Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
March 21, 2023 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
This past week St. Louis CITY SC became the first Major League Soccer expansion club to start its season with a perfect 4-0-0 record, the Canadian Football League named Winnipeg host of the 2025 Grey Cup, and the expansion Chicago Hounds won its first Major League Rugby game. Highlights from this week come from Major League Soccer, the Canadian Football League, XFL, National Arena League, Major League Rugby, Pro Volleyball Federation, American Ultimate Disc League, National Lacrosse League, American Hockey League, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Premier Hockey Federation, NBA G League, and Women's National Basketball Association.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
St. Louis CITY SC made history with their win against San Jose Earthquakes, becoming the first MLS expansion club to start the season with a perfect 4-0-0 record. CITY SC recorded a 3-0 win on the night, with goals coming from forwards Niko Gioacchini, João Klauss and midfielder Tomáš Ostrák. St. Louis CITY SC currently sits atop the Supporters' Shield standings with 12 points.
Here are the highlights.
National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League today announced the full television and streaming schedule for the 2023 season, set to kick off Saturday, March 25 in Cary, North Carolina and culminating with the 2023 Ally NWSL Championship Presented by CarMax in primetime at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 11. "In this ever-changing media landscape, multi-platform coverage is key to ensuring the NWSL's sustained growth and exposure in the U.S. and abroad. We are proud to once again make all 176 matches available to our global audience through a variety of viewership platforms," said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. "We have also made a number of enhancements to our broadcast production, from headcount to equipment to on-air talent, and we are excited to provide an improved viewing experience that matches the quality of play on the pitch this season. We look forward to delivering all the excitement of the 2023 season culminating in another exciting championship match in primetime thanks to our partners at CBS Sports and Ally. ¬Â
The North Carolina Courage have signed all four players selected in the 2023 NWSL Draft. Olivia Wingate (Round 1, Pick 6), Sydney Collins (Round 1, Pick 8), Clara Robbins (Round 1, Pick 9) and Haley Hopkins (Round 1, Pick 11) have all signed three-year contracts with the club through the 2025 season.
United Soccer League Championship
The United Soccer League has named Colorado Springs as the host city for the 2023 USL Summer Showcase. The USL and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will welcome the U.S. soccer community to a multi-day event that will celebrate the culture and momentum of our sport, showcase the Switchbacks' marquee home stadium, Weidner Field, and have a lasting impact on the Colorado Springs community. The USL Summer Showcase includes the League's annual mid-year meetings, community events and partner activations. It all culminates in a nationally televised match between Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and FC Tulsa on Wednesday, August 9 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Canadian Premier League
The Canadian Premier League (CPL) announced a new five-team playoff format ahead of the League's milestone fifth season in 2023, ensuring stiffer competition and even more excitement in the battle to be crowned postseason champion. The top five teams in the League standings at the end of the CPL regular season on Saturday, Oct. 7 will qualify for the 2023 postseason, increasing the field by one team from the 2022 playoff structure. The playoffs will once again consist of five total matches, with each of the CPLregular season's top four teams guaranteed to host at least once in postseason play.
Kristian Jack Joins OneSoccer To Discuss New CPL Playoff Format
MLS NEXT Pro
MLS NEXT Pro announced its 2023 regular season schedule, with matches beginning Friday, March 24 . The League's second season will feature 27 clubs, including seven new MLS affiliates. Joining MLS NEXT Pro in 2023 will be Atlanta United 2, Austin FC II, Crown Legacy FC (Charlotte FC), Huntsville City FC (Nashville SC), LA Galaxy II, Los Angeles Football Club 2 and New York Red Bulls II. The complete 2023 schedule is available on mlsnextpro.com and consists of 378 regular season matches. Each club will play 28 matches over 27 weeks - an increase from 24 matches per club in 2022 - including 14 matches at home and 14 on the road.
FOOTBALL
Canadian football League
For the fifth time in the rich history of the Canadian Football League (CFL), the Grey Cup will be played in Winnipeg. The 112th edition of the championship game will be played following a week of fanfare and celebration at the annual Grey Cup Festival in November 2025. "As a proud Winnipegger, I'm absolutely elated to announce the return of the Grey Cup to my hometown," said Commissioner Randy Ambrosie. Winnipeg hosted the Grey Cup in 1991 - the 79th edition of Canada's largest single-day sporting event. The championship returned to Manitoba's capital in 1998, 2006 and most recently, in 2015. IG Field will be playing host to the championship game for the second time.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers President & CEO Wade Miller joined Andrew "Hustler" Paterson on Winnipeg Sports Talk Daily. They discussed the bidding process for the 2025 Grey Cup, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers winning proposal and the upcoming 2023 CFL Season.
