Sports News

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Rafael Nadal fended off Denis Shapovalov in a four-hour, five-set match to reach the Australian Open semifinals for the seventh time, and said he felt almost "destroyed." After breaking his racket on the hard court in frustration at the end of the 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 loss, Shapovalov said he felt like Nadal got special treatment. There were plenty of momentum-shifting moments on a hot Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena, including Nadal needing treatment for a stomach ailment after dominating the first 2½ sets. Shapovalov, meanwhile, openly complained to chair umpire Carlos Bernardes during the quarterfinal match about Nadal getting longer breaks than players usually are entitled to, and taking too long between points. "I respect everything that Rafa has done, and I think he's an unbelievable player. But, you know, there's got to be some boundaries, some rules set," Shapovalov said. "It's just so frustrating as a player. You feel like you're not...

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Tennis Australia has reversed the decision to ban Australian Open spectators from protesting in support of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, as long as it doesn't disrupt the event. In November, Peng took to social media platform Weibo and accused Chinese Communist Party member Zhang Gaoli of pressuring her into sex. The former world No. 14 has since disappeared from social media, with her whereabouts and well-being unclear. Tennis Australia's announcement comes 48 hours after a fan at Melbourne Park was asked to remove a T-shirt and take down a banner displaying the message "Where is Peng Shuai?" A video of the interaction was shared on the social media platform Reddit and has been viewed over 100,000 times on TikTok.   Tennis Australia initially defended the decision, confirming to ESPN the fans in question did not meet the Australian Open's ticketing conditions. But ahead of the quarterfinals, tournament director Craig Tiley told AFP its stance had...

TAMPA, Fla. -- Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady indicated Monday that family will play a substantial role in determining whether he will return to play next season. He also said that if this is it, he could walk away "proud and satisfied," even though the Bucs lost 30-27 when they were eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs Sunday by the Los Angeles Rams. "I think as I've gotten older, I think the best part is, is football is extremely important in my life, and it means a lot to me, and I care a lot about what we're trying to accomplish as a team and I care a lot about my teammates," Brady said on his "Let's Go!" podcast with Jim Gray. "The biggest difference now that I'm older is I have kids now, too, you know, and I care about them a lot as well. They've been my biggest supporters. My wife is my biggest supporter. It pains her to see me get hit out there. And she deserves what she needs from me as a husband, and my kids deserve what they need...

The UFC threatened to sue Francis Ngannou's agent just hours before Ngannou was set to compete in a heavyweight title fight Saturday night, Ngannou said Monday on "The MMA Hour." Ngannou said he was getting dressed in preparation to go to Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on Saturday when his agent, Marquel Martin, told him that the UFC sent Martin an email threatening to sue him. The UFC's allegation in the email, Ngannou said, was that Martin discussed Ngannou competing in boxing with Nakisa Bidarian, the business partner of Jake Paul, while under UFC contract. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed with ESPN the timing and contents of the email. Martin is an agent with Creative Artists Agency (CAA). "I walked into the room waiting for my manager, my coach," Ngannou said on "The MMA Hour." "And they were like, 'Wow.' I'm like, 'What's going on?' They told me they just received an email from the UFC saying they're going to sue...

New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes was formally charged with domestic violence, resisting arrest and battery against a police officer stemming from his arrest last summer in Los Angeles, court records show. Hayes was charged with 12 misdemeanor counts in total, including three counts of inflicting corporal injury to a spouse, two counts of domestic battery, one count of battery against an officer, one count of false imprisonment, three counts of vandalism, one count of aggravated trespassing and one count of resisting arrest. Hayes, 21, was charged on Jan. 20, according to court records, and arraigned on Monday morning.  "Since before the charges were filed, the Pelicans have worked in conjunction with the NBA on the matter and will continue to do so moving forward," the team said in a statement.  Hayes was arrested in the early morning hours of July 28, 2021, after Los Angeles police officers were called to the house of his then-girlfriend. At the time, the LAPD...

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle tied the NHL's "iron man" record against the Dallas Stars on Monday night, appearing in his 964th straight regular-season game. That equals the record set by former NHL forward Doug Jarvis from 1975 to '87. Yandle, 35, can break the mark by taking a shift in the Flyers' game at the New York Islanders on Tuesday night. Yandle took his first shift one minute and 15 seconds into the first period. According to the NHL, that's all he needed to do to tie the record. Jarvis didn't miss a regular-season game from his NHL debut on Oct. 8, 1975, with the Montreal Canadiens through the end of the streak on Oct. 10, 1987, with the Hartford Whalers. Yandle's streak didn't begin in his rookie season but rather in his third season in the NHL. Since March 26, 2009, he has appeared in every game, not missing one for injuries, illness, suspensions or scratches. There were close calls. The streak was threatened when the ...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It's not only Matt LaFleur who wants Aaron Rodgers back as the Green Bay Packers quarterback next season. The coach said it's unanimous among the organization's top decision-makers, too. While LaFleur said after the 13-10 loss Saturday to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC divisional playoff round that "we'd be crazy not to want him back here," it was not clear if he was speaking only for himself or also on behalf of team president Mark Murphy, general manager Brian Gutekunst and director of football operations Russ Ball. "Every conversation that I've been involved in with Gutey and Russ and Mark, we're all on the same page there," LaFleur said Monday. "There's no debate." LaFleur addressed a variety of subjects -- from the early playoff exit to the plan for fixing their special teams to bringing back Davante Adams to the health of All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari -- but a large part of his 43-minute news conference to...

