AP National Sports

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP National Writer Caeleb Dressel failed to qualify for the biggest swim meet of the year. Simone Manuel didn’t even try. Adam Peaty is taking an extended break to deal with mental health issues. Kristóf Milák decided he was in no shape — mentally or physically — to compete this summer. Some

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Some people paid hundreds of dollars to be able to say they were in the stadium for Lionel Messi’s debut for Inter Miami. Some paid thousands for their seats. The team’s owners committed well over $100 million just to have a chance at moments

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Veteran edge rusher Dawuane Smoot signed a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars that includes $2.25 million guaranteed. The Baltimore Ravens helped get the deal done. Smoot had a visit to Baltimore lined up for next week, a pending trip that prompted the Jaguars to hasten negotiations. The sides settled on

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Environmental activists have briefly interrupted play at the British Open by throwing an orange substance to the side of the 17th green at Royal Liverpool. American player Billy Horschel intervened and helped lead one of the protesters away. Police and security guards quickly took action

By JOE LISTER Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — They were outscored 3-0. They were outshot 12-1. And for a nightmarish first half, every ball seemed to find the wrong foot. Costa Rica had a difficult showing to start its Women’s World Cup effort, losing 3-0 to Spain on a rainy Friday night. About

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — American freestyler Katie Ledecky has almost never gone home with anything other than a gold or silver medal in the Olympics or world championships dating from the 2012 London Games. But it might happen again Sunday in the women’s 400-meter freestyle on the opening night

MADRID (AP) — Real Sociedad midfielder David Silva has injured his left knee. The San Sebastian-based club said late Thursday that Silva sustained the injury during practice. In a statement it said “the results of the MRI studies revealed an anterior cruciate ligament injury.” Silva will be evaluated by a specialist next week. No further

By JENNA FRYER AP National Writer AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Megan Rapinoe’s final run on the global stage begins Saturday when the United States opens its quest to win an unprecedented third consecutive Women’s World Cup title. The 38-year-old American said this month she will retire after the tournament — an announcement timed to

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The United States begins its journey to a record third consecutive Women’s World Cup title with the same confidence it had in winning the last two tournaments. The top-ranked Americans open play against Vietnam, which is no doubt considering the U.S. a daunting

By TAFT GANTT Associated Press BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — England captain Millie Bright has been cleared to start the Lionesses’ Women’s World Cup opener against Haiti. Bright injured her knee in Chelsea’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg with Lyon in March but has provided coach Sarina Weigman a boost by recovering in time for the

By SAVANNAH HERNANDEZ AND CASSIDY HETTESHEIMER Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A diving one-handed save from 22-year-old goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie denied international soccer’s leading scorer Christine Sinclair and played a pivotal role in Nigeria holding Olympic champion Canada to a 0-0 draw at the Women’s World Cup. Nnadozie parried away Sinclair’s shot from the

HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Tommy Fleetwood has battled for one last par for a 71 at the British Open. He’s still five shots behind leader Brian Harman, but he’s in the final group. Fleetwood grew up about 40 minutes away in Southport. He has enjoyed massive support from the gallery and it figures to be

By NICK PERRY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Police say the two men gunned down at a New Zealand construction site had worked alongside the shooter, and court records showed the gunman had been convicted of domestic violence for attacking a girlfriend. New Zealanders were still in shock at Thursday’s rare shooting. It

By ELLEN McINTYRE Associated Press DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) — Ramona Bachmann drilled the ball into the left side of the net on a penalty kick moments before halftime to help Switzerland to a 2-0 win over Philippines in the Women’s World Cup opener for both teams. Switzerland’s Seraina Piubel added a second-half goal, scoring

By ZACH ALLEN Associated Press AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Huynh Nhu started playing soccer with a coconut-like fruit for a ball. On Saturday, she will captain the Vietnam women against the United States in the Women’s World Cup. The match will mark a milestone for Vietnam soccer as it makes the nation’s World Cup