Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Tennis Association says a rise in tennis participation around the United States over the past three years has been boosted by increases among Hispanic, Black and Asian players. The USTA pointed Thursday to participation jumps since 2020 of 90% among Hispanic players, 46% among Black players and 37% among

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer Nathan Merren’s college volleyball career had already been delayed two seasons due to circumstances out of his control when a family tragedy nearly ended his playing days before they even began. But with some encouraging words from his father, who also had dealt with the death of a loved

By KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and three other men have pleaded not guilty in Nevada to charges they beat a man unconscious at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub before the NFL’s 2022 Pro Bowl. Kamara appeared along with Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chris Lammons and

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Chris Kirk went eight years between PGA Tour victories and looks like he doesn’t want to wait that long for the next one. He won the Honda Classic on Sunday and has been going nonstop ever since. That didn’t keep him from a 67 in

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Lindsay Whalen resigned as Minnesota women’s basketball coach after a third straight losing season. Whalen is considered the greatest player in the program’s history and was hired five years ago with no previous coaching experience. The Gophers’ 11-19 season ended with a first-round loss to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Juan Soto was very good after he came to the San Diego Padres in a midseason blockbuster deal. His excellent start in spring training this season is a reminder of how much of a game-changer he can be. The outfielder had six hits in his first

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Colton Herta was thought to be headed to Formula One until he couldn’t receive the license needed to compete. So he instead signed a four-year contract extension to remain with Andretti Autosport that has Herta one of the highest paid drivers on the

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C (AP) — Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFL’s most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. He was 86. Richardson died peacefully at his home Wednesday night in Charlotte, according to the team. Richardson

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 7-5 and will now face former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals at the Dubai Championships. The five-time Dubai champion’s 20th straight victory set the stage for a last-four match against Medvedev who defeated Borna Coric 6-3, 6-2 in the nightcap

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Led by Isaiah Moore’s 20 points, the South Alabama Jaguars defeated the Appalachian State Mountaineers 68-61 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Chrissy Carr set career-highs with six 3-pointers and 34 points and No. 8 seed Arkansas rallied to beat ninth-seeded Missouri 85-74 to advance to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Arkansas (21-11) will take on the No. 1 team in the country South Carolina on Friday. The Gamecocks set a NCAA record in

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa State basketball player Caleb Grill said he has been battling mental illness and regrets what led to his dismissal. Coach T.J. Otzelberger announced Wednesday that Grill had failed to meet program expectations and was no longer on the team. Grill was the Cyclones’ third-leading scorer and started 22 of

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Rasir Bolton came to Gonzaga to further his basketball career. But he also found a calling away from the basketball court. Bolton has embedded himself in the community of Spokane, Washington, by helping with several charitable endeavors. Bolton has done a little bit of everything

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic stayed unbeaten this season by defeating Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the semifinals at the Dubai Championships. The five-time Dubai champion’s 20th straight victory sets up a possible last-four match against former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev who was playing Borna Coric later at the

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Baseball came early to Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rays will look to use it as an advantage. Four weeks before the regular season opener against Detroit, Tampa Bay and Minnesota took batting practice as rock music played in preparation for a spring training

By JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writers The NHL’s Eastern Conference keeps getting better ahead of the trade deadline. The league-leading Boston Bruins acquired winger Tyler Bertuzzi from Detroit for draft picks. He’s their third significant addition after already trading for defenseman Dmitry Orlov and gritty forward Garnet Hathaway. Boston’s trade comes on

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg have joined the ownership group of Major League Soccer’s Nashville SC. Nashville SC principal owner John Ingram announced their additions Thursday. Antetokounmpo is joined in ownership by his brothers Thanasis, Kostas and Alex. Antetokounmpo and Forsberg join an ownership group

By DANIEL POLITI and ALMUDENA CALATRAVA Associated Press BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Gunmen threatened Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi in a written message left Thursday when they opened fire at a supermarket owned by his in-laws in Argentina, police said. Nobody was injured in the early morning attack, and it was unclear why assailants