SEC not expected to vote on LSU’s membership this week, AP source says
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Southeastern Conference is no longer expected to vote on whether to expel LSU from the league on Thursday. That’s according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the SEC has not released a public statement about canceling the planned vote. Thursday’s meeting is not open to the public and is being held by video conference. LSU President Wade Rousse sent a letter, obtained by the AP, to SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stating that the league’s claims in a federal lawsuit it filed against LSU are now “moot” because first-year Tigers coach Lane Kiffin had complied with a conference ban on rostering players who had previously signed contracts with NFL teams.
Sam Darnold injures hip on Seahawks’ first series of opener and is ruled out for rest of game
SEATTLE (AP) — Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury on Seattle’s first series of the NFL season opener against the New England Patriots and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Darnold was sacked by Dre’Mont Jones, and the quarterback’s right leg appeared to take the brunt of the impact as Jones drove him to the turf. Darnod limped off the field, was examined in the sideline medical tent and then limped to the locker room. The Seahawks initially said Darnold was questionable, then announced before halftime that he would not return. Backup Drew Lock replaced him.
Coco Gauff rallies to reach the US Open semifinals against new women’s No. 1 Elena Rybakina
NEW YORK (AP) — Coco Gauff fought off a couple match points in a tiebreaker and beat Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2 to set up a U.S. Open semifinal matchup against new No. 1 Elena Rybakina. Gauff overcame a horrible start to give herself a chance at a second U.S. Open title. She won the tournament in 2023, when she had to overcome a similar rough beginning against Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Andreeva, the French Open champion, won the first seven points and took the first set in 26 minutes. Rybakina edged Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, guaranteeing she will become No. 1 in the WTA rankings.
No. 1 Zverev reaches US Open semifinals and will face Khachanov after Blockx’s injuries
NEW YORK (AP) — Alexander Zverev’s rocky road to start the U.S. Open turned into smooth sailing to the semifinals. The No. 1 seed beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday night, putting him into the final four of every Grand Slam tournament this season. The French Open champion and Wimbledon runner-up will play Friday against Karen Khachanov, while Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe meet in the other semifinal. Zverev became the first men’s No. 1 seed to play five-set matches in each of the first two rounds of a major in the Open era, which began in 1968. But he won his last three matches in straight sets.
Hockey player and coach-turned-broadcaster Barry Melrose dies at age 70
Barry Melrose, a hockey player-turned-coach who led the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final before going on to a long career in broadcasting the sport, has died. He was 70. ESPN announced Melrose’s death Wednesday after his wife informed the network. Melrose stepped away from the role in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. From Kelvington, Saskatchewan, the hard-nosed defenseman played over 300 games in the NHL after nearly 200 in the World Hockey Association.
Caitlin Clark’s experience at the women’s World Cup has been a ‘pinch-me moment’ for the WNBA star
BERLIN (AP) — Caitlin Clark has been the epicenter of women’s basketball for the past five years with huge expectations for her to seemingly single-handedly elevate the sport. The driving force behind the growth of women’s basketball talked hoops with The Associated Press. The enormous pressure on Clark to perform is real. She understands it and accepts it. Clark has had an historic impact on the game without winning a title. Clark wasn’t able to do it in college, hasn’t done in it the WNBA yet or at the highest level on the international stage. She has a chance at the women’s FIBA World Championship to fill that void in her impressive résumé.
Rams finally join 49ers for Australia’s first NFL game and Myles Garrett’s LA debut
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The longest road trip in NFL history has brought the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams to Australia’s sports capital for a season opener in front of more than 100,000 football-hungry fans packed into the Southern Hemisphere’s largest stadium. These NFC West rivals are playing Australia’s first NFL game, and the starkly differing ways in which they approached this challenge have attracted almost as much attention as the two star-studded rosters preparing to put on a show. Both teams say there’s no right way to do it, but San Francisco has been in Melbourne for a week, while the Rams arrived roughly 28 hours before kickoff.
Ohtani sidelined again as Dodgers weigh injured list stint after right arm discomfort
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is out of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup for the sixth time in seven games. He felt something in his right arm during a swing on Monday. Ohtani has been managing soreness in his right biceps and left knee for weeks. Manager Dave Roberts says the team will decide the next steps after consulting with medical staff. The Dodgers are off Thursday and start a road trip in Miami on Friday. Ohtani is crucial to the Dodgers’ hopes of winning a third consecutive World Series championship, even though he won’t pitch for the rest of the season. First baseman Freddie Freeman is also out with a knee issue.
Champions League contenders PSG, Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool all start with wins
Six goals for Paris Saint-Germain, five for Barcelona and classically just one for Arsenal as the serious Champions League contenders started with wins Wednesday. There was a hat trick for Ferran Torres, the World Cup-winning goalscorer, and two goals for Ousmane Dembélé in PSG’s 6-1 beating of Slovan Bratislava. At Barcelona, Raphinha scored two and Lamine Yamal fired a free kick through Feyenoord’s defensive wall in a 5-1 win. Arsenal 1-0 win at Napoli. English clubs are played four, won four this week after Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid 2-1. Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirović scored three in a 3-1 win over Norwegian debutant Viking.