U.S./World Sports category, Page 51
Caitlin Clark’s presence draws comparisons to 2 Birds
Just a few minutes into the Indiana Fever’s media day, general manager Lin Dunn was asked to compare Caitlin Clark to a pair of Birds — Sue, whom Dunn drafted No. 1 overall in 2002, and Larry, who turned the NBA’s Boston Celtics into an instant contender in 1979. Whether...
Big 12 out to prove bigger bank accounts don’t mean better football
SCOTTDALE, Ariz. — Before the realigned Big 12 — sans Oklahoma and Texas —even kicks off, the expanded College Football Playoff’s new revenue structure has created a perception that the conference is no longer the equal of the Big Ten and SEC. Instead of a Power Five, college football now...
WNBA ticket sales on StubHub are up 93%. Aces, Caitlin Clark and returning stars fuel rise
The wave of incoming rookies such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso and the return of popular players A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces have led to unprecedented demand for WNBA games on one of the world’s largest ticket resale platforms. StubHub...
Kentucky Derby has survived world wars, controversies of all kinds
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As a record crowd cheered, American Pharoah rallied from behind and took aim at his remaining two rivals in the stretch. The bay colt and jockey Victor Espinoza surged to the lead with a furlong to go and thundered across the finish line a length ahead in...
Tennis legend Boris Becker discharged from bankruptcy court in England
LONDON — German tennis legend Boris Becker was discharged from bankruptcy court in London after a judge found Wednesday he had done “all that he reasonably could do” to repay creditors tens of millions of pounds. Becker fell far short of repaying his creditors nearly 50 million pounds ($62.5 million)...
LeBron James, Darvin Ham face uncertain futures with Lakers after elimination
DENVER — The futures of LeBron James and Darvin Ham with the Los Angeles Lakers are murky after their first-round playoff exit. One might choose to leave, and the other might not have a choice. For James, the decision is his — whether he wants to wear purple and gold...
Deaths at the Kentucky Derby bring changes ahead of the 150th edition at Churchill DownsVideo
Memories are made at the Kentucky Derby, most of them good. Whether cashing a winning ticket, sipping mint juleps or marveling at the horses, crowds pack Churchill Downs to experience a bucket list sporting event. Many left last year in tears, anger and questioning the safety of the sport after...
Analysis: McIlroy had a blast in New Orleans. It was just what he neededVideo
Winning the Ryder Cup might have been more valuable than Rory McIlroy realized. McIlroy already was emotionally and physically spent from Europe beating the Americans in Rome for a seventh straight time on home soil and from the celebration into the next morning before flying home with Shane Lowry and...
Trainer Chad Brown seeks first Kentucky Derby victory after coming close. Having 2 entrants helps
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There was a brief moment three weeks ago when trainer Chad Brown’s Kentucky Derby outlook was jolted as one of his hopefuls resisted multiple attempts to enter the gate in a major qualifying race and then started slowly. Things turned out way better than Brown could have...
Terms for Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul include heavier gloves, shorter rounds
AUSTIN, Texas — Mike Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul in Texas this summer has been sanctioned as a competitive boxing match rather than an exhibition, and the rounds will be shorter and the gloves will be heavier. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation this week approved terms for the...
Encino out of the 150th Kentucky Derby with leg issue. Epic Ride joins the 20-horse fieldVideo
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Encino won’t run in the Kentucky Derby this weekend, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday. The colt didn’t look right after morning training and was transported to an equine hospital in Lexington. X-rays were negative, but a soft tissue strain in his right front leg was diagnosed, Cox...
South African boxer Dingaan Thobela, ‘The Rose of Soweto,’ dies aged 57Video
JOHANNESBURG — South African boxer Dingaan Thobela, a two-weight world champion known as “The Rose of Soweto,” has died, the ministry of sports said on Tuesday. He was 57. Thobela won the WBO lightweight title in 1990 and the WBA lightweight title in 1993, when he beat American Tony Lopez...
