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Giga Kick Geared Up for 2026 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Thriller
A different outcome in the spring might have sidelined Giga Kick from embarking on yet another racing venture starting at Flemington.
On Saturday, the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) initiates Giga Kick’s campaign, after which the speedster will proceed to Sydney to press on with autumn targets.
Trainer Clayton Douglas described Giga Kick’s recent campaign as the smoothest in ages and remains optimistic about the gelding replicating the dominance of his two flawless spring appearances last year.
Preceding those were a tough run in Adelaide’s The Goodwood during May and a middling performance in Brisbane’s Kingsford Smith Cup the subsequent month, leading Douglas to suggest the horse might have been done without the spring heroics.
“He had a big last year, and you always worry whether they’re going to come back, a horse like him at six, rising seven,” Douglas said.
“If he hadn’t of performed last spring, we aren’t the type of people that would keep going with him, and there’s been multiple times where it’s been touch and go with him, for sure, but to see him perform as he did, it showed he’s still got that zest for racing.
“He was a bit wishy, washy in his first couple of runs back in Sydney (spring 2024) and we were wondering where he was at and then he ran really well in The Everest.
“Then again, he didn’t have the best of luck in The Goodwood and then he went up to Queensland, and it was only a fair run.
“I’m hopeful that we’ve still got another 18 months, two years, left in him, and this time I feel he’s had the ideal preparation.
“The key is keeping him in good order, feeling good, and hopefully he does the rest.”
The gelding has triumphed thrice in seven first-up races, according to Douglas, who cited credible explanations for the reversals.
An extended layoff stemmed from injury and various niggling problems, which dented his resuming ledger.
A Caulfield Heath gallop on January 29, where he ran second to Lightning Stakes foe My Gladiola, convinced Douglas that Giga Kick’s prime form had resurfaced.
“The other day, he was pumped up, excited to be there,” Douglas said.
“He began fast and I haven’t seen that in him for a long time, and he’s run well up the straight on numerous occasions.
“He won there at two, he won the Danehill Stakes at three and he’s won a Champions Sprint, so I don’t think it will be a problem on Saturday.”
Eight horses are slated for Saturday, featuring three-year-olds in the majority.
Douglas places faith in Giga Kick’s maturity, especially since only six three-year-olds have won the Lightning Stakes over the last 25 editions.
Between 2000 and 2005 saw four such victories in six races, Home Affairs by a whisker over Nature Strip in 2022, and Coolangatta in 2023. Bettors have plenty to consider in the racing betting markets for the Lightning Stakes.
“He might not have a great first-up record, but he’s had the perfect prep leading into this,” Douglas said of Giga Kick.
“It’s going to be a good race, for sure.”
The post Giga Kick poised to sizzle in Black Caviar Lightning first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics – Skeleton – Men Official Training Heat 5 – Cortina Sliding Centre, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – February 11, 2026. Vladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine during training as he wears a helmet in tribute to athletes who have died amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine MILAN/CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — The International Olympic Committee pleaded on Wednesday with skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych to compete without his banned helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed since Russia’s invasion and avoid potential disqualification.
The athlete, however, remained defiant after a meeting between the two sides on Wednesday afternoon failed to break the impasse.
The IOC offered him the opportunity to display his “helmet of remembrance” depicting 24 images of dead compatriots before the start and after the end of Thursday’s race at the Milan Cortina Games, while also allowing him to wear a black armband while competing.
However, the 27-year-old, who again trained on Wednesday in the helmet, said he would go ahead and wear it for Thursday’s race day.
Asked after his training run if it was the helmet or nothing, Heraskevych, who has an outside chance of finishing on the podium, told reporters: “yes”.
“To be honest I was hoping we would find some common sense,” Heraskevych told Reuters after the meeting. “I registered this helmet, it’s technically good.”
Ukraine’s Olympic Committee backed their athlete, who is the team’s flagbearer for the Games and also displayed a “No War in Ukraine” sign at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, days before Russia’s invasion.
“(Heraskevych) did not agree to the proposals made by the IOC representatives and emphasized that he was ready to compete exclusively in the “memorial helmet,” the Ukrainian Olympic Committee said in a statement.
“The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the Ukrainian national team fully support… Heraskevych’s position and respect his conscious and principled choice.”
The IOC banned the helmet on Tuesday for any competition, saying it violated rules on political statements.
Athletes can freely express themselves in press conferences, social media and interviews during the Games but they cannot make any political statements on the field of play or podiums, according to Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter.
