Ralf Kellermann will leave his role as director of women’s football at VfL Wolfsburg Frauen at the end of the season, the club has confirmed.

Kellermann, 57, requested not to extend his contract beyond June 2026, bringing an end to an 18-year association with the club in various leadership roles.

He first joined Wolfsburg in 2008 as head coach, later combining coaching and sporting director duties from 2010. Since 2017, he has served as sporting director before taking on the role of director of women’s football in 2023.

Under his leadership, Wolfsburg’s women’s team became one of the most successful sides in Germany and Europe, winning 20 titles during his tenure and establishing itself as a consistent force in the Frauen-Bundesliga and UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Explaining his decision, Kellermann said:

“The decision to leave VfL Wolfsburg this summer was very difficult for me. The deciding factor was my desire to take on a new challenge.

“Over all these years, I have enjoyed complete trust in my work, and together we have developed women’s football at VfL into a renowned name in European football.

“My thanks go first and foremost to numerous long-time colleagues at Elsterweg, both in the sporting and administrative areas. Without this trusting collaboration, our success would not have been possible.

“Until then, I will work with full energy and motivation to ensure a successful conclusion to the current season.”

Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster looks like the best they’ve ever put together, but it just took a hit.

Two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will pitch just once for USA and it’ll happen in pool play (March 7 vs. Great Britain). If USA advances to the championship round, as expected, Skubal won’t pitch.

“If they go to the finals, I think I’m going to try and lobby to just go watch and be with the guys,” he told reporters, including The Athletic, Monday.

That’s too bad. Those of us who had already started looking ahead figured Skubal could be the USA starter in either the semifinals or finals, giving a nice edge to the squad. After all, he’s won two straight Cy Young awards, two straight AL ERA titles and has a 2.04 ERA in six career playoff starts. 

Instead, if USA advances, it’ll be without Skubal. 

That gives the mantle of ace to Paul Skenes alone, instead of Skenes just being a “co-ace.” USA isn’t hurting for starters after Skubal or Skenes, either, as All-Stars Logan Webb and Matthew Boyd are also on the team. Fellow All-Star Joe Ryan is on the roster, though he’s currently dealing with a back injury, as is youngster Nolan McLean and his veteran Mets teammate Clay Holmes. 

The offense is headed up by Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. 

This is to say that, yes, USA is still plenty talented and could well win the finals. Not having Skubal for the championship round is still a bit of a bummer.

Pool play kicks off next week in Tokyo, San Juan, Houston, and Miami, and the tournament will conclude with the Championship Game at loanDepot Park on March 17. Team USA won the 2017 WBC, but fell to Japan in the finals in 2023. The Americans are the favorite to win this year (-115, per Caesars), ahead of Japan (+350) and the Dominican Republic (+425).

Last season’s heart arrhythmia halted Yorkshire’s fresh start, though his team was cautious regardless of the issue.

The rising miler returns with greater optimism this time, targeting the Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick this Saturday.

After a nine-month absence, he began previously in The Hunter (1300m), whereas now it’s merely 10 weeks post his December 13 domination of The Ingham (1600m).

“He would be more forward than that race because he was coming off a long lay-off, where he’s only had a short let-up off the Ingham,” co-trainer Tom Charlton said.

“He will be more forward by design, but he will have a bit of improvement to come still.”

Handled methodically by the five-year-old’s team of Charlton and John O’Shea, his profile indicates a talent ascending sharply.

Eight wins in 11 races underline this, as he rebounded from The Hunter to take the Festival Stakes (1500m) and Ingham in succession, demonstrating depth beyond mere pace.

“He’s as tough as anything and just thrives on his work and racing,” Charlton said.

“He will most likely go to the Liverpool City Cup on Saturday. That will be his first-up run, and then probably the Ajax Stakes and Doncaster Mile.”

The Ingham success provided a Doncaster Mile (1600m) ballot exemption for Yorkshire, opening the door to a matchup against fellow stable star Linebacker.

Linebacker prevailed in the Randwick Guineas during his juvenile year and now approaches the premier mile through the Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

Linebacker shone by winning his Thursday trial at Randwick ahead of the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) there in a fortnight.

Visit betting sites offering the best racing betting markets for Yorkshire in the Liverpool City Cup.

Kara Braxton, a two-time WNBA champion who played in the league for about a decade, has died, the league said on Monday. She was 43.

The WNBA released a statement on Braxton’s death.

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Phoenix Mercury forward Kara Braxton (45) reacts on the court against the Seattle Storm during the first half in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in the 2010 WNBA Playoffs at US Airways Center on Sept. 5, 2010. (Jennifer Stewart/USA TODAY Sports)

“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the league said. “A 10-season veteran, Kara played with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time.”

