AP National Sports

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer Memphis Grizzlies forward Kenneth Lofton Jr. is among several undrafted players making an impact in the Las Vegas summer league. The former Louisiana Tech standout who was not selected in 2022 is averaging 20.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in three games while shooting 58% from the field. Lofton uses

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Men’s and women’s teams will receive equal prize money at cricket’s biggest tournaments with immediate effect. The decision was taken at the International Cricket Council annual conference. It fulfils well in advance the organization’s commitment to reaching prize money equity by 2030. ICC chair Greg Barclay has heralded the announcement

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian soccer club Flamengo announced on Thursday the termination of its contract with veteran Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, which was due in the end of the year. Local media has reported the 36-year-old player will join Athletico Paranaense. Neither Vidal nor the Southern Brazil club made comments about the potential

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — There was a time — a year ago; six months ago, even — that Ons Jabeur might not have recovered from the deficit she found herself in during the Wimbledon semifinals. Down a set. Down a break in the second set. So close to being

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Central defender Iñigo Martínez says he’s prepared to “work as hard as the next guy” for Barcelona. The 32-year-old Martínez has been presented as Barcelona’s new player a week after he signed a two-year contract with the Spanish champions. He arrived on a free transfer after completing his former deal with

LONDON (AP) — Former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martínez has been named tournament director for the Billie Jean King Cup finals. Twelve national teams will play in Seville during the finals from Nov. 7-12 in what is the 60th year of the competition formerly known as the Fed Cup. The International Tennis Federation announced the appointment

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC says Russia and Belarus won’t get a formal invitation to the 2024 Paris Olympics when more than 200 national teams receive their traditional invites later this month. It’s an International Olympic Committee tradition exactly one year before a Summer Games opens to invite all national teams worldwide to take

LONDON (AP) — Sheffield United has made its first signing since returning to the Premier League by bringing in Tunisia international Anis Slimane from Danish club Brondby. The 22-year-old midfielder played at last year’s World Cup in Qatar. He says he was attracted by the culture of the club. Ashley Young has joined Everton on

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Novak Djokovic will carry winning streaks of 33 matches in a row at Wimbledon and 26 in a row at all Grand Slam tournaments into the semifinals at the All England Club. He faces Jannik Sinner on Friday for a berth in the final. The

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Dele Alli spent six weeks in rehab in the United States in a bid to deal with mental-health problems stemming from a traumatic childhood and after getting addicted to sleeping pills. Alli was one of English soccer’s biggest talents. He was a member of the England team that reached the World

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Only 13 of the 200 highest-ranked players in women’s tennis work with a female coach. WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon would like to see that get closer to half. One way is to encourage more athletes to consider coaching when they retire from playing.

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Only six of the 128 women entered in singles at Wimbledon work with a female coach. That is indicative of a wider trend in tennis: 13 of the women ranked in the Top 200 have a female coach. Billie Jean King and others think that

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer ROME (AP) — Padel is the fastest growing racket sport in the world among amateurs and it’s also making big strides at the professional level. International Padel Federation president Luigi Carraro says padel has “all of the necessary characteristics to become an Olympic sport.” There’s record prize money of

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Cristian Espinoza scored on a first-half penalty kick and assisted on a second-half goal by Miguel Trauco to lead the San Jose Earthquakes to a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday night. Espinoza picked up his 11th goal of the season, scoring after a foul in the 19th

By SOPHIE AUSTIN Associated Press/Report for America SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A tournament for soccer players around the world who have experienced homelessness is making its U.S. debut in California. The Homeless World Cup started July 8 in Sacramento. It runs through Saturday. The tournament is in its 20th year. It’s being held after a

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Pedro Vite scored in the first minute and Sergio Córdova accounted for the only goal of the second half to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-1 victory over Austin FC. Córdova used a pass from Ryan Gauld in the 72nd minute to score the winner for the Whitecaps (7-7-7).