The Washington Post - 28.08.2019

D6 EZ M2 THE WASHINGTON POST.WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28 , 2019

was at practice Tuesday, standing on the sideline in street clothes and chatting with teammates, but did not participate. JETS: Ryan Kalil has had a whirlwind month, from retire- ment to a new team in a new city with new teammates and coaches. And now the New York Jets center is nearly ready to play again. “I feel like I’m getting my legs back,” Kalil said Tuesday, “and feel like my old self.” The 34-year-old Kalil walked away from football after last season, his 12th with the Panthers. He was convinced he was done with the game — until the desire to play again began gnawing at him during the winter. VIKINGS: Minnesota thought it had found a reliable option at kicker. But Kaare Vedvik’s rocky performance in the third preseason game has done little to reassure Coach Mike Zimmer. Vedvik missed both of his field goal attempts in Saturday’s 20-9 home win against Arizona. After- ward, Zimmer would only say his concern is “high” regarding Ved- vik, a newcomer acquired from Baltimore on Aug. 11 for a fifth- round draft pick. “Disappointing and it’s unac- ceptable,” special teams coordina- tor Marwan Maalouf added Tues- day. “He knows that. Hopefully this weekend we’ll get more op- portunities.”

night. He caught zero passes. Like most starters, he is unlike- ly to play in the preseason finale at the New York Jets on Thursday. Jackson missed 14 games during his previous five seasons to various injuries. He has played in all 16 games in a season only twice over his 11 seasons. If he has lost a step since his first tenure in Phila- delphia, it hasn’t been visible to the naked eye. BRONCOS: Jake Butt had an- other setback in his return from a third ACL injury and might be headed back to injured reserve. Butt played 11 snaps in Denver’s preseason loss to the Rams this past weekend in his first game action since September, leading to optimism that he could be a big boost to an offense that relies heavily on the tight end. Butt hasn’t practiced since that game, however, because of pain and swelling in his surgically re- paired left knee, symptoms that also sidelined him for three weeks earlier this summer. PATRIOTS: With time grow- ing short before its season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England suddenly has an un- expected hole in the middle of its offensive line following the weekend hospitalization of center Da- vid Andrews because of blood clots in his lung. Andrews, 27, was released from the hospital Monday night, according to the Boston Globe. He

FROM NEWS SERVICES

Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera said “there’s no doubt in my mind” Cam Newton will play in the team’s regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Rivera said the 30-year-old quarterback has made “good strides” after suffering a mid-foot sprain in this past Thursday night’s preseason game at New England. Newton threw on the side field Tuesday but did not practice. Rivera expects Newton will return to practice when the Pan- thers begin preparations for the opener against the Rams on Sept. 8. Like the team’s other starters, Newton will not play in the final preseason game Thursday night against the Steelers. EAGLES: DeSean Jackson broke his left ring finger at practice, but the wide receiver said he should be ready to go when Phila- delphia’s season opens Sept. 8. Jackson was in visible discom- fort as he sat in his locker stall after practice. He had a brace on the finger when he left the team’s facility later. The 32-year-old had been healthy throughout training camp this summer. He didn’t play in the first two preseason games but was on the field for seven snaps in the third preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday

tion a safety issue itself because it won’t allow coaches to teach players how to correctly tackle in game situations. “That’s a joke,” St. Joseph Coach Augie Hoffmann told NJ.com in April. “Fifteen minutes of contact per week? You have to learn how to tackle on game days. This is an intricate part of the game, and I'm not saying we need to hit or tackle every day. I just think 15 minutes is a little extreme.” As for who will police the new regulations, there is no firm an- swer. The schools and coaches will have to operate on an “honor sys- tem,” said Terry O’Neil, who spear- headed the mandate in New Jer- sey behind his football advocacy group, Practice Like Pros. O’Neil introduced the idea to about 400 coaches at a clinic in April 2017 by arguing that of the nearly 250 concussions suffered in the NFL that previous season, only six had occurred in practice because most teams were adopting a no-tackle-to-the-ground policy. There has been a breakthrough in New Jersey, said O’Neil, where for the first time teams are scrimmag- ing by “thudding” — where players are not allowed to finish contact by bringing their opponent to the ground — and almost eliminating tackling in practice altogether. O’Neil has recently focused his ef- forts on changing rules in North Carolina, South Carolina and Loui- siana, which according to O’Neil is one of four states — along with New Hampshire, Delaware and South Dakota — that has no limits on tackling to the ground in practice. Gibbs would invite anyone to Ramapo to learn his philosophy. While he watched closely during the tackling drills in August, his assistants mimicked his ap- proach. One player displayed bad technique during thudding by looking at the ground instead of looking up. That’s when “awful things can happen,” an assistant coach told the player as Gibbs nodded along. This is part of the balance Gibbs wants his players to strike each practice. Somehow, they must toe the line between safety and the aggression required to succeed in a physical and often violent sport. It conforms with state law now, and it’s part of Gibbs’s plan to get the most out of his players during games. “If you don’t feed the dog all week,” Gibbs said, “he’s hungry on Friday nights.” [email protected]

