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Deadspin | Max Muncy’s 2 homers power Dodgers to rout of Rockies  Apr 17, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) leaves third base to score a run in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images   Max Muncy homered twice and hit an RBI double as the Los Angeles Dodgers opened a four-game series with a 7-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on chilly Friday night in Denver.  Shohei Ohtani had two hits to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fifth-longest run in Dodgers history.  Los Angeles starter Tyler Glasnow (2-0) allowed just two hits, two walks and a run while striking out seven in seven strong innings. Jack Dreyer handled the last two innings to close out a combined two-hitter.  Will Smith and Freddie Freeman had two hits apiece for Los Angeles, which has won four in a row.  The temperature at first pitch was 35 degrees and dropped into the high 20s by the end of the game.  Ohtani led off the game with a double to continue his on-base streak that started last Aug. 24. He is one behind “Wee” Willie Keeler for fourth and nine short of the franchise record (since 1900) of 58, which Duke Snider set in 1954.  Ohtani eventually scored on Smith’s sacrifice fly to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.  Mickey Moniak doubled and scored the lone run for the Rockies, who have lost seven of their past eight games.   Muncy led off the second inning with his first home run of the night, and the Dodgers doubled the lead in the third. Smith led off with a single, went to second when Freeman walked, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Muncy’s double.  Freeman came home on Andy Pages’ sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.  Smith’s RBI single in the fourth drove in Kyle Tucker.  Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1) allowed five runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out three in four innings.  Colorado got to Glasnow in the bottom of the fourth. Moniak led off with a double, moved to third on TJ Rumfield’s groundout and then scored on Troy Johnston’s grounder to third.  Glasnow retired 11 in a row after Moniak’s double, a streak broken by Ezequiel Tovar’s two-out double in the seventh.  The Dodgers tacked on two more runs in the fifth on Muncy’s second homer of the night, his sixth of the season, and a sacrifice fly from Alex Freeland.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Max #Muncys #homers #power #Dodgers #rout #Rockies

Deadspin | Max Muncy’s 2 homers power Dodgers to rout of Rockies
Deadspin | Max Muncy’s 2 homers power Dodgers to rout of Rockies  Apr 17, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) leaves third base to score a run in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images   Max Muncy homered twice and hit an RBI double as the Los Angeles Dodgers opened a four-game series with a 7-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on chilly Friday night in Denver.  Shohei Ohtani had two hits to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fifth-longest run in Dodgers history.  Los Angeles starter Tyler Glasnow (2-0) allowed just two hits, two walks and a run while striking out seven in seven strong innings. Jack Dreyer handled the last two innings to close out a combined two-hitter.  Will Smith and Freddie Freeman had two hits apiece for Los Angeles, which has won four in a row.  The temperature at first pitch was 35 degrees and dropped into the high 20s by the end of the game.  Ohtani led off the game with a double to continue his on-base streak that started last Aug. 24. He is one behind “Wee” Willie Keeler for fourth and nine short of the franchise record (since 1900) of 58, which Duke Snider set in 1954.  Ohtani eventually scored on Smith’s sacrifice fly to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.  Mickey Moniak doubled and scored the lone run for the Rockies, who have lost seven of their past eight games.   Muncy led off the second inning with his first home run of the night, and the Dodgers doubled the lead in the third. Smith led off with a single, went to second when Freeman walked, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Muncy’s double.  Freeman came home on Andy Pages’ sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.  Smith’s RBI single in the fourth drove in Kyle Tucker.  Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1) allowed five runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out three in four innings.  Colorado got to Glasnow in the bottom of the fourth. Moniak led off with a double, moved to third on TJ Rumfield’s groundout and then scored on Troy Johnston’s grounder to third.  Glasnow retired 11 in a row after Moniak’s double, a streak broken by Ezequiel Tovar’s two-out double in the seventh.  The Dodgers tacked on two more runs in the fifth on Muncy’s second homer of the night, his sixth of the season, and a sacrifice fly from Alex Freeland.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Max #Muncys #homers #power #Dodgers #rout #RockiesApr 17, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) leaves third base to score a run in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Max Muncy homered twice and hit an RBI double as the Los Angeles Dodgers opened a four-game series with a 7-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on chilly Friday night in Denver.

