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The Jewish Sport Report: Jewish Maryland star Abby Meyers is ready to take on the NCAA tournament
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Hello, Jewish Sport Report readers!
Thank you to all who joined us in person and online for our event last night, “Jews on First: A Celebration at the World Baseball Classic.” And to those of you new to the Jewish Sport Report community, welcome! We’re thrilled to have you.
If you missed last night’s panel, you can watch the recording right here:
Read on for more Israel coverage, plus a preview of one Jewish player to watch in March Madness.
Meet Abby Meyers, Jewish basketball star at Maryland
Abby Meyers is a star guard on the University of Maryland women’s basketball team. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics)
The Division I NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments are around the corner. As Jewish sports fans, here’s a name you should definitely know heading into next week’s March Madness tournament: Abby Meyers.
Her University of Maryland team has a shot at a top seed, as the Terrapins are ranked sixth in the Associated Press Top 25, and Meyers is the starting shooting guard, who averaged 14.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game this season.
The Jewish star won a gold medal at the Maccabiah Games last summer, grew up at one of the country’s largest Reform synagogues and loves when Jewish fans come to her games.
“There’s a really strong Jewish community here at the University of Maryland, and there’s an amazing following of Jewish students who come to my games, who support me and love the fact that I’m Jewish,” Meyers told me this week.
Check out my profile of Meyers to learn more about her Jewish upbringing, her experience in Israel and more.
Halftime report
THE STRAW MAN LOVES JERUSALEM. New York Mets legend Darryl Strawberry has a new mission: promoting Israel to non-Jews as an evangelical minister. Strawberry was in New York this week for an Israel event, so we caught up with the three-time World Series champ.
PURIM PLAY. Former Yeshiva University star Ryan Turell, who now plays for the G League’s Motor City Cruise, returned to New York for the second time this season — on Purim. My colleague Jacob Henry spoke to Turell and his fans about what it means to see the kippah-clad NBA prospect play professionally.
PUCK DROP. For young Shabbat-observant athletes, balancing schedules can be tricky, especially with many games taking place on Saturdays. In New Jersey, one youth hockey league is easing the stress by accommodating observant players with Shabbat-friendly schedules.
TECHNICAL FOUL. Former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire has walked back comments he made earlier this week during a live social media conversation, in which he referred to Jews of European descent as converts and echoed other antisemitic conspiracy theories.
STROLLING ALONG. Aston Martin Formula One driver Lance Stroll put on quite a performance last week at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Stroll finished in sixth place, just 12 days after having surgery on a broken wrist. Next up is Saudi Arabia on March 19.
A WBC dispatch from Miami
Ty Kelly bats during Israel’s exhibition game against the Miami Marlins, March 8, 2023 in Jupiter, Fla. (Emma Sharon/MLB)
ICYMI, I am in Miami for the World Baseball Classic, covering all things Team Israel.
On Wednesday, Israel lost a pre-WBC exhibition game 11-5 against the Miami Marlins. After taking a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Marlins’ bats came alive.
“Playing for this team is super meaningful to me,” veteran catcher Ryan Lavarnway said after the game. “It’s been really life changing. And I hope that this next generation of players that are new to this team takes the baton, and it means as much to them as it’s meant to us.”
Last night, Israel shut out the Washington Nationals 9-0, with Orthodox prospect Jacob Steinmetz starting for Israel. Matt Mervis, Spencer Horwitz, Ty Kelly and Noah Medlinger all had two hits for Israel. Israel’s pitchers held the Nationals to only six hits, striking out nine.
Now the real WBC action begins for Israel. Israel will play all four of its games at the Marlins’ loanDepot Park, and each game will be broadcast on either FS1 or FS2. All times are ET:
Sunday at 12 p.m.: Israel vs. Nicaragua
Monday at 7 p.m.: Israel vs. Puerto Rico
Tuesday at 7 p.m.: Israel vs. Dominican Republic
Wednesday at 12 p.m.: Israel vs. Venezuela
Two teams from each pool advance, meaning Israel will likely need to win two games to make it to the next round. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @JTASportReport for daily coverage.
Jews in sports to watch this weekend
IN BASEBALL…
Team Israel’s full schedule is listed above. Rowdy Tellez, who is playing for Team Mexico, will be taking on Colombia tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET and Team USA Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.
IN HOCKEY…
Quinn Hughes and the Vancouver Canucks match up against Jakob Chychrun and his new squad the Ottawa Senators tomorrow at 10 p.m. ET. Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, Adam Fox and the New York Rangers play Jason Zucker and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
IN BASKETBALL…
The Washington Wizards and Deni Avdija, who has had his moments but is still seeking more consistency on the court, host the Atlanta Hawks tonight at 7 p.m. ET and face the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Ryan Turell and the Motor City Cruise play the Fort Wayne Mad Ants tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.
