ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tim Ream, the longtime captain and defender for the U.S. men's soccer team, is ending his national team career.
Ream had previously told head coach Mauricio Pochettino that he would not retire from national team play, but says now that the evolution of the team and the game has changed things.
“The kids are getting younger and younger, and I don’t mean my own kids,” Ream said Tuesday before the Americans faced Chile in a friendly in his hometown. “It is retirement. We’ve used the word recognition. We weren’t really sure how we wanted to label it, but, yeah, that’s it for me. I’m proud of being a part of something for 16 years, but it is time to step away and stay away from play with the national team.”
The 38-year-old Ream has 86 caps since making his national team debut on Nov. 17, 2010, in a friendly against South Africa. Only DaMarcus Beasley has more caps than Ream’s 60 after turning 30 years old.
Ream has worn the captain’s armband for 26 matches, including four at the World Cup earlier this year.
“It’s an honor, there’s not really any other way to put it,” Ream said. “The biggest thing that I wanted to do as I started to get the captain’s armband more and more is, ’How can I help these guys become the next captain? How can I help this group continue to develop and be more special than they are.”
Ream says the future for the U.S. team is looking bright with a group of young talent, including 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan, that reminds him of when the current core of Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams and Weston McKinnie was emerging.
“The thing that stands out to me with them is the same thing that stood out when the Westons, the Tylers, the Gios, these guys stepped in to the national team,” Ream said. “They have a ridiculous amount of confidence, and it’s refreshing. It borderlines being cocky, but I think you have to have that little bit of swagger. You have to have that that belief in yourself. They’re still learning.”
Ream said he will continue to play for MLS’ Charlotte FC and has not made a decision on his future in the MLS.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
FILE - United States' Tim Ream (13) in action during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko,File)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark finished with 27 points and 15 assists while reaching another milestone Tuesday night, and Kelsey Mitchell added 26 points to keep the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever's postseason alive with a 99-89 victory over the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.
Clark helped Indiana even the best-of-three series at 1-1 as she became the first player in league history to produce a points-assists double-double in the first half of a playoff game. She had 14 points and 11 assists in the first 20 minutes.
Game 3 will be played Thursday at Las Vegas.
The game was marred by an incident between A'ja Wilson and a fan who appeared to say something to Wilson after Sophie Cunningham was called for a foul. Wilson walked toward the fan, pointed at him and appeared to say something as two teammates, an assistant coach and security tried to separate everyone. Wilson was assessed a technical foul but was not ejected. The man was escorted out by security with Indiana leading 90-79 with 4:10 to play.
Las Vegas rallied to within 92-87, but even after Clark fouled out the Fever managed to hang on.
It wasn't just Clark's scoring that impacted this game. She put on a dribbling clinic, made nifty pass after nifty pass, became a harassing presence on defense and repeatedly encouraged the crowd to get louder.
It was a complete turnabout from Game 1 when Wilson dominated the middle and Las Vegas controlled the game. This time, Jackie Young scored 31 points while Wilson had 22 points and nine rebounds and passed Rebekkah Brunson for fourth on the league's career playoff list.
The Aces looked poised for a second straight blowout when they closed the first quarter on a 9-2 spurt and started the second with a 3 to take a 29-18 lead.
But Clark had something else in mind — like tying up Wilson for a jump ball, then grabbing the ball and walking into the baseline corner and pumping her arm toward the crowd. It was that kind of emotion that allowed Clark to start creating fast-break opportunities by winning the race to loose balls.
The resulting confusion and turnovers spurred a 20-6 second-quarter run that ended with Raven Johnson's short jumper that gave Indiana a 46-39 lead. Indiana still led 48-43 at halftime and extended the margin to 69-54 late in the third quarter.
But with Clark on the bench with four fouls, Vegas answered. They opened the fourth quarter on a 11-4 run that cut the deficit to 76-71.
A rematch between these teams in Las Vegas on Thursday night with the winner advancing to the league's semifinal round.
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) and forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) tie up Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, center, during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever guard Raven Johnson, left, and Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson vie for a loose ball during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever guard Raven Johnson, left, and Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, center, go for a loose ball during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates a three-point basket against the Indiana Fever during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives on Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
