Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

BASEBALL Empire Baseball League: The independent developmental Empire League , which claims to be "The Nation's Premier Professional Baseball Showcase Organization," has posted it 2023 season schedule that will feature five teams each playing a 32-game schedule through July 18. All four of last season's teams called the Plattsburgh (NY) Thunderbirds, Tupper Lake (NY) Riverpigs, Saranac Lake (NY) Surge and the Japan Islanders travel-only team will return, and a new team called the Malone (NY... Full Story

Angel City FC Announces Final Roster Ahead of 2023 NWSL Season Opener

LOS ANGELES - Today, Angel City Football Club (ACFC) announced their final 25-player roster ahead of their 2023 season opener against NJ/NY Gotham FC at BMO Stadium on March 26 (6:00 p.m. PT kickoff). That match will stream live on Paramount+, broadcast in Canada on TSN, and stream internationally for free on NWSLsoccer.com. Below, please find the final roster in alphabetical order by last name and position: Goalkeepers (3): Angelina Anderson, DiDi Haračić, Brittany Isenhour Defenders (10): Vanessa Gilles (LOAN, INT), Sarah Gorden, Madison Hammond, Merritt Mathias, Paige N... Full Story

Smith, Taumoepenu and Joseph Named OurSports Central XFL Players of the Week

D.C. Defenders running back Abram Smith, Vegas Vipers outside linebacker Pita Taumoepenu and D.C. Defenders cornerback Michael Joseph were named the OurSports Central XFL Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Unsung Hero of the Week, respectively, for week five of the XFL season. Smith carried the ball 23 times for a whopping 218 yards and three touchdowns in the Defenders' 28-20 victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks. In addition to averaging nearly 9.5 yards per attempt, he broke two long scoring runs. Smith was drafted with the first overall pick of the 2023 XFL Draft's first phase f... Full Story

Chiefs Bounce Back After Rough Week With Impressive 3-2 Victory Over Silvertips

Spokane, Wash. - Bertholet and Catton starred for Spokane as the Chiefs knocked off Everett 3-2 in yet another tight affair in the final matchup between the two teams this season. The Chiefs got out to a rare early lead on Sunday night with Chase Bertholet scoring his first of the night and 27th of the season. Rookie Tommy De Luca sped down the left side after the feed from Bonni, before squeezing the puck across net front to the crashing Bertholet. The La Pas native wasn't done there. Number 28 registered his 28th goal of the season after a sloppy Everett turnover, quickly making it 2-0... Full Story

• Los Angeles Sparks Announce Preseason Games for 2023 Season - Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
• Storm Announces Preseason Slate and Single-Game Tickets On-Sale Date - Seattle Storm (WNBA)
• Former Kaizer Chiefs Forward Leo Castro Joins Greenville Attack - Greenville Triumph SC (USL1)
• Revolution M Dylan Borrero, D Christian Makoun Earn National Team Call-Ups - New England Revolution (MLS)
• Mercury Announce 2023 Preseason Schedule - Phoenix Mercury (WNBA)
• Four Philadelphia Union Players Receive International Call Ups - Philadelphia Union (MLS)
• Pats Captain Bedard Named WHL Player of the Week - Regina Pats (WHL)
• Chicago Fire FC II Forward Omari Glasgow Called to Guyana National Team for CONCACAF Nations League Matches - Chicago Fire FC II (MLS NEXT Pro)
• Racing Louisville FC Announces Roster Ahead of 2023 Season Kickoff - Racing Louisville FC (NWSL)
• Eight Loons Called up for International Duty - Minnesota United FC (MLS)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• BattleHawks coach Anthony Becht: St. Louis fan base is 'incredible' - XFL Alton Telegraph
• St. Louis City SC keeper Roman Burki reflects on his first shutout with the club - MLS St. Louis Post-Dispatch
• Milwaukee Admirals hit by Nashville Predators call-ups, winning in AHL - AHL Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Portland Thorns' sale in ‘advanced stages,' NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman says - NWSL Portland Oregonian
• Drive to build new AquaSox ballpark gets $7.4M boost from state - NWL Everett Herald
• Atlanta United's Thiago Almada, Caleb Wiley honored - MLS Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• XFL: Arlington Renegades beat San Antonio Brahmas for their first road win of the year - XFL Fort Worth Star-Telegram
• For San Diego Loyal SC, another week brings another win — and another clean sheet, too - USL San Diego Union-Tribune
• Villanova Star Siegrist Insists She's Undecided on WNBA - WNBA NBC 10 Philadelphia
• Color of Hockey: Fuhr enjoys TV, radio analyst role for Kraken AHL team - AHL NHL
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

• Smith, Taumoepenu and Joseph Named OurSports Central XFL Players of the Week by Fran Stuchbury
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• Inside the XFL by Fran Stuchbury
• Week Four XFL Power Rankings by Fran Stuchbury
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury
• Silvers, Skipper and King Named OurSports Central XFL Players of the Week by Fran Stuchbury

Racing Louisville FC exchanges congratulations (USA TODAY Sports Images)

See All Today's Images The following minor league and alternative professional sports teams on OurSports Central have been viewed the most over the last seven days:

1. Edmonton Elks - Canadian Football League (CFL)
2. Charlotte FC - Major League Soccer (MLS)
3. Colorado Rapids - Major League Soccer (MLS)
4. Minnesota Lynx - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
5. Edmonton Oil Kings - Western Hockey League (WHL)
6. Corpus Christi Hooks - Texas League (TL)
7. Saskatchewan Roughriders - Canadian Football League (CFL)
8. Fresno Grizzlies - California League (CalL)
9. B.C. Lions - Canadian Football League (CFL)
10. Toledo Mud Hens - International League (IL)

The most recent minor league and alternative professional sports teams added to OurSports Central:

• Vallejo Seaweed - Pecos League (Pecos)
• New Hampshire Mountain Kings - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• Utah Royals - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
• Guadalajara - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
• Atlanta - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
• Columbus - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
• Omaha - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
• Miami Sharks - Major League Rugby (MLR)
• Colorado Grit - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• Rochester Jr. Americans - North American Hockey League (NAHL)

OurSports Central provides coverage of select alternative and minor league professional sports leagues in addition to the top junior hockey leagues and college wood bat baseball leagues:

BASEBALL
Affiliated Minor League Baseball
AzCL, AzFL, CalL, CarL, EL, FSL, GCL, IL, ML, MLBDL, MWL, NWL, PCL, SAL, SL, TL
College Wood Bat Baseball
ApL, Northwoods
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, FL, Pecos, PL

BASKETBALL
Men's Minor League Basketball
BIG3, CEBL, G League, NBL Canada
Women's Basketball
WNBA

FOOTBALL
Indoor/Arena Football
CIF, IFL, NAL
Outdoor Football
CFL, USFL, XFL

HOCKEY
Junior Hockey
NAHL, OHL, QMJHL, USHL, WHL
Minor League Hockey
AHL, ECHL, FPHL, SPHL
Women's Hockey
PHF

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL, PBLA
Outdoor Lacrosse
PLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR, PVF
Other Women's
WTT

SOCCER
Indoor Soccer
MASL
Outdoor Soccer
CPL, MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL, USL1
Women's Soccer
NWSL, USLSL