Sports News

Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner as Wolves ended champions Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League season with a shock 2-1 home win on Saturday. The defeat at Molineux was City's second loss in five days, after Newcastle United dumped them out of the Carabao Cup, and dashed the leaders' hopes of stretching their season-opening run to seven league wins in a row. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) A Rúben Dias own goal sent Wolves 1-0 up in the 13th minute, Pedro Neto's cross deflected in off the Portugal defender's s knee, but Julián Álvarez levelled the score with a bending free kick past José Sá in the 58th. Hwang restored the home side's lead on the counter-attack and against the run of play in the 66th minute by firing into the net from close range after a Matheus Cunha pass found him unmarked. "We know that we could have the...

Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner as Wolves ended champions Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League season with a shock 2-1 home win on Saturday. The defeat at Molineux was City's second loss in five days, after Newcastle United dumped them out of the Carabao Cup, and dashed the leaders' hopes of stretching their season-opening run to seven league wins in a row. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) A Ruben Dias own goal sent Wolves 1-0 up in the 13th minute, Pedro Neto's shot deflected in off the Portugal defender's knee, but Julián Álvarez levelled the score with a bending free kick shortly before the hour mark. Hwang restored the home side's lead against the run of play in the 66th by firing into the back of the net after a pass from Matheus Cunha. With City manager Pep Guardiola serving a touchline ban for his third yellow card of the season,...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants could be extremely short-handed Monday night with left tackle Andrew Thomas being ruled out and running back Saquon Barkley expected to be a game-day decision, according to coach Brian Daboll. The Giants host the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night at MetLife Stadium. Thomas is dealing with a hamstring injury that did not respond well at practice earlier in the week. He will miss his third straight game. Barkley has a high ankle sprain. He has been limited in practice throughout the week. Matt Breida is expected to be the lead back in Barkley's absence. Josh Ezeudu will fill in once again for Thomas. Thomas told ESPN earlier this week his chances of returning and playing against the Seahawks were "good." He then partook in Thursday's fully padded practice. That did not go as well as planned. The following day, he was kept inside to work with trainers. It's not an especially encouraging sign for...

Colorado star safety Shilo Sanders is out for Saturday's game against No. 8 USC, leaving a struggling Buffaloes secondary even more vulnerable against the Trojans. Sanders did not practice this week, sources said, and is slated to be replaced in the starting lineup by Southern Utah transfer Rodrick Ward. Coach Deion Sanders said on his radio show this week that his son had a kidney injury that was causing him to urinate blood. Sanders is a graduate student who played at South Carolina and Jackson State before starting at Colorado this season. He has been one of Colorado's defensive linchpins, with 26 tackles while forcing a fumble and recording an 80-yard interception return in the victory over Colorado State. The loss of Sanders leaves Colorado without two of its most valuable players, as  Travis Hunter (333 snaps at WR/DB) and Sanders (312) are among the team's top three players in total snaps.  Hunter, the lockdown cornerback...

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- Jon Rahm says he has no issues with Brooks Koepka after the American accused him of acting like a child Friday at the Ryder Cup, but Rahm did admit to taking out his frustration by hitting one of the boards leading up to the 18th tee. Rahm and partner  Nicolai Hojgaard managed to get a key half-point for Europe on Friday when they tied their four-ball match against Koepka and Scottie Scheffler on No. 18, having been two holes down with three to play. Rahm chipped in from 63 feet for eagle on the 16th and then slotted a 35-foot putt on the 18th to tie the match. Koepka was clearly frustrated and said in a television interview: "I mean, I want to hit a board and pout just like Jon Rahm did. But you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we're adults. We move on." Rahm was asked about the comments Saturday after he helped Europe to a 9½-2½ lead after the morning foursomes, where he and Tyrrell Hatton...

Pittsburgh will start veteran quarterback Phil Jurkovec against Virginia Tech on Saturday night, a source told ESPN, a week after he left Pitt's loss to North Carolina following an illegal hit. Jurkovec's status for the game was uncertain after an injury that occurred on a second-quarter play against North Carolina where he got targeted. Jurkovec missed the rest of the game. A source described Jurkovec's injury as the lower-body variety, as he was both hit illegally and horse-collar tackled on the same play. Jurkovec is a sixth-year senior quarterback who returned home to Pittsburgh for his final year of eligibility after stints at Notre Dame and Boston College. He has been up-and-down this season and had completed 11 of 15 passes against North Carolina before the injury. He struggled against West Virginia the previous week behind a porous offensive line, finishing with three interceptions and 81 passing yards. Pitt's offensive line...

