Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports
Morgan and the USWNT look to redeem their World Cup final loss from four years ago.
Women's Water PoloThe Cal women's water polo team placed a whopping 10 student-athletes on the 2015 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-Academic Team that was released Friday night.
Men's BasketballDavid Kravish, a four-year year starter and two-year captain for the Golden Bears, will play with the 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors in the Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, the organization announced on Thursday.
Women's BasketballCalifornia junior Courtney Range begins completion this weekend with USA Basketball at the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea.
Men's CrewCalifornia men's crew continued its competition in the 176th Henley Royal Regatta on Friday, with the Golden Bears' entry in the Visitors' Challenge advancing to Saturday's semifinals. Racing will continue through Sunday, when champions will be crowned at the conclusion of the races that day.
Swimming & DivingA total of 36 Cal swimmers - past, present and future - plus three Golden Bear coaches will be representing their home countries this summer at three major international meets.
FootballCal Golden Bears Preview: Jared Goff Ready to Go Off
Sonny Dykes' first season at the helm of Cal football went about as poorly as a debut can go — save maybe Ashlee Simpson's Orange Bowl halftime.
A 1-11 finish in 2013 bereft of any wins over Bowl Subdivision opponents, punctuated by the nation's second-worst scoring defense, had Dykes occupying a hot seat very early into his tenure. But the 2013 season laid a foundation for a rebuild that's coming together nicely heading into Year 3.
Dynamic Duo Headlines Cal's Receiving Corps
In just three years behind center for the Golden Bears, CAL quarterback Jared Goff already owns 16 different passing records in the Berkeley history books. And by about midway through the fall of 2015, he figures to tack on a handful more as he continues to bolster his NFL résumé. Surely, much of this passing success can and should be attributed to the wide-open Bear Raid offense that Sonny Dykes brought over with him from Louisiana Tech. It is an offense in which seemingly everything is designed around the concept of allowing the quarterback to get off as many pass attempts as possible.
But, of course, there always needs to be a capable body at the other end of every fastball Goff pumps across the middle, or fade he lobs into the back corner of the end zone. For the last few years Kenny Lawler and Bryce Treggs have been tasked with the duty of making Goff look good, and they have responded by making him look spectacular.
Cal Football Sets Sight On Bowl Game in 2015
The California Golden Bears haven't tasted the postseason since 2011, back when the shifty, albeit inconsistent Zach Maynard was at the helm in Berkeley. That year CAL made the Holiday Bowl, only to fall to the Longhorns of Texas 21-10. The Bears have all but fallen apart since then, but fortunately rock bottom was struck a couple years back and the rebuilding process appears be firmly on the up and up. Thankfully, Sonny Dykes and co. were able to shake off a 1-11 freshman campaign and turn in a respectable 5-7 mark this past season with some impressive wins.
Now Dykes is entering his third year as the Bears' head man, and for the third straight season, he will have the talented Jared Goff calling the signals for him. The calm, cool and collected Goff, who played his prep pigskin at Marin Catholic High, has already proven he is a record setting passer. The 2015 season figures to be an NFL audition of sorts for Goff, as he is already trending on many a draft big boards and is expected to be a first round pick following his Junior year in Berkeley.
FIFA Women's World CupAlex Morgan has been the USWNT's quasi-decoy
As the face of Women's soccer in the United States, Alex Morgan has been a top trending term nationally Twitter on all U.S. Women's National Team match days. This despite the fact she has only scored one goal this World Cup and hasn't had a ton of true scoring chances throughout the tournament.
Obviously, fitness issues, certainly more so at the beginning, have been a big part of that.
Maybe Morgan was more injured than the USWNT led on during the group stage? Maybe Coach Jill Ellis has pulled off a bit of Bill Belichickian genius regarding the knowledge surrounding her injury?
Whatever the reason, her minutes were limited early on, and she hasn't been that focal point of the team that many thought she would be.
On the plus side though, she hasn't needed to be. Fox Sports Analyst Kelly Smith on Alex Morgan's performances throughout the tournament:
"You're viewed by the goals you've scored, but I think Alex Morgan has brought a different focus to the team. Teams are focusing in on her, but then you've got Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd coming in to the mix. She's probably not been at her fittest with her injury coming in, but everyone is focused on Alex Morgan that other players are stepping up."
Vancouver we're here!!!! #WWC2015Final #4days
Posted by Alex Morgan on Wednesday, July 1, 2015
