American Gold Sports Alliance

Athlete Spotlight

Malkamaki Wins Back-to-Back World Titles

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By: DuPaul Athletics

The Blue Demon brings home her second gold

KOBE – DePaul Track and Field’s Noelle Malkamaki won her second consecutive gold at the 2024 Para Athletics World Championships, early Thursday morning. The Blue Demon successfully defended her World title after achieving a final mark of 13.12m. 

This is a back-to-back win for the Blue Demon, after she dominated her first World title last year, claiming gold in the women’s F46 shot put at her world championship debut last year. Malkamaki broke the world record three times during the event, before her final throw of 13.32m. 

In March, Malkamaki competed for a Team USA roster spot at the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships in Walnut, Calif., dominating the women’s F46 shot put and taking home a national title with a final mark of 13.21m. 

UP NEXT: Following the World Championships, Malkamaki will turn her attention to the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials, July 18-20 in Miramar, Fla. with the hopes of earning a berth on Team USA at the Paralympic Games.

NELLY KORDA CONTINUES UNPRECEDENTED LPGA RUN

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by: Emma Hruby | Just Women’s Sports

Nelly Korda continued her unprecedented LPGA run on Sunday, winning her sixth tournament in the last seven starts. 

The 25-year-old Florida native took home the title at the Mizuho Americas Open, becoming the first LPGA player to record six wins in a single season since 2013 — and that’s with three majors and a little over half the season left to play.

“Oh, my gosh, six,” Korda said after the win. “I can’t even really gather myself right now with that, the head-to-head that Hannah and I had pretty much all day. Wasn’t my best stuff out there today, but fought really hard on the back nine.”

Korda is just the fourth player on tour to win six times before June 1st, joining LPGA Hall of Famers Babe Zaharias (1951), Louise Suggs (1953), and Lorena Ochoa (2008).

Should her victory run continue, Korda could break the current record for single-season wins, currently set at 13 by Mickey Wright in 1963.

Korda ended Sunday’s tournament one shot ahead of Hannah Green, finishing the 18th with a par putt to win it all.

“I mean, to lose to Nelly kind of like is — it’s sad, but then it’s also Nelly Korda,” Green said of her second-place finish. “You know, like she’s obviously so dominant right now. To feel like second behind her is quite nice. Unfortunately the bogey on the last has a little bit of a sour taste.”

Next up is the US Women’s Open, a tournament that Korda has yet to win in her career. 

“Obviously it’s on the top of my priority list,” she said. “I just know there is never any good when you put more pressure on yourself. Just going to stay in my bubble that week and take it a shot at a time.”

Earlier this year, Korda became the fastest player to collect $2 million in prize money over a single season. This latest win earned her an additional $450,000, bringing her season total up to $2,943,708.

Making the Case: Why Alyssa Naeher is the Best Keeper in USWNT History

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By Rachel Gonzalez | Girls Soccer Network

Alyssa Naeher is having her moment, there’s no denying that. It’s no secret that the USWNT has seen plenty of solid keepers in the past. Briana Scurry from the 90s and Hope Solo from the 2000s and 2010s are absolute legends, but Naeher’s trajectory has her rising above even them. Naeher has always been solid on the line, but lately, her game has taken on a new life. 

Penalty Shootout Abilities

It’s easy to make the game all about goal scoring, and while Scurry and Solo made it about goal saving, Naeher is managing to do both. In the last two major tournaments, Naeher has performed brilliantly in the net during PKs–the most high-pressure situation for a keeper–and converted points of her own.

We will never forget that heartbreaker of a Swedish kick-off in the 2023 World Cup or her incredible performance in the 2020 Olympics. She has come up against some of the best goal-scorers the world has ever seen and shut them down.

Accolades 

If we look just at accolades and score sheets, you might find that Scurry and Solo are still above Naeher, but there’s one vital thing to consider: time. Scurry was in the net from 1994 until 2008 when Solo took up the mantle. Both keepers earned their own Olympic and World Cup medals in that time, but Naeher has only been the number one goalie for the U.S. since 2016, after their Olympic loss.