“We would beg him ‘we want you to compete … We really, really want him to have his moment,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams told a press conference. Heraskevych said even if he wanted to change a helmet he would have no time to prepare a new helmet that would fit him.
THURSDAY SHOWDOWN
With dozens of conflicts around the world it was impossible to allow political statements in venues, Adams added.
“For us and the athletes the field of play is sacrosanct. These people have dedicated their whole lives for this moment,” he said, adding that the IOC would look for ways to convince the Ukrainian, including having other athletes talk to him. All competitors on Thursday will have to go through an equipment check prior to entering the ice canal for the competition. If Heraskevych insists on taking the helmet, the IOC would potentially have to remove him from the competition.
“There are rules and regulations and they will ultimately be enforced. In the end it will be an IOC matter,” Adams said.
“It is in everybody’s interest for him to compete. I don’t say we have a ready solution on this but it is better to talk to people to win the day.”
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks rookie teenage standout Cooper Flagg will miss their final game before the All-Star break and not play in the NBA’s Rising Stars game on Friday night because of a left midfoot sprain.
The Mavericks announced Wednesday night than an MRI revealed the injury that occurred in their loss at Phoenix a night earlier, when the 19-year-old had 27 points in 36 minutes. They said further updates will be provided as appropriate
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Flagg, the No. 1 overall draft pick last summer, is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his 49 games with Dallas.
The Mavericks (19-34) have an eight-game losing streak going into Thursday night’s game at the Los Angeles Lakers.
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse welcomed Chris Bell and the California Golden Bears to town for the first game of a two-game homestand, and it was an absolute wire-to-wire thriller in the Dome, one that would need more than the forty regulated minutes.
And despite countless missed free throws down the stretch, aggressive takes from Nate Kingz and JJ Starling, who combined for 48 points, helped lift Syracuse in both overtime periods when they needed it most, giving them a 107-100 win over the Golden Bears.
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And this was a game that saw just about everything. Two power outages, 67 combined free throw attempts, 28 lead changes, 11 combined players in double figures, and even William Kyle being forced to hobble off the floor late.
But despite everything that went wrong throughout the game, Syracuse experienced a feeling that they have not had much of late, a win in a close game down the stretch.
But the storylines began before the game even started, as one of the glaring questions Syracuse fans wanted answered was whether guard Kiyan Anthony would see the floor after being benched due to what Coach Autry determined was a coaching decision against Virginia. However, that question was answered quickly. Anthony checked into the game with 12:26 to go in the first half, but his impact in the early going was minimal, scoring only two points in ten minutes.
And for most of the first half, the impact Syracuse’s offense was providing as a whole was minimal as well.
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That was until the final two minutes. With Syracuse trailing 33-29, Kingz went on a run of his own. The lefty scored six consecutive points, and at halftime, the game was tied at 35 apiece.
Cal, the third-best three-point shooting team in the ACC, actually took six fewer threes than the Orange in the first half, but was led by forward John Camden’s eight points.
However, another glaring takeaway from the first 20 minutes was the lack of production from forward Donnie Freeman. The senior only had three points on 1-4 shooting in his 13 minutes played before the break.
Coming out of the half, both teams continued to trade baskets in the back-and-forth affair, and then, with 14:16 to go, the power went out inside the Dome, and all of a sudden, Syracuse started to show some offensive promise.
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The outage actually sparked an 8-0 run for the Orange, and the Golden Bears were forced to use a timeout with 12:40 to go in the game, with Syracuse leading 52-47, and it felt like this might be the time where they would create some separation.
But then Cal’s leading scorer, Dai Dai Ames, woke up as he scored seven straight for the Golden Bears, who snatched the lead right back 62-20.
A few minutes later, with the game tied at 69, Chris Bell struck from the top of the key. He had not been afraid to shoot it all game long, and his third triple of the game gave Cal a 72-69 lead, a lead that they would hold until the final minutes.
And just like they had been all game long, that was when Syracuse delivered another response. After missing four of their last five free throws, Kingz connected with an “and-1” layup to give Syracuse a 75-74 lead with 1:30 left, and then seconds later, after two Golden Bear free throws, Nait George connected a corner three, and the Orange led 78-76.
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But Cal would tie it up on a beautiful scoop layup from Ames, and then two poor offensive possessions from each team would keep the game tied as it would head into overtime.
