Sports

(SAN FRANCISCO) — San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said it’s a “miracle” rookie Ricky Pearsall is recovering days after the team said the player was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery.

“He’s the toughest person I know, just going through a situation like that,” Shanahan told reporters on Thursday, speaking out for the first time on the incident. “We always felt this way watching him on the football field and things like that, but kind of to watch how he handled that situation and watch how he’s been every day since, it shows how special the guy is.”

Pearsall, 23, was seen at practice on Thursday, standing on the field in street clothes holding a football and watching the wide receiver drills, as the team prepared for Monday night’s season opener against the New York Jets.

The athlete “sustained a bullet wound to his chest” during an attempted robbery on Saturday in San Francisco’s Union Square, the San Francisco 49ers said in a statement. He was released from the hospital on Sunday and is expected to make a full recovery.

On Monday, the National Football League added the player to the reserve/non-football injury list, meaning he will miss at least four games of the season, according to ESPN.

Shanahan said the team has been focusing on giving Pearsall space to physically and mentally recover from the ordeal, though he’s eager to get back to playing.

“I think each day the mental part becomes more a big deal, you know, the adrenaline and just surviving that,” the coach said. “Ricky’s saying stuff … like, I still think I could play versus the Jets.”

“It’s just like, dude, what are you talking about?” Shanahan continued.

On the recovery, Shanahan said Pearsall “wants to go a week or so without trying to work up a sweat” and then will start rehab.

A 17-year-old suspect arrested in connection with the shooting was charged Tuesday with attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm and attempted second-degree robbery, prosecutors said.

The teen, whose name has not been released, was arraigned at the Youth Guidance Center in San Francisco on Wednesday. Following the court appearance, his attorney told reporters the teen — a senior at Tracy High School — is “very sorry genuinely that this did happen, as is his family.”

“I can say on their behalf, as well as on my own behalf, that our thoughts go out to the Pearsall family and Mr. Pearsall himself,” the attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap, said. “So there’s genuine, genuine remorse in that regard.”

The teen is in custody and will be detained awaiting a trial date.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told reporters Tuesday that her office hasn’t made a determination yet on whether it would request a hearing before a judge to decide whether the teen will be tried as an adult.

Dunlap said he hopes the case does not transfer to adult court, saying his client “certainly should be treated as a juvenile. He is a juvenile.”

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE

Cincinnati Reds 1, Houston Astros 0
Detroit Tigers 4, San Diego Padres 3

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Minnesota Twins 4, Tampa Bay Rays 3
Seattle Mariners 6, Oakland Athletics 4
Texas Rangers 3, L.A. Angels 1

NATIONAL LEAGUE

San Francisco Giants 3, Arizona Diamondbacks 2
Philadelphia Phillies 5, Miami Marlins 2
Pittsburgh Pirates 9, Washington Nationals 4
Colorado Rockies 3, Atlanta Braves 1

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Kansas City Chiefs 27, Baltimore Ravens 20

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Washington 75, Phoenix 55 (TBD)

New York Liberty 77, Seattle Storm 70

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Alex Morgan, one of the greatest U.S. soccer stars of all time, officially announced her retirement from professional soccer on Thursday.

“I’m gonna get to the point quickly: I’m retiring,” Morgan said in a video posted to Instagram. “And I have so much clarity about this decision, and I am so happy to be able to finally tell you. It has been a long time coming and this decision wasn’t easy, but at the beginning of 2024 I felt in my heart and soul that this was the last season that I would play soccer.”

“Soccer has been a part of me for 30 years and it was one of the first things that I ever loved. And I gave everything to this sport and what I got in return was more than I could have ever dreamed of,” she said.

The two-time Olympic medalist, who helped lead Team USA to gold at the 2012 London Games and bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Games, has been celebrated by teammates, coaches and competitors as one of the greatest goal scorers and winners in U.S. Women’s National Team history.

Morgan continued, “Success for me is defined by never giving up and giving your all. And I did just that. I’m giving my all every single day on the field, and I did that. Giving my all in the relentless push for global investment in women’s sports, because we deserve that.”

The 35-year-old also shared a sweet moment with her now-4-year-old daughter before revealing she is pregnant with a second child.

