AP National Sports

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A little more than six years ago guard Gary Payton II and forward Drew Eubanks were teammates at Oregon State, leading the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance after a 26-year drought. Now they’re teammates once more — and back in Oregon —

By JIM VERTUNO Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The suspect in the killing of professional cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson in Texas tried to change her appearance and used several aliases as she moved around Costa Rica in an attempt to establish herself as a yoga teacher before she was tracked down by U.S. and

NEW YORK (AP) — Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter and Washington Nationals second baseman Darren Baker are among the prospects on the rosters for the All-Star Futures Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 16. Leiter is a son of former big league pitcher Al Leiter, and Baker is a son of Houston

NEW YORK (AP) — The Miami Marlins will host the semifinals and final of next year’s World Baseball Classic, which will be played for the first time since 2017. The tournament will start March 8 and end March 21 at loanDepot park. The field will expand from 16 teams to 20, with the top two

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Northern Ireland was outclassed in its major tournament debut as Norway earned a comprehensive 4-1 victory in their European Championship group-stage opener. First-half finishes from Julie Blakstad and Frida Maanum, plus a penalty by Caroline Graham Hansen, put the two-time European champions on course for a routine win. Defender Julie Nelson

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Super Bowl-winning coaches Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren are among 54 seniors, coaches and contributors named as semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. Shanahan, who led the Denver Broncos to consecutive Super Bowl titles, and Holmgren, who won with the Green Bay Packers, are joined by

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dan Snyder’s attorney told the Committee on Oversight and Reform the Washington Commanders’ owner is willing to testify by video conference regarding the investigation into the team’s workplace culture following accusations of pervasive sexual harassment by team executives of women employees. In a letter sent to the committee and obtained by The

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander got his MLB-leading 11th win, Yordan Alvarez hit his 26th homer and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 to take the series 3-1. Jose Altuve added a homer and three RBIs for the Astros. They bounced back after a 7-4 loss

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Alex Cejka birdied two of the final three holes for a 6-under 64 and a two-stroke lead Thursday in the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship. Cejka birdied the par-3 seventh and par-4 ninth to cap a bogey-free round on Firestone Country Club’s South Course. The 51-year-old Czech-born German is chasing his third

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Northern Ireland was outclassed in its major tournament debut as Norway earned a comprehensive 4-1 victory in their European Championship group-stage opener. First-half finishes from Julie Blakstad and Frida Maanum, plus a penalty by Caroline Graham Hansen, put the two-time European champions on course for a routine win. Defender Julie Nelson

CINCINNATI (AP) — Michael Chavis hit a tiebreaking two-run double, Diego Castillo homered and rookie Roansy Contreras allowed one run in six innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader. Jason Delay drove in Ben Gamel from first base with a seventh-inning double for his first

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer The long-anticipated dismantling of the Chicago Blackhawks’ roster has begun with the team trading Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators. The Senators add a two-time 40-goal-scorer to their young and up-and-coming roster in a trade announced hours before the start of the NHL draft in Montreal. The Blackhawks, by

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Defending Big 12 champion Baylor has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the conference title again, based on a poll of media who cover the league. It is the first time Baylor has been favored in the preseason vote. Coach Dave Aranda’s Bears got 17 of the 41 first-place

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer MONTREAL (AP) — Player moves are happening fast and furious in the NHL leading up to the start of the draft in Montreal. The Chicago Blackhawks made the biggest trade so far by sending winger Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators for the seventh and 39th pick this year

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers now have two of the top three overall picks from the 2018 draft class on their roster, and both happen to be quarterbacks. The big question is which one will start this season for them. The Panthers view their starting QB job

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday presented the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, including gymnast Simone Biles, the late John McCain, the Arizona Republican whom Biden served with in the Senate, and gun-control advocate Gabby Giffords. “Today, she adds to her

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis says his new long-term contract won’t cause him to alter the blue-collar approach that helped earn him the big payday. Portis agreed to a four-year, $49 million deal that keeps him in Milwaukee. But he takes issue with the notion that

RALEIGH (AP) — New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte Graham was arrested early Thursday in Raleigh for driving while impaired and speeding, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The police report indicated Graham was pulled over 2:39 a.m. for driving 63 mph in a 40 mph zone. During the course of the traffic stop

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon because of a torn abdominal muscle on Thursday, a day before he was supposed to play Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals. It is the first time since 1931 that a man pulled out of the oldest Grand Slam tournament before

MADRID (AP) — Spain will use Qatar University as its headquarters during the World Cup. The Spanish soccer federation says FIFA has approved Spain’s request to stay at the university during the tournament in November and December. Two training fields will be used exclusively by the Spanish national team. The federation says the university has