Sports

By The Associated Press The women’s college basketball season is racing toward NCAA Tournament time. Conference tournaments will begin the first week of March, capped by Selection Sunday on Sunday, March 12. Sweet 16 weekend brings a twist this year for the women’s teams: There will be two regional sites instead of four: Greenville, South

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — Max Verstappen put in the most miles and put up the fastest time on the first day of Formula One preseason testing. The defending champion from the Netherlands lapped the Bahrain International Circuit .029 seconds faster than Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso. Verstappen did 157 laps. That was far more than

By JAY COHEN AP Baseball Writer PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Major League Baseball is introducing bigger bases this season as part of a flurry of changes designed to put more action and athleticism back in the game. The bases are expanding from 15-inch squares to 18 inches, which cuts down the distance between them by

By JIM SALTER Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — When season tickets sales began for Major League Soccer’s newest team, St. Louis City SC leaders figured they’d be a hot ticket in a city with a deep love for the sport. Even they were caught off guard by the response: More than 60,000 deposits for

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have hired Ray “Bubba” Ventrone as their new special teams coordinator. He’ll replace Mike Priefer (PREE-fer), who was fired earlier this week. Ventrone had led the special teams groups with the Indianapolis Colts since 2018. The 40-year-old was a special teams star for

MADRID (AP) — Spanish authorities have opened an investigation into possible match-fixing in a Copa del Rey game two years ago. The Spanish league says police are looking into the first-round match between Levante and Huracán Melilla. Levante won 8-0. The league says it received an anonymous tip about the possible match-fixing.  Six people connected

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Alabama standout freshman Brandon Miller was in the starting lineup and scored a career-high 41 points in a win over South Carolina. It came a day after police said he delivered a gun to a teammate who is charged in a fatal shooting near campus.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Yannik Paul has birdied his last four holes to shoot 7-under 65 and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Indian Open on the European tour. The No. 119-ranked German’s hot finish lifted him above Honey Baisoya. Baisoya is leading a contingent of Indian players making a fast

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer In IndyCar’s effort toward environmental sustainability, one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers will rely on a desert shrub to produce a new source of natural rubber for its tires. Bridgestone Americas says it has made offseason advancements to incorporate more sustainable and bio-circular materials into its tires.

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson scored and the United States defeated Brazil 2-1 on Wednesday night to win the SheBelieves Cup for the fourth straight year. Japan, which defeated Canada 3-0 in the earlier match at Toyota Stadium, was runner-up in the four-team, round-robin tournament. All four SheBelieves Cup teams will

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — Formula One champion Max Verstappen has picked up where he left off last season by setting the fastest time in the first session of preseason testing. Verstappen lapped the Bahrain International Circuit nearly .3 seconds faster than Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. George Russell could manage only fifth fastest for Mercedes. The session

PATTAYA, Thailand (AP) — Jennifer Kupcho of the United States has fired a bogey-free 7-under 65 to share the lead alongside four other golfers after the opening round of the LPGA Thailand. With Kupcho in the lead were 2014 champion Anna Nordquist of Sweden, six-time USLPGA Tour winner Nasa Hataoko of Japan, local hope and

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer The biggest winner in the Major League Soccer offseason transfer market ended up being the rumor mill. Whether it was the apparent flirtation between Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, or the interest that Los Angeles FC had for Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, neither materialized and the MLS offseason was

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer British soccer commentator John Motson has died at the age of 77. He was one of the most well-known voices in British sport for 50 years. The BBC announced the death of Motson without giving any details. Motson was fondly known as “Motty.” He called games for Britain’s national