“Charlie came up to me the other day and said that when she grows up, she wants to be a soccer player. And it just made me, like immensely proud,” she said. “Not because I wish for her to become a — soccer player when she grows up, but because a pathway exists that even a 4-year-old can see now we’re changing lives and the impact we have on the next generation is irreversible, and I’m proud in the hand I had in making that happen.”

She continued, “This is not the retirement video I expected when I initially thought I was going to do this, because Charlie’s going to be a big sister.”

“I am pregnant. And as unexpected as this came, we are so overjoyed,” Morgan said of her growing family with professional men’s player Servando Carrasco, her college sweetheart at UC Berkeley and husband.

“To me, family means everything. I wouldn’t be here without my husband and my family uplifting and motivating and encouraging and supporting me and sacrificing for me for the last 15 years as a professional athlete,” she said.

Morgan has one final match for the San Diego Wave on Sunday.

“I just want to thank the fans for always supporting us, for always just using what we’re saying and making it magnified,” she said. “I also need to thank the team, my team behind the scenes — teammates, coaches, staff, everyone who has played a part in my career, has played some part that has made me where I am today and who I am today.”

“I am so shaped into me because of you, because of soccer, and I am forever grateful,” Morgan said. “I cannot wait to celebrate with you one last game. It’s been a ride. And thank you.”

Alex Morgan’s professional soccer career highlights and accolades

Morgan joined the U.S. Women’s National Team training camp in 2009 at 20 years old and has remained a fixture of the team both on and off the field for her legendary 15-year career.

The star striker scored her first goal against China in 2010 and racked up goals against 32 different countries.

Later that same year, Morgan scored in stoppage time against Italy during the Women’s World Cup playoff to give USA a 1-0 win to qualify for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

She finishes her USWNT career with 123 goals, fifth all time, as well as 53 career assists, ninth in U.S. history.

In her 22 World Cup matches, Morgan scored nine goals. She played 16 matches in two different Olympics and scored six goals.

In matches Morgan played, the national team’s record was 177-15-32. She was the captain of the USWNT 23 times and scored in 86 of her 224 international appearances with 158 starts. Of those 86 matches she scored in, the USWNT never lost, notching 76 wins and 10 draws.

With 176 combined goals and assists, Morgan sits at fifth all time in USWNT history, behind only fellow legends Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Kristine Lilly and Carli Lloyd.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Morgan notched three goals, four assists and scored on a header against Canada in the 123rd minute to give the USA a dramatic 4-3 win in the semifinals.

Morgan also had a historic 2012, scoring 28 goals and 21 assists. The only other American player to have a year with at least 20 goals and at least 20 assists was Mia Hamm in 1998.

Morgan’s final goal in a U.S. uniform came on Feb. 23 against Argentina in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup.

Morgan also racked up numerous awards. She won U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2012 and 2018; was named to the FIFA FIFPRO World XI six times; and was named CONCACAF Female Player of the Year four times.

She also made history during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with her goal against Brazil on Feb. 22, 2023, to move her past Joy Fawcett to become the all-time leader in USWNT goals as a mother with 14.

The San Dimas, California, native has appeared on the cover of numerous magazines throughout her career, including Time, Adweek, Sports Illustrated, SI for Kids and Glamour.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
LA Dodgers 1, LA Angels 10 
Detroit Tigers 5, San Diego Padres 6 
Cincinnati Reds 12, Houston Astros 5
NY Mets 8, Boston Red Sox 3
Philadelphia Phillies 4, Toronto Blue Jays 2

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Seattle Mariners 16, Oakland Athletics 3 
Chicago White Sox 8, Baltimore Orioles 1
Tampa Bay Rays 9, Minnesota Twins 4
Kansas City Royals 4, Cleveland Guardians 1
Texas Rangers 10, NY Yankees 6

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Arizona Diamondbacks 6, San Francisco Giants 4
Miami Marlins 4, Washington Nationals 3
Atlanta Braves 5, Colorado Rockies 2
Chicago Cubs 12, Pittsburgh Pirates 0
St. Louis Cardinals 3, Milwaukee Brewers 2

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Indiana Fever 93, Los Angeles Sparks 86

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
New York Mets 7, Boston Red Sox 2
Philadelphia Phillies 10, Toronto Blue Jays 9
Los Angeles Dodgers 6, Los Angeles Angels 2

