Gallery by Lauren Henwood | August 4 2026 Real Salt Lake vs Tigres UANL by Lauren Henwood Real Salt Lake battled Tigres UANL to a 1-1 draw in its League Cup opener before falling 6-5 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday night. Tigres struck first through Juan Brunetta before Pablo Ruiz equalized in the first half, scoring his first goal since 2023 to level the match. With neither side able to find a winner in regulation, the match was decided in penalties. Zach Booth's missed attempt gave Tigres the advantage before Alan Franco converted the decisive spot kick to secure the extra point in the shootout victory. Real Salt Lake vs Tigres UANL by Lauren Henwood

Gallery by Isatuu Lamarana | July 29 2026 Toronto Maple Leafs vs Brantford Red Sox by Isatuu Lamarana The Toronto Maple Leafs used a dominant offensive start to defeat the Brantford Red Sox 15-11 on Thursday night, highlighted by a seven-RBI performance from Yasiel Puig. Toronto Maple Leafs vs Brantford Red Sox by Isatuu Lamarana

Galley by Lauren Henwood | August 2 2026 Utah Royals FC vs Portland Thorns by Lauren Henwood Utah Royals turned an early setback into a statement win, scoring five unanswered goals to defeat the Portland Thorns 5-1 on Sunday at America First Field. After Sophia Wilson gave Portland the lead just 35 seconds into the match, Cece Delzer responded with a first-half brace to shift the momentum and earn Player of the Match honors. Brecken Mozingo, Kiana Palacios and Kate Del Fava also scored as the Royals cruised to the convincing victory. Utah Royals FC vs Portland Thorns by Lauren Henwood These photos are owned by Hazze Media and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). They may not be redistributed, sold, or used for commercial purposes without explicit permission.

Gallery by Amanda LaMonda | August 1 2026 Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Louisville City FC by Amanda LaMonda The Tampa Bay Rowdies erased a three-goal halftime deficit to defeat Louisville City FC 5-4 on Saturday night in one of the club's most dramatic comebacks of the season. Trailing 3-0 at the break, the Rowdies stormed back behind two goals each from Russell Cicerone and MD Myers, while Marco Micaletto also found the back of the net. Myers completed the comeback with the game-winning goal in the 89th minute to cap Tampa Bay's five-goal second half. Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Louisville City FC by Amanda LaMonda The victory keeps the Rowdies atop the Eastern Conference standings as they prepare to face Orange County SC next weekend.

Gallery by Isatuu Lamarana | July 28 2026 AFC Toronto vs Calgary Wild FC by Isatuu Lamarana AFC Toronto earned a 1-0 victory over Calgary Wild FC on Tuesday night at York Lions Stadium, extending its strong run of form with another clean sheet. After a scoreless first half, Kaylee Hunter broke the deadlock in the 50th minute by converting a penalty kick for the match's only goal. Hunter's finish proved to be the difference as Toronto held off Calgary the rest of the way. AFC Toronto vs Calgary Wild FC by Isatuu Lamarana Goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo and the AFC Toronto defense turned in a disciplined performance to preserve the shutout, limiting Calgary's scoring opportunities and securing all three points. The win keeps AFC Toronto near the top of the Northern Super League standings as the club prepares for its next matchup

Gallery by Holly Arend | July 30 2026 Shoulder Check Showcase by Holly Arend The Shoulder Check Showcase continues to prove hockey's impact extends far beyond the rink. Created in honor of Hayden Thorsen, the annual event brings together NHL players, professional athletes and the hockey community to raise awareness for youth mental health and support the Shoulder Check Foundation. Shoulder Check Showcase by Holly Arend As the showcase grows each year, so does its mission to encourage open conversations about mental health, reduce stigma and remind athletes that asking for help is a sign of strength.

Gallery by Amanda LaMonda | July 30 2026 Lakeland Flying Tigers vs Tampa Tarpons by Amanda LaMonda The Tampa Tarpons couldn't recover after falling behind early, losing 9-3 to the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Lakeland opened the scoring in the first inning and extended its lead with a two-run home run in the fourth. The Flying Tigers broke the game open with three runs in the fifth before adding three more in the seventh to take a 9-0 lead. Lakeland Flying Tigers vs Tampa Tarpons by Amanda LaMonda The Tarpons got on the board in the bottom of the eighth after a Lakeland error allowed two runs to score. Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek followed with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 9-3, but Tampa could not mount a comeback. These photos are owned by Hazze Media and Minor League Baseball (MiLB). They may not be redistributed, sold, or used for commercial purposes without explicit permission.

