Sports

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Rory McIlroy was one of the most vocal critics of the LIV Golf breakaway league last year. It left him feeling mentally drained so he decided to put his clubs away for a few weeks around Christmas. Now he’s back and appears to be as fiery as ever as

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Victoria Azarenka continues her quest for a third Australian Open title a decade after her last championship at Melbourne Park when she plays Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in one of two women’s semifinals. No. 5-seeded Aryna Sabalenka plays unseeded Magda Linette in the other. Azarenka won the 2012 and 2013 titles

MONTREAL (AP) — Olivier-Maxence Prosper is a forward for No. 16 Marquette and he is inching closer to a potential shot at his NBA dream. The 20-year-old Montreal native has also been a lifelong inspiration to his 17-year-old sister, Cassandre, who plays for Notre Dame and wants to someday play in the WNBA. The two

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer Scott Rolen is headed to the Hall of Fame. Next year, make way for another star third baseman. Adrián Beltré highlights the first-time eligibles for 2024. Rolen’s election Tuesday capped an impressive six-year rise in his vote total. But Beltré has a good chance to go in on the

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer Patrick Mahomes will be the old man among the starting quarterbacks in the conference title games. The 27-year-old All-Pro for Kansas City is the oldest member of one of the youngest groups of starting quarterbacks to make it to this round. The other three scheduled starting QBs on

SAN VIGILIO DI MAREBBE, Italy (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin holds a big lead in the first run of a giant slalom and could quickly add to her record total of 83 World Cup wins on the same course where she set the women’s mark a day earlier. Shiffrin is 0.51 seconds ahead of Olympic champion

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Host nation Netherlands will play Croatia in the Nations League semifinals. UEFA made the draw on Wednesday. The Dutch under new coach Ronald Koeman will face World Cup semifinalist Croatia on June 14 in Rotterdam at the De Kuip home stadium of Feyenoord. In the

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Draw for the UEFA Nations League Finals.

SAN VIGILIO DI MAREBBE, Italy (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin holds a big lead in the first run of a giant slalom and could quickly add to her record total of 83 World Cup wins on the same course where she set the women’s mark a day earlier. Shiffrin is 0.51 seconds ahead of Olympic champion

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Tommy Paul has reached his first Grand Slam semifinal and ended the surprising run of Ben Shelton by winning their all-American matchup 7-6 (6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 at the Australian Open. Paul is the first man from the United States to make it to the

By The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Led by Elijah Harkless’ 28 points, the UNLV Rebels defeated the Wyoming Cowboys 86-72. The Rebels improved to 13-7 with the victory and the Cowboys fell to 6-14.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Dakota Joshua and Sheldon Dries scored 34 seconds apart in the third period, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 to give Rick Tocchet a victory in his first game as coach. Tocchet was named the 21st head coach in Canucks history Sunday after Bruce Boudreau was fired

By MIKE CRANSTON Associated Press DENVER (AP) — Artturi Lehkonen, Andrew Cogliano and Alex Newhook scored against former teammate Darcy Kuemper and the surging Colorado Avalanche held off the Washington Capitals 3-2 to give coach Jared Bednar his franchise-record 266th victory. Logan O’Connor added two assists, Nathan MacKinnon had an assist for his 700th point

By The Associated Press SAN JOSE, Calif. — Led by Omari Moore’s 26 points, the San Jose State Spartans defeated the Air Force Falcons 82-52. The Spartans moved to 13-8 with the win and the Falcons dropped to 12-9.

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James hit a career-high nine 3-pointers while scoring 46 points, but the Los Angeles Clippers hit 19 3-pointers of their own on the way to a comfortable 133-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. James scored at least 40 points against the Clippers for

By ANDREW LOGUE Associated Press AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jaren Holmes matched his season high with 23 points as No. 12 Iowa State held on to beat No. 5 Kansas State 80-76 on Tuesday night. The Cyclones (15-4, 6-2 Big 12) moved into a three-way tie atop the conference standings with the Wildcats and Texas.

BOSTON (AP) — Adam Duvall and the Boston Red Sox have finalized their $7 million, one-year contract. The veteran outfielder can earn another $3 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances. The sides agreed to terms last week, pending a physical. To make room for Duvall on the 40-man roster, Boston cut former closer