TAMPA, Fla. -- Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said Monday that he doesn't see the team rebuilding but instead "reloading" after its quest to "go for two" following its Super Bowl LV victory came up short Sunday in a 30-27 NFC divisional-round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He said the Bucs' priority, like last year, will be to re-sign their own in free agency but acknowledged that re-signing all 22 starters on offense and defense again, something that hadn't been done since the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1979, will be difficult. "Our [priority] in free agency will be our guys -- see how many that we can get back and then build a team from there," Arians said Monday. "I always look forward to that part of it, and then the draft. Each year is so different and so new. Last year, to get everybody back was amazing. I doubt we can do it all again this year, but we're sure going to give it our best." The Bucs now have 23 players on their 53-man roster set to become...

College basketball analyst Dick Vitale will not return to ESPN's airwaves this season as he continues to rest his voice and prepares for surgery to treat dysplasia and ulcerated lesions of the vocal cords. In a story posted to ESPN Front Row on Monday, Vitale wrote that he had a follow-up visit with Massachusetts General Hospital throat specialist Dr. Steven Zeitels and was advised to give his voice "an even longer 'T.O., Baby!'" in anticipation of undergoing surgery in the near term.  "While I'm heartbroken that I won't appear on ESPN for the rest of this season, I'm encouraged by the progress," Vitale said, noting that going on vocal rest the past three weeks reduced the inflammation in his throat by 60 percent.  Once the inflammation heals, a date will be set for surgery.  "My throat's condition is clearly moving in the right direction, and Dr. Z. is very optimistic that this can be successfully treated to have me strong for the 2022-23 season on ESPN," Vitale...

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association plan to meet again Tuesday after a Monday bargaining session led to the first sliver of progress between the sides since the league locked the players out Dec. 2, sources told ESPN on Monday. In the face-to-face meeting, which lasted about two hours, the union offered a broad proposal in which it dropped its request for age-based free agency and significantly cut the amount of revenue sharing it asked the league to funnel away from small-market teams, according to sources. The day before the lockout, MLB had asked the union to remove three items from its list of desires: changing the six-year reserve period before free agency, lowering arbitration eligibility to two years and adjusting revenue sharing. When the MLBPA declined to do so, negotiations ended and the league implemented the lockout, the sport's first work stoppage in more than a quarter century. During Monday's meeting, the union rejected three MLB proposals from the...

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association plan to meet again Tuesday after a Monday bargaining session led to the first sliver of progress between the sides since the league locked the players out Dec. 2, sources told ESPN on Monday. In the face-to-face meeting that lasted about two hours, the union offered a broad proposal in which it dropped its request for age-based free agency and significantly cut the amount of revenue sharing it asked the league to funnel away from small-market teams, according to sources. The day before the lockout, MLB had asked the union to remove three items from its list of desires: changing the six-year reserve period before free agency, lowering arbitration eligibility to two years and adjusting revenue sharing. When the MLBPA declined to do so, negotiations ended and the league implemented the lockout, the sport's first work stoppage in more than a quarter century. During Monday's meeting, the union rejected three MLB proposals from the...

Arizona State has hired former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick as an offensive analyst and adviser to head coach Herm Edwards. Billick, who last coached in 2007 with the Ravens, is the third former NFL head coach on the ASU staff, joining Edwards and Marvin Lewis, also an adviser to Edwards. The 67-year-old Billick had been working as an analyst for NFL Network. "I have known Brian since the 1980s and he is a person whom I completely trust," Edwards said in a statement. "He has built one of the finest reputations the NFL has ever known, serving as a head coach, an assistant coach and as a respected television analyst. Brian has one of the brightest offensive minds in football today and that is especially why I hired him. He will serve as a valuable resource to our entire coaching staff, but specifically to our offensive staff." Billick said Arizona State recently approached him about the opportunity when he was coaching the Hula Bowl all-star game. He said he has...

METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson acknowledged Monday that coach Sean Payton's status remains uncertain for the 2022 season when she told local reporters, "I don't think any of us know, but he'll let us know soon enough." NFL Network reported Sunday that Payton had not yet committed to returning to coaching the Saints in 2022. Sources confirmed to ESPN that he has made no definitive declaration -- though he was expected to return to work this week along with the rest of the Saints' coaching staff after a vacation last week. Payton, 58, is under contract through 2024, which means a trade would have to be worked out for him to coach another team. However multiple outlets, including ESPN, have reported that television networks have shown considerable interest in Payton if he decides to retire from coaching. Benson, who was speaking at a Mardi Gras-related event, responded to a question about Payton's status by saying, "We don't know. You know,...

Émilie Castonguay, a player agent, has been hired as an assistant general manager by the Vancouver Canucks, becoming only the second woman in NHL history to hold that title. Castonguay, 38, is the first woman to serve as assistant GM in the franchise's history. She follows Angela Gorgone, who was promoted to assistant GM of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1996, as the only women to be hired as assistant general managers in the NHL. "Émilie has extensive experience, is driven to succeed, and has a strong reputation in hockey for her intelligence and work ethic," said Jim Rutherford, Vancouver's president of hockey operations and interim general manager. "She will play a lead role in player contracts and negotiation, managing the collective bargaining agreement, and her voice will be heard in all aspects of hockey operations. She will be a key member of our leadership team and we are pleased to welcome her to Vancouver." Rutherford appeared determined to hire a woman as his...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs waived veteran Josh Gordon on Monday, but that doesn't mean the veteran wide receiver's time with the team is done. The Chiefs plan to sign Gordon to their practice squad if he clears waivers, a source told ESPN. Gordon, who hadn't played in the NFL since 2019, joined the Chiefs early in the season but didn't have the impact the Chiefs had hoped. In 12 games, he caught five passes for 32 yards and a touchdown. He was inactive for both of the Chiefs' first two playoff games. The Chiefs plan to activate backup defensive tackle Khalen Saunders from injured reserve in a corresponding move, a source said. Saunders, who appeared in seven games for the Chiefs during the regular season, was put on injured reserve on Nov. 30 because of a knee injury. Gordon was suspended by the NFL five times for violations of the league's substance abuse policy. The last time was in December 2019, when he was suspended indefinitely. He was...

Five-star linebacker Harold Perkins decommitted from Texas A&M on Monday. Perkins is the No. 4 prospect overall in the 2022 class and the top outside linebacker. He's a 6-foot-3, 210-pound recruit from Cypress Park High School in Cypress, Texas, and had only recently committed to the Aggies on Jan. 2 at the Under Armour All-America Game. He was one of four five-star commitments in the class for Texas A&M, which included the No. 1 prospect overall, defensive tackle Walter Nolen, defensive tackle Gabe Brownlow-Dindy and receiver Evan Stewart. Perkins recently took a visit to Florida with new coach Billy Napier and came away impressed. He will now visit LSU this weekend according to his uncle Alvin Walton. The five-star prospect is originally from New Orleans and moved to the Houston area after Hurricane Katrina impacted his family and their home. His mother, Bertha, decided to move the family to Texas in hopes of a...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs have waived veteran Josh Gordon, a source said, but that doesn't mean the veteran wide receiver's time with the team is done. The Chiefs plan to sign Gordon to their practice squad if he clears waivers. Gordon, who hadn't played in the NFL since 2019, joined the Chiefs early in the season but didn't have the impact the Chiefs hoped. In 12 games, he caught five passes for 32 yards and a touchdown. He was inactive for both of the Chiefs' first two playoff games. The Chiefs plan to activate backup defensive tackle Khalen Saunders from injured reserve in a corresponding move, a source said. Saunders, who appeared in seven games for the Chiefs during the regular season, was put on IR on Nov. 30 because of a knee injury. Gordon was suspended by the NFL five times for violations of the league's substance abuse policy. The last time was in December of 2019, when he was suspended indefinitely. He was reinstated shortly before signing...

Brent Venables on Monday added his second quarterback commitment since joining Oklahoma as head coach, as  ESPN Junior 300 QB  Jackson Arnold committed to the Sooners. Arnold is the No. 42 prospect overall, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound player from John H. Guyer High School in Denton, Texas. He's ranked as the second-best dual-threat quarterback in the 2023 cycle behind California signal-caller Jaden Rashada. While Arnold is the first quarterback commit for the Sooners in the 2023 class, Venables and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby were able to add ESPN 300 QB  Nick Evers in the 2022 cycle before the early signing period. Evers decommitted from Florida and quickly flipped to Oklahoma before signing Dec. 15 with the Sooners. The staff is losing quarterbacks Spencer Rattler, who transferred to South Carolina, and Caleb Williams, who is in the transfer portal, but brought in UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel....

