AP National Sports

By JERRY BEACH Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Chris Bassitt scattered eight hits over eight innings and Starling Marte hit a two-run homer in the first, leading the New York Mets to a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. With their 13th victory in 15 games, the Mets extended their NL East lead to

By MARK GONZALES Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs will cut ties with right fielder Jason Heyward after this season, ending one of baseball’s most expensive and unproductive free-agent signings with a year left on his contract. Heyward, who turns 33 on Tuesday, signed an eight-year, $184 million contract before the 2016 season

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Marina Mabrey scored a career-high 31 points, Teaira McCowan had 16 points and nine rebounds, and the Dallas Wings beat the New York Liberty 86-77 to clinch a playoff berth. For the second straight year, Dallas beat New York to clinch a playoff spot. Dallas, which has won five straight games

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer Kevin Durant has again told Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai that he wants to be traded. He’s reiterating a request he first made nearly six weeks ago. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Monday

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer BALTIMORE (AP) — Ramón Urías hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and Anthony Santander, Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays also went deep to lift the Baltimore Orioles to a 7-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles entered the day two games behind Seattle and Tampa

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The injury to New York Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton’s surgically repaired right knee is more serious than initially believed after he left early in practice. A person with direct knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press that Becton will continue

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ use of the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca during an offseason retreat isn’t considered a violation of the NFL’s drug policy. Rodgers discussed on “The Aubrey Marcus Podcast” last week how he went on an ayahuasca retreat to Peru in 2020. Ayahuasca is defined as a

MONTREAL (AP) — Top-ranked and defending champion Daniil Medvedev wasn’t bothered by the frustrating delays due to rain Monday at the National Bank Open. It’s one of the perks of his top ranking in men’s singles. Medvedev received a first-round bye as a top seed and likely won’t play his opening match until Wednesday. While

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Matt Judon won over his New England Patriots teammates and the fanbase last season with his outsized personality and ability to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. A year after having a career-best 12 1/2 sacks and providing the Patriots with plenty of return on their four-year, $56

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Baseball Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers fully expect to win in 2023. That has long been part of their plan. But they also expected to be better this season, when they are instead a season-worst 12 games under .500 at 48-60. They haven’t even had a winning record

By MARK GONZALES Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs will cut ties with right fielder Jason Heyward after the 2022 season, ending one of the most expensive and unproductive free-agent signings. Heyward, who turns 33 on Tuesday, signed an eight-year, $184 million contract prior to the 2016 season but has batted only .245

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Micah Parsons is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year because the Dallas Cowboys linebacker excels at rushing the passer. The Cowboys want to move their versatile young star around as they face the challenge of helping him improve on a remarkable debut.

PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi will miss the remainder of the season with a quadriceps strain. Taurasi missed the last two games with the injury and the team now says the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer will not be available as the Mercury fight for a 10th straight playoff appearance. The five-time Olympic

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer WESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) — Stephon Gilmore waited patiently to find the right team in free agency. It looks as if he found the perfect landing spot. The 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year has looked like his old self through the first two weeks of practice — blanketing

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken have added former Winnipeg interim coach Dave Lowry to the coaching staff for the upcoming season. Lowry spent most of last season as the interim head coach for the Jets. He took over on Dec. 17 and went 26-22-6. Lowry had joined Winnipeg as an assistant coach before the

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Olivia Moultrie signed with the Portland Thorns a little more than a year ago after suing to join the National Women’s Soccer League at just 15 years old. She says the lasting lesson of her legal odyssey is that women should have the same

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — More than a decade has passed since the Green Bay Packers had a defense that could be described as elite. This could be the year that changes. Reigning MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers conceded at the start of training camp that the offense could take

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer A day after Oklahoma assistant head football coach Cale Gundy announced his resignation, the school said Monday that Gundy uttered a racially charged word multiple times during a film session last week. Gundy, who had been with the program as an assistant since 1999, announced his resignation in a

TORONTO (AP) — Serena Williams earned her first win in more than a year by beating Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 6-3, 6-4 at the women’s National Bank Open. It’s just the second tournament of the season for the 40-year-old Williams, who returned to competition at Wimbledon just over a month ago. The 23-time Grand Slam champion fell