one of the best players he ever coached suffered a nasty concussion in a rivalry game. Chris Ho- gan, now a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers, was coached by Gibbs to keep his head in front and tackle chest-to-chest. Gibbs blamed himself as Hogan took a knee to the head and exited the game. Ramapo blew a 19-point lead and lost that night. “It was an aha moment,” Gibbs said. “We totally went away from tackling like that.” Gibbs rewrote practice plans and started teaching his players rugby-style tackling. No longer would they use the archaic tackling terminology that he learned as a player in New Jersey — phrases like “bite the ball” and “head in front” had to go. They were going to be- come a shoulder tackling team. The primary rule of practice now is to stay off the ground, because Gibbs is convinced that most injuries happen while players are lying on the turf. “I think the way we practice is smart. I’ve never had any trouble getting through a season,” said Ramapo senior offensive lineman Sam Basa, who said he has not had a concussion during his football career. “Our coaches are smart, and they care about us.” Gibbs said he believes, despite the declining numbers in New Jer- sey youth football, that coaches are teaching tackling better and more safely. He also said he believes some concerns are over- blown among high school players and parents when it comes to chronic traumatic encephalopa- thy, a neurodegenerative disease that results from blows to the head and has been found in cases of former football players. But he still takes the risk of head injuries very seriously. “I think the benefits a young man gets from playing high school football, they outweigh the risk and certainly balance the risks off,” Gibbs said. “We’ve made the game even safer than it’s ever been.”

‘A little extreme’ Gibbs puts his freshmen through extensive tackling in- struction as they are indoctrinat- ed into the team, firmly believing they will adopt the right technique as they ease into game situations. They study detailed PowerPoint presentations on how to hit. Some coaches are less convinced of this methodology and have called the 15-minute restric-

football.” Ramapo didn’t tackle to the ground at all during practices last season. The change has reverberated across the country, and some long- time stakeholders believe the move is a breakthrough that will permeate the game at all levels. “What I think has happened, in pro football, in college football and in high school football, is this is for us to have a safer game,” said Archie Manning, the former NFL quarterback and father of two more who now serves as the Na- tional Football Foundation’s chairman. “You get a group of high school coaches together... [and] it’s really just hard for them to object to it. They want what’s best for their kids. They want what’s best for the game. It’s going to help the game.”

Lax regulations still abound While the move has been praised by many coaches across New Jersey, some have voiced dis- pleasure, wondering how their younger and inexperienced players will learn how to tackle effec- tively. Others have questioned how the mandate will be enforced, and whether it will be effective enough to inspire more widespread change. A similar resolution was adopted in Michigan in May, but many states still have lax regulations on tackling during practices. A 2015 study conducted by the Datalys Center for Sports Injury in Indianapolis found that 58 per- cent of high school football concussions occur in practices, not games. New Jersey’s mandate comes as participation in the sport declines both locally and nationally. New Jersey was one of 44 states to see the number of players in 11-man football decrease for the 2018 season, according to a study released by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Nationwide participation in the sport reached its lowest mark since the 1999-2000 school year. While analysts have attributed the decline to a number of factors — including demographic shifts, single sport specialization and cost — injury risk, particularly head injuries, has been at the fore- front of the discussion. The move in New Jersey is intended to cut down on those injuries and help bolster numbers in a state that has a rich high school football history. The 57-year-old Gibbs, who has coached 18 years at Ramapo, was a catalyst for the move. Members of the New Jersey Football Coaches Association gathered in the defensive linemen room at Rutgers Uni- versity’s football facility in Decem- ber, arguing the merits of the pro- posed change and whether the new limit should be 15 or 30 minutes. Gibbs, who just two weeks earlier had led Ramapo to a 13-0 record — the first in state history — cut through the commotion. “We didn’t tackle players to the ground once in practice all last season,” he said as he stood before the men. “It worked out pretty well for us.” Ramapo had only two players suffer concussions last season, according to Gibbs. He considered that as much of a success as the 13 wins. His thinking on the issue changed in the mid-2000s, when

RAMAPO FROM D1

SCOREBOARD

N.J. team practices — for safety’s sake

NFL NOTES

Newton expected to be ready Week 1

FOOTBALL

NFL preseason
NFC
EAST W L T PCT. PF PA
N.Y. Giants .................... 3 0 01.000 88 58
Dallas ............................ 2 1 0 .667 57 27
Washington .................. 1 2 0 .333 42 60
Philadelphia .................. 1 2 0 .333 49 63

