The first family of Chicago sports has grown by one.

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson and Chicago Stars forward Mallory Swanson have welcomed their first daughter, they announced in a Friday evening Instagram post.

"Josie James Swanson," the Swansons wrote in a joint Instagram post, accompanied by a black-and-white photo of the family holding hands. "We love you more than you’ll ever know babygirl."

The couple has been together since 2017, when her brother-in-law—then-Braves utilityman Jace Peterson—introduced them. They married in 2022, and have both since made their way to Chicago—Dansby signed with the Cubs in Dec. 2022, while the then-Red Stars acquired Mallory a year prior.

Mallory, who owns 23 goals in four seasons with the Stars, missed the 2025 NWSL season due to her pregnancy. Dansby, meanwhile, slashed .244/.300/.417 with 24 home runs and 77 RBIs for a palyoff Cubs team.

That's to say: Josie will have no shortage of name recognition should she pursue a career in the Chicago sports world.

أعلن اتحاد الكرة المصري، برئاسة هاني أبو ريدة، عن موعد مباراة الأهلي أمام نظيره المصرية للاتصالات، في إطار منافسات دور الـ32 ببطولة كأس مصر.

وأوقعت قرعة كأس مصر، فريق الأهلي أمام نظيره المصرية للاتصالات في دور الـ32 من البطولة الأقدم في مصر.

وسيلعب الفائز من الفريقين أمام فريق فاركو الذي حجز مقعده في دور الـ16 من بطولة كأس مصر.

طالع | طريق الأهلي | فاركو يهزم تليفونات بني سويف بثنائية في كأس مصر

وحجز فريق فاركو مقعده في دور الـ16 من بطولة كأس مصر بعدما حقق الفوز على تليفونات بني سويف في دور الـ32، بهدفين نظيفين. موعد مباراة الأهلي والمصرية للاتصالات في كأس مصر

وستقام مباراة الأهلي والمصرية للاتصالات في دور الـ32 بـ كأس مصر، يوم السبت 27 ديسمبر الجاري، في تمام الساعة الخامسة مساء، على استاد السلام، ولم يحدد اتحاد الكرة موعد مواجهة دور الـ16.

Where once greatness was expected, now only meaningful contributions are required, and Kusal Mendis is playing match-winning innings while also impressing with the gloves

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Sep-20252:22

Maharoof: Mendis a nightmare for spinners once he gets going

“The prince”, “next great Sri Lankan batter”, “boy wonder” are some descriptions that have been assigned to Kusal Mendis. “Spoilt”, “useless”, “soft”, “touchy” are some others. Although at home he is a polarising cricketer, outside Sri Lanka, he is a pretty inoffensive presence – one of those South Asian wicketkeepers who doesn’t feel especially comfortable sledging in English, so there are no viral clips.And yet, few Sri Lankan cricketers have got into as many arguments with fans at the edge of the boundary as Mendis. When Sri Lanka were on one of their huge losing streaks in the late 2010s or early 2020s, Mendis was one of the guys to blame. Not taking sufficient responsibility was one accusation. Caring too much about social-media likes was another. People would say things like this to his face, and Mendis would respond just as quickly.But he is 30 now, and has, in his own way, carved out a place. He was a specialist batter for Sri Lanka when he started out, but had kept wicket at the age-group levels. Long after it became clear he was not about to be the saviour of Sri Lankan batting, choices were reassessed, expectations were toned down, and goals have been reset.Related

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka to kick off Super Four stage

