Sports Headlines
Who is Maya Joint? She hopes to spoil the Serena Williams party at Wimbledon
LONDON (AP) — Maya Joint’s cheering section at Wimbledon for her match of a lifetime against Serena Williams will be small. The Michigan-born Aussie said she’ll have her tennis coach, fitness coach, agent and ... her mom. That might be it. Joint, 20, was drawn to face the seven-time Wimbledon champion in the first round and knows she’ll need to tune out what likely will be a stadium — probably Centre Court — full of fans hoping to see the 44-year-old Williams launch a successful singles comeback. “I’m expecting big serves and big forehands,” Joint said. “I’m expecting shorter rallies, just from how hard she hits the ball. I’ll have to be really ready for the first couple of games, ... Read MoreSuns finalizing deal to bring back Mark Williams on $38 million, 3-year deal, AP source says
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns are finalizing a deal to bring back center Mark Williams on a $38 million, three-year deal, a person familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal — first reported by ESPN — has not been announced. The 24-year-old Williams was a restricted free agent after scoring 11.7 points and grabbing eight rebounds per game last season. The 7-foot-1 big man played his first three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets before he was traded to the Suns in a draft day deal in 2025. Williams — who was the No. 15 pick in the 2022 draft — has battled injuries throughout his ... Read MoreMarina Mabrey matches WNBA scoring record with 53 points to help Toronto rout Los Angeles
TORONTO (AP) — Marina Mabrey matched the WNBA scoring record with 53 points to help the Toronto Tempo rout the Los Angeles Sparks 125-97 on Thursday night. Mabrey tied the mark set by Liz Cambage for Dallas against New York on July 17, 2018, and matched by A’ja Wilson for Las Vegas at Atlanta on Aug. 22, 2023. Mabrey said she was unaware of the scoring record until sister Michaela Mabrey, sitting on the sideline, told her she was three points away. “There’s no stat board in our gym,” Mabrey said. “After you get into a state like that, it’s kind of hard to know what you’re really doing, but my teammates made it known, so I knew I was ... Read MoreMLB proposes limiting most free agent contracts to 5 years and 15% of a team’s salary cap
Major League Baseball proposed limiting most free agent contracts to five years and 15% of a team’s salary cap and to eliminate deferred compensation, fleshing out details of a plan likely to spark a confrontation with the players’ association. MLB’s plan would eliminate deals such as Juan Soto’s $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets. The league said just seven players this year exceed the proposed maximum and 98% of free agent contracts would not have been impacted. “There’s no question that we’re very far apart,” union head Bruce Meyer said during an online news conference. During a bargaining session Thursday at the union’s office, MLB said it would accept the union’s proposal granting free agency a year ... Read MoreSerena Williams draws 20-year-old Maya Joint in first Wimbledon singles match in 4 years
LONDON (AP) — Serena Williams will face an opponent less than half her age when she plays 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round at Wimbledon for her first singles match in nearly four years. The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, who is 44, accepted a wild-card entry to the grass-court Grand Slam, where she’ll also compete in doubles with her older sister Venus, who turned 46 last week. It’s all part of a tennis comeback that started with two doubles warmup matches but kicked into high gear Sunday when the All England Club announced Serena would play singles. Brackets were set in Friday’s draw. Joint was born in Michigan — as was Williams — but represents Australia through her father. ... Read MorePochettino annoyed by perceived disappointment after US finishes group play with 3-2 loss to Turkey
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The United States only wanted to get through its final World Cup group stage match Thursday night without an injury or a red card, while Turkey was playing for a face-saving victory to end a dismal tournament. Both teams got what they wanted most out of their meaningless meeting before the Americans head on to the knockout stage — and coach Mauricio Pochettino was annoyed by any suggestion that the Americans’ last-gasp, 3-2 defeat said anything negative about the state of his team. Kaan Ayhan scored on the final kick of the match to send Turkey past the U.S. in the eighth minute of stoppage time for its only win of the World Cup. The result ... Read MoreProsecutor dropping drug case against Olympian skier Bode Miller
