2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters
Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators and Darryl Sutter of the Los Angeles Kings were named coaches for the game on January 9, 2015. On January 14, 2015, the league announced the captains for the game would be Jonathan Toews and Nick Foligno. Being a player for the hometown Columbus Blue Jackets, Foligno's team was the home team. Drew Doughty and Patrick Kane served as alternate captains for Team Foligno while Ryan Getzlaf and Rick Nash served the same role for Team Toews.


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters
A draft to select teams was held two days prior to the game, on January 23, 2015. The captains and alternate captains from each team sat together and selected players throughout 18 rounds. In past years, the last player picked would receive a new car; during this draft, the final two picks Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Filip Forsberg were voted onto their teams by online fan voting and as a result, both players received 2015 Honda Accords. The rules during the draft required all goaltenders to have been selected by the end of the 10th round and all defensemen by the end of the 15th.


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters, Rookies
The rookies only competed in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday, Jan. 24, with the exception of Ekblad, Forsberg and Gaudreau, who were promoted to the All-Star Game as injury replacements.


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters, Withdrawn
Prior to the draft, seven players withdrew due to injuries. Only six of seven withdrawn players were replaced by the beginning of the All-Star weekend, leaving an uneven number of players to compete in the All-Star Game. Ultimately, it was Team Toews who had one less player after the draft. Although Sidney Crosby originally did not have a replacement named, it was later decided that skills competition rookie Johnny Gaudreau would take his spot in the game.


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters, Withdrawn
Three withdrawn players were eventually replaced by rookies who were originally slated to only participate in the skills competitions, while four others were replaced by other NHL players assigned to the Game by the league. The day of the game, Tyler Johnson withdrew due to a lower-body injury; although already having been selected to Team Toews, a replacement was not named and the team's roster remained reduced by two players.


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Uniforms
For the first All-Star Game in three years, Reebok sought to do something a bit different. Instead of traditional color designs, Reebok chose to incorporate a color they referred to as "elite green" as the primary trim color of their uniforms for this game. The color had been in use on the inside collars of the Reebok Edge jersey, but this marked its first (and, to date, only) use as a visible uniform color. Following on the use of chromed logos in the 2014 NHL Stadium Series, the NHL shields on the front of the All-Star uniforms were also given a chrome treatment, with two stars added inside the NHL shield to represent the two conferences (despite the game not using a conference format).


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Game summary
The game was played from 5pm until 8pm, local Eastern Time. It was broadcast nationally in Canada on CBC and in the United States on NBCSN. Locksley, Fall Out Boy and O.A.R. performed before the game and during intermissions one and two, respectively. Columbus Blue Jackets anthem singer Leo Welsh sang a bilingual version of the Canadian national anthem while Jo Dee Messina sang the American national anthem. The referees for the game were Chris Rooney and Chris Lee, while Tony Sericolo and Steve Miller served as linesman.


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Game summary
Team Toews won the game by a score of 17–12, setting a new record for most goals by a team in an All-Star Game, surpassing the previous record of 16 set in the 1993 game by the Wales Conference team. Every skater on the winning team recorded at least one point during the game. The two teams combined for a total of 29 goals, besting the previous record of 26 set in the 2001 game between teams North America and World.


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Game summary
Another record broken was the number of second period goals, as the 11 total goals was one higher than the previous record of 10, achieved four times (most recently in 2009). At the end of the game, Ryan Johansen of the hometown Columbus Blue Jackets won the most valuable player award by result of an online fan vote.


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Game summary
New York Islanders captain John Tavares scored four goals, becoming only the sixth player in All-Star game history to score that many in a game, and the first since Dany Heatley in 2003. Jakub Voracek of the Philadelphia Flyers scored six points (three goals and three assists) which tied a record set by Mario Lemieux. A record was also broken for quickest back-to-back goals by Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter and Flyers' captain Claude Giroux, after they scored eight seconds apart.


2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Game summary, Records set
The following records were set or tied during the game:


2015 National Hurling League
The 2015 National Hurling League was the 84th staging of the National Hurling League. Waterford won their first title since 2007 after a 1-24 to 0-17 win against Cork in the final on 3 May.


2015 National Hurling League
TG4 and Setanta provided live coverage of the league with highlights shown on RTÉ2 on Sunday nights.


2015 National Hurling League, Format
34 teams play in the 2015 NHL. There are six teams in the top five divisions, and four teams in Division 3B. Each team plays each other once, either home or away. 2 points are awarded for a win, and 1 for a draw. Where two teams are level on points, the team that won the head-to-head match is ranked ahead. If this game was a draw, points difference (total scored minus total conceded in all games) is used to rank the teams. Where three or more teams are level on points, points difference is used to rank them.


2015 National Invitation Tournament
The 2015 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. The annual tournament is being played on campus sites for the first three rounds, with the Final Four and Championship game being held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The tournament began on Tuesday, March 17 and ended on Thursday, April 2.


2015 National Invitation Tournament
On February 6, the NCAA announced the 2015 NIT will use a 30-second shot clock (same as its WNIT counterpart) and a 4-foot (1.22 m) restricted-area arc as experimental rules for the 2015 tournament. On March 4, the NCAA announced teams that are marked as the first four teams left out of the 2015 NCAA tournament field will be the top-seeded teams in the 2015 NIT.


2015 National Invitation Tournament, Participants, Automatic qualifiers
The following teams earned automatic berths into the 2015 NIT field by virtue of having won their respective conference's regular season championship but failed to win their conference tournaments or receive an at-large NCAA bid.


2015 National Invitation Tournament, Bracket
The following teams were listed as the "First Four Out" of the NCAA Tournament and received #1 seeds: Old Dominion, Richmond, Temple, Colorado State.


2015 National Invitation Tournament, Bracket
#3 Illinois played at #6 Alabama due to State Farm Center renovations.


2015 National Invitation Tournament, Media
ESPN, Inc. has exclusive television rights to all NIT games. It will telecast every game across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3. Since 2011, Westwood One has held exclusive radio rights to the semifinals and championship. In 2015, Dave Ryan and Kelly Tripucka will call these games for Westwood One.


2015 National League Championship Series
The 2015 National League Championship Series was a best-of-seven playoff contested between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets for the National League (NL) pennant and the right to play in the 2015 World Series. The Mets swept the Cubs four games to none for their fifth National League pennant in franchise history. The series was the 46th in league history with TBS airing all games in the United States. Game 1 was played on October 17.


2015 National League Championship Series
This was the first postseason meeting between the Mets and Cubs, and first NLCS in which the losing team never had a lead during a game. It was also the first since 2007 to end in a sweep and the third best-of-seven NLCS to do so (the other being in 1995).


2015 National League Championship Series
The Mets would go on to face the Kansas City Royals in the World Series, losing to them in five games.


2015 National League Championship Series, Background
The Chicago Cubs finished the 2015 season with a 97–65 record, the third best record in the majors. With new manager Joe Maddon and the great play of pitcher Jake Arrieta and hitters Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, the Cubs experienced their best season since 2008 when they also won 97 games. Despite their record, the Cubs only finished third in the National League Central, received the second Wild Card bid and had to travel to play the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2015 National League Wild Card Game, where they won 4–0.


2015 National League Championship Series, Background
They then advanced to the NLCS by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 3 games to 1 in the NLDS. This was the first time the Cubs won a postseason series at Wrigley Field. It was their first appearance in the NLCS since 2003 and their fourth appearance overall. It also snapped the Cardinals' NLCS appearance streak at four; they had appeared in every NLCS from 2011 to 2014, winning in 2011 and 2013.


2015 National League Championship Series, Background
The New York Mets made their first playoff appearance since 2006 with help from their starting pitchers Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard as well the late season acquisition of hitter Yoenis Céspedes. The Mets finished 2015 with a 90–72 record, clinching the National League East on September 26 with a 10–2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. They defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the 2015 NLDS, their first playoff series played at Citi Field since its opening in 2009. This was the second straight NLDS in which the Mets clinched in L.A., advancing to the NLCS for the first time since 2006 and their eighth appearance overall.