Kusal Mendis, Nuwan Thushara knock Afghanistan out

He is now one of the few players that appears across formats for Sri Lanka. What is key to this deal is that he must keep wicket, and do it well. At international level, Mendis has been crushing it.Even just in this Asia Cup, he’s made his presence felt behind the stumps. Against Hong Kong – the opponents that tested Sri Lanka most in the group stage – he stuck pads out to stop extras, scrambled stumpings off bad ricochets, and took a high catch. The entire vibe of this team is that now, you find ways to make yourself useful. Nine years after he appeared in international cricket, perhaps Mendis has found his pocket.He is, as Afghanistan found out, brutal on errors of length, a master of varieties of the sweep, and an excellent manipulator in the middle overs. If there is a ball that can possibly be hit square of the wicket, Mendis tends to oblige. He also tends to far prefer spin. By necessity, he has now become a white-ball opener. But he’s always looked most comfortable when playing the sweep as often as possible.”We knew today they’d bowl a lot of spin,” Mendis said after the Afghanistan game. “What me and Kusal Perera talked about was to bat normally until the 12th over. But almost automatically, we were able to make eight or nine runs per over. That made things easier for us.”Even when Charith Asalanka came to bat, we were waiting for those seam-bowling overs, so we can score some runs off that.”If there is a ball that can possibly be hit square of the wicket, Kusal Mendis tends to oblige•Associated PressAlthough Asalanka faced zero seam-bowling deliveries through the course of his stay, Mendis’ theory held true – Afghanistan’s seamers are easier to get away with the older ball than their spinners. It was Kamindu Mendis, in the end, who helped Mendis take Fazalhaq Farooqi down. By that stage, there had been 12 successive overs of spin, through which Mendis’ sweeps, cuts, swivel-pulls and nudges had helped Sri Lanka stay in touch with the required rate.Then a 15-run over off Farooqi sealed the result. Mendis hit the winning runs, deservedly, crashing Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman through midwicket.Where once greatness was expected, now only meaningful contributions to the team are required. Mendis has had to reassess his role several times in his career. But he is now Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper-batter across formats. And he is playing match-winning innings, while also impressing with the gloves.Sometimes all it takes is finding your niche.

They might not have won, but Chelsea put in an incredible performance against Arsenal on Sunday evening.

Enzo Maresca’s side were comfortably on top for most of the first half, and even when Moises Caicedo got himself sent off, they remained competitive.

Moreover, there were sensational displays from across the pitch for the hosts, including, of course, Reece James.

However, there was another starter, someone who was previously lambasted by Gary Neville, who was just as crucial to the result.

James' performance vs Arsenal

James has undoubtedly been one of the best right-backs in the Premier League for some time now, but Maresca has taken to playing him in midfield more often this season.

The Italian opted to start his captain there again on Sunday, and while there was plenty of talk around the battle between Declan Rice and Caicedo, it was the Cobham graduate who stole the show.

For example, while Trevoh Chalobah was the one who headed home the Blues’ goal, it was the versatile James who delivered it with pinpoint accuracy from the corner.

However, the academy graduate did far more than just provide an assist.

In his 94 minutes of action, he played two key passes, won 100% of his tackles, won 11 of 12 duels, didn’t get dribbled past at all, recovered the ball twice, completed three of his four crosses, took one shot and completed 100% of his dribbles.

Minutes

94′

Assists

1

Big Chances Created

1

Key Passes

2

Crosses (Accurate)

4 (3)

Shots

1

Touches

50

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Fouls Won

4

Interception

1

Clearances

1

Recoveries

2

Ground Duels (Won)

6 (6)

Aerial Duels (Won)

6 (5)

In addition to all the measurable metrics, the 25-year-old also showed his leadership skills, helping to marshal the team in the moments the Gunners exerted pressure of their own.

Described as “absolutely ridiculous” by one analyst and “gargantuan” by presenter Olivia Buzaglo, the Redbridge-born international was unsurprisingly, and deservedly, named as the man of the match.

Without him in the middle of the park, there is a good chance that Chelsea would not have won that game, which is what could be said about another starter who has been heavily criticised over the last few seasons.

The Chelsea star on a par with James

The excellent news for Maresca and the Stamford Bridge faithful is that there were more than a few starters who truly shone last night.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Be it Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Enzo Fernández or even Pedro Neto, who carried the ball up the pitch and into dangerous areas again and again.

However, when it comes to someone who was previously lambasted but exceptional against Arsenal, it’s impossible to look past Robert Sanchez.

Prior to this season, the Spanish goalkeeper was seen as something of a blunder waiting to happen between the sticks, and to some extent, that is what he’s been for much of his time in West London.

