Sports

Trump discourages Iranian soccer team from attending the World Cup, citing safety concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he doesn’t think it’d be “appropriate” for the Iranian soccer team to attend this year’s World Cup. The Republican president on Thursday cited “their own life and safety” as reasons the team’s members should not attend as the U.S. co-hosts alongside Mexico and Canada. Trump’s message seems to depart from what he relayed Tuesday at the White House to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Infantino says Trump assured him Iranian players and coaches would be welcome despite the war that broke out after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began last month. Iranian leaders say it’s “not possible” for their country to participate in the World Cup.

NFL free agency: Panthers, 49ers, Patriots, Jets and Rams are early winners

NFL free agency spending has reshaped the early pecking order, with a few teams gaining real momentum and others taking hits. On Monday, big moves included the Panthers adding Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd to build an elite defense. The 49ers added Mike Evans and extra line help. The Patriots kept spending to upgrade key spots. The Jets brought Geno Smith back and loaded up on defense. The Rams strengthened their secondary. The Buccaneers slipped after losing Evans and defensive starters. The Eagles and Jaguars also dropped back after losing major pieces.

Vikings host Kyler Murray on a free agent visit after he was cut by the Cardinals, AP source says

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings are hosting Kyler Murray on a free agent visit, focusing their latest quarterback search on the first overall pick in the 2019 draft who was just released by the Arizona Cardinals. The meeting was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team was not publicly commenting on it. The Cardinals cut Murray despite owing him $36.8 million in guaranteed salary for this season. The Vikings are seeking a challenger or a replacement for J.J. McCarthy.

No. 20 Miami (Ohio) drops MAC opener, the first loss for D-I’s last undefeated men’s team

CLEVELAND (AP) — No. 20 Miami (Ohio) dropped its Mid-American Conference Tournament opener to UMass 87-83, spoiling the last perfect record in Division I men’s basketball. Daniel Hankins-Sanford made a tiebreaking layup with 29 seconds remaining, and the Minutemen escaped with victory in a quarterfinal game that had 12 lead changes and 10 ties. The RedHawks (31-1) were the fifth men’s Division I program this century to go undefeated during the regular season. Now it’s the second to get tripped up in its conference tournament. St. Joseph’s lost to Xavier in the 2004 Atlantic 10 quarterfinals but was still a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Miami was the first squad since Gonzaga in 2020-21 to not have a loss going into a conference tournament.

WNBA and its players’ union meet for third straight day trying to come to agreement on new CBA

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and its players’ union have met for a third consecutive day hoping to come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. They have had two marathon bargaining sessions over the last two days that both ended late at night. Union president Nneka Ogwumike said Wednesday that players are “feeling movement.” The main sticking point is still revenue sharing. Eight proposals had been exchanged over the first two days and in the latest proposal, the league has increased its salary cap offer for the first year to $6.2 million — up from $5.75 million in previous negotiations.

Mark DeRosa owns ‘overly confident’ WBC remark before Team USA’s loss to Italy

HOUSTON (AP) — Manager Mark DeRosa says his premature comment about the United States having already punched its ticket to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals before facing Italy was just an “overly confident statement” and reiterated Thursday he knew nothing was guaranteed at that point. DeRosa had made that remark on MLB Network’s “Hot Stove” before the 8-6 loss to Italy on Tuesday that caused the U.S. to lose control of its WBC fate. The U.S. still advanced to a Friday quarterfinal matchup with Canada thanks to Italy’s 9-1 win over Mexico on Wednesday.

Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson strains a muscle on Big 12’s new glass floor in loss to Iowa State

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle after slipping on the Big 12 Tournament’s new glass court during a loss to Iowa State in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The injury forced the all-conference guard to watch from the bench down the stretch in a 75-53 defeat. It was another devastating blow for the Red Raiders, who already are without All-American forward JT Toppin the rest of the way because of a torn ACL in his right knee. The severity of Anderson’s injury and whether it will cause him to miss games during next week’s NCAA Tournament was not immediately clear. The Red Raiders are likely to be seeded fourth or fifth.

Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa withdraws from The Players Championship after one hole

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa withdrew from The Players Championship after one hole. Morikawa took a practice swing on the par-5 11th hole and reached for his lower back. He tried to stretch, and minutes later took a cart ride from an official into the clubhouse. Morikawa won at Pebble Beach earlier this year, his first PGA Tour title in 16 months. He was the second player to withdraw from the richest tournament in golf. Ryan Fox withdrew with an illness before his afternoon tee time. Morikawa was not replaced because he had already started the tournament.

Wilt Chamberlain’s friends, family root for today’s NBA stars to challenge Hall of Famer’s records

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Wilt Chamberlain’s family is keeping close watch as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closes in on one of his long-standing NBA records. Gilgeous-Alexander plays Boston with a chance to reach 127 straight 20-point games. Chamberlain set the mark at 126 from 1961 to 1963. Nephew Olin Chamberlain tracks these milestones from Philadelphia. He and his family say they enjoy seeing modern stars chase the records. They see it as a way to keep Wilt’s legacy alive, even if a record falls.

Milan Cortina leaders defend actions after Ukraine’s pressure allegations at Paralympics

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Local organizers at the Milan Cortina Paralympics have defended their actions after Ukraine’s Paralympic committee accused them and the International Paralympic Committee of subjecting Ukraine athletes and coaches to “systematic pressure.” The Milan Cortina organizing committee says it has reviewed the issues raised by Ukraine and explained its decisions. Ukraine says the IPC and local organizers disrespected the Ukrainians several times, including by allegedly forcefully removing a Ukrainian flag, breaking up planning meetings by the Ukrainian team, and prohibiting a Ukrainian athlete from wearing a earring with the words “Stop War” in a podium ceremony.