ACL injuries are more common in women soccer players than men. We may learn why
An English study into the causes of knee injuries to women soccer players was launched on Tuesday. ‘Project ACL’ will focus on players in the Women’s Super League in England as part of a three-year study into an injury that is suffered by a disproportionate number of female players compared...
Denny Hamlin holds off Kyle Larson late to win NASCAR Cup race at Dover
DOVER, Del. — Denny Hamlin called his shot ahead of Dover, guaranteeing a win on his podcast, then followed through on his bold boast that would have made the Bambino proud and held off Kyle Larson down the stretch to park his Toyota in victory lane. Hamlin wiggled past lapped...
Candace Parker, a 3-time WNBA champion and 2-time Olympic gold medalist, announces retirementVideo
Candace Parker always said she’d know when it would be time to retire. That day came Sunday. The three-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist announced on social media that her career was over after 16 seasons. “The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time,” Parker...
Fierceness is 5-2 morning line favorite for the milestone 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Fierceness was named the 5-2 morning line favorite for the upcoming 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and will look to make history in next Saturday’s milestone race as the first entrant to win in 45 attempts from the No. 17 post position. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt...
Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus headline Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus gave the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony a huge Minnesota feel. Moore and Augustus helped the Lynx win four WNBA championships in their time with the team. “I’m hard pressed to think of another dynasty that had a better combination...
Kyle Larson’s Indianapolis 500 qualifying attempt could derail NASCAR All-Star plans
DOVER, Del. — Kyle Larson ran into his first speed bump in his busy May. Larson next month will become the fifth driver in history to attempt to complete “The Double” and run 1,100 miles in one day, starting with the Indianapolis 500 in an Indy car and then flying...
Caitlin Clark revs up Pacers fans with pregame playoff appearance
INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark crashed the NBA’s playoff party Friday night — and drew a standing ovation from her new home fans. Twice. She’s hoping to do it all over again in September in the same place. The WNBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick and Division I’s career scoring leader...
Reggie Bush plans to continue his fight against the NCAA after the return of his Heisman TrophyVideo
LOS ANGELES — Reggie Bush is overjoyed to have his Heisman Trophy again. Now he wants his reputation back as well. The former Southern Cal tailback says the return of his Heisman is the biggest step yet in what he sees as his fight against the NCAA to restore his...
F2 champion Theo Pourchaire gets another IndyCar race with McLaren as Malukas continues to heal
Theo Pourchaire faces a new challenge following his IndyCar debut — going from the streets of Long Beach to the road course at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. The 20-year old Frenchman, who is the reigning Formula 2 champion, gets his second turn racing for injured Arrow McLaren driver David...
Will Power denies participating in Penske cheating scandal
Will Power said Thursday he was unaware of any manipulations to Team Penske’s push-to-power system until after last weekend’s IndyCar race at Long Beach and never illegally used the mechanism. Team Penske is under heavy scrutiny after the March 10 season-opening race at St. Petersburg, Fla., in which Josef Newgarden...
Josef Newgarden’s win in IndyCar’s season-opening race has been disqualified. O’Ward named winnerVideo
Team Penske suffered a humiliating disqualification Wednesday when reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden was stripped of his victory in the season-opening race for manipulating his push-to-pass system. Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin, who finished third in the opener on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, was also disqualified. Will...
Analysis: The IndyCar season has just started but free agency is in full swing after only 2 racesVideo
IndyCar, after just two races, is suddenly rife with rumors about driver free agency with its biggest month coming up. Blame it on a mountain bike trail out West and a mistake by David Malukas in February. The Arrow McLaren driver dislocated his wrist and tore tendons in a mountain...
Caitlin Clark set to sign new Nike deal valued at $28 million over 8 years
Caitlin Clark appears to be on the cusp of setting another record. The most prolific scorer in NCAA Division I history and the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft will continue her association with Nike by signing a $28 million contract that spans eight years and includes a...
