At just 19 years old, a fresh-faced Ryan Garner outlined his dream to fight at St Mary’s Stadium, the home of Southampton Football Club.
Back then, it must have sounded like little more than a fantasy, the type of thing a young prospect might say to generate media attention.
For Garner, though, it was a dream he had visualised a thousand times over, knowing that one day he would be presented with an opportunity of such magnitude.
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No one could convince him or his trainer, Wayne Batten, that this dream would not become a reality, and while there has been no shortage of bumps in the road, the pair are now gearing up for the occasion they have long been working towards.
Speaking with Boxing News, Garner made no attempt to hide his delight ahead of a WBC ‘interim’ super-featherweight title fight against Michael Magnesi, which takes place at St Mary’s on June 20.
“In 2017, I did my first interview here [at St Mary’s] with Trans World Sport. And here we are now.
“We’ve manifested it for years, so for it to actually happen is just a dream come true.
“I’m looking forward to hopefully making history and becoming Southampton’s first ever world champion. I know it’s an interim title, but it’s still a world title at the end of the day.”
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While promoting his fight with Magnesi, Garner has revealed several glimpses of his footballing prowess.
Clearly a gifted athlete, it was only his aptitude for boxing, it seems, that stopped him from becoming a stylish winger at St Mary’s.
“I wasn’t too bad at football when I was younger – I’ll give myself that – but obviously I was better at fighting.
“I started off as a striker, then went into central midfield and ended up on the right wing.”
While he played for Southampton’s academy from U7s to U10s, it soon became apparent that Garner was most effective with his fists.
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Now, the 28-year-old has arguably reached his athletic prime, looking to become the leading contender for O’Shaquie Foster’s WBC strap.
But while Magnesi represents a solid opponent, many felt WBA champion Anthony Cacace was the most likely dance partner, especially after Garner featured on his undercard in March.
There was, however, a clear lack of desire from Cacace, who would rather enhance his legacy with a potential unification showdown later this year.
“I don’t blame him. He’s getting older and is coming towards the end of his career, so he wants to unify and win more titles.
“I spoke to him in Ireland and he seems like a nice guy. At the end of the day, we’re just fighting for our families.
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“It didn’t matter who the opponent was – the dream has always been to fight here [at St Mary’s].”
Magnesi is perhaps best known for giving a strong account of himself against Cacace, resulting in him losing a split decision in 2022.
From Garner’s perspective, though, there is no reason to adjust the approach that has seen him craft an impressive record of 19-0 (10 KOs).
“I’ve always been strong, mentally. Nothing really bothers me; nothing really fazes me. I don’t study my opponents; I just get in there and do my best work.”
Whether this will be enough to defeat Magnesi, it remains to be seen, but, either way, Garner expects to have between 15 and 20 thousand fans screaming his name.
France begin their quest to reach another World Cup final with a tough opening test against Senegal on Tuesday in Group I of the 2026 tournament.
Les Bleus arrive with a strong recent record on the global stage, having finished runners-up to Argentina in Qatar 2022 and winning the tournament in 2018. Didier Deschamps’ side are now aiming to become only the third nation in history to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, after West Germany and Brazil.
France have also been remarkably consistent, reaching four of the last seven World Cup finals (1998, 2006, 2018 and 2022), more than any other country during that period. They are now making their 17th World Cup appearance and their eighth in a row, the longest streak in their history.
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At the heart of their attack remains Kylian Mbappé, who has been the standout star of France’s recent World Cup campaigns. The Real Madrid forward has scored 12 goals across the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, equalling Pelé and sitting just four behind Miroslav Klose’s all-time record. His hat-trick in the 2022 final further underlined his status as one of the greatest big-game performers in World Cup history.
France’s experience is also unmatched. Deschamps, who captained France to World Cup glory in 1998, is now one of only three people to win the tournament as both player and coach. Tuesday’s match will be his 20th World Cup game in charge of Les Bleus, with only Helmut Schön managing more for a single nation.
However, Senegal arrive with confidence and belief, and history suggests they are more than capable of causing problems.
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The West African side famously stunned France 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, in what remains one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. That result marked Senegal’s debut on the world stage and set the tone for a remarkable run to the quarter-finals.
Now, more than two decades later, Senegal return for their fourth World Cup appearance and third in a row, matching the longest active streak by any African nation alongside Morocco and Tunisia.
Although their only World Cup clean sheet still comes from that famous 2002 victory over France, they will take confidence from a strong qualifying campaign in which they went unbeaten and finished top of their group ahead of DR Congo.