Gallery by Amanda LaMonda | July 28 2026 The Tampa Tarpons take the win 10-7, with a total of 4 home runs. Tarpons opened the 1st inning with a “home run derby,” according to fans who were enjoying Dog in the Park Night with their furry friends. #10 Hans Montero had 2 home runs and was named top performer of the night, along with Wilberson De Pena, who hit a home run off a 1st pitch, and Brando Mayea, who tallied 1 HR as well. The teams, pups, families, and local kids brought great energy, and they enjoyed their final days of summer night baseball before school is back in Florida. These photos are owned by Hazze Media and Minor League Baseball (MiLB). They may not be redistributed, sold, or used for commercial purposes without explicit permission.

By Ava Heaton | July 24 2026 Boston Fleet’s Haley Winn (8) celebrates a goal on Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33), not pictured, during shootout PWHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby When the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) began, it did more than just establish a professional platform for women’s ice hockey. It emphasized collegiate programs that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. At the top of this list is ECAC Hockey. Formed by a blend of prestigious Ivy League schools and other powerhouse programs, the ECAC has cemented itself as arguably the most dominant development ground for professional women’s hockey. A transition from collegiate hockey to the PWHL is a demanding one, but year after year, ECAC programs prove that they are uniquely equipped to produce athletes who don’t just make professional rosters, but immediately make their impact felt. To understand how deeply the ECAC is woven into the fabric of the PWHL already, you don’t have to look far. The league’s opening night rosters for the 2025-26 season featured 75 former ECAC Hockey student-athletes, with representation from 11 of the league’s 12 schools. The sheer number of ECAC alumni scattered across the league speaks to the conference’s dominance. ECAC programs have built sustained cultures of success and professional readiness. The seamless transition from the ECAC to the professional level is not just a coincidence. It’s rooted in the specific brand of hockey played in the conference. Historically, ECAC Hockey has been defined by its defensive structure, disciplined systems, and physical style. While other collegiate conferences may be known for high-flying, transition offenses, the ECAC is a league of inches. Games are won along the boards, in the netfront closeness, and through neutral-zone pressure. Victoire wins 2026 PWHL Walter Cup © Troy Parla/Getty Images Because the PWHL has quickly established a reputation as an incredibly physical and fast league, ECAC alumni find themselves in familiar territory. The heavy forechecking, shot-blocking, and defensive accountability drilled into them by their collegiate coaches help them transition seamlessly into the pro game. Players who spent four years matching up against the disciplined systems of Cornell, Yale, or Clarkson don’t experience the same culture shock when facing the stifling defense of a professional team. They are already accustomed to playing under pressure, making quick decisions in tight spaces, and sacrificing their bodies to protect a lead. This preparation has allowed numerous ECAC alumni to fast-track their way to stardom in the PWHL. Take Boston Fleet forward Jessie Eldridge, a former Colgate University standout. Known in college for her relentless work ethic and offensive instincts, Eldridge smoothly translated her game to the professional level, becoming a highly dependable offensive presence. Her ability to play a heavy, physical game while maintaining soft hands around the crease is a direct byproduct of the style she perfected in the ECAC. Another Fleet standout and former Clarkson University star Haley Winn has even said that playing in the conference with its physicality and pace of play really prepared her for the PWHL and she was even drafted second overall in the 2025 draft. The Quinnipiac Bobcats Are Your 2026 ECAC Hockey Women's Champions The impact of ECAC Hockey doesn’t show signs of stopping any time soon. In the 2026 PWHL Draft out of 72 players selected, 27 of them came from the ECAC. That ranked the most out of any NCAA Conference. So, as the PWHL continues to grow, securing its place in the mainstream sports landscape, the strong, mutually beneficial relationship between the league and ECAC Hockey will only continue. Young recruits will continue to choose ECAC schools because they see alumni successfully leaping to the pros. For collegiate players dreaming of going professional, the ECAC has proven to be a great path. The conference has shown it can build the foundation required to succeed at the absolute highest level of the sport. When fans tune in to watch the fastest, most physical women's ice hockey on the planet, they are watching a product heavily shaped, driven, and elevated by the alumni of ECAC Hockey. Disclaimer: The views, analysis, and opinions expressed in this op-ed are of the writer. All information is for commentary and informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, professional, or investment advice. References to third-party sources and public figures are made for illustrative purposes and do not imply endorsement or verification by HAZZE MEDIA.

