LA JOLLA, Calif. (AP) — Sinia Plotz scored to begin each half and Anna Reed finished with 10 saves to lead Southern California to a 10-9 victory over California at the Canyonview Aquatic Center, earning the Trojans a seventh national championship in women’s water polo. It’s the first championship for Casey Moon in his second season as the Trojans head coach. USC last claimed the title in 2021. The fourth-seeded Golden Bears (16-8), looking for their first championship, knocked out defending champion and top-ranked Stanford 13-11 in the semifinals to advance to their second final in three seasons under coach Coralie Simmons — in her 10th season.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jara Emtage-Cave started playing rugby as a 13-year-old in Barbados, never really imagining how the sport might shape her world. She graduated from the flag program to full contact at age 16, continued her career as an undergrad on Stanford’s club team and this weekend played on one of more than two dozen teams competing in Indianapolis at the College Rugby Association of America championship. But for Emtage-Cave and the others, there’s a potentially bigger prize in Indy than merely winning a title. They could help turn women’s rugby into a full-fledged NCAA championship sport. The women's national championship tourney was held Saturday and Sunday in Indianapolis. The men's title will be decided next weekend in Indy.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — A little more than a year since helping Ohio State win the national title together with a dominant defense, a domino effect at the NFL draft led Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs to all end up in the same division, the NFC East. Reese fell to the New York Giants at No. 5, the Washington Commanders took Styles two picks later after Kansas City leapfrogged them for another prospect and the Dallas Cowboys traded up to get Downs at No. 11. Reese, Styles and Downs will be seeing a lot of each other for the next several years.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — For the last five months as construction cranes have swung steel beams and other fortifications into place at Beaver Stadium, Matt Campbell has undertaken a massive construction project of his own. Campbell became Penn State’s football coach in December. He has assembled an all-new staff and rebuilt a roster with new faces from all over the country. By the time Penn State finishes the $700 million renovation of its massive stadium for the start of the season, Campbell believes the new-look Nittany Lions will be ready to compete and it will be thanks to a patient approach.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — University of Nebraska regents approved a $600 million overhaul of Memorial Stadium that will make the 103-year-old venue more fan-friendly and increase revenue potential for the athletic department. The project will be funded by a mix of $250 million in philanthropic support and $350 million in private bond financing. Completion is targeted for the start of the 2028 football season. The Cornhuskers have played at Memorial Stadium since 1923 and will enter this season with an NCAA-record sellout streak of 410 games dating to 1962.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson has declared for the NBA draft, a move that had been expected ever since his arrival on campus. The high-scoring guard is likely to be among the top three picks in June. He averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 24 games. Fellow freshmen A.J. Dybantsa of BYU and Cameron Boozer of Duke are among that top tier of prospects. Dybantsa declared Thursday. Boozer declared Friday evening after becoming only the fifth freshman named The Associated Press men's national player of the year.
