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The naming rights deal is a landmark move for women's soccer in the United States

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USL Super League announces naming rights deal with GainbridgeMulti-year deal is milestone for women's sportsBriana Scurry also as brand ambassadorFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The United Soccer League and Gainbridge, a Group 1001 company, announced a long-term partnership as the title sponsor for the professional women's league.

The multi-year agreement includes Gainbridge becoming the official partner and exclusive financial services partner of the newly named Gainbridge Super League, beginning in the 2025-26 season.

“This is a landmark moment for professional soccer,” said Amanda Vandervort, president of the USL Super League. “Gainbridge’s belief and investment in what we’re building demonstrates a long-term commitment to the success of professional women’s soccer and will help elevate our league, clubs, players, and communities by driving resources, expanding visibility, and creating lasting opportunities for growth. This partnership reinforces that women’s sports are thriving and deserve investment at the highest level.”

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“Supporting women’s sports and partnering with the USL aligns with our company’s mission and values, prioritizing inclusivity, empowerment, and community," said Dan Towriss, president and CEO of Group 1001. "With partnerships spanning the WNBA, professional tennis, the LPGA, and now the Gainbridge Super League, more than 40 percent of our sponsorship dollars are dedicated to accelerating the growth of women’s sports.”

Earlier this month, former U.S. women's national team goalkeeper Briana Scurry was named a brand ambassador for Gainbridge. A Hall of Fame inductee and member of the 1999 FIFA World Cup squad, she joins a group of women's sports ambassadors including WNBA star Caitlin Clark, tennis icon Billie Jean King, and LPGA legend Annika Sörenstam.

“Teaming up with Gainbridge, a forward-thinking brand that values opportunity, integrity, and empowerment, strengthens our league and supports our commitment to expanding the game,” said Paul McDonough, USL President and chief soccer officer. “Their investment highlights the rising opportunities in soccer and underscores the value of being part of this growing movement. This partnership is a key step forward in creating new opportunities for players, coaches, and fans across the United States.”

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The USL Super League is a Division 1 soccer league, alongside the NWSL. It is in the midst of its inaugural season, with the conclusion of the campaign set to come in May.

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Following the end of the regular season, the league will embark in its first postseason, beginning on June 7 and ending on June 14 with a champion to be crowned.

Eyeing a return to the transfer market yet again this summer, Aston Villa are now reportedly keen to beat Barcelona in the race to sign an attacking addition worth £48m.

Aston Villa transfer news

After selling Jhon Duran for a hefty fee in the January transfer window, Aston Villa decided to lay down a marker. In came Marcus Rashford, in came Marco Asensio and in came Axel Disasi all on loan as the Villans set their sights on the Premier League’s top four. If recent cameos are anything to go by, it was job well done by those at Villa Park.

Rashford and Asensio put on a short show in their respective debuts against Tottenham Hotspur last time out, with the latter particularly silky. All of a sudden, the depth of Unai Emery’s frontline is worthy of a place in the Champions League for a second season on the bounce.

Stacked with Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen, Morgan Rogers, Rashford, Asensio and Leon Bailey – just to name a few – Aston Villa look unstoppable going forward on paper. But they’re seemingly not done there.

According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa are now keen to sign Nico Williams ahead of Barcelona and Premier League rivals Arsenal this summer. The Athletic Bilbao winger lit up Euro 2024, but has struggled to find his best form ever since. Aware of what he can do when firing on all cylinders, however, Villa could yet trigger his reported £48m release clause.

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A move which considers Emery’s long-term options to replace loanees such as Rashford and Asensio, Williams could quickly rediscover his red-hot Euros form at Villa Park this summer, should he complete a move.

"Relentless" Williams needs big move

After scoring eight and assisting a stunning 19 goals last season, Williams has since followed that up with four goals and five assists in the current campaign in what has been a frustrating drop-off. At just 22 years old, however, clubs in pursuit of his signature have seemingly shown much-needed patience and remain in the race to welcome the winger.

Following a disappointing season, the Spaniard should look to depart as soon as possible this summer and earn the big move that many believed he’d earn after Euro 2024 last year.

Receiving plenty of praise even amid his struggles at times in recent months, analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed Williams a “relentless dribbler” at the beginning of the year.