Colorado star safety Shilo Sanders is doubtful for Saturday's game against No. 8 USC and is not expected to play, sources told ESPN, leaving a struggling Buffaloes secondary even more vulnerable against the Trojans. Sanders did not practice this week, sources said, and is slated to be replaced in the starting lineup by Southern Utah transfer Rodrick Ward. Coach Deion Sanders said on his radio show this week that his son had a kidney injury that was causing him to urinate blood. Sanders is a graduate student who played at South Carolina and Jackson State before starting at Colorado this season. He has been one of Colorado's defensive linchpins, with 26 tackles while forcing a fumble and recording an 80-yard interception return in the victory over Colorado State. The expected loss of Sanders leaves Colorado without two of its most valuable players, as  Travis Hunter (333 snaps at WR/DB) and Sanders (312) are among the team's top three...

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler could only wipe tears from his eyes and shake his head in disbelief as he was being consoled by his wife, Meredith, at Marco Simone Golf Club on Saturday morning. After Scheffler and teammate Brooks Koepka, a five-time major championship winner, suffered the worst defeat in an 18-hole match in Ryder Cup history, 9 and 7 to Norway's Viktor Hovland and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, the American team was trying to figure out how a weekend that started terribly became historically worse Saturday. The score of the American team's first loss Saturday was so stunning that Justin Thomas was seen on TV walking down a fairway and telling his caddie, Jim "Bones" Mackay, "Nine and seven." The Americans trailed the Europeans 9½-2½ with four four-ball (best ball) matches to be played Saturday afternoon, followed by 12 singles matches Sunday. The American team's seven-point deficit matches...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- From an aesthetic standpoint, the  Las Vegas Aces' semifinal series-clinching 64-61 victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday got a thumbs-down from Aces coach Becky Hammon. But Hammon and the Aces were happy all the work they've done on defense this season paid off. That was the key to finishing their 3-0 sweep and giving them plenty of time to prepare for the WNBA Finals, which will start in Las Vegas on Oct. 8. Las Vegas held the Wings scoreless in the final five minutes, finishing on an 11-0 run. As great as the Aces can look offensively -- they led the WNBA in scoring (92.8 PPG) during a 34-6 regular season -- their improvement on defense really stood out Friday night. The Aces also led the league in defensive rating (99.2) this season. "This was a real gut-check type of win," Hammon said. "Kudos to our defense holding it down and giving us a chance to crawl back into that game. Not the prettiest of games. We're happy to be walking out of...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A'ja Wilson had 13 points and 13 rebounds, including a tying layup late, and the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces advanced to the finals for the third time in four years, scoring the game's final 11 points to beat the Dallas Wings 64-61 on Friday night. Alysha Clark made a tiebreaking free throw with 1:45 left and Jackie Young added two more foul shots with 2 seconds left as Las Vegas completed a three-game sweep. The Wings, hosting a semifinal game for the first time since the franchise moved from Tulsa to Dallas in 2016, had a 61-53 lead when Arike Ogunbowale made a running layup with 4:59 left. They didn't score again. Ogunbowale, who finished with a game-high 18 points, came up short on a 3-pointer as time expired after Dallas was able to call timeout and get one more shot. Wilson made a free throw with 2:56 left, but Clark rebounded after her second free throw missed. The ball went to Chelsea Gray,...

The San Diego Padres will spend the offseason wondering what went wrong. The high-spending Padres were eliminated from postseason contention Friday night despite a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox, a finality that prompted Manny Machado to give teammates a postgame pep talk. "We did what we were supposed to do, but a little too late," Machado said. "We're going to grow from this. ... We're capable of playing better baseball than we did this year." Juan Soto was batting in the seventh inning when Miami completed a 4-3, come-from-behind win at Pittsburgh for its 83rd win, ensuring San Diego would not get one of the National League's three wild-card berths. Despite winning 12 of their past 14 games, the Padres (80-80) could not overcome a mostly sluggish performance by a star-filled team that started the season with the major leagues' third-highest payroll at nearly $258 million. A 1-9 skid in early May dropped the Padres...

RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams, who is set to make his 2023 debut Monday night against the New York Giants, revealed that he briefly but legitimately considered retiring in the immediate aftermath of the serious leg injury he suffered in last season's opener. Speaking to reporters Friday for the first time since tearing his left quadriceps tendon, a candid and introspective Adams recalled bawling in the locker room when he got the news that his season was over and how he found himself in a "dark place" as a result. "It was tough," he said. "I thought about retiring. I thought about a lot of things. Is this going to be it for me? I didn't know. But I knew eventually, after I got that MRI, I told myself I'm going to be back. I didn't know when or how, but I was going to figure it out." Asked why retirement was a consideration, the 27-year-old Adams pointed to all the injuries he has suffered over the past three seasons and the toll they...

LAS VEGAS -- Canelo Alvarez and Jermell Charlo both weighed 167.4 pounds on Friday, one day before they will meet for Alvarez's four 168-pound titles. Alvarez, boxing's top star, will make the third defense of his undisputed super middleweight championship on Saturday in Las Vegas, while Charlo will compete above 154 pounds for the first time. Charlo, 33, is the undisputed junior middleweight champion but moved up 14 pounds for the biggest opportunity of his career. Jermell wasn't even the original Charlo opponent. It was his twin brother, Jermall, who was first earmarked to face Alvarez. Jermall is the bigger Charlo and holds the WBC title at 160 pounds, but he hasn't competed since June 2021 because of a personal matter. So Jermell stepped in. "They look the same," Alvarez, 33, told ESPN on Wednesday. "Same size, same everything. I don't really care which Charlo brother it is." "I think he can handle the weight, too, because he's taller," added Alvarez, who is 5-foot-8 while...

Free agent guard Josh Primo is planning to sign a two-way contract with the LA Clippers, sources told ESPN on Friday. Primo is facing a four-game suspension after a league investigation found that he had "exposed himself to women" as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. The league announced the discipline Friday.  Primo has been engaged in ongoing therapy that will continue in Los Angeles, sources said. Primo underwent evaluation with specialists who consult with the Clippers, and the organization ultimately became comfortable giving him an opportunity to return to the NBA. The 20-year-old Primo, whom the Spurs selected with the No. 12 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, was waived in late October after multiple incidents of exposing himself to women. After his release from the Spurs, Primo told ESPN in a statement that he was struggling with his mental health and had been seeking help. League investigators found that Primo engaged in "inappropriate behavior by...

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Wide receiver Chase Claypool expressed frustration over the Chicago Bears' 0-3 start and said he is focused on the areas of his game he can control. "I think rehoning what I want to do really well in, and that's just the things that I can control, like the effort on plays and finishing blocks," Claypool said Friday. "Those are things I can control and things I've been making sure to just master these few weeks. Those are things I can control. The other stuff I can't worry about. Just got to be at the right place at the right time, and hopefully that falls into place." Asked whether he feels he has been put in the best position to showcase his skill set, Claypool paused for seven seconds before uttering, "No." "Sometimes the things around you either elevate you or you have to adapt to allow you to elevate with them," Claypool said. "So I've just been adapting to the new system and my new role in the system and trying to make the most out of...

The San Francisco Giants fired manager Gabe Kapler on Friday after a late-season collapse that dropped the team out of playoff contention and prompted questions about the franchise's direction going forward. The firing was made with three games remaining in the season and the Giants sporting a 78-81 record. In a statement, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said he made the "recommendation to ownership" to fire Kapler and then did so after "receiving their approval." Kai Correa is managing the Giants' final three games, including Friday's 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kapler, 48, took over as Giants manager in 2020 and by 2021 had shepherded the club to a 107-55 season -- the only time in the past 11 years a team finished ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. The Dodgers beat the Giants in the division series that year, and San Francisco struggled to replicate its success last season en route to an...

NEW YORK -- The NBA has suspended former San Antonio Spurs guard Joshua Primo four games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league. Primo now plans to a sign a two-way contract with the LA Clippers, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.  League investigators found that Primo engaged in inappropriate behavior by exposing himself to women. Primo insists his conduct was not intentional, the league said, and investigators found no evidence that he engaged in any misconduct apart from the brief exposures. Nonetheless, the NBA said Friday his behavior "does not conform to league standards and warrants discipline." A former Spurs sports psychologist had sued the team and Primo over the player's actions, and the complaint was settled out of court. Primo, a 20-year-old from Canada who spent one college season at Alabama, has not played in the NBA since the Spurs terminated his contract in October. Shortly after his release from the Spurs, who...