2015 National League Championship Series, Background
During the 2015 regular season, the Cubs won all seven games against the Mets.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Having used aces Jake Arrieta and Jacob deGrom late in their respective Division Series, the Cubs turned to Jon Lester and the Mets to Matt Harvey for Game 1 of the Championship Series. Daniel Murphy, fresh off a Division Series in which he hit three home runs, jumped Lester early on with a home run in the first inning. Lester would settle down, only allowing that lone run through four innings, but Harvey was even better, throwing four perfect innings as he blew away the Cubs hitters.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
After getting ahead of Anthony Rizzo on an 0–2 count, Harvey came inside with a fastball and plunked the Cubs first baseman on the arm, allowing Rizzo to reach base as the first Cubs baserunner of the night. The next batter, Starlin Castro, jumped Harvey for a double that eluded the reach of Gold Glove winner Juan Lagares in center field that scored Rizzo and knotted the game at one. Harvey would retire the following batter, Jorge Soler, on a groundout to third, forcing Castro to hold at second, but subsequently allowed a base hit to left by Javier Báez. Testing the strong arm of left fielder Yoenis Céspedes, Castro attempted to score on the hit by Báez, but was thrown out at the plate by Céspedes in plenty of time, helping Harvey escape the inning having only allowed the one run.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
In the bottom of the fifth, Wilmer Flores and Lagares would both reach on one-out singles against Lester, bringing up Harvey with runners on first and second. The Met starter attempted to move the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, but did so right towards the first baseman Rizzo who fired over to third to force out Flores for the second out of the inning.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
The third baseman Kris Bryant attempted to make a return throw to first base which may have forced out Harvey for a double play, but Bryant fumbled the ball from his glove hand to his throwing hand, allowing the inning to continue. The next batter, Curtis Granderson, then blooped a single into center field to score Lagares and help the Mets regain the lead.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Once again with the lead Harvey would regain control and blank the Cubs in the top halves of the sixth and seventh, while the Mets would add runs off of Lester. Travis d'Arnaud hit a home run in the sixth inning off of Citi Field's Home Run Apple in center field. The Mets would then manufacture another run in the seventh after a Lagares leadoff single. After Harvey sacrificed Lagares to second, the Met center fielder stole third with one out, setting up a Granderson sacrifice fly to make it a 4–1 game.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
With Harvey still pitching into the eighth, Kyle Schwarber smoked a home run deep into the Cubs bullpen in right center, ending Harvey's night after 7+2⁄3 innings, having allowed only two runs and four hits to go along with nine strikeouts.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Mets closer Jeurys Familia came on for the 4-out save, and would finish it off for Harvey, getting help from a Murphy diving play for the last out of the game.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
Looking to rebound and tie the series, the Cubs turned to ace Jake Arrieta in a matchup against Mets rookie Noah Syndergaard. Much like in Game 1, the Mets got on the board in the first inning after a Curtis Granderson single, a David Wright RBI double, and a Daniel Murphy two-run home run to give the Mets a 3–0 lead through three batters against Arrieta. For Wright, it was his first hit and RBI since Game 1 of the NLDS. Murphy's home run extended his streak of consecutive postseason games with a home run to four, and also gave him five home runs for the entire postseason, a Mets record. The Mets added another run in the third on Yoenis Cespedes's RBI single to score Granderson.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
The four runs were all Syndergaard needed. He pitched 5+2⁄3 innings, striking out nine while only walking one. He allowed only three hits, the last of which was a Kris Bryant RBI double that plated the only run against him and ended his outing in the sixth inning. Met relievers Jon Niese, Addison Reed, Tyler Clippard, and Jeurys Familia combined for 3+1⁄3 scoreless innings to finish off the win, giving the Mets a 2–0 series lead.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Hosting their first NLCS game at Wrigley Field in 12 years, the Cubs started Kyle Hendricks in an attempt to pick up their first win of the series. Though Mets leadoff hitter Curtis Granderson reached base after an error by shortstop Javier Báez, he was caught stealing to negate the misplay. The Mets still scored one run in the frame after a Yoenis Céspedes RBI double, but the caught stealing proved costly as the Mets were unable to capitalize any further.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
The Cubs tied the game in the bottom half of the inning after a Kyle Schwarber opposite field home run off of Mets ace Jacob deGrom, but they too missed an opportunity to inflict further damage. Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro hit back-to-back two-out singles off of deGrom, but Jorge Soler grounded out to end the threat with the game still tied at 1–1.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Daniel Murphy continued his historic hot streak with yet another home run, a shot to center field to give the Mets back the lead in the top of the third. For Murphy, it was his sixth home run of the postseason, making him the all-time Mets postseason home run leader in just eight games. It was also his fifth consecutive postseason game with a home run, tying Carlos Beltrán's all-time mark from the 2004 postseason. The Cubs tied the game on a Soler home run in the fourth, but deGrom allowed nothing further. After a first inning where he gave up three hits, the only hit that deGrom allowed was the Soler home run. Meanwhile, Hendricks was pulled after four innings as Joe Maddon turned to his bullpen starting in the fifth.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Left-hander Clayton Richard escaped the fifth inning unscored upon after inducing a double play from Murphy to retire the side. Right-hander Trevor Cahill was called upon next for the sixth, and he promptly gave up a single to Céspedes to lead off the inning. The struggling Lucas Duda, at that point just 3-for-23 in the postseason, attempted to bunt against the infield shift, but was thrown out at first for what was ruled a sacrifice, advancing Céspedes to second.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Céspedes then stole third base with one out, but Cahill retired Travis d'Arnaud on a ground out to third with the infield drawn in, forcing Céspedes to hold at third. The following batter, rookie Michael Conforto, saw nothing but curveballs from Cahill, who often bounced his curveballs despite the go-ahead run being on third base. Catcher Miguel Montero was up to the task of blocking Cahill's curveballs in the dirt until the 2-2 pitch when Conforto chased another curveball for strike three. Montero could not handle this last curveball, allowing it to get past him and roll to the backstop. Conforto would reach first safely after the uncaught third strike while Céspedes scored to give the Mets back the lead for the third time.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
The Mets were presented with more opportunities in the seventh due to more defensive miscues by the Cubs. With one out and facing new reliever Travis Wood, David Wright doubled down the line in left, narrowly beating the throw from the left fielder Schwarber. The next batter Murphy hit a soft tapper towards the hole between the third baseman Kris Bryant and the shortstop Báez. Bryant fielded the ball moving to his left but double-clutched before throwing to first, allowing Murphy to reach safely for an infield single as Wright advanced to third.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Looking for a strikeout, Maddon inserted Justin Grimm to replace Wood, but Céspedes would follow with a line drive to deep left that glanced off of Schwarber's glove, going for what was ruled to be a long RBI single with Wright scoring, Murphy advancing to third, and Céspedes reaching second after Schwarber's throw went to third. Duda followed with a run-scoring groundout fielded by Rizzo, who elected to step on first base to force out Duda before throwing home, giving Murphy extra time to score from third.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
With the Mets up 5–2, deGrom shut the Cubs down with a perfect seventh inning, ending his night having only allowed four hits and two runs while striking out seven. He would pick up the win after Jeurys Familia finished off the ninth for his third save in as many games in the series and his fifth save of the postseason, giving the Mets a commanding 3–0 series lead.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
The Cubs entered Game 4 facing the daunting task of having to overcome a 3–0 series deficit, done only once in MLB history when the Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees after losing the first three games of the 2004 ALCS. Attempting to repeat the accomplishment was Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, who was the general manager of the Red Sox in 2004.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
However, as had happened in every previous game of the series, the Mets took the first lead of the game in the first inning. Lucas Duda, just 1-for-6 in the series in the first three games, launched a three-run home run to center field against Cubs starter Jason Hammel to get the Mets off to a fast start again. The next batter, Travis d'Arnaud, also took Hammel deep with an opposite field home run to make it 4–0 before the Cubs would even step up to the plate.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
After Mets starter Steven Matz quickly retired the side in order in the bottom of the first, Hammel issued a one-out walk to David Wright in top of the second, ending his night as Joe Maddon quickly went to his bullpen. Reliever Travis Wood allowed a two-run double to Duda later in the inning, making it a 6–0 game.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
Matz held the Cubs hitless through three innings, but Chicago mounted its first rally in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with nobody out for Starlin Castro. Though Castro hit a bullet of a line drive, Wright made a leaping grab at third base to save an extra base hit and at least two runs. The Cubs would score their first run after an RBI groundout from Kyle Schwarber, but Javier Báez popped out in foul territory near the Cubs bullpen, stranding two runners and leaving the Cubs still down 6–1.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Matz looked as though he would retire the Cubs in order, but with two outs a Dexter Fowler fly ball dropped into shallow right field after a misplay by second baseman Daniel Murphy. Fowler, however, was not hustling out of the batter's box and thus only made it to first base. He was not in scoring position when the next batter Jorge Soler singled. Matz was chased from the game as Bartolo Colón was called upon to make his first relief appearance of the series. The veteran Colón struck out Kris Bryant and again the Cubs stranded two baserunners.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
The Mets themselves wasted opportunities to extend their lead, getting Wilmer Flores on third with less than two out in the top of the sixth as well as having the bases loaded in the top of the seventh but never scoring in either inning. However, in the top of the eighth inning, New York padded its lead with a two-run home run from Murphy, his fourth home run of the series, his seventh of the postseason, and his sixth consecutive game with a home run, a new postseason record.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
Though Bryant hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth off Tyler Clippard, he allowed nothing more. Jeurys Familia finished off the sweep by striking out Fowler, sending the Mets back to the World Series for the first time since 2000. After hitting .529 with the four home runs and a 1.294 slugging percentage for the series, Murphy was named series MVP.


2015 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
By coincidence, the Cubs' 2015 season ended on the same day as the 2015 World Series that was depicted in the 1989 movie Back to the Future Part II. In the film, the Cubs swept a fictitious Miami team in four games. The actual 2015 World Series saw the Mets lose to the Kansas City Royals in five games, but the Cubs went on to win the next season's edition, defeating the Cleveland Indians in seven.


2015 National League Division Series
The 2015 National League Division Series were two best-of-five-game series to determine the participating teams in the 2015 National League Championship Series. The three divisional winners (seeded 1-3) and a fourth team—the winner of a one-game Wild Card playoff— played in two series. TBS carried all the games in the United States, with Sportsnet simulcasting TBS coverage for Canada. The Division Series began on October 9 and concluded on October 15. The Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals had home field advantage in this round of the playoffs.


2015 National League Division Series
The higher seeded team in each series hosts Games 1, 2, and 5 (if necessary), and the lower seeded team hosts Games 3 and 4 (if necessary).


2015 National League Division Series
The Mets defeated the Cubs in the NLCS, then went on to lose the 2015 World Series to the American League champion Kansas City Royals.