SOUTH W L T PCT. PF PA
Tampa Bay .................... 2 1 0 .667 57 56
New Orleans ................. 2 1 0 .667 72 64
Carolina ......................... 1 2 0 .333 40 50
Atlanta .......................... 0 4 0 .000 54 89

NORTH W L T PCT. PF PA
Minnesota ..................... 3 0 01.000 79 53
Green Bay ..................... 1 2 0 .333 62 74
Chicago ......................... 1 2 0 .333 53 72
Detroit .......................... 0 3 0 .000 46 85

WEST W L T PCT. PF PA
San Francisco ................ 3 0 01.000 68 41
Seattle .......................... 2 1 0 .667 64 54
L.A. Rams ...................... 1 2 0 .333 23 34
Arizona ......................... 1 2 0 .333 52 66
AFC
EAST W L T PCT. PF PA
New England ................. 3 0 01.000 63 23
Buffalo .......................... 3 0 01.000 75 50
Miami ............................ 2 1 0 .667 70 50
N.Y. Jets ....................... 1 2 0 .333 57 69

SOUTH W L T PCT. PF PA
Tennessee ..................... 1 2 0 .333 50 50
Houston ........................ 1 2 0 .333 56 85
Indianapolis .................. 0 3 0 .000 51 72
Jacksonville .................. 0 3 0 .000 17 75

NORTH W L T PCT. PF PA
Pittsburgh ..................... 3 0 01.000 65 41
Baltimore ...................... 3 0 01.000 81 28
Cleveland ...................... 2 1 0 .667 63 41
Cincinnati ...................... 1 2 0 .333 63 76

WEST W L T PCT. PF PA
Oakland ......................... 3 0 01.000 69 50
Kansas City ................... 1 2 0 .333 62 61
Denver ........................... 1 3 0 .250 49 66
L.A. Chargers ................ 0 3 0 .000 45 59
WEEK 3
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Washington 19, at Atlanta 7
Baltimore 26, at Philadelphia 15
N.Y. Giants 25, at Cincinnati 23
at New England 10, Carolina 3
at Miami 22, Jacksonville 7
Oakland 22, Green Bay 21, in Winnipeg
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
at Tampa Bay 13, Cleveland 12
Buffalo 24, at Detroit 20
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
at Minnesota 20, Arizona 9
Chicago 27, at Indianapolis 17
at Dallas 34, Houston 0
San Francisco 27, at Kansas City 17
New Orleans 28, at N.Y. Jets 13
at L.A. Rams 10, Denver 6
Seattle 23, at L.A. Chargers 15
SUNDAY’S RESULT
Pittsburgh 18, at Tennessee 6
WEEK 4
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Baltimore at Washington, 7:30
Indianapolis at Cincinnati, 7
Minnesota at Buffalo, 7
Atlanta at Jacksonville, 7
Philadelphia at N.Y. Jets, 7
Pittsburgh at Carolina, 7
N.Y. Giants at New England, 7:30
Detroit at Cleveland, 7:30
Kansas City at Green Bay, 8
Miami at New Orleans, 8
Tampa Bay at Dallas, 8
Tennessee at Chicago, 8
L.A. Rams at Houston, 8
Arizona at Denver, 9
Oakland at Seattle, 10
L.A. Chargers at San Francisco, 10

NCAA
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
EAST
Villanova 34, at Colgate 14
SOUTH
Youngstown State 45, Samford 22, in Montgomery, Ala.
Florida 24, Miami 20, in Orlando
WEST
at Hawaii 45, Arizona 38
THURSDAY’S GAMES
EAST
Robert Morris at Buffalo, 7
Delaware State at Delaware, 7
Bryant at Stony Brook, 7
Wagner at Connecticut, 7
SOUTH
Union (Ky.) at Morehead State, 6
E. Illinois at Chattanooga, 7
Valparaiso at E. Kentucky, 7
Pikeville at Murray State, 7
Jacksonville at Richmond, 7
Gardner-Webb at Charlotte, 7:30
Florida A&M at UCF, 7:30
Northwestern State at Tennessee Martin, 7:30
Cent. Arkansas at W. Kentucky, 7:30
N.C. Central at Austin Peay, 8
Georgia Tech at Clemson, 8
W. Illinois at North Alabama, 8
Jacksonville State at SE Louisiana, 8
FIU at Tulane, 8
Alabama State at UAB, 8
MIDWEST
Morgan State at Bowling Green, 7
Albany (N.Y.) at Cent. Michigan, 7
UCLA at Cincinnati, 7
S. Illinois at SE Missouri, 7:30
S. Dakota State at Minnesota, 9
SOUTHWEST
Bethel (Tenn.) at Lamar, 8
Texas State at Texas A&M, 8:30
WEST
Missouri State at N. Arizona, 9
Kent State at Arizona State, 10
N. Colorado at San Jose State, 10
Utah at BYU, 10:15
FRIDAY’S GAMES
EAST
Rice at Army, 6
Sacred Heart at Maine, 6
Massachusetts at Rutgers, 7:15
SOUTH
Wisconsin at South Florida, 7
Utah State at Wake Forest, 8
MIDWEST
Tulsa at Michigan State, 7
WEST
Purdue at Nevada, 9:30
Colorado vs. Colorado State at Denver, 10
Oklahoma State at Oregon State, 10:30