In the first overtime period, there was another power outage, which forced the game to be played on auxiliary power. But both teams agreed to finish the game instead of calling it and letting it hang in the balance. Then, some huge plays from Kingz and Starling had Syracuse clinging to a two-point lead, but an offensive rebound and a putback at the buzzer from Milos Ilic would even the score at 91. Five more minutes were put on the clock.
And in the second overtime, there was finally some separation from the Orange. The fouls from Cal started to add up, and Syracuse took advantage. They would outscore Cal 16-9 and never trail in the overtime period as the Orange got it done.
Kingz led the way with 27 points. Starling had 21. Nait George had 14 points and 10 assists while William Kyle finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Ames led Cal with 23 while John Camden had 21 and Chris Bell scored 18 in his return to the Dome.
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Syracuse is back in action on Saturday against SMU.
Who is Vladyslav Heraskevych?
In Pyeongchang in 2018, the Kyiv native became the first Ukrainian to compete in skeleton at the Winter Olympics. Heraskevych also competed in Beijing in 2022. After the third of four runs there, he held up a sign with the English inscription “No war in Ukraine” for the cameras at the finish line of the run. Thirteen days later, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Since then, Heraskevych has tirelessly used his sport to draw attention to the suffering of the people in Ukraine and to urge further strict sanctions against Russian sports. The skeleton racer was given the honor of being one of Ukraine’s flag bearers for the Milano Cortina Games’ opening ceremonies.
Heraskevych, however, is not among the likely medal contenders at the Olympics. He finished 12th in 2018 and 18th in 2022.
What is his dispute with the IOC about?
Heraskevych wants to wear his “helmet of remembrance” not only in training but also during the Olympic race in Cortina. It features images of Ukrainian athletes who were killed during Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) considers the helmet a violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”
In 2020, the IOC Athletes’ Commission published guidelines on how to implement this rule. According to these guidelines, athletes should only be allowed to express political views during the Olympic Games at press conferences, in interviews in the mixed zones, at team meetings, on internet platforms or through media outlets.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams told a press conference this week: “There are 130 conflicts going on in the world. We cannot have 130 different conflicts featured, however terrible they are, during the field of play, during the actual competition.”
Therefore, Heraskevych is allowed to express his political views outside of competition, but not during the race.
Could a compromise be reached?
There is no current indication that this is possible. The IOC offered the Ukrainian the option of wearing a black armband during the competition — as a sign of mourning for his compatriots killed in the war.
“We feel this is a good compromise,” Adams said.
Heraskevych sees things completely differently.
“The IOC has turned the ‘helmet of remembrance’ into an absurd farce,” the Ukrainian said on Wednesday. He insisted that he was not violating any IOC rule and accused the IOC of “double standards.”
United States figure skater Maxim Naumov displayed a picture of his parents, who died in a plane crash, after his short program on Tuesday evening in Milan, without any objections being raised. Heraskevych has previously pointed to the example of German weightlifter Matthias Steiner, who held up a photo of his deceased wife after his Olympic victory in Beijing in 2008.
According to the IOC, the cases are not comparable. The rules have evolved since 2008. Naumov’s behavior was “a very emotional, very human, spontaneous gesture,” according to IOC spokesman Adams: “In a sense it highlights what we are saying, this Ukrainian athlete, he can do the same.”
What happens if Heraskevych defies the IOC ban?
The IOC Athletes’ Commission’s recommendation regarding violations of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter states: “If an athlete or participant is in breach of Rule 50 and the Olympic Charter, each incident will be evaluated by their respective National Olympic Committee, International Federation [of the sport] and the IOC, and disciplinary action will be taken on a case-by-case basis as necessary.”
This leaves room for interpretation. In the worst-case scenario, Heraskevych could face immediate exclusion from the Olympic Games.
What have the reactions been?
Heraskevych has received support from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On X, he thanked the skeleton racer “for reminding the world of the price of our struggle.”
Thomas Weikert, president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), expressed understanding for Heraskevych’s action but advised him not to disregard the IOC ban and to abide by the rules.
Three time Olympic luge gold medalist Felix Loch, a close personal friend of Heraskevych, said if he were to be disqualified, it would be “sad and a bit of a scandal.” After all, there is “no text or anything like that” on the helmet in question, he noted.
This article was originally published in German.
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Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee will remain behind bars as he faces a first-degree murder charge in Tennessee.
Lee was taken into custody last week. In addition to the murder charge in the death of his girlfriend, Lee faces a charge of tampering with or fabricating evidence.