The NFL is modifying the league's gambling policies that will punish players more harshly for betting on their own teams while also amending rules that will allow some players, including Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, to return to the field quicker. Under the new policy, as disclosed in a memo from commissioner Roger Goodell that was obtained by ESPN on Friday, a player who places a bet involving his own team will be suspended at least two years. Bets placed by players on any NFL game will result in at least a one-year suspension. Betting on non-NFL sports while at a team facility or on team-related travel will now result in a two-game suspension for a first violation, six games for a second violation and at least one year for a third. This will allow Williams, Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nick Petit-Frere and free agent Stanley Berryhill to be reinstated effective Monday. All three had been originally suspended six games and...

The NFL is modifying the league's gambling policies that will punish players more harshly for betting on their own teams while also amending rules that will allow some players, including Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, to return to the field quicker. Under the new policy, as disclosed in a memo from commissioner Roger Goodell that was obtained by ESPN on Friday, a player who places a bet involving his own team will be suspended at least two years. Bets placed by players on any NFL game will result in at least a one-year suspension. Betting on non-NFL sports while at a team facility or on team-related travel will now result in a two-game suspension for a first violation, six games for a second violation and at least one year for a third violation. This will allow Williams and Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nick Petit-Frere to be reinstated effective Monday. Both had been originally suspended six games and will end up serving four. Multiple...

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- No matter how hard the Americans might have tried Friday, the European team simply wasn't going to let them win a match on the opening day of the 44th Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. When it looked as if the United States was finally going to capture its first full point in Friday's afternoon four-ball (best-ball) matches, Norway's Viktor Hovland made a 26-foot birdie putt to tie things up with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. Then Spain's Jon Rahm carded eagles on two of the last three holes, including a 33-footer on the 18th, to secure another half-point from world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler and PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka. Finally, when it seemed the Americans would get a victory from their last pairing on the course, U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark and Max Homa, England's Justin Rose made a 9-foot birdie on the 18th hole to take another...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --  Bryce Young officially will be back as the starter for the Carolina Panthers when they face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. Coach Frank Reich said Wednesday that the top pick of the draft was trending toward returning from a right ankle injury that sidelined him for Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. There was no question Friday after Young practiced full for the third straight day. "I thought it was good," Reich said of Young's week. "Probably even better than I expected it to be. ... Bryce will be our quarterback." Young could be without a key option. Leading rusher Miles Sanders was limited for the third day with a groin injury that has him listed as questionable for Sunday. Reich, however, said he was optimistic Sanders could play. The Panthers and Vikings are two of four 0-3 teams in the NFL. The other two, Denver and Chicago, also play each other Sunday.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson cleared the NFL's concussion protocol Friday and will start Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams, coach Shane Steichen said. Richardson suffered a concussion in the first half of a Week 2 win over the Houston Texans after slamming his head on the turf as he scored his second rushing touchdown of the game. He missed the Colts' Week 3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens but returned to practice Wednesday and was a full participant in each of the past three workouts. Richardson flashed repeatedly in his brief time in the lineup, which has been limited to the first six quarters of the season. He became the first Colts rookie quarterback to rush for touchdowns in each of his first two games and is the third quarterback in NFL history to record three or more rushing touchdowns in his first two games. "Last week was a little rough for me," Richardson said of missing the Baltimore game. "I...

Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones was arrested Friday in Las Vegas, according to online jail records. Jones was listed as an inmate at the Clark County Detention Center as of late Friday morning. He allegedly violated a domestic violence temporary protective order and was being held on $15,000 bail, according to jail records. Jones posted bond later Friday and is due back in court Dec. 4, according to Clark County court records. The Raiders released a statement on social media Friday, saying the team is "hopeful that Chandler Jones receives the care that he needs. He, his family, and all those involved are in our thoughts." The team noted that it would not comment further, as Jones' situation has become a legal matter. "We have been closely monitoring developments and have been in constant communication with the Raiders," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. Attorney Peter Christiansen in Las Vegas said he represents Jones but declined to comment about...

Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones was arrested Friday in Las Vegas, according to online jail records. Jones was listed as an inmate at the Clark County Detention Center as of late Friday morning. He allegedly violated a domestic violence temporary protective order and was held on $15,000 bail, according to jail records. The 33-year-old Jones has not played this season and has been away from the Raiders since Labor Day weekend, when he made a series of social media posts aimed at the team, owner Mark Davis, general manager Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels. The Raiders placed Jones on the non-football illness list Sept. 20. Jones wrote on social media Monday night that he was taken to a hospital "against my will" last week by the Las Vegas Fire Department and later transferred to a behavioral health facility. He also made numerous posts on social media Thursday, including multiple live videos in which he could be seen rambling about numerous topics while sitting...