Interview by Holly Arend | July 23 2026 On a bus ride home after a bad day at school, a kid sat alone at the front, with no one beside him. Hayden Thorsen noticed. He put a hand on his shoulder, asked if he was okay and invited him to come sit with him. It was a small gesture, quiet and instinctive, the kind of thing that might have passed in a moment and still stayed with someone for years. In many ways, it became the kind of moment Shoulder Check was built to honor. Reach out, check in, make contact. Those words eventually became the heartbeat of Shoulder Check, but they started somewhere more personal. They started in the way Hayden moved through the world, in the way he noticed people, in the way he made them feel less alone. After Hayden passed by suicide at 16, what remained for his family was not only grief, but the memory of how naturally he cared for others. What began in loss slowly became something lasting, not a slogan, but a way of carrying his impact forward. For Rob Thorsen, Hayden’s father, that work was never only about remembering what was lost. It was about building something people could actually live with, something simple enough to carry into everyday life and meaningful enough to matter when it did. That is why the language at the center of Shoulder Check matters so much. Reach out, check in, make contact is not just a message attached to the organization. It reflects the way Hayden lived. “He was the kind of person who walked into a room and made people feel like they mattered,” Thorsen said. That line says almost everything. Hayden had a presence people noticed right away. He was big, funny, sharp, athletic and full of personality. But the quality people return to most often is not just that he stood out. It is that he made other people feel seen. “He’s the warmest, kindest person on the planet,” Thorsen said. “Maybe they weren’t the best player on the team, but Hayden always made them feel like they were.” That memory lives at the center of Shoulder Check. Not just the sadness of what happened, but the truth of who Hayden was. From the beginning, the goal was never to create a traditional mental health campaign. Thorsen wanted something people could use, not just admire. Something direct. Something human. Something that could meet people where they already were. “We wanted it to be simple, universal and something people could take with them,” he said. That thinking shaped the organization’s language and its identity. Reach out, check in and make contact was designed to feel approachable, while the larger idea of making kindness a contact sport gave the message a natural connection to hockey without trapping it there. “It has to be a doing thing,” Thorsen said. “It’s not enough to talk about it. You have to do it.” That idea, action instead of just awareness, became the foundation. Shoulder Check did not come to life in isolation. It grew through family, friends and the larger hockey community, all of them trying to turn grief into something that could help other people. Gary Zegras was one of the people who immediately reached out and made it clear he wanted to be involved. Ben and Ashley Prentiss at Prentiss Hockey Performance, where Hayden had trained, also became important early partners. Their facility, lined with jerseys from the athletes who trained there, became its own kind of tribute. The first jersey hanging in that space carried Hayden’s name. From there, the vision started to sharpen. Prentiss and his team wanted to do something tangible and suggested a game. That idea helped crystallize what Shoulder Check could be. The game became the launch point for the Shoulder Check Initiative. The inaugural event carried the emotion of people who were still very close to the loss. Much of the crowd was, as Thorsen described it, only about one degree away from everything. It was public, emotional and deeply communal. Hayden’s teammates helped run the event and skated in the amateur game, grounding it in the people and relationships that had shaped his life. Even in its earliest form, Shoulder Check felt less like a campaign rollout and more like a shared act of care. From there, the idea kept growing. What began as a local expression of grief and remembrance started to evolve into something larger and more portable. The core message stayed the same, but more people began to see themselves in it and bring their own energy to it. By October 2025, Shoulder Check had already grown into a yearlong effort. Activations stretched across the NHL, the AHL, youth hockey, schools and community spaces. The initiative was no longer confined to a single event or a single room. It had become something people were carrying into their own teams, campuses and communities. That growth also showed up creatively. One of the clearest examples was Lean on Me, a project that brought athletes together in a way that emphasized vulnerability, trust and connection. It worked because it felt real. It did not just tell people what Shoulder Check stood for. It showed them. The same was true as the organization moved into the next phase of its work in 2026. The calendar expanded. The activations spread. The message reached different corners of the hockey world and beyond. There were events tied to Shattered Ice, including screenings at McGill University and with support connected to the Capitals. Other programs reached out wanting to screen the film for their students and team members. What mattered was not just that the message was growing, but that it was finding different forms. That expansion was never really about scale for its own sake. It was about finding more ways to make the message usable. Even as new campaigns developed and partnerships expanded, the heart of the work stayed the same. The goal was to keep Hayden’s spirit alive through action, to build a culture where kindness is practiced, not just praised. That is part of what makes Shoulder Check feel different. It does not ask people only to agree with the message. It asks them to do something with it. The annual showcase