BIG SKY, Mt. (AP) - An eastern Idaho prosecutor says misdemeanor drug charges against Olympic gold medalist skier Bode Miller will be dismissed despite there having been probable cause to arrest him. Miller, 48, was arrested June 6 in Fremont County, which borders Montana and Wyoming, and charged with possessing psilocybin mushrooms. He pleaded not guilty last week and said his friend who was with him had a small amount of drugs he didn’t know about. County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Friday that her office will be dismissing the drug possession and drug paraphernalia charges against Miller. “Although the deputy had sufficient probable cause to arrest Mr. Miller at the beginning ... Read MoreLast-place Mets fire manager Carlos Mendoza
NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Mendoza was fired as manager of the underperforming New York Mets on Friday and replaced by Andy Green. New York is 34-47 at the season’s midpoint following a six-game losing streak, 15 games behind NL East-leading Atlanta and 9 1/2 games back of the NL’s last wild-card berth. Mets owner Steve Cohen had high expectations for a team without a World Series title since 1986. New York opened the season with baseball’s highest payroll at $358 million and was projected to pay an additional $124 million in luxury tax. “Our commitment to bringing our fans a championship-caliber team has not changed,” Cohen said in a statement. “There is no sugar-coating it: This season has been ... Read MoreU.S. men suffer first 2026 World Cup loss, 3-2 to Turkey, before heading to knockout round
The U.S. national team lost 3-2 to Turkey Thursday night in the 2026 Men's World Cup, but the Americans will still advance to the Round of 32 after securing two wins in their group. The U.S. team took an early lead at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, scoring within the first three minutes, but Turkey answered minutes later with its first goal of the 2026 World Cup. Turkey's Kaan Ayhan scored on the final kick of the match for its only win so far in the tournament. The U.S. men's team had already clinched its spot in the knockout round with its 2-0 win over Australia on Friday. The U.S. dominated Paraguay 4-1 in its opener. The only other times ... Read MoreImai strikes out 10 as Astros beat Tigers 2-1 and extend winning streak to 3 games
DETROIT (AP) — Tatsuya Imai struck out 10 in six scoreless innings and Taylor Trammell homered to lead the Houston Astros to a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night. Imai (5-3) allowed two hits and a walk and threw 63 of his 96 pitches for strikes in the opener of the four-game series. AJ Blubaugh struck out three in two innings, and Enyel De Los Santos gave up Dillon Dingler's 19th home run in the ninth on the way to his fifth save. Detroit starter Troy Melton took a perfect game into the sixth inning before Trammell hit a one-out, 0-1 pitch 422 feet to right field for his second home run and a 1-0 lead. Jeremy ... Read MoreLangford hits 3-run homer, Burger and Pederson also connect as Rangers beat Blue Jays 6-5
TORONTO (AP) — Wyatt Langford hit a three–run home run, Jake Burger and Joc Pederson also went deep, and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Thursday night. Pederson went 2 for 3 with two walks and scored twice as Texas bounced back after losing the previous two. Toronto's Kazuma Okamoto cut the deficit to one with a two-run homer off Jacob Latz in the ninth, his 18th. Latz recovered by retiring Alejandro Kirk on a grounder and striking out pinch hitter Brandon Valenzuela for his 15th save in 17 chances. Rangers shortstop Corey Seager went 0 for 3 and walked twice after being activated off the concussion list. The two-time World Series MVP missed 12 games. ... Read MoreCurtains go up at AT&T Stadium for the World Cup, a glare-blocking move rejected by Jerry Jones
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The home of the Dallas Cowboys had a new look for Thursday's World Cup match between Japan and Sweden. And the addition of curtains to block the sun on the stadium's west end wasn't one NFL fans had seen before. Even though glare from sunlight streaming into the massive sliding glass panels of the west end of the $1.2 billion stadium has lead to missed plays at football games, Cowboys billionaire owner Jerry Jones has vehemently rejected suggestions to put up curtains. But FIFA was taking no chances at the soccer tournament. Fans could still look out to see the views from the glass panels on the east end Thursday but the west end was covered ... Read MoreDetroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold accused of orchestrating kidnapping and robbery