Whether that sees Aston Villa swoop in remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that Emery certainly knows how to get the best out of exciting talents of Williams’ calibre.

Jamie Carragher insists Liverpool fans are right to feel "upset" over Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving the club ahead of a possible Real Madrid move.

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Trent announces Liverpool exitExpected to join Real MadridCarragher says Reds fans are right to feel upsetFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 26-year-old announced on Monday that he would be leaving Liverpool this summer to end a 20-year stay with the club. Now, Reds legend Carragher has spoken about the "simmering resentment" some supporters will feel over the academy product leaving them, with the right-back expected to head to Madrid next.

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Carragher said in his column for The Telegraph: "Real [Madrid] are one of only two clubs to have won more European Cups than Liverpool, so when a top-class academy player makes this kind of a move, there is a simmering resentment from the local fanbase that they are trying to separate themselves from ‘their own’, or think there is something bigger or better out there for them. You can call that unfair, naive or even deluded all you like. In trying to explain how it is, people jump on me and tell me it is wrong to think that way, and Alexander-Arnold should be wished well on his new adventure.

"Liverpool fans are being told their reaction to Alexander-Arnold leaving is emotional more than sensible. My response to that is who is really the naive and deluded one when analysing how fans feel about such transfers? Would Manchester United have been happy to see Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes leave in their prime for Real Madrid? Would Chelsea have wished John Terry all the best had he followed Jose Mourinho to Spain for nothing?

"How would Arsenal fans feel if Bukayo Saka said he wants to fulfil a lifetime ambition to wear the white shirt in the Bernabeu? 'Those lads would never do that', is the predictable response. But isn’t that the point? Players are loved even more when they genuinely mean it when they say they do not want to play for anyone else. If that image of the home-grown talent living the dream is an illusion, people feel let down.

"Giggs and Scholes will always be adored at United as the “Class of ’92” members who never gave any thought to leaving, while David Beckham is looked upon as someone who had a career plan and was brilliant enough to follow it. There is no right or wrong to that. Different players have different characteristics and ambitions. Liverpool fans did not think Alexander-Arnold saw his path in the same way as [Michael] Owen and Beckham because he said his dream was to captain the club and follow his hero [Steven] Gerrard. Fans are obviously going to be upset."

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The fallout from this has not been a positive one from an Alexander-Arnold perspective. Fans have reacted angrily to the news, and so have establishments in Liverpool, but the England international has enjoyed huge success at Anfield and that, arguably, should not be forgotten. But as Carragher points out, his legacy will be tarnished by this move.

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Alexander-Arnold's penultimate game at Anfield is on Sunday at home to Arsenal in the Premier League. It remains to be seen what reaction he will get from supporters.

Pat Cummins will captain his first one-day series against England while Australia’s Test squad remains stable

Andrew McGlashan08-Nov-2022Travis Head has returned to Australia’s ODI squad for the series against England and Marcus Harris has been included as the spare batter for the Test matches against West Indies.Following the early exit from the T20 World Cup, a full-strength squad has been named for the three games against England in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne which will be Pat Cummins’ first series as ODI captain.Head fills the vacancy created by Aaron Finch’s one-day retirement having been unavailable for selection for the early-season series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand due to paternity leave. He has had an excellent 2022 in ODIs with 310 runs at 62 and a strike-rate of 112.72 when he faced Pakistan in Sri Lanka.In the Pakistan series, where he made 101 and 89 in consecutive matches, Head played in place of David Warner but now will open alongside him.Related