2015 National League Division Series, Chicago vs. St. Louis
This was the third overall postseason meeting between the Cubs and Cardinals, with the two having met in the 1885 and 1886 World Series, and their first since the Cardinals joined the National League in 1892.


2015 National League Division Series, Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 1
The St. Louis Cardinals shut-out the rival Chicago Cubs 4–0 behind John Lackey's 7+1⁄3 shutout innings in the first meeting between the two in the playoffs. Lackey pitched into the sixth inning with a no-hitter before the Cubs' Addison Russell singled in the seventh. The Cardinals scored first when Stephen Piscotty hit a ground-rule double, then Matt Holliday hit a RBI single in the first.


2015 National League Division Series, Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 1
Lackey and Jon Lester, pitched well as neither team scored again until the eighth inning, when Tommy  Pham hit a one-out home run off Lester, who then walked Carpenter before Piscotty's home  run increase the Cardinals' lead to 4–0. The Cubs attempted a comeback in the ninth inning off Trevor Rosenthal, but the Cardinals secured the victory when Kris Bryant struck out with runners on first and third for the final out of the game.


2015 National League Division Series, Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 2
In Game 2 Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed a home run to the leadoff batter, third baseman Matt Carpenter in the first, but in the top of the second, with runners on first and third with one out, starter Jaime Garcia's errant throw to first on Hendricks bunt allowed the Cubs to tie the game. Addison Russell's sacrifice bunt and Dexter Fowler's single scored a run each before Jorge Soler's two-run home run made it 5–1 Cubs. They added another run in the third on Miguel Montero's RBI groundout off Lance Lynn with runners on first and third. Hendricks allowed back-to-back shots to Kolten Wong and Randal Grichuk in the fifth inning, butTravis Wood, Trevor Cahill and Hector Rondon worked 4+1⁄3 innings of shutout relief as the Cubs evened the series with a 6–3 win.


2015 National League Division Series, Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 3
Jake Arrieta struck out nine Cardinals over 5+2⁄3 innings and served up four runs, the most he has allowed since June 16. But, the Cubs set a Major League playoff record with six home runs in an 8–6 victory. Kyle Schwarber's home run in the second off Michael Wacha put the Cubs up 1–0. In the fourth, after back-to-back leadoff walks, Jhonny Peralta's double and Tommy Pham's groundout scored a run each to put the Cardinals up 2–1, but the Cubs tied the score in the bottom half on Starlin Castro's home run.


2015 National League Division Series, Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 3
Next inning, Kris Bryant's two-run home run put the Cubs in front 4–2. Kevin Siegrist relieved Wacha and allowed a home run to Anthony Rizzo to extend the Cubs' lead to 5–2. Jason Heyward's two-run home run in the sixth cut the lead to 5–4, but the Cubs got those runs back in the bottom half on Jorge Soler's two-run home run off Adam Wainwright with one run charged to Seth Maness. Dexter Fowler's home run in the eighth off Jonathan Broxton increased the Cubs' lead to 8–4.


2015 National League Division Series, Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 3
In the ninth, Hector Rondon allowed a two-out two-run home run to Stephen Piscotty before Matt Holliday grounded out to end the game as the Cubs took a 2–1 series lead. Jason Heyward and Stephen Piscotty hit homers for the Cardinals, and the eight total home runs for both teams set a Major League mark for one postseason game.


2015 National League Division Series, Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 4
Eight Chicago Cubs' pitchers allowed eight hits and combined for 15 strikeouts and four walks to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals and win a postseason series for the first time ever in Wrigley Field. The game did not start well for the Cubs with the second batter, Stephen Piscotty, hitting a two-run home run. In the bottom of the second inning, with two on and two outs versus John Lackey, starting pitcher Jason Hammel drove in Starlin Castro with a sharp single to center and Addison Russell's replacement at shortstop, Javier Baez, followed with a three-run home run to right.


2015 National League Division Series, Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 4
The Cardinals tied the score in the sixth on Tony Cruz's double with two on off Trevor Cahill followed by Brandon Moss's single. However, they were prevented from taking the lead by a strong throw by right fielder Jorge Soler to catcher Miguel Montero, cutting down Cruz at the plate as he attempted to score the lead run from second. Anthony Rizzo hit a go-ahead home run off Cardinal reliever Kevin Siegrist in the bottom of the inning on a two-out, 0-2 pitch. Kyle Schwarber added a home run in the seventh inning, also off Siegrist, that landed on top of the new right field Budweiser scoreboard. Pedro Strop in the eighth inning and Hector Rondon in the ninth struck out four of the seven batters they faced to preserve the 6–4 victory.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York
This was the third postseason meeting between the Dodgers and Mets, having split the first two meetings (Dodgers won 4–3 in the 1988 NLCS; Mets won 3–0 in the 2006 NLDS).


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 1
Jacob deGrom made his postseason debut to open the series for the Mets. He was opposed by reigning Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award winner Clayton Kershaw. Misplays by left fielder Michael Cuddyer resulted in doubles for Justin Turner in the second and Corey Seager in the third. deGrom escaped damage in both innings and eventually retired the last 11 batters to face him, exiting after the seventh having shut the Dodgers out allowing five hits and one walk to go along with 13 strikeouts.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 1
Kershaw made quick work of the Mets for most of his outing, allowing only a home run to Daniel Murphy through his first six innings. However, in the top of seventh, Kershaw uncharacteristically walked three batters, leading to Don Mattingly electing to go to right-hander Pedro Báez to face David Wright with the bases loaded and two out. Wright lined a 3-2 pitch back up the middle against Báez, scoring two runs and making it a 3–0 game to that point. The two runs were charged to Kershaw, who ultimately finished with a line of 6+2⁄3 innings with four hits, three earned runs, four walks, and 11 strikeouts.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 1
The Dodgers got on the board with a two-out RBI single from Adrián González in the bottom of the eighth off Mets reliever Tyler Clippard. With Turner due up as the potential tying run, Terry Collins responded by inserting closer Jeurys Familia into the game for a 4-out save. Turner lined out to first to end the eighth and Familia finished off a spotless ninth for his first career postseason save as the Mets took the series opener, 3–1.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 1
DeGrom's 13 strikeouts tied a Mets post-season franchise record (previously set by Tom Seaver in Game 1 of the 1973 National League Championship Series). He and Kershaw were the first pair of starters to each pitch 11 or more strikeouts in a post-season game and only the second pair to each have double digit strikeouts (along with Mort Cooper and Denny Galehouse in game five of the 1944 World Series).


