U.S./World Sports category, Page 11
Malik Beasley should be in high demand after a career season. Off-court issues are changing that
Malik Beasley should be riding high right now, after a season when he became just the fifth player in NBA history to make at least 300 shots from 3-point range in a single season. Instead, his future seems very uncertain. He’s a free agent and facing some serious off-court issues,...
Penn State great, UFC fighter Bo Nickal makes major career move
Former Penn State wrestler Bo Nickal is making a major career move. Nickal is joining Hulk Hogan’s Real American Freestyle wrestling, it was announced on Wednesday. He is set to compete with Real American Freestyle for the first time on Aug. 30 in Cleveland, Ohio. Bo Nickal joined The Ariel...
Aryna Sabalenka is last top-5 Wimbledon women’s seed left
LONDON — Aryna Sabalenka joked that she’d love it if the upsets at Wimbledon would stop, which makes sense, given she is ranked No. 1. She’s also the only one of the five top-seeded women still in the bracket after No. 4 Jasmine Paolini, last year’s runner-up, followed No. 2...
Jake Paul now a ranked boxer, eligible to fight for a world title
LOS ANGELES — Jake Paul was a child actor. He was once primarily known as a YouTube influencer. When he started boxing, he was seen largely as a novelty act who didn’t face serious fighters. As of Monday night, however, Paul is ranked by the World Boxing Association. And as...
Myles Turner will join Bucks, who waive Damian Lillard in free agency surprise
Myles Turner is about to become teammates with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Damian Lillard now has the chance to pick his next spot. And just like that, the first full day of NBA free agency brought big surprises Tuesday. Turner — the longtime stalwart for the Indiana Pacers — agreed to a...
Lee Westwood qualifies for British Open, 1st major since LIV
IRVINE, Scotland — Lee Westwood had rounds of 70-67 at Dundonald Links to earn his way into the British Open, his first major since the former world No. 1 joined Saudi-funded LIV Golf three years ago. Westwood was among 20 players who earned their places at Royal Portrush through Final...
Wimbledon: Gauff, Pegula and Zverev among record-tying 23 seeds gone in 1st round
LONDON — There was three-time Grand Slam finalist and No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev, outplayed over five sets in a first-round loss at Wimbledon to 72nd-ranked Arthur Rinderknech, who entered Tuesday with a 1-4 career record at the All England Club and zero trips past the third round in 18...
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander agrees to massive 4-year extension with NBA champion Thunder, AP source says
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed on a record-setting four-year, $285 million extension that would give him the highest single-season average salary in NBA history, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Tuesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of...
Nets trading former OLSH star, Pitt player Cam Johnson to Nuggets
NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets are trading Cam Johnson to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr. and a first-round draft pick, according to multiple reports Monday. The swap of forwards shortly after free agency opened sends Johnson back to the Western Conference, where he helped Phoenix reach the...
NBA free agency opens after recent waves of player movement
Victor Wembanyama has another big man to help him out in San Antonio. The Houston Rockets continued their offseason overhaul. And Orlando and Atlanta made moves with eyes on contending this coming season Monday as the NBA’s free agency period got underway. The Spurs lured center Luke Kornet away from...
Rookie Paige Bueckers named WNBA All-Star starter; Nneka Ogwumike picked for 10th timeVideo
NEW YORK — Paige Bueckers will play in her first WNBA All-Star Game, and Nneka Ogwumike earned her 10th selection, the league announced Monday as it named the players who will join Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier as All-Star starters. Bueckers, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick by...
Carlos Alcaraz needs 5 Wimbledon sets to beat Fabio Fognini
LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz, locked in a five-set struggle at Centre Court, looked toward his coach Monday and shouted something about how Fabio Fognini — 38, retiring after this season, winless in 2025 — looked as if he could keep playing until he’s 50. “I don’t know why it’s his...
Is EA Sports reviving its college basketball video game franchise?