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“Our focus is to continue to build a squad with an eye to next year’s World Cup under Pat as the new ODI captain, so it’s an important series,” national selector George Bailey said.”Travis Head…has demonstrated flexibility in the types of roles he can play in our ODI line-up. Our next opportunity in the ODI format will be in India next year which will allow us to experience similar conditions as for the World Cup in October.”Sean Abbott misses out from earlier in the season despite a couple of impressive performances against New Zealand as does Josh Inglis. The multi-format quicks have all been included, along with Cameron Green, and they will then back up into the Test summer which begins in Perth on November 30.The squad for the two matches against West Indies is very stable with perhaps the only talking point the retention of Harris. After losing his place during the Ashes when Usman Khawaja’s prolific form led to a reshuffle of the order, Harris was the reserve batter in Pakistan then part of the Australia A squad in Sri Lanka either side of playing county cricket for Gloucestershire where he made 726 runs at 42.70.He has made a solid start to the domestic season with 287 runs in three Sheffield Shield matches although it is Victoria team-mate Peter Handscomb who is well ahead at the top with 518 runs.Scott Boland, who has not yet been able to add to his three Ashes Tests where he took 18 wickets at 9.55, is the extra quick in the squad behind Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. None of that trio will play Shield cricket before the Tests, but that is a preparation that Australia have become comfortable with in recent seasons. Green’s inclusion in the ODI squad means he is unlikely to feature in any Shield cricket this year with the India Test tour due to start in early February.Australia ODI squad vs England Pat Cummins (capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam ZampaAustralia Test squad vs West Indies Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner

Alyssa Healy is expected to be fit while allrounder Nicola Carey has been left out

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jan-2023Legspinner Georgia Wareham has been recalled to Australia’s squad for their T20 World Cup title defence in South Africa next month.The squad will be captained by Meg Lanning who will make her international comeback against Pakistan next week following her break from the game. Alyssa Healy is expected to be fit for the World Cup after suffering a calf strain in India as is Jess Jonassen who returned early with a hamstring injury.Wareham has recently returned to action for Victoria after more than a year on the sidelines following an ACL injury in October 2021 during the WBBL. She has an outstanding T20I record 36 wickets at 13.52 and an economy of 5.80 from 35 matches.Related

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“Seeing Meg and Georgia back in action for Victoria has been exciting,” national selector Shawn Flegler said. “Both bring a wealth of experience to the group, which is always crucial during major tournaments.”Georgia in particular, has had a tough run of injuries, but she’s shown a great deal of resilience and her return is a real boost for the side.”It means that Australia will again have two legpsinners, as they did at last year’s ODI World Cup, with Wareham alongside Alana King. Amanda-Jade Wellington has missed out.Nicola Carey, who was part of the 2020 T20 campaign and the 2022 ODI World Cup, has also been omitted with Heather Graham effectively taking her spot after an impressive performance in India where she claimed seven wickets in three matches including a hat-trick.Kim Garth, who made her Australia debut in India, has retained her place among the seam bowlers in the squad.Phoebe Litchfield is the other player omitted from those who were part of last month’s India tour.”Alyssa and Jess [Jonassen] are expected to be fully fit and firing after minor injuries as well, so we’ve got a full-strength squad with plenty of variety with both bat and ball if required,” Flegler said. “Heather and Kim both impressed when given the chance during the India series, and we know they are ready to perform their role if the opportunity presents.The same squad will be used for the T20I series against Pakistan in late January which will be team’s last major preparation for the World Cup.Australia T20 World Cup squad and vs Pakistan Meg Lanning (capt), Alyssa Healy, Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham

Everton are reportedly eyeing a move for a red hot winger in the summer transfer window, in a potential £15m move to the club.

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The Blues are still stinging from Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United in the Premier League, with many feeling that Ashley Young was robbed of winning a stoppage-time penalty.

Everton must make sure that the result doesn’t halt their current momentum under David Moyes, however, as players continue to be linked with summer moves to Merseyside and the positives far outweigh the negatives since the boss’ homecoming.

One summer target is believed to be Marseille’s Brazilian youngster Luis Henrique, with Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United also battling to snap him up.

Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn is another player who has been mentioned as an option for the Blues come the summer, having caught the eye for the Scottish Premiership champions. The German has 10 goals and six assists to his name in the league this season, also netting three times in the Champions League.

With doubts over the future of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Everton, Roma striker Tammy Abraham has also been backed to come in during the next transfer window. He has Premier League experience and could jump at the opportunity to return to England.

Everton interested in £15m "pocket rocket"

According to a fresh claim from Give Me Sport, Everton are interested in signing Tottenham attacker Manor Solomon at the end of the campaign.

The report states that Spurs could want as much as £15m for his services, with Leeds United also keen on signing him permanently after he’s thrived on loan at Elland Road this season.

Solomon could be a really strong addition for Everton, even though his time at Spurs hasn’t gone to plan to date, hence them being willing to move him on.