Sadio Mané remains their biggest attacking threat, leading the team in qualifying with five goals. The 34-year-old forward, Senegal’s all-time top scorer, is appearing at his second World Cup after playing every match in 2018.
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Coach Pape Thiaw, who was part of the Senegal squad that defeated France in 2002, now leads the team into his first World Cup as a manager. His side will look to repeat history, even against one of the tournament favourites.
Despite Senegal’s pedigree for surprises, France still enter the match as strong favourites. Ranked third in the world, Les Bleus are expected to dominate possession and chances, with the Opta supercomputer giving them a 65.6% chance of victory. Senegal’s chances stand at 14.9%, with a draw rated at 19.5%.
France are also tipped to win Group I and remain among the top contenders for the trophy, while Senegal are seen as strong candidates to reach the knockout stage.
Tuesday’s clash, however, carries more than statistics. It is a meeting between a modern powerhouse and a nation with a proven history of upsetting the elite. France may have the stars, but Senegal have already shown they are not intimidated by reputation.
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For Deschamps’ side, it is about starting strongly and avoiding another early shock. For Senegal, it is about history repeating itself.
The No. 1 linebacker in the 2027 recruiting class has announced the date of when he will announce his commitment between Texas A&M, LSU and Notre Dame.
According to On3 Sports recruiting reporter Hayes Fawcett, Kaden Henderson said he will announce on Thursday, June 18. The 6-foot, 225-pounder from Tampa, Florida, will decide between the Aggies, Tigers, or Fighting Irish, all of which have made massive pushes to reel in one of the top players in the 2027 cycle.
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The No. 26 player in America pushed his commitment announcement up 13 days earlier than expected. Per Rivals director of recruiting Chad Simmons, Henderson felt like he knew where he wanted to be, which could be in Bryan-College Station, Texas.
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In a recent interview with recruiting insider Steve Wilftong, he stated that his decision day, originally slated for July 1, could come earlier, depending on when he felt it was right.
“I’m very close to my decision,” Henderson stated to Rivals after his official visit with Texas A&M. “My commitment date is July 1, but it may not be that day. It could be two weeks, it could be one week. This decision could be made in a few days. It really is whenever the time is right for me and my family.”
Wiltfong has predicted that Texas A&M will land Henderson, despite some Notre Dame recruiting insiders projecting the prized linebacker to land with the Blue and Gold. He has taken official visits to LSU, Miami and Texas A&M, but has only traveled to South Bend for an unofficial visit so far.
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If Mike Elko lands Henderson’s commitment on Thursday, it would make the currently-ranked No. 1 recruiting class in college football even more solidified.
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Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Terence Crawford has been accused of rejecting the chance to take part in a two-fight deal that would have been worth 200 million dollars.
Crawford called time on his professional career last year after his monumental victory over Canelo Alvarez, becoming the undisputed super-middleweight world champion in the process.
That victory saw ‘Bud’ become a three-weight undisputed champion, along with a five-division world champion in total, making it clear why he is viewed as one of the greatest boxers in recent history.
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Despite all of that success, it has now been claimed that Crawford turned down the opportunity to be involved in a mammoth two-fight deal that was extremely financially viable.
The man making the accusation is UFC superstar Conor McGregor, who revealed on The Ariel Helwani Show that ‘Bud’ wasn’t interested in a proposal from Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh, that would have seen a deal covering both a boxing and an MMA bout.
“I got on the phone, ‘What’s the craic, Terence? It’s the Mac Daddy. I got [Turki] here. We’ve got a big deal for you. It’s hundreds of millions, $200 million to be exact. Mixed martial arts against me and a boxing one against you.
“He said, ‘I don’t want to be kicked by you. No way.’ Whatever, that’s fine… I don’t know how as a man, or as a combatant, you couldn’t want to test yourself.”
Conor McGregor reveals there were discussions for a two-fight deal with Terence Crawford worth $200 million involving Turki Alalshikh, but says Crawford ultimately declined:
“I got on the phone, ‘What’s the craic, Terence? It’s the Mac Daddy. I got [Turki] here. We’ve got a big… pic.twitter.com/NpkkCblSG3
It perhaps comes as no surprise that Crawford wasn’t interested in stepping into the Octagon, having revealed that he has turned down various offers over the past year after deciding it was time to retire, including a lucrative rematch with Canelo.
