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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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Netanyahu: ‘Our Forces Are Striking the Heart of Tehran With Increasing Strength’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participates in the state memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Iron Swords War on Mount Herzl, in Jerusalem, Oct. 16, 2025. Photo: Alex Kolomoisky/Pool via REUTERS
i24 News – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces had “eliminated the dictator Ali Khamenei” along with dozens of senior officials of Iran’s regime during a statement delivered from the roof of the Kirya, Israel’s defense headquarters.
“Yesterday, we eliminated the dictator Khamenei. Along with him, dozens of senior officials from the oppressive regime were eliminated,” Netanyahu said after a meeting with the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff, and the Director of Mossad. He added that he had issued instructions to continue the offensive.
According to Netanyahu, Israeli forces are “now striking at the heart of Tehran with increasing intensity,” a campaign he said will “increase further in the days to come.”
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the toll of the conflict on Israel, calling recent days “painful” and offering condolences to the families of victims in Tel Aviv and Beit Shemesh, while wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.
Netanyahu emphasized that the operation mobilizes “the full power of the Israel Defense Forces, like never before,” in order to “guarantee our existence and our future.” He also highlighted US support, noting “the assistance of my friend, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and of the American military.”
“This combination of forces allows us to do what I have hoped to accomplish for 40 years: strike the terrorist regime right in the face,” Netanyahu concluded. “I promised it — and we will keep our word.”
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Trump Says Iran Military Operations Are ‘Ahead of Schedule,’ CNBC Reports
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during military operations in Iran, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. February 28, 2026. The White House/Social Media/Handout via REUTERS
US President Donald Trump told CNBC on Sunday that US military operations against Iran are “ahead of schedule.”
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Iranian Missile Strike on Beit Shemesh in Israel Kills 9
Emergency personnel work at the site of an Iranian strike, after Iran launched missile barrages following attacks by the US and Israel on Saturday, in Beit Shemesh, Israel, March 1, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad
An Iranian missile strike hit the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on Sunday, killing nine people and wounding dozens, in what authorities described as a direct impact on a public bomb shelter.
A ballistic missile leveled the bomb shelter, leaving a large crater in its wake. Most, if not all, of those killed had been taking cover inside the shelter when it hit, Jerusalem Police Deputy Commissioner Avshalom Peled said at the impact scene.
Those in critical condition were airlifted to Shaare Zedek Medical Center, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
At least 20 people were still missing late on Sunday afternoon local time.
As you read this, an Iranian missile has just struck a residential neighborhood in Beit Shemesh, Israel, only 30 kilometers/about 18 miles from Jerusalem.
Nine people are dead.
More than 20 are wounded, including children. A
public shelter collapsed from the direct hit. An… pic.twitter.com/mEVDlPEqgf
— Ella Kenan (@EllaTravelsLove) March 1, 2026
Several buildings surrounding the shelter in Beit Shemesh, which is west of Jerusalem, were also damaged in the attack, with two collapsing entirely. A synagogue was also destroyed.
Emergency crews from Magen David Adom, ZAKA, and United Hatzalah joined fire and rescue units at the site, combing damaged buildings and debris for possible survivors. Many people were trapped under rubble or inside apartments, first responders said.
The Iranian Regime directly fired missiles toward the civilian neighborhood of Beit Shemesh, killing innocent civilians.
The Iranian regime purposely targets civilian targets while we precisely target terror targets. This is who we’re operating against—a regime who uses… pic.twitter.com/9W8Fp4T2tH
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 1, 2026
Chaim Wingarten, deputy director of operations at rescue organization ZAKA, described the scenes as “very difficult.”
“When I arrived, it was a huge chaos, with wounded people everywhere,” he said.
The strike was part of a larger volley that triggered air-raid sirens across the country. A man in his fifties was wounded by shrapnel elsewhere in central Israel.
IDF foreign media spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani charged Iran with deliberately firing at civilians. “We know this is their strategy,” he said, adding that Israel would do “everything in our power to remove these capabilities from this bloodthirsty terrorist regime.”
The Beit Shemesh hit marked the highest single-incident death toll inside Israel since the confrontation with Iran began a day earlier. The previous peak came during the 12-day war in June 2025, when a missile slammed into an apartment block in Bat Yam and killed nine people.
The Beit Shemesh strike came a day after US and Israeli forces struck a compound in Tehran killing senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death was later announced on Iranian state television.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump said 48 Iranian leaders were killed in the strikes. “Nobody can believe the success we’re having; 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it’s moving along rapidly,” he said.
Separately, the American president told CNBC that the US operation was “ahead of schedule.”
Thousands of Iranians braved the strikes and took to the streets to celebrate Khamenei’s death on Saturday evening. Many people stood on balconies and at windows chanting “freedom, freedom,” The New York Times reported. People in the Iranian city of Shiraz were “abandoning their cars for an impromptu dance party, whistling, cheering, clapping, and screaming with joy. In many videos, celebrants joined together in a cheer that is typically reserved for weddings, symbolizing pure joy,” the report said.
GeoConfirmed Iran.
People chanting – Celebrations through the Foolad Shahr area in Isfahan with joy and jubilation over the killing of Khamenei.
Rough location – 32.48169, 51.39167
F9JR+MMF Fuladshahr, Isfahan Province, IranGeoLocated by @Mitch_Ulrich
Geolocation:… https://t.co/iv9TlSPPfS
— GeoConfirmed (@GeoConfirmed) February 28, 2026
Can you hear the joy in his voice?
“I am dreaming, hello world!” pic.twitter.com/ICq77zBerv— William Mehrvarz (@WilliamMehrvarz) March 1, 2026
Iran retaliated by firing repeated waves of missiles and drones, with launches aimed not only at Israel but also at US bases in the Middle East, including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. Iran on Sunday morning also launched two missiles at Cyprus, where thousands of British military personnel are stationed, which fell short.
Later in the afternoon, the US acknowledged its first losses with US Central Command, saying three American service members were killed and five were seriously wounded during the operations in Iran.