National Sports - The Morning Sun

LSU's Jasmine Carson reacts to her three pointer during the first half of the NCAA Women's Final Four championship basketball game against Iowa Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

LSU's 59 1st-half points set NCAA women's title game record

Jasmine Carson was nearly perfect from the field to help LSU put on a record-breaking performance in the NCAA Tournament championship game. Carson scored 21 of her 22 points in the first half as the … more

4/4/23

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, walks on the 15th hole during a practice for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Rory McIlroy returns to Masters in search of green jacket

Rory McIlory is back at Augusta National, where one of the coolest moments of his career happened last year on the 18th hole on Sunday, when he and Collin Morikawa had back-to-back hole-outs to … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 4/4/23

Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) high-fives teammates after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 3, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

Handful of NHL contenders thrive following major injuries

A handful of NHL teams have not only survived but thrived after losing a star player to injury. The Vegas Golden Knights have risen to the top of the Western Conference without captain Mark Stone. … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 4/4/23

FILE - At left, two-time World Cup soccer champion Brandi Chastain speaks during an induction ceremony for the National Soccer Hall of Fame in San Jose, Calif. At right, Aly Wagner talks during an interview in New York, May 30, 2018. A group of former players — including Aly Wagner and Brandi Chastain — has joined with global investment firm Sixth Street to bring a National Women's Soccer League team to the San Francisco Bay Area.The expansion team, which is set to begin play next year, was formally announced by the league Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (AP Photo/File)

NWSL announces new San Francisco Bay Area team

A group of former players — including Aly Wagner and Brandi Chastain — has joined with global investment firm Sixth Street to bring a National Women’s Soccer League team to the San Francisco … more

By ANNE M. PETERSON | 4/4/23

Sergio Garcia, of Spain, left, and Talor Gooch speak on ther third fairway during a practice for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Report: UK panel sides with European tour in fight with LIV

The Times of London is reporting that the European tour has won a court case against LIV Golf. The newspaper says the European tour will be allowed to fine members for competing on the Saudi-funded … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 4/4/23

FILE - Rafael Nadal of Spain follows his shot to Andrey Rublev of Russia during their quarterfinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 16, 2021. Nadal pulled out of the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, saying he is not yet able to compete at the highest level. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined with a left hip flexor injury since the Australian Open. The Monte Carlo Masters begins on April 8. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)

Nadal, Alcaraz pull out of clay-court Monte Carlo Masters

Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters. He says he is not yet able to compete at the highest level. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined with a left hip … more

4/4/23

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, right, shoots over Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Analysis: Will load management impact NBA scoring race?

The most famous scoring race in NBA history was probably the 1978 edition. That's when George Gervin edged out David Thompson by seven hundredths of a point. Thompson scored 73 points in his team’s … more

By NOAH TRISTER | 4/4/23

Connecticut players celebrate after the men's national championship college basketball game against San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

UConn March Madness steamroller could be start of a new era

There was a short list of believers in the potential of a rebuilt UConn roster before the season started. It was made up mostly of the UConn players and coaches themselves. The team that was among … more

By EDDIE PELLS | 4/4/23

San Diego Padres' Ha-Seong Kim celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, April 3, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Padres 1st MLB team to walk off on back-to-back HRs by 8-9

Pinch-hitter David Dahl and Kim Ha-seong hit consecutive home runs opening the bottom of the ninth inning, and the San Diego Padres stunned the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4. San Diego moved above .500 … more

By BERNIE WILSON | 4/4/23

Connecticut guard Jordan Hawkins celebrates during the second half of the men's national championship college basketball game against San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Cousins Hawkins, Reese claim titles on consecutive days

UConn’s Jordan Hawkins made this year’s NCAA championships a family affair Monday night when he picked up a title a day after his cousin Angel Reese led LSU to the women’s crown. And he had a … more

By KRISTIE RIEKEN | 4/4/23

Houston Astros' Chas McCormick slides under Chicago White Sox second baseman Elvis Andrus for a stolen base as umpire Rob Drake looks on during the second inning of their game Sunday in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

MLB game times cut 30 minutes, steals double under new rules

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball's new rules are working as hoped through the first four days of the season.The average game time has dropped by 30 minutes, stolen bases have … more

By Ronald Blum AP Baseball Writer | 4/4/23

Iowa's McKenna Warnock and LSU's Flau'jae Johnson go after a loose ball during the first half of the NCAA Women's Final Four championship basketball game on Sunday in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Women's NCAA Tournament features plethora of March Madness

DALLAS (AP) — This year’s record-breaking women’s NCAA Tournament featured breakout stars, upsets and capped off with the flamboyant Kim Mulkey leading LSU to its first basketball … more

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer | 4/4/23

Connecticut players celebrate their win over San Diego State in the men's national championship game in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. Connecticut won 76-59. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)

UConn wins March Madness with 76-59 smothering of SDSU

HOUSTON (AP) — UConn topped off an impressive March Madness run on Monday night, clamping down early and breaking it open late to bring home its fifth national title with a 76-59 victory over San … more

By Eddie Pells / Associated Press | 4/4/23

Connecticut forward Adama Sanogo (21) and San Diego State guard Matt Bradley vie for a rebound during the first half of the men's national championship college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Sanogo leads way for UConn in push to NCAA title No. 5

Adama Sanogo led the way for Connecticut as it claimed its fifth NCAA championship. The big man from Mali was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four after Monday night's 76-59 win … more

By AARON BEARD | 4/4/23

Connecticut guard Jordan Hawkins shoots against San Diego State during the second half of the men's national championship college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

UConn holds off late San Diego State surge in title victory

UConn had its way with San Diego State in a dominating first half, threatening to turn the national championship game into a monumental rout. The Huskies buckled briefly when the Aztecs inevitably … more

By JOHN MARSHALL | 4/3/23

San Diego State guard Jared Barnett leaves the floor after their loss against Connecticut during the men's national championship college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Long drought seals SDSU's fate in title game against UConn

San Diego State was done in by a terrible shooting drought in the first half of Monday night's national title game against UConn. It was a hole the Aztecs couldn't dig out of and it led to a 76-59 … more

By KRISTIE RIEKEN | 4/3/23

Los Angeles Angels' Anthony Rendon celebrates in the dugout after scoring off of a home run hit by Jo Adell during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Scottsdale, Ariz., Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Rendon suspension reduced to 4 games by MLB, appeal dropped

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon was suspended for five games and fined by Major League Baseball for his altercation with a fan last week. Rendon says he is dropping his appeal after … more

By TIM BOOTH | 4/3/23

Elina Svitolina, of Ukraine, reacts after a shot against Yulia Putintseva, of Kazakhstan, during action at the Charleston Open tennis tournament in Charleston, S.C., Monday, April 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Svitolina loses at Charleston Open in 1st match as a mom

Two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Elina Svitolina played a WTA match for the first time as a mother and lost to Yulia Putintseva 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4 at the Charleston Open. The first-round match Monday … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 4/3/23

Si Woo Kim, of South Korea,, Fred Couples and Tiger Woods from left walk on the 13th fairway during a practice for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

LIV's Cam Smith happy to get hugs and handshakes at Augusta

British Open champion Cameron Smith refers to Augusta National as his happy place. He arrived with a little trepidation now that he's with LIV Golf. Smith says he found it was business as usual. He … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 4/3/23

Jordan Spieth, left, works out on the range during a practice for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Spieth returns to Augusta in search of another green jacket

Jordan Spieth is back at Augusta National, eight years after he first slipped on the green jacket as a 21-year-old champion with boundless potential. He's gone on to win the U.S. Open and British … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 4/3/23