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 2
Looking to even the series, the Dodgers turned to Zack Greinke, who led the league in earned run average in the regular season. The Mets countered with rookie Noah Syndergaard in an attempt to go back to New York with a 2–0 series lead. The Mets scored two in the second off Greinke on home runs by Yoenis Céspedes and rookie Michael Conforto, the latter doing so in his first career postseason at-bat. Greinke was stellar after that, shutting out the Mets and facing the minimum of 15 batters from the third through seventh innings. He allowed five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. However, through six innings, Greinke was out-dueled by Syndergaard, who gave up one run through his first six innings while striking out nine.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 2
Syndergaard and the Mets took a 2–1 lead to the bottom of the seventh. L.A.'s eighth-place hitter, Enrique Hernández, drew a one-out walk. Don Mattingly sent up veteran Chase Utley to hit for Greinke. Hernández stole second and Utley followed with a single to put the tying run on third and the go-ahead run at first with one out. Utley's hit chased Syndergaard from the game, manager Terry Collins sending in 42-year-old Bartolo Colón.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 2
Howie Kendrick lined a 1-2 pitch over the outstretched arm of Colón but on a hop to second baseman Daniel Murphy, setting up the most controversial play of the game. Murphy tossed to shortstop Rubén Tejada, who was moving to second base to start a potential double play. Utley slid late, with his helmet making contact with Tejada's thigh, who tried to jump over the runner but was upended and injured. Hernández scored, Kendrick was safe at first, and it appeared a runner would be at first with two outs and the game tied at 2–2.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 2
The Dodgers challenged the ruling at second base, arguing that Tejada never made contact with the bag to force out Utley. Just as the Mets were about to cart Tejada off the field with what would later be diagnosed with a fractured fibula, the call at second was overturned to safe. Now with runners on first and second and one out, Collins inserted Addison Reed in relief. After a Corey Seager flyout, the Dodgers took a 5–2 lead on back-to-back doubles from Adrián González and Justin Turner. Dodger relievers Chris Hatcher and Kenley Jansen pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to even the series at a game apiece.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 3
In front of a raucous crowd on hand for the first postseason game ever hosted at Citi Field, the Mets took a 2–1 series lead in a rout. The night did not start well for the Mets, as starter Matt Harvey allowed three straight leadoff singles to load the bases in the second before a single by Yasmani Grandal and an error by right fielder Curtis Granderson put the Dodgers up 3–0. Harvey would escape further damage in the frame thanks to a leaping grab by David Wright on a Howie Kendrick line drive to retire the side.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 3
There was concern before Game 3 that the Mets might seek retaliation against the Dodgers for the Chase Utley slide that injured Rubén Tejada in Game 2. Utley appealed a two-game suspension and was eligible to play, but did not. Instead of retaliation, the Mets had a record-setting night offensively. In the bottom of the second, after two leadoff singles off Brett Anderson, Travis d'Arnaud's RBI single scored a run, then Wilmer Flores's single loaded the bases before Granderson atoned for his error with a two-out bases-clearing double to give the Mets a 4–3 lead.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 3
Travis d'Arnaud's two-run home run off Anderson in the third extended the Mets' lead to 6–3. In the fourth, with two on against Alex Wood, Daniel Murphy drove in Juan Lagares with a single before Yoenis Céspedes's three-run home run made it 10–3 Mets. Adrián González hit a home run in the seventh off Bartolo Colón for the Dodgers, but in the bottom half, Pedro Baez allowed a leadoff single and two walks to load the bases. J.P. Howell in relief allowed a sacrifice fly to Michael Conforto and two-run double to Granderson.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 3
In the ninth, Erik Goeddel allowed two leadoff singles before Howie Kendrick's three-run home run made it 13–7 Mets. After a single, Jeurys Familia relieved Goeddel and retired the next three batters to end the game as the Mets took a 2–1 series lead. The 13 runs scored by the Mets set a new franchise record for a postseason game. Granderson's five RBIs tied a Mets single-game postseason record.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 4
In a must-win Game 4, the Dodgers turned to their ace Clayton Kershaw on three days rest to try to send the series back to Los Angeles. A win for the Mets would mean their first trip to the NLCS in nine years. They turned to the second rookie member of their starting rotation, Steven Matz. The pitchers traded zeroes for two innings before the top of the third. Kershaw himself had a one-out single to get a rally started. Although he was erased on a fielder's choice, the Dodgers followed with three consecutive hits: singles by Howie Kendrick and Adrián González, the latter of which scored the first run, and a two-run double by Justin Turner, giving the Dodgers the 3–0 edge.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 4
Though Daniel Murphy connected in the fourth inning for his second home run off the Dodgers ace in the series, Kershaw would allow nothing more. He went seven innings, allowing only three hits and a walk to go with eight strikeouts, outdueling the rookie Matz, who only lasted five innings. Though the Mets drew two walks in the eighth inning, putting the tying runs on base and the potential go-ahead run at the plate, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen induced a Murphy flyout to retire the side before retiring the Mets in order in the ninth for a 4-out save.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 4
The win for the Dodgers snapped a seven-game road playoff losing streak. It was also the first time the Dodgers won an elimination game on the road since the 1981 NLCS against the Montreal Expos.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 5
The rubber game of the 5-game series was started by Zack Greinke for the Dodgers and Jacob deGrom for the Mets. The game's first play went for an infield single for Curtis Granderson, who was initially called out prior to a challenge by Mets manager Terry Collins. Two batters later, Granderson was driven in by a Daniel Murphy double. Murphy reached third after an error by left fielder Enrique Hernández, but was stranded there after Greinke struck out Yoenis Céspedes and Lucas Duda.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 5
The Dodgers immediately answered in the bottom half of the inning. After Howie Kendrick lined out, the Dodgers put together four consecutive singles against deGrom, who was not showing the same sharpness of his Game 1 victory. The Dodgers scored two runs and were still threatening with runners on first second, but deGrom struck out Yasmani Grandal and Hernández to end the threat. deGrom would pitch in and out of trouble, dealing with runners in scoring position through each of the first five innings.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 5
Justin Turner continued his domination of his former team with three hits off deGrom, including a double to lead off the bottom of the third. Turner stole third with one out, but deGrom escaped unscathed after fielding a comebacker from Hernández to start a 1–6–3 double play to end the inning.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 5
deGrom's multiple escapes afforded the Mets the opportunity to get back into the game, with Murphy stealing a run for the Mets in the top of the fourth. After singling, Murphy advanced to second after a Duda walk. As the infield had shifted for Duda, the Dodger third baseman Turner was in shallow right field. The infielder furthest to the left for the Dodgers was the shortstop Corey Seager, who was just to the left of second base. Murphy, noticing third base uncovered, trotted to second base, then rounded the bag and sprinted to third unchallenged for a stolen base. Travis d'Arnaud followed with a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Murphy and tie the game at 2–2. Murphy came through again in the sixth inning with a home run off Greinke, his third homer of the series.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 5
The Mets were back in front 3–2 and never trailed thereafter. deGrom finished off a 1–2–3 sixth before giving way to Game 2 starter Noah Syndergaard, who featured 100 mph fastballs in a scoreless seventh inning, allowing only one walk. The Mets turned to closer Jeurys Familia for a two-inning save, something he had never been asked to do previously in his career and not been done in the postseason by any Mets pitcher since Jesse Orosco saved Game 7 of the 1986 World Series. Familia set down all six batters, sending the Mets to the NLCS for the first time since 2006.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 5
Turner finished the series hitting a scintillating .526 with six doubles. The six doubles were the most in Division Series history and tied a record for most doubles in any one postseason series. Familia finished the series having retired all 16 batters to face him while the Mets captured their first win in a deciding game of a postseason series since the aforementioned Game 7 of the 1986 World Series.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Game 5
After the series loss, the Dodgers and Don Mattingly mutually parted ways. Mattingly went on the manage the Miami Marlins the following season, while the Dodgers hired former player and San Diego Padres bench coach Dave Roberts.


2015 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. New York, Composite line score
2015 NLDS (3–2): New York Mets beat Los Angeles Dodgers


2015 National League Wild Card Game
The 2015 National League Wild Card Game was a play-in game during Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2015 postseason played between the National League's (NL) two wild card teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates. In MLB, the two teams with the best record in each league who do not win a division play against each other in the Wild Card Game.


2015 National League Wild Card Game
The game was held at Pittsburgh's PNC Park on October 7, 2015. This was the third consecutive year that the NL Wild Card Game was played in Pittsburgh. This was the third consecutive postseason appearance for the Pirates, all of which came as a wild card qualifier, while the Cubs made the postseason for the first time since 2008. This was the first postseason meeting between the Cubs and the Pirates.


2015 National League Wild Card Game
The Pirates and Cubs had finished with the second and third-best records in all of baseball during the 2015 season, with 98 and 97 wins respectively. However, since they were in the same division as the 100-win St. Louis Cardinals, they were slotted into the wild card game.


2015 National League Wild Card Game
The Cubs won the game 4–0, and advanced to play the Cardinals in the NL Division Series.


2015 National League speedway season
The 2015 National League was the seventh season of the National League, the third tier of British speedway. The Cradley Heathens were the defending champions after winning the competition in 2014.


2015 National League speedway season
Cradley finished the 2015 season in third place, as the Birmingham Brummies won the championship title. With 14 wins from 18 matches, the Brummies won the title after a 47–42 victory at the Mildenhall Fen Tigers in September, and ultimately finished 6 points clear of the Eastbourne Eagles.


2015 National League speedway season, Teams
The 2015 season featured 10 teams, one more than in 2014. The Scunthorpe Stags and Devon Demons did not compete in 2015, whilst the Birmingham Brummies, Eastbourne Eagles and Rye House Raiders all joined the league. National League co-ordinator Peter Morrish expressed his excitement ahead of the new season, with the addition of the Brummies and Eagles especially – two teams with extensive Elite League experience – it was expected to be one of the most exciting National League seasons in years.


2015 National League speedway season, National League Knockout Cup
The 2015 National League Knockout Cup was the 18th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier three teams. Eastbourne Eagles were the winners.


2015 National League speedway season, National League Knockout Cup, Team lineups
Unless otherwise stated, all listed riders were declared at the start of the 2015 National League season.


2015 National Premier Leagues
The 2015 National Premier Leagues was the third season of the Australian National Premier Leagues football competition. The league competition was played amongst eight separate divisions, divided by FFA state and territory member federations. The divisions are ACT, NSW, Northern NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.


2015 National Premier Leagues
The winners of each respective divisional league competed in a finals playoff tournament at season end, with Blacktown City crowned as National Premier Leagues Champions, which gave them direct qualification for the 2016 FFA Cup Round of 32.


2015 National Premier Leagues, League tables, Tasmania, Finals
An end of season finals series for the Victory Cup was held using an expanded format, which included the top six teams from the Victory League as well as the premiers from the Northern Championship (Somerset) and Southern Championship (University of Tasmania). The quarter-final and semi-final matches were decided by random draw.


2015 National Premier Leagues, Final Series
The winner of each league competition (top of the table) in the NPL competed in a single match knockout tournament to decide the National Premier Leagues Champion for 2015. For the quarter-final stage the participants were matched up based on geographical proximity. The winner also qualified for the 2016 FFA Cup Round of 32.


2015 National Premier Leagues, Final Series, Semi Finals
Home field advantage was based on a formula relating to the quarter final results - time of winning (normal time, extra time or penalties), goals scored and allowed, and yellow/red cards.


2015 National Premier Leagues, Final Series, Grand Final
Home field advantage was based on a formula relating to the combined quarter-final and semi final results - time of winning (normal time, extra time or penalties), goals scored and allowed, and yellow/red cards.


2015 National Premier Leagues, Individual honours
Joey Gibbs from Blacktown City won the John Kosmina Medal for the best player in the NPL Grand Final.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season
The 2015 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 12th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for  the only professional women's softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
In January 2015, the NPF announced that the Dallas Charge would join the league as an expansion team.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
The NPF and CBS Sports Network signed a 2015 agreement for the network to broadcast the NPF Draft, selected regular season games, and all of the NPF Championship Series.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
The Pride's homestand against the Bandits, Rebellion, and Racers from July 15 to July 25 was broadcast on the Longhorn Network and was subsequently available for streaming on ESPN3.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
On July 10, Cat Osterman pitched the fifth no-hitter of her NPF career, beating the Pennsylvania Rebellion 2-1. (The Rebellion scored their run in the first  inning without a hit, by combining two walks and three HBP. Pennsylvania actually led 1-0 going to the 7th inning.)