Since then, Naeher has racked up clean sheets, Golden Gloves, Best Keeper awards, and medals. And this isn’t even considering the fact that COVID completely disrupted some of the biggest tournaments in the world. 

A New Kind of Keeper

It’s also important to take into account the evolution of the game since Solo and Scurry. As we saw in this last World Cup, the rest of the world is starting to catch up to the USWNT’s program. The forwards are faster and stronger, the tactics are smarter, and the game is just at a higher pace than in the last three decades.

There’s a lot more demand on keepers than there ever has been before and Naeher is the model for that kind of keeper. She is smart and strong, she can read the play from any point on the field, and she’s not afraid to come off her line and get physical. Naeher is a calming force from the backline, level-headed but still powerful. There’s no one better under pressure and no one more trusted in a crisis.

In the scope of a keeper’s career, Naeher is just getting started, and we are in great hands. In Naeher, we trust!

Meet Queens Park Ladies, ‘Invincible’ Under-11 UK Girls Football Team

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By: Tanya Savkoor | She The People

An under-11 girls football team in the UK has won the title of ‘invincibles’ after an unbeaten streak of wins. The team recently garnered laurels when it won a boys’ league.

An under-11 girls football team in the UK has won the title of ‘invincibles’ after an unbeaten streak of wins, the latest one being at a boys’ league. The Queens Park Ladies finished top of division three of the Bournemouth Youth Football League with 18 wins, four draws and no defeats. The Guardian reported that the team scored 61 goals across the league, conceding only 11. The girls amassed 58 points, a whopping 16 more than the team that came second.

Queens Park Ladies Rule Boy-Dominated League

The Under-12 girls team made history when they secured a win at the boy-dominated Bournemouth Youth Football League. Earlier, the Queens Park Ladies had defeated Moordown and Southbourne boys’ teams to top the league.

On May 5, the team defeated Lymington Town boys 3-0, securing the ‘invincibles’ title. Team manager Toby Green said that securing a win against a team that had won six games in a row was the highlight of the season.

The Guardian reported that the team was initially met with resistance for playing against the 11 boys’ teams. The football association officials insisted that the girls play in ‘all girls’ championships’.

However, Green insisted on letting the girls showcase their prowess in a league where gender does not define skill. He told Sky News that the immensely dedicated girls deserved the shining win.

“The girls have done really, really well. They’ve worked so hard all season, not just in the games, but in their training as well. They have been disciplined … they deserve it,” he told the outlet.

About The Team

Toby Green started the team Queens Park Ladies when his little girl Olivia started showing interest in football. He had already coached his older daughter as the only girl in a boys’ team and decided to put together a girls’ side.

However, Green insisted on letting the girls play in a boys’ league. Queens Park Ladies under-12s train twice a week and will now be promoted to the under-13s second division.

Four of the girls in the 14-player squad have been playing together since they were five years old. Green said he hopes the Queens Park Ladies’ success will inspire more young girls to take up football.

Bianca Bustamante finishes P2 at F1 Academy Miami Race 2

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By: Hans Carbonilla – The inquirer

Filipino American and McLaren development driver Bianca Bustamante fought her way from the back of the grid to a points-scoring position despite encountering multiple setbacks during the F1 Academy Miami round, but her fighting spirit brought her to the podium finish at the end of Race 2.

The young racer’s bid for a podium finish in Race 1 was dashed when she fell victim to a late start due to a technical error, dropping her from a promising P4 qualifying result to P16.But the first Filipina driver at McLaren’s tenacity shone through as she clawed her way through the field, eventually breaking into the points territory by lap six of the intense 13-lap race.

In an Instagram post shared by McLaren, they wrote “She never backed down. She never gave up. Great comeback drive to the points, [Racer Bia],” to which the racer herself replied, “We were the fastest car on track. Sorry everyone for the mistake, we’ll fight for the win tomorrow.”

However, her hopes of further advancement were marred by a five-second penalty for cutting a chicane to gain an advantage, relegating her P7 finish to P9 post-penalties.

