sports

Afghanistan’s national women’s cricket team was formed in 2020, prompted by the rules of the International Cricket Council, which stated that countries must have both a men’s and a women’s team. The ICC hasn’t officially recognized the women’s team since the Taliban returned to power, but it has now pledged funding to help the team.

Tom Longboat was the Boston Marathon’s first Indigenous champion back in 1907. Today, his great-great-grandson, Kristian Jamieson, hopes to continue this special family tradition as a runner in Monday’s 129th annual race.

Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals scored his 895th career goal this weekend. That put the 39-year-old superstar captain ahead of the former record holder, Wayne Gretzky, who congratulated him in a ceremony on the ice, along with a host of other top-echelon athletes. Ovechkin was also congratulated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. What often gets lost amid the excitement is Ovechkin’s pro-Kremlin politics.

While the Philadelphia Eagles smashed the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX in February, two teams in Japan fought for the title in their own tournament, known as the Rice Bowl. These foes might not draw as many people in for the game, or the commercials, but they still have everything to play for.

The NFL started a new program several years ago to introduce talented athletes from other sports and around the globe to American football. The program includes practicing on the field and learning in the classroom. Since then, dozens of athletes have signed with NFL teams.