Shohei Ohtani had two hits to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fifth-longest run in Dodgers history.

Los Angeles starter Tyler Glasnow (2-0) allowed just two hits, two walks and a run while striking out seven in seven strong innings. Jack Dreyer handled the last two innings to close out a combined two-hitter.

Will Smith and Freddie Freeman had two hits apiece for Los Angeles, which has won four in a row.

The temperature at first pitch was 35 degrees and dropped into the high 20s by the end of the game.

Ohtani led off the game with a double to continue his on-base streak that started last Aug. 24. He is one behind “Wee” Willie Keeler for fourth and nine short of the franchise record (since 1900) of 58, which Duke Snider set in 1954.

Ohtani eventually scored on Smith’s sacrifice fly to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.


Mickey Moniak doubled and scored the lone run for the Rockies, who have lost seven of their past eight games.

Muncy led off the second inning with his first home run of the night, and the Dodgers doubled the lead in the third. Smith led off with a single, went to second when Freeman walked, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Muncy’s double.

Freeman came home on Andy Pages’ sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

Smith’s RBI single in the fourth drove in Kyle Tucker.

Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1) allowed five runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out three in four innings.

Colorado got to Glasnow in the bottom of the fourth. Moniak led off with a double, moved to third on TJ Rumfield’s groundout and then scored on Troy Johnston’s grounder to third.

Glasnow retired 11 in a row after Moniak’s double, a streak broken by Ezequiel Tovar’s two-out double in the seventh.

The Dodgers tacked on two more runs in the fifth on Muncy’s second homer of the night, his sixth of the season, and a sacrifice fly from Alex Freeland.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Max #Muncys #homers #power #Dodgers #rout #Rockies

Apr 17, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) leaves third base to score a run in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Max Muncy homered twice and hit an RBI double as the Los Angeles Dodgers opened a four-game series with a 7-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on chilly Friday night in Denver.

Shohei Ohtani had two hits to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fifth-longest run in Dodgers history.

Los Angeles starter Tyler Glasnow (2-0) allowed just two hits, two walks and a run while striking out seven in seven strong innings. Jack Dreyer handled the last two innings to close out a combined two-hitter.

Will Smith and Freddie Freeman had two hits apiece for Los Angeles, which has won four in a row.

The temperature at first pitch was 35 degrees and dropped into the high 20s by the end of the game.

Ohtani led off the game with a double to continue his on-base streak that started last Aug. 24. He is one behind “Wee” Willie Keeler for fourth and nine short of the franchise record (since 1900) of 58, which Duke Snider set in 1954.

Ohtani eventually scored on Smith’s sacrifice fly to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.

Mickey Moniak doubled and scored the lone run for the Rockies, who have lost seven of their past eight games.

Muncy led off the second inning with his first home run of the night, and the Dodgers doubled the lead in the third. Smith led off with a single, went to second when Freeman walked, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Muncy’s double.

Freeman came home on Andy Pages’ sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

Smith’s RBI single in the fourth drove in Kyle Tucker.

Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1) allowed five runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out three in four innings.

Colorado got to Glasnow in the bottom of the fourth. Moniak led off with a double, moved to third on TJ Rumfield’s groundout and then scored on Troy Johnston’s grounder to third.

Glasnow retired 11 in a row after Moniak’s double, a streak broken by Ezequiel Tovar’s two-out double in the seventh.

The Dodgers tacked on two more runs in the fifth on Muncy’s second homer of the night, his sixth of the season, and a sacrifice fly from Alex Freeland.