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay Rays 2, Minnesota Twins 1
Baltimore Orioles 9, Chicago White Sox 0
Cleveland Guardians 7, Kansas City Royals 1
Texas Rangers 7, New York Yankees 4
Seattle Mariners 2, Oakland A’s 3

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Washington Nationals 6, Miami Marlins 2
Atlanta Braves 3, Colorado Rockies 0
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Chicago Cubs 0
St. Louis Cardinals 7, Milwaukee Brewers 4
Arizona Diamondbacks 8, San Francisco Giants 7

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Seattle Storm 71, Connecticut Sun 64
Washington Mystics 90, Dallas Wings 86
Atlanta Dream 66, Phoenix Mercury 74
Chicago Sky 71, Las Vegas Aces 90

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
Cincinnati Reds 5, Houston Astros 3
San Diego Padres 3, Detroit Tigers 0 
NY Mets 4, Boston Red Sox 1

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore Orioles 13, Chicago White Sox 3
Cleveland Guardians 4, Kansas City Royals 2
Minnesota Twins 5, Tampa Bay Rays 4
Oakland Athletics 5, Seattle Mariners 4
NY Yankees 8, Texas Rangers 4

NATIONAL LEAGUE
LA Dodgers 11, Arizona Diamondbacks 6
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Chicago Cubs 3
Milwaukee Brewers 9, St. Louis Cardinals 3

TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Boston College 28, Florida St. 13 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — The wife of Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau is speaking out after the hockey player and his brother Matthew Gaudreau were killed last week while riding bicycles in New Jersey, according to police.

Meredith Gaudreau, who shares two children with her late husband, wrote about the bond she saw between her husband and his brother, who are also survived by their parents and two sisters, in a series of Instagram posts Sunday.

“John and Matty. U don’t hear one name without the other. Always side by side. Even in large group settings, u can find them hip to hip,” Meredith Gaudreau captioned a series of photos of the brothers. “John’s younger brother- but he looked up to Matty and relied on him for everythinggg. And Matty was always there. Absolute best friends and biggest fans of each other despite polar opposite personalities. Everyone wanted to be around them, including me.”

In separate posts, Meredith Gaudreau also reflected on the late NHL star as a father and a husband, writing, “Thank you for the best years of my life. Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours.”

Alongside photos of Johnny Gaudreau with their two children, she wrote, “The absolute best dad in the world. So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the Apple of Noa’s eye. I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud. We love you so so so much daddy.”

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were cycling in Salem County on Aug. 29 “close to the fog line of the roadway” when they were hit from behind by a driver who was trying to pass another car, according to New Jersey State Police.

The driver, 43-year-old Sean Higgins, who told police he had about 5 or 6 beers before the crash, failed a field sobriety test, according to the probable cause affidavit. Higgins is charged with two counts of death by auto, according to police.

His detention hearing is scheduled for Sept. 5.

The Gaudreau brothers’ deaths came the night before their sister Katie was set to get married, according to their former coaches.

Matthew Gaudreau’s wife, Madeline Gaudreau, is pregnant with their first child.

Madeline Gaudreau also wrote on Instagram Sunday about the brothers’ bond, and how she and her sister-in-law Meredith Gaudreau will now be there for each other.

“To Meredith- we will forever share this extreme heartbreak and terrible bond.. however , the boys couldn’t have picked stronger woman as their wives and mothers of their children,” she captioned a series of photos. “We will carry each other through every season .. as the boys would do for each other. They blessed us with children.. through them we will always have a part of them earth side with us forever.”

Describing the brothers as each other’s “biggest cheerleaders,” she added, “I find extreme comfort knowing they are together , as they always were. I know they are still messing with each other up there and will continue to look over their families.”

Both brothers played hockey at Boston College.

Before attending BC, the brothers played hockey at Gloucester Catholic High School in their native New Jersey. Matthew Gaudreau returned to the high school as a hockey coach, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said.

Johnny Gaudreau, a winger, won the Hobey Baker Award in 2014 as the best player in college hockey. He was also a finalist for the Calder Trophy, given to the league’s best rookie, in 2014-15, and named to the All-Star Game in 2015. He played nine seasons for the Calgary Flames before joining the Blue Jackets before the 2022-23 season. He had 12 goals and 48 assists last season.