Crossover bouts have been in fashion as of late, such as the recent battles between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven, along with Francis Ngannou facing both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
It even dates back to McGregor’s own venture into boxing in 2017 when he was stopped by Floyd Mayweather, but if ‘Bud’ was to ever return, fight fans would likely prefer to see him competing in his own sport against the elite names, rather than in a crossover contest.
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Rees Jones prowled around Three Ponds Farm like he built the place, which is fitting, because he did.
Jones, 84, wasted little movement as he navigated around the parcel of farmland off Scuttle Hill Road in Waterville, N.Y. on a perfect morning last October. He was behind the wheel of a high-speed cart with a twinkle in his eye, driving from tee to green to tee again as he jumped just far enough ahead to grab the perfect vantage point of every swing from the three golfers criss-crossing the property behind him. The golfers were mostly hacks. Their shots were neither reliable nor particularly impressive. And yet Jones looked totally enthralled, like a chef watching a diner enjoy his favorite dish.
“Well…” he said, his expectation for the answer betrayed by the grin creeping across his face. “What do you think?”
Jones did not look ahead or behind with any care. He was not worried that he might be in the way of other golfers at Three Ponds Farm, in large part because that’s about as plausible as seeing the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus. What happens here belongs to the golfers, the caddie, the architect, the maintenance staff, and Ivan Kaufman, whose house sits in the middle of the property. Nobody else.
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Even by the gaudy standards of the east end of Long Island, Three Ponds Farm — also known as The K-Club— is an unusually private golf course. Unlike the rest of the great golf clubs of the east end, Three Ponds Farm is not private in the sense that it keeps a membership; it is private in the sense that it is removed from the presence of others. Play happens exclusively at Kaufman’s invitation. There is no starter or clubhouse attendant to look after your tee time or your shoes. If you’re thirsty, you fix yourself a cocktail at the makeshift “halfway house” (a sun room next to a gorgeous garden). Many days, the full extent of human interaction occurs between players and their caddie.
Three Ponds Farm did not always belong to Kaufman. He acquired the property for $35 million in 2019 in its current form, turning himself from a Long Island real estate scion into a golf course owner. In a way, Jones was part of the purchase — he summers at a property in Bridgehampton and is also the designer behind Three Ponds’ sister-course, Atlantic, a “normal” private club that sits just across the street (and supplies the K-Club with its caddies). Jones was hired by the property’s initial owner, Edward Gordon, who purchased the land (sans golf course or luxurious mansion) for $1 million.
The initial design featured only a handful of holes built around five greens, which was the most golf that seemed plausible to fit within the 58-acre property. But Kaufman bought the property with the hope of expanding to a full 18. He has added tee boxes and pin positions, and has added multiple flagsticks to each of the greens.
Today, the course zigzags around the property like the evidence board for a high crime, looping back and forth and back again until every green is examined from every angle … and each of the property’s many tee boxes is utilized. The course’s maintenance team, led by former Bethpage Black superintendent Ryan Loudenslager, works tirelessly to keep the course’s many nooks and crannies in impeccable condition.
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At least part of Three Ponds’ appeal to the golf world is its location. The property exists in perhaps the most golf-dense 20-mile circle anywhere in the world — a place lush with wealthy vacationers and golden sand beaches and golf clubs so private and old-world their charters tell the history of the sport in America. This week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock is a celebration of that history, and a reminder that the golf course has inspired a generation of east end copycats.
But much more of the appeal is the experience. Only at Three Ponds can you know what it is like to literally lose yourself in a round of golf. Only at Three Ponds can you understand how it feels to enjoy golf as an expression of solitude. And only at Three Ponds can you finish 18 holes of golf under the doting eye of the golf course architect, and emerge to hear the following question:
“So, how many more times would you like to go around?”
Curt Cignetti has orchestrated the best coaching turnaround in college football history over the last two seasons.
One college football pundit doesn’t think that makes him the best coach in the sport.
Today’s episode of Locked On College Football is a crossover with ‘Locked On Irish’ host Tyler Wojciak.
Where does Marcus Freeman rank among college football coaches currently?
Lane Kiffin brings a lot of hype and attention to LSU this year, is he a top 10 coach in college football? Where should Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer fit into this discussion?
00:00 Ranking the top 10 college coaches 03:36 Kirby Smart’s early Georgia challenges 08:30 Ryan Day’s coaching challenges 11:01 Freeman’s impressive coaching season 15:34 Ranking Mario Cristobal’s success 19:19 Cristobal’s unpredictable losses 20:59 Discussing Big Ten football coaches 24:14 Mike Elko’s impact at Texas A&M 30:03 Discussing Kalani Sitake’s coaching career 34:48 Coaching evaluations and team dynamics 37:04 Turning Miami’s team around
Nov 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fans perform the ÒSkolÓ prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
GM Nolan Teasley has been hard at work. Any leader needs a good ecosystem of support. Minnesota’s top executive has therefore been working to fortify his helpers.
