WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Former Canada women's soccer coach Bev Priestman has tasted immediate success on her return from a one-year ban over a drone-spying scandal at the 2024 Olympics, guiding the Wellington Phoenix women to the final of the Australian A-League.
The Phoenix went down 3-1 to Melbourne Victory in Saturday's final but it was a massive improvement on the team's four previous A-League seasons. They finished last in their first two seasons and eighth and ninth in the next two seasons in the 11-team league.
The Phoenix role is England-born Priestman's first since the completion of the one-year ban imposed by FIFA for “offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play.”
Priestman led the Canada women to the gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. Prior to Canada's opening match against New Zealand at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a drone was flown over the New Zealand team's private training session.
Two members of the Canada team's backroom staff were sent home and Priestman voluntarily stood down from the coaching team from the first match. She was subsequently stood down and suspended by Canada Soccer and, after an investigation, she was fired from her role.
Priestman found her opportunity for redemption a long way from home, in New Zealand where she was offered a chance to return to a coaching role on a two-year contract. At her first press conference in New Zealand she thanked the Phoenix for “having faith in me to return to the game.
“For me, coming back has felt like the right move. Today is a good day.”
After the final, Priestman said her first season back in soccer had been enjoyable.
“I’ve seen people be at their best when they’re hungry,” she said. Losing the final “leaves a little bit on us. And in many ways, it might help us next year to push to another level. I’ve got an ambitious club.
“I’m at my best in these moments; the hunger, the desire to push forward. I think everybody will channel that now. When we turn up in pre-season, we’ll all know what could have been.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Canada's head coach Bev Priestman gestures during the women's World Cup Group B soccer match between Australia and Canada in Melbourne, Australia, July 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair, File)
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A few days off seems to have helped Shohei Ohtani get on track as the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger drove in a season-high five runs against his old team Saturday night.
Ohtani went 2 for 4 with two walks and scored two runs in the Dodgers’ 15-2 win over the Angels — and even had a Little League home run in the eighth inning.
“We were hoping to get a reset with a couple days off," manager Dave Roberts said, “and I think that’s what happened.”
With another large contingent of Dodgers fans in attendance for the second game of the three-game Freeway Series, Ohtani got back to his highlight-reel self late in the game.
He ripped a ball into the right field corner in the eighth and it took an awkward bounce off the netting down the first-base line. Jo Adell didn't play the ball at first, calling for a ground-rule double. But when no ruling was made, Adell was left trying to play catchup. His throw into the infield wasn't on target, allowing Ohtani to score on the error after a two-run triple.
The netting down to both foul poles is a new addition to Angel Stadium this season and was not here when Ohtani won two American League MVP awards in six seasons with the Angels from 2018-23.
“I just kept running,” Ohtani said through a translator in a postgame television interview.
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki challenged the play in vain, hoping a fan had touched the ball when it hit the net before going back into play.
Ohtani then cracked a double with the bases loaded in the ninth, drawing “MVP" chants while notching his first game with five RBIs since June 22, 2025. It was his third extra-base hit in two games, including a double in the fifth inning on Friday, after getting one in the first 12 games in May.
The loss of power started during an 0-for-17 slump from April 29-May 4.
“Just happy to be performing in front of both Dodger fans and Angels fans," Ohtani said. “I'm really happy I was able to contribute a lot today.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, right, scores on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith as Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe stands at the plate during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani stands in the dugout prior to a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, center, scores on his two-run triple after a throwing error as Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe, right, stands at the plate and third baseman Vaughn Grissom picks up the ball during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) CORRECTION: After official review, changed from three-run inside-the-park home run to two-run triple after a throwing error
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, right, scores on his two-run triple after a throwing error as Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe stands at the plate during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) CORRECTION: After official review, changed from three-run inside-the-park home run to two-run triple after a throwing error
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run triple during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) CORRECTION: After official review, changed from three-run inside-the-park home run to two-run triple after a throwing error
