AP Sports

Dalton Knecht hones game over 3-school basketball journey, now a projected lottery pick in NBA draft

DENVER (AP) — Dalton Knecht has always carried a chip on his shoulder with him throughout his multi-school basketball journey. Feeling overlooked has powered the guard from Colorado along his stops at Northeastern Junior College, Northern Colorado and Tennessee. Knecht is coming off his final college season, during which he averaged 21.7 points with the Volunteers, earned All-America honors and received shout-outs from none other than Kevin Durant. That determination has Knecht on the precipice of becoming a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

What can Brown do for the Oilers? Edmonton’s other Connor is thriving in the Stanley Cup Final

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor McDavid has been the best player on the ice as the Edmonton Oilers rallied to force a sixth game in the Stanley Cup Final after falling behind 3-0 to the Florida Panthers. Connor Brown also has made a big difference. Brown set up a short-handed goal in Game 4 and then scored one in Game 5 to send the series back across North America. The 30-year-old maligned for his lack of production in his first season with Edmonton is finally looking like his old self 20 months since tearing the ACL in his left knee.

Could a $170 high tech soccer ball be a reason for so many spectacular goals at Euro 2024?

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — With outrageous goals flying in from all angles, Euro 2024 has started with a bang. Could the ball be to thank for this? England captain Harry Kane says: “When you strike it, it stays hit.” The Adidas Fussballliebe – meaning “love of football” in German – is the official match ball of the European Championship. And players appear to have quickly mastered it with a slew of stunning, long-range goals. There was Arda Guler’s curling effort into the top corner from around 20 meters in Turkey’s 3-1 win against Georgia. That was rivalled by his teammate Mert Muldur’s volley from the edge of the box in the same game.

Intimidating tree-lined fairways of Sahalee await Nelly Korda and rest of field in the Women’s PGA

SAMMAMISH, Wash. (AP) — For the second time, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will be contested at Sahalee Country Club. The tree-lined fairways of Douglas fir, red cedar and hemlock trees create an intimidating look for the top players in the world. Top-ranked Nelly Korda is looking to rebound after missing the cut in her last two tournaments. That includes the U.S. Women’s Open, where she shot 80 in the opening round. Ruoning Yin of China is the defending champion, but noted Sahalee is a very different course than Baltursol, where she won a year ago. Brooke Henderson won at Sahalee in 2016 at age 18.

All-Star Chelsea Gray returns to Aces, Jackie Young scores 32 to help stop Storm 94-83

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jackie Young scored 32 points, A’ja Wilson added 27 and the Las Vegas Aces celebrated the return of All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray by defeating the Seattle Storm 94-83. Gray, a five-time All-Star and 2020 Olympic gold-medal winner who will head to the Paris Games next month, had seven assists, four rebounds and two blocks with one point in 16 minutes. Las Vegas led by double figures from the 1:53 mark of the first quarter and by as many as 20 points. Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points for the Storm and Ezi Magbegor added 19 with 13 rebounds. Jewell Loyd, who averages just under 20, was held to a single point.

Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, qualifies for first USGA event at age 15 with 1-under 71

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — The son of Tiger Woods is headed to his first USGA Championship. Charlie Woods has qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur. The 15-year-old Woods led all qualifiers at Eagle Trace in south Florida with a 1-under 71. That sends him to Oakland Hills the week of July 22-28 to compete against 263 players in 36 holes of stroke play. The top 64 after that reach match play. Tiger Woods was 14 when he first qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur. He reached the semifinals. Tiger Woods won the first of three straight U.S. Juniors the following year.

PGA Tour commissioner says sides are making progress on deal with Saudi backers of LIV Golf

CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan says the difficulty in finalizing a deal with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf isn’t a reason for concern. Monahan says it is still a great opportunity for the tour. It’s been more than a year since the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia announced a deal aimed at bringing peace to a sport torn apart by the departures of dozens of players for LIV Golf. The original deadline passed with no agreement. Monahan gave few specifics but said recent meetings have been very productive.

Orioles hold off Yankees 7-6 in 10 innings after Gerrit Cole makes his season debut for New York

NEW YORK (AP) — Cedric Mullins hit a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning and scored on a throwing error to help the Baltimore Orioles hold off the New York Yankees 7-6 in a wild finish. New York ace Gerrit Cole was charged with two runs over four-plus innings in an up-and-down season debut after returning from an elbow injury. He was on the hook for his first loss since Aug. 19 last year until Giancarlo Stanton rallied the Yankees late with a three-run homer that pulled New York to 5-4 in the seventh, then laced a tying single off closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth.

Detroit Pistons fire coach Monty Williams after one season that ended with NBA’s worst record

The Detroit Pistons have fired coach Monty Williams after just one season that ended with an NBA-worst 14-68 record. Last season was the first in what was a six-year, $78.5 million contract for Williams — one that, at the time, was the richest ever given to an NBA coach. At one point, the Pistons had a 28-game losing streak. It was the longest ever in a single season in NBA history and tied for the longest ever when factoring in multiple seasons.

Tributes to Willie Mays pour in as mural is unveiled in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A mural honoring baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays has been unveiled in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Mays died Tuesday at the age of 93. The mural depicts a smiling “Say Hey Kid” and his bevy of athletic accomplishments. It was created by artist Chuck Styles ahead of Thursday’s game between Mays’ longtime team, the San Francisco Giants, and the St. Louis Cardinals at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham. The game is intended to honor the Negro Leagues, where Mays began his career in 1948. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol says the game becomes even more meaningful after Mays’ death. Tributes to Mays poured in from around the country on Wednesday.