–Field Level Media

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NBA: Steph Curry fails to fire as Warriors lose to Sun; Magic routs Hornets <div id="content-body-70876921" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Phoenix Suns ended Golden State Warriors’ season and Orlando Magic thrashed Charlotte Hornets as the NBA playoffs’ final teams were decided Friday.</p><p>Jalen Green put in a dazzling performance with 36 points, including eight triples, to secure the Western Conference No. 8 seed for Phoenix with a 111-96 win over Stephen Curry’s Warriors.</p><p>The Suns got off to a bright start with a 33-15 lead in the first quarter, before the Warriors cut the deficit to five points at half-time.</p><p>But the Suns still managed to keep the wasteful Warriors at arms’ length, successfully limiting veteran superstar Curry to just 17 points.</p><p>With barely a minute left, Jordan Goodwin intercepted a pass intended for Curry, and scored a transition bucket, before adding a three on the Suns’ next possession to secure the win.</p><p>Victory set up a first-round playoff clash for the Suns against Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champion.</p><p>“Happy as hell. We came out fire, we knew this was a do-or-die game,” said Green, who added six rebounds and four assists.</p><p>For the injury-plagued and ageing Warriors, who won the NBA title in 2022, it was a disappointing end to a third consecutive season in the play-in tournament, crashing out before the playoffs as they did in 2024.</p><p>In fiery late scenes, two Warriors players — Draymond Green and Devin Booker — were ejected from the court, with Green continuing to taunt the home Suns’ fans as he departed.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Magic outmuscle Hornets</h4><p>The Magic beat the Hornets 121-90 to keep their season alive and set up a daunting first-round playoff series against the Eastern Conference top-seeded Detroit Pistons.</p><p>Paolo Banchero top-scored with 25 points in the Magic’s last chance to qualify for the post-season via the play-in tournament, having failed at their first attempt against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.</p><p>A physical, tough Magic outfit outmuscled the youthful Hornets from the tip-off of the win-or-go-home game in front of a sell-out 19,000 home crowd at the Magic’s Kia Canter.</p><p>Banchero bulldozed Hornets’ defence, scoring 12 in the first quarter alone.</p><p>Having never trailed by more than a single point, the Magic soon stretched comfortably clear, establishing a giant 35-point lead shortly before half-time.</p><p>Recovering from a sluggish start, LaMelo Bell — the hero of the Hornets’ first play-in game against Miami on Tuesday —exploded after the break.</p><p>He poured in 21 points in the third quarter alone as he tried to single-handedly extend the Hornets’ season.</p><p>But the Magic’s lead never dipped below 20 points, as they eased to a win against a the Hornets who had finished the regular season in strong form.</p><p>Victory ensured the Magic have reached the playoffs for the third straight season, while the Hornets’ decade-long wait goes on.</p><p>The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 18, 2026</p></div> #NBA #Steph #Curry #fails #fire #Warriors #lose #Sun #Magic #routs #Hornets

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Gout Gout wins 100m final at Australian Junior Athletics Championships, misses National Record <div id="content-body-70876774" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Talented sprinter Gout Gout waved to the crowd over the final few meters on Saturday while winning the Australian junior 100-meter race in 10.21 seconds.</p><p>The 18-year-old Australian had to recover from a less than perfect start and he was second after 50m. But he forced his way through the field to beat Zavier Peacock (10.35s) and Uwezo Lubenda (10.37s).</p><p>“Obviously, I didn’t have the best start, but I came out for the W (win) pretty much,” Gout said. “I was waving to my family, fans and a couple of friends … the more of a show, the more people who are going to come and watch.”</p><p>With the win on Saturday, he qualified for the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from August 5-9.</p><div class="inline_embed article-block-item"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">GOUTRAGEOUS 🤯</p><p>Gout Gout has done it again, claiming his second-straight Australian title in the U20 Men’s 100m, throwing down a time 10.21 of (+0.5) that featured a wave to the crowd with 10m to go. 👋</p><p>Job done, title in hand. We’ll see you in Eugene for the World Athletics… <a href="https://t.co/AURlwswrPT">pic.twitter.com/AURlwswrPT</a></p>— Australian Athletics (@AustralianAths) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianAths/status/2045362662738206783?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2026</a></blockquote></div><p>Gout missed out on his goal of breaking the 10-second mark. He had earlier cruised into the final with a time of 10.44s in his semifinal, sprinting into a strong headwind at his home track in Brisbane.</p><p>On Friday, Gout qualified fastest for the 100m final. His weekend times were not quick enough to lower Patrick Johnson’s national open record for the 100m of 9.93s, set in Japan in 2003.</p><p>Gout said he enjoyed the big crowds over the past few days at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.</p><p>“The more people there are, the more pressure,” he said after the final. “The more pressure, the faster you run, so putting on a show is definitely great. At the end of the day, I’m going to go out there and have a bit of fun.”</p><p>The win came less than a week after setting an under-20 world record time in the 200m that was faster than Usain Bolt’s best at that age. Last Sunday, Gout ran his 200m final at the open national titles in 19.67s, taking 0.02s off Erriyon Knighton’s world under-20 mark of 19.69s set at Eugene, Oregon in 2022.</p><p>Knighton also ran a 19.49s in 2022, which World Athletics says is the fastest time ever by an under-20 athlete despite it not being ratified as a world under-20 record.</p><p>It was the first time that Gout had gone under the 20-second mark officially, after a wind-assisted 19.84s last season, and is the leading time in the world this year. Gout previously had the quickest time by a 16-year-old, setting an Australian record of 20.06s in 2024.</p><p>Last Sunday’s mark in Sydney put him ahead of eight-time Olympic champion Bolt’s time of 19.93s in 2004. Bolt was 17 when setting what was then a world junior record and never bettered that time as a teenager.</p><p>“This is what I’ve been waiting for,” Gout, who was born in Queensland state to parents from South Sudan, said after his 200m win. “There’s a big weight off my shoulders knowing I ran it legally, and I have the speed and my body to run times like that. So, it definitely feels great, and ready for more.”</p><p>Gout’s 200m time in Sydney was met with skepticism from several sprinters, mostly in the U.S., who said the record was achieved under questionable wind conditions. Some said that up to seven runners achieved season-best times in the race — although that often happens in national championships.</p><p>“There are always going to be haters, if you’ve got haters it means you’re doing something right,” Gout told the <i>Brisbane Times</i> on Friday, referring to the critical comments. “It is what it is, I never take it (to heart), I just keep running, and obviously, it was pretty fast so that’s maybe why they were a bit mad. It motivates me to do it in even bigger races, for sure.”</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 18, 2026</p></div><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> #Gout #Gout #wins #100m #final #Australian #Junior #Athletics #Championships #misses #National #Record

