Sports

MLB is calling up its first female umpire, promoting Jen Pawol for Saturday’s Marlins-Braves game

NEW YORK (AP) — Jen Pawol is set to become the first woman to umpire in Major League Baseball when she works games this weekend between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. Pawol will work the bases in Saturday’s doubleheader at Truist Park and the plate on Sunday, MLB told The Associated Press. Pawol, a 48-year-old from New Jersey, worked spring training games in 2024 and this year. MLB’s move comes 28 years after the gender barrier for game officials was broken in the NBA, 10 years after it ended the NFL and three years after the men’s soccer World Cup employed a female referee. The NHL still has not had a woman referee.

ESPN is acquiring NFL Network, rights for RedZone in a deal giving the NFL a stake in the network

The NFL has entered into a nonbinding agreement to sell NFL Network and other media assets to ESPN. The league will receive a 10% equity stake in ESPN in return. The deal still requires a final agreement, the approval of NFL owners and regulatory clearance. ESPN plans to include NFL Network in its upcoming direct-to-consumer service. The NFL will continue to own and produce the RedZone channel but will allow ESPN to distribute it. NFL Fantasy Football will merge with ESPN Fantasy Football. Viewers are unlikely to see changes until next year.

Panthers CB Jaycee Horn not seriously injured in car accident, is day to day with thumb injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn escaped serious injury after a car accident on Wednesday morning on the way to the team’s stadium. He injured his left thumb and missed a joint practice with the Cleveland Browns. Panthers coach Dave Canales says Horn will be evaluated daily. Horn will not play in Friday night’s preseason game against the Browns, but the team hopes he can play against Houston on August 16. Horn was alone in his car when the accident happened near the stadium. He was evaluated by team medical personnel and later seen joking with teammates on the sideline.

Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders to start in Browns preseason opener against the Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rookie Shedeur Sanders will start for the Cleveland Browns in their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Friday night with the recently signed Tyler Huntley also expected to play. The Browns confirmed the news during a joint practice with the Panthers. Veteran Joe Flacco is healthy but will not play. Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel will not play either because of injuries. Sanders was drafted in the fifth round. Despite being fourth on the depth chart, injuries to other Browns QBs have contributed to this opportunity.

Tennis player Elina Svitolina faces hateful abuse after loss, blames ‘shameful’ bettors

MONTREAL, Canada (AP) — Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has spoken out about receiving hateful abuse online from frustrated gamblers after losing a match in Canada. She lost to Naomi Osaka in the quarter-finals of the National Bank Open on Tuesday night. Svitolina shared screenshots of the messages on Instagram, which included death threats and racial slurs against her husband Gael Monfils. She condemned the behavior, calling it shameful. Earlier this year, British player Katie Boulter also reported receiving death threats. The WTA and ITF have urged betting companies to address the issue of online abuse against players.

US Open singles champions will get a record $5 million in 2025 and total compensation is up 20%

Prize money at the U.S. Open will rise to nearly $85 million across all competitions this year. That includes a record $5 million each to the women’s and men’s singles champions. The U.S. Tennis Association announced Wednesday that total player compensation is jumping 20% to $90 million. That is the most in tennis history. The year’s last Grand Slam tournament begins with the new mixed doubles event and its $1 million top check on Aug. 19-20. Singles competition starts on a Sunday for the first time — Aug. 24 — as those brackets expand from 14 days to 15.

Lindsey Vonn hires former ski great Aksel Lund Svindal as coach ahead of Olympic season

KENNELBACH, Austria (AP) — Lindsey Vonn has added former ski champion Aksel Lund Svindal to her coaching team as she prepares for next year’s Winter Olympics. The 40-year-old American skier, who won gold in the downhill at the 2010 Games, returned to the sport last year with a new titanium knee. She plans to compete in the Milan-Cortina Olympics in Italy from February 6th to 22nd. Two-time Olympic champion Svindal will start coaching Vonn at a training camp in Chile later this summer. Vonn ended her comeback season with a second-place finish in a World Cup super-G in March.

Sex toy thrown near Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham during game in Los Angeles

A sex toy landed near Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham after it was thrown from the stands in Los Angeles while the Fever played the Sparks on Tuesday night. The incident in Los Angeles occurred with 2:05 left in the second quarter with the object landing in the lane near Cunningham, who had been vocal on social media about fans throwing the toys on the court. Kelsey Plum kicked it into the stands. According to social media posts, green toys were also thrown in Phoenix and New York, but didn’t reach the court. The one at Barclays Center landed near a child.

Son Heung-min signs with MLS’ Los Angeles FC after a decade at Tottenham

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Son Heung-min agreed to a contract with Los Angeles FC on Tuesday, finalizing his move to Major League Soccer after a decade at Tottenham Hotspur. The 33-year-old South Korean superstar will join LAFC as a designated player after the club paid a reported fee of more than $20 million, which could end up being the most ever for an MLS transfer. Son formally announced his decision to leave Tottenham last week. The Spurs captain was a beloved fixture at the North London club, scoring 173 goals in 454 competitive appearances while rising to global prominence with his combination of speed, playmaking skill and finishing acumen.

From fashion fines to man in charge: Aaron Glenn’s former Jets teammates proud of his NFL journey

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Glenn played eight seasons with the New York Jets and became head coach last January. As a player, he was a Pro Bowl cornerback with a flair for fashion. That included his game day socks, which didn’t always adhere to NFL regulations and cost him fines. Former teammates, including Kevin Mawae, Jason Fabini and Ray Mickens, recently gathered to celebrate his new role. Glenn is one of five current NFL head coaches leading teams they once played for. He’s focused on changing the Jets’ culture and finding players who fit the team’s style and his former teammates believe he can get the job done.