Check out the update from Ben Goessling of The Star Tribune for what’s taking place in Minnesota’s front office. The update: “The #Vikings are hiring former Bears GM Ryan Pace as a football advisor for new GM Nolan Teasley, and they’re adding Seahawks scout Azzaam Kapadia as assistant director of pro scouting.”
GM Nolan Teasley Brings More Talent to Twin Cities
Plenty of chatter is circulating online about the news. After all, Pace used to be the GM for the Bears, so people are noticing.
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Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network offered his two cents: “The #Vikings will get valuable experience from Ryan Pace, the former #Bears GM. And Kapadia was another key cog in the #Seahawks machine, having most recently served as a pro scout in 2025.”
With Kapadia, Thor Nystrom passes along some good insight. Minnesota hired a worker: “He’s a film junky — described as curious, and no-stone-left-unturned thorough. Clearly respected by Teasley/Kirchner, the Nos. 2/3 in Seattle’s FO during his brief tenure.”
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Dec 31, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A fan holds up a sign in the fourth quarter in a game between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Scouting is a grind of a profession. Nobody will find success in this area of football unless there’s a willingness to spend a ton of time chewing up game film. Kapadia has found a way to stand out among a group of people known for their dedication.
On Pace, there are at least a few things to know.
For starters, he failed as the Chicago Bears’ GM. His overall record on the job finished off at 48-65. Twice did Pace’s Bears venture into the playoffs; twice did Pace’s Bears get bounced in the Wild Card Round. Chicago only surpassed .500 a single time when Pace was in charge.
Don’t be surprised if Bears fans in your friend group don’t have kind things to say about Pace. Quite possibly, he’s best known for drafting Mitchell Trubisky at No. 2 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Patrick Mahomes went at No. 10. Missing on Christian McCaffrey, chosen at No. 8 in the same draft, also stings.
Nov 18, 2018; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports.
Under GM Nolan Teasley, the Vikings have been making moves in the front office. Several people have been shown the door and still others have been hired. Before too long, the leadership group will be in place, allowed to move forward into the 2026 regular season.
France started their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal in Group I on Tuesday night.
Senegal impressed in the first half and created several good chances but failed to make them count. Nicolas Jackson hit the post, while Ismaila Sarr missed a golden opportunity from close range.
The West Africans were left to regret those missed chances as France took control after the break.
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Captain Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the 66th minute with a calm finish. Substitute Bradley Barcola doubled France’s lead in the 82nd minute after neatly lifting the ball over goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Senegal gave themselves hope deep into stoppage time when teenage forward Ibrahim Mbaye scored a brilliant goal in the 95th minute. The 18-year-old showed great skill before firing into the roof of the net.
However, France responded immediately. Mbappe struck a powerful long-range effort just moments later to restore the two-goal advantage and seal a 3-1 win for Didier Deschamps’ side.
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The brace saw Mbappe become France’s all-time leading goalscorer and continue his remarkable World Cup record.
Despite the defeat, Senegal can take encouragement from their strong first-half display. However, their inability to convert chances proved costly against one of the tournament favourites.
The result puts France at the top of Group I, while Senegal will now turn their attention to a crucial second group match against Norway.
IRVINE, Calif. — Sebastian Berhalter has been on site for the past two World Cups.
“Four years ago I was in the stands waiting for my pops to come up,” he said Tuesday, “and now they’re waiting for me.”
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In 2022, Berhalter was a spectator in Qatar, in the crowd with his mother and siblings cheering on the U.S. and supporting his father, Gregg, the head coach.
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At the time, Sebastian was a 21-year-old midfielder finding his place in Major League Soccer. He had yet to have enjoyed a breakthrough moment as a pro and hadn’t been invited to any youth national team camps.
The thought of being anywhere other than the stands for a World Cup — or even a U.S. friendly, for that matter — was a distant thought.
“Just proud, and going up to see my family [afterward], and then seeing how happy they were for me … it’s pretty special,” he said. “To have that moment with them was amazing.”
Since the last World Cup, Berhalter has established himself as one of MLS’ top midfielders for a Vancouver Whitecaps side that advanced to the final last year and leads the Western Conference at the summer break.
