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Liam Griffin

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Liam Griffin

lgriffin@washingtontimes.com

Liam Griffin is a sports reporter for The Washington Times. A graduate of George Mason University, he previously covered local news for Patch in northern Virginia. He can be reached at lgriffin@washigntontimes.com.

Articles by Liam Griffin

Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes (20) during a WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, Conn., Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis) **FILE**

Mystics’ Sykes shines alongside rookies as rebuild moves ahead of schedule

Mystics rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are clearly the franchise's future, as they hit the ground running in their first WNBA campaign. But veteran Brittney Sykes, who looks primed to make her first All-Star team this summer, represents the Mystics' present.

June 18, 2025

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) tries to get past Connecticut Sun guard Saniya Rivers (22) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Fever, Sun knock each other around after Caitlin Clark bashed, decked

The basketball world wanted to hear Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark discuss the shove that knocked her to the court amid a series of scuffles, technical fouls and ejections that dominated her squad's 88-71 victory at home over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.

June 18, 2025

Carson Hocevar is introduced to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar fined $50K for derogatory remark about Mexico City

NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar doesn't appear to be a fan of Mexico City. His team fined him $50,000 on Tuesday and ordered him to undergo sensitivity training after the 22-year-old called the Mexican capital a "s---hole" during a recent livestream.

June 18, 2025

Baltimore Orioles baseball club emblem and baseball. File photo credit: fifg via Shutterstock.

Orioles prospect Luis Guevara killed in Florida jet ski crash

Baltimore Orioles prospect Luis Guevara died after a jet ski crash in Florida, the team announced Tuesday. He was 19.

June 18, 2025

Washington Nationals Manager Dave Martinez (4) on the field arguing with an umpire during the seventh inning of an MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park in Washington D.C., April 8, 2025. (Photo by All-Pro Reels for Washington Times Sports)

Nationals’ GM defends manager Martinez amid losing streak

Manager Dave Martinez and the Washington Nationals are careening toward rock bottom. The team has lost 10 straight games, including the last two against the Colorado Rockies, one of the worst teams in MLB history.

June 18, 2025

Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant (3) reacts after a 3-point basket in the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) **FILE**

Streak of ex-Wizards winning titles on the line in NBA Finals

The Washington Wizards' streak of NBA championships is in danger. The District's franchise hasn't secured a title for itself since 1978, but at least one former Wizard has lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy in each of the past eight years.

June 17, 2025

Chicago Sky's Angel Reese poses for a portrait during the WNBA basketball team's media day at Intentional Sports on the West Side, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Chicago. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) ** FILE **

WNBA’s Reese flips script on trolls, files ‘Mebounds’ trademark

WNBA star Angel Reese is looking to turn a pejorative into profit. After earning her first career triple-double on Sunday, ornery viewers accused her of playing a selfish brand of basketball. So she countered by filing a trademark for "Mebounds."

June 17, 2025

In this Saturday, May 25, 2019, photo, Los Angeles Angels third baseman Zack Cozart fields a ball hit by Texas Rangers' Shin-Soo Choo, throwing him out at first, during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) **FILE**

Former MLB All-Star Cozart ‘will no longer support’ Trump if U.S. goes to war

Former MLB All-Star Zack Cozart isn't shy in his support for President Trump. That could change if the Republican sends troops to intervene in the conflict between Israel and Iran, the retired shortstop said.

June 17, 2025

Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt, left, and Italy's Sofia Cantore in action during the Women's World Cup Group G soccer match between the Sweden and Italy in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/John Cowpland)

Washington Spirit sign first Italian player in NWSL history

The Washington Spirit made history on Tuesday by signing Juventus forward Sofia Cantore, the first Italian player in NWSL history.

June 17, 2025

This is a 2025 photo of Brady House of the Washington Nationals baseball team. This image reflects the Nationals' active roster as of Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, when this image was taken. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

Nationals promote House to wake up silent bats

The Nationals' struggling lineup is getting a boost. The club promoted third baseman Brady House, the top position player in their farm system, ahead of Monday's game against the Colorado Rockies.

June 16, 2025

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) passes the puck past Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) ** FILE **

Capitals’ Fehervary, Eller named to preliminary Olympic squads

At least two current Capitals will represent their nations at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

June 16, 2025

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl responds to questions during a news conference, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Atlanta, ahead of the Sweet 16 in the NCAA college basketball tournament. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl doubles down on pro-Israel stance

Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl isn't backing down from his pro-Israel stances, even if it could one day cost him his job.

June 16, 2025

Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams, right, is forced out at second base as Miami Marlins second baseman Javier Sanoja, left, throws to first base to put out Nationals' Amed Rosario for a double-play during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Losing streak for Nationals extends to eight games after Marlins sweep

The Nationals' losing skid reached eight games on Sunday as the bottom-dwelling Miami Marlins defeated Washington 3-1 to complete a three-game sweep.

June 15, 2025

Pope Leo XIV meets the members of the Rome's local church in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

‘Art of losing’ builds character, according to White Sox fan Pope Leo XIV

Losing can be just as valuable as winning for athletes and sports fans, Pope Leo XIV wrote on social media on Sunday morning. You can trust him on what it's like to lose -- he's a Chicago White Sox fan.

June 15, 2025

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring their second goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Milan and Bologna at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Friday May 9, 2025. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

U.S. soccer coach Mauricio Pochettino criticizes star Christian Pulisic over Gold Cup absence

U.S. men's soccer coach Mauricio Pochettino said he decides when stars like Christian Pulisic enter the national team's lineup, not players.

June 15, 2025

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, right, and guard Sophie Cunningham celebrates on the bench in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Washington Mystics in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

WNBA ratings plummet while Clark recovers from injury

The WNBA has been without second-year superstar Caitlin Clark for more than two weeks as the Indiana Fever guard recovers from a quad injury. Her absence is having a drastic impact on the league's ratings.

June 12, 2025

Washington Commanders receiver Luke McCaffrey (12) looks the ball in during a kick return against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, January 12, 2025. (Photo by Brian Murphy for the Washington Times)

McCaffrey impresses as Commanders wrap up McLaurin-less minicamp

The NFL work ethic came easily for Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, whose father, Ed, and brother, Christian, played in the league.

June 12, 2025

Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Cricket is coming: Niche sport carves out growing U.S. footprint

A Major League Cricket box score might as well be hieroglyphics to most Americans. Overs, runs, sixes and fours aren't exactly intuitive stats and deciphering scores can be a tall order for new fans.

June 12, 2025

Matt Vogt tees off on the first hole of a practice round for the 2025 U.S. Open golf championship at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Caddie-turned-dentist Vogt misfires opening tee shot at U.S. Open Print

Matt Vogt had one chance to make a first impression. The caddie-turned-dentist took the opening tee shot of Thursday's U.S. Open at the Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania and blasted it into the rough.

June 12, 2025

This photo provided by the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, shows Bruce the Bat Dog, a 21-month-old Golden Retriever, during a minor league baseball game between the Red Wings and Lehigh Valley IronPigs, April 5, 2025, in Rochester, N.Y. (Rochester Red Wings via AP)

Bruce the Bat Dog to make major league debut with Nationals on Saturday

MLB rules don't specify that a dog can't play baseball. The Nationals won't be testing that, even as they called up Bruce the Bat Dog on Tuesday afternoon.

June 10, 2025