On Wednesday, a Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge ruled that Lee, who spent the first three years of his professional football career with the New York Jets, would stay jailed without bond.
Lee is not scheduled to return to court until next month, but prosecutors on Wednesday signaled the case could qualify for the death penalty.
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Former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee was arrested by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Feb. 6, 2025, and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with fabricating evidence. (Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com/Hamilton Country Sheriff’s Office)
While Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp made it clear there is no final decision concerning the pursuit of the death penalty, he did cite factors that could result in the case becoming eligible for capital punishment.
“Mr. Lee was in a home with a female (who) was, for lack of a better term, beaten to death,” Wamp said in court, arguing for the judge to withhold bond. “And the explanation that he gave doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
“You walked in the door, there were boxes,” Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Det. Brian Lockhart said, according to NewsChannel9.
“A lot of stuff in the living room. The deceased was in the floor lying on her back. There was blood going up the staircase. On the hand railing there was blood. On the walls, there was blood. On the floor in the living room there was blood. On the floor in the hallway and the stairs.”
Darron Lee (50) of the Kansas City Chiefs sits on the bench during a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Sept. 29, 2019, in Detroit. (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
The victim in the case had been living in a rental home with Lee. The house is also believed to have been the site where Lee is alleged to have carried out the crime over an estimated 10-day period, Lockhart testified Wednesday.
The detective said he was present during the autopsy and learned the potential cause of death was blunt force trauma homicide. An autopsy report has not yet been released.
According to an arrest affidavit, first responders on Feb. 5 went to a home in the Chattanooga suburb of Ooltewah for a call of CPR in progress, where they found the woman already dead.
Lee told deputies the woman might have fallen in the shower, but, according to an arrest affidavit, there were extensive amounts of blood in different areas of the house that were inconsistent with Lee’s statement.
Darron Lee of the New York Jets runs the ball in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Sept. 10, 2018, in Detroit. (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Authorities carrying out a search warrant found multiple types of trauma to the woman’s body, including a stab wound to her abdomen, an apparent human bite mark on her shoulder, a large bruise on her head, black eyes with heavy swelling and dried blood on her face and neck, according to the affidavit.
Investigators also found alcohol, narcotics and a gun, the affidavit said.
The affidavit said Lee had a facial injury, lacerations on his hands, wounds on his chest and blood inside the case of his cellphone.
Detectives also identified blood that someone attempted to clean up in multiple areas of the house, in addition to cleaning supplies near where testing confirmed there had been blood stains but no blood was visible, the affidavit said.
Wamp said Lee was on probation in Florida for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in one county and battery in another and on probation in Ohio for attempted battery.
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Mike Little, a deputy public defender representing Lee, told The Associated Press it was premature for him to make any statements.
The Jets selected Lee in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He later played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, last appearing in an NFL game in 2020.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Having shouldered the weight of Winx’s legendary 33-race unbeaten run, Chris Waller takes a pragmatic stance on upholding Autumn Glow’s spotless sequence.
Hailed as potentially racing’s brightest young gun, the mare initiates her latest preparation in Saturday’s Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, tipped at $1.55 to claim victory number nine from nine.
Waller, however, insists his emphasis is on forging the correct preparation rather than fixating on extending Autumn Glow’s faultless ledger, prioritising peak condition for her comeback.
“Not really. I have been in that territory before,” Waller said.
“She is prepared for next week exactly how she would have been prepared last week. She’s not screwed down and with room for improvement.
“And when she gets beaten it will be bad luck, not through ability.”
With 10 acceptors including six Waller-trained, the Apollo Stakes (1400m) acts as the standard carnival kickoff.
Barrier nine is Autumn Glow’s starting post, and indicators suggest she has returned in the form of her spring finale, featuring a first Group 1 in the Epsom Handicap and success in the Golden Eagle (1500m).
Two barrier trials and a Randwick exhibition gallop between races last Saturday have readied her, the latter impressing regular rider James McDonald.
“She has come back well, basically where she left off,” Waller said.
“Everything has gone to plan so far. Two trials, a nice easy gallop today and James is very happy. He said she was never out of second gear.”
Her itinerary eyes the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) leading to the George Ryder Stakes (1500m), beyond which remains open.
A mile remains her maximum to date, so the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) or Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) may beckon based on team deliberations over distance trials.
The star-studded Apollo Stakes also houses stablemate Aeliana, Ceolwulf with his multiple Group 1s, and Doncaster Mile winner Stefi Magnetica. Fans can dive into online bookmakers for the best Apollo Stakes prices.