EA Sports sent a cryptic tweet on Monday that hints at the revival of its college basketball video game franchise. Although not as popular as its college football franchise that was revived last year, EA was among the industry’s leaders in basketball gaming in the early 2000s. Its NCAA Basketball...
Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia set to join WNBA as expansion franchises starting in 2028
NEW YORK — The WNBA is expanding to 18 teams over the next five years, with Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia all set to join the league by 2030. Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia the season after, assuming they get approval from the NBA and...
Wimbledon is bracing for record-breaking Day 1 temperatures as the tournament gets started
LONDON — Wimbledon was preparing for the possibility of record-breaking Day 1 heat as the oldest Grand Slam tournament got started Monday. The temperature shortly before play was scheduled to begin in the first matches at 11 a.m. local time was 82 degrees — not yet quite reaching the 85-degree...
U.S. gets past Costa Rica in Gold Cup quarterfinals on penalty kicksVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — Damion Downs scored in the sixth round of a shootout after three saves by Matt Freese, sending the U.S. to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 4-3 penalty-kicks win over Costa Rica after a a 2-2 tie Sunday night. The U.S. advanced to a Wednesday...
Chase Elliott in position to contend for 2nd NASCAR title after last-lap win in AtlantaVideo
HAMPTON, Ga. — Chase Elliott couldn’t have picked a better setting for a drought-breaking win. Fans roared in approval after Elliott, the home-state favorite, passed Brad Keselowski on the final lap to end a 44-race drought by winning the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta on Saturday night. Elliott’s 20th career...
LeBron James formally opts in for a 23rd season, will make $52.6M in 2025-26
LeBron James is exercising his $52.6 million option with the Los Angeles Lakers for 2025-26, further confirming that he will become the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd season, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition...
Carlos Alcaraz loves playing on grass and is trying to win a third Wimbledon title in a row
LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz’s first match on a grass court came just six years ago. He, obviously, has been a quick study. When Wimbledon starts Monday, the 22-year-old from Spain will play in the first Centre Court match of this fortnight, an honor reserved for the previous year’s men’s champion....
Hall of Fame horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a winner of 15 Triple Crown races, dies at 89
D. Wayne Lukas, the Hall of Famer who became one of the most accomplished trainers in the history of horse racing and a face of the sport for decades, has died. He was 89. His family said Sunday that Lukas died Saturday night at his Louisville, Ky., home. Lukas had...
NBA free agent Malik Beasley under investigation regarding gambling allegations, AP source says
DETROIT — NBA free agent Malik Beasley is under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney’s office regarding gambling allegations tied to league games, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on...
U.S. soccer great Tobin Heath hoping Club World Cup spurs more growthVideo
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Tobin Heath might know something about what makes soccer resonate within the U.S. Her resume, in part: She won NCAA titles in college at North Carolina, then went on to win two Olympic gold medals with the U.S. women’s national team and two World Cup titles...
Novak Djokovic figures Wimbledon gives him best chance at record 25th Grand Slam titleVideo
LONDON — It’s become part of Novak Djokovic’s routine now, particularly at Grand Slam tournaments: He shows up and gets asked — at the start of the event, during the event, after the event or sometimes all three — whether this will be his final appearance there. Happened again Saturday...
NASCAR’s Cup Series to debut In-Season Challenge as $1 million backdrop to points race for title
HAMPTON, Ga. — The debut of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge in Saturday night’s Cup Series race in Atlanta generated differing opinions and expectations from drivers. After all, there’s a points race to attend to. Every team’s top priority is qualifying for the playoffs and trying to win the championship. Some drivers...
Cooper Flagg looks comfortable in new home as No. 1 pick gets introduced in Dallas
DALLAS — Cooper Flagg didn’t wait for Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison to break the silence with an opening statement as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft was introduced to a packed Dallas news conference. “Hello,” Flagg said about the time the clock struck noon Friday. The 18-year-old...