The brothers’ uncle wrote in a statement after their death, “Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two uncles, two nephews, two cousins, two family members two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing humans.”

ABC News’ Emily Shapiro, Ben Stein, Jason Volack, Kendall Coughlin and Lena Camilletti contributed to this report.

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(NEW YORK) — Tennis star Naomi Osaka is reacting to her early exit from the U.S. Open with a message focusing on pride and motherhood.

Osaka suffered a loss in the second round of the U.S. Open in two straight sets to Czech Karolína Muchová on Thursday.

“Honestly I had typed out a whole caption about how I’m disappointed with myself etc but I’ve been sitting here playing with my daughter and I realized that I couldn’t be more proud of myself,” Osaka wrote on Saturday.

“I gave birth to such an amazing human and I played the US Open? A win is a win,” she continued. “Sure it didn’t work out this time but I have faith it will eventually. Thank you NY 🖤 see you next time.”

Osaka shared photos from the tournament featuring white bows on her outfit along with a video of singer Rihanna saying, “I remember thinking, she can beat me but she can not beat my outfit.”

In a press conference after the match, Osaka opined on her loss saying, “Honestly, if I get past the disappointment, I feel pretty proud of myself to have gotten that many opportunities while still feeling like I could have played much better.”

Prior to Thursday’s loss, the tennis star earned her first top-10 win in four years, beating former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday, advancing to the second round.

Osaka first announced her pregnancy in January of last year, before sharing the arrival of her child in an Instagram post in July of last year.

Naomi Osaka says ‘I don’t feel like I’m in my body’ in candid post after Cincinnati Open loss

In January, Osaka opened up about her postpartum journey in an interview with Glamour.

“Having a baby completely destroys your pelvic floor,” she said. “I was shocked, because I couldn’t get up out of my bed.”

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(NEW YORK) — Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were killed Thursday night when they were riding bikes and struck by a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, according to police in New Jersey.

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy,” the NHL team said in a statement. “Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matthew.”

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were cycling in Salem County, “close to the fog line of the roadway,” when they were hit from behind by a driver who was trying to pass another car, according to New Jersey State Police.

The driver, 43-year-old Sean Higgins, had been trying to pass a slower-moving sedan and SUV in front of him in the northbound lanes, so he moved to the southbound lanes and passed the sedan, police said. Higgins was trying to re-enter the northbound lane “when the SUV in front of Higgins moved to the middle of the roadway, splitting the north and south lanes to safely pass” the cyclists, police said.

Higgins then allegedly tried to pass the SUV on the right, and that’s when he struck the brothers, according to police.

Higgins, who was “suspected of being under the influence of alcohol,” is charged with two counts of death by auto, according to police.

“Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice,” the Blue Jackets said. “He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him.”

Gaudreau, a winger, won the Hobey Baker Award in 2014 as the best player in college hockey. He was also a finalist for the Calder Trophy, given to the league’s best rookie, in 2013-14, and named to the All-Star Game in 2015. He played nine seasons for the Calgary Flames before joining the Blue Jackets before the 2022-23 season. He had 12 goals and 48 assists last season.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement, “While Johnny’s infectious spirit for the game and show-stopping skills on the ice earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,’ he was more than just a dazzling hockey player; he was a doting father and beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to every person fortunate enough to have crossed his path.”

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
Cincinnati Reds 10, Oakland Athletics 9
Baltimore Orioles at L-A Dodgers (TBA)

AMERICAN LEAGUE
L-A Angels 3, Detroit Tigers 2
Texas Rangers 2, Chicago White Sox 1
Toronto Blue Jays 2, Boston Red Sox 0
Houston Astros 6, Kansas City Royals 3

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Milwaukee Brewers 6, San Francisco Giants 0
St. Louis Cardinals 4, San Diego Padres 1
Miami Marlins 12, Colorado Rockies 8
N-Y Mets 3, Arizona Diamondbacks 2
Philadelphia Phillies 5, Atlanta Braves 4

TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
(24)NC State 38, W. Carolina 21
(11)Missouri 51, Murray St. 0
(22)Kansas 48, Lindenwood (Mo.) 3
(12)Utah, S. Utah (TBA)

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