Terrion Arnold is seen in a booking photo released by the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office on June 24, 2026. (Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office)(TAMPA, Fla.) -- Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold faces multiple felony charges in Florida for allegedly orchestrating a kidnapping in which three men were robbed and beaten at gunpoint, authorities said.The 23-year-old NFL player is one of seven people arrested in connection with the "targeted armed robbery" in Tampa, police said. Arnold is accused of "coordinating and directing" the codefendants to "lure" the three men to an apartment, where they were allegedly beaten in retaliation for the alleged theft of more than $200,000 worth of his personal property from an Airbnb he had stayed at with friends ... Read More
A grittier Rockies emerging at the midway point, with young players fueling a new attitude
DENVER (AP) — Speedy Colorado rookie Cole Carrigg hustled out a recent double, losing his batting helmet and leg guard along the way. He slid into second with such force that he ripped his pants, before hopping up and performing a little shimmy shake toward the dugout. That’s the new grit, the new attitude, of a team still in last place but finding a path upward under the watchful gaze of a new front office. This isn’t the same floundering Rockies from a year ago that flirted with baseball’s all-time worst record. At 32-49, the Rockies are already a plus-14 wins from where they were a year ago at the halfway mark. They’ve turned the page on last season, too ... Read MoreTennis Hall of Famer Chris Evert says she will miss Wimbledon after recurrence of ovarian cancer
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) - Tennis Hall of Famer Chris Evert said Thursday her ovarian cancer has returned and treatment will prevent her from attending Wimbledon this year. Evert, 71, was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2021. In December 2023 she revealed her cancer had returned. She announced on social media on Thursday she already has had surgery “as the first step in my treatment and recovery” after tests revealed the cancer again had returned. She said she will begin chemotherapy “in the coming weeks.” “Because of this, I will not be attending Wimbledon this year, and I will step back from my professional commitments over the next few months to focus on my health,” Evert said. “Ovarian ... Read MoreIndiana man charged after being accused of stalking WNBA player Sophie Cunningham
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - An Indiana man was charged Wednesday on accusations he stalked WNBA player Sophie Cunningham and sent her threatening and explicit messages on social media. Kevin Singh, 48, faces felony charges for stalking and intimidation, as well as a misdemeanor harassment charge. He was arrested Tuesday, according to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. Cunningham, a player with the Indiana Fever, told investigators she had been staying at home more and having nightmares because of Singh’s continued messages, according to the affidavit. She was first made aware of Singh’s alleged online conduct in February, she said. Singh’s online behavior escalated that month and his conduct “became increasingly threatening after he was contacted by team security,” the Marion County Prosecutor’s ... Read MoreBrandon Aiyuk says he will sign with the Commanders if the 49ers grant his wish for a release
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Disgruntled receiver Brandon Aiyuk said he would sign immediately with the Washington Commanders if the San Francisco 49ers grant his wish and release him. Aiyuk is currently on the reserve/left squad list after he stopped showing up late last season as he rehabilitates a knee injury that has sidelined him since October 2024. Aiyuk wants to be released, but the Niners have shown no urgency to make a move even though general manager John Lynch has said he doesn’t expect Aiyuk to play for the team again. “Tell them boys cut me today and I’ll sign with the Commanders tomorrow,” Aiyuk said on social media Wednesday. The Commanders haven’t commented on Aiyuk’s status while he ... Read MoreCubs acquire left-hander David Peterson in a trade with the Mets, AP source says
NEW YORK (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have patched a hole in their depleted rotation by acquiring struggling left-hander David Peterson in a trade with the New York Mets, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the move hadn’t been announced. The Cubs placed Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, adding to their injury woes in their rotation. Brown has a neck strain, and Cabrera is sidelined with a left hamstring strain. Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton and Justin Steele also are on the IL. Matthew Boyd is set to come off the injured list and start in Brown’s ... Read MoreVinícius Júnior silences critics with 2 more goals, giving him 4 in this World Cup for Brazil