IN GOLF…
Max Homa and David Lipsky are both competing in the PGA Players Championship this weekend down here in Florida. Homa is up to seventh in the PGA world rankings.
Join the Jewish Sport Report’s bracket challenge!
March Madness is here, which means it’s time to fill out those brackets. We created a bracket group on ESPN for Jewish Sport Report readers — join here! The password is “jsr2023.” You can create up to five brackets, and the winner of our group will win… our admiration! Come play and interact with fellow Jewish sports fans.
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Italy Says It Stands Ready to Train Police in Gaza
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks during an interview with Reuters in Rome, Italy, April 15, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Italy stands ready to help train police forces in Gaza and elsewhere in the Palestinian territories, its foreign minister said on Monday, as Rome aims to play a role in stabilizing the Middle East.
“We are ready to train a new Gaza police force, and we are also ready to train a Palestinian police force,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told a news conference in Rome.
He confirmed that Rome was ready to participate as an observer in US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, and Italy had been invited to attend a meeting of the group this week in Washington.
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Alleged Bondi Beach Gunman Makes First Court Appearance
People stand near flowers laid as a tribute at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of a mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday, in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 16, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Flavio Brancaleone
A man accused of opening fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach in an attack that killed 15 people appeared in court for the first time on Monday, Australian media reported.
Naveed Akram, 24, faces 59 charges over the Dec. 14 attack, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder, and a terror offense.
Police allege he carried out the mass shooting with his father Sajid, 50, who was shot dead at the scene.
During a brief status mention at a Sydney court on Monday, Akram appeared via video link from Goulburn Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison southwest of Sydney, where he is being held on remand, media reported.
Akram wore prison greens and sat mostly in silence during the proceedings. He spoke only to acknowledge that he heard a discussion about extending non-publication orders for the details of the victims.
Outside court, Akram’s lawyer Ben Archbold said his client was doing “as well as he can be” given the “very onerous conditions” in prison.
Archbold said it was too early to say how Akram would plead and that he had not discussed details of the alleged attack with him.
“I haven’t spoken to him about the attack in that regard,” he told reporters.
“All that we’re doing at the moment is starting the process … we’re waiting for the brief to be served; there’s nothing more I can say.”
Archbold added that he had visited Akram in prison.
“He’s just a client, and he’s a client that needs to be represented. And we don’t let our personal view get in the way of our professional obligations. The matter has been adjourned; I have nothing more to say.”
The case is expected to return to court in April.
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Israel Post-War Economy to Grow Further in 2026 After 3.1% Gain in 2025
Israeli national flags flutter near office towers at a business park also housing high tech companies, at Ofer Park in Petah Tikva, Israel, Aug. 27, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
Israel‘s economy grew 3.1% in 2025, official data showed on Monday, rebounding from a 1% pace in 2024, with growth expected to accelerate sharply as long as a fragile Gaza ceasefire holds.
Growth last year was led by a 7.1% rise in investment and a 5.9% gain in exports, along with a modest uptick in consumer spending. Heavy state expenditure during the two-year Gaza war, particularly on defense, gave an added boost to the economy, economists noted.
“The economy is recovering,” said Yonie Fanning, chief strategist at Mizrahi Tefahot Bank. “The indications for the first quarter of 2026 are also positive – you see that in the trade balance data, etc. So, I think it … sets the basis for continued recovery.”
Israel‘s economy in 2025 outpaced an OECD average of 1.7% and 2% growth in the United States. It also was above the Bank of Israel‘s estimate of 2.8%. The central bank projects a 5.2% growth spurt this year.
“What you’re seeing now is excess demand coming after the war, which is coupled with an increase of supply also, for example, in real estate. And so, you see that in investment, and you should see that more going forward in 2026,” Fanning said.
Per capita growth was 1.7% in 2025.
In the fourth quarter, gross domestic product grew an annualized 4.0% from the prior quarter, powered by a 33% jump in exports following an October ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
“This is relatively robust print, especially the business sector activity, impacted by a strong contribution from net exports,” said Leader Capital Markets Chief Economist Jonathan Katz.
A Reuters poll of economists had forecast an annualized 2.6% rate in the final three months of 2025.
Third-quarter GDP was revised to an annualized rise of 12.7% from a prior estimate of 11.1%.
The GDP data follow data published on Sunday showing Israel‘s annual inflation rate eased to 1.8% in January – its lowest level since June 2021 – from 2.6% in December, increasing pressure on the Bank of Israel to lower short-term interest rates next week for a third straight meeting.
Following the inflation data, “most people [in the market] don’t expect it to stay on hold,” Fanning said.
The shekel was flat at 3.09 per dollar, close to a 30-year peak hit earlier in February. Tel Aviv share indices gained as much as 0.3%.