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
On July 23, Monica Abbott pitched her second perfect game as a member of the Bandits, beating the Charge, 10-0.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
On August 3, Monica Abbott pitched a no-hitter against the Pennsylvania Rebellion, winning 3-0. The pursuit of a perfect game ended in the seventh inning, on a Chicago error and later a walk.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
On August 8, Sarah Pauly became the first NPF pitcher to win 100 games.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events, Rule changes
The League Management Committee - consisting of Akron Racers owner Craig Stout, Chicago Bandits general manager Aaron Moore, Dallas Charge general manager Kevin Shelton, Pennsylvania Rebellion owner Stu Williams, and USSSA Pride general manager Don DeDonatis - met in Kissimmee, FL and voted on the following items:


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Player acquisition, College draft
The 2015 NPF College Draft was held on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 5:30 pm CST at the CMA Theater in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Lauren Chamberlain of Oklahoma was selected first by USSSA Florida Pride. Draft order was determined by regular season standings from 2014, but subsequent trades and transactions altered the overall draft order.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, NPF Championship
The 2015 NPF Championship was scheduled to be played at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, AL beginning August 15. This is the second time Hoover has hosted the championship. The top four teams from the regular season qualify for the championship playoffs. The highest-seeded semifinal winner then hosted the championship final.


2015 National Pro Fastpitch season, Annual awards
The 2015 NPF Awards Banquet was held at the Hyatt Regency Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama on August 13. The annual awards were presented, and the 2015 All-NPF Team was announced.


2015 National Ringette League playoffs
The 2015 National Ringette League Playoffs were the postseason tournament of 2014-15 National Ringette League season. Cambridge Turbos defeated the Richmond Hill Lighting to win the 4th title.


2015 National Ringette League playoffs, Elite Eight
All games were played at Casman Centre, Suncor Community Leisure Center, Frank Lacroix Arena, all located Fort McMurray, Alberta and only game between Richmond Hill and Edmonton played at Fort McKay Arena, Fort McKay, Alberta from March 30 to April 3.


2015 National Rugby Championship
The 2015 National Rugby Championship (known as the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the second season of Australia's National Rugby Championship, involving nine professional rugby union teams from around Australia. The competition kicked off 20 August 2015.


2015 National Rugby Championship
The regular season was dominated by two teams,  Brisbane City and  University of Canberra Vikings, who went on to play in the championship final. The deciding match, played at Ballymore, was won 21–10 by Brisbane to claim their second consecutive NRC title.


2015 National Rugby Championship, Teams
The nine teams confirmed for the 2015 NRC season include four from New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one each from Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Western Australia:


2015 National Rugby Championship, Television coverage and streaming
One (or more) of the NRC matches each round is broadcast live via Fox Sports, typically the Thursday night match. Streaming of the three non-broadcast matches per round, usually played on Saturday or Sunday, is hosted by Fox Sports online. Discussion of the NRC competition is included on Fox Sports' Rugby HQ program on Thursday nights following the live match broadcast, and on the review show NRC Extra Time on Monday nights.


2015 National Rugby Championship, Experimental Law Variations
The ARU was given approval by World Rugby (then known as the International Rugby Board) to conduct experimental law trials as part of the 2014 National Rugby Championship. These law variations were retained for the 2015 season. Consideration was given to reverting the value of a successful conversion kick to 2 points to restore a converted try to 7 points, but the 3 point conversion variation was retained.


2015 National Rugby Championship, Regular season
The nine teams compete in a round-robin tournament for the regular season. Each team has four matches at home and four away, with one bye. The top four teams qualify for the title play-offs with semi-finals and finals.


2015 National Rugby Championship, Regular season
During this section of the tournament, teams can also play for the Horan-Little Shield, a challenge trophy that is played for when a challenge is accepted or offered by the holders.


2015 National Rugby Championship, Regular season, Standings
Source:  • Teams 1 to 4 (Green background) at the end of the regular season qualify for the Title play-offs. HL denotes the holder of the Horan-Little Shield.


2015 National Rugby Championship, Regular season, Standings
Four points for a win, two for a draw, and no points for a bye. One bonus point for losing by eight or fewer (LB). One bonus point for the winning team scoring three or more tries than their opponent (TB)If teams are level on points in the standings, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: •  Difference between points for and against •  The match result between the tied teams •  Total number of tries scored in the competition


2015 National Rugby Championship, Title play-offs
The top four sides in the regular season advanced to the semifinals of the knock-out stage, which was followed by the final to decide the National Rugby Championship title.


2015 National Rugby Championship, Title play-offs, Final
Assistant Referees:Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)Will Houston (Australia)Television match official:Greg Milne (Australia)


2015 National Rugby Championship, Players
The leading scorers in 2015 over the regular season and finals combined were:


2015 National Rugby Championship, Barbarians tour
After the NRC finals, an Australian Barbarians team selected from the NRC played a two-match tour against the New Zealand Heartland XV. NRC players that were not contracted for Super Rugby were eligible for the Barbarians. The series was won 2–0 by the Australian Barbarians.


2015 National Rugby Championship, Notes
There were six late replacements made to the Barbarians squad with some players originally selected being unavailable to tour.


2015 National Society of Film Critics Awards
The 50th National Society of Film Critics Awards, given on 3 January 2016, honored the best in film for 2015.


2015 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners
Winners are listed in boldface along with the runner-up positions and counts from the final round:


2015 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Special Citation
One Floor Below, a Romanian film directed by Radu Muntean.


2015 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Dedication
As per tradition, the ceremony was dedicated to the late Richard Corliss, longtime critic at TIME magazine.


2015 National Women's Open
The 2015 USASA National Women's Open was the 20th staging of the tournament, and the third under a new format that eliminates regional qualification. The finals included four teams and took place from July 16 to 19.


2015 National Women's Open
The defending champions were the NY Athletic Club who became the second-winningest team in the competition and winningest still-active team.


2015 National Women's Open
The four teams participating were the ASA Chesapeake Charge, Fredericksburg FC, NY Athletic Club, and Olympic Club, competing in a round-robin. Due to inclement weather, the planned final was not played, and group stage winners Olympic Club were crowned champions after upsetting the ASA Chesapeake Charge on the final day of group play.


2015 National Women's Open
Olympic Club's victory follows their victory in the amateur cup last season. The Charge were left in second place for the second year in a row.


2015 National Women's Soccer League season
The 2015 National Women's Soccer League season was the third season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the ninth overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. The league is operated by the United States Soccer Federation and receives major financial backing from that body. Further financial backing is expected to be provided by the Canadian Soccer Association and the Mexican Football Federation. All three national federations pay the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.


2015 National Women's Soccer League season
In January, Jeff Plush was named NWSL commissioner, replacing Cheryl Bailey.


2015 National Women's Soccer League season
To accommodate the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup the league announced it would reduce the season to 20 games while extending the calendar length into September and take a two-week break from June 7–19.


2015 National Women's Soccer League season
For the second straight season, FC Kansas City defeated the Shield winners Seattle Reign FC 1–0 to win the NWSL title on October 1.


2015 National Women's Soccer League season, Teams, stadiums, and personnel, Stadiums and locations
Two teams, the Dash and Reign, do not make their stadiums' entire capacity available for home games, instead restricting ticket sales at a lower level. The full capacities of their venues are included in parentheses and italics.


2015 National Women's Soccer League season, Teams, stadiums, and personnel, Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All of the teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer.


2015 National Women's Soccer League season, Teams, stadiums, and personnel, Player acquisition
Players were acquired through the 2015 Allocation of national team players on January 14and the 2015 NWSL College Draft on January 16,as well as free agency and trades.


2015 National Women's Soccer League season, League standings, Tiebreakers
The initial determining factor for a team's position in the standings is most points earned, with three points earned for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. If two or more teams tie in point total, when determining rank and playoff qualification and seeding, the NWSL uses the following tiebreaker rules, going down the list until all teams are ranked.


2015 National Women's Soccer League season, League standings, Tiebreakers
If three or more teams tie, the following rules apply until only two teams remain tied, at which point the two-team tiebreakers listed above are used:


2015 National Women's Soccer League season, NWSL Playoffs
The top four teams from the regular season will compete for the NWSL Championship.


2015 Navarrese regional election
The 2015 Navarrese regional election was held on Sunday, 24 May 2015, to elect the 9th Parliament of the Chartered Community of Navarre. All 50 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.