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Brazil star Vinícius Júnior knew what his critics were saying coming into this World Cup, that he just can’t score on soccer’s biggest stage the way he can at Real Madrid. He clearly didn’t listen. Vinicius has four goals now in this tournament — only Lionel Messi, with five, has more — and the flashy Brazilian got two on Wednesday night in his team’s 3-0 win over Scotland. “Faith that I was going to improve, for the talent that I have … I was sure that at the right moment I would shine again with the Brazilian team shirt,” Vinícius said. He wasn’t wrong and is tied for second with France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s ... Read MoreChristian Pulisic feels ‘great,’ hopes to play for US in final World Cup group game vs Turkey
IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Christian Pulisic says he feels “great” now after missing one World Cup match with a calf injury, and he hopes to play for the U.S. in its final group match against Turkey on Thursday night. Pulisic played a dynamic first half in the Americans’ historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay to open their home World Cup nearly two weeks ago, but the AC Milan midfielder came off at halftime after an injury from training stiffened up. Pulisic said he nearly played in the U.S.’ 2-0 victory over Australia last Friday but was held out to get closer to full fitness for the games ahead. He has returned to practice with his teammates this week after working out ... Read MoreSpurs and Thunder go big, Acuff-Brown is a matchup to watch and other takeaways from the NBA draft
NEW YORK (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder were thinking big. Darius Acuff Jr. and Mikel Brown Jr. might be a matchup to watch among smalls. And the one-and-done era is far from done. Those were some of the things that stood out from the two-day NBA draft in Brooklyn, which started with the Washington Wizards taking AJ Dybantsa on Tuesday night with the No. 1 pick and continued with a number of trades in the second round Wednesday night. Among the things that stood out in between: Spurs vs. Thunder on the court and in the draft The Thunder had trouble with Victor Wembanyama in the Western Conference finals. The Spurs had trouble when Wembanyama ... Read MoreHornets trade LaMelo Ball, Josh Green to Timberwolves for Naz Reid, draft picks, AP source says
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball is the latest NBA star with a new home. The Charlotte Hornets agreed to trade Ball, their starting point guard, and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for power forward Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round draft pick, three first-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal, first reported by ESPN, has yet to be approved by the league. The three first-round pick swaps will be in 2028, 2029 and 2030. The Hornets also get three second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033. The 24-year-old Ball, the No. 3 ... Read MoreCaitlin Clark leaves Fever’s loss with a back injury, doesn’t return after 3rd-quarter scare
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark left the Indiana Fever’s 111-109 loss to Phoenix with a back injury in the third quarter Wednesday night. The All-Star guard has been dealing with a back issue this season and left with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter. She went back to the locker room and didn’t return. Clark appeared to tweak her back in the second quarter when she was fouled shooting a 3-pointer in the second quarter. She fell to the ground and was rubbing her back as she stood up. In the first quarter she went back to the tunnel and returned to the bench wearing a wrap around her back. She finished the game with 19 points and eight assists ... Read MoreNBA draft finishes up in New York, where some second-round picks are revered
NEW YORK (AP) — Some of New York's biggest basketball heroes were second-round draft picks. Like Jalen Brunson, the guy marching through Manhattan with the Larry O'Brien Trophy in his arms last week during a joyous championship parade celebration. And Willis Reed, the guy who limped onto the floor before and during the early minutes of Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to lift the Knicks to their first championship. So when the NBA draft resumed on Wednesday night in Brooklyn with the Knicks on the clock with the No. 31 pick, every team had hope of finding someone who can be a key piece of a title team. They drafted Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton, but had already ... Read MoreJazz take Darryn Peterson at No. 2 in effort to close the gap with Thunder, Northwest Division foes
