National Sports

AUKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Sophia Smith scored twice for the United States in the opening half and the two-time defending champions kicked off the Women's World Cup with a 3-0 victory over tournament first-timers Vietnam on Saturday.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Some people paid hundreds of dollars to be able to say they were in the stadium for Lionel Messi’s debut for Inter Miami. Some paid thousands for their seats.

MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) — Cheyenne Knight and Elizabeth Szokol birdied six of the last eight holes in alternate-shot play for an 8-under 62 and a three-stroke lead Friday in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, the LPGA Tour’s lone team event.

MADRID — Toby Fournier had 20 points and 23 rebounds as Canada advanced to the semifinals of the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup with an 82-69 win over Mali on Friday.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have traded midfielder Julian Gressel to the Columbus Crew in exchange for allocation money.

Olivia Smith, the youngest member of Canada's Women's World Cup squad, has signed with Portugal's Sporting CP. The 18-year-old from Whitby, Ont.

FUKUOKA, Japan — The Canadian men's water polo team finished preliminary-round play with a 15-11 loss to France on Friday at the FINA World Aquatics Championships.

HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Brian Harman found himself in elite company through two rounds at Royal Liverpool, tying the 36-hole record also held by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

HALIFAX — Baseball is known as America's game, but there were signs Friday on a misty Halifax field that First Nations and Métis athletes from Canada are increasingly adopting it as their own.

MONTREAL — CF Montreal will be leaning on its impressive home form as it opens its Leagues Cup campaign against Mexican side Pumas U.N.A.M. on Saturday.