SOCCER

BASKETBALL

LOCAL GOLF

TENNIS

GOLF

TRANSACTIONS

WNBA

EAST W L PCT GB y-Washington..............................22 8 .733 — xy-Connecticut ............................20 9 .690 11 / 2 y-Chicago .....................................18 12 .600 4 Indiana.........................................11 19 .367 11 New York .......................................9 21 .300 13 Atlanta ..........................................7 22 .241 141 / 2 WEST W L PCT GB y-Las Vegas .................................19 12 .613 — y-Los Angeles..............................18 11 .621 — y-Minnesota ................................16 15 .516 3 xy-Seattle....................................15 14 .517 3 Phoenix ........................................14 15 .483 4 Dallas.............................................9 20 .310 9 x-Late game; y-Clinched playoff berth MONDAY’S RESULTS No games scheduled TUESDAY’S RESULTS at Washington 95, Los Angeles66 at Indiana 86, Las Vegas 71 Phoenix 95, at New York 82 at Minnesota 93, Chicago 85 Connecticut at Seattle, Late WEDNESDAY’S GAMES No games scheduled THURSDAY’S GAMES Los Angeles at Indiana, 7 Phoenix at Atlanta, 7 Dallas at Chicago, 8

MLS

EASTERN W L T PtsGFGA Atlanta .............................15 9 3 48 46 30 Philadelphia......................14 8 6 48 51 41 New York City FC..............13 5 8 47 48 33 New York ..........................12 11 5 41 47 42 D.C. United .......................10 10 9 39 36 38 New England ....................10 9 8 38 40 46 Toronto FC ........................10 10 7 37 43 44 Montreal...........................10 14 4 34 40 52 Orlando City........................9 12 7 34 35 36 Chicago ...............................8 12 9 33 43 42 Columbus............................8 15 6 30 32 43 FC Cincinnati ......................5 19 3 18 27 64 WESTERN W L T PtsGFGA Los Angeles FC .................19 3 5 62 74 28 Real Salt Lake ..................13 10 4 43 40 34 Seattle..............................12 8 7 43 42 40 LA Galaxy .........................13 11 3 42 38 41 Minnesota ........................12 9 6 42 44 37 San Jose ...........................12 10 5 41 45 43 FC Dallas...........................11 10 7 40 44 37 Portland............................11 11 4 37 42 40 Sporting K.C. ......................9 11 7 34 40 45 Houston ..............................9 14 4 31 38 48 Colorado..............................7 14 6 27 43 54 Vancouver...........................6 13 9 27 28 48 SUNDAY’S RESULTS Columbus 3, at FC Cincinnati 1 at FC Dallas 5, Houston 1 LA Galaxy 3, at Los Angeles FC 3 WEDNESDAY’S MATCH Vancouver at Montreal, 8 SATURDAY’S MATCHES D.C. United at Montreal, 7:30 Colorado at New York, 7 Chicago at Columbus, 7:30 Toronto FC at New England, 7:30 Atlanta at Philadelphia, 7:30 FC Cincinnati at FC Dallas, 8 Houston at Sporting K.C., 8:30 New York City FC at Vancouver, 10 Real Salt Lake at Portland, 10:30 Orlando City at San Jose, 10:30

NWSL W L T PtsGFGA Portland............................10 3 6 36 39 22 North Carolina ...................9 4 4 31 32 17 Chicago ...............................9 8 2 29 29 26 Utah ....................................8 6 4 28 19 15 Reign FC..............................7 5 6 27 16 20 Washington .......................7 7 4 25 22 19 Houston ..............................6 8 4 22 18 28 Sky Blue FC.........................4 11 4 16 15 25 Orlando ...............................4 12 2 14 19 37 SATURDAY’S RESULTS at Washington 2, Orlando 1 at North Carolina 1, Reign FC 0 Sky Blue FC 2, at Houston 1 SUNDAY’S RESULT at Portland 3, Chicago 0 SATURDAY’S MATCH Washington at Orlando, 7:30 FRIDAY, SEPT. 6 Portland at Utah, 9:30 SATURDAY, SEPT. 7 North Carolina at Sky Blue FC, 3 Orlando at Reign FC, 10