Deadspin | Reds on winning end of pitchers’ duel against Twins  Apr 17, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA;  Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson (55) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images   Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run double and Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night in Minneapolis.  Williamson (2-1), a Fairmont, Minn., native, earned the win in the opener of a three-game set. He threw 5 1/3 innings, allowed three hits, one run, four walks and struck out two in his homecoming start. Suarez had two of Cincinnati’s four hits.    Minnesota starter Joe Ryan (2-2) gave up three hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out six in a solid six-inning outing. Josh Bell was 2-for-4 for the Twins, who only had five hits.  Emilio Pagan tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to register his sixth save for the Reds.    Elly De La Cruz got the Reds going in the fourth when he hammered a double to deep right field. Sal Stewart reached on an error and stole second. Suarez knocked them in with a double that landed in the left-center gap as the Reds took a 2-0 lead.   A bout of wildness from Williamson led to three straight walks as the Twins loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs. Austin Martin’s sacrifice fly was caught by a sliding Will Benson in right field as Minnesota pulled within 2-1. Williamson escaped a big inning by inducing Luke Keaschall to ground into a double play.  Through three innings, Ryan was cruising. The Reds only hit was a Stewart’s blooper to shallow right field in the second.   The first bases-loaded jam of the game challenged Williamson in the third. Matt Wallner led off with a hit by pitch that he took in the right elbow guard. After two flyouts, Byron Buxton lined a single to left field and Martin walked to load the bases. But Keaschall struck out looking to end the threat.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Reds #winning #pitchers #duel #TwinsApr 17, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson (55) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run double and Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night in Minneapolis.

Williamson (2-1), a Fairmont, Minn., native, earned the win in the opener of a three-game set. He threw 5 1/3 innings, allowed three hits, one run, four walks and struck out two in his homecoming start. Suarez had two of Cincinnati’s four hits.

Minnesota starter Joe Ryan (2-2) gave up three hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out six in a solid six-inning outing. Josh Bell was 2-for-4 for the Twins, who only had five hits.


Emilio Pagan tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to register his sixth save for the Reds.

Elly De La Cruz got the Reds going in the fourth when he hammered a double to deep right field. Sal Stewart reached on an error and stole second. Suarez knocked them in with a double that landed in the left-center gap as the Reds took a 2-0 lead.