In fact, just last season, after a loss against Manchester City in which he was at fault for one of Erling Haaland’s goals, Gary Neville claimed “he’s not good enough.”

However, since the start of this season, the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has been far more impressive, and on Sunday evening, he was as important as James for the Blues’ win.

On top of stopping a number of good efforts, like Gabriel Martinelli’s in the first half, the 28-year-old was effective in possession and confident in collecting crosses.

In fact, football.london’s Bobby Vincent awarded the keeper an 8/10 match rating at full time, writing that it was a ‘top performance.’

Minutes

94′

Total Saves

3

Saves in the Box

2

Goals Prevented

1.18

High Claims

2

Key Passes

1

Touches

60

Recoveries

11

Unsurprisingly, the statistics back up this appraisal: in his 94 minutes of action, the shot-stopper made three saves, two of which came inside the box, prevented 1.18 goals, made two high claims, played one key pass, took 60 touches and recovered the ball 11 times.

Ultimately, while it will take some time to shift his old reputation, Sanchez is well on his way to doing so, and was as important as James in Chelsea’s draw on Sunday.

Chelsea star who saved Caicedo is their "most underappreciated player"

The underrated Chelsea ace made sure Caicedo’s red card didn’t cost Enzo Maresca’s men against Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 30, 2025

Bayern Munich wonderkid Lennart Karl has admitted he is learning a lot from star striker and England captain Harry Kane after breaking a Champions League record in the club's win over Sporting CP. The 17-year-old prodigy has been a revelation for Vincent Kompany's side in the 2025-26 campaign and with consistent performances every week, he is closing in on being included in Germany's 2026 World Cup squad.

• Karl broke another record in debut campaign

  On a night when the Bundesliga giants found themselves in a precarious position, trailing 1-0 to Sporting CP at the Allianz Arena after a shock Joshua Kimmich own goal, it was their teenage wonderkid Karl who once again provided the catalyst for a vital 3-1 comeback victory. 

  In doing so, the youngster achieved a feat that eluded even the greatest names in the competition's history at his age. By firing home the decisive goal in the 69th minute, cushioning a Konrad Laimer cross before lashing a finish past Rui Silva, the teenager became the youngest player in Champions League history to score in three consecutive matches, aged just 17 years and 290 days. It is not the first European record he has set during this breakthrough season for the Bavarian giants.  

  After the victory at home, Kompany was all praises for the youngster, as he said: "Lenny is always dangerous. To be totally honest, he's had better games, but four or five times he's always there, and that's also a strength, and then you don't always have to be the best player on the pitch. He gets his moments and then he just kills." 

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• AFP
  

  Karl learning from Kane

  After scripting yet another record for the Bavarian giants, Karl credited Bayern star Kane for his dream debut campaign as he told : "It’s so much fun. I’m learning so much with Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich and everyone around me. It allows me to show my football. They play passes to me, I play passes back – they’re great teammates and that makes it a lot of fun." 

• Karl backed to become a 'German great'

  World Cup-winning, legendary Germany captain Lothar Matthaus heaped praise on Karl and claimed that the teenager has the potential to be a future great for German football. He said to : "He has every opportunity to become a great in German football. He has the right environment at FC Bayern, comes into a functioning team and has already scored important points with his dribbling and self-confidence – also in his interviews. 

  "He's a very big candidate, because players like that, who have something special, are in demand at a tournament like this. These street footballers who don't just let themselves be forced into a system, but also do what they smell and feel at that moment – and that's Lennart Karl." 

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  Will Kane leave Bayern next summer?

  Kane has been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena next summer, with his current contract reportedly containing a €65 million (57m/$76m) release clause. However, according to , the former Spurs striker won't take up the €65m release clause option and instead wants to sign a contract extension with Bayern. 

  While he is ranked second in the Premier League's all-time goalscoring charts, only 47 behind record holder Alan Shearer, the striker is thought to prefer winning more silverware with Vincent Kompany's Bayern, instead of returning home. Kane famously went through his goal-laden spell with Tottenham without winning a single piece of silverware and then had to wait the better part of two years to claim a trophy with Bayern, eventually getting his hands on the Bundesliga trophy last season.