became the clearest expression of that idea, but it also became part of a larger rhythm. The event was no longer just a single summer gathering. It was the center of a bigger cycle, one that continued through schools, teams, community events and creative projects throughout the year. The move to Sacred Heart marked the next chapter in that growth. The larger venue offered more space, more resources and more ways for people to engage, while still trying to preserve what had made the earlier years special. The hope was not to outgrow the intimacy of the event, but to give it a setting that could hold everything it had become. “It should still be everything that made it special,” Thorsen said, “just with a better setting to host it in, with more resources.” As planning continued, that next phase came further into focus. Ticket sales launched earlier than in previous years. Partners from earlier events returned. New ones began joining the effort. One of those partners was Be The People, whose values aligned closely with the spirit of Shoulder Check and the people behind it. That mattered because the partnership was not just sponsorship. It was recognition. Be The People saw in Shoulder Check the same call to action they believe in: that communities change when people choose to step up, show up and be part of something bigger than themselves. There was also hope for the Hockey Hall of Fame to bring trophies to the event, and the possibility of broader broadcast visibility changed what the day could become. But what seemed to excite Thorsen most was not the scale of the production. It was the opportunity to create more touch points for the message itself. He described an experience where the event would not just contain Shoulder Check, but express it constantly. Stories on the jumbotron. Reflections from students who had helped bring the idea to life. Messages from families explaining why they check in. Moments woven into the rhythm of the day rather than forced into it. That distinction matters. The most moving parts of Shoulder Check have rarely felt manufactured. They work because they feel lived in. They come from real people, real stories and real acts of connection. “There’ll be a band, there’ll be more and different food, there’ll be additional partners in our midway, there’ll be new things to see, like the Hall of Fame trophies, and of course, the players’ arrivals,” Thorsen said. There is joy in that description, and that joy matters too. Shoulder Check has always carried grief inside it, but it has never been built only around grief. It is also built around warmth, humor, togetherness and the belief that kindness can still be active, visible and shared. That may be one of the clearest ways Hayden’s presence remains inside it. The whole story matters, of course. The family knows that. The people close to the organization know that. But one of the most powerful things about Shoulder Check is that carrying the idea forward does not always require knowing every detail of where it began. Sometimes it starts much smaller than that. A hand on a shoulder. A question. An invitation to sit down beside someone. That is the kind of memory this work keeps returning to. Not because it is sentimental, but because it is instructive. It reminds people that connection does not always have to be grand to be meaningful. Sometimes the smallest gestures leave the deepest mark. That is what Shoulder Check was built to hold onto. Not only the pain of losing Hayden, but the example of how he lived. Not just awareness. Not just remembrance. Action. Care. Presence. The choice to notice someone else and move toward them. That is why the phrase still holds. Reach out, check in, make contact. It is a mission statement, but it is also more than that. It is a reflection of Hayden’s life. It is the shape his impact took after loss. It is the way his family, friends and community chose not to let kindness stop with memory. And in that way, Shoulder Check is not only about honoring Hayden. It is about making more room in the world for what he gave people when he was here. A sense of being seen. A sense of being valued. A reminder that someone noticed. Not just to remember Hayden. But to keep making room for people to reach out, check in and make contact.

Gallery by So Kim | July 18 2026 Vancouver Rise vs AFC Toronto by So Kim Vancouver Rise scored three goals in the opening 11 minutes to earn a 3-0 victory over AFC Toronto on July 18, 2026, at York Lions Stadium. The fast start proved to be all the offense Vancouver needed as it secured a clean sheet on the road. Vancouver Rise vs AFC Toronto by So Kim

Concert Review: Molly Grace at Sonia, Cambridge, MA, June 11 By Nina Kremer | July 19, 2026 Molly Grace said she doesn’t only want to be a pop star — although one might argue she already is — she told fans on the Boston stop of her six-night tour that she wants to be a “mega-church pastor.” And that night at her Pride month party, “Lovergirls: A Sapphic Soirée,” the diva proved to the audience that she has what it takes. Her particular blend of pop, funk and disco is reminiscent of lesbian pop icons Reneé Rapp and Chappell Roan, but Grace stands out from the others in her dynamic, highly choreographed performance style along with playfully cheeky lyrics. Grace fittingly opened the show with “Lemme,” the first song off of her debut album, “Blush” using her introductory song to introduce herself to that night’s crowd. Though it seemed Grace truly needed no introduction as she said during the show that she recognized many familiar faces in the audience. When asked how many people had been to a show of hers previously, an uproar ensued, reflecting a majority of the crowd were dedicated fans, though that wasn’t the only reason why Grace may have known some of them. She grew up only a few miles away from the venue, Sonia’s, in Lexington Massachusetts and shared a sweet moment with her family calling out her mother and sister in the audience. “It’s good to be home,” Grace said before encouraging the crowd to dance. Grace and