AP National Sports

MONACO (AP) — Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare is facing three charges in a doping case which surfaced in dramatic circumstances when she was barred from running in the Olympic 100-meter semifinals hours before the race. The Athletics Integrity Unit has revealed that Okagbare tested positive for blood booster EPO in Nigeria in June. That’s on

TORONTO (AP) — The NHL is returning to an 82-game regular season with its traditional divisions this season. Last year, the league shortened things to 56 games and changed the divisions. In the U.S., that meant three divisions based largely in different regions. In Canada, the North Division included all seven Canadian teams. Many faced

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jim Furyk recalls the moment celebration turned into compassion at the Ryder Cup. Right when the Americans won, he hugged captain Steve Stricker. And then Furyk looked over at Padraig Harrington. He says the European captain told him Furyk would know how he feels. Furyk

By JILL PAINTER LOPEZ Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — That record winning streak in September meant little for the St. Louis Cardinals in a postseason that ended with one hanging slider. Alex Reyes served up a game-ending home run to Chris Taylor just after entering in the ninth inning, a drive that gave the

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Shelby Rogers beat Anhelina Kalinina 7-6 (2), 6-2 and Sloane Stephens outlasted Heather Watson 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-1 in opening matches at the BNP Paribas Open. Rogers and Stephens were joined by fellow American Madison Keys in advancing. Keys beat Kaia Kanepi, 6-0, 7-5. Men’s main draw play begins Thursday. 

By JILL PAINTER LOPEZ Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A stunning September meant little for the St. Louis Cardinals in postseason that ended on one hanging slider. Alex Reyes, who lost his closer’s job last month, gave up a game-ending home run to Chris Taylor just after entering the game in the ninth inning,

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Taylor hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 in a scintillating NL wild-card game. The 106-win Dodgers advanced to a best-of-five Division Series against the rival Giants. Game

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna are missing from the U.S. lineup because of injuries but Weston McKennie will start in a World Cup qualifier against Jamaica after missing two games for violating team COVID protocols. The Reggae Boyz are without top forward Michail Antonio, who

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Chelsea Gray scored 22 points and the Las Vegas Aces used a massive third quarter run to beat the Phoenix Mercury 93-76, evening the WNBA semifinals at 2-all. The Aces got off to a good start for the first time in three games and ran away

NEW YORK (AP) — Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert will have to face a disciplinary hearing with the New York Racing Association to address a suspension after a federal judge denied Baffert’s motion to hold the racing organization in contempt. Brooklyn Judge Carol Bagley Amon of the Eastern District of New York ruled

By CASEY DROTTAR Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Courtney Vandersloot scored 19 points and Kahleah Copper added 18 to help the Chicago Sky beat the top-seeded Connecticut Sun 79-69 and advance to the WNBA Finals. Chicago is back in the finals for the first time since 2014 despite finishing the regular season with a .500

By The Associated Press Two septuagenarians will be on the bench when 77-year-old Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa and the Chicago White Sox face the Houston Astros and 72-year-old skipper Dusty Baker in their playoff opener Thursday. A three-time World Series winner, La Russa returns to the postseason for the first time since

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Quinton Byfield was placed on injured reserve by the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, a day after fracturing his left ankle in a preseason game. Byfield, the second overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, was hurt in the third period of the Kings’ 4-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Austin Ekeler helped more than a few fantasy football players who drafted him this past week. The Los Angeles Chargers running back, who said during training camp that “if you want to get fantasy points you better have me on your team, certainly lived

By BILL HUBER Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers continue to consult with specialists on 2020 Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander’s injured shoulder in hopes of avoiding season-ending surgery. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Alexander probably won’t play Sunday at Cincinnati. It was a whirlwind of a day for the

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan figures he and the rest of New Orleans’ defensive front should disrupt quarterbacks more than they have lately. Jordan doesn’t have a sack through the first four games of 2021 after racking up 48 during the previous four seasons. Meanwhile

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Suspended Dallas offensive lineman La’el Collins has sued the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell over his five-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt the ban with two of the games remaining. Lawyers for Collins have filed

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Players stopped on the field in the sixth minute of National Women’s Soccer League games and linked arms to demonstrate solidarity with two former players who came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against a prominent coach. The actions came during games

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell faces the obstacle of adapting his postseason bullpen to account for the absence of injured setup man Devin Williams. That’s only the latest of numerous challenges Counsell has encountered this season. Counsell had to navigate the Brewers through a season in

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills’ new and improved defense will be put to the test in facing Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. The Bills’ defense was no match last year in losing twice to Kansas City. The Chiefs had 245 yards