Sports

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — USA Gymnastics is expanding its mental health coverage for athletes and coaches. The organization will provide financial assistance for up to eight visits a year to mental health providers for eligible national team members across all disciplines. The new plan also allows for four visits to mental health providers for eligible coaches.

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer The Colorado Avalanche are following a pattern of previous Stanley Cup champions. They are making some changes to the roster but keeping their title-winning core group intact. The delicate balance helped Chicago, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay all win multiple championships. The Kings still have Jonathan Quick, Drew

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson has returned to the Cleveland Browns’ training facility. It’s the quarterback’s next step in his potential return from an 11-game NFL suspension. Watson was banned for alleged sexual misconduct after being accused by women in Texas of lewd actions during massage therapy sessions. The

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi will miss at least one game after injuring his right wrist in the Badgers’ 42-7 victory over Northwestern. Mellusi has rushed for 223 yards and one touchdown on 56 carries this season.  Wisconsin announced Monday that Mellusi wouldn’t be available

ZURICH (AP) — Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro and Dubai Harbour in the United Arab Emirates are among six locations worldwide revealed by FIFA to hold fan festivals during the World Cup in Qatar. Mexico City’s Plaza de la República, Anhangabaú Valley in Sao Paulo and downtown nightclub venues in London and Seoul also

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves made another investment in their future by signing rookie right-hander Spencer Strider to a $75 million, six-year contract. The move came one day before the Braves open their NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Less than two months ago, the Braves signed

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper said he ran out of patience with Matt Rhule’s inability to get the franchise “over the hump.” Tepper fired his second coach in four years on Monday, dismissing Rhule five games into his third losing season. Rhule, the first NFL

PARIS (AP) — Formula One team Red Bull breached budget regulations last season. The series′ governing body says it is guilty of “minor” overspending. The FIA announced the results of its investigation into whether F1 teams violated last season’s spending regulations. Last year, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won his first world title on the

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Looking to fix their defense, the Cleveland Browns acquired former Pro Bowl linebacker Deion Jones in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons. Cleveland sent a sixth-round pick in 2024 to Atlanta for Jones, a six-year veteran, along with a seventh-round pick in two years. Jones opened

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer The World Cup starts in Qatar on Sunday. It’s one of the most eagerly anticipated World Cups in memory as much for off-the-field reasons as those on it. It likely represents the last chance for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the tournament. Kylian Mbappé and France are

PARIS (AP) — Lionel Messi will miss Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League match against Benfica on Tuesday because of a minor leg injury. Messi sat out PSG’s goalless draw at Reims in the French league over the weekend because of the pain in one of his calves. Messi had first felt the discomfort in his leg

CLEVELAND (AP) — Guardians reliever Nick Sandlin will miss the rest of the postseason with a shoulder strain suffered in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series. The team says Sandlin underwent an MRI that revealed the strain of his Teres major muscle. The right-hander will be shut down for up to six weeks,

LYON, France (AP) — Lyon coach Laurent Blanc was already in crisis management mode on his first day in charge at the French club. Blanc was appointed Sunday as the replacement for Peter Bozs following Lyon’s poor start to the season. Blanc met with his players on Monday to instill a sense of urgency to

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves made another investment in their future by signing rookie right-hander Spencer Strider to a $75 million, six-year contract. The move came one day before the Braves open their NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Less than two months ago, the Braves signed another rookie, outfielder Michael Harris II,

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Atlético Madrid has reached a deal with Barcelona to sign forward Antoine Griezmann on a permanent transfer. That frees the France international to play more minutes with the Madrid club. Atlético says Griezmann signed a contract with the club until June 2026. He was in the

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — A third cruise ship has been hired by World Cup organizers in Qatar to operate as a soccer fan hotel docked in Doha Port. It will add much-needed rooms for the tournament. Geneva-based MSC Cruises announced the agreement only six weeks before the World Cup is

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — Jodi Ewart Shadoff can finally say she’s an LPGA Tour winner. The 34-year-old from England held on for a one-shot victory in the LPGA Mediheal Championship. She went wire-to-wire for her first win in her 246th start. But it wasn’t easy. Paula Reto made up the four-shot deficit in six holes

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich’s Oliver Kahn was known for his fits of rage when things weren’t going well for his team. The former goalkeeper was known as “The Titan” for his fearsome outbursts before he retired in 2008. Now he’s Bayern CEO and he showed Saturday that he