Sports

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The NHL Players’ Association has hired U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh as its executive director. The union said its executive board with representatives from all 32 clubs unanimously approved Walsh’s appointment. Walsh will begin his new role in mid-March. The NHLPA had been searching for

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson had a simple message before the National League champions took the field for their first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers. It was to make sure they ramp up appropriately and don’t push it to try to impress anybody. Thomson

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Jonathan Gannon has officially been introduced as the Arizona Cardinals’ new coach. His introduction comes just four days after the Super Bowl, his final game as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Gannon now teams with

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer Barcelona and Manchester United served up a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Europa League knockout playoffs. It outranked anything seen in the Champions League this week. The former European champions traded leads in a back-and-forth second half of their first-leg game. Barcelona struck in the 50th minute on Marcos

By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Associated Press IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Every time Iowa’s Caitlin Clark crosses halfcourt, fans in the stands and the opposing team hold their collective breath. She just might shoot. And for a player whose range seems to have no bounds, it could be from almost anywhere. The national player of the

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer Alabama’s basketball team appears likely to enjoy a brief stay at No. 1 after rising to the top of the rankings for the second time in program history. These Crimson Tide are hoping that’s where the similarities end with the only other Alabama team to top the rankings, their

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — New Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown hopes some of Cristian Javier’s teammates follow the pitcher’s example and agree to longterm contracts. Javier agreed last week to a $64 million, five-year deal. Brown said he’s in negotiations with the agents for outfielder Kyle Tucker and pitcher Framber Valdez. Tucker

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Outfielder David Peralta finalized a $6.5 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who reached one-year deals with pitchers Jimmy Nelson for $1.2 million and Alex Reyes for $1.1 million. Reyes’ agreement includes a club option for 2024 along with escalators and bonuses that could make the deal worth $10

By ANDREW DAMPF and ERIC WILLEMSEN Associated Press MERIBEL, France (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin covered her mouth with her fluorescent orange mittens and then collapsed to the snow, still breathing heavily as her entire body pulsated from the exertion of her gold medal-winning run. What a relief after a hectic week for the American skier.

By JAY COHEN AP Baseball Writer Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll are among the majors’ most promising rookies heading into the season. The 21-year-old Henderson made his big league debut last summer, batting .259 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 34 games. The 22-year-old Carroll hit 24 homers

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The Spanish league says Barcelona is not facing sanctions for having made payments for technical reports on referees to a company that belonged to the vice president of the refereeing committee. League president Javier Tebas says sports sanctions such as loss of points or relegation are not possible because there was

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer QUEBEC CITY (AP) — The coach of a boys hockey team of Ukrainian refugees has told his players they’ve already won no matter their outcome at the International Peewee Tournament in Quebec City. Evgheniy Pysarenko says his players have symbolized peace and hope to people around the world, including

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Right-hander Michael Wacha and the San Diego Padres finalized a contract that guarantees $26 million over four seasons and could be worth $39 million over three years. Wacha gets a $3.5 million signing bonus and a $4 million salary this year. San Diego must decide after this year’s World Series whether

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — If so inclined, and if fellow captain LeBron James was to cooperate with his own selections, Giannis Antetokounmpo could pick Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Lauri Markkanen to play on his team Sunday night. Imagine an All-International All-Star starting lineup. It’s one

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a two-year, $6 million extension to keep him under contract through the 2024-2025 season. The Red Wings announced the deal on Thursday, two weeks before the NHL trade deadline. Maatta has five goals and 17 points this season, entering Thursday night’s game

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — USA Basketball has picked the 12 players for the final two games of World Cup qualifying later this month. They are tasked with giving the Americans a berth in this summer’s tournament and moving them one step closer to the Paris Olympics. Of the 12, four have been in past

ATLANTA (AP) — Brandon Gaudin, the former voice of Georgia Tech broadcasts, is the new play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Braves on Bally Sports South and Bally Sports Southeast. Gaudin replaces Chip Caray, who on Jan. 30 was named the television play-by-play voice of the St. Louis Cardinals, following the path set by his grandfather,