NEW YORK -- The NBA has suspended former San Antonio Spurs guard Joshua Primo four games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league. League investigators found that Primo engaged in inappropriate behavior by exposing himself to women. Primo insists his conduct was not intentional, the league said, and investigators found no evidence that he engaged in any misconduct apart from the brief exposures. Nonetheless, the NBA said Friday his behavior "does not conform to league standards and warrants discipline." A former Spurs sports psychologist had sued the team and Primo over the player's actions, and the complaint was settled out of court. Primo, a 20-year-old from Canada who spent one college season at Alabama, has not played in the NBA since the Spurs terminated his contract in October. Shortly after his release from the Spurs, who chose him with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Primo told ESPN in a statement that he was struggling with his...

A Tennessee judge said Friday that she is ending a conservatorship agreement between former NFL player Michael Oher and a Memphis couple who took him in when he was in high school. Shelby County Probate Court Judge Kathleen Gomes said she is terminating the agreement reached in 2004 that allowed Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy to control Oher's finances. Oher signed the agreement when he was 18 and living with the couple as he was being recruited by colleges as a star high school football player. Gomes said she was not dismissing the case. Oher has asked that the Tuohys provide a financial accounting of money that might have come to them as part of the agreement, claiming they used his name, image and likeness to enrich themselves and lied to him that the agreement meant the Tuohys were adopting him. The judge said she was disturbed that such an agreement was ever reached. She said she had never in her 43-year career seen a conservatorship agreement reached with someone who was not...

Arterio Morris has been dismissed from the Kansas men's basketball team after he was arrested and charged with rape, Bill Self announced Friday. Per documents obtained by ESPN, Morris was arrested Friday by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office on a charge of "rape; circumstances unknown," which is a felony. "When we learned of allegations regarding Arterio Morris, he was suspended from the Kansas men's basketball program," Self said in a statement. "We are now aware he has been arrested and charged, and he was dismissed from the program. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further at this time." The bond for Morris was set at $75,000 when he was booked into Douglas County jail. Per jail records, Morris was no longer in custody as of 11:45 a.m. ET on Friday. Morris, a transfer from Texas, was with the Longhorns as they made a run to the Elite Eight last season before he transferred to Kansas this offseason. The school suspended him in...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills will be without a key member of their defensive backfield for the big Week 4 AFC East clash against the Miami Dolphins, ruling out safety Jordan Poyer as he continues to deal with a knee injury that has kept him out of practice all week. Poyer suffered the injury during the 37-3 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Backup safety  Taylor Rapp, a free agent addition this offseason, is expected to start in his place alongside veteran safety Micah Hyde, who is also dealing with a hamstring injury but who participated in Thursday's practice. Rapp has played 23% of the team's defensive snaps, as a third safety or nickel. Poyer, 32, has 14 tackles in 2023 and is in his seventh season with the Bills. He paired with Hyde at safety after re-signing with the team on a two-year deal this offseason. Poyer also missed last year's road game against the Dolphins, which Miami won 21-19, because of...

Alabama will be without its second leading tackler Saturday against Mississippi State, as redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Deontae Lawson is out with an ankle injury and could miss multiple games, sources told ESPN on Friday. Coach Nick Saban said earlier in the week Lawson was "very questionable" to play against Mississippi State. Lawson was unable to practice this week, meaning the Crimson Tide will have to dip into their depth at a position that was already one of their least experienced on defense. Lawson had recorded 26 total tackles this season, including 3.5 for loss, before exiting last week's Ole Miss game in the second quarter. Sophomore Jihaad Campbell is slated to start in Lawson's place. Campbell filled in when Lawson left the Ole Miss game and finished with seven tackles. Alabama is tied for second in the SEC with Florida in scoring defense (13.5 PPG) and held Ole Miss to 301 total yards last week. BamaCentral.com first...