DENVER (AP) — The usually stoic Darryn Peterson couldn’t mask his feelings after being taken by Utah with the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft on Tuesday night. His grandfather was crying. His mom was crying. So the Kansas standout got a little emotional, too. “It was surreal,” Peterson said, “to hear my name.” Now, the real work begins as Peterson tries to help the Jazz turn the corner inside a deep and competitive Northwest Division. Utah finished 42 games behind Oklahoma City last season — and the Thunder only got bigger (taking Michigan 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara) and acquired more shooting (picking up Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz). Peterson becomes a complement to emerging Jazz star Keyonte George. ... Read MoreOtto López homers, has another multi-hit game and Marlins beat Rangers 4-2
MIAMI (AP) — Otto López homered, Xavier Edwards had an RBI single in the fifth and the Miami Marlins beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 on Wednesday. López’s two-run shot in the eighth off reliever Cole Winn gave him a 33rd multi-hit game and raised his major league-leading batting average to .340. López also had a single. The Marlins improved to a major league-best 16-5 in June. Miami is 42-39 at the halfway point and has won five consecutive home series. Edwards snapped a 1-1 tie with his RBI against Jacob deGrom (6-5). Owen Caissie hit a leadoff single and Leo Jimenez followed with a walk. Both advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Edwards then hit a grounder to right that scored ... Read MoreLoperfido scores winning run on errant pickoff throw as Astros beat Blue Jays 3-1 for 6th win in 8
TORONTO (AP) — Joey Loperfido scored the tiebreaking run on Jeff Hoffman's errant pickoff throw in the eighth inning and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Wednesday night for their sixth victory in eight games. Loperfido tripled off the center field wall with one out and scored when Hoffman’s pickoff throw sailed past third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. Okamoto was standing well wide of the base. Loperfido beat his former team Tuesday with a tiebreaking home run in the 11th inning of Houston’s 9-7 win. Hoffman (5-5) lost for the first time since May 30 at Baltimore. Isaac Paredes had an RBI double in the first and Jeremy Peña’s infield single scored an insurance run in the ... Read MoreDuke’s Isaiah Evans among top talent still available after sitting through Round 1 of the NBA draft
Isaiah Evans arrived at the NBA draft expecting to become a first-round pick after a two-year stay at Duke. Instead, he sat through a difficult Tuesday night in the green room without hearing his name called by the league commissioner to join him on the stage in New York. That means the floor-spacing guard will join Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas and North Carolina big man Henri Veesaar on the list of top talents still available entering Wednesday night's second round. Evans had a seat in the green room — an honor designated for likely first-round picks — and was shown on the ESPN broadcast at a table featuring a gold basketball sporting his name. He wore a dark double-breasted suit ... Read MoreWhy Texas? Explaining the ins and outs of the NHL exploring a team for Houston or Austin
NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL took the first step toward expansion in Texas earlier this week, agreeing to terms with billionaire Dan Friedkin and his family to explore the feasibility of putting a franchise in Houston or Austin. Far enough from the Dallas Stars, who relocated from Minnesota in 1993, a new team would not interfere with their territorial rights. And the league has shown no fear of adding one team at a time, so No. 33 does not have to come with No. 34. “Symmetry I don’t think should necessarily govern expansion,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday. "You expand if you think it makes sense and enhances what the league has.” What is behind the NHL's interest in ... Read MoreLakers will re-sign Austin Reaves to a 4-year, $185 million deal, AP source says
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Austin Reaves is re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year contract worth $185 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet official for Reaves, who cements his status as one of the most successful undrafted players in recent NBA history with this contract. Reaves is declining his $14.9 million player option for the upcoming season to reach this deal with the team that signed him out of Oklahoma after the draft in 2021. The shifty guard has grown into one of the NBA’s most effective scorers and playmakers, increasing his scoring average in every ... Read MoreTop of page