His father is in his second season guiding the Chicago Fire, which is third in the Eastern Conference and on pace for a second playoff berth after the organization missed out seven straight years.
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But while Gregg has forged a long coaching history, Sebastian has busted through as a player in rapid fashion.
“He sees where he wants to go, what his ambitions are, and how he wants to improve,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “He was obviously more of a fan at the last World Cup, and it’s amazing to see his rise over the past few years. What he set out to do and achieve, he’s been able to do that, but that’s through his discipline. When you see how he shows up every single day for training, it’s no surprise.”
USMNT midfielder Sebastian Berhalter completed a long rise from MLS standout to World Cup debutant.
(Shaun Clark/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Since debuting with the national team last summer, Berhalter was invited to almost every camp leading to the World Cup and, through a fabulous start to the MLS campaign, all but secured his place on the U.S. roster last month.
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Pochettino’s group chat video to his 26 selections brought a rush of emotions.
“My mom started crying right away, and my sister started crying, and then I started crying,” Berhalter said. “I was just telling them I love them and thank you so much for all the sacrifices over the years, especially my mom. I was just crying for probably 45 seconds and then I was like, ‘All right, I’ve got to go because I train in like 20 minutes’” with the Whitecaps.
‘Sometimes people need to call you crazy’
Berhalter now finds himself in the same inner circle as players he admired.
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He called Adams “my role model my whole life.”
Midfielder Weston McKennie was “one of my role models, my idols growing up,” he said. “To see what he’s doing with Juventus is inspiring, especially someone in MLS, to know guys can do it over there.”
Though the three are close in age, Berhalter was never on the same fast track as Adams and McKennie, who, as teenagers, debuted with the U.S. and signed with clubs in Germany.
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Once the awestruck phase faded, Berhalter became one of the gang. He has brought levels of ambition and intensity to central midfield, not to mention the technical ability to drop a set piece onto a teammate’s head or foot in dangerous spots.
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It’s been a long road.
“Sometimes people need to call you crazy,” he said. “That’s been my whole life. I was 16 years old, I’m going pro [with the Columbus Crew], I’m probably 5-10, 110 pounds, and everyone else was already a lot bigger than me. People kind of laughed at me.”
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Living with the Berhalter name
Berhalter’s journey began in London, his birthplace while his father was a Crystal Palace defender. In 2006, when Gregg was on the World Cup squad, five-year-old Sebastian was part of the crowd in Germany.
He remembers “running around the hotel and collecting the Panini stickers. I didn’t really understand what was going on, but I could feel the magnitude and understood how important it was to my family and everyone there.”
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His father’s influence played out stateside, too. With Gregg coaching Columbus, Sebastian excelled in the youth academy. Though his father moved on to the national team, Sebastian couldn’t escape people grumbling about favoritism.
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“I know if I got a call from my dad [to play for a team he was coaching], I would have had to earn it double as any other player,” he said. “Whatever anyone wanted to say, it didn’t matter to me, because I know the type of person he is, and he would never just call me in just to call me in. That’s something that I had to earn.”
Aside from showing the ability to play on the international level, Sebastian went through mental preparations of breaking into the national team.
In Qatar, “literally every game, I’m just envisioning being in those games and being the biggest fan in the stands, cheering for the team, and feeling so nervous for every game,” he said. “Just seeing what it takes at that level and telling myself after we got eliminated that in four years’ time, I want to be there and this is what I’m going to work towards the next four years.”
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Berhalter’s breakthrough came early last year in leading the Whitecaps to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in the spring, followed by stellar play in MLS. Berhalter called him up for the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer. After that, his MLS form held up as he finished with four goals and 12 assists in the regular season and an MLS Best XI honor.
Sebastian Berhalter and Giovanni Reyna of the United States celebrate after the team’s victory over Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026.
(Jared C. Tilton – FIFA via Getty Images)
Sebastian Berhalter, Gio Reyna move past family drama
His return to the national team in November reunited him with midfielder Gio Reyna, a boyhood friend whose rift with Sebastian’s father at the 2022 World Cup spilled into the public following the tournament and involved Reyna’s parents. The families had been close for decades, but the escalating conflict became deeply personal.
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Sebastian and Gio have shown no signs of the family drama affecting their U.S. camaraderie. (Had it, Pochettino, who placed high importance on creating a family atmosphere within the team, wouldn’t have selected both of them.)
Asked about the potentially awkward dynamic, Berhalter has spoken highly of Reyna’s professionalism and skill set. They might not be best friends, but they seem to be good teammates.
