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The six teams of the recently launched Professional Women’s Hockey League now know the name of the trophy they’re competing for once the playoffs open next month.

It’ll be the Walter Cup, named after the PWHL’s primary financial backer, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, and his family, the league said on Thursday.

The name was proposed by PWHL advisory board member and tennis icon Billy Jean King, who teamed with Walter to establish the league last year. Walter spurred the move by buying out the rival Premier Hockey Federation, and has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to launch the league, which began play on Jan. 1.

“The Walter Cup marks a monumental milestone in women’s hockey and for all women’s sports,” King said in a statement. “It recognizes the historic commitment by Mark and Kimbra Walter to make this dream come true for the PWHL players of today and tomorrow.”

As part of its announcement, the PWHL issued a graphic representation of the new trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. Made out of sterling silver, a cup is held up by two hockey sticks and fitted on top of a removeable base on which will be engraved the name of each year’s championship team. On the side of the cup are six engraved “Ws,” to represent each inaugural team, as well as rays of light to signify the dawning of a new era in women’s hockey.

The trophy is designed to weigh 35 pounds and stand 24 inches tall and 13 inches wide.

“This trophy reflects the level of excellence required to win in the PWHL, and we hope it will inspire championship dreams in young players everywhere,” Walter said, speaking on behalf of his wife, Kimbra, and daughter, Samantha.

The PWHL is currently in a three-week break to accommodate its players competing at the 10-nation women’s world championships in Utica, New York. Each team has five games remaining with the regular season ending on May 5. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs, which will feature best-of-three semifinal and final rounds.

Previously, the PHF’s championship trophy was called the Isobel Cup in honor of Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy, who was regarded as being one of the first known women to play hockey. She was the daughter of Frederick Stanley, who bequeathed what has since become the NHL’s championship trophy, the Stanley Cup.

The former Canadian Women’s Hockey League, which folded in 2019, played for the Clarkson Cup, which was commissioned by former Canadian Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

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Follow live: No. 6 Penn State takes on No. 11 SMU in first round of College Football Playoff

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Follow live: No. 6 Penn State takes on No. 11 SMU in first round of College Football Playoff

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Notre Dame tops Indiana to kick off new CFP era

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Notre Dame tops Indiana to kick off new CFP era

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Jeremiyah Love tied the Notre Dame record with a 98-yard touchdown run, Riley Leonard added two more scores and the Fighting Irish shut down the highest-scoring team in the College Football Playoff, overwhelming Indiana 27-17 on Friday night.

The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish (12-1) won their 11th straight — and their first playoff victory. They’ll face second-seeded Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman got the biggest win of his three-year career by extending his Irish record to 12 victories over ranked teams in three seasons.

“There’s no place like Notre Dame,” Leonard said. “This is why you come here, this is why I came here — to play for a championship.”

Tenth-seeded Indiana (11-2) completed a magical season by finishing with its second fewest points this season on a cold, brisk night in the first CFP game ever played on a campus site. Both of the Hoosiers’ losses came to top-five opponents. Indiana set a single-season school record for wins but still hasn’t won at Notre Dame since 1898.

Notre Dame took control on its third offensive play when Love scooted around the right side of Indiana’s defense, eluded one tackle and sprinted down the sideline to make it 7-0. He matched Josh Adams’ longest run in school history, set in 2015 against Wake Forest. It was also the longest run in CFP history.

“It’s all about finding a way to get another week,” Freeman said. “It wasn’t easy. But we’re going to enjoy this one and we’ll get another one.”

Love finished with eight carries for 108 yards despite appearing to reinjure his left knee later in the first half.

Indiana never recovered after Notre Dame made it 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Leonard’s 1-yard TD run late in the fourth gave him 15 this season to break Notre Dame’s season record by a quarterback.

Indiana scored both of its touchdowns in the final 1:27.

Notre Dame made it 14-0 on Leonard’s 5-yard TD pass to Jayden Thomas early in the second quarter. The Irish settled for three more field goals, and the defense took care of the rest — allowing just one field goal.

Leonard was 23 of 32 with 201 yards and one interception. Notre Dame receiver Jordan Faison caught seven passes for 89 yards.

Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke turned in another poor game against a top defense, finishing 20 of 33 with 215 yards, with two TDs and one interception, and the Hoosiers rushed for just 63 yards.

“They took it to us,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “They won, they deserve to win. We didn’t play our best game, but they had a lot to do with that tonight.”

Takeaways Indiana: The Hoosiers trailed fewer minutes than any other FBS team this season and had the highest-scoring team entering the playoffs. They didn’t do either Friday night against a stout Irish defense that rattled Rourke early.

Notre Dame: The Irish have relied on the running game and defense all season — and it was that combination that gave Notre Dame the first playoff win in school history. It may need more out of its passing game to win its first national championship since 1988.

Up next Indiana: Will spend a busy offseason trying to replicate what they built in Year 1 under coach Curt Cignetti.

Notre Dame: Plays Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

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Date set for NASCAR’s antitrust suit motion

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Date set for NASCAR's antitrust suit motion

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A federal judge set a Jan. 8 hearing to hear NASCAR’s motion to throw out an antitrust lawsuit filed against the stock car series by Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports

The two teams are suing NASCAR and were granted a preliminary injunction Wednesday that will allow them to compete as chartered teams in 2025.

U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell said Friday that “NASCAR fans [and members of the public who may become fans] have an interest in watching all the teams compete with their best drivers and most competitive teams.” NASCAR has indicated it will appeal his ruling and wants his injunction partially blocked pending the appeal.

The hearing is the latest in the legal brawl between the two Cup Series teams and the sanctioning body that began late last season. Judge Bell is set to decide other motions, as well. He also set a Sept. 19, 2025, deadline for discovery to be completed and set a trial date of Dec. 1 — after the completion of next season.

23XI, the team owned by Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row refused in September to sign take-it-or-leave it charter renewal offers made by NASCAR. A charter is essentially a franchise and guarantees prize money, a spot in the field each week and other protections.

The teams filed suit alleging NASCAR owners are “monopolistic bullies” and lost a bid in November to be recognized as “chartered” teams as the suit continues.

23XI and Front Row can now sign the charter agreements and still pursue their lawsuit. They also each were granted permission to purchase additional charters from Stewart Haas Racing, which is going from four Cup cars to one, though NASCAR must approve the transfers to those teams.

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