A bout of wildness from Williamson led to three straight walks as the Twins loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs. Austin Martin’s sacrifice fly was caught by a sliding Will Benson in right field as Minnesota pulled within 2-1. Williamson escaped a big inning by inducing Luke Keaschall to ground into a double play.

Through three innings, Ryan was cruising. The Reds only hit was a Stewart’s blooper to shallow right field in the second.

The first bases-loaded jam of the game challenged Williamson in the third. Matt Wallner led off with a hit by pitch that he took in the right elbow guard. After two flyouts, Byron Buxton lined a single to left field and Martin walked to load the bases. But Keaschall struck out looking to end the threat.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reds #winning #pitchers #duel #Twins">Deadspin | Reds on winning end of pitchers’ duel against Twins  Apr 17, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA;  Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson (55) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images   Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run double and Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night in Minneapolis.  Williamson (2-1), a Fairmont, Minn., native, earned the win in the opener of a three-game set. He threw 5 1/3 innings, allowed three hits, one run, four walks and struck out two in his homecoming start. Suarez had two of Cincinnati’s four hits.    Minnesota starter Joe Ryan (2-2) gave up three hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out six in a solid six-inning outing. Josh Bell was 2-for-4 for the Twins, who only had five hits.  Emilio Pagan tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to register his sixth save for the Reds.    Elly De La Cruz got the Reds going in the fourth when he hammered a double to deep right field. Sal Stewart reached on an error and stole second. Suarez knocked them in with a double that landed in the left-center gap as the Reds took a 2-0 lead.   A bout of wildness from Williamson led to three straight walks as the Twins loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs. Austin Martin’s sacrifice fly was caught by a sliding Will Benson in right field as Minnesota pulled within 2-1. Williamson escaped a big inning by inducing Luke Keaschall to ground into a double play.  Through three innings, Ryan was cruising. The Reds only hit was a Stewart’s blooper to shallow right field in the second.   The first bases-loaded jam of the game challenged Williamson in the third. Matt Wallner led off with a hit by pitch that he took in the right elbow guard. After two flyouts, Byron Buxton lined a single to left field and Martin walked to load the bases. But Keaschall struck out looking to end the threat.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Reds #winning #pitchers #duel #Twins

Deadspin | Kennedy Wesley’s first goal, assist lead USWNT past Japan  Apr 17, 2026; Commerce City, CO, USA; United States defender Naomi Girma (4) kicks the ball in the middle of the field during the first half against Japan at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images   Kennedy Wesley scored and had an assist during a 17-minute, second half eruption when the U.S. women’s national team scored all its goals for a 3-0 victory over Japan in Commerce City, Colo., on Friday.  The U.S. won two of three in the series vs. Japan over the past week, prevailing in the finale on goals by Naomi Girma (47th minute), Rose Lavelle (56th) and Wesley (64th).  Wesley, who entered at halftime, got her first U.S. goal contribution in her sixth match on the opening score. She headed a corner kick by Lavelle to Girma in front of the goal for another header and Girma’s third career goal.  Lavelle stretched the lead to 2-0 after a pass by Trinity Rodman split the defense to send her on a break. Lavelle calmly scored from the top of the box to the left corner. She has 29 goals in 120 appearances for the USWNT.  Another corner kick, this one by Jaedyn Shaw, found the right foot of Wesley to extend the lead.  Several inches of snow were cleared from the field hours before the match and the kickoff temperature was 36 degrees.   Claire Hutton was the lone holdover starter from the United States’ 1-0 loss to Japan in Seattle on Tuesday. However, nine starters for this match also started in the 2-1 U.S. victory on April 11.  The U.S. outplayed but couldn’t outscore Japan in the first half with 70% possession, nine shots with two on goal while Japan’s one attempt was a comfortable for goalkeeper Claudia Dickey in the 5th minute.  There were three prime chances for the U.S. beginning with Colorado native Sophia Wilson’s try in the 20th minute. Tierna Davidson headed a pass to her in the center of the box, and Wilson put the shot on target, but goalie Chika Hirao parried it over the crossbar.  Nearly 20 minutes later on a break, Hutton took a setup in stride from Alyssa Thompson and ripped a shot off the bar from outside the box. In fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, Girma forced a close-range save.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Kennedy #Wesleys #goal #assist #lead #USWNT #JapanApr 17, 2026; Commerce City, CO, USA; United States defender Naomi Girma (4) kicks the ball in the middle of the field during the first half against Japan at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Kennedy Wesley scored and had an assist during a 17-minute, second half eruption when the U.S. women’s national team scored all its goals for a 3-0 victory over Japan in Commerce City, Colo., on Friday.