U.S. Open At USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center In New York Purse: $57,238,700 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor FIRST ROUND — MEN’S SINGLES Andrey Rublev, Russia, def. Stefanos Tsitsipas (8), Greece, 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (9-7), 7-5; Gilles Simon, France, def. Bjorn Fratangelo, United States, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5; Antoine Hoang, France, def. Leonardo Mayer, Argentina, 3-6, 6-2, 6-7 (8-6), 6-1, 6-3; Matteo Berrettini (24), Italy, def. Richard Gasquet, France, 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2; Jordan Thompson, Australia, def. Joao Sousa, Portugal, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4; Alexei Popyrin, Australia, def. Federico Delbonis, Argentina, 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5); Mikhail Kukushkin, Kazakhstan, def. Roberto Bautista-Agut (10), Spain, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; Gael Monfils (13), France, def. Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Spain, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-3; Marius Copil, Romania, def. Ugo Humbert, France, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (13-11), 4-6, 6-1; Denis Shapovalov, Canada, def. Felix Auger-Aliassime (18), Canada, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4; Pablo Andujar, Spain, def. Kyle Edmund (30), Britain, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-5, 5-7, 6-2; Lorenzo Sonego, Italy, def. Marcel Granollers, Spain, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan, def. Santiago Giraldo, Colombia, 2-6, 6-0, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4; Thomas Fabbiano, Italy, def. Dominic Thiem (4), Austria, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Alexander Zverev (6), Germany, def. Radu Albot, Moldova, 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2; Frances Tiafoe, United States, def. Ivo Karlovic, Croatia, 6-2, 6-3, 1-2, ret; Aljaz Bedene, Slovenia, def. Jozef Kovalik, Slovakia, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5; Benoit Paire (29), France, def. Brayden Schnur, Canada, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4; Diego Sebastian Schwartzman (20), Argentina, def. Robin Haase, Netherlands, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), 6-0; Egor Gerasimov, Belarus, def. Lloyd Harris, South Africa, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3); Tennys Sandgren, United States, def. Jo-Wil- fried Tsonga, France, 1-6, 6-7 (7-2), 6-4, 7-6 (5), 7-5; Vasek Pospisil, Canada, def. Karen Khachanov (9), Russia, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; John Isner (14), United States, def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Spain, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Jan-Lennard Struff, Germany, def. Casper Ruud, Nor- way, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2; Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, Germany, def. Filip Krajinovic, Serbia, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6); Marin Cilic (22), Croatia, def. Martin Klizan, Slovakia, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6); Fernando Verdasco (32), Spain, def. Tobias Kamke, Germany, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2; Hyeon Chung, Republic of Korea, def. Ernesto Escobedo, United States, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 6-4, 6-2; Thanasi Kokkinakis, Aus- tralia, def. Ilya Ivashka, Belarus, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8), 6-7 (7-4), 6-2; Rafael Nadal (2), Spain, def. John Millman, Australia, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. FIRST ROUND — WOMEN’S SINGLES Naomi Osaka (1), Japan, def. Anna Blinkova, Russia, 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2; Magda Linette, Poland, def. Astra Sharma, Australia, 6-3, 6-4; Cori Gauff, United States, def. Anastasia Potapova, Russia, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; Timea Babos, Hungary, def. Carla Suarez Navarro (28), Spain, 6-2, ret; Anett Kontaveit (21), Estonia, def. Sara Sorribes Tormo, Spain, 6-1, 6-1; Ajla Tomljanovic, Australia, def. Marie Bouzkova, Czech Republic, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1; Alize Cornet, France, def. Jessica Pegula, United States, 6-2, 6-3; Belinda Bencic (13), Switzerland, def. Mandy Minella, Luxembourg, 6-3, 6-2; Yulia Putintseva, Kazakhstan, def. Madison Brengle, United States, 6-3, 6-3; Kaia Kanepi, Estonia, def. Tatjana Maria, Germany, 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3; Donna Vekic (23), Croatia, def. Richel Hogenkamp, Netherlands, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3; Julia Goerges (26), Germany, def. Natalia Vikhlyantseva, Russia, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1); Francesca Di Lorenzo, United States, def. Veronika Kudermetova, Russia, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2; Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Russia, def. Pauline Parmentier, France, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2); Kiki Bertens (7), Netherlands, def. Paula Badosa Gibert, Spain, 6-4, 6-2; Simona Halep (4), Romania, def. Nicole Gibbs, United States, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2; Taylor Townsend, United States, def. Kateryna Kozlova, Ukraine, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Sorana Cirstea, Romania, def. Katerina Siniakova, Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-2; Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov, Spain, def. Barbora Strycova (31), Czech Republic, 6-3, 0-6, 6-1; Caroline Wozniacki (19), Denmark, def. Yafan Wang, China, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3; Danielle Rose Collins, United States, def. Polona Hercog, Slove- nia, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Kirsten Flipkens, Belgium, def. Xiyu Wang, China, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2; Bianca Vanessa Andreescu (15), Canada, def. Katie Volynets, United States, 6-2, 6-4; Kristie Haerim Ahn, United States, def. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia, 7-5, 6-2; Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia, def. Aleksandra Krunic, Serbia, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7); Alison Riske, United States, def. Garbine Muguruza (24), Spain, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3; Elise Mertens (25), Belgium, def. Jil Teichmann, Switzerland, 6-2, 6-2; Kristyna Pliskova, Czech Republic, def. Diane Parry, France, 6-4, 6-3; Andrea Petkovic, Germany, def. Mihaela Buzarnescu, Romania, 6-3, 6-4; Petra Kvitova (6), Czech Republic, def. Denisa Allertova, Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-4.

