AP Sports

Cavaliers hiring Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson as next coach, AP source says

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that the Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as their new coach. The Cavs have been looking for a new leader for their young team after firing J.B. Bickerstaff last month despite two straight playoff appearances. The sides have agreed on a deal with details of Atkinson’s contract still to be finalized, the person said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not discussing its search publicly. ESPN.com was first to report Atkinson is heading to Cleveland. Atkinson spent three-plus seasons as Brooklyn’s coach.

The Texas Rangers are frustrating LGBTQ+ advocates as the only MLB team without a Pride Night

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have frustrated LGBTQ+ advocates for years as the only Major League Baseball team without a Pride Night. The June celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and rights known as Pride Month will come and go again without the Rangers participating. The Resource Center is an LGBTQ+ organization that has worked the Rangers in the past. Resource Center communications and advocacy manager Rafael McDonnell says it’s a “complicated relationship” with the Rangers. McDonnell and other advocates believe a change in ownership could have to be the catalyst for change. The Rangers tout several ways they work with the LGBTQ+ community and say they promote diversity and inclusion internally.

The Stanley Cup will be awarded Monday night. It’s the Oilers and Panthers in Game 7

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The deciding Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final will be played Monday night in Florida, where the Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers. Florida won the first three games only to see Edmonton storm back and stave off elimination three times to knot the series. Florida is trying to win its fist championship and avoid blowing a 3-0 lead in the final. Only Detroit in 1942 has done that. Edmonton is trying to win its sixth title overall. A Canadian team has not won the Cup since 1993, the longest drought in the history of a nation considered the birthplace of the sport.

Reese, Clark deliver with stars on hand for latest matchup between Sky, Fever

CHICAGO (AP) — Angel Reese pulled off the best performance of her young career to help the Chicago Sky rally past the Indiana Fever and old college rival Caitlin Clark. A game featuring some of the WNBA’s brightest young stars delivered in a huge way. Reese had her best outing. She scored a career-high 25 points to go with 16 rebounds in her eighth consecutive double-double in an 88-87 win and the Sky’s first victory over the Fever in three tries this season. They lost the first two games at Indiana. Clark, meanwhile, finished with 17 points and a franchise-record 13 assists. She made five 3s and grabbed six rebounds, but the Fever couldn’t hang on after winning their previous four games.

Dearica Hamby replaces Sparks teammate Cameron Brink on US 3×3 Olympic team

NEW YORK (AP) — Dearica Hamby has replaced Los Angeles Sparks teammate Cameron Brink, who suffered a torn ACL last week, on the U.S. Olympic 3×3 basketball team. Hamby was MVP of the 2023 3×3 AmeriCup and was part of the national team camp in Springfield, Massachusetts, in April. She joins Hailey Van Lith, Cierra Burdick and Rhyne Howard on the squad that will compete at the Paris Games next month.

Supreme Court rejects challenge to new horse racing anti-doping rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected a challenge from Republican-controlled states to a horse racing safety law that has led to national medication and anti-doping rules. The justices on Monday left in place an appeals court ruling that upheld the law and rejected claims that Congress gave too much power to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the private entity that administers the rules. Oklahoma, Louisiana and West Virginia sought to have the law struck down, joined by several racetracks. The anti-doping program took effect in the spring of 2023. Legislation to repeal the law is pending in Congress.

Made in France: How French basketball turned so many young talents into NBA players

PARIS (AP) — Basketball’s popularity is rising in France. It might even skyrocket during the Paris Olympics. More and more kids are signing up for teams as the country churns out top NBA draft picks. Victor Wembanyama was the No. 1 selection last year and he’s helped raise the profile of the sport in his home country. Two more young Frenchmen — Zaccharie Risacher, Alexandre Sarr — are expected to be top picks Wednesday. There will likely be no shortage of future prospects, either. Basketball clubs around the country have seen an increase in registrations of 70,000 in the past two years.

2-time Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor will soon spring into retirement

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Every leap for triple jumper Christian Taylor these days comes with a stroll down memory lane. This is the two-time Olympic champion’s farewell tour and he’s making sure to take it all in. On Friday, Taylor will start his bid to make a third Olympic team. Whatever happens, it’s been quite a ride for the 34-year-old whose career also includes four world championship titles and coming within eight centimeters of setting a world record. He also had to learn how to take off on the other leg due to a knee injury. Taylor says “it’s just surreal that it’s almost over.”

75-year-old John Force alert after fiery, crash at Virginia Motorsports Park

DINWIDDIE, Va. (AP) — NHRA great John Force was alert and talking to safety workers immediately after a fiery, 300-mph crash Sunday in the Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. John Force Racing said the 75-year-old Force was examined at the track by the NHRA Medical Team before being transported by medical helicopter to a facility for further evaluation. During the first round of Funny Car eliminations, the engine exploded Force’s car at the finish line, with the vehicle going across the centerline and striking the left concrete guard wall, then careening back across into the right wall. Three weeks ago in New Hampshire, Force raced to his record 157th NHRA victory and second of the season.

Joe Gibbs driver Christopher Bell emerges as a NASCAR championship contender

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Christopher Bell stamped himself a legitimate contender to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship this season after he navigated the wet weather at New Hampshire to win for the third time for Joe Gibbs Racing. That total matched Kyle Larson, William Byron and Hamlin for most in the series this season. Bell has won multiple races each of the last three seasons and has 11 top-10 finishes in 18 races in 2024. Should he maintain that kind of consistency as NASCAR enters the second half of its season, Bell could find himself among the four drivers racing for a championship in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.