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have signed contracts for an undisputed heavyweight championship fight in Saudi Arabia, multiple sources told ESPN on Friday. The fight could take place on Dec. 23 or sometime in January, sources said. First, Fury must handle business without injury when he meets former UFC champion Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia on ESPN+ pay-per-view. Fury-Usyk will crown boxing's first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era and is a rare meeting between heavyweights recognized as two of the best pound-for-pound in the world (Fury is No. 6; Usyk is No. 3.) Fury, the WBC champion, and Usyk, who holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles, were in talks to fight this past April at London's Wembley Stadium before negotiations collapsed at the 11th hour. Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) went on to fulfill his WBA mandatory defense with a ninth-round KO of England's Daniel Dubois in August in Wroclaw, Poland. The former undisputed...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Lionel Messi trained Friday morning, but he will be a game-time decision once again for Inter Miami due to a nagging leg injury as they face a key home MLS matchup Saturday against New York City FC. Assistant coach Javier Morales also said Friday that veteran left back Jordi Alba will miss a second straight contest with a hamstring injury. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "Leo will train, day-to-day decision," Morales said. "Jordi will have a longer recovery." Both former Barcelona teammates missed out on Wednesday evening's 2-1 loss to the Houston Dynamo in the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as Miami failed to claim its second trophy of the season. Miami conceded 18 shots on goal in the first half before making some adjustments at the break and coming close to forcing extra time with some late chances. The South Florida club sits five points and five spots...

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- If there was any silver lining for the United States team after Friday's opening session of the 44th Ryder Cup team at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, it's that most golf fans back home probably slept through its miserable beatdown by the European team. The Europeans swept four foursomes (alternate-shot) matches to go 4-0 in the Friday morning session for the first time in Ryder Cup history. It was complete domination by the European team, which is trying to reclaim the trophy after falling 19-9 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in 2021. The U.S. failed to hold a lead in any of the morning matches. It is only the fourth time the European team has gone unbeaten in a session overall. It's the first time since 2006 that the European team has had a lead after the first session. It won the Ryder Cup 18½-9½ that year at the K Club in Straffan, Ireland. "We are off to a great start this morning," Ireland's Shane Lowry said. "We need to keep the...

NEW YORK -- Having rallied to take a ninth-inning lead against the New York Mets, the Miami Marlins were foiled by the weather once again at Citi Field. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and  Yuli Gurriel had consecutive run-scoring hits that put the Marlins ahead 2-1 Thursday night, but umpires soon ordered the tarp on the field and the game was suspended by rain at 12:58 a.m. Friday after a 3-hour, 17-minute delay. "Without getting into the details, obviously, this is an unfortunate incident," said Marlins general manager Kim Ng, who declined to comment when asked if the suspension could have been avoided or if the game could have been completed in the ninth. Miami moved into the third and final NL wild-card spot when the Chicago Cubs lost at Atlanta. Miami (82-76) is a half-game ahead of the Cubs (82-77), who finish with three games at NL Central champion Milwaukee. The Marlins close with three games at Pittsburgh and would have to return to New York on Monday...

GREEN BAY, Wis. --  Detroit Lions quarterback  Jared Goff wasn't overly excited after exiting Lambeau Field with a 34-20 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. "It's what we expect to do," he said. "We have a good team." But having confidence in the Lions franchise, after witnessing years of defeat, is still taking some time for people to adjust to. Goff isn't one of those people, and neither are his teammates. "Send us anywhere and we'll be ready," said Goff, who passed for 201 yards with a touchdown and interception. "And that's the way we're built." Through Week 4, the Lions are 3-1, with two of those wins coming on iconic stages: Lambeau and Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium in the season opener. Goff is 5-1 in his career against the Packers. Now in his third season in Detroit, he has led the Lions to six consecutive victories against NFC North division opponents, tying their longest streak in the Super Bowl Era (1995 and 1983). "We have...

NEW YORK --  Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Yuri Gurriel had consecutive run-scoring hits in the ninth inning as Miami rallied to take a 2-1 lead over the New York Mets, but the game was suspended by rain at 12:58 a.m. after a 3-hour, 17-minute delay.  Miami had moved into the third and final NL wild card spot when the Chicago Cubs lost at Atlanta earlier Thursday.  Miami (82-76) is a half-game ahead of the Cubs (82-77), who finish with three games at NL Central champion Milwaukee. The Marlins close with three games at Pittsburgh and would have to return to New York on Monday to complete the game against the Mets if it's needed to determine a postseason spot. Miami holds the tiebreaker against the Cubs after winning the season series 4-2. The game would be resumed at the point of suspension if needed to determine a playoff berth. It would resume at 1:10 p.m. ET on Monday.  If the game isn't needed to decide a postseason spot, the score would revert to a...