Brent Venables added his second quarterback commitment since joining Oklahoma as head coach on Monday, when ESPN Junior 300 quarterback Jackson Arnold committed to the Sooners. Arnold is the No. 42 prospect overall, and a 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect from John H. Guyer High School in Denton, Texas. He's ranked as the second-best dual threat quarterback in the 2023 cycle behind California signal caller Jaden Rashada. While Arnold is the first quarterback commit for the Sooners in the 2023 class, Venables and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby were able to add ESPN 300 quarterback Nick Evers in the 2022 cycle before the early signing period. Evers decommitted from Florida and quickly flipped to Oklahoma before signing on December 15 with the Sooners. The staff is losing quarterbacks Spencer Rattler, who transferred to South Carolina, and Caleb Williams, who is in the transfer portal, but brought in UCF...

FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 20 EDITIONS AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2009 HOME AWAY TEAM PITCHERS LINE G GS W L ERA AIPS REC ERA REC ERA REC NY Sabathia (L) -135 36 36 21-8 3.24 6.2 9-2 2.93 12-6 3.53 24-12 LA Kazmir (L) 7:57p 27 27 10-9 4.99 5.2 5-4 5.95 5-5 3.89 17-10 LAST APPEARANCE 2009 VS. OPP. CAR BULLPEN VS. OPPONENT DATE OPP. D IP H ER W-L IP ERA REC IP H ERA W-L-S 10-16vs LAa W 8.0 4 1 1-2 21.1 4.22 5-7 29.1 32 5.83 4-1-5 10-11at BOS N 6.0 5 5 2-1 19.2 3.20 6-5 25.0 29 6.84 1-3-3 --- TEAM REC-Team's record in games started by today's pitcher. AIPS-Average innings pitched per start. CAR-Career record versus this opponent. VS. OPP.-Pitcher's record versus this opponent, 2009 statistics. Copyright 2009 World Features Syndicate, Inc.

Competing in her 63rd major main draw appearance, Alize Cornet finally advanced to the first quarterfinals of her career with a 6-4, 3-6, victory over former world No. 1 Simona Halep on Monday at the Australian Open. Cornet's streak marks the most majors played before reaching a quarterfinal in the history of the Open Era. The previous record had been set at 54 by fellow French player Fabrice Santoro. Playing in the scorching afternoon heat on Rod Laver Arena -- temperatures were well into the 90s -- both players struggled at times in the brutal conditions during their two-hour, 33-minute clash. When it was over, Cornet fell to her knees on the court and covered her eyes with her hands. She apologized for being so emotional during her on-court interview with former player Jelena Dokic. "It's never too late to try again," Cornet said to Dokic about her perseverance in finally achieving the career milestone, as the crowd roared in ovation. "After 30 minutes of playing, my brain...

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban on Sunday night addressed an incident involving an alleged racist taunt aimed at his brother Jordan Subban in a minor-league game Saturday in Florida. The East Coast Hockey League indefinitely suspended Jacksonville Icemen defenseman Jacob Panetta, pending a hearing, for what Jordan Subban, a South Carolina Stingrays defenseman who is Black, said was a racist taunt. The Icemen later announced they released Panetta. P.K. Subban, in his 13th NHL season, spoke with reporters following the Devils' 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He had posted a series of social media messages earlier in the day regarding the incident, but his postgame news conference featured his first comments in-person. "I didn't sleep much," he said, referring to Saturday night when he heard the news after the Devils defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 7-4 in Newark. "Sheer disappointment. It's distasteful. There is no...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden does not believe he is getting the benefit of the whistle the same way he did in past years. The 32-year-old made that clear after getting to the line only four times in a 136-125 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. When asked why he feels he isn't getting the same calls he used to get, Harden acknowledged that he didn't know the answer. "It's a good question," Harden said. "I don't know. I don't even want to talk about it. But it's definitely -- when I get to the basket, it's the same calls the guys are getting. Obviously, you can't call all of them. But there's ones where there's clearly stiff-arms and trips and things like that. But on the other end, there's no consistency. So it's frustrating." Nets coach Steve Nash echoed Harden's belief, saying that he doesn't feel the All-Star guard is always officiated the same way. "I think there's nights where it's fair, and even including...

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley was fined $20,000 and suspended for Monday's game against Southern California for a confrontation with the officiating crew following a game this weekend against Stanford. Hurley and guard Jay Heath were both suspended and forward Jalen Graham was publicly reprimanded for verbally confronting an official who was exiting the court after Stanford's 79-76 win on Saturday night. "The actions of the head coach and student-athletes were in clear violation of the Conference's standards of conduct, and will not be tolerated," Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff said in a statement Sunday night. "The Pac-12 and its membership has established regulations requiring all institutional personnel, especially head coaches, to conduct themselves in a sporting manner, and those involved in this situation failed to meet those standards." Hurley was frustrated after the Sun Devils attempted one free throw in the first half. He...

