National Sports - The Morning Sun

Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark throws a tee-shirt to a fan during a time out during the first half between the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Caitlin Clark revs up Pacers fans with pregame playoff appearance in IndyCar replica

Caitlin Clark drew a standing ovation in her first appearance on Gainbridge Fieldhouse's court since becoming the WNBA's No. 1 overall draft pick — in an IndyCar replica. Clark revved up the crowd … more

By MICHAEL MAROT | 4/26/24

FILE - Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson, second from left, wears a Guardian cap during practice at the team's NFL football training facility July 27, 2022 in Ashburn, Va. The NFL says will allow players to wear protective soft-shell helmet covers known as Guardian caps during games next season if they choose. The league is also expanding the use of the devices during practices. Defensive backs and receivers have joined the position groups now required to wear the caps during all contact practices. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

NFL to allow players to wear protective soft-shell helmet covers during games

The NFL says it will allow players to wear protective soft-shell helmet covers known as Guardian caps during games next season if they choose. The league is also expanding the use of the devices … more

4/26/24

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Anthony Mantha (39) and Dallas Stars defenseman Chris Tanev (3) compete for possession of the puck during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Dallas, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Golden Knights have limited Stars' scoring chances to take 2-0 series lead

The problems for Dallas are two-fold. The Stars aren’t getting great scoring chances and for long stretches aren’t even putting the puck on net. That’s primarily why the Golden Knights are back … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 4/26/24

FILE -Oregon State running back Damien Martinez (6) rushes against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Corvallis, Ore. Oregon State running back Damien Martinez, Miami running back Henry Parrish and Pitt defensive end Jayon Hayes entered the transfer portal as the 14-day spring window opened for college football players. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman, File)

Oregon State and Washington State face player exodus amid realignment

As Oregon State and Washington State prepare to face the dissolution of the Pac-12, athletes have left in droves, including some of the schools' biggest names. Eight players from the Oregon State … more

By ANNE M. PETERSON | 4/26/24

Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday walks to the dugout after striking out against the Minnesota Twins during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Orioles send former No. 1 pick Holliday back to minors after he hit .059 in 10 MLB games

Highly touted prospect Jackson Holliday has been optioned to the minor leagues by the Baltimore Orioles after starting his big league career with a disappointing thud. Holliday was promoted from … more

By DAVID GINSBURG | 4/26/24

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo talks to Damian Lillard on the bench during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA playoff basketball game Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out of third game in Bucks-Pacers playoff series

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out of Friday night's third game of the NBA playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Coach Doc Rivers would not say Thursday whether the … more

4/26/24

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) disputes a foul call with referee Marc Davis (8) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

James, Lakers facing elimination Saturday. Magic, Pelicans and Heat seek home wins

There’s a quadrupleheader of playoff games in the NBA on Saturday. Cleveland is at Orlando, Oklahoma City is at New Orleans, Boston is at Miami and then the first possible elimination game of this … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/26/24

Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark holds her jersey following a WNBA basketball news conference, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

WNBA training camps open with Caitlin Clark, the rookie class and free agency moves in the spotlight

There is a buzz around the opening of WNBA training camps with the arrival of Caitlin Clark, her heralded rookie class and big offseason free agency moves. In addition to the league's success last … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 4/26/24

Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden races during a qualifying session for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Star driver Josef Newgarden fights back tears, accepts blame for breaking rules in IndyCar scandal

Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden is accepted blame for manipulating the push-to-pass system in his season-opening win, calling it an embarrassment. He says he is “not a liar” … more

By JOHN ZENOR | 4/26/24

FILE - Brazil's Marta, center, celebrates her goal against the United States during a FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal soccer match in Hangzhou, China, Sept. 27, 2007. The six-time women's world player of the year plans to retire from the national team after 2024. (AP Photo/Greg Baker, File)

Marta says this will be her final year with Brazil's women's national team

Brazilian soccer star Marta plans to retire from the women's national team after this year. The six-time women’s world player of the year has told CNN Brasil that she hopes to play in the Olympics … more

4/26/24

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, right, fights for the ball with Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

European soccer leagues insist they have no plans for games in the US. A lawsuit could change that

Leaders of top European soccer leagues say have no plans to take games to the United States. The 34-nation European Leagues group did acknowledge that could change pending a lawsuit in Manhattan. … more

By GRAHAM DUNBAR | 4/26/24

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell meets with Green Bay Packers fans during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Bevy of defensive playmakers are available in Round 2 of the NFL draft after historic offensive run

The historic run on offensive players, especially quarterbacks, in the first round of the NFL draft pushed plenty of talented defenders down the board. It also pushed some first-round worthy … more

By ARNIE STAPLETON | 4/26/24

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates after team-mate Moussa Diaby scores their second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Aston Villa at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, Sunday April 21, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Five surprise teams aim to finish stunning seasons by securing Champions League spot

There could be a surprising team from each of Europe’s “big five” leagues when the new-look Champions League debuts next season. Aston Villa, Bologna, Brest, Girona and Stuttgart are all on … more

By GRAHAM DUNBAR | 4/26/24

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid speaks during a news conference after Game 3 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid says he's suffering from Bell's palsy

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament. Embiid wore sunglasses … more

By DAN GELSTON | 4/26/24

Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, right, vies for the ball with Chelsea's Niamh Charles during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC at the Olympic Stadium, in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Chelsea and Lyon bring leads into return legs of Women's Champions League semifinals

Emma Hayes didn’t want anyone to get carried away by Chelsea’s surprise 1-0 win over Barcelona last week in the Women’s Champions League semifinals. That’s because Chelsea needs to finish the … more

4/26/24

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) dunks during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gordon, Jokic lead the Nuggets to the brink of a sweep with a 112-105 win over the Lakers in Game 3

The Denver Nuggets moved to the brink of the second round with a 112-105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series. Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Jamal … more

By GREG BEACHAM | 4/26/24

Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams celebrates after being chosen by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

The first round of the NFL draft turns into a QB bonanza with a record-setting 6 taken in the top 12

Quarterbacks went off the draft board at a record-setting pace. This was the fourth time in the common draft era starting in 1967 that QBs went with the top three picks, with three more going in the … more

By JOSH DUBOW | 4/25/24

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, reaches for a pass against New York Knicks' Isaiah Hartenstein during the first half of Game 3 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Joel Embiid scores 50 points to lead 76ers past Knicks 125-114 to cut deficit to 2-1

Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter on Thursday night to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-114 win over the … more

By DAN GELSTON | 4/25/24

UCLA defensive lineman Laiatu Latu puts on a hat after being chosen by the Indianapolis Colts with the 15th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Colts snap record streak of 14 straight offensive players taken in NFL draft with UCLA DE Latu

UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player selected in the NFL draft, going No. 15 overall to Indianapolis to snap a record streak of 14 straight offensive players taken. The … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 4/25/24

Carolina Hurricanes' Brent Burns, second from right, celebrates with Jaccob Slavin, right, Teuvo Teravainen (86) and Martin Necas (88) after scoring a goal against the. New York Islanders during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov help Hurricanes hold on to beat Islanders 3-2 for 3-0 series lead

Defensemen Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov got Carolina off to a fast start and the Hurricanes held on to beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Thursday night for a 3-0 lead in the first-round series. … more

By VIN A. CHERWOO | 4/25/24