U.S./World Sports category, Page 23
Rio Takeda of Japan shoots a blistering 8-under 64 in China to win her second LPGA title
SANYA, China — Rio Takeda shot a blistering 8-under 64 on Sunday to win the LPGA’s Blue Bay tournament by six shots ahead of Minjee Lee of Australia, the second LPGA title for the young Japanese. The 21-year-old Takeda finished on 17-under 271 for the four rounds on China’s southern...
Ayumu Hirano, Olympic champion snowboarder, has new, more important title: dad
ASPEN, Colo. — The biggest life-changer for snowboard champion Ayumu Hirano since he won an Olympic gold medal: He became a father. That, as much as triple corks or big airs, has been his focus over the last few months. It doesn’t figure to change much, even as he ramps...
Joey Logano returns to Phoenix after winning 2024 Cup Series title
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Joey Logano already had an affinity for Phoenix Raceway. The Team Penske driver had won on the mile oval three times, including the 2022 Cup Series title, and had 15 top-10 finishes in 31 races since 2009. Logano’s love affair for Phoenix took an even deeper turn...
Mark Cuban tells Dallas TV station he would have asked for more in return for Doncic
DALLAS — Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban said he wouldn’t have traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers without receiving much more in return. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has come under heavy criticism after sending Doncic to the Lakers in a shocking three-team deal Feb. 1...
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder accused of ordering killings added to FBI’s Most Wanted list
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who allegedly became the head of a transnational drug organization and ordered numerous killings was added to the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list Thursday. Federal investigators announced at a news conference in Los Angeles that Ryan Wedding, who participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics...
TKO Group, which houses WWE and UFC, partners with Saudi entertainment authority on boxing league
NEW YORK — TKO Group, the company that houses WWE and UFC, entered a multiyear agreement with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority to create a new boxing promotion, it was announced Wednesday. Led by UFC president and CEO Dana White and WWE president and TKO board member Nick Khan, TKO...
Coldplay working with FIFA to produce first-ever World Cup final halftime show for 2026
DALLAS — Coldplay vocalist Chris Martin is working with FIFA to curate the first Super Bowl-style halftime show at the World Cup final next year. The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — to be known as New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup — will host the final...
NASCAR countersues 23XI and Front Row, as well as Michael Jordan’s agent, in dispute over charters
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR on Wednesday filed a counterclaim against Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports alleging they “willfully” violated antitrust laws by orchestrating anticompetitive collective conduct in connection with the most recent charter agreements. 23XI and Front Row were the only two teams out of 15 that...
Mavs star Kyrie Irving suffers torn ACL and is out for the season
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving has a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season, a person with knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Irving was injured in the first quarter of Dallas’ 122-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings on...
LeBron James to become first to score 50,000 combined points in NBA regular season and playoffs
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James will soon become the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 combined points in the regular season and postseason. If James suits up Tuesday night, he’ll need just one point to set the mark during the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the New Orleans...
Katherine Legge to be the 1st woman in 7 years to compete in NASCAR Cup Series race
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Katherine Legge will become the first woman in a NASCAR Cup Series race since Danica Patrick in 2018 when the veteran makes her debut Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. Legge will drive the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports. She becomes the first woman since Patrick made...
Serena Williams joins ownership group of Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s 1st Canadian franchise
Serena Williams is joining the ownership group of the WNBA’s first Canadian franchise, the Toronto Tempo, the team announced Monday. She will partner with Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures for the Tempo, who will begin play in the 2026 season. “I am thrilled to announce my ownership role...
Christopher Bell makes late charge for lead, holds off William Byron at COTA for 2nd straight NASCAR victory
AUSTIN, Texas — Christopher Bell is making the most of his late-race chances to seize victories. Bell passed Kyle Busch with five laps to go, then held off Daytona 500 winner William Byron to win NASCAR’s first road course race of the season Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas....
