AP National Sports

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer Injuries to goaltender Jordan Binnington, defenseman Torey Krug and others ultimately proved too much for the St. Louis Blues to overcome in the playoffs. They bowed out in six games in the second round to the Western Conference top-seeded Colorado Avalanche. Binnington injured his left knee in a collision

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma softball slugger Jocelyn Alo doesn’t just hit for power. Division I softball’s all-time home run leader is hitting .497 this season — second nationally heading into the Sooners’ College World Series opener against Northwestern. She has combined rare strength, tireless study and a nearly

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Ukrainian soccer star Oleksandr Zinchenko couldn’t hold back the tears as he tried to explain what it means to represent his country’s national team at this moment, with a spot at the World Cup within reach. Ukraine is two games away from qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, starting with

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brian Griese decided on a career change this offseason after a 13-year run in the broadcast booth that included the last two as the analyst on “Monday Night Football.” He traded in the work of a broadcaster to get back into the grind

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State guard Terquavion Smith is returning for his sophomore season after going through the NBA draft process. The 6-foot-4 sophomore participated in the league draft combine in Chicago earlier this month and was considered a potential first-round prospect. But Smith posted a video to social media Tuesday announcing his

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Jack Nicklaus confirms he met with a Saudi group behind the rival golf league. But he says he had zero interest in the venture no matter how much money he was offered. Nicklaus was quoted in a Firepit Collective story as saying that he was

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer Curtis Francois has committed more than $100 million to help revive the old St. Louis International Raceway Park into a world-class motorsports facility. The St. Louis native purchased the abandoned track in 2011 and has steadily brought it back to life. Francois’ reward comes this weekend when World

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer Jordan Binnington says he threw an empty water bottle at Nazem Kadri after Game 3 of the second-round series between St. Louis and Colorado. The Blues goaltender injured his left knee during a collision with Kadri and teammate Calle Rosen. He did not return, and Colorado won in six

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer John Wroblewski’s success with USA Hockey’s men’s development program has led to him being named the coach of the U.S. national women’s team. Wroblewski’s hiring is currently limited to coaching the American women at the world championships in Denmark in August. He replaces Joel Johnson, who is stepping down

By DAVE HOGG Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Max Kepler had three hits and drove in three runs to help the Minnesota Twins to an 8-2 win over the Detroit Tigers in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Kepler is hitting .320 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 25 at-bats against Detroit this season.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The former longtime partner of ex-NFL quarterback Mark Rypien has filed a personal injury lawsuit against him alleging years of physical and emotional abuse. The Spokesman-Review reported that Danielle Wade filed the lawsuit in Spokane County Superior Court. The two have spoken publicly in the past about violence in their home.

By BEN NUCKOLS Associated Press OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — One speller ran off the stage in the middle of her time at the microphone, saying she needed to pee. Another tried to walk back to her seat after spelling her first word correctly, only to be reminded she had a vocabulary word next. During

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson is back at work. Johnson has joined the Steelers for the club’s second week of organized team activities. Johnson did not participate in the first week of OTAs, which are voluntary. Johnson is about the enter the final season of the rookie contract he

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes are facing the challenging stretch of building a perennial Stanley Cup contender. A second-round exit to the New York Rangers highlighted the need for more postseason goal scoring and better special-teams play. Yet the Hurricanes must decide how much to change after

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets have optioned first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith to Triple-A Syracuse amid a slow start to the season for the 26-year-old. The Mets announced Smith’s demotion and promoted right-hander Adonis Medina before a game against the Washington Nationals. Smith batted .316 during a breakout season in 2020, but the

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers have hired former Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton as an assistant under J.B. Bickerstaff. The 42-year-old Walton finished his 11-year NBA playing career with the Cavs in 2012 before getting into coaching. He spent nine years playing for the Lakers, winning NBA

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer DESTIN, Fla. (AP) — Nick Saban tried to put an end to his feud with Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher at the Southeastern Conference meetings. Two weeks after alleging the Aggies were buying players with name, image and likeness deals, Saban told reporters that he never accused anyone

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer PARIS (AP) — Alexander Zverev has reached his second consecutive semifinal at the French Open with a four-set victory over 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev ended Alcaraz’s 14-match winning streak. Alcaraz had a set point to force the match to a fifth but he couldn’t convert it and soon enough

TORONTO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox put shortstop Tim Anderson on the 10-day injured list because of a strained right groin Tuesday and activated outfielder Luis Robert off the COVID-19 injured list. Anderson’s IL stint is retroactive to May 30. A first-time All-Star in 2021, Anderson ranks among the league leaders with a .356

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer U.S. goalkeeping is its most uncertain in 30 years, and coach Gregg Berhalter sidestepped saying whether he would be comfortable starting Zack Steffen, Matt Turner or Ethan Horvath at the World Cup if they aren’t playing regularly for their Premier League clubs. Steffen, 29, played in just one league