Football is back! Well, the preseason, anyway. And international friendlies, also known as soccer.
The Hall of Fame game between the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons kicked things off in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday, the start of the NFL’s 100th season. The festivities will continue there, with eight being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
While the greats are enshrined, up-and-coming and current stars look to continue to shine. The US Women’s National Team victory – as well as a farewell – tour is underway. There’s still a chance to watch Cori “Coco” Gauff this weekend. And a stolen trophy won’t stop potential history at the Women’s British Open. More on that later.
Here’s your guide to the weekend’s biggest sporting events:
USWNT vs Ireland
The USWNT victory tour kicks off in Pasadena, California, with the US hosting the Republic of Ireland at the Rose Bowl. It will be the first game for the Americans on home soil after winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
This also serves as a goodbye for head coach Jill Ellis, who will step down after the five-match stint. Ellis is the first coach to win two Women’s World Cup titles.
Also percolating: A fight for the moral high ground is publicly playing out over the USWNT’s gender discrimination lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation.
Watch it: Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2
International viewers, check local listings.
Pro Football Hall of Fame induction
Ready for nostalgia and potential tear-jerking speeches? Look no further than the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
This year’s class is made up of Champ Bailey, Tony Gonzalez, Ty Law, Kevin Mawae, Ed Reed, Johnny Robinson, the late Pat Bowlen and Gil Brandt. All of them get the coveted Haggar Gold Jacket. Little known fact, the jacket’s gold color isn’t registered with any color service. The specialty dip is as locked up as the Coca-Cola formula.
AKA, you’ll need to join the HOF to get your hands on that kind of gold. Good luck. But you don’t need those kind of credentials to watch the induction ceremony.
Watch it: Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network
International viewers, check local listings.
Citi Open
America’s new favorite teenager Cori “Coco” Gauff, who made an epic run into the round of 16 at Wimbledon, made a quick exit in singles in Washington, DC at the Citi Open. But don’t worry, you can still see the 15-year-old phenom play in the doubles semifinal with her partner, 17-year-old Catherine McNally. The two have played together before, winning the doubles title at the US Open Junior Tennis Championships in September. McNally, by the way, has reached the quarterfinals in the singles’ draw.
Additionally, there’s another Andy Murray sighting since his return from hip surgery. He’s not playing singles yet, though he recently said the “best-case scenario” to do that would be later in August in Cincinnati. In the meantime, he’s teamed up with his brother, Jamie Murray, in doubles. If they keep winning, the duo could potentially face another set of brothers, Bob and Mike Bryan, in the final.
The Citi Open is part of the US Open Series, which ramps up to the final major of the year – the US Open in New York. Catch this plus other WTA and ATP Tour tournaments this weekend.
Watch it:
Friday: 2 p.m. ET on Tennis Channel
Saturday: 1 p.m. ET on Tennis Channel
Sunday: noon ET on Tennis Channel
International viewers, check local listings.
Women’s British Open
The final women’s major on the golf calendar, the Women’s British Open takes place at Woburn Golf Club in England. Nine of the past 10 winners are returning to the field, including last year’s champion, Georgia Hall. While Hall is looking to defend her title, she won’t be defending her trophy.
Huh?
Hall said Tuesday that her British Open trophy from one year ago was stolen in a carjacking. Yes, she kept the trophy in the trunk of her car, which she admitted was probably not the best place for it.
But no need to worry. A new trophy is to be commissioned this year anyway, thanks to a new tournament sponsorship with AIG. If Hall wants to secure that one, secure being the optimal word here, she’ll have to go through Jin Young Ko.
Ko missed the cut in 2018 but has momentum on her side after winning the Evian Championship last weekend. A win for Ko would put her in historic company. She would join the likes of Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan and Inbee Park as just the seventh professional golfer to win three major championships in a single season. Ko won the ANA Inspiration title back in April.
Watch it:
Friday: 6 a.m. ET on Golf Channel
Saturday: 7 a.m. ET on Golf Channel and 11 a.m. ET on NBC
Sunday: 7 a.m. ET on Golf Channel and 11:30 a.m. ET on NBC
International viewers, check local listings.