her "Lovergirls," McKenna Hall and Bella Azadouhie Melius, led the charge with perfectly synchronized choreography. The Lovergirls matched Grace’s fabulosity, though never upstaging the pop diva, with their harmonies and energetic back up dancing. Before the girls came out, the stage looked noticeably devoid of any set or color, a surprise for a show marketed as a pride party, but it became immediately clear why as soon as Molly and the Lovergirls graced the stage — they needed every inch of the surface area to dance the night away. The three commanded not only the stage but the entire room, making it clear they needed no set to set the mood; they are the show. In their sequined outfits under hot pink lighting, the disco ball in the middle of the room had major competition. Grace did lots of crowd work throughout the show, engaging with the audience and spinning around a few fans in the front row, displaying a clear connection with her listeners. Grace then transitioned into “Mad at Her Forever” singing the lyrics “What’s a lady to do, can’t think straight” in an impressively high yet sustained manner. The crowd obeyed her earlier command, dancing along with the Lovergirls. She kept the energy up with “Do Me (Feels So Good)” singing “Ladies please report for duty” while the Lovergirls obediently saluted, ready for the task at hand. “Pride month is my favorite month,” Grace said between songs, explaining that she wanted to embark on the mini tour despite not having new music out since March in order to create a space where she could both celebrate and try out new songs. She partnered with The Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth at the show, a nonprofit organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth in Massachusetts through their programs and services. She also said she did some “Instagram stalking” in order to find a local DJ to open for her and landed on Christina The Saint, who played a set before the show. Grace spread the love, encouraging fans to support Christina by going to her future shows. Graciously letting the Lovergirls take center stage for a cover of “Telephone” by Lady Gaga, the song was a highlight of the night. The performance seemed just as practiced as the originals without feeling too rehearsed, as the three of them took turns singing as if they were just a couple of friends at karaoke. The chemistry between them was evident; they encouraged each other to take a moment in the spotlight. Once again Grace showcased her vocal talent in her performance of “Soprano,” evidenced by her impressive breath control allowing her to sustain a powerful belt while grooving to the beat. She then slowed the set down with “Say when,” telling the audience to grab their girls and sway along to the tender ballad. Another highlight of the night came towards the end of the set with “Heaven sent.” There’s a depth and resounding quality to her voice, as well as an active energy present in the live performance that’s sadly lost when streaming her songs. Ending with the Lovergirls girls doing prayer hands, Grace proved her mega pastor prowess in the upbeat, cheeky song. As promised, Grace debuted a new song towards the end of the show called “Line Dancing in L.A.” Grace explained that the concept was inspired by her recent move from Nashville to Los Angeles. Though she lived in Tennessee for five years, she said she only discovered the joys of the dance style many miles away on the West coast. The song was reminiscent of Chappell Roan’s most recent foray into country, “The Giver,” but Grace’s version of a pop, country mash up was a fresh take on the genre-bending trend as she sang, “Everyone’s hot and everyone’s gay,” and “What kind of trouble are you?” Grace closed out the show with “F.E.M.M.E,” one of her most popular songs with over 3 million streams on Spotify. There was no song more fitting to end the prideful night, as Grace played the audience out to the tune of her spelled-out version of the acronym, “Fabulous, enticing, magnetic, magical, everything.” Grace brought the sparkling ferocity that defines her music to the stage and left it all there.

By Sydney Cristall | July 15 2026 Photo Credit: Gotham FC (NEW YORK, N.Y.) — It was a historic night at Citi Field. A record crowd of 42,175 fans filled one of New York's most iconic sports venues for the first women's sporting event in the ballpark's history, setting a New York City record for a women's sporting event. Fans came to watch Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit renew one of the National Women's Soccer League's fiercest rivalries in a rematch of the 2025 NWSL Championship game. By the end of the night, the Queen's Classic had become more than a showcase event. Gotham's 1-0 win served as a visible marker of the NWSL's commercial growth, the rising demand for women's sports in premier venues, and the league's expanding place in New York's sports landscape. From the ceremonial torch lighting to the final whistle, the evening carried a sense of arrival. Women's soccer was not asking to be seen; it was taking its place on one of the city's biggest stages and filling it. That significance was not lost on the players. Rose Lavelle understood the moment before kickoff. "Any time you hear you're going to get to play in front of 42,000 fans, I think it's always really exciting," Lavelle said. "We feed off the fans' energy, so knowing this was going to be a really exciting home game, but also a big moment in history for this club and for the league, just added another special element going out there. We feel so much pride getting to represent this club." For Lavelle, the Queen's Classic was never meant to stand alone. "For us to be able to have this moment was really special," she said. "Hopefully, we can just keep building off of this." The energy inside Citi Field reflected that ambition. Gotham supporters filled the stadium with chants, every save from Ann-Katrin Berger drew a roar, and Sam Kerr's entrance for her Gotham debut and first NWSL appearance since 2019 produced one of the loudest