The U.S. won two of three in the series vs. Japan over the past week, prevailing in the finale on goals by Naomi Girma (47th minute), Rose Lavelle (56th) and Wesley (64th).

Wesley, who entered at halftime, got her first U.S. goal contribution in her sixth match on the opening score. She headed a corner kick by Lavelle to Girma in front of the goal for another header and Girma’s third career goal.

Lavelle stretched the lead to 2-0 after a pass by Trinity Rodman split the defense to send her on a break. Lavelle calmly scored from the top of the box to the left corner. She has 29 goals in 120 appearances for the USWNT.

Another corner kick, this one by Jaedyn Shaw, found the right foot of Wesley to extend the lead.


Several inches of snow were cleared from the field hours before the match and the kickoff temperature was 36 degrees.

Claire Hutton was the lone holdover starter from the United States’ 1-0 loss to Japan in Seattle on Tuesday. However, nine starters for this match also started in the 2-1 U.S. victory on April 11.

The U.S. outplayed but couldn’t outscore Japan in the first half with 70% possession, nine shots with two on goal while Japan’s one attempt was a comfortable for goalkeeper Claudia Dickey in the 5th minute.

There were three prime chances for the U.S. beginning with Colorado native Sophia Wilson’s try in the 20th minute. Tierna Davidson headed a pass to her in the center of the box, and Wilson put the shot on target, but goalie Chika Hirao parried it over the crossbar.

Nearly 20 minutes later on a break, Hutton took a setup in stride from Alyssa Thompson and ripped a shot off the bar from outside the box. In fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, Girma forced a close-range save.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Kennedy #Wesleys #goal #assist #lead #USWNT #Japan">Deadspin | Kennedy Wesley’s first goal, assist lead USWNT past Japan  Apr 17, 2026; Commerce City, CO, USA; United States defender Naomi Girma (4) kicks the ball in the middle of the field during the first half against Japan at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images   Kennedy Wesley scored and had an assist during a 17-minute, second half eruption when the U.S. women’s national team scored all its goals for a 3-0 victory over Japan in Commerce City, Colo., on Friday.  The U.S. won two of three in the series vs. Japan over the past week, prevailing in the finale on goals by Naomi Girma (47th minute), Rose Lavelle (56th) and Wesley (64th).  Wesley, who entered at halftime, got her first U.S. goal contribution in her sixth match on the opening score. She headed a corner kick by Lavelle to Girma in front of the goal for another header and Girma’s third career goal.  Lavelle stretched the lead to 2-0 after a pass by Trinity Rodman split the defense to send her on a break. Lavelle calmly scored from the top of the box to the left corner. She has 29 goals in 120 appearances for the USWNT.  Another corner kick, this one by Jaedyn Shaw, found the right foot of Wesley to extend the lead.  Several inches of snow were cleared from the field hours before the match and the kickoff temperature was 36 degrees.   Claire Hutton was the lone holdover starter from the United States’ 1-0 loss to Japan in Seattle on Tuesday. However, nine starters for this match also started in the 2-1 U.S. victory on April 11.  The U.S. outplayed but couldn’t outscore Japan in the first half with 70% possession, nine shots with two on goal while Japan’s one attempt was a comfortable for goalkeeper Claudia Dickey in the 5th minute.  There were three prime chances for the U.S. beginning with Colorado native Sophia Wilson’s try in the 20th minute. Tierna Davidson headed a pass to her in the center of the box, and Wilson put the shot on target, but goalie Chika Hirao parried it over the crossbar.  Nearly 20 minutes later on a break, Hutton took a setup in stride from Alyssa Thompson and ripped a shot off the bar from outside the box. In fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, Girma forced a close-range save.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Kennedy #Wesleys #goal #assist #lead #USWNT #Japan

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