Italy's Luna Rossa wins first Women's America's Cup after beating British boat

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli won the first ever Women’s America’s Cup after beating Britain’s Athena Pathway on Saturday.

America’s Cup organizers said they launched this all-women competition as a platform to get more women into the elite sailing event. Women have sailed in previous America’s Cups but none are on the crews of this edition of the 173-year-old regatta.

“We demonstrated that we are very good sailors, that we can do what we want with these kind of boats.” said Luna Rossa helmswoman Margherita Porro. “And I think we sent a good message to the world of sailing. So what comes next? I don’t know. But I think this is a big step not only for us, but for every girl that was out there with us.”

Luna Rossa led from the start and won the six-leg match race off the Barcelona beach front eight seconds ahead of the British boat.

The event included 12 teams, six sponsored by the America’s Cup teams and another six teams that were invited to participate.

The teams sailed AC40 foiling boats, which were also used in the youth competition, that seat four sailors compared to the larger AC75 boats with their eight crewmembers used in the America’s Cup.

Trimmer Maria Giubilei said their performance should boost the chances of women getting back on the major America’s Cup boats.

“I think that would be a good thing, especially because I really want to go on the Luna Rossa boat one day,” she said. “I think it would be great for women at some point if there was not a race just for us but we were mixed in with all the other sailors.”

Athena Pathway skipper Hannah Mills said the loss hurt but that the future looked bright for the team she founded with INEOS Britannia CEO Ben Ainslie.

“Ben and I set up this program, Athena Pathway, to try to inspire, particularly, young girls coming through the sport of sailing or ones who might want to try sailing to showcase that there is much more opportunity coming, whether it’s on the water, racing, or off the water in shoreside roles,” the two-time Olympic champion said.

“We’ve really delivered on that in terms of what we’ve created here, so that for me is everything.”

Luna Rossa also won the youth competition. Its America's Cup boat was eliminated in the Louis Vuitton challengers’ final series.

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Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's team wins the Puig Women's America's Cup race in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Athena Pathway team warms up for Puig Womne's America's Cup race in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Athena Pathway teams race during team races during the Puig Womne's America's Cup race in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Athena Pathway teams race during team races during the Puig Womne's America's Cup race in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's team races during the Puig Womne's America's Cup race in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's team celebrates after winning the Puig Women's America's Cup race in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's team celebrates after winning the Puig Women's America's Cup race in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's team celebrates after winning the Puig Women's America's Cup race in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's team celebrates after winning the Puig Women's America's Cup race in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks placed rookie Macklin Celebrini on the injured reserve list on Saturday with a lower-body injury.

The move came two days after Celebrini made an impressive debut by recording a goal and an assist in an overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

The 18-year-old Celebrini was picked first overall in June and is being counted on to help spark a rebuild in San Jose. He was hampered in the preseason with a lower-body injury. Coach Ryan Warsofsky said Celebrini is week to week.

Players on injured reserve must miss seven days from the last game they played in.

Celebrini became the youngest player in NHL history to record two points in the first period of his debut, according to Sportradar, doing it at 18 years, 119 days. Shane Doan held the previous mark of 18 years, 362 days, when he had two points for Winnipeg against Dallas in 1995.

He also scored the second-fastest first goal ever for a No. 1 pick, with his goal 7:01 into the opener trailing only Mario Lemieux, who scored 2:59 into his debut against Boston on Oct. 11, 1984.

Celebrini had 64 points in 38 games as a freshman at Boston University last season, when he won the Hobey Baker Award as the top college player.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

San Jose Sharks' Tyler Toffoli, left, celebrates with Macklin Celebrini, right, after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

St. Louis Blues left wing Jake Neighbours, left, chases after San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)