reactions of the night. Photo Credit: Gotham FC For years, women's soccer in the United States reached its highest visibility during the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Olympic Games. The NWSL is working to turn that periodic attention into something sustained, scalable, and locally rooted. Commissioner Jessica Berman framed the Queen's Classic as the product of long-term investment rather than a one-night success. "We know that with investment, if you build it, they will come, and this is a proof point for that," Berman said. "My favourite thing about tonight is that it isn't transactional. It's not a one-and-done. It's the beginning of a new relationship for this team in Queens." That growth extends beyond a single attendance figure. Beginning in 2028, Gotham FC will move to Etihad Park in Queens, a 25,000-seat, $780 million venue that will become New York City's first soccer-specific stadium and give Gotham dedicated club spaces within a purpose-built home. Just a week after that announcement, more than 42,000 fans turned out for the club at Citi Field. The timing made the night feel less like a celebration of what Gotham FC already is and more like a preview of what it could become. The match itself delivered. Lavelle scored the lone goal in the first half, and Berger preserved the clean sheet as Trinity Rodman and the Spirit created dangerous moments throughout the night. Rodman said the league's progress is visible on the field as much as in the stands. "I think it's amazing, and it's showing that the league's getting better and it's growing, and there's just more attention," Rodman said. "As the years go on, you're realizing that the league's not transitional anymore. We're playing soccer in different ways. All the teams are bringing so many different versions of the game." Kerr's return added another layer to the occasion. When she stepped onto the field in the 64th minute, the ovation underscored both her star power and the league's increasing ability to attract elite global talent. Photo Credit: Gotham FC Berman connected Kerr's arrival to a broader shift in league ambition. "Having players like that who could have chosen to go anywhere make the decision to come here is a really important proof point for all the investment, the hundreds of millions of dollars that are being invested across this league to make sure that we're the best league in the world," Berman said. Kerr's move also reflects Gotham's competitive vision. Alongside players such as Ann-Katrin Berger and Jess Carter, her arrival reinforces the club's status as a destination for world-class talent and highlights the NWSL's growing international pull. Photo Credit: Gotham FC For Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós, the occasion reached beyond the standings. "I think tonight was definitely a page in the history of the club, of New York City, women's sports and this country," Amorós said. "The team really stepped up to the occasion ... to make sure the people who came to the stadium had a day to remember." He also placed the night within the club's larger trajectory. "Gotham is growing at a level that when I came here, I was dreaming of, and today I think it was truly special." Few players have seen that growth more closely than Mandy Freeman, who has spent her entire professional career with the organization through its Sky Blue FC era and its transformation into Gotham FC. "It was an amazing feeling," Freeman said. "It's hard to really describe it. Being able to play in front of all those fans and having them really be the 12th player for us ... It was a crazy environment." Her perspective made clear that this was not an isolated milestone but the latest step in a longer transformation. What happened at Citi Field extended beyond a single rivalry or a single result. The NWSL has built not only a competitive league but also a broader commercial ecosystem shaped by media attention, corporate sponsorship, star talent, and growing fan investment. Photo Credit: Gotham FC Citi Field has hosted major baseball moments, international soccer, and some of New York's largest sporting events. On this night, it became a stage for demonstrating not whether women's soccer belongs there, but how large its future can be in the city. That future is already taking form. Gotham will eventually make Queens its permanent home at Etihad Park, and the response to the Queen's Classic offered an early indication of what that next chapter could look like. As Berman put it: "To have a team competing in New York City proper, I think, puts us on the map in a very different way." The Queen's Classic did not create the momentum around Gotham FC or the NWSL. It revealed how far that momentum has already carried them. Under the lights at Citi Field, the message was unmistakable: women's soccer in New York is no longer building toward relevance. It has arrived

Interview by Brylea Smith | July 15 2026 Long before she ever stepped onto a professional sideline, Kendall Smith was already preparing for the spotlight. As a child, she would spend countless hours at home using her family's video camera to record her own personal SportsCenter recaps, clutching the toy ESPN microphone she had desperately wanted. While her peers were simply watching sports for fun, Smith was busy envisioning her future career in front of the lens. Today, that childhood dream has become her daily reality. Smith has built a career as a team reporter and host for the Charlotte Knights and Charlotte Checkers, covering everything from player interviews and pregame shows to major-league call-ups and championship hockey. But her path to professional sports broadcasting began years before she ever stepped in front of a television camera. Growing up, sports were always a part of her life. Instead of her family gathering around the TV to watch the newest TV show, they watched that night’s sporting event. But that wasn’t enough for Smith. She wanted to dive deep into the games and break down top plays. “My brother would finish his Little League