The post Waller not worried about protecting Autumn Glow’s winning run first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 continues on February 12 with three key group-stage fixtures: Sri Lanka vs Oman, Nepal vs Italy, and India vs Namibia. Sri Lanka will face Oman after registering a 20-run win over Ireland in their previous outing. Oman, meanwhile, will be playing their first match of the tournament. However, Sri Lanka have suffered a setback ahead of the clash, as Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury. Dushan Hemantha has been named as his replacement. The match will be played at the Pallekele Stadium in Sri Lanka, starting at 11 am IST.
In the second game of the day, Nepal take on Italy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai at 3 pm IST. Nepal enter the contest high on confidence after nearly pulling off a stunning upset against two-time T20 World Cup winners England. Nepal fell short by just four runs, which was also the second-lowest winning margin for a Full Member nation against an Associate team. Italy, on the other hand, come into the match after suffering a 73-run defeat to Scotland. The third fixture will see India face Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi at 7 pm IST. India are coming off a 29-run win over the USA, but there is a concern in the camp. Opener Abhishek Sharma is likely to miss the game due to a stomach infection, accompanied by high fever and severe weight loss. Sanju Samson, who was the designated first-choice wicketkeeper ahead of the World Cup, is likely to open the batting. Samson was dropped for Ishan Kishan because of a poor run of form in the New Zealand series. Namibia head into the match after a seven-wicket loss to the Netherlands.
Erling Haaland moved joint-fourth on Manchester City’s all-time scorer’s list as Pep Guardiola’s side overpowered Fulham 3-0 to turn up the heat on Arsenal.
Haaland netted his 153rd City goal, moving him level with Colin Bell, in a comfortable victory at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday that trimmed the Gunners’ Premier League lead to three points.
Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring as he continued his superb start in City colours while Nico O’Reilly was also on target in a one-sided contest played in persistent rain.
All City’s goals came in the first half and, with the job apparently done, Haaland did not return for the second half.
After a recent dip in form, the Norwegian held his nerve to score a vital penalty winner at Liverpool on Sunday and that may have reignited his campaign.
The goal that matched Bell’s career tally for the club – also his 29th of the season in all competitions – came in his 183rd appearance, a remarkable feat. Bell played 492 games for City.
The game was a stroll for City. They led 5-1 after 57 minutes in the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage in December and eventually scraped home 5-4, but there was little prospect of a similar fightback this time.
Fulham were as compliant as City could have wished for and repeatedly gave the ball away to allow the hosts to keep attacking.
It seemed only a matter of time before they broke through and Phil Foden, making his first start in four Premier League games, twice went close early on and O’Reilly fired narrowly over.
The opener came after 24 minutes when Matheus Nunes swung a cross in from the right and Haaland headed down for Semenyo to slide in and touch past Bernd Leno.
It was the winger’s fifth goal in eight appearances since joining City and his third against Fulham this season after netting two for Bournemouth in October.
Fulham had a chance against the run of play when Harry Wilson forced a good save from Gianluigi Donnarumma but City instantly countered and doubled the lead on the half-hour mark.
Haaland was caught by Joachim Andersen during the charge forward but Semenyo took up the attack and fed O’Reilly, who showed composure to lift the ball over Leno.
City grabbed their third after Fulham again lost possession. Rayan Ait-Nouri found Foden, who in turn fed Haaland on the edge of the box.
The Norwegian was clinical with a powerful strike into the bottom corner, his first league goal from open play since December.
There was a penalty check before the interval for an alleged hair-pull on Semenyo but nothing was given.
City eased off after the break and Fulham tried to rally but a lively burst by Wilson came to nothing.
The visitors were unable to build any momentum even as City’s intensity dropped.
Foden had a long-range attempt but lacked the power to trouble Leno while Josh King tested Donnarumma late on.
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Olympic chief declines to pressure LA Games chair over Epstein files link | Olympic Games 2024
 "Kirsty Coventry, Olympic")
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry (Photo: PTI)
The IOC showed no interest Wednesday in putting pressure on 2028 Los Angeles Olympics chair Casey Wasserman over personal emails released in the latest Jeffrey Epstein files.
Wasserman has faced calls from lawmakers and those in political circles in LA to step down as chair of the city’s Olympic project he has led since it was first a hosting candidate 11 years ago.
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry was asked Wednesday if Wasserman was still the right person to oversee the next Summer Games in light of flirtatious emails in 2003 exchanged with Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
“From the IOC point of view, the (organizing committee) and how they are structured is not something we are going to get involved into,” Coventry said.