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban on Sunday night addressed an incident involving a racist taunt aimed at his brother, Jordan Subban, in a minor-league game Saturday in Florida. The East Coast Hockey League indefinitely suspended Jacksonville Icemen defenseman Jacob Panetta, pending a hearing for what Jordan Subban, a South Carolina Stingrays defenseman who is Black, said was a racist taunt. The Icemen later announced they released Panetta. P.K. Subban, in his 13th NHL season, spoke with reporters following the Devils' 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He had posted a series of social media messages earlier in the day regarding the incident, but his postgame news conference featured his first comments in-person. "I didn't sleep much," he said, referring to Saturday night when he heard the news after the Devils defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 7-4, in Newark. "Sheer disappointment. It's distasteful. There is no room...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Coach Andy Reid had some simple advice for Patrick Mahomes when the Kansas City Chiefs faced long odds to beat the Buffalo Bills in Sunday night's divisional-round playoff game. "When it's grim, be the Grim Reaper and go get it," Reid said he told Mahomes right before the quarterback brought the Chiefs back for a 42-36 overtime win that sends them to next weekend's AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals. "He did that," Reid said. "He made everyone around him better, which he's great at, and he just does it effortlessly. When it gets tough, he's going to be there battling." Reid's words came after the Bills took a 36-33 lead with 13 seconds left in regulation. The Chiefs needed to go about 45 yards in those 13 seconds. Mahomes completed two passes, one of 19 yards to Tyreek Hill, the other for 25 yards to Travis Kelce, to set up Harrison Butker's game-tying, 49-yard field...

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tom Brady said Sunday night that it was too soon for him to think about his future and that his emotions were still tied to the  Tampa Bay Buccaneers' heartbreaking, last-second playoff loss to the  Los Angeles Rams that had occurred just minutes earlier.  "Truthfully guys, I'm thinking about this game," said Brady, who rallied the Bucs from a 27-3 second-half deficit only to watch them fall 30-27. "I'm not thinking about anything past five minutes from now."  Brady's comments came after ESPN reported earlier Sunday that the 44-year-old quarterback is undecided about his future, and that while he could return for another season, it is far from a given. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington that Brady plans to take time after the season ends -- a month or longer -- to assess how he feels physically and mentally while also gauging his family's desires.  Brady indicated as much after Sunday's loss.  "I haven't put a lot...

MIAMI -- Anthony Davis' left knee injury coincided with an offensive explosion from LeBron James, as his 33 points in Sunday night's  113-107 loss to the Miami Heat marked the 17th straight game that the Los Angeles Lakers star has scored 25 points or more. All with Davis out. With Davis potentially returning as soon as Tuesday from the sprained MCL in his left knee when L.A. plays the Brooklyn Nets, James made it sound like his offensive output could continue at a prolific pace. "I don't need to score 30 a night, but I'm in one of the best zones offensively I've been in, in my career," the 19-year veteran said. "And I don't plan on stopping. That's just how I feel. I feel fantastic. Shooting the ball extremely well. Didn't shoot the 3-ball well tonight, but all eight of them felt great. Shooting efficient from the free throw line, shooting efficient from the field. Very efficient at the rim. "So I don't go into the game saying you...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen someday might beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. But for now, Mahomes and the Chiefs have the solutions for Allen and the Bills in the postseason. The Chiefs beat the Bills 42-36 in overtime on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium in the divisional round of the playoffs. Mahomes also outdueled Allen in last season's AFC Championship Game victory over the Bills, which sent the Chiefs to Super Bowl LV. Mahomes will face another young quarterback challenger, Joe Burrow, next Sunday when the Chiefs face the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game, also at Arrowhead. Mahomes' 8-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce on the first possession of overtime won the game. Mahomes beat the Bills using, in large part, Allen's game. Mahomes' running was as big a part of the Chiefs' victory as his passing. Mahomes rushed for 69 yards and scored the...

MELBOURNE, Australia --  Danielle Collins is back in the Australian Open quarterfinals after a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback win over No. 19-seeded Elise Mertens in a match lasting almost three hours Monday in temperatures in the low 30s Celsius (90s Fahrenheit) on Rod Laver Arena. Collins joins two other Americans in the final eight at Melbourne Park. Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys are the other Americans in the quarterfinals and will play their matches on Tuesday. It is the second year in a row that three Americans have featured in the quarterfinals. It was the first time Collins has rallied from a set down to win back-to-back matches at a Grand Slam tournament. The 28-year-old American also dropped the first set in her third-round win over Clara Tauson. Collins has won now seven major matches when losing the first set (two this week) since 2019. That is tied with Kaia Kanepi for most of any woman in that span. The No. 27 seed was a...