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“It’s not a story between me and him,” Berhalter said. “We’re on the same team, and, for us, it’s just about winning games.”
Reflecting on the 2022 turmoil, Reyna said, “It’s a little bit tiring [being asked about it]. Everyone is so far removed from that.”
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Commenting on Sebastian, Reyna said, “It’s great to see his progression. He had some difficult moments in his earlier MLS career, but the way he’s really developed over the last two years has been great to see. … He demands a lot out of everybody and he’s a good part of the group.”
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Both were on the field down the stretch against Paraguay, when Reyna scored the final goal. Berhalter was the second teammate to hug him.
“An incredible goal,” Berhalter said.
And for Berhalter, a World Cup debut that, a few years ago, simply wasn’t fathomable.
DETROIT — The Boston Fleet dominated the PWHL awards on Tuesday night, led by Aerin Frankel, who earned the Billie Jean King MVP trophy and goalie of the year honours.
The 27-year-old Frankel set a PWHL record with eight shutouts and finished tied with Montreal’s Ann-Renee Desbiens in setting another league mark with 19 wins. She did so in 26 games, backstopping Boston to a 62-point finish — representing an 18-point jump from the previous season. The Fleet qualified for the playoffs for the second time in three years before being eliminated by Ottawa in the semifinals.
The Fleet nearly swept the awards, with Megan Keller earning defender of the year honours. Boston’s Kris Sparre was voted Coach of the Year following his first season with the Fleet. And Fleet defender Haley Winn, the second pick in the draft last year, was the league’s rookie of the year.
The only major award won by a non-Boston player was Minnesota’s Kelly Pannek, who earned forward of the year honours. Pannek led the league with 33 points and, along with Desbiens, was an MVP finalist.
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It was also a big night for USA Hockey, with Frankel, Keller, Winn and Pannek all members of the U.S. team that won gold at the Milan Cortina Games.
The American-themed hockey celebration is expected to continue in Detroit on Wednesday with five more U.S. Olympians projected to go in the first round of the PWHL draft.
The awards are determined by a vote of media members, PWHL general managers and coaches and the PWHL Players Association.
Frankel highlighted the evening. From Briarcliff Manor, New York, she finished second behind Desbiens with a 1.17 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage.
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And Frankel also beat out Desbiens and Ottawa Charge’s Gwyneth Philips in the goalie of the year vote.
The 30-year-old Keller led all PWHL defenders with 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists). Keller played a major role on the U.S. Olympic team by scoring the gold medal-clinching goal in a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.
Sparre had no previous experience coaching women. He joined the Fleet after spending three years as an assistant with San Diego of the American Hockey League. He’s now moving on from Boston to take over the PWHL’s expansion franchise in Hamilton, Ont., to be closer to his home.
The 22-year-old Winn is from Rochester, New York, and finished tied for second among PWHL rookies with 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 30 games.
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Here is a look at the other award winners:
Ashton Bell, Vancouver Goldeneyes Marlene Boissonnault, Minnesota Frost Shiann Darkangelo, Montreal Victoire Emma Woods, Toronto Sceptres
The 2025-26 season marks the first year that the Intact Impact Award has been given out. The four recipients were recognized for their leadership, integrity, and commitment to their teammates.
Rebecca Leslie, Ottawa Charge
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The PWHL’s hockey for all award is given to the player who made the greatest impact in their community during the regular season. A $10,000 donation will be made to a charity of the winner’s choice that supports grassroots hockey.
Kelly Pannek, Forward, Minnesota Frost Taylor Heise, Forward, Minnesota Frost Brianne Jenner, Forward, Ottawa Charge Megan Keller, Defender, Boston Fleet Sophie Jaques, Defender, Vancouver Goldeneyes Aerin Frankel, Goalie, Boston Fleet
Laura Stacey, Forward, Montreal Victoire Rebecca Lesliue, Forward, Ottawa Charge Britta Curl-Salemme, Forward, Minnesota Frost Nicole Gosling, Defender, Montreal Victorie Haley Winn, Defender, Boston Fleet Ann-Renée Desbiens, Goalie, Montreal Victorie
Casey O’Brien, Forward, New York Sirens Kristýna Kaltounková, Forward, New York Sirens Abby Newhook, Forward, Boston Fleet Nicole Gosling, Defender, Montreal Victoire Haley Winn, Defender, Boston Fleet Hannah Murphy, Goalie, Seattle Torrent
Where does Marcus Freeman rank among college football coaches currently? 
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