The IOC leader spoke at a news conference one day after she shared a stage with Wasserman when the L.A. organizing team updated Olympic officials on their hosting plans.
“He has put out a statement and there is really nothing else for me to add,” Coventry said.
In the statement Saturday, Wasserman said “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell,” which he said was “long before her horrific crimes came to light.”
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on five counts of sex trafficking and abuse of minors, and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Wasserman is expected to remain in Milan with his L.A. team until after the opening ceremony of the Winter Games on Friday evening.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Feb 05 2026 | 10:25 AM IST
Just when you think the NWSL preseason is settling ahead of the new calendar year, the big moves keep coming. Kansas City Current have acquired midfielder Croix Bethune from Washington Spirit, sources tell CBS Sports. Washington Spirit are set to receive a record-matching fee for Bethune. The deal is finalized though not set to be announced until a later date.
North Carolina Courage currently holds the record for intraleague funds ($1.25 million) after trading Jaedyn Shaw to Gotham FC last year.
Bethune is coming off a successful two-year stint with the Washington Spirit, where she won the 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year. In her first pro season, she tied Tobin Heath’s decade-old single-season assist record in just 17 games thanks to a season-ending torn meniscus. She also won the league’s inaugural NWSL Midfielder of the Year award. Her impressive rookie season earned her a place on the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. women’s national team, and she’s recorded seven caps so far.
Sources also confirmed that the player requested the trade, and her former club worked to complete the deal. Bethune received interest from other teams, though now she’ll be joining the league’s reigning NWSL Shield winners.
She often showcases her vision with short, elegant passes and is a certified playmaker. Her move to Kansas City is a welcome arrival following the departure of recent playmaker and goal scorer Bia Zaneratto. The Brazilian international left the club after her contract expired and returned to Palmeiras in free agency.
Bethune’s rise to prominence was anything but easy. The player has had to bounce back from a torn meniscus that cut her NWSL rookie season short. In college, the player tore her ACL twice, but was drafted into the NWSL after earning two-time first-team All-American and Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year honors with a career that saw her start at Southern California and finish at Georgia.
She’s shown she can bounce back and contribute and now joins Kansas City after her recent camps with the U.S. women’s national team and a short preseason stint with the Spirit.
Washington Spirit make it official
Following CBS Sports’ reporting that Bethune’s movement came by way of request, the Spirit announced Bethune’s departure on Wednesday. Bethune’s move to Kansas City yielded a club-record $100k in allocation funds and $900k in transfer threshold funds, the third-largest return in NWSL history.
“We are grateful to Croix for her contributions over the past two seasons. After conversations about her desire to explore development opportunities in a different environment, we were able to structure a deal that honored her request while securing significant value for our club, making it the third-highest intra-league transfer in NWSL history and a top ten mark globally,” said club president of soccer operations Haley Carter.
“We evaluate every situation on its individual merits, and in this case, the alignment of player goals and organizational value made sense for all parties. That said, our focus is on the talented core we have returning. We’re heading into 2026 healthy, deep, and ready to win.”
Claire Hutton moves on from Kansas City Current
Kansas City Current also traded midfielder Claire Hutton to Bay FC on Wednesday. The Midwest club received $1.1 million in intraleague transfer funds for the 2025 NWSL Best XI honoree, who is also a member of the USWNT.
“Claire is an important signing for us. She’s a top-quality player who is tight on the ball, and she has the mobility and physical presence to break up play,” said Bay FC head coach Emma Coates.
“Despite her age she brings experience and a strong mentality, and we believe she has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world. The most exciting part for us is her desire to keep getting better, and we’re excited to support her through the next stages of her career and even more excited to see the impact she will have at Bay FC.”
The 20-year-old Hutton was a 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year finalist and leaves Kansas City Current as a rising star in the NWSL and U.S. women’s national team. Hutton signed her first professional contract in 2024 at 17 years old with Kansas City, the sixth player signed under the league’s Under-18 Entry Mechanism, and she has since become a regular club starter with a bright future for her new club and her country.
She has 13 appearances for the USWNT since her debut in 2025, and recently, head coach Emma Hayes discussed a leadership role with the midfielder, who is the youngest player to captain the national team in the Hayes era.
When could they make official debuts?
The Kansas City Current open up their season hosting the Utah Royals at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 14, while Bay FC host expansion side Denver Summit the same day with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
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