Joe Highsmith goes from making the cut to a PGA Tour winner at the Cognizant Classic
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Joe Highsmith could feel himself crumbling under the pressure at the Cognizant Classic. This was Friday, when the only thing at stake was making the cut. It came down to a 5-foot par putt he described as “the worst putt you’d ever want,” moving from...
Steph Curry declares rare dunk against 76ers will be his lastVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Saturday morning at shootaround in the Wells Fargo Center, Warriors assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse told Steph Curry that he wanted to see a dunk. Curry, the 36-year-old superstar, hadn’t heard that in years. The last in-game dunk he had was in 2019, before the team moved to Chase...
Kansas’ Zeke Mayo shows screenshots of racist, hateful messages he received after Texas Tech loss
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas guard Zeke Mayo showed screenshots of racist, hateful messages he received following his performance in a loss to No. 10 Texas Tech. Mayo shared the screenshots Saturday. His account on X appeared to be deactivated Sunday morning. “I 100% deserve all the criticism in the world,”...
Hocevar takes his aggressive style to COTA with a promise to keep racing hard in search of 1st winVideo
AUSTIN, Texas — Carson Hocevar seems intent on driving as aggressive as ever. After all, he was the runner-up in Atlanta for a career-best finish. It also prompted a week of criticism from some veteran drivers and warnings not to make things harder on himself by making enemies on the...
Jamie Little’s return to IndyCar part of a busy year for Fox Sports announcer
Motorsports viewers might associate Jamie Little with Fox’s coverage of NASCAR’s Cup Series. But Little will be seen across more of Fox’s motorsports coverage this year. Little will be one of the pit reporters Sunday when Fox carries its first IndyCar race from the streets of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida....
NASCAR stars enjoy immersive Mexico City visit ahead of first international Cup Series raceVideo
MEXICO CITY — Daniel Suarez led a quartet of NASCAR stars through the streets of Mexico City, after midnight, in search of a nightcap after a full day of showcasing his native country to his fellow competitors. NASCAR will hold its first points-paying international Cup Series race in modern history...
Long champions of social justice, Black athletes say their voices are needed now more than everVideo
For WNBA veteran Natasha Cloud, speaking up about social justice is just as important as winning basketball games. Cloud has had a successful nine-year pro career that includes a WNBA championship and being the career-assists leader for her former Washington Mystics. She also has used her platform for social justice...
IndyCar starts season with big stars, big hopes, new TV partnerVideo
Fox Sports marked its new oversight of the IndyCar Series with glossy new commercials that have been showcased everywhere from the Super Bowl to the Daytona 500. The network partnership begins in earnest this weekend with the season-opening race on the streets of downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. There is hope...
Mercury’s Diana Taurasi retires after 20 WNBA seasons, 3 titles and 6 Olympic goldsVideo
PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi is retiring after 20 seasons, ending one of the greatest careers in women’s basketball history. The WNBA’s career scoring leader and a three-time league champion, Taurasi announced her retirement on Tuesday in an interview with Time magazine. The Phoenix Mercury — the only WNBA team she...
UNC’s Davis gets 2-year extension, hires agent Jim Tanner as GM
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis has another two years on his deal and a new general manager to help the blueblood men’s basketball program deal with the changing landscape of college athletics. Davis signed a two-year extension running through the 2029-30 season to lead his alma mater. And Tuesday, the...
Bell’s overtime win in Atlanta boosts hopes that 2025 will be a breakthrough season for No. 20 teamVideo
HAMPTON, Ga. — Christopher Bell believes he could be headed toward a big year with Joe Gibbs Racing after what he hopes was a breakthrough win. Bell clinched a playoff berth by winning the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in overtime Sunday. Bell said he would be...
Christopher Bell takes only lead in OT for thrilling NASCAR finish in Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. — Christopher Bell edged Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson in overtime Sunday in another close NASCAR Cup Series finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bell led only the final lap in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and had a slight edge on the outside when the caution light came...