World Golf Ranking
Through Sunday

Brooks Koepka........................ USA 12.65

Rory McIlroy ........................... NIR 9.63

Dustin Johnson ...................... USA 8.93

Justin Rose............................. ENG 7.75

Justin Thomas........................ USA 7.30

Jon Rahm................................ ESP 6.95

Patrick Cantlay ....................... USA 6.82

Tiger Woods ........................... USA 6.58

Xander Schauffele.................. USA 6.32

Bryson DeChambeau ............ USA 6.25

Francesco Molinari ............... ITA 6.13

Tony Finau ............................ USA 5.78

Tommy Fleetwood ............... ENG 5.55

Webb Simpson ..................... USA 5.49

Adam Scott........................... AUS 5.48

Patrick Reed ......................... USA 5.23

Gary Woodland..................... USA 5.20

Paul Casey ............................ ENG 5.12

Rickie Fowler ........................ USA 5.06

Matt Kuchar ......................... USA 5.01

Shane Lowry......................... IRL 4.83

Louis Oosthuizen ................. SAF 4.12

Jason Day ............................. AUS 3.97

Marc Leishman ..................... AUS 3.89

Bubba Watson...................... USA 3.79

Hideki Matsuyama ............... JPN 3.70

Kevin Kisner ......................... USA 3.69

Chez Reavie .......................... USA 3.66

Matthew Fitzpatrick ............ ENG 3.63

Matt Wallace........................ ENG 3.55

Henrik Stenson..................... SWE 3.21

Ian Poulter ............................ ENG 3.13

Jordan Spieth ....................... USA 3.07

Billy Horschel ....................... USA 3.05

Kevin Na ............................... USA 3.04

Keegan Bradley .................... USA 2.98

Abraham Ancer .................... MEX 2.98

Brandt Snedeker .................. USA 2.95

Phil Mickelson ...................... USA 2.94

Rafa Cabrera Bello ............... ESP 2.89

Bernd Wiesberger ................ AUT 2.86

Eddie Pepperell..................... ENG 2.78

Sergio Garcia ........................ ESP 2.78

Andrew Putnam ................... USA 2.76

Tyrrell Hatton....................... ENG 2.72

Cameron Smith .................... AUS 2.66

Alex Noren............................ SWE 2.57

Jim Furyk .............................. USA 2.54

Byeong Hun An..................... KOR 2.53

Haotong Li ............................ CHN 2.50

MOUNT VERNON Kathy Wiedemer won low net in the LGA-18 with 65. Robin Keany, Julie Rakes and Sue Genuario tied for low gross.

NFL Arizona Cardinals: Released DL Terrell McClain. Signed OL Jacob Ohnesorge. Cleveland Browns: Waived WR Jaelen Strong. Detroit Lions: Released QB David Fales and RB Zach Zenner. Signed QB Luis Perez. Miami Dolphins: Released/injury settlement T Jordan Mills and TE Clive Walford. Minnesota Vikings: Released CB Bene Benwikere and WR Jordan Taylor. San Francisco 49ers: Signed RB Brandon Wilds, WR Nick Williams and CB Chris Campbell to one-year contracts. Waived OL Willie Beavers, LB Malcolm Smith and OL Dillon Day. MLS MLS: Issued an additional game suspension (two games total) and an additional undisclosed fine to D.C. United F Wayne Rooney for violent conduct in the 21st minute of the Black-and-Red’s match against the New York Red Bulls. Seattle Sounders: Traded the rights to M Hany Mukhtar to Nashville (USL Championship) for general allocation money. COLLEGES Fordham: Named Gio Grassi and Stephen Georgio assistant strength and conditioning coaches. Syracuse: Named Ronnie Enoch director of women’s basketball recruiting and athlete performance.

