National Sports - The Morning Sun

A monitor at the NHL general mangers meetings, Monday, March 17 2025, in Manaplan, Fla., shows an overhead view of a coach's challenge video review for goaltender interference from the Vegas Golden Knights' NHL hockey game at the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 14, 2024, that was one of roughly 55 clips shown during the first session of their annual spring meeting. (AP Photo/Stephen Whyno)

NHL general managers zero in on goaltender interference and other coach's challenges

Video review, particularly coach's challenges for goaltender interference, took center stage on the first day of the NHL general managers' annual spring meeting. GMs were shown roughly 70 clips of … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 3/17/25

FILE - Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider (99) delivers in the first inning of baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, April 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Braves' Spencer Strider sparkles in 1st spring start as he comes back from Tommy John surgery

Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider struck out six and didn’t allow a base runner over 2 2/3 innings in his first Grapefruit League appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. … more

3/17/25

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) sits not he bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Mavericks' Anthony Davis to work with NBA G League affiliate as he tries to come back from injury

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis is heading to the NBA G League to get some five-on-five work in as he prepares for his return from a left adductor strain. Davis will be working out with the … more

3/17/25

FILE - Hornets managing partner Curtis Polk, left, looks on during a news conference for the NBA basketball team in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, file)

In NASCAR antitrust fight, Michael Jordan's manager goes from adviser to stock car series to target

Long before the battle over the charter system led to the antitrust lawsuit now engulfing NASCAR, its executives found Michael Jordan and his small group of advisers a beneficial resource in … more

By JENNA FRYER | 3/17/25

FILE - President Clinton gets a jersey from the 2000 NCAA men's basketball championship team, Michigan State University, as he arrives at the university Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, file)

March Madness puts Izzo-led Michigan State in conversation with bluebloods Kentucky, North Carolina

Michigan State has joined rare air in college basketball over the last half-century with coaching longevity and championships. Since 1976, the Spartans have had just two coaches. Hall of Famer Tom … more

By LARRY LAGE | 3/17/25

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) attempts a shot during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Atlanta United, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Messi out of World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil

Argentina star Lionel Messi will miss the upcoming South American World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil. The 37-year-old Messi has not been included in the 25-man squad announced by … more

By DEBORA REY | 3/17/25

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, reacts during a trophy ceremony after winning a playoff round of The Players Championship golf tournament Monday, March 17, 2025, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Rory McIlroy takes drama out of playoff to win The Players and build momentum to the Masters

Rory McIlroy has won The Players Championship in a three-hole playoff against J.J. Spaun that lacked any real drama. McIlroy blasted a drive down the 16th fairway to set up a birdie. And then Spaun … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 3/17/25

Umea' Marta da Silva lifts the trophy after winning the UEFA Women’s Cup final between Umea IK and Frankfurt at the Rasunda national soccer arena in Stockholm, Sweden, May 8, 2004. (Torbjörn Jakobsson/TT News Agency via AP)

This small-town team in Sweden was a women’s soccer powerhouse. Then Europe’s big clubs took over

A transformation of women’s soccer in Europe is well under way. The elite, big-money clubs already established in the men’s game such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea have begun pouring … more

By STEVE DOUGLAS | 3/17/25

Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks to pass the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Rivers predicted stardom for Gilgeous-Alexander, but says Thunder star has exceeded expectations

Doc Rivers says he saw star potential in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while coaching him as a rookie before the Los Angeles Clippers traded him to Oklahoma City. But the veteran coach concedes that … more

By STEVE MEGARGEE | 3/17/25

FILE - Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase runs a route during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

Chase, Higgins reach extensions with Bengals. AP source says Chase will be NFL's highest-paid non-QB

The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to four-year extensions with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, assuring that Joe Burrow will have his top two targets with him for some time. A person … more

By JOE REEDY | 3/17/25

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts works out during a spring training baseball practice, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dodgers star Mookie Betts won't play in 2 regular season games vs. Cubs in Tokyo because of illness

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not play in the two-game Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs because of an illness that’s lingered for the past week. Manager Dave Roberts said … more

By DAVID BRANDT | 3/16/25

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma receives a hug from UConn guard KK Arnold as the team celebrates becoming Big East regular season champions after their win in an NCAA college basketball game against Creighton, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

March Madness: How to win your NCAA women's tournament pool and a look at what history tells us

Congratulations to the 12 teams left in the chase for the women’s Division I national championship. Wait. We mean 68, right? Not really. Technically, yes, there are 68 teams in the women’s … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 3/16/25

Josh Berry celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Josh Berry races to 1st Cup Series victory, gives Wood Brothers 101st win with Las Vegas score

Josh Berry raced to the first Cup Series victory of his career, taking NASCAR’s oldest team to victory lane Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Berry, in his first season driving the famed No. 21 … more

By JENNA FRYER | 3/16/25

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer cuts the net after their win against Louisville after an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

March Madness: How to win your NCAA men's tournament pool and a look at what history tells us

Before we begin, a disclaimer: Your bracket will probably be a mess by Saturday. Or by Friday. And let’s be honest, some of us will out of the running by Thursday night. Welcome back to the … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 3/16/25

Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson talks to his players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona for the championship in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston a top seed for 3rd straight year, looks to make deeper run after 2 Sweet 16 losses in a row

Houston earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year and will open against first-time qualifier SIU-Edwardsville in Wichita, Kansas, on Thursday. The Cougars have advanced … more

By ERIC OLSON | 3/16/25

Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen steps on the ice to warm up before an NHL hockey game against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Stars forward Mikko Rantanen receives cheers, some boos, in 1st game against Avs since he was traded

Mikko Rantanen tapped his heart as the video screen showed highlights of his Colorado Avalanche career, culminating with him hoisting the Stanley Cup. The crowd greeted him Sunday with a mix of … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 3/16/25

Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, returns to Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, during the final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Teenager Mirra Andreeva beats No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to win the Indian Wells title

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva has come back to beat No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the BNP Paribas Open. Andreeva's victory on Sunday makes the 17-year-old the tournament’s … more

3/16/25

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, holds an umbrella on the 11th green during the final round of The Players Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Rory McIlroy in the lead at The Players as rain threatens a Monday finish

The biggest race at The Players Championship is against time. Rory McIlroy has a one-shot lead through 11 holes. J.J. Spaun is one behind through 10 holes. That's when the storms arrived, leading to … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 3/16/25

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus, left, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Magic end Cavaliers' winning streak at 16 games as Banchero scores 24 points in 108-103 victory

Paolo Banchero scored 24 points, Franz Wagner added 22 and the Orlando Magic stunned Cleveland 108-103 to end the Cavaliers’ winning streak at 16 games. The Cavs lost for the first time since Feb. … more

By TOM WITHERS | 3/16/25

The Florida bench cheers play against Tennessee during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the final round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

No. 4 Florida Gators win their 1st SEC Tourney title since 2014 by beating No. 8 Tennessee 86-77

Walter Clayton Jr. scored 22 points as fourth-ranked Florida won its fifth Southeastern Conference Tournament title and first since 2014 Sunday, beating the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers 86-77. The … more

By TERESA M. WALKER | 3/16/25