The Detroit Shock selected Braxton with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2005 draft out of Georgia. She was an All-Star for Detroit in 2007 and was a member of the championship-winning teams in 2006 and 2008.

New York Liberty forward Kara Braxton (45) and Indiana Fever center Jessica Davenport (50) battle for position during the second half at the Prudential Center. (Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports)

She was with them when the team moved to Tulsa but was later traded to the Phoenix Mercury and eventually the New York Liberty. She was waived by the Atlanta Dream before the 2016 season.

“We mourn the loss of Kara Braxton, a former Liberty player whose presence and passion left a lasting impact on our organization and the women’s game,” the Liberty said. “Our hearts are with her family, friends, teammates, and all who were touched by her spirit. Her impact will not be forgotten.”

Detroit Shock players Plenette Pierson (23), Deanna Nolan (14), Cheryl Ford, Kara Braxton (45) and Elaine Powell (5) erupt as victory closes in to defeat San Antonio 76-60 for the WNBA championship at the Convocation Center on the Eastern Michigan University campus Oct. 5, 2008. (Mandi Wright/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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Braxton averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 297 career games.

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West Indies vs Zimbabwe (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: West Indies delivered a crushing performance to beat Zimbabwe by 107 runs in their T20 World Cup Super Eights match in Mumbai, starting their campaign in dominant fashion. With this win, West Indies have overtaken South Africa to go top of the Group 1 points table in the T20 World Cup Super 8s. The Windies currently boast a superior net run rate (NRR) of +5.350, ahead of second-placed South Africa, who have an NRR of +3.800.

With only top two teams from the group making the semi-finals, India, currently third with a -3.800 NRR, could find it difficult to enter the knock-out stage if there is a tie on points at the end of this ongoing stage. After winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Zimbabwe were punished badly as the West Indies batters went on a scoring rampage at the Wankhede Stadium.Shimron Hetmyer was the star of the show, smashing a brilliant 85 off just 34 balls to help West Indies post a massive 254-6, the second-highest total ever in T20 World Cup history. Hetmyer was dropped early in his innings, and Zimbabwe paid a heavy price for that mistake. He raced to a fifty in just 19 balls and added a rapid century partnership with Rovman Powell, who also played a strong knock of 59 off 35 balls. After they got out, Sherfane Rutherford kept the scoring going with 31 not out, while Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder added quick runs at the end, with 38 runs coming off the final two overs.Chasing a huge target of 255, Zimbabwe had a nightmare start. They were reduced to 20-3 inside the first three overs and never recovered. Although Brad Evans fought hard with a late 43 off 21 balls, the rest of the batting collapsed under pressure. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 147 in 17.4 overs.Left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein dominated with the ball, taking four and three wickets respectively to seal an emphatic win. The match showed the big gap between the two sides on the day, with West Indies sending a strong message in the Super Eights stage.

David Benavidez has given his honest thoughts on Ryan Garcia’s unanimous decision victory over Mario Barrios, which saw him become the WBC world welterweight champion last Saturday.

Entering their showdown as the defending champion, despite coming off back-to-back draws, some felt that Barrios’ engine would prove too relentless for Garcia.

The 30-year-old had previously tied with a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao in July, but nonetheless showed that he is capable of fighting at a considerable pace for 12 rounds.

Garcia, on the other hand, had left many unanswered questions – mostly regarding his psychological state – after losing a unanimous decision to Rolando Romero in May.

That was his first outing since being handed a year-long drugs ban by the New York State Athletic Commission, who acted in response to him testing positive for ostarine, a banned substance, following his majority decision victory over Devin Haney.

The result of their encounter in April 2024 was then overturned to a no-contest, with Garcia openly admitting to ‘drinking and partying’ during his suspension.

But despite his lack of discipline throughout that period, the 27-year-old ultimately produced a dominant performance to drop and outpoint Barrios over the weekend.

Reacting to his friend’s world title triumph, WBC light-heavyweight champion Benavidez told DAZN Boxing that he was mightily impressed by Garcia’s ‘great’ performance.

“I think it was a great comeback – not only a comeback fight, but a comeback victory for Ryan.

“Now he’s world champion. He looked great; he looked fast. [His] movement was good. He has the world at his feet right now.

“I’m happy for Ryan and I just wish the best for him. I feel like, if he worked on some different stuff, he could’ve got the knockout.

“But Barrios [was] a live dog in there. Not only was he a live dog; he was the champion, so he wasn’t going down without a fight.”

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Garcia called out WBO super-lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson immediately after his victory over Barrios, hoping to get the ball rolling for their potential clash.

Previously, ‘King Ry’ has said that he would meet the pound-for-pound star at a catchweight of 144lbs, though the finer details of their matchup are seemingly yet to be discussed.