Nevertheless, her recovery drive from last position to the points-scoring field earned her the accolade of the fastest lap, adding an extra point to her tally. With three points garnered from the race, Bustamante currently sits seventh in the driver standings with a total of 21 points.

Meanwhile, Alpine-sponsored Abbi Pulling, who started on pole, clinched victory in Race 1.

Despite the setbacks faced in Race 1, Bustamante remained undeterred as she tackled Race 2 confidently and strongly, finishing at P2.

She posted a photo with Lando Norris on her social media account, with a caption, “Just absolutely speechless. Such a high.”

“An amazing weekend for the team @mclaren! Our very first @f1academy podium is finally a reality, mega thank you to @artgp_official for an amazing car,” she continued. “They were faultless this weekend, so much more to work and show for the rest of the season. Let’s keep growing.”

With her determination and resilience on full display, all eyes are on Bustamante as she continues her quest for success in the F1 Academy 2024 season.

SPRINTS SHINE AT WINDY USATF BERMUDA GRAND PRIX

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DEVONSHIRE, Bermuda — Back for its third year, a windy afternoon at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix produced some quick early-season times in the sprints, highlighted by Tamari Davis’ and Noah Lyles’ wins in the 100s.
 
Defending the crown she won last year, Tamari Davis cruised to an easy 11.04w (+2.2) in the Xfinity Women’s 100, winning by almost a quarter-second over Kortnei Johnson, who was the runner-up in 11.27w.
 
Six-time world champion Noah Lyles was looking for a win in the Xfinity Men’s 100 following his runner-up finish at Bermuda last year. With a +3.0 wind, Lyles clocked a 9.96 for a decisive win at Flora Duffy Stadium with impressive closing speed in the final 10 meters. Canada’s Aaron Brown was second with a 10.09w, with a trio of Americans right behind. Pjai Austin clocked a 10.10w for third, while Kendal Williams and JT Smith both notched 10.11w times. Williams got the nod with a 10.103 to Smith’s 10.105.
 
Despite clipping the seventh barrier and clattering the final hurdle, Amber Hughes was a convincing victor in the women’s 100H, clocking 12.57w with a healthy +3.7 wind. It was the fastest time of Hughes’ career, windy or not, and put her .23 in front of runner-up Ebony Morrison of Liberia.
 
Back from injury late in the 2023 season, Abby Steiner opened her season strong with a successfully defended USATF Bermuda Grand Prix 200 title with a 22.71w. Kynnedy Flannel clocked a 23.01w for second with Jamaica’s Ashanti Moore in third with a 23.12w.
 
A windy day produced some big marks in the women’s long jump for Monae’ Nichols. Her best jump came in the second round, but her 6.91w/22-8 proved untouchable for the rest of the competition. Jamaica’s Chanice Porter landed a 6.62w/21-8.75 in the third round, which stood through the competition for second. Jasmine Moore finished third with a 6.60w/21-8 in the third round while Tiffany Flynn was fourth with a 6.53w/21-5.25.
 
A surprise winner in 2023, Elijah Morrow again ran a very good turn and was a half-step ahead coming into the straight, but Matthew Boling and Trinidad’s Jereem Richards took over from there, with Richards gaining a slight advantage in the final meters to win in a very windy (+4.9) 20.39w over Boling’s 20.42w. Morrow ended up fourth in 20.62w.
 
Overcoming a substantial early lead by Cassandra Tate, Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon pulled away after the final barrier to win the women’s 400 hurdles in 56.59. Tate held on for second in 57.04. In the women’s 800, Britain’s Hannah Segrave eased by Sadi Henderson to win by .1 seconds in 2:06.00. Kendra Coleman was third in a season best 2:06.58.
 
Slowed by crashing through most of the ten barriers in the men’s 110 hurdles, Louis Rollins yielded the lead to Britain’s Josh Zeller over the final half of the race as Zeller came away with a wind-aided (+3.5) 13.35 to win. Rollins fought his way to the finish and placed second in 13.45w.
 
