Suárez penalty kick seals Inter Miami win after Berterame knocked unconscious in collision

MONTREAL (AP) — Luis Suárez scored on a penalty kick in the 81st minute after Germán Berterame was fouled, knocked unconscious and taken away in an ambulance in Inter Miami's 1-0 win over CF Montreal on Saturday night.

Berterame was injured when he banged heads with Montreal defender Efraín Morales. There was no immediate details on the 27-year-old forward's condition.

“Berterame is conscious and is doing well,” interim coach Guillermo Hoyos said in Spanish after the game. "The blow was very strong but he is recovering.”

Suárez sent a soft shot past Sébastian Breza for his ninth goal of the season and his sixth in the last three matches to give Inter Miami its sixth straight victory.

Rocco Ríos Novo saved two shots for Inter Miami (11-2-4) in his third start and second clean sheet this season.

Breza had one save in his second start this season for Montreal (4-10-3) and the 37th of his career. He has never had a shutout.

Lionel Messi has not played in Inter Miami's first two matches following the World Cup after Argentina's runner-up finish. However, Carlos Casemiro, who played for Brazil in the event, made his MLS debut for the team after a successful career with Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.

Inter Miami has won three straight against Montreal.

Montreal has scored one goal in three matches since the World Cup break, going 0-2-1.

Miami: Hosts the Columbus Crew on Saturday.

Montreal: Hosts the New England Revolution on Saturday.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Inter Miami CF's German Berterame is tended to by medical staff after colliding with CF Montreal's Efrain Morales (24) during second half MLS soccer action in Montreal, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Berterame was taking off the pitch via ambulance. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Inter Miami CF's German Berterame is stretchered off the pitch after colliding with CF Montreal's Efrain Morales during second half MLS soccer action in Montreal, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Inter Miami CF's Sergio Reguilon (3) and Micael Dos Santos Silva (16) defend as goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo (34) comes out for the ball as CF Montreal's Daniel Rios, left, attempts a shot on goal during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Inter Miami CF's Yannick Bright (42) defends against CF Montreal's Victor Loturi (22) during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Inter Miami CF's Micael Dos Santos Silva (16) defends against CF Montreal's Prince Owusu (9) during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Inter Miami CF's Micael Dos Santos Silva (16) slides in on CF Montreal's Matty Longstaff (8) during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — Jonquel Jones, Nneka Ogwumike and Dominique Malonga made WNBA history on Saturday night.

It was quite the All-Star party in the league's 30th season.

Jones had 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, helping Caitlin Clark and Team Spoon outlast Marina Mabrey and Team Coop 129-122 in the WNBA All-Star Game.

Playing with a heavy heart after the death of an aunt, Jones was named MVP. The 32-year-old New York Liberty center became the first player to win the league, WNBA Finals, Commissioner's Cup and All-Star MVP awards.

Malonga had a first-half dunk for Team Coop, but Team Spoon had eight players score in double figures in an All-Star Game that featured 127 3-point attempts and very little defense. Allisha Gray had 19 points for Team Spoon, and Clark finished with 17.

It was the first WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago since 2022. This time, the marquee event was played in front of a record crowd of 19,783 at the United Center instead of the smaller Wintrust Arena in downtown Chicago, a sign of how much the league has grown.

Ogwumike scored 11 points for Team Spoon while passing Maya Moore (119) for the most career points in All-Star Game history.

Kelsey Mitchell had 28 points for Team Coop, and Mabrey scored all of her 23 points during a red-hot first half. Malonga finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

WNBA greats Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted the All-Star teams from players that were either voted as starters by fans, media and fellow players or chosen as reserves by the league’s coaches. Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon coached Cooper’s team, and Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve was in charge of Weatherspoon’s squad.

Clark went 5 for 15 from beyond the arc and had five assists in her return to the All-Star game. The Indiana Fever guard missed last year’s event in Indianapolis because of a groin injury.

“Last year really stunk being in our home city, you never want to miss that for the fans," Clark said. "I love to show up and compete.”

The 24-year-old Clark came out firing, connecting from 33 feet and 37 feet on her way to 11 points in the first 2 1/2 minutes. She buried another 3 early in the second quarter off a slick no-look pass from Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles, the only rookie selected for the game.

Clark and Mabrey each put on an offensive show, but Malonga got the biggest cheer of the night. The 6-foot-6 center from the Seattle Storm ran down the lane, got a pass from Angel Reese and threw down a right-handed jam with 6:24 left in the first half.

Reese jumped up and down as Malonga finished the play, and the two exchanged a mid-air chest bump on their way back down the court.

“The way she makes it look easy, the excitement around it," said Paige Bueckers, who scored 12 points for Team Coop. "I love Dom, happy for her how easy she makes it look.”

It was the first dunk in a WNBA All-Star Game since Sylvia Fowles in 2022. Lisa Leslie (2005), Jones (2017), Brittney Griner (2019) also have accomplished the feat.

Leslie was on hand for the festivities, along with South Carolina coach and former WNBA guard Dawn Staley. Former NBA star Dwyane Wade also was courtside.

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

Team Coop's Gabby Williams, right, celebrates with Paige Bueckers after she scored a three-point basket during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game against Team Spoon in Chicago, Saturday, July 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Team Spoon's A'Ja Wilson, center, goes up to shoot against Team Coop's Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, July 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Left to right; Team Spoon's Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, A'Ja Wilson, Olivia Miles and Jessica Shepard greet fans before a WNBA All-Star basketball game against Team Coop in Chicago, Saturday, July 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)