AP National Sports

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has been hired as coach of Saudi Arabian team Al-Qadisiyah. This summer has seen a host of Europe’s top players head to the lucrative Saudi Pro League but Fowler is taking over a team in the oil-rich kingdom’s second tier. The club confirmed his appointment

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United has agreed to sign midfielder Mason Mount from Chelsea for $69 million. The agreement was confirmed by two people with knowledge of the negotiations. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been publicly announced. Mount will sign a

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Guardians manager Terry Francona was back at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday for their finale of a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals after dealing with a health issue earlier this week. But the club said DeMarlo Hale would continue to serve as Cleveland’s

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors are dropping charges against two parents whose convictions in the sprawling college admissions bribery scandal were overturned by an appeals court, prosecutors said in court papers on Thursday. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in May tossed all the convictions against Gamal Abdelaziz

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a package of bills that will create stricter punishments for sexual assault that takes place under the guise of medical treatment. The new laws will also protect students who report it. The bills were first inspired in the wake of

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving are among the top players to watch when NBA free agency begins Friday. While the list of free agents includes big-name players, teams will also be making decisions on players who played critical roles in their teams’ success.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — The All England Club has increased its security plans for Wimbledon in coordination with London police and other agencies ahead of the beginning of play next week. The club says it is in part a reaction to protests at other major sports venues in Britain this year. Environmental activists ran onto

BERLIN (AP) — A former champion cyclist who won two gold medals at the 1976 Olympics has been convicted by a German court in a child sexual abuse case. Gregor Braun was found guilty by a regional court in the city of Tuebingen of sexually abusing a child, soliciting the serious sexual abuse of a

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer Caroline Wozniacki says that she is returning to competition three years after she retired from professional tennis to start a family. She is a former No. 1-ranked tennis player who won the 2018 Australian Open. She announced the news on Twitter. The U.S. Tennis Association says it will grant

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer It’s already been a busy offseason for player movement in the NBA. Now free agency begins Friday evening. There are big names that could be on the move, including Khris Middleton and Draymond Green. There are some players like Max Strus who are in line for big paydays for

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Play begins at Wimbledon on Monday at the All England Club. It is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held on grass courts. It lasts 14 days. Play is scheduled on the middle Sunday as of last year. The women’s singles final is July 15 and the men’s singles final is

PRAGUE (AP) — Finnish coach Kari Jalonen has been fired by the Czech ice hockey association after the national team’s poor result at the world championship. Radim Rulik has been named the new coach. He led the Czechs to the final of under-20 worlds in January. Jalonen took charge in March 2022 on a two-year

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN AP Sports Writer France’s highest administrative jurisdiction says the country’s soccer federation is entitled to ban headscarves in matches. The Council of State issued its ruling after a collective of headscarf-wearing soccer players called “Les Hijabeuses” campaigned against the ban and launched legal action. The French soccer federation bans women from wearing headscarves

BRUSSELS (AP) — N’Golo Kanté is taking over third-division Belgian team Royal Excelsior Virton. The move was announced by the club in a statement headlined “Small town, big dreams!” Kanté this month completed a move to Saudi champion Al-Ittihad on a three-year deal after six years at Chelsea. He is replacing entrepreneur Flavio Becca as

By FOSTER NIUMATA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — England has slashed Australia’s first-innings lead of 416 to 138 after two days of the second Ashes test at Lord’s. The bad news for England in comfortably scoring 278 runs was that all four wickets to fall were gifted to Australia. Zak Crawley was stumped after charging

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Novak Djokovic will begin his pursuit of a fifth consecutive Wimbledon championship and eighth overall on Monday. He also will be attempting to claim an Open era-record 24th Grand Slam trophy over the coming two weeks. And there is also this in the offing: Djokovic

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Domingo Germán of the New York Yankees has pitched the 24th perfect game in major league history, retiring every Oakland batter in an 11-0 victory over the Athletics. It was the first perfect game since Seattle Mariners ace Félix Hernández threw one against the Tampa Bay

By MICHAEL KELLY Associated Press DENVER (AP) — Ezequiel Tovar hit a three-run double in a five-run sixth inning to rally the Colorado Rockies over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-8 on Wednesday night. The rookie shortstop also singled in extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Jake Bird (2-1) pitched an inning and Justin Lawrence

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman brought one of the league’s most beloved general managers with him to the stage to kick off the draft. That may have helped keep the usual booing of Bettman to a minimum. David Poile is the longest-tenured and winningest general