XFL
Two blocked punts by the Seattle Sea Dragons special teams.
D.C. Defenders running back Abram Smith with a 70-yard touchdown run.
National Arena League
"Touchdown" Eddie Brown interview with PYX 106.
United States Football League
The United States Football League (USFL) announced its television schedule for the 2023 USFL season. FOX Sports and NBC Sports, the League's official media partners, will combine to present all 40 regular-season games and three postseason matchups live on national television. For the 2023 USFL season, FOX Sports will carry 25 games split between FOX (18) and FS1 (7), and NBC Sports will present 18 games across NBC and Peacock (11) and USA Network and Peacock (7). All NBC Sports games can also be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, while all games on FOX and FS1 can be streamed on the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com.
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
Major League Rugby (MLR) announced that the league has chosen to play the 2023 Championship Match at the home of MLR's newest expansion team, the Chicago Hounds. SeatGeek Stadium will host the final on Saturday, July 8th in Bridgeview, Illinois. "Moving the Championship Match to a predetermined venue has long been a goal of Major League Rugby," said Major League Rugby CEO Nic Benson. "As the league continues to show an exceptional pattern of growth, we believe this is the perfect time to plan an entire weekend of fun rugby and fan events around our showcase game. Chicago's rich history of hosting large scale rugby events combined with a great facility in SeatGeek stadium, makes for the perfect place to celebrate and honor our athletes and fans. ¬Â
The Chicago Hounds won their first Major League Rugby game defeating the Dallas Jackals 24-22. Here are the highlights.
Pro Volleyball Federation
West Michigan Pro Volleyball (WMPVB) introduced Cathy George as the team's head coach and director of volleyball operations. She has signed a multi-year contract with the Pro Volleyball Federation franchise. The winningest coach in the history of Michigan State University's volleyball program, George led the Spartans for 17 seasons (2005-21) and totaled 35 years as a collegiate head coach, including 11 seasons (1994-2004) at Western Michigan University. Upon her retirement from MSU in January 2022, her 667 career wins (667-457, .593) ranked 15th among active Division I coaches and third in the Big Ten.
West Michigan Pro Volleyball, a new women's sports franchise set to debut in February 2024, introduced Cathy George as the team's first head coach.
American Ultimate Disc League
The Montreal Royal throwers are very good at switching the angle of attack from one side of the field to the opposite, and can find a lot of weaknesses in the defense's coverage.
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
Lyle Thompson leads the Georgia Swarm offense by putting up up 4 goals and 5 assists.
Jeff Teat leads the New York Riptide to a win finishing with 9 points.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
With a hat trick Bridgeport Islanders Andy Andreoff now leads the league in goals scored at 29 on the season.
ECHL
Plays of the Week
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced that its Board of Governors has approved the membership application for an NAHL team in Hooksett, New Hampshire owned by the New Hampshire Hockey Club, LLC, an entity owned and operated by managing partner, Chris Brown. The team will be known as the New Hampshire Mountain Kings and will compete in the East Division beginning in the 2023-24 season out of the Tri-Town Ice Arena in Hooksett, New Hampshire. This will be the first-ever NAHL team to be based out of New Hampshire.
Top Plays of the Week - March 6-12, 2023
Western Hockey League
WHL Top 10
Ontario Hockey League
OHL Plays of the Week
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Halifax Mooseheads Jordan Dumais scores his 50th goal of the season
Premier Hockey Federation
PHF Week Sixteen Highlights
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
Delaware Bluecoats Mac McClung Posts Another Game With 30+ Points
Greensboro Swarm James Bouknight Drops a CAREER-HIGH 44 PTS, 10 REB, 11 3PM in Win Over Austin Spurs!
Women's National Basketball Association
The Washington Mystics announced that they have signed Chinese national team shooting guard Li Meng to a training camp contract."Li Meng is the premier scorer for the Chinese national team - an outstanding perimeter player who has the ability to stretch the floor with her excellent 3-point shooting," said General Manager Mike Thibault. "She reads the game and uses screens well and knows how to play off of her teammates. She adds more size, strength and toughness to our guard group. Our players will enjoy playing with her."
Li, averaged 16.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists while helping China finish runner-up at the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, equaling the country's best result in major competitions. Li's 16.0 points per game was the fourth-highest average in the World Cup, and she also shot 40.7% from the three-point line.
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
Major League Rugby Stories from March 21, 2023
- Chicago Wins First Game in Franchise History - Chicago Hounds
- Week 5 Milestone Tracker: Shep Hits the Half-Century - Toronto Arrows
- 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.