Riding the hefty breezes on the runway just in front of the stands, Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert, the NCAA indoor and outdoor champion for Arkansas last year, bounded out to 17.33w/56-10.25 on his first attempt to open his season with a win in the men’s triple jump. Nine-time U.S. champion Donald Scott went 16.72w/54-10.25 on his fifth try to place fourth.
 
Grenada’s Kirani James has won a passel of global medals in the men’s 400, including Olympic gold in 2012 as a teenager, and he showed great maturity in winning his specialty event in 45.96. Battling the strong headwind down the backstretch, James was able to summon reserve energy down the home straight and win by more than a second. Elija Godwin was in contention coming off the final bend but fell back to fourth in 47.38. In the women’s one-lapper, Jamaica’s Stacey-Ann Williams was never seriously challenged as she won in 51.71.
 
Victor Palumbo took the early lead in the men’s 1500 and led through three laps but couldn’t hold off a major kick by Canadian duo Rob Heppenstall and Max Davies. The pair made their move from the back of the pack to finish first and second in 3:53.07 and 3:53.96. Jaxson Hoey was close behind, finishing third in 3:54.86.
 
Stacey-Ann Williams of Jamaica took a decisive win in the women’s 400. Williams clocked a 51.71 – 1.29 seconds faster than her nearest competitor, Jessika Gbai of the Ivory Coast. Courtney Okolo was seventh in 54.77.

LPGA Tour star Nelly Korda joins elite company with 5th straight win

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 By Scott Thompson Fox News

While Scottie Scheffler is wreaking havoc on the PGA Tour, Nelly Korda is doing the exact same on the LPGA Tour. 

Korda won the Chevron Championship on Sunday, the year’s first major on the LPGA Tour, and it marked her fifth straight victory. 

Korda, 25, joined Annika Sorestam and Nancy Lopez as the only members on Tour who have won five consecutive events. It was also Korda’s second career major victory, having won the Women’s PGA Championship in 2021. 

“It’s been an amazing feeling these past couple weeks knowing that I can go on this stretch and that if I stay in my bubble and I keep golf in a sense simple and let it flow, then I can have so, so much fun out here,” Korda said, via ESPN.

Korda was able to hoist the Chevron Championship trophy after birdying the par-5 18th hole at Carlton Woods in Texas. She beat out Maja Stark, who birdied her final two holes to pull within one stroke of Korda.

Korda’s 13-under performance for the tournament had several highlights, too, including a chip-in birdie on the par-4 10th hole in her final round that left the crowd roaring. 

With the victory, Korda won $1.2 million from the $7.9 million purse for the major. She has now earned $2,424,216 this year. 

There was a time where Korda wasn’t sure when she’d be back on a golf course, as she dealt with a blood clot that required surgery in 2022. 

“Because obviously then I was just more scared for my health,” she said. “Competing was kind of on the back seat. I was not thinking about competing at all. But I think all of the sad times and the health scares that I have gone through have made me who I am today.”

She’s the world No. 1 women’s golfer and miraculously hasn’t lost an event since January. 

Next week, though, Korda isn’t going to make it six in a row, as she announced her withdrawal from the JM Eagle LA Championship. 

“It was not an easy decision. After the unbelievable week at The Chevron and grinding through the mental and physical challenges of four events in the past five weeks, I am definitely feeling exhausted,” she explained. “With so much still to come throughout 2024, I feel I need to listen to my body and get some rest, so I can be ready for the remainder of the season.”

Gymnast Morgan Price becomes first HBCU athlete to win national collegiate title

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By Cara Tabachnick | CBS News

Gymnast Morgan Price became the first athlete from a historically Black college or university team to win a national collegiate championship on Friday.  

The Fisk University student clinched the title with an all-around score of 39.225 – and became “the first USAG Collegiate National Champion from an HBCU! ” said USA Gymnastics. She was among athletes from 12 college teams joining the competition at the USA Gymnastics’ 2024 Women’s Collegiate National Championships in West Chester, Pennsylvania. 

