Sports

League tournaments can be a long grind. That could impact which teams advance in March Madness

Teams coming off long runs in their league tournaments have a short window to regroup ahead of March Madness. Bigger conferences after waves of expansion have led to longer runs through league tournaments on the eve of the NCAA Tournament. Now it’s common to see teams having to play four games in four days in conference tournaments. Then they have a few days for players to recover and recharge ahead of the NCAAs. Big Ten champion Purdue faces that challenge after playing four games in four days to win that title.

Aaron Judge hails World Baseball Classic crowds as ‘bigger and better than the World Series’

MIAMI (AP) — Aaron Judge says the World Baseball Classic has become baseball’s biggest stage. Speaking after the U.S. beat the Dominican Republic 2-1 in semifinal, Judge said as the crowd’s atmosphere: “It’s bigger and better than the World Series.” Junior Caminero’s second-inning homer off winner Paul Skenes put the Dominicans ahead but the U.S. rebounded on fourth-inning drives by Gunnar Henderson off Luis Severino and Roman Anthony against loser Gregory Soto. U.S. relievers pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a game that ended with a controversial called third strike to Geraldo Perdomo from Mason Miller on a slider that appeared to be low.

Jets agree to trade quarterback Justin Fields to Chiefs to serve as Mahomes’ backup, AP source says

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets have agreed to a trade that will send quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, a person familiar with the deal has told The Associated Press. The Jets will receive a sixth-round draft pick in 2027 for Fields and pick up $7 million of his guaranteed $10 million salary for this upcoming season, the person told the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams didn’t announce the trade. The deal, first reported by ESPN, is pending a physical. The 27-year-old Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with New York last March. Fields was benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor in November.

WNBA and players’ union report progress in CBA talks as key issues remain

NEW YORK (AP) — Both the WNBA and players’ union feel progress is being made toward a new collective bargaining agreement, but they both say there’s still work to be done to get a deal to the finish line. In-person talks entered a seventh consecutive day Monday afternoon after the previous session ended around 3 a.m. in the morning. It’s been a long week of discussions with the WNBA and union meeting face-to-face for more than 75 hours since the first in-person bargaining session on Tuesday. None of the sessions have ended before midnight.

Denny Hamlin shakes off Phoenix heartbreak with a Las Vegas win alongside Chris Gayle

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Denny Hamlin showed he and crew chief Chris Gayle have moved on from a crushing title loss. Hamlin raced to his first victory of the season Sunday at Las Vegas. It was the 61st of his career, and came five races after Hamlin and Gayle lost the Cup Series title last November at Phoenix — a defeat the pair still has not talked through. Hamlin says he supported Gayle’s strategy decision in the moment. Gayle says he spent days replaying the decision but the duo have moved on.

Picking the NCAA men’s bracket: Michigan beats Duke for the national championship

There was a time when the NCAA men’s tournament was wildly unpredictable. Hard as it may seem to believe, there was one season where a No. 4 seed, two No. 5 seeds and a No. 9 seed all reached the Final Four. And a year later, a No. 11 seed got to the national semifinals as well. Ah, 2023 and 2024 feel so long ago. Last year’s tournament saw four No. 1 seeds get to the Final Four and the way this bracket looks, it’s not hard to envision the same thing happening this year. That’s good news for Michigan, Duke, Florida and Arizona.

Picking the NCAA women’s bracket: UConn beats Texas for another national championship

UConn looks like the safest pick to win the women’s NCAA tournament, but the real key in bracket pools is nailing early upsets. Brackets start to match by the second weekend, since lower seeds rarely reach the Sweet 16. For those looking to find some dangerous No. 11 seeds: Fairfield faces Notre Dame, Rhode Island plays Alabama, and South Dakota State meets Washington. But in the end, it’s hard to not think the No. 1 seeds get to the Final Four.

NBA owners will work on expansion again next week with Vegas and Seattle the targets, AP sources say

The NBA may move a step closer to adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas next week when expansion will be again discussed by the league’s board of governors, two people with knowledge of the matter tell The Associated Press. It is expected that a vote on whether to go forward with those two cities as the sole targets for expansion at this time takes place next week as well, the people said. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because those were not released publicly. It would take a three-fourths majority of governors to go forward.

MLB Free Agency: 2-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal could set more contract records next offseason

Tarik Skubal could set more contract records for a pitcher in free agency next offseason. Detroit’s ace, who has won back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards, will make $32 million this season after winning a record salary arbitration case. Skubal could become a free agent for the first time after the World Series next fall, along with two-time All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and 31-year-old slugger Randy Arozarena. But that offseason will be amid the backdrop of another potential lockout, and it’s uncertain how that will affect the next free agency class.

The PWHL is riding a post-Olympic boost in ticket sales and marketing opportunities

The Professional Women’s Hockey League is enjoying a major post-Olympic boost that’s no better reflected than with the New York Sirens. A team that’s struggled to attract attention over its first two-plus seasons broke a home attendance record with a turnout of 8,264 at its recent game against Ottawa. The signs of a women’s hockey surge are everywhere since Team USA’s 2-1 overtime win over Canada at the Milan Cortina Games. The PWHL is seeing an uptick in fans and ticket sales in each of its eight markets. The league also landed a deal with Scripps Sports to broadcast its first game to a national U.S. TV audience.