MELBOURNE, Australia --  Danielle Collins took advantage of Elise Mertens' double fault on match point to advance to the quarterfinals and join two other Americans in the final eight at Melbourne Park. Collins advanced 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and will play the winner of the following match on Rod Laver Arena between two-time major winner Simona Halep and Alize Cornet. Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys are the other Americans in the quarterfinals and will play their matches on Tuesday. It is the second year in a row that three Americans have featured in the quarterfinals. Collins has won now seven major matches when losing the first set (two this week) since 2019. That is tied with Kaia Kanepi for most of any woman in that span. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

TAMPA, Fla. -- When the Los Angeles Rams acquired Matthew Stafford in a blockbuster trade last winter, the veteran quarterback said he wanted to play in big games, an opportunity he seldom received during 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions. Stafford and the Rams -- fresh off a dramatic 30-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium -- are now one victory away from the biggest game of all. And they nearly blew their chance to get to the NFC Championship Game, losing four fumbles and a 27-3 third-quarter lead to Tom Brady and the defending champions before Stafford led a 63-yard drive in the closing seconds to set up the winning field goal. "In my mind, I live for those kind of moments," said Stafford, who pulled off the 43rd game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime of his career, the most of anyone since he entered the league in 2009. "I would have loved to have been taking a knee up three scores, but it's...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen someday might beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. But for now, Mahomes and the Chiefs have the solutions for Allen and the Bills in the postseason. The Chiefs beat the Bills 42-36 in overtime on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium in the divisional round of the playoffs. Mahomes also outdueled Allen in last season's AFC Championship Game victory over the Bills, which sent the Chiefs to Super Bowl LV. Mahomes will face another young quarterback challenger, Joe Burrow, next Sunday when the Chiefs face the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game, also at Arrowhead. Mahomes' 8-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce on the first possession of overtime won the game. Mahomes beat the Bills using, in large part, Allen's game. Mahomes' running was as big a part of the Chiefs' victory as his passing. Mahomes rushed for 69 yards and scored the...

Thursday's much-anticipated women's basketball rematch between No. 1 South Carolina and No. 9 UConn has been canceled, as the Gamecocks chose to prioritize making up an SEC game that was postponed by COVID-19. South Carolina instead will host Ole Miss on Thursday. With its trip to Columbia, South Carolina, called off, UConn also will make up a postponed conference game this week, traveling to Big East foe DePaul on Wednesday. "I know our fans always enjoy the UConn game, and our team enjoys the rivalry," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said in a statement. "But I have always said that our conference season, and especially our goal of another SEC championship, is more central to our program. "As we approach the second half of league play next month, it has become more important to complete our SEC schedule to keep ourselves in the running for a conference title. This Thursday is one of the few dates Ole Miss has open, so, with my team's best interest at heart, I...

The ECHL has indefinitely suspended Jacksonville Icemen defenseman Jacob Panetta, pending a hearing for what South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Jordan Subban said was a racist taunt Saturday night. The Icemen later announced that they are releasing Panetta. "To be clear, our core values as an ownership group include one love and zero tolerance for racism or any other forms of hate against any group whatsoever. The platform that is the Jacksonville Icemen is one that is more than just about hockey to us as a group. It is about using this platform to spread not only our love for hockey but our love for the community and for each other," team CEO Andy Kaufmann said in a statement. "Though the investigation and review is ongoing at the league level, the Jacksonville Icemen will be releasing the player involved effective immediately and will continue our mission of sharing our love of community and hockey. On behalf of the entire Icemen organization, we apologize to any one who was...

SAN FRANCISCO --  Klay Thompson was a late scratch for the  Golden State Warriors' Sunday night game against the Utah Jazz after experiencing soreness in his left knee. Thompson had the knee surgically repaired in July 2019 after tearing his ACL in Game 6 of the NBA Finals that year. "It's nothing serious," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "It's just part of cautiousness." According to Kerr, the original plan was to play Thompson. But during the team's walk-through, Rick Celebrini, the Warriors' director of sports medicine, informed Kerr that Thompson was feeling some discomfort in the left knee and should be held out. Thompson is considered day-to-day.

Former Georgia wide receiver Jermaine Burton announced on Sunday that he will transfer to Alabama. The Dawgs just beat the Crimson Tide in the national championship game, but Burton is switching sides after entering the transfer portal on Wednesday. Burton was second on the team in receiving yards with 497 and tied for second on the team in receiving touchdowns with five. Burton was the No. 99 recruit in the 2020 class out of Calabasas High School in California, and chose Georgia over offers from LSU, Alabama, Arizona State, Oregon and others. He is one of eight players to transfer out of Georgia in January, along with quarterback JT Daniels, who also entered the transfer portal on Wednesday but has yet to decide on a destination. Cornerback Ameer Speed is transferring to Michigan State, corner Jalen Kimber is headed to Florida, Lovasea Carroll transferred to South Carolina, ...

SAN FRANCISCO --  Klay Thompson was a late scratch for the  Golden State Warriors Sunday night game against the Utah Jazz after experiencing soreness in his left knee. Thompson had the knee surgically repaired in July 2019 after tearing his ACL in Game 6 of the NBA Finals that year. "It's nothing serious," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "It's just part of cautiousness." According to Kerr, the original plan was to play Thompson. But during the team's walk-through, Rick Celebrini, the Warriors' director of sports medicine, informed Kerr that Thompson was feeling some discomfort in the left knee and should be held out. Thompson is considered day-to-day.

