Austin FC's not-so-great half season
It's about midway through the Major League Soccer season, and Austin FC has very little to show for it.
Why it matters: The ownership brought in new players over the winter as part of a high-dollar makeover, but the squad has scored just 13 goals through 18 games, second-lowest in the league.
Yes, but: In MLS' generous postseason qualification scheme, if the season ended today, Austin's 6-5-7 record would currently be just good enough to get into the playoffs.
The latest: The Verde and Black is coming off a 2-0 victory in last Saturday in Colorado — its first regular season MLS victory since mid-April.
"I'm really, really glad and happy we won today because this win took a long time to come when it should have come in the month of May," Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez said last weekend.
Neither goal came from Brandon Vázquez, their off-season striker acquisition, who's notched only four goals so far.
The intrigue: Q2 Stadium hosts the 2025 MLS All-Star Game on July 23, and no Austin player is expected to be voted onto the team.
Estévez is coach and can select a dozen players himself, and keeping with tradition, is likely to pick at least one of the home side's players for the squad.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why is Red Sox' Rafael Devers taking grounders before games? Alex Cora gives definitive answer
BOSTON — For weeks, the Red Sox have remained somewhat cagey when it comes to the question of Rafael Devers' positional future. On Saturday, though, manager Alex Cora offered the most definitive answer yet. Devers, who was asked to move to first base in the wake of Triston Casas' knee injury in early May but was not a consideration to return to third base when Alex Bregman went down weeks later, has remained as Boston's designated hitter and has not worked out at either corner infield spot. Still, for weeks, the Red Sox left the possibility open that Devers could move back to the field, repeating the refrain that 'conversations were ongoing.' Advertisement Before Saturday's game, asked if those conversations continued, Cora acknowledged the writing that has been on the wall for weeks. 'We talk, but he's my DH,' Cora said. 'Let's leave it at that." Asked if he expected Devers to only be the DH for the rest of the season, Cora said: 'Yes.' It's unclear exactly what has transpired since the highly publicized May 9 meeting in Kansas City between Devers, Cora and principal owner John Henry, who flew halfway across the country to sit down with Devers one day after he went public with his refusal to move to first base. Devers, who contended that the Red Sox operated in bad faith by asking him to give up his glove to move to DH in spring training, then learn a new position in the middle of a season months later, has declined to comment on the meeting (or the results of it) numerous times over the last month. Advertisement There is no evidence, though, to suggest anything changed when Henry and Devers sat down. And Devers, a lock to make his fourth All-Star Game in the past five seasons, has continued to mash as a DH, hitting .275 with 14 homers, 18 doubles, 57 RBIs and a .907 OPS. Devers has reintroduced one wrinkle into his pregame routine recently, which led the questions about his defensive future being asked Saturday. In the last couple weeks, he has consistently joined teammates for infield drills before batting practice and has been spotted taking grounders and turning double plays at shortstop along with Trevor Story and David Hamilton. That doesn't mean Devers is a candidate to play there, of course, but is a sign he has largely recovered from the reported groin strain that had been bothering him. 'Part of his conditioning program, just moving around,' said Cora. 'He didn't do it there for a while. There were a few things going on. Now that he's feeling good, just go out there and take grounders. Advertisement 'The fact he's throwing, that's important, too. Obviously, if something happens, we've got to get this (making a throwing motion) going. I'm happy he's out there moving and feeling good. He's feeling good.' More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier Lead Early WNBA All-Star Game Fan-Voting
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has an early lead in the fan voting for next month's WNBA All-Star Game, the league announced Friday. The second-year guard received 515,993 votes. Clark was followed by Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who garnered 484,758 votes. There were three other Indiana players in the top 10 with Aliyah Boston third, Kelsey Mitchell seventh and Lexie Hull ninth. This year's game will be played in Indiana on July 19. Three-time league MVP A'ja Wilson of Las Vegas and Breanna Stewart of the defending-champion New York Liberty were fourth and fifth in the balloting, respectively. The two were the captains for the All-Star Game in 2022 and 2023. Sabrina Ionescu, Stewart's teammate, was eighth, while rookies Paige Bueckers of Dallas, in sixth, and Kiki Iriafen of Washington, in 10th, rounded out the top 10. Bueckers was the first-overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, out of UConn. Fan voting ends on June 28 and accounts for 50% of the overall vote. Current players and a media panel each account for 25%. The top four guards and six frontcourt players with the best overall score between the three groups are honored as starters for the All-Star Game. The league's coaches choose the 12 reserve players. The vote totals matter beyond any bragging rights they give a player, as the two starters who receive the most fan votes will be the captains of the game and choose their All-Star teams, with the results announced on July 8. This year's contest will have the traditional format of two teams playing against each other. Last season was a matchup of the USA Olympic team playing against an All-Star team. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Caitlin Clark Napheesa Collier Women's National Basketball Association recommended Get more from Women's National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Buxton 'playing best ball' of his career in 2025
Byron Buxton is finally healthy and playing some of the best baseball of his career, and James Schiano examines why the 31-year-old outfielder is on pace to make his first All-Star Game since 2022.
