Knoxville Smokies Announce 2025 Opening Day Roster

KNOXVILLE, TN - The Knoxville Smokies, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, have announced their initial 2025 season roster. The team features Chicago Cubs top 30 prospects, and returning faces to East Tennessee. The infield flaunts Cubs' #18 prospect Pedro Ramirez. A switch-hitter, Ramirez clubbed a .284 batting average and 48 RBI in High-A South Bend last year. Ed Howard, the 16th overall pick in the 2020 draft, makes his Class AA level debut this year with the Smokies. Other infielders wi... Full Story

Inside the UFL

The United Football League opened its second season over the weekend, debuting in primetime on Friday This season the United Football League features a Friday night game of the week which airs on FOX, giving UFL fans a consistent times slot every week. The St. Louis Battlehawks defeated the Houston Roughnecks 41-13 in the opener. The Battlehawks focused heavy on the run with 41 carries for a UFL-record 273 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Jacob Saylors and Jarveon Howard combined for 213 of those yards and two touchdowns. With A.J. McCarron no longer on the St. Louis roster, Mann... Full Story

Omaha Beef Part Ways With Coaching Staff Members

RALSTON - The Omaha Beef announced today that they have parted ways with head coach Mike Tatum and offensive coordinator James Jerry. Tatum became head coach before the 2024 season, after serving as offensive coordinator in 2023 while Terry joined the Beef coaching staff as offensive coordinator prior to the 2024 season. Omaha Beef Owner Ricky Bertz expressed appreciation for both Tatum and Terry's contributions over the past several seasons and discussed the difficult decision to make a change. "Coach Tatum and Coach Terry have been a part of a period of obvious unmatched success for our... Full Story

Sporting JAX Names Stacey Balaam as First Head Coach of USL Super League Women's Team

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Sporting Club Jacksonville, the United Soccer League's Northeast Florida expansion franchise, has officially appointed Stacey Balaam as the first head coach of its women's Division One USL Super League team, which will kick off its inaugural season this August at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium. As Sporting Director and Head of Soccer Mark Warburton's first major coaching hire, the up-and-coming coaching talent brings a recent track record of success and player development to Sporting JAX. Most recently, she served as the associate head coach at Vanderb... Full Story

• Toronto FC Acquire International Midfielder Maxime Dominguez - Toronto FC (MLS)
• Red Wolves Triumph in Historic Chattanooga Derby, Advance in U.S. Open Cup - Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1)
• Tormenta FC Draws Charleston Battery in Open Cup Third Round on April 15-16 - South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL1)
• Forge FC Sign Filion, Kone and Bontis to U Sports Development Contracts - Forge FC (CPL)
• Reign Sign Defender Tim Rego Through 2025-26 - Ontario Reign (AHL)
• Syracuse Crunch Sign Defenseman Aiden Hansen-Bukata to ATO - Syracuse Crunch (AHL)
• More Than a Game: How Lexington SC Players Turned a Young Fan's Gesture into a Lasting Memory - Lexington Sporting Club (USL)
• Rego Assigned to Swamp Rabbits Ahead of Three-Game Weekend - Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL)
• Corbin Named Player of the Month; Harding, Aguilera Earn Team of the Month Honors - Carolina Ascent FC (USLSL)
• Ejim Joins the Rattlers for 2025 Season - Saskatchewan Rattlers (CEBL)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• Series preview: Moccasins look to break through against River Dragons - FPHL Monroe News Star
• Clark Elliott, Michigan outfielder drafted in 2023, returns to Lugnuts - MWL Lansing State Journal
• Fightin Phils: Aidan Miller ready to flash his credentials in Reading - EL Reading Eagle/Reading Times
• Somerset to open Double-A season in Hartford with three top-30 Yankees prospects - EL Trentonian
• LAFC blanks Messi, Miami in 1st leg of CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal - MLS Los Angeles Daily News
• Minor League Baseball: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers set for season - MWL Appleton Post-Crescent
• Worcester Railers captain Anthony Repaci embraces being face of franchise - ECHL Worcester Telegram & Gazette
• Grasshoppers look to 2025 season with SAL title hopes - SAL Greensboro News and Record
• Milwaukee Wave open MASL playoffs vs Kansas City Comets in California - MASL Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Red Wolves Win By Penalty Kick In Historic Battle Of Soccer Clubs - USL1 Chattanoogan
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