The 25-year-old has shone on loan at Leeds throughout the season, scoring seven league goals, which is more than any Blues player has managed in the Premier League, with Iliman Ndiaye and Beto leading the way on six apiece. He also has seven assists in the Championship, highlighting his creative side.

Solomon has been described as a “pocket rocket” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, while former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has also lauded his signing by the Whites: “I think he’s the best signing of the window at Leeds. He’s a really clever signing – he’s a Premier League player.

“We saw him on loan with Fulham, which prompted Tottenham to buy him. He didn’t really get his opportunities at Spurs last year but he’s very well established at international level, playing over 35 games for Israel. Looking at his quality and directness, he’s someone who belongs in the Premier League.”

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From an Everton perspective, Leeds failing to earn promotion back to the Premier League could increase their chances of signing Solomon, but either way, the hope is that he sees them as an attractive proposition where he can be become a key man.

Cristiano Ronaldo could not hide his pride after seeing his son receive his maiden call up for Portugal in their Under-15 squad.

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Ronaldo Jr named in Portugal youth squadWill feature in tournament next monthProud dad shares epic photo on social mediaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Ronaldo family are celebrating after seeing Cristiano Jr called up to the Portugal Under-15 team for the first time. His famous father revealed his delight with a message on social media that read: "I'm proud of you, son." Ronaldo also posted a touching throwback photo of the two in Portugal colours.

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Ronaldo's 14-year-old son is now due to play against Japan, Greece, England and one other team at the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament, in Croatia, between May 13 and 18. Cristiano Jr has already caught the eye at Al-Nassr's academy and will hope to do the same on the international stage.

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Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time top goalscorer with 36 goals in 219 matches for the national team.

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Ronaldo has previously admitted he would love to play alongside his son but fans will have to wait and see if that is possible before the superstar hangs up his boots. The Portugal star still seems to be going strong at the age of 40 and is due to return to action on Wednesday against Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.

Turning their attention towards the summer, Wolverhampton Wanderers will now reportedly have the chance to sign their midfield target after he rejected the chance to sign a fresh contract at his current club.

Wolves transfer news

It was a busy January transfer window for Wolves in the end, who crucially welcomed two defensive reinforcements in Emmanuel Agbadou and Nasser Djiga whilst also welcoming a replacement for Mario Lemina in the form of Marshall Munetsi. More importantly, however, those in the Midlands managed to keep hold of Matheus Cunha, who has been in fine form ever since the winter window.

When the summer arrives, those in the Midlands may not enjoy the same luck. The Brazilian’s reported £62m release clause is set to attract a number of suitors, including the likes of Arsenal in what could hand Wolves a major issue.

Such a hefty fee would leave them no choice but to spring into action to sign a replacement as well as perhaps one particular midfield target following a recent development.

According to A Bola, as relayed by Sports Witness, Wolves are now free to move for Hidemasa Morita this summer following reports that the midfielder has rejected a contract extension at Sporting Club in pursuit of a move to the Premier League.

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Wolves were put off signing the 29-year-old in January as it was believed that he would put pen to paper on a new deal and, therefore, only maintain his €10m (£8m) valuation.

Now heading for the exit door with just over a year remaining on his current deal, however, those at Molineux could land a cut-price deal or even decide to put any potential Cunha money to good use.

"Underrated" Morita can add key experience

Whilst Morita wouldn’t necessarily be a flashy signing this summer, his importance would quickly become clear if Wolves decided to make their move. A player with plenty of years in European football under his belt, the Japan international would add the exprience that Andre otherwise lacks as a far more raw and young prospect.

Dubbed “underrated” by Ben Mattinson, Morita has seemingly set his sights on the Premier League and could quickly emerge to solidify a Wolves side who will need to be better than ever on the defensive front if Cunha leaves this summer.

After failing to secure his signature in the January transfer window, their second chance to sign Morita is one that Wolves should not turn down this summer.