TAMPA, Fla. -- When the Los Angeles Rams acquired Matthew Stafford in a blockbuster trade last winter, the veteran quarterback said he wanted to play in big games, an opportunity he seldom got during 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions. Stafford and the Rams -- fresh off a dramatic 30-27 win here -- are now one victory away from the biggest game of all. And they nearly blew their chance to get to the NFC Championship Game, losing four fumbles and a 27-3 third-quarter lead to Tom Brady and the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers before Stafford led a drive in the closing seconds to set up the winning field goal. Stafford hit All-Pro receiver Cooper Kupp for gains of 20 and 44 yards to set up Matt Gay's 30-yard game winner. What was nearly an epic collapse became an emotional victory and a date with the San Francisco 49ers next week at SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles will have the chance to do what Tampa Bay did...

Kansas State junior center Ayoka Lee said she thought it would be just another Sunday. Instead, she put herself into the NCAA Division I women's basketball record book for the most points ever scored in a game: 61. Lee scored almost as many points herself as foe Oklahoma did as a team, with the unranked Wildcats beating the No. 14 Sooners 94-65 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. Oklahoma (16-3 overall, 5-2 Big 12) entered the game second in Division I in scoring at 88.3 points per game. But Kansas State's 15-0 run to start the game -- with 12 points by Lee -- showed this one would be all Wildcats. Lee entered Sunday tied for third in Division I in scoring at 23.6 points per game. She had games of 43 and 38 points (twice) earlier this season. This was the perfect setup for her and Kansas State, as guard-heavy Oklahoma had no one who could really match up with the 6-foot-6 Lee. "I didn't come in expecting to break a record," Lee said. "I think [it was] just...

The NBA on Sunday suspended the Milwaukee Bucks' Grayson Allen for one game for his flagrant 2 foul on Alex Caruso that caused a fractured wrist for the Chicago Bulls guard. The league punished Allen, who was ejected from the Bucks' 94-90 victory over the Bulls on Friday night after receiving the flagrant 2 foul, for what it deemed was "unnecessary and excessive contact," according to a news release. Allen will serve his suspension during the Bucks' next game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. The Bucks said in a statement that they "disagree" with the suspension. "We disagree with the suspension. We support Grayson and look forward to him rejoining our team for Friday's game vs. New York," the team said. Caruso is scheduled to have wrist surgery Monday that will sideline him for six to eight weeks. "Nothing is changing from what happened the other night to where we are now, and the best thing we can do as a team is just move...

Kansas State junior center Ayoka Lee said she thought it would be just another Sunday. Instead, she put herself into the NCAA Division I women's basketball record book for the most points ever scored in a game: 61. Lee scored almost as many points herself as foe Oklahoma did as a team, with the unranked Wildcats beating the No. 14 Sooners 94-65 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. Oklahoma (16-3 overall, 5-2 Big 12) entered the game second in Division I in scoring at 88.3 points per game. But Kansas State's 15-0 run to start the game -- with 12 points by Lee -- showed this one would be all Wildcats. Lee entered Sunday tied for third in Division I in scoring at 23.6 points per game. She had games of 43 and 38 points (twice) earlier this season. This was the perfect setup for her and Kansas State, as guard-heavy Oklahoma had no one who could really match up with the 6-foot-6 Lee. "I didn't come in expecting to break a record," Lee said. "I think [it was] just...

The ECHL has indefinitely suspended Jacksonville Icemen defenseman Jacob Panetta, pending a hearing for what South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Jordan Subban said was a racist taunt Saturday night. The Icemen later announced that they are releasing Panetta. "To be clear, our core values as an ownership group include one love and zero tolerance for racism or any other forms of hate against any group whatsoever. The platform that is the Jacksonville Icemen is one that is more than just about hockey to us as a group. It is about using this platform to spread not only our love for hockey but our love for the community and for each other," team CEO Andy Kaufmann said in a statement. "Though the investigation and review is ongoing at the league level, the Jacksonville Icemen will be releasing the player involved effective immediately and will continue our mission of sharing our love of community and hockey. On behalf of the entire Icemen organization, we apologize to any one who was...

Gonzaga has suspended John Stockton's men's basketball season tickets because of the Hall of Famer's failure to follow the school's mask mandate, he confirmed to The Spokesman-Review. Stockton, whose No. 12 jersey is retired by the school, told the newspaper that he was informed of the decision by Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford. Stockton described the conversation as "congenial" but "not pleasant." "Basically, it came down to, they were asking me to wear a mask to the games and being a public figure, someone a little bit more visible, I stuck out in the crowd a little bit," Stockton told the newspaper. "And therefore they received complaints and felt like from whatever the higher-ups -- those weren't discussed, but from whatever it was higher up -- they were going to have to either ask me to wear a mask or they were going to suspend my tickets." Stockton made public his views on the COVID-19 vaccine in a film that was released in June. Standiford declined to...

