US keeps Pulisic on bench, sends out 9 new starters vs. Turkey in World Cup group finale

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The United States kept Christian Pulisic on the bench and sent out nine new starters for its final World Cup group match against Turkey on Thursday night with its knockout-round place already secured.

The American team has already won its group and clinched a matchup with Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 next week, so coach Mauricio Pochettino used this meaningless final match to give playing time to the second string on his 26-man squad.

The Americans kept Pulisic on the bench to begin the match along with the four key U.S. players who have already picked up yellow cards: striker Folarin Balogun, Tyler Adams and top defenders Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards.

Pulisic said this week that he is ready to play again after coming out at halftime with a calf injury in the Americans’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay to open their home World Cup nearly two weeks ago. Pochettino said Wednesday he hadn’t decided how to use Pulisic against Turkey, but suggested he might play part of the game.

Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi were the only starters in the lineup against Turkey who also started the Americans’ 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle last week. McKennie, the U.S. captain against Turkey, was the only player to start all three group matches, while Pepi remained in the lineup after replacing Pulisic against the Socceroos.

Pochettino also swapped out starting goalkeeper Matt Freese for Matt Turner, who was the Americans’ starter for all four matches at the Qatar World Cup four years ago.

The new starters were Turner, Auston Trusty, Gio Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Miles Robinson, Sebastian Berhalter, Tim Weah, Mark McKenzie and Joe Scally.

Turner, Aaronson, McKenzie and Miles Robinson all got their first playing time at this World Cup.

The U.S. faces Bosnia on Wednesday, July 1, in Santa Clara, California.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/FIFA-World-Cup

A fan cheers prior to the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Fans of United States pose for a picture prior to the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

A fan of United States cheers prior to the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino, right, walks with a colleague as they arrive at the stadium ahead of the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

United States' Christian Pulisic, left, and teammate Cristian Roldan arrive at the stadium ahead of the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

TORONTO (AP) — Marina Mabrey matched the WNBA scoring record with 53 points to help the Toronto Tempo rout the Los Angeles Sparks 125-97 on Thursday night.

Mabrey tied the mark set by Liz Cambage for Dallas against New York on July 17, 2018, and matched by A’ja Wilson for Las Vegas at Atlanta on Aug. 22, 2023.

When she checked out with a minute remaining, fans briefly booed before erupting into cheers in acknowledgement of her big night. The clock ticked down to zero with chants of “We Want Mabrey! We Want Mabrey!”

Mabrey was 17 of 28 from the field, tied the WNBA record for 3-pointers with nine in 18 attempts, and made 10 of 12 free throws. The 29-year-old former Notre Dame star shattered the expansion team’s previous high of 38 points done twice by Brittney Sykes.

Julie Allemand added 13 points and 14 assists for Toronto in the highest-score game in the team’s short history.

Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby led the Sparks with 21 points apiece.

Toronto climbed back to .500 at 9-9, and Los Angeles fell to 8-9.

The Tempo opened a nine-game homestand that includes two games at Montreal’s Bell Centre.

Sparks: At Indiana on Saturday night.

Tempo: Host Phoenix on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena,.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Toronto Tempo's Marina Mabrey (3) and Los Angeles Sparks' Rae Burrell, second from front right, vie for control of the ball during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Tempo's Marina Mabrey, center left, drives past Los Angeles Sparks' Dearica Hamby, center right, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Tempo's Marina Mabrey (3) drives to the net past Los Angeles Sparks' Jihyun Park (6) during the first half of WNBA basketball game in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Tempo's Marina Mabrey celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Sparks during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Tempo's Marina Mabrey sprints upcourt during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Sparks in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)