BRYAN ANSELM FOR THE WASHINGTON POST Ramapo High players perform tackling drills in practice. Teams are now limited to 15 minutes of full-contact drills during the season.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Mercury 95, Liberty 82 PHOENIX ............................ 24 25 27 19 — 95 NEW YORK ......................... 17 29 23 13 — 82 PHOENIX: B.Turner 4-5 2-4 10, Bonner 1-5 2-2 5, Griner 14-21 1-3 29, Mitchell 10-13 4-7 29, Taurasi 0-7 2-2 2, Carson 0-0 0-0 0, Cunningham 1-1 0-0 2, January 2-2 2-2 7, Little 4-6 0-0 9, Lyttle 1-2 0-0 2, Y.Turner 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 37-63 13-20 95. NEW YORK: Charles 5-14 3-4 13, Hartley 8-17 0-0 18, Nurse 4-11 5-5 15, Wright 2-3 0-0 4, Zahui B 8-13 0-0 18, Allen 1-2 0-0 3, Boyd 2-5 0-0 5, Gray 0-2 0-0 0, Johannes 0-0 0-0 0, Raincock-Ekunwe 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 33-71 8-9 82. Three-point Goals: Phoenix 8-16 (Mitchell 5-6, January 1-1, Bonner 1-2, Little 1-3, Taurasi 0-4), New York 8-21 (Zahui B 2-4, Nurse 2-5, Hartley 2-9, Allen 1-1, Boyd 1-1, Charles 0-1). Fouled Out: None. Rebounds: Phoenix 36 (Griner 14), New York 25 (Zahui B, Nurse 5). Assists: Phoenix 29 (Taurasi 10), New York 19 (Nurse 6). Total Fouls: Phoenix 15, New York 22. Technicals: Bonner, Wright. A: 1,693 (5,000).

Fever 86, Aces 71 LAS VEGAS ........................ 15 18 21 17 — 71 INDIANA ............................. 29 24 21 12 — 86 LAS VEGAS: Cambage 4-12 7-10 15, J.Young 0-6 2-2 2, McBride 0-3 0-0 0, T.Young 2-5 1-4 5, Wilson 7-16 4-4 18, Colson 0-0 0-0 0, Hamby 4-10 2-4 10, Park 0-0 2-2 2, Plum 6-13 0-0 17, Rodgers 0-3 0-0 0, Swords 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 24-71 18-26 71. INDIANA: Burke 3-4 0-0 7, Dupree 6-15 1-1 13, McCowan 8-14 8-8 24, T.Mitchell 4-9 4-4 12, Wheeler 2-6 0-0 5, Achonwa 2-3 0-0 4, K.Mitchell 4-13 4-4 16, Kea 0-2 0-0 0, Laney 2-10 1-2 5, Mavunga 0-1 0-0 0, McCall 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-77 18-19 86. Three-point Goals: Las Vegas 5-14 (Plum 5-9, McBride 0-1, Hamby 0-1, Cambage 0-1, Rodgers 0-2), Indiana 6-20 (K.Mitchell 4-7, Burke 1-1, Wheeler 1-3, Kea 0-1, T.Mitchell 0-4, Laney 0-4). Fouled Out: None. Rebounds: Las Vegas 37 (Wilson 8), Indiana 44 (McCowan 17). Assists: Las Vegas 20 (Plum 6), Indiana 23 (T.Mitchell, Burke, K.Mitchell, Dupree 4). Total Fouls: Las Vegas 17, Indiana 18. A: 6,958 (20,000).

Mystics 95, Sparks 66 Los Angeles ........................ 22 15 10 19 — 66 Washington ........................ 33 21 27 14 — 95 LOS ANGELES MIN FG FTO-T A PF PTS. N.Ogwumike 25:03 5-12 0-13-61 1 10 Ruffin-Pratt 18:08 0-5 1-20-00 2 1 Parker 18:10 3-5 6-81-31 3 12 Gray 27:49 4-11 2-31-47 2 12 Williams 26:43 2-9 2-22-50 5 6 Wiese 20:07 0-2 2-22-32 0 2 C.Ogwumike 18:13 1-4 0-01-10 2 2 Vadeeva 14:57 5-10 0-02-70 2 10 Jones 10:03 2-4 0-00-10 0 5 Brown 7:30 0-1 4-40-31 1 4 Mabrey 7:17 0-1 0-00-00 0 0 Beard 6:00 1-3 0-00-00 0 2 TOTALS 200 23-67 17-22 12-33 12 18 66 Percentages: FG .343, FT .773. 3-Point Goals: 3-21, .143 (Gray 2-3, Jones 1-3, Mabrey 0-1, Parker 0-1, Vadeeva 0-1, N.Ogwumike 0-2, Wiese 0-2, Ruffin-Pratt 0-3, Williams 0-5). Blocked Shots: 0. Turnovers: 15 (Wiese 4, Parker 3, Williams 3, Gray 2, C.Ogwumike, Mabrey, N.Ogwumike). Steals: 7 (Mabrey 2, Ruffin-Pratt 2, Williams 2, Parker). Technical Fouls: None. WASHINGTON MIN FG FT O-T A PF PTS. Atkins 23:06 3-52-20-1 2 3 10 Delle Donne 23:30 4-64-40-5 4 1 14 Sanders 15:48 0-11-20-9 5 4 1 Cloud 25:13 6-70-00-0 6 2 15 Walker-Kimbrough 22:34 3-81-10-0 2 1 8 Powers 21:336-116-71-4 0 1 20 Meesseman 19:43 4-94-42-5 1 2 12 Hawkins 18:50 3-82-22-6 0 2 8 Hines-Allen 12:06 2-62-21-3 1 0 7 Peddy 10:03 0-00-00-0 1 0 0 Mestdagh 7:34 0-40-00-0 0 0 0 TOTALS 200 31-65 22-24 6-33 22 16 95 Percentages: FG .477, FT .917. 3-Point Goals: 11-35, .314 (Cloud 3-4, Atkins 2-3, Delle Donne 2-3, Powers 2-6, Hines-Allen 1-3, Walker-Kimbrough 1-5, Meesseman 0-2, Mestdagh 0-4, Hawkins 0-5). Blocked Shots: 4 (Delle Donne 2, Hawkins, Sanders). Turnovers: 9 (Atkins 3, Cloud 2, Walker-Kimbrough 2, Meesseman, Mest- dagh). Steals: 12 (Cloud 3, Meesseman 2, Powers 2, Walker-Kimbrough 2, Delle Donne, Hines-Allen, Peddy). Technical Fouls: coach Mystics (Defensive three second), 5:07 second. A: 4,200 (4,200).