• Inside the UFL by Fran Stuchbury
• Saylors, Hines and Nacua Named OurSports Central UFL Players of the Week by Fran Stuchbury
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury
• Courage Drop 2025 Home Opener by Fran Stuchbury

Deon Ejim with the Calgary Surge

See All Today's Images The following minor league and alternative professional sports teams on OurSports Central have been viewed the most over the last seven days:

1. Edmonton Elks - Canadian Football League (CFL)
2. Colorado Rapids - Major League Soccer (MLS)
3. Columbia Fireflies - Carolina League (CarL)
4. Charlotte FC - Major League Soccer (MLS)
5. South Bend Cubs - Midwest League (MWL)
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders - Canadian Football League (CFL)
7. Edmonton Oil Kings - Western Hockey League (WHL)
8. Corpus Christi Hooks - Texas League (TL)
9. Minnesota Lynx - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
10. Fresno Grizzlies - California League (CalL)

1. Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report
2. Last Week around the Leagues
3. Saylors, Hines and Nacua Named OurSports Central UFL Players of the Week
4. Switchbacks FC Acquire Herbert Endeley on Loan from FC Dallas for 2025 Season
5. Gotham FC Captain Tierna Davidson out for Season
6. Swamp Rabbits Sweep Gladiators in Wild Finale
7. Official Knights Opening Day Roster Announced
8. New York Liberty Timeless Torches Dance Team to Hold Open Auditions for 20th Anniversary Season on Tuesday, April 15 at Barclays Center
9. Stewart Johnston Appointed 15th Commissioner of the Canadian Football League
10. Ice Cube's BIG3 League Announces Dates, Arenas for Summer 2025

The most recent minor league and alternative professional sports teams added to OurSports Central:

• Richmond - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
• DMV Trilogy - BIG3 (BIG3)
• Dallas Power - BIG3 (BIG3)
• Chicago Triplets - BIG3 (BIG3)
• Boston Ball Hogs - BIG3 (BIG3)
• Penticton Vees - Western Hockey League (WHL)
• Fort Wayne FC - United Soccer League One (USL1)
• North Jersey Pro Soccer - USL Super League (USLSL)
• Sarasota Paradise - United Soccer League One (USL1)
• North Jersey Pro Soccer - United Soccer League One (USL1)

OurSports Central provides coverage of select alternative and minor league professional sports leagues in addition to the top junior hockey leagues and college wood bat baseball leagues:

BASEBALL
Affiliated Minor League Baseball
AzCL, AzFL, CalL, CarL, EL, FLCL, FSL, IL, ML, MLBDL, MWL, NWL, PCL, SAL, SL, TL
College Wood Bat Baseball
ApL, Northwoods
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, FL, Pecos, PL

BASKETBALL
Men's Minor League Basketball
BIG3, CEBL, G League
Women's Basketball
WNBA

FOOTBALL
Indoor/Arena Football
AF1, IFL, NAL, TAL
Outdoor Football
CFL, UFL

HOCKEY
Junior Hockey
NAHL, OHL, QMJHL, USHL, WHL
Minor League Hockey
AHL, ECHL, FPHL, SPHL
Women's Hockey
PWHL

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL
Outdoor Lacrosse
PLL, WLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR
Other Women's
LOVB, MLV, NWLS, PVF

SOCCER
Indoor Soccer
MASL
Outdoor Soccer
CPL, MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL, USL1
Women's Soccer
NSL, NWSL, USLSL