AP National Sports

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Linebacker Ochaun Mathis went all-in by betting an extra year of college football could help him make an NFL roster. He knew entering the league at age 24 was a risky proposition, given most players’ careers end at about age 25. He knew scouts and team

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer The head of the Professional Women’s Hockey Player’s Association tells The Associated Press that her group is finalizing plans with its new corporate sponsors to launch what would become North America’s second women’s pro league by the end of this year. Jayna Hefford declined to put a firm date

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jon Jones is largely considered the greatest UFC fighter of all time. He has a record 14 title victories at light heavyweight. Jones has ended a three-year break from competition and moved up to heavyweight. His next opponent is France’s Ciryl Gane. Gane is the

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Eighth-seeded Marta Kostyuk has eliminated Madison Brengle 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 at the ATX Open to reach her third quarterfinal of 2023. Kostyuk only made it as far as the quarterfinals once all of last season. She will meet Anna-Lena Friedsam for a spot in the semifinals at the inaugural edition of

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Barcelona has won the first battle against Real Madrid this month defeating its rival 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. It was the first of three matches between the Spanish powerhouses in the next few weeks.

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AP) — Carson Young is atop the leaderboard for the second straight week on the PGA Tour. This one was special. The 28-year-old rookie had three eagles at Grand Reserve for a 63 and a three-shot lead in the Puerto Rico Open. Young was tied after 18 holes at the Honda

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Laila Phelia and Emily Kiser scored 13 points each and Michigan and survived a Penn State comeback for a 63-61 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. The 17th-ranked and fifth-seeded Wolverines will play fourth-seeded Ohio State in Friday quarterfinals. The Buckeyes swept Michigan in two regular-season meetings. Leigha Brown

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Led by Zay Williams’ 15 points, the Troy Trojans defeated the Arkansas State Red Wolves 63-59 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament’s second round.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Bowen Born had 23 points in Northern Iowa’s 75-62 victory over Illinois State on Thursday in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournamentfalse Championship Born also had five assists for the Panthers (14-17). Michael Duax scored 19 points while shooting 8 of 10 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line,

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