games, and I would be asking him so many questions,” she said. Her most prized possession came to her at 10-years-old: her toy ESPN mic. Back then, she would interview anyone she could get her hands on, making her own talk show. It’s one of the only toys she still has today. At 15-years-old, she got her first taste of working in sports. Her brother played baseball for their high school team, which found itself needing a public address announcer. Smith had never done anything like this yet, and although she was typically confident, she didn’t know if she could do it. With the support of her family and her father guiding her through the first game, it became the start of building a serious career. Through this, she would meet Jim Morrison of Carolina Sports Network. She completed an internship with Morrison, where she gained hands-on experience covering sporting events throughout the Charlotte area. This included the Charlotte Hornets, Charlotte Knights, college football and college basketball. “That internship was life-changing in so many ways,” Smith said. “I was covering NBA games at 17 years old, and just being around high-profile athletes like that at such a young age, it made me realize the etiquette, the way you have to act, how you have to carry yourself.” The experience also taught her one of the most important lessons in sports journalism. “At that point, you're not cheering for teams anymore; you are unbiased,” Smith said. “You have to be completely focused on the job that you're doing, so that internship helped me to just realize how things worked.” After graduating from high school, she attended the University of South Carolina, where she majored in broadcast journalism with a concentration in sports media. Wanting to keep the momentum from her high school experiences, she joined the student TV station, Student Gamecock Television. By her sophomore year, she became station manager, making her the youngest in the organization’s history. During her time, she managed more than 125 students, many of whom were older than her. Learning how to balance different personalities and perspectives while also elevating the station became one of her biggest challenges. “I had to learn how to cater to as many people as I possibly could, while still trying to elevate the station," Smith said. "The goal is for everyone to get better while also putting out a great product." The experience pushed her to grow as both a leader and a communicator, skills she still uses every day. COVID struck during the second half of her freshman year, eliminating the chance for a normal semester of college. In order to keep herself connected with the world of sports, she started a podcast. Smith interviewed other people who worked in the sports broadcasting industry. Those conversations not only helped her continue developing her skills but also helped her build relationships she still maintains today. One of her interviewees was Wes Mitchell, who worked for Gamecock Central. He ended up offering her a job covering South Carolina sports, with a primary focus on football and recruiting. She ended up spending her junior and senior years in college traveling across the Southeastern Conference to cover South Carolina football. Around the same time, Smith set a goal for herself: to work for the Charlotte Knights. The summer before her senior year, that became a reality. She was given the opportunity to intern with the communications department, where she was able to dip her toes into player interviews. While working with the team, another unexpected opportunity emerged. That summer, she was approached by Charlotte Checkers' Director of Creative Services, Zac Harvey, who asked if she would be interested in auditioning to be their host. Her answer was yes. Soon, Smith was juggling many roles. In her senior year of college, she accepted a full-time position as the Knights’ team reporter and host, along with stepping in as the host for the Checkers. The route from Charlotte to Columbia quickly became second nature to her. However, putting that much effort into work came with a cost. Smith’s senior year of college looked different than most others. So much time was spent driving or working in another city that she missed out on some of the memories that make a senior year special. “It was different, because not any of my friends were in the same position, so I did feel at times I was missing things, but they were also supportive of me,” Smith said. “It was not a traditional final semester of college, but it was worth it, and I look back on it, and I'm glad that I did exactly what I did.” After graduation, Smith remained with both organizations and continued expanding her broadcasting portfolio. In addition to her responsibilities with the Knights and Checkers, she began working as a sideline reporter for college athletics and conference broadcasts, including coverage for the American Conference. As she settled into her role with the Checkers, she wanted to bring a part of her childhood into her reporting to make it more distinctive. For years, she was also a competitive figure skater, spending countless mornings at ice rinks perfecting her skills. "We've all been up at 5 a.m. at a cold ice rink in the middle of winter to chase our dreams," Smith said. Smith made a difficult choice to not pursue skating further because she wanted to attend college. Still, the sport was such an important part of her life that she knew she could never leave it behind. To intertwine her past with her present, Smith asked if she could skate with the players during interviews to make the interviews more personal. Her background in figure skating also allows her to analyze the game from a technical standpoint. "I'm watching things that people might not pick up on," Smith said. "How are they generating speed? What edges are they using? There are a lot more similarities between hockey and figure skating than people realize." That shared experience has become another way for her to connect with athletes and better explain the game to viewers. One