AP Sports

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese hope to carry over college momentum to the WNBA

NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and a deep WNBA draft class hope the momentum they created lifting women’s college basketball to new heights carries over to the pros. They’ll need to perform on the court for that momentum to continue at the next level and boost the league which is coming off its own strong year. The WNBA just had its most-watched season in 21 years, averaging 462,000 viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and CBS. Clark was drafted first by Indiana and Reese went seventh to Chicago.

Despite weather glitch, the Paris Olympics flame is lit at the Greek cradle of ancient games

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — The flame that is to burn at the Paris Olympics has been kindled at the site of the ancient games in southern Greece. Cloudy skies frustrated efforts to produce the flame in the customary fashion, when an actress dressed as an ancient Greek priestess uses the sun to ignite a silver torch. Instead, a backup flame was used that had been lit on the same spot, during the final rehearsal. The flame will next be carried from the ruined temples and sports grounds of Ancient Olympia by a relay of torchbearers. The 11-day journey through Greece culminates with the handover in Athens to Paris 2024 organizers.

Whitey Herzog, Hall of Fame manager who led St. Louis Cardinals to 3 pennants, dies at 92

NEW YORK (AP) — Whitey Herzog, the gruff and ingenious Hall of Fame manager who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball,” has died. Herzog, affectionately nicknamed “The White Rat,” was a manager for 18 seasons, compiling an overall record of 1,281 wins and 1,125 losses. He was named Manager of the Year in 1985. Under Herzog, the Cardinals won pennants in 1982, 1985 and 1987 and won the World Series in 1982, when they edged the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games. Cardinals spokesman Brian Bartow said Tuesday the team had been informed of his death by Herzog’s family. He was 92.

NBA Play-In Game Preview: West games on Tuesday. East games on Wednesday. Eliminations on Friday

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are back in the play-in tournament. So is Stephen Curry, as he and Golden State will be fighting for their season. And Jimmy Butler returns as well, after this round last year was the first step on Miami’s way to the NBA Finals. The postseason gets underway Tuesday with a pair of Western Conference matchups. The Lakers visit New Orleans and Golden State goes to Sacramento. The Eastern Conference takes the stage Wednesday, when Philadelphia plays host to Miami and Atlanta visits Chicago.

Analysis: Scottie Scheffler comparisons with Tiger Woods is a tribute to both

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is so dominant these days it brings comparisons with Tiger Woods. He’s still a long way off from that and likely will never reach the same appeal. Woods won more often and was responsible for a spike in TV ratings and prize money. But the numbers along lead to comparisons. There’s an enormous gap between Scheffler and the rest of golf in the world ranking. He has gone 36 straight rounds at par or better. Woods once had a streak of 52 in a row. That’s they are mentioned in the same context is a tribute to both.

Hockey business is booming as the NHL bounces back from the pandemic in a big way

NEW YORK (AP) — As the NHL playoffs begin this weekend, ushering in the most exciting hockey of the year, business is booming and the league has bounced back in a big way from the pandemic. Backstopped by new U.S. media rights deals, digital dasher boards and helmet and jersey ads, revenue is again projected to top $6 billion. Commissioner Gary Bettman says it starts with the quality on the ice, but that has also made the NHL attractive to businesses. The latest is a sports drink deal with Bodyarmor to replace the Biosteel agreement following that company’s bankruptcy.

AP mock NFL draft 3.0: 8 trades, including 2 in the top 5 highlight AP’s final mock draft

The NFL draft madness begins early in the final edition of the AP’s 2024 mock draft. Eight trades in the first round. Two swaps in the top five. One team moves down and back up. Another makes three trades, going down twice before a move up to snatch a quarterback. A division champion trades out of the first round. It’s no secret the Chicago Bears are taking Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner at USC has been ticketed for the top selection for months. The Washington Commanders are expected to choose between LSU’s Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman winner, and North Carolina’s Drake Maye at No. 2. Then, the New England Patriots are expected to take the remaining quarterback. Or, will they?

Olympic gold is great, but athletes say some cash to go with it is even better

NEW YORK (AP) — Athletes in plenty of sports compete for plenty of cash. Olympians? Not so much. The International Olympic Committee has always resisted that sort of thing. But after more than 100 years of striving to earn Olympic gold track and field athletes at the Paris Games will join that money-making club thanks to the sport’s governing body. In a first-of-its-kind development, the runners, throwers and jumpers lining up at the Stade de France in August will be trying to win a $50,000 check to go with the gold. It’s a novel — some might say overdue — concept that has athletes in other sports wondering if they can get a piece of that action.

Michigan gets 3 years of probation for football recruiting violations; case vs. Jim Harbaugh pending

Michigan has been given three years of probation, fined and hit with recruiting restrictions by the NCAA. The punishment stems from football coaches and staff having impermissible contact with recruits and players under coach Jim Harbaugh during the COVID-19 pandemic. The negotiated resolution was reached with five former and current coaches and staffers. The case is separate from an NCAA investigation into impermissible in-person scouting and sign stealing that roiled Michigan’s national championship season in 2023.

BYU hires Suns assistant Kevin Young to replace Mark Pope, who left to coach Kentucky

PROVO, Utah (AP) — BYU has hired Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young to replace Mark Pope, who left to coach Kentucky. BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe announced the hiring on Tuesday. Young will continue to coach with the Suns during the NBA playoffs before joining BYU, but he will work on retaining current players, contacting recruits and assembling a coaching staff during the playoffs. This is Young’s first head coaching job at the NCAA Division I level. The Salt Lake City native spent eight seasons coaching in the NBA G-League.