South Africa muster belated fight to end a disappointing series on a better note

Tristan Lavalette08-Jan-2023South Africa defied Australia’s bold push for an improbable victory, and series sweep, as the third Test ended in a draw at the SCG.After following on, South Africa were 106 for 2 in their second innings when play ended five overs before the close. The surface played slowly and did not deteriorate as expected with South Africa mustering belated fight to end a disappointing series on a better note.Australia would have booked a spot in the World Test Championship final in June with victory, but one drawn match in the upcoming four-Test series in India will prove enough.Given their batting frailties, South Africa will be relieved to have escaped with a draw – their first such result since 2017.South Africa were nervous after skipper Dean Elgar fell before tea when he gloved a short Pat Cummins delivery to be caught behind. An under-pressure Elgar’s wretched series ended with just 56 runs at an average of 9.33 marked by struggles against short leg-side deliveries.After tea, spinner Nathan Lyon was left frustrated after a review on an lbw decision on Heinrich Klaasen went against him. The not-out decision was upheld even though replays showed the ball hitting middle stump.His mood soured further three balls later when Klaasen, playing his first Test match since 2019, stood his ground after edging a delivery to Steven Smith, who claimed a low catch at slip.But replays cast doubt over whether the ball touched the grass when it went into Smith’s fingers and it was enough for third umpire Richard Kettleborough to give not out.Klaasen’s luck ran out when he was clean bowled by a cracking reverse swinging delivery from Josh Hazlewood to provide a glimmer of hope for Australia with 20 overs remaining.South Africa were 82 for 2 with 15 overs left but Australia’s push continued with Cummins giving himself one last burst without reward.Cummins had also tried part-time spinners Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, who claimed the only wicket in the morning session, but to no avail.Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who was wicketless in 14 overs in the first innings, was surprisingly backed to share the new ball alongside Hazlewood.In his first Test match since 2017, Agar again struggled with his accuracy in what has been a tough return in an audition ahead of Australia’s tour of India. He finished wicketless from 22 overs in the match.South Africa started the day precariously placed at 149 for 6 after Cummins and Hazlewood bowled superbly late on day four in fading light.Steven Smith fails to grab onto a tough chance from Heinrich Klaasen•Cricket Australia via Getty ImagesBut Harmer and Marco Jansen batted cautiously to thwart Australia’s attack. Jansen played a rearguard until being dislodged caught behind by Head with a delivery outside off stump that stayed low.But an 85-run partnership between Harmer and Keshav Maharaj pushed South Africa close to the follow-on target and likely safety from a series whitewash.Maharaj reached his half-century on the first ball after lunch before falling to Hazlewood with South Africa 24 runs short of avoiding following on.Having been preferred over Scott Boland, Hazlewood repaid the faith of the selectors on his return with four wickets after suffering a side strain against West Indies in the opening Test of the home season.Maharaj’s dismissal triggered an all too-familiar rush of wickets for South Africa to set up an intriguing finish although it proved an anti-climax.Australia ran out of time in a truncated match, where four straight sessions across days three and four were washed out. Forty-nine overs were also lost to rain and bad light on the opening two days to continue a run of rain-affected matches at the traditional SCG New Year’s Test.But Australia thoroughly dominated South Africa throughout a one-sided series to complete an unbeaten home Test season after earlier thrashings over West Indies in Perth and Adelaide.Australia’s massive first innings was built on an unbeaten 195 from opener Usman Khawaja and 104 from Smith, who passed Don Bradman with his 30th Test century.Having won three straight Test series in Australia, South Africa were a shadow with their batting unable to muster much of a challenge.Apart from fiery quick Anrich Nortje, their attack also underwhelmed with spearhead Kagiso Rabada taking just three wickets at 87.66 in the last two matches after an eight-wicket haul on the bowler-friendly Gabba surface. South Africa’s disastrous series also ended their chances of qualifying for the WTC final.

Harry Kane was given a beer shower following Bayern Munich's Bundesliga trophy celebrations.

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Kane wins first trophyCelebrates Bayern's Bundesliga winMobbed with beer showerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern backed up their Bundesliga title win last weekend with a 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday, with Kane getting on the scoresheet again. And just when the England captain was being interviewed about his team's triumph, the striker was doused in beer in front of his home fans – a tradition known as a Weißbierdusche (or wheat beer shower).

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Former Tottenham man Kane finally ended his lengthy wait to win a trophy when he helped Bayern win the league title earlier this month. The 31-year-old has been prolific for the German giants since signing for them in 2023 and now he is enjoying some well-earned celebrations.

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Kane's Bayern round off their Bundesliga season away to Hoffenheim next Saturday.