U.S. Open WEDNESDAY’S SHOW COURT SCHEDULE ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM Mariam Bolkvadze, Georgia, vs. Karolina Pliskova (3), Czech Republic Roger Federer (3), Switzerland, vs. Damir Dzumhur, Bosnia-Herzegovina Novak Djokovic (1), Serbia, vs. Juan Ignacio Londero, Argentina Serena Williams (8), United States, vs. Caty McNally, United States LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM Bradley Klahn, United States, vs. Kei Nishikori (7), Japan Elina Svitolina (5), Ukraine, vs. Venus Williams, United States Lin Zhu, China, vs. Madison Keys (10), United States Lauren Davis, United States, vs. Ashleigh Barty (2), Australia Borna Coric (12), Croatia, vs. Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgaria GRANDSTAND Johanna Konta (16), Britain, vs. Margarita Gasparyan, Russia Hugo Dellien, Bolivia, vs. Daniil Medvedev (5), Russia Stan Wawrinka (23), Switzerland, vs. Jeremy Chardy, France Sofia Kenin (20), United States, vs. Laura Siegemund, Germany COURT 17 Alison van Uytvanck, Belgium, vs. Qiang Wang (18), China Petra Martic (22), Croatia, vs. Ana Bogdan, Romania Denis Kudla, United States, vs. Dusan Lajovic (27), Serbia Reilly Opelka, United States, vs. Dominik Koepfer, Germany

Lynx 93, Sky 85 CHICAGO ............................ 29 13 28 15 — 85 MINNESOTA ...................... 30 21 17 25 — 93 CHICAGO: DeShields 7-17 2-2 19, Dolson 0-3 2-2 2, Ndour 7-11 1-1 17, Quigley 6-11 0-0 14, Vandersloot 1-6 2-2 4, Alexander 0-1 2-2 2, Copper 0-2 0-0 0, Parker 9-15 4-4 22, Samuelson 1-2 0-0 2, Williams 1-6 1-1 3. Totals 32-74 14-14 85. MINNESOTA: Collier 6-11 5-6 19, Dantas 7-11 0-0 17, Fowles 11-19 3-4 25, Robinson 3-12 3-3 9, Sims 9-15 3-4 23, Augustus 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Fagbenle 0-4 0-0 0, Talbot 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 36-75 14-17 93. Three-point Goals: Chicago 7-18 (DeShields 3-6, Quigley 2-3, Ndour 2-4, Parker 0-1, Williams 0-1, Dolson 0-1, Vandersloot 0-2), Minnesota 7-13 (Dantas 3-6, Sims 2-2, Collier 2-2, Brown 0-1, Talbot 0-1, Robinson 0-1). Fouled Out: None. Rebounds: Chicago 34 (Parker 8), Minnesota 39 (Fowles 12). Assists: Chicago 26 (Vandersloot 10), Minnesota 22 (Sims 8). Total Fouls: Chicago 20, Minne- sota 17. Technicals: Chicago coach James Wade. A: 8,092 (19,356).

VOLLEYBALL VIRGINIA Dominion def. Herndon (25-14, 18-25, 17-25, 25-20, 15-9) Langley def. Edison (25-22, 25-21, 25-23) Wakefield def. Annandale (25-22, 25-22, 25-12) Westfield def. Fairfax (25-15, 25-10, 25-16)