AP Sports

While LeBron and Bronny prepare for their historic family pairing, the Lakers shrug off the critics

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — LeBron James and his 20-year-son, Bronny, are about to become the first father and son to play on the same NBA team. Yet their historic pairing presents unique challenges that could affect the Los Angeles Lakers’ determination to become a title contender again. Bronny has already acknowledged and lamented the social media stigma of favoritism and nepotism hovering over the start of his NBA career. The Lakers have also been criticized for using a draft pick to guarantee this father-son pairing. But Bronny’s first few months on the roster have generated overwhelming positivity around the Lakers, both from the front office that orchestrated it and from the players suiting up alongside the James duo.

Ionescu’s 3-pointer with 1 second left gives Liberty 80-77 win over Lynx and 2-1 lead in WNBA Finals

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu hit a tiebreaking 3-poitner from the top of the key with 1 second left and Breanna Stewart scored 30 points to help the New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 8-77 on Wednesday night, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five WNBA Finals series. The Liberty are now one victory away from winning their first title ever. Game 4 is Friday night in Minnesota with a deciding fifth game in New York on Sunday if necessary. With the game tied at 77, Ionescu had the ball at the top of the key and dribble around before pulling up and hitting the 3-pointer that broke the tie. Minnesota didn’t get a real shot to tie at the buzzer.

After Severino misplays a pair of comebackers, Mets in need of NLCS comeback against Dodgers

NEW YORK (AP) — Pitcher Luis Severino twice misplayed grounders, leading to a pair of unearned runs in the second inning that put the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead for good in an 8-0 romp that gave them a 2-1 NL Championship Series lead. After the Mets loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half, Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor both struck out against Walker Buehler. New York’s NLCS batting average is down to 179, with Lindor and Pete Alonso both 1 for 11, Brandon Nimmo 1 for 10 and Alvarez 1 for 9.

Boise State RB Jeanty a unanimous AP midseason All-America pick, Colorado’s Hunter fills 2 positions

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is a unanimous selection and Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter occupies two first-team positions on The Associated Press midseason All-America team. Miami’s Cam Ward was the runaway winner for top quarterback, the SEC held down four of the five spots on the offensive line and 10 of the AP preseason All-America first-team picks were on the midseason first-team as well. Nine players from the Southeastern Conference and six from the Big Ten are on the first team as determined by a panel of media members who vote each week in the Top 25.

Justin Fields says he hasn’t played well enough for Steelers to not consider Russell Wilson at QB

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields seems to be at peace with the idea of getting benched in favor of Russell Wilson. While Fields believes he’s done some positive things during Pittsburgh’s 4-2 start, he isn’t sure his performance produced a compelling enough case to coach Mike Tomlin that Fields should remain the starter even when Wilson returned to full health. Wilson’s calf injury has healed and Tomlin has said the nine-time Pro Bowler is in consideration to start. Fields says he will focus on trying to get better and helping Wilson however he can if Wilson gets the call against the New York Jets.

Emma Hayes names USWNT roster for first matches since winning gold at the Olympics

Forward Trinity Rodman will miss a trio of upcoming matches for the U.S. women’s national soccer team as she continues to recover from a back injury. Coach Emma Hayes named her roster Thursday for games against Iceland on Oct. 24 in Austin, Texas, and Oct. 27 in Nashville. The Americans then host Argentina on Oct. 30 in Louisville, Kentucky. The matches are the first for the United States since winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. The roster includes 18 members of the team that played in France. Hayes says “we can’t rest on any laurels.”

Tuchel’s hiring by England sparks dismay and resignation among British soccer coaches

LONDON (AP) — British soccer managers have reacted with disappointment and a degree of resignation after a German, Thomas Tuchel, was hired to take charge of England ahead of a homegrown coach. Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham says some English managers were interviewed for the role from a shortlist of “approximately” 10 names. Southampton’s Russell Martin is one of six managers from Britain and Ireland currently leading teams in the Premier League. Martin says there are “loads of English coaches really capable of doing the job as well.” Everton’s English manager Sean Dyche says it is “the reality of the modern game” that homegrown coaches are overlooked.

Prosecutors reopen investigation into PSG over alleged discrimination in recruiting

The Paris prosecutor’s office is investigating alleged discrimination years ago by PSG following a complaint that scouts from the club illegally profiled potential recruits by their origin. Prosecutors say the investigation was reopened in May. PSG has previously acknowledged that forms with illegal content were used from 2013-18 after reports that scouts were asked by the club to mention the origin of possible recruits according to four categories: “Francais” (French), “Maghrebin” (North African), “Antillais” (West Indian), and “Afrique noire” (Black African). French law prohibits the collection of personal data that shows the racial or ethnic origins of individuals.

Dallas Stars sign goalie Jake Oettinger to an 8-year, $66 million extension

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Dallas Stars have signed No. 1 goaltender Jake Oettinger to an eight-year extension worth $66 million. Oettinger is now under contract through the 2032-33 NHL season at an annual salary cap hit of $8.25 million. The deal comes on the heels of the Boston Bruins inking fellow American goalie Jeremy Swayman for the exact same amount of money and same term. Swayman held out of training camp as a restricted free agent, and his deal that went into effect immediately ends in 2032.

NWSL expansion team BOS Nation FC apologizes for ‘Too Many Balls’ campaign

BOSTON (AP) — The National Women’s Soccer League expansion team in Boston has apologized for a “Too Many Balls” marketing campaign that draw a harsh reaction from the transgender community and others. A day after unveiling the slogan as part of the rollout of the team name BOS Nation FC, the organization posted on X that “we missed the mark” with an attempt to “create a bold and buzzworthy brand launch campaign.” Among those who criticized the campaign was Seattle midfielder Quinn, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary.