SI:AM | USMNT Still in Good Shape for Knockout Stage After Loss to Türkiye
SI:AM | USMNT Still in Good Shape for Knockout Stage After Loss to Türkiye
The team that lost the group stage finale isn’t the same one that will take the field next week in the round of 32.Dan Gartland|
Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I’m going to be pulling so hard for Cabo Verde tonight against Saudi Arabia. Everyone wants to see the Blue Sharks in the knockout stage, right?
In today’s SI:AM:
🇺🇸 U.S. takes it easy
⛹️♂️ 2027 NBA draft prospects
⛹️♀️ WNBA rookie watch
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That’s why they’re the B team
It’s such a luxury to be able to see your team lose in the final seconds and have your reaction be “Ah, oh well.”
The U.S. men’s national team lost its final World Cup group stage match to Türkiye, 3–2, on a goal by Kaan Ayhan in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
But who cares?
The game had no bearing on the rest of the tournament for the U.S., which had already clinched the top spot in the group after winning its first two games. As a result, manager Mauricio Pochettino selected a starting lineup consisting almost entirely of backups. The only starter who also started the other two matches was midfielder Weston McKennie. Some of the usual starters did come on later in the game as substitutes (like Christian Pulisic, who entered in the 58th minute after missing the game against Australia with a calf injury), but Pochettino clearly coached the game with an eye toward the future. None of the four starters who were at risk of being suspended if they were shown a yellow card (Folarin Balogun, Tyler Adams, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson) saw the field.
A win would have given the U.S. its first perfect group stage ever at a men’s World Cup, but Pochettino dismissed the significance of that achievement and set his sights higher.
“Making history is winning the World Cup, not winning three games,” he said.
The U.S. will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the knockout stage on Wednesday. The Americans will be coming off a loss, but thanks to the way Pochettino coached the Türkiye game, they’ll have all their stars available.
History for Marina Mabrey
Unless you follow the WNBA pretty closely, you probably don’t know the name Marina Mabrey. But it’s time to get familiar with her.
Mabrey tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points for the Tempo in last night’s 125–97 win over the Sparks, matching the mark previously set by A’ja Wilson (in 2023) and Liz Cambage (in ’18). Riquna Williams, who had 51 points in a game in ’13, is the only other player in WNBA history to score at least 50.
Mabrey is a veteran who’s played eight good but hardly exceptional seasons, averaging 13.1 points per game. She was a second-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2019 and was left exposed to the expansion draft this spring by the Sun.
Mabrey is thriving in an expanded role with the Tempo, though, averaging 21.2 points per game. It’s not just the one scoring outburst, either. Before last night’s game, she was averaging 19.4 points per game, still by far the highest of any season in her career. She set a short-lived new career high for points in a game with 37 last week against Connecticut. Mabrey hit nine three-pointers in that game, tying the WNBA single-game record, and matched it again last night.
It was also a historic night for the Tempo, who set a new WNBA single-game team regulation scoring record. The previous record was 123 points, set by the Mercury in 2010.
Mabrey was so locked in that she didn’t realize she was nearing the record until her sister, Michaela, who was sitting courtside, informed her.
“There’s no stat board in our gym,” Mabrey told reporters. “After you get into a state like that, it’s kind of hard to know what you’re really doing, but my teammates made it known, so I knew I was doing something good.”
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- Kevin Sweeney: Way-Too-Early 2027 NBA Draft Big Board: Top 30 Prospects
- Grey Whitebloom: The USMNT Is Living in Mauricio Pochettino’s World—and He Doesn’t Care Who Likes It
- Sophia Vesely: Four Key Takeaways From USMNT’s Heartbreaking Yet Meaningless Loss to Türkiye
- Emma Baccellieri: WNBA Can’t Escape Officiating Woes After Caitlin Clark Takes Back-to-Back ‘Cheap Shots’
- Blake Silverman: WNBA Rookie Watch: Flau’jae Johnson a Bright Spot During Storm’s Dreadful Season
- Nick Selbe: Evaluating MLB’s Most Overdue All-Star Hopefuls
The top five…
… things I saw yesterday:
5. Netherlands forward Memphis Depay’s hilariously failed bicycle kick attempt.
4. Marina Mabrey’s Wilt Chamberlain reference after dropping 53.
3. Sebastian Berhalter’s one-touch screamer for the second U.S. goal.
2. Anthony Elanga’s long-range goal to bring Sweden even with Japan. The game finished 1–1, but Sweden has a better chance of advancing to the knockout stage after securing a point with the draw.
1. Bryce Harper’s go-ahead home run for the Phillies in the ninth inning against the Nationals. It was the third straight day that the Phillies took the lead with a homer in the ninth, the first time in MLB history that’s ever happened. (Harper also gestured to the Washington crowd as he rounded the bases in response to the “F--- Bryce Harper” chants that had been directed his way during the game. Harper, though, insists he extended his ring finger, not the middle finger.)
Published 5 hours ago | Modified 5 hours ago
DAN GARTLANDDan Gartland writes Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, and is the host of the “Stadium Wonders” video series. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).
Home/Soccer
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