The ECHL has indefinitely suspended Jacksonville Icemen defenseman Jacob Panetta, pending a hearing for what South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Jordan Subban said was a racist taunt Saturday night. "The South Carolina Stingrays are disgusted and appalled by last night's incident involving Jordan Subban," Stingrays team president Rob Concannon said in a statement. "Our organization stands in support of our friend and teammate, Jordan, as well as all other players who continue to deal with racism and discrimination. This behavior is unacceptable and has to stop." The Jacksonville Icemen said in a statement that the organization is cooperating with the ECHL's review of the incident. "As an organization, our fans, partners and sponsors know our core values and intend to make comments and decisions after completion of league review," the team said. The game was in overtime when South Carolina's Andrew Cherniwchan collided with Jacksonville goalie Justin Kapelmaster, sparking a...

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the reality that their season is, at most, three weeks from its conclusion, there is another reality lingering over the organization: the possibility of Tom Brady's retirement. Sources with the Bucs and close to Brady all recognize the star quarterback remains noncommittal to playing beyond this season. Although Brady could decide to play again -- he has talked about playing until he was 45, and even beyond -- it is far from a given, sources told ESPN. Brady's departure is a topic that quietly has come up within the Tampa Bay organization for weeks now, and there has been internal uncertainty about what the future holds for the seven-time Super Bowl champion and all-time NFL passing leader. Brady, 44, plans to take time after the season ends -- a month or longer -- to assess how he feels physically and mentally while also gauging his family's desires, sources told ESPN. For Brady, who has one year remaining on his contract, the...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The San Francisco 49ers simply will not go away. The same Niners that were once 3-5 and headed for a long offseason full of questions are now headed to the NFC Championship Game for the second time in three seasons. To get there, San Francisco had to pull out the type of late-game magic that has been a hallmark of its late-season surge to the playoffs. The result was a wild 13-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night at Lambeau Field. The 49ers await the winner of Sunday's NFC divisional game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams. After a disappointing offensive performance, the Niners pieced together the drive they needed at the biggest moment, with wide receiver Deebo Samuel taking a handoff nine yards for a first down on third-and-7 at Green Bay's 38. Samuel's run set up place-kicker  Robbie Gould's winning 45-yard field goal as time expired. "This team has been through a...

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Francis Ngannou is perhaps the most frightening power-puncher in UFC history. But he reminded everyone Saturday night that he is not only that. Ngannou showed off a well-rounded game -- and immeasurable heart -- befitting the champion he is. Down on the cards early and dealing with a knee injury, the hardest-hitting man maybe ever in MMA went to his wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu to gut out a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) win over Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 270 at Honda Center. With the victory, Ngannou unifies the UFC undisputed heavyweight title. Gane came in as the interim champ. "My ground game is evolving," Ngannou said in his postfight interview. The fight had a rich back story, outside of the high stakes. Ngannou and Gane were sparring partners at MMA Factory until Ngannou had a public falling-out with their coach, Fernand Lopez. The two overlapped on and off at the Paris gym from 2017 to 2019, when Ngannou moved...

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mexican fans showed up in droves on Saturday to witness the UFC's first Mexican-born champion,  Brandon Moreno, defend his title for the first time. But by the slimmest of margins, Deiveson Figueiredo spoiled the party. Figueiredo (21-2-1) reclaimed the 125-pound title he lost to Moreno (19-6-2) in August by defeating his rival in a unanimous decision. All three judges scored the flyweight title fight, which co-headlined UFC 270 inside the Honda Center, in favor of Figueiredo, 48-47.   Saturday's result brings the rivalry to an even record of 1-1-1. The two fought to a draw in December 2020, before Moreno dominated Figueiredo in their second meeting. After losing by submission in the rematch, however, Figueiredo looked like a completely different fighter in the trilogy, as his cardio and mental preparation was obvious. "Today is my day," Figueiredo said. "For this moment, for Brandon, for us to give you the gift of a fight of the night, for...

MELBOURNE, Australia -- French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 win over two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals for the third time in four Grand Slam events. The fourth-seeded Krejcikova was ousted in the second round of her two previous trips to Melbourne Park and is into the last eight at the Australian Open for the first time. She'll next play Madison Keys, who reached the semifinals in Australia in 2015 and was runner-up at the 2017 US Open. Keys overpowered eighth-seeded Paula Badosa 6-3, 6-1 in the first of the fourth-round matches on Day 7 at Rod Laver Arena. The 26-year-old American, who beat 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round, hit 26 winners and made only 18 unforced errors against Badosa to continue her unbeaten start to 2022. She claimed her sixth career title at a tuneup tournament in Adelaide last week. Krejcikova went into her...