Serena Williams draws 20-year-old Maya Joint in first Wimbledon singles match in 4 years
LONDON (AP) — Serena Williams has been drawn to play 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia in the first round at Wimbledon for her first singles match in nearly four years. The 44-year-old seven-time Wimbledon singles champion accepted a wild-card entry to the grass-court Grand Slam where she’ll also compete in doubles with her older sister Venus. Joint is ranked No. 53 and made her Wimbledon debut last year, losing in the first round to Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-2. Joint was born in the U.S. but represents Australia through her father. Defending champion Iga Swiatek opens against Taylor Townsend. Jannik Sinner’s title defense begins against Miomir Kecmanovic.
Pochettino annoyed by perceived disappointment after US finishes group play with 3-2 loss to Turkey
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kaan Ayhan scored on the final kick of the match, and Turkey beat the United States 3-2 for its only win of the World Cup. Auston Trusty scored in the third minute and Sebastian Berhalter got a tying goal early in the second half for the Americans, who had already won the group with victories over Paraguay and Australia. Pochettino fielded nine new starters for this low-stakes game, but Christian Pulisic entered in the 58th minute. Turkey won in the eighth minute of stoppage time when Can Uzun got the ball in space on the back post and got it to Ayhan.
MLB proposes limiting most free agent contracts to 5 years and 15% of a team’s salary cap
Major League Baseball proposed limiting most free agent contracts to five years and 15% of a team’s salary cap and to eliminate deferred compensation, fleshing out details of a salary cap plan likely to spark a confrontation with the players’ association that could lead to the first loss of regular-season games since 1995. During a bargaining session Thursday at the union’s office, MLB said it would accept the union’s proposal granting free agency a year early for players who have reached age 30 as part of a salary cap system. MLB also proposed boosting the minimum salary from $780,000 to $1 million for those with two years of big league service.
Hornets trade LaMelo Ball, Josh Green to Timberwolves for Naz Reid, draft picks, AP source says
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says the Charlotte Hornets have agreed to trade point guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round draft pick, three first-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal has yet to be approved by the league. ESPN was first to report the trade. The three first-round pick swaps will be in 2028, 2029 and 2030. The Hornets also will get three second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033. Charlotte also agreed to a three-year, $74 million contract with point guard Coby White to replace Ball. White, who backed up Ball last year, was set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Pulisic returns to the US lineup with highlights and lowlight in a World Cup loss to Turkey
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Christian Pulisic returned to the field for the United States just in time to warm up for the World Cup games that really matter starting next week. Pulisic entered the Americans’ 3-2 loss to Turkey as a substitute early in the second half, and he provided several strong sequences during his first game action in nearly two weeks. He also had a lowlight when rising young star Arda Güler nutmegged him to begin the sequence that ended with Kaan Ayhan’s winning goal on the final kick of the match. Pulisic hadn’t played since the Americans’ tournament-opening win over Paraguay.
Marina Mabrey matches WNBA scoring record with 53 points to help Toronto rout Los Angeles
TORONTO (AP) — Marina Mabrey matched the WNBA scoring record with 53 points to help the Toronto Tempo rout the Los Angeles Sparks 125-97 on Thursday night. Mabrey tied the mark set by Liz Cambage for Dallas against New York on July 17, 2018, and matched by A’ja Wilson for Las Vegas at Atlanta on Aug. 22, 2023. When Mabrey checked out of the game with a minute remaining, fans briefly booed before erupting into cheers in acknowledgement of her big night. The clock ticked down to zero with chants of “We Want Mabrey! We Want Mabrey!” The 29-year-old former Notre Dame star was 17 of 28 from the field, tied the WNBA record for 3-pointers with nine in 18 attempts, and made 10 of 12 free throws.
WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas 1 game for hit to Caitlin Clark’s throat
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA has suspended Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas for one game after she made contact with her fist to Caitlin Clark’s throat in Wednesday night’s matchup against Indiana. It happened with 6:52 left in the second quarter and was deemed to be a non-basketball act. The league gave Thomas a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty for it. No foul was called on the play by officials. The WNBA is allowed to review a game to reclassify a Flagrant foul or to classify as Flagrant any foul not called as such during a game. Thomas will serve her suspension on Saturday when the Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo.
Detroit Lions player Terrion Arnold is charged with directing attack against 3 people in Florida
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Lions player Terrion Arnold has been charged in Tampa, Florida, with leading a plot to detain and pistol-whip three people whom he believed had stolen from him. The crimes could carry a sentence of up to life in prison. Tampa police say Arnold believed the young men had stolen $100,000 and luxury goods from him at an Airbnb rental in February. But investigators found they had nothing to do it. Arnold’s lawyer says the NFL player “absolutely” denies the allegations. Arnold remains locked up until the next hearing Monday.
Ina Yoon opens the Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine with a record-tying 63
CHASKA, Minn. (AP) — Ina Yoon matched the best score in the history of the Women’s PGA Championship with a 9-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead over Karis Davidson on Thursday in the third major of the season. Yoon, a 23-year-old South Korean seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, birdied five of her last six holes at Hazeltine National Golf Club with a putter that was consistently on point. Nelly Korda, who’s aiming to become just the third women to win the first three major tournaments on the schedule, had a 70. Davidson had eight birdies on the way to a career-best 65 on a calm and partly cloudy afternoon.
Eric Cole opens with a 63 at the Travelers Championship to lead Scheffler and others by 1
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Eric Cole left the Travelers Championship early last year because of a nasty stomach issue. He returns with a 63 to take a one-shot lead. Cole chipped in for eagle and played bogey-free on the rain-softened TPC River Highlands. Scottie Scheffler shot 64 for his best start since he won in California to start the year. Five others including Matt Fitzpatrick also shot 64. Wyndham Clark says he had plenty of energy just four days after winning the U.S. Open. He hit one bad tee shot that led to a triple bogey. He shot 68 in front of a much nicer gallery.