2015 Navarrese regional election
Outgoing President Yolanda Barcina, having first been elected in 2011, announced on 10 November 2014 that she would not seek re-election for a second term in office. This election was held after 19 years of uninterrupted UPN rule and marked the end of one of the most unstable parliamentary terms in the recent history of Navarre.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Background
The 2011 regional election had resulted in a coalition agreement between Navarrese People's Union and the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, with UPN leader Yolanda Barcina being elected as President. However, tension remained frequent between both coalition partners, and in June 2012, PSN-PSOE leader and then-Vice President of Navarre Roberto Jiménez' questioning of a UPN's decision to pass an additional budget cut of 132 billion euros resulted in his expulsion from Barcina's Cabinet. The PSOE withdrew from the regional government, leaving UPN in minority. As a consequence, with the left-wing opposition commanding a majority in Parliament, political instability marked the remainder of the legislature, with the government being unable to pass its bills into law or to successfully approve further budgets.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Background
The eruption of the Caja Navarra scandal in early 2013, involving President Barcina and other UPN high-ranking members, resulted in an ill-fated attempt by Bildu and Aralar / Nafarroa Bai to bring forward a censure motion against Yolanda Barcina, which had no realistic prospect of succeeding because of PSN abstention. Additionally, dissent within Barcina's party materialized with party Vice President Alberto Catalán forcing a leadership election in March 2013 which Barcina was only narrowly able to win.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Background
In February 2014, Finance Counselor Lourdes Goicoechea was accused of influence peddling within the regional Treasury, prompting Roberto Jiménez to threaten Barcina with a censure motion if she did not voluntarily call for a snap regional election. The PSOE national leadership, however, explicitly forbid its regional branch from reaching any kind of agreement that needed Bildu's support, and Jiménez backed down on his threat as a consequence.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Background
The PSN-PSOE was severely mauled in the same year European Parliament election, winning just 14.5% compared to the 31.5% it had won in 2009, and losing over half of its 2009 votes (31,629 compared to 63,848 in 2009). Roberto Jiménez resigned as PSN leader, being succeeded by María Chivite. The abertzale left represented under EH Bildu's flag, on the other hand, became the second political force of the community for the first time ever, with 20.2% of the vote.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Background
Podemos' emergence in opinion polls marked the end of the legislature and into 2015. Yolanda Barcina, initially widely scheduled to stand for re-election, announced on 10 November 2014 that she would not stand for a second term as President of Navarre. A primary election was held on 29 November 2014, in which incumbent Local Government Counselor José Javier Esparza defeated Alberto Catalán and became UPN candidate for the 2015 regional election.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Electoral system
The Parliament of Navarre was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the Chartered Community of Navarre, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Reintegration and Enhancement of the Foral Regime of Navarre Law, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a President of the Foral Community. Voting was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in Navarre and in full enjoyment of their political rights. Additionally, Navarrese abroad were required to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote (Spanish: Voto rogado).


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Electoral system
The 50 members of the Parliament of Navarre were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of 3 percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied regionally. Parties not reaching the threshold were not taken into consideration for seat distribution.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Electoral system
The electoral law provided that parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors were allowed to present lists of candidates. However, groupings of electors were required to secure the signature of at least 1 percent of the electors registered in Navarre. Electors were barred from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties and federations intending to enter in coalition to take part jointly at an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election being called.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Election date
The term of the Parliament of Navarre expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. The election Decree was required to be issued no later than the twenty-fifth day prior to the date of expiry of parliament and published on the following day in the Official Gazette of Navarre, with election day taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication. The previous election was held on 22 May 2011, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 22 May 2015. The election Decree was required to be published no later than 28 April 2015, with the election taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Sunday, 21 June 2015.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Overview, Election date
The President of the Foral Community had the prerogative to dissolve the Parliament of Navarre and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process, no nationwide election was due and some time requirements were met: namely, that dissolution did not occur either during the first legislative session or within the legislature's last year ahead of its scheduled expiry, nor before one year had elapsed since a previous dissolution under this procedure. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional President within a three-month period from the election date, the Parliament was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Parliamentary composition
The Parliament of Navarre was officially dissolved on 31 March 2015, after the publication of the dissolution decree in the Official Gazette of Navarre. The table below shows the composition of the parliamentary groups in the Parliament at the time of dissolution.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Opinion polls
The table below lists voting intention estimates in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a given poll. When available, seat projections are also displayed below the voting estimates in a smaller font. 26 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Parliament of Navarre.


2015 Navarrese regional election, Aftermath
Investiture processes to elect the President of Navarre required for an absolute majority—more than half the votes cast—to be obtained in the first ballot. If unsuccessful, a new ballot would be held 24 hours later requiring only of a simple majority—more affirmative than negative votes—to succeed. If such majorities were not achieved, successive candidate proposals would be processed under the same procedure. In the event of the investiture process failing to elect a regional President within a three-month period from the election date, the Parliament would be automatically dissolved and a snap election called.


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team
The 2015 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Midshipmen were led by eighth-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo and played their home games at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Midshipmen competed as a member of the Western Division of the American Athletic Conference, and were first year members of the conference. In their entire football history, this was the first season that Navy did not compete as an Independent.


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team
They finished the season 11–2, 7–1 in American Athletic play to finish in a tie for the Western Division title with Houston. However, due to their head to head loss to Houston, they did not represent the Western Division in the American Championship. They were invited to the Military Bowl where they defeated Pittsburgh.


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team, Before the season, Previous season
The Navy Midshipmen began the 2014 season with a loss over #6 ranked Ohio State, but won two in a row defeating Temple and Texas State. However, they suffered three consecutive losses to Rutgers and WKU, along with rival Air Force. They rebounded by beating VMI and San Jose State, before falling to #10 ranked rival Notre Dame. Navy ended their season with three victories over Georgia Southern, South Alabama, and military rival Army in the 115th Army–Navy Game, their 13th consecutive victory over Army. The Midshipmen finished the regular season with a 7–5 record. This earned the Midshipmen an invitation to the 2014 Poinsettia Bowl, their 11th bowl game in a row, in which they beat the 7–5 San Diego State Aztecs 17–16.


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team, Rankings
Note: Navy is ranked for the first time since their 2004 season. (Ranked 24 in AP poll)


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team, Rankings
The Midshipmen have been nationally ranked for four consecutive weeks, making it the first time this has happened since 1978.


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team, Roster, Depth chart
The following players comprised the team's Depth chart prior to the 2014 Poinsettia Bowl:


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game Summaries, SMU
On Senior Day, Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds reached the end zone for the 78th time to set the NCAA record for career rushing touchdowns, surpassing University of Wisconsin's Montee Ball who amassed 77 touchdowns during the 2009–2012 seasons. Number 78 came quickly on a 4-yard run on Navy's opening drive. Reynolds then scored three more rushing touchdowns to boost his career total to 81, leading his #20 ranked team past SMU. The Midshipmen racked up 403 yards rushing, reaching a season high in total points. With this win, they also remain undefeated in the American Athletic Conference (ACC).


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game Summaries, at Tulsa
The Navy offense racked up a total of 512 yards on the ground, while quarterback Keenan Reynolds ran for 81 yards with a rushing touchdown in the Midshipmen win over Tulsa with a score of 44-21. Reynolds also threw for a touchdown to become Navy's all-time leading rusher with 4,195 yards, breaking fellow Midshipmen Napoleon McCallum's record of 4,179 yards.


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game Summaries, at Houston
Despite the American Athletic Conference west division title loss, Navy Midshipmen quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender Keenan Reynolds tied the Navy record for passing touchdowns with 29. Reynolds also tied Wisconsin's Montee Ball for the most touchdowns with 83 in FBS history.


2015 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game Summaries, vs. Pittsburgh (Military Bowl)
With this win, the Midshipmen ended the season 11-2, the first time in 135 years of school football history. Senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds scored four touchdowns: one touchdown pass and three rushing, becoming the NCAA career leader with 88 touchdowns and scoring a total of 530 points. Meanwhile, senior fullback Chris Swain rushed for a career 1,000 yards. The senior class picked up their 36th win, which tied the Midshipmen class of 1909.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by first-year head coach Mike Riley and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. They were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Nebraska struggled with many close losses in the 2015 season and finished the regular season with a 5–7 overall record, but was able to hand a playoff-bound and Big Ten champion Michigan State team their only loss of the regular season. Nebraska still qualified for a bowl game, one of three teams to do so with a 5–7 record (the others being in-conference rival Minnesota and San Jose State).


