Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

BASEBALL Arizona Complex League: Major League Baseball's pure rookie-level Arizona Complex League, which was known as the Arizona League prior to the 2021 season and plays at MLB spring training complexes in Arizona, recently started its 2024 with 15 teams aligned in five-team East, Central and West divisions. The league had 17 team last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants each operating two separate teams but both returned to operating only one team. The 2024 season... Full Story

Chicago Cubs Lefty Drew Smyly Expected to Pitch for South Bend Cubs on Rehab Assignment

SOUTH BEND, IN - As announced by Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly is expected to make a rehabilitation assignment start with the South Bend Cubs on Tuesday as the team hosts the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Four Winds Field. The Cubs placed Smyly on the injured list on April 23 due to a right hip impingement. He last pitched in the Major Leagues on April 21 against Miami at Wrigley Field. The 34-year-old Smyly has pitched with Chicago since 2022, after also being with the organization in 2018, but never pitching a game that year. Smyly has also made the... Full Story

Orlando Pride Ties NWSL Record with Seventh-Straight Win on Sunday

SEATTLE, Was. - The Orlando Pride (7-0-3, 24 points) tied a National Women's Soccer League record Sunday in Seattle, earning its seventh-straight win, a tally held by their opponent from the 2014 season. Behind a brace from Barbra Banda and a first career goal from Emily Sams, the Pride defeated Seattle Reign FC (2-7-1, 7 points) 3-2 on the road, also extending the team's unbeaten start to 10 straight to open the 2024 campaign. The Pride will have the opportunity to claim the league's win-streak record on Friday night, hosting perennial powerhouse Portland Thorns FC at INTER&Co Stadium in a... Full Story

Brahmas Clinch Final Playoff Spot with 20-15 over Arlington

San Antonio, Texas - San Antonio Brahmas' Running Back Anthony McFarland Jr. made the most of his return having missed the last five weeks of the regular season. McFarland had two first half catch-and-run touchdowns for 52 and 37 yards as San Antonio (6-2) knocked off the Arlington Renegades (1-7) Sunday afternoon, 20-15, at The Alamodome. The Brahmas clinched a spot in the XFL Conference Championship Game against the St. Louis Battlehawks (6-2). The Brahmas and Battlehawks will face off in the XFL Conference Championship on Sunday, June 9, with home-field advantage still to be determined. ... Full Story

• Chicago Cubs Lefty Drew Smyly Expected to Pitch for South Bend Cubs on Rehab Assignment - South Bend Cubs (MWL)
• Martin Clutch, Pitching Outstanding as Dust Devils Shut out Hops to Take Series - Tri-City Dust Devils (NWL)
• Sioux City Mustards up a Win in Chicago - Sioux City Explorers (AA)
• Colorado Rapids 2 Break Five-Game Losing Streak in 3-2 Victory Over Whitecaps FC 2 - Colorado Rapids 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
• Jackals Beat Seattle SeaWolves in Front of Record Crowd - Dallas Jackals (MLR)
• Fresno Overwhelms Stockton 9-4 As Wimmer, Snider And Kaminska Lead The Way - Fresno Grizzlies (CalL)
• Orlando Pride Ties NWSL Record with Seventh-Straight Win on Sunday - Orlando Pride (NWSL)
• Emeralds Leave Everett with Series Finale Victory - Eugene Emeralds (NWL)
• Revs Bounce Back To Blow Out Stormers - York Revolution (AtL)
• Black Bears defeat the Washington Wolfpack 27-25 - Oregon Blackbears (AFL3)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• DL Hall starts rehab stint, Timber Rattlers hold on to win 5-3 - MWL NewsBreak - Rockford
• Adirondack Thunder playoff takeaways: Record-setting goalie, road warriors and more - ECHL Glens Falls Post-Star
• The New England Revolution are at a crossroads - MLS Boston Globe
• Arena Football League moves forward, but still feels wobbly - AFL3 NBC Sports
• Argonauts sign veteran QB Arbuckle as preseason opener approaches - CFL TSN
• Chad Kelly, Shawn Lemon situations are a horrible look for troubled CFL - CFL Sportsnet
• Battlehawks clinch playoff sport with 26-21 win over DC - UFL FOX2
• Firebirds advance to the Western Conference Finals with series sweep over Reign. - AHL KESQ
• Lynn Williams breaks NWSL goal-scoring record in Gotham win - NWSL New York Newsday
• Firebirds stay undefeated after 66-15 drubbing of SWK - AFL3 WTEN
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• Courage Withstand Utah to Remain Perfect at Home by Fran Stuchbury
• Inside the UFL by Fran Stuchbury
• OSC Weekly Live Event Listings by Chris Blackmar
• Martinez, Payne and Santoso Named OurSports Central UFL Players of the Week by Fran Stuchbury
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury

Tri-City Dust Devils first baseman Mason Martin

See All Today's Images The following minor league and alternative professional sports teams on OurSports Central have been viewed the most over the last seven days:

1. Edmonton Elks - Canadian Football League (CFL)
2. Corpus Christi Hooks - Texas League (TL)
3. Minnesota Lynx - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
4. Colorado Rapids - Major League Soccer (MLS)
5. Charlotte FC - Major League Soccer (MLS)
6. Fresno Grizzlies - California League (CalL)
7. Saskatchewan Roughriders - Canadian Football League (CFL)
8. South Bend Cubs - Midwest League (MWL)
9. Edmonton Oil Kings - Western Hockey League (WHL)
10. Columbia Fireflies - Carolina League (CarL)

The most recent minor league and alternative professional sports teams added to OurSports Central:

• Eau Claire - The Arena League (TAL)
• North Platte 80s - Pecos League (Pecos)
• Westchester SC - United Soccer League One (USL1)
• Elmira Aviators - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• Hot Springs - The Arena League (TAL)
• Minnesota Mallards - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• Eugene - United Soccer League One (USL1)
• Athens Rock Lobsters - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
• Buffalo Pro Soccer - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
• Kansas City Goats - The Arena League (TAL)

OurSports Central provides coverage of select alternative and minor league professional sports leagues in addition to the top junior hockey leagues and college wood bat baseball leagues:

BASEBALL
Affiliated Minor League Baseball
AzCL, AzFL, CalL, CarL, EL, FLCL, FSL, IL, ML, MLBDL, MWL, NWL, PCL, SAL, SL, TL
College Wood Bat Baseball
ApL, Northwoods
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, FL, Pecos, PL

BASKETBALL
Men's Minor League Basketball
BIG3, CEBL, G League
Women's Basketball
WNBA

FOOTBALL
Indoor/Arena Football
AFL3, IFL, NAL, TAL
Outdoor Football
CFL, UFL

HOCKEY
Junior Hockey
NAHL, OHL, QMJHL, USHL, WHL
Minor League Hockey
AHL, ECHL, FPHL, SPHL
Women's Hockey
PWHL

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL
Outdoor Lacrosse
PLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR
Other Women's
NWLS, PVF

SOCCER
Indoor Soccer
MASL
Outdoor Soccer
CPL, MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL, USL1
Women's Soccer
NWSL, USLSL