Price joined the first HBCU intercollegiate team at Nashville’s Fisk University in 2023 after graduating from high school. She initially signed onto Arkansas before switching to attend Fisk, ESPN reported, after Coach Corrine Tarver asked her the simple question: “Do you want to make history?”

Since forming, the gymnastics team has garnered high-profile media attention, competed on ESPN and has sold out meets.

“I have learned that it is enjoyable to be around your culture. Since we are the first, we have a lot of eyes on us, and our support system is excellent. Seeing the fans and little girls cheering us on was super fun,” Price said in 2023. 

Her team celebrated her win with a social media post saying, “THE PRICE IS RIGHT. Etch her name in the HISTORY BOOKS.”

Price will compete on Sunday in the Individual Event finals on vault, bars and floor.

Softball and baseball on same day! Woman makes NCAA history

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Melanie Martinez-Lopez | MLB

Jillian Albayati continues to be a pioneer for women in the game of baseball.

On Sunday, she became the second player in collegiate history — and the first in Division II — to play baseball and softball on the same day when she accomplished the feat for Cal State San Marcos.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Cal State San Marcos baseball team was down four pitchers, including three starters, and were considering open tryouts in the middle of chasing the California Collegiate Athletic Association title.

Softball coach Stef Ewing immediately thought of Albayati, a right-handed pitcher for baseball and a third baseman for softball.

The move made sense, given Albayati began to play baseball when she was 3 years old — and she played throughout high school. The All-CIF pitcher from Anaheim went 20-0 with a 1.68 ERA in her high-school career, all while hitting .360.

“I piped up and said, ‘We’ve got Jill on our team, and she played high school baseball,’” Ewing told San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Kirk Kenney. “She pitches and plays third base for the U.S. Women’s National Baseball Team. She can throw.’”

It was not the first time Albayati made a mark on women’s baseball.

She was selected to play in the inaugural Trailblazer Series. It was created in 2017 to provide girls with an opportunity to play baseball with other girls in a highly competitive environment.

The following year, Albayati participated in the 2018 Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series, a program that focuses on developing girls who play baseball.

Now, she has once again made her mark nearly seven years later — this time, just days before the 2024 Trailblazer Series gets underway on Saturday.

When Albayati was offered the opportunity to pitch in a baseball game Sunday for Cal State San Marcos — a first for Division II sports (Christina Elsbury did it last year for Division III Gallaude) — there was no hesitation. According to the Union-Tribune, she threw a bullpen session on Friday to showcase her skills, and soon after, Albayati was added to the roster.

“We’re in a place where we’re pretty banged up on the mound,” Cougars baseball manager Jose Garcia told the newspaper. “It’s not asking her to come in and pitch in high-leverage situations. It’s more to give us a cushion, to eat some innings and help keep everybody as healthy as possible.”

Albayati’s complete game

When Sunday came around, the 5-foot-6 Albayati was ready to pitch in.

First came the softball game against Cal State Monterey Bay. After celebrating her teammate’s walk-off grand slam in a dramatic 4-3 win, the sophomore switched out of her softball jersey and sprinted over to the nearby baseball field. She was called in from the bullpen two batters into the ninth inning.

Albayati was not intimidated by the seven batters she faced. She allowed two runs (one earned) off three hits and one walk to close out the inning.

She then returned to the softball field after her collegiate baseball debut for the second game of a doubleheader. She went 2-for-6 in the softball team’s 4-2 victory to help the club complete the sweep — before once again returning to the baseball dugout to end her day.

“It’s just amazing,” Albayati said to Kenney. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that.”

Albayati hopes to be able to continue playing both sports, but she told Ewing her priority is softball.

“But I know her love is baseball,” Ewing said. “I thought we made a kid’s career in more ways than you can imagine by having her go out there. … We made her dream come true today.”

With both teams on the road an hour away for the next series, there is a chance she may travel with the baseball team while the injured pitchers continue to recover.

The newspaper also reported that Albayati was invited to pitch for the Savannah Bananas over the summer.

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