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
This was due to the lack of six-wins teams to fill the 80 bowl slots in the FBS and because of their APR score in relation to other FBS teams that also had a 5–7 record. The Huskers took on the UCLA Bruins in the Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara, California and won 37–29 to end the season with a 6–7 record.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, BYU
BYU snapped Nebraska's 29-game season-opening winning streak on a last-second 42-yard Hail Mary pass from backup quarterback Tanner Mangum to Mitch Mathews. This was Nebraska's first season opening loss since 1985. BYU outgained Nebraska in total offense 511 yards to 445 yards. Nebraska was led by Tommy Armstrong who went 24-of-41 through the air for 319 yards with three touchdown passes and 1 interception. Terrell Newby was the team's leading rusher with 46 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown and Jordan Westerkamp was the top Husker receiver with seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, BYU
Taysom Hill was 21-of-34 for 268 yards with a touchdown and an interception before being knocked out of the game. His backup, Tanner Mangum was 7-of-11 for 111 yards with the game-winning hail mary touchdown pass. Hill was the leading Cougar rusher with 83 yards and two scores and Nick Kurtz was the top BYU receiver with five catches for 123 yards.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, South Alabama
Nebraska used a balanced offensive effort and a stingy defense to put together four solid quarters of football in a 48–9 victory over South Alabama on Saturday night. Junior I-Back Terrell Newby raced to career highs with 28 carries for 198 yards and two touchdowns on the night, he also hauled in two catches for 38 yards and another score in the win. Tommy Armstrong was 21-of-30 for 270 yards and two scores. Nebraska totaled 561 yards of offense in the game with 258 yards on the ground and 303 in the air. The Huskers held South Alabama to 332 total yards, with 313 through the air and limiting the Jaguars to just 19 total yards rushing.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Miami (FL)
Tommy Armstrong Jr. and the Huskers orchestrated a fourth-quarter comeback, erasing a 23-point deficit in the final 8:36 of regulation, but Miami escaped with a 36–33 overtime win on Saturday at Sun Life Stadium. Trailing 33–10 after Miami's Michael Badgley connected on his fourth field goal of the game. Armstrong led Nebraska to 23 unanswered points to send the game to overtime tied at 33. Nebraska's comeback included a trio of fourth quarter touchdown passes from Armstrong to Alonzo Moore, Brandon Reilly and Stanley Morgan Jr., and a pair of two point conversion passes to Jordan Westerkamp and Cethan Carter.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Miami (FL)
In overtime Armstrong opened the extra period with an interception on the first play. Miami took over and kicked a 28-yard field goal to end the game. Armstrong ended the day going 21-of-45 for 309 yards with 4 TDs and 3 INTs. Terrell Newby was the top Husker rusher with 14 carries for 82 yards and Jordan Westerkamp led Nebraska's receivers with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. The Huskers gained 462 yards in the game and allowed 511 to the Hurricanes. Nebraska fell to 1–2 for the first time since 1981.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Southern Miss
Tommy Armstrong, Drew Brown, Andy Janovich, Brandon Reilly and Jordan Westerkamp all produced career days to lead Nebraska to a 36–28 win over Southern Miss on Homecoming at Memorial Stadium. Brown tied an NCAA record by kicking five field goals in the first half to help Nebraska jump to a 22–0 halftime lead. He also tied the Memorial Stadium record for field goals made in a game. Westerkamp notched a career-high with 11 receptions for 118 yards and Reilly notched a career-high with 112 yards.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Southern Miss
Andy Janovich notched career highs rushing and receiving from the fullback position and Tommy Armstrong notched a career-high with 431 yards of total offense. The Husker defense for the fourth game this year allowed 300+ yards passing as Southern Miss threw for over 400 yards. The Golden Eagles mounted a comeback in the second half, but came up short as the Huskers held on for the 36–28 win to end the non-conference season.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Illinois
For the fourth time in five contests, the outcome of Nebraska's game was not decided until the opponent's final offensive play, and for the third time, Nebraska walked away on the short end of the stick with a 14–13 loss to Illinois to open the Big Ten season. The game was decided on a one-yard touchdown pass from Wes Lunt to Geronimo Allison with 10 seconds remaining to complete the Illini's 13-point fourth quarter deficit. Nebraska gained 292 yards on the day, and allowed 382 yards. Tommy Armstrong had his worst passing day of the year, going 10-of-31 for 105 yards with an interception in the loss. Linebacker Chris Weber led the Blackshirts with a career-high 17 tackles, with three tackles for loss.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Wisconsin
For the fourth time this season, Nebraska lost a game in the final seconds on the opponent's last offensive possession as Wisconsin kicked a 46-yard field goal with 0:04 remaining to seal a 23–21 win in Lincoln. With the loss, Nebraska drops to 2–4 for the first time since 1959. It is the seventh time in the last eight Nebraska games that the outcome has been decided by a single score. Wisconsin outgained the Huskers 469 yards (147 rush, 322 pass) to 325 yards (196 rush, 129 pass). Tommy Armstrong was 11-of-28 for 129 yards with a touchdown pass.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Wisconsin
Andy Janovich had three carries for 59 yards and a touchdown and Terrell Newby had 15 carries for 59 yards to lead the rushers, while Tommy Armstrong had 50 yards on eight carries and a score. Alonzo Moore was the top receiver with one catch for 41 yards and the touchdown. Byerson Cockrell lead the team in tackles with 10.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Minnesota
Nebraska clinched their first Big Ten victory under Mike Riley with a 48–25 win over Minnesota in Minneapolis. Nebraska jumped to a 17–7 lead and then scored 21 unanswered to secure the win. Tommy Armstrong was 18-of-26 for 261 yards and had eight carries for 38 yards to lead the Huskers. Terrell Newby rushed 13 times for 116 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win with the Huskers gaining 464 total yards of offense while Blackshirts held Minnesota to 366 yards and forced three turnovers.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
In another game that went down to the wire, Nebraska watched a two-point conversion attempt fall incomplete with 4:23 left, allowing Northwestern to escape Memorial Stadium with a 30–28 win. With Nebraska's fifth loss of the season by five or fewer points, the Huskers slip to 3–5 overall and 1–3 in the Big Ten. Nebraska's five losses have come by a total of 13 points. Nebraska outgained Northwestern in total offense 373 yards (291 pass, 82 rush) to 333 yards (177 pass, 156 rush). Tommy Armstrong was 24-of-48 for 291 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT in the loss. Terrell Newby was the top rusher with 16 carries for 53 yards and Jordan Westerkamp the top receiver with five catches for 92 yards.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Purdue
Nebraska turned the ball over five times and suffered a 55–45 loss to Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Huskers slipped to 3–6 overall and 1–4 in the Big Ten. Ryker Fyfe made his first career start at quarterback in place of injured starter Tommy Armstrong and threw for 407 yards and four touchdowns despite also throwing four interceptions and losing one fumble. The five turnovers were converted into 28 points by the Boilermakers. The Huskers were also without receivers Alonzo Moore and De'Moarnay Pierson-El and running back Terrell Newby to injury as well.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Purdue
Nebraska outgained Purdue in total offense with 484 total yards compared to Purdue's 457 yards. Nebraska rallied with 29 fourth quarter points, the second-best point total in the quarter in school history, trailing only 30 points scored at Hawaii in December 1982. Jordan Westerkamp hauled in nine passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in the loss to help lead the Huskers. The loss marked the 1st time in Huskers football history that they lost 6 games before the start of November.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Michigan State
Nebraska scored two touchdowns in the final 1:47 of the game to rally for a 39–38 upset over #7 ranked Michigan State. The Huskers' 12-point rally in the fourth quarter tied for the largest fourth quarter rally in school history. Nebraska outgained MSU in total offense 499 yards to 491 yards. Tommy Armstrong finished the day going 19-of-33 for 320 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. He also added 19 yards rushing and two scores on the ground.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Michigan State
Imani Cross had 18 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown while Jordan Westerkamp had the top day for the receivers with 9 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Reilly added three catches for 87 yards and the game-winning touchdown. It was the first time an unranked Nebraska team beat a Top 10 ranked opponent since 1977.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
Nebraska jumped out to a 21–0 lead and never looked back in a 31–14 victory over Rutgers at High Point Solutions Stadium. The Huskers wasted little time, marking 78 yards in eight plays to score on the game's opening drive. The Blackshirt defense played its most complete game of the year, coming up with six sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions in the win. The Huskers held the Scarlet Knights to just 259 yards of offense. Nebraska gained 362 total yards on the day (174 rush, 188 pass). Tommy Armstrong was 14-of-21 for 188 yards with 3 TD passes and 3 INT. Cethan Carter was the top receiver with four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown while Imani Cross led the Huskers on the ground with 20 carries for 94 yards.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Iowa
Despite outgaining Iowa in total yardage, time of possession and plays run, the Hawkeyes held on for a 28–20 win over Nebraska in the HyVee Heroes Game on Black Friday. Nebraska's defense held Iowa to 0-of-9 on third downs, but four interceptions by the Huskers and untimely penalties doomed Nebraska. Nebraska outgained Iowa 433 yards (296 pass, 137 rush) to 250 yards (97 pass, 153 rush). Tommy Armstrong was 25-of-45 for 296 yards with 4 INT. Imani Cross was the leading rusher with 19 carries for 58 yards and two TDs. Terrell Newby had a team-high five receptions for 22 yards in the loss, while Cethan Carter caught four passes for a team-high 76 yards.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Foster Farms Bowl
Tommy Armstrong threw and ran for touchdowns to help Nebraska cap its season on a bright note with a 37–29 win over UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl. Nebraska scored 30 straight points after falling behind 21–7 early on. The Huskers rushed for a season-high 326 yards (151 in the third quarter alone) in the win and ended the game plus-one in turnover margin. Armstrong ended the night going 12-of-19 for 174 yards with a touchdown pass and added 76 yards rushing on 10 carries with a score on the ground.


2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Foster Farms Bowl
Freshman Devine Ozigbo led all rushers with 20 carries for 80 yards. Jordan Westerkamp was the top receiver for Nebraska with two catches for 44 yards. For his effort, Tommy Armstrong was named Offensive MVP of the Foster Farms Bowl. Also, head coach Mike Riley became the first coach to win this bowl game twice, after also having won the game in (2007)


2015 Nebraska Danger season
The 2015 Nebraska Danger season is the fifth season for the Nebraska Danger as a professional indoor football franchise and their fifth in the Indoor Football League (IFL). One of ten teams competing in the IFL for the 2015 season, the Nebraska Danger are members of the Intense Conference. For the fifth consecutive year, the team played their home games under head coach Mike Davis in the Eihusen Arena at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska.


2015 Nebraska Danger season, Roster
2014-08-21 at the Wayback Machine updated June 17, 201525 Active, 2 Inactive


2015 Nepal National League
The 2015 Nepal National League also known as the RedBull National League for sponsorship reasons is the 2nd edition of Nepal National League. The winners Three Star Club received 1 Crore or 10,000,000 rupees ($149,278 USD).


2015 Nepal National League
Red Bull energy drink is the main sponsor. San Miguel Beer is also a co-sponsor of the competition.