of the biggest moments of her career came in 2025 when she made her national television debut on the NHL Network during the Calder Cup Finals. "In the moment, I tried not to think about it as myself on national TV, because I didn't want to be nervous," Smith said. "I just wanted to think about it as another game, even though it wasn't." Only after the broadcast ended did the significance of the moment truly sink in. "I saw the texts, I saw the videos, I saw that people were tuning in from across the country," Smith said. "It was just this huge wave of gratitude, of joy, of happiness. I was just so proud at that moment, and I thought back to all those young versions of myself that wanted so badly to do this as a job.” While she hopes for more national television opportunities in her future, she remains focused on appreciating the ones she already has. “At the end of the day, comparison is the thief of joy,” Smith stated. “Nobody's path is the same as yours, so I'm just going to continue to be grateful for what I have, and know that hopefully my time will come. But right now I am in a great spot, an awesome situation, and whatever opportunities come my way next, I know it's all part of God's plan.” As she continues on in the chaos that sports bring, two things keep her grounded: her family and her faith. Even when it's sometimes hard to believe in herself, her family does. They are always there to keep her grounded through the highs and lows. Those supporters, combined with knowing that God has a plan for her, allow her to brave the storm. While she’s been working in sports in some capacity for almost a decade, she doesn’t take for granted the opportunity to do what she loves. “There are so many times where I sit there, and I'm like, “Wow, I can't believe this is my job. This is so awesome. This is so cool.’” Smith said. “I encourage anyone out there who's doing this job, when you have that pinch-me moment, to really embrace it, because those pinch-me moments are what make this all worthwhile.” Although professional broadcast gear has long since replaced the toy ESPN microphone from her childhood home, the feeling remains exactly the same for Smith. Every interview, broadcast, and pinch-me moment serves as a vivid reminder of the dream she first imagined as a 10-year-old girl delivering SportsCenter recaps from her family's living room. Today, Smith no longer needs to pretend to be on television. Through years of hard work and a deep passion for storytelling, the dream that began in her living room has fully transitioned into reality. Disclaimer: The thoughts, experiences, and opinions shared in this article are solely those of Kendall Smith and are based on her personal journey. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any organizations, sponsors, or institutions with which Kendall may be associated. To ensure accuracy and maintain context, Kendall Smith reviewed this article before publication. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this material is strictly prohibited. For any inquiries or concerns regarding this article, please contact info@hazzemedia.com

by Victoria Befumo | July 14 2o26 Credit: New York Sirens & PWHL (NEW YORK, N.Y., JULY 14, 2026) The New York Sirens held an in-person media availability Tuesday, July 14, 2026 highlighting both Pascal Daoust, New York Sirens General Manager and Emma Peschel, New York Sirens seventh overall pick at the 2026 PWHL Draft. “Of course, you know, being drafted in the PWHL is a tremendous accomplishment. We're not here just to talk about the first round pick from New York. We're here to talk about more than the player. We're here to introduce you to the person that Emma Peschel is,” Daoust said. “We had, through the draft process, the opportunity to know her. Watching her play, you know, we knew about her skills or about her talent, about her competitiveness,” he continued. Daoust praised not only Peschel's athletic ability, but also her strong character. “We can tell you that it's fully aligning with New York Sirens values.” Daoust continued on to say, “She is an amazing leader, mature. She can compete, as I said, but she also takes care of people around herself. You know, Emma, from the first day at the draft, it was your first step as a PWHL player, a New York sirens member, family member.” “Today, it's another step that we're more than excited to take with you. We look forward to seeing you wear that jersey, your very own one,” Daoust said to Peschel. Peschel described her feelings about being drafted to the Sirens. “Hearing your name, being announced and drafted is a dream come true, and especially for it to be from New York, such a prestigious city, just somewhere that's really building a really strong legacy. I'm really excited to be a part of it, and I can't wait to get started in New York. It's been a while since I've been here, so I'm excited to be back and looking forward to this week,” she said. When asked about if she had a chance to meet any of her teammates or look over the roster and how she feels she’s going to fit into the squad this coming season, she answered, “... I know a few of the girls, especially Casey O'Brien, Elle Hartje, they were at the draft. It was nice to be able to talk to them afterwards and kind of hear how their experiences have been so far. There's also some former Buckeyes that are there as well with Paetyn Levis, Lauren Bernard and then Clair DeGeorge as well. I just saw Paetyn Levis the other week at a camp in Minnesota, so I was able to have a chat with her about where to live and that whole kind of situation and kind of get her experience as well. But, I mean, I'm really excited to join the D-Core, I think, playing with Micah Zandee-Hart, Jaime Bourbonnais, Maja Nylén Persson, it'll be an amazing squad to be a part of and something to jump into and really just hopefully make an impact right away, and I'm excited to be able to play with all of them.” The Sirens are set to begin their preseason later this fall, with Peschel bringing her skills and vibrant energy to the team.