 has been awarded to the BC Lions, the city of Vancouver and the province of British Columbia. "We're absolutely thrilled to announce we're bringing this iconic event to British Columbia," said Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner of the CFL. "The Lions' bid was very strong. And it was buoyed by the tremendous excitement the team is generating across the province and the country. ¬Â
Canada's biggest football party is returning to the west coast! Vancouver is set to host the 111th Grey Cup in November 2024.
CFL Playoffs Plays of the Week
BASKETBALL
Women's National Basketball Association
The Minnesota Lynx announced the team has signed Cheryl Reeve to a multi-year contract extension. Reeve also moves from General Manager to President of Basketball Operations. The 2023 season will mark Reeve's 14th season as Lynx Head Coach and first as President of Basketball Operations. Reeve previously served as both General Manager and Head Coach for the past five seasons.
Minnesota sports' winningest head coach has earned a promotion and contract extension.
The Indiana Fever has named Christie Sides the ninth head coach in franchise history. Sides, a former Fever assistant and native of Baton Rouge, LA, brings more than 20 years of professional and college coaching experience. Sides served as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream during the 2022 season under first-year head coach Tanisha Wright. She had been associate women's head coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe since 2019, the role she moved to after a two-year stint with the Fever.
We're pumped to have you back, Head Coach Christie Sides.
NBA G League
Ignite Scoot Henderson has 25 points and HUGE poster Slam versus Salt Lake City Stars
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
1st professional hat trick for Adam Gaudette in a 5-2 Toronto Marlies victory.
ECHL
Plays of the Week
North American Hockey League
NAHL Top Plays - Oct. 24-30, 2022
Western Hockey League
WHL Top 10
Ontario Hockey League
OHL Plays of the Week
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Top 5 - Week 6
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
Chicago will be playing in Major League Rugby for the 2023 season.
Old Glory DC is proud to announce the appointment of Joshua ("Josh") Syms as Head Coach. Syms, a New Zealand native, comes to Washington, DC, from the Hawke's Bay Magpies, a top tier competitor of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship (NPC). Syms was promoted to Head Coach of the Magpies in November of 2021 after a successful tenure as Assistant Coach. He recently led the team to the NPC Play-offs.
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
The Albany FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) announced that effective December 1, 2022, Vice President of Corporate Sales and Business Operations, Chris Porreca, will be promoted to the position of Team President and will assume day-to-day operations. The move follows the FireWolves' President George Manias' recent decision to step down from his current role to pursue new career opportunities.
We're back on TSN with the "TSN Game of the Week", a slate of 20 marquee matchups beginning Friday, Dec. 2nd! Devan Kaney, Teddy Jenner & Pat Gregoire breakdown the schedule and the matchups to look out for!
BASEBALL
International League
As the Charlotte Knights embark on a 10th year in Uptown Charlotte in 2023, the team began a new era in franchise history by unveiling a brand refresh featuring a new logo set and jerseys for the upcoming season. In front of nearly 600 season membership holders and corporate partners, the Knights showed off the new logo, colors and on-field jerseys.
Introducing the Charlotte Knights in blue.
Northwest League
Pedro Grifol, who managed the Everett AquaSox from 2003 to 2005, was named Chicago White Sox manager. He will replace Hall of Famer Tony LaRussa, who announced in early October that he was stepping aside due to health issues. During his three seasons with the AquaSox he had a 116-113 record and worked with future all-stars Felix Hernandez, Adam Jones, Bryan LaHair, Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Saunders. This will be Grifol's first managerial job in the majors.
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from November 8, 2022
- 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.