2015 Nepal National League
The League featured 9 teams from Kathmandu and the rest of Nepal.


2015 Nepal National League
The League was heavily affected by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, with play being suspended from late April and due to resume in September.


2015 Nepal National League, Teams
A total of 9 teams featured in the league. The teams are Nepal Police Club, Nepal Army Club, Manang Marshyangdi Club, Nepal APF, Three Star Club, Far Western FC, Morang XI, Lumbini FC, and Jhapa XI. Machhindra Football Club, Himalayan Sherpa Club, Saraswoti Youth Club and Friends Club became unable to take part due to the ban by ANFA Makwanpur DFA were supposed to take part in the league but where disqualified for not filling out the required entries, while Sankata Boys Sports Club had earlier pulled out.


2015 Nepal National League, Teams, Stadia and locations
Remarks:1 Dasarath Rangasala Stadium was heavily damaged due to the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. 2 Matches shifted to ANFA Complex due to violent protests in the region.


2015 Nepal National League, Awards
All Nepal Football Association awarded the following awards for the National League season.


2015 Nepal National League, Controversy
The conditions of many stadiums has been heavily criticized as many; including the national stadium, are in poor condition.


2015 Nepal National League, Controversy
Some Jhapa XI fans were left feeling aggrieved after the venue was moved from Chandragadhi, where there was a well maintained stadium to the Domalal Stadium in Birtamod, which is smaller but in a more central location.


2015 Nepal National League, Controversy
It was initially decided that matches would only be played on weekends so teams had adequate rest time and venues wouldn't be overused, but the ANFA decided to revert this decision and schedule matches one after the other, which vexed many team officials and supporters. Nepal Army Club coach Megraj KC publicly criticized the cramped schedules saying that they would hurt team performances.


2015 Nepal National League, Controversy
Jhapa XI were unable to train on a proper pitch before an away match against Nepal Police Club on 3 April. Instead of being allowed to train in the Police Club's Dasarath Stadium they were instead made to train on the Tudhikhel grounds, whose surface is composed of sand and rocks not grass and is not a proper football pitch. Jhapa coach Bhagirath Ale publicly criticized the ANFA for refusing to grant them permission to train at the national stadium, although he stated that the improper practice session would not have an effect on Jhapa's performance against the police club.


2015 Nepal National League, Effects of the April earthquake and subsequent May aftershock on league play
Following the 25 April the National League was immediately suspended by the ANFA as the Country was in a State of emergency. Many of the venues were damaged. The Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, which was already in poor shape and in need of repair before the earthquake was rendered completely unplayable as it sustained severe damaged to the stands, grounds, and many of the walls surrounding the stadium collapsed. Following the quake and subsequent aftershock the vast majority of players and staff of the respective teams took time off to help, Bikram Lama spent time delivery relief supplies in Sindhupalchowk for example, and many charitable matches and tournaments were also held to raise awareness and money.


2015 Nepal National League, Effects of the April earthquake and subsequent May aftershock on league play
On 8 July the ANFA announced that the National League would resume in mid September.


2015 Nepal National League, Prizes
The winning club will receive 1 Crore while the runners up 50 Lakhs and the third place team is set to receive 25 Lakhs. The fourth placed will get 15Lakhs and 5th place will get 7 Lakhs Coaches and players who are the recipients of individual awards will each be gifted a motorbike.


2015 Nepal blockade
The 2015 Nepal blockade, which began on 23 September 2015, was an economic and humanitarian crisis which severely affected Nepal and its economy.


2015 Nepal blockade
Nepal has accused India of imposing an undeclared blockade triggered by Indian concern about changes to the Nepali constitution, violent ethnic conflict, and Nepal's increasing cooperation with China. India has denied the allegations, stating the supply shortages have been imposed by Madheshi protesters within Nepal.


2015 Nepal blockade
As a landlocked nation, Nepal imports all of its petroleum supplies from India. Roughly 300 fuel trucks enter from India on a normal day, but this had dwindled to a sporadic passage of 5–10 fuel trucks daily since the start of the crisis, though shipments of perishables like fruits and vegetables had generally been allowed to pass. Moreover, India had also been stopping some Nepalese trucks at the Kolkata harbour. The blockade choked imports of not only petroleum, but also medicines and earthquake relief material. By March 2016, fuel shipments were mostly back to normal.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Overlapping statehood demands
A root problem is that the demands of Madheshis, backed by India, are in direct opposition to the demands of two other groups, which puts Kathmandu in a quandary. Two ethnic groups – the Tharu and the Kiranti – have been enforcing bandh (a general strike or blockade) and agitating for full autonomy from Kathmandu. Madheshis have had clashes with Tharu protesters in addition to government forces, yet all these groups accuse Kathmandu of ordering excessive use of force by the police.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Political intrigue
Political intrigue is a recurring theme of Nepal. Since the Nepalese royal massacre of 2001, the country broke out into civil war that only ended in 2006, the victors being UCPN-M power brokers who forced Parliament and King Gyanendra to integrate them; the king later was forced to resign. The two main leaders of UCPN-M are ex-Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and party head Prachanda.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Political intrigue
Despite their once powerful posts and many disgruntled members having left the party with a few cadres after disputes and failures to get economic and political traction, the party never suffered from fallout as great as it has in 2015, when Baburam Bhattarai on 26 September severed ties with Prachanda and the UCPN-M amidst the Constitutional crisis and early days of the blockade, reducing the once formidable UCPN-M to an also-run political force despite its 80/600 parliamentary representation. Bhattarai stated "chances of me joining an old or a cracked house is out of option". The ruling Nepali Congress itself had been under intense pressure due to failure to act on quake relief and the blockade, this and the UCPN-M split paved the way for Khadga Prashad Oli of CPN-UML to become PM on 11 October.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Concerns about Nepal's constitution
On 20 September 2015, the long-stalled Constitution of Nepal was passed with 90% approval from the representatives in Nepal's Constituent Assembly (CA). 66 members of Nepal's 598-strong Constituent Assembly, belonging to these groups, abstained from voting in protest. By 20 September, more than 40 people including 8 police officers had been killed in clashes between the protesters and the police.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Concerns about Nepal's constitution
Not all constitution passage related protests, deaths, nor bandh (strike) were ordered by or took place among Madhesis or in the Madhesh; there are various unresolved issues touched off by the passage of the constitution related to the multitude of races, political interests and castes in the diverse and developing country.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Concerns about Nepal's constitution
Nevertheless, the fuel crisis itself has direct relation to the Madhesh as it is the transit point for the vast majority of imports, two ethnic groups in the border region with India – Tharus and Madhesi people- have also been protesting against human rights violations, alleging that the new constitution marginalized them. There were also bandhs (strikes) declared in the Terai region, even before the constitutional passage, curtailing Terai business but otherwise not affecting the rest of the country.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Indian concerns
On the day that the fuel blockade began, Indian Express newspaper reported that India had demanded specific changes to the new Nepali constitution. While the Indian government denied this claim, the Indian Express reporter stood by his or her original report restating that "these amendments/changes were communicated by New Delhi to Kathmandu". In a report from The Economic Times, a personnel from the Indian Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) "confirmed that at least till the third week of September, they had orders from above to intercept fuel shipments to Nepal".


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Indian concerns
Nepali social media took to immediate protest against the alleged Indian interference with the hashtag #BackOffIndia as well as street agitation. When news of the blockage of shipments reached the government, Kathmandu sent additional military forces to the border. Many leaders of various parties claimed India had infiltrated the Madhesh with Indian protesters, and Madheshi leaders refuted the infiltration allegations, stating that the Madheshis should not be mistaken for Biharis or other Indians.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Ties and border
Due to an open border between Nepal and India, citizens of both countries can move freely, work, and live across borders without passports. Nepalese citizens moving along the border had long been an issue straining Nepal-India relations. Madheshis share strong socio-cultural ties to the neighbouring Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. India had expressed concerns over the violent protests, and had asked Nepal to take Madhesi interests into consideration. The government of Nepal and the Nepalese media portrayed Madhesi movements as subversively backed by Indian infiltrators, and as an assault on their sovereignty; furthermore, some Nepalis felt the crisis was ultimately an attempt to absorb Nepal into India in whole or in part, citing the case of Nepali-dominated Sikkim.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Connections to the 2015 Bihar elections
Some critics have tied India's actions to political interest in the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. Justice Markandey Katju claimed that the blockade is "directly connected with the Bihar assembly elections". Likewise, General Ashok K. Mehta accuses the Indian Government of prioritizing an election victory in Bihar over Indian-Nepalese relations.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Geography and China
Landlocked Nepal, due to its Himalayan location and extremely basic and fragile infrastructure depends on India for almost all its import needs. In 1989, India had closed 19 of the 21 border crossings, after a dispute over renegotiation of lapsed trade and transit treaties between the two countries. Nepal's increasing cooperation with China, including its purchase of Chinese weaponry, was seen as a major factor behind this blockade. Nevertheless, India had warned against Nepal breaking the fuel stranglehold of India during the premiership of Girija Prasad Koirala.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Geography and China
"We are deeply concerned over the incidents of violence resulting in death and injury in regions of Nepal bordering India following the promulgation of Constitution yesterday. Our freight companies and transporters have also voiced complaints about the difficulties they are facing in movement within Nepal and their security concerns, due to the prevailing unrest.


2015 Nepal blockade, Background, Geography and China
We had repeatedly cautioned the political leadership of Nepal to take urgent steps to defuse the tension in these regions. This, if done in a timely manner, could have avoided these serious developments."