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves clinched home-field advantage throughout the postseason after beating the Chicago Cubs 5-3 on Thursday night, ensuring no team will win more than their 103 games. The Baltimore Orioles can also get to 103 wins, but Atlanta owns the tiebreaker by virtue of its 2-1 head-to-head record. "It's huge," catcher Travis d'Arnaud said after completing the sweep of the Cubs. "Our fanbase here is electric. It's a huge advantage for us. I've been on the other side where the fans get all over you. It makes for a tough night of sleep and an uncomfortable game." Once again, the Braves were powered by the long ball, as first baseman Matt Olson slugged his major league-leading 54th home run and drove in two runs, bringing his season total to 136 to break the franchise record set by Eddie Mathews, who drove in 135 in 1953. "I think it's cool," Olson said. "I think when you're in the middle of the season you don't think about it...

PHILADELPHIA --  Bryce Harper flipped out on the third-base umpire and then flipped his maroon Phillies helmet over the protective netting and into the stands. This was no ordinary souvenir like a foul ball. Hayden Dorfman, a 10-year-old Phillies fan from Voorhees, New Jersey, had a keepsake he could wear home. Dorfman landed the lucky helmet after a few adults clutched it in a scrum in the aisle Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park. Cooler heads prevailed and -- at the urging of the boy's father, Aaron -- the helmet ended up with a kid. The Dorfmans attend about six Phillies games a year and sit just a few rows behind the Phillies dugout in section 117. The fireworks started when Harper was ejected by third-base umpire Angel Hernandez on a checked strike three. Harper seemingly held his swing on a full count against Pirates starter Luis L. Ortiz and started to take off his protective gear when Hernández called him out. Harper whipped off his batting...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers' plan to help LeBron James extend his unprecedented prime into the 21st season of an illustrious career involves adding talent around him, not so much cutting his minutes. "Bron, he does a great job taking care of himself," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said Thursday at a news conference ahead of the start of L.A.'s training camp next week. "The team that's around him now, the pieces that we have in place, those guys are going to step up and do a lot of heavy lifting early." James, who will turn 39 in December, averaged 35.5 minutes per game last season, which was a tick down from the 37.2 minutes per game he logged in 2021-22 but was still more than he played in any of his first three seasons with the Lakers. Statistically, James was still impactful -- averaging 28.9 points on 50% shooting with 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists -- but a torn tendon in his right foot caused him to miss 27 games. While there's been little...

ATLANTA -- In an attempt to increase the intensity while waiting for their first playoff opponent, the Atlanta Braves will open their workouts to fans next week at Truist Park in advance of their division series which won't start until Saturday, Oct. 7. After losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the same round a year ago, the Braves don't want to leave anything to chance. "Anytime you have fans in the building, it definitely boosts the energy and the game-like conditions," third baseman Austin Riley said Thursday afternoon. "That lull in between the wild card and the DS, we're trying to build that momentum." Under the new playoff system, implemented last year, teams with a bye have five days off between the wild-card round and the start of the division series. Last year, the Braves earned the bye and then subsequently lost to the Phillies in four games, averaging just over three runs per game. "Playing games, [having] fans out there just to try and make...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards drew high praise from Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr during their time together for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup this summer, but Edwards revealed Thursday afternoon that wasn't always the case. Edwards recalled meeting Kerr for his workout leading up to the 2020 NBA draft -- where the Timberwolves made him the No. 1 overall selection -- and being told by Kerr during the workout that he "wasn't working hard enough." "I thought I was working hard," Edwards said at Timberwolves media day on Thursday. "When he came, I was going through drills and he kept stopping them, like, 'That's all you got? That's all you got?' And I'm like, 'Bruh, I'm going hard as you want me to go. What you want me to do? I'm sweating crazy.'" Edwards joined Kerr and Bob Myers, then the Warriors team president, for dinner later that evening, where they reiterated the same message, including telling Edwards if they...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. --  New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was sacked four times in a 24-hour span -- three times by the New England Patriots on Sunday and once the next day by Joe Namath, the most iconic player in franchise history. Commenting for the first time on Namath's scathing criticism, the embattled Wilson insisted he wasn't upset by the comments. "I mean, he's passionate," Wilson said Thursday, smiling. "He's obviously one of the greats, so as an offense we've got to do everything we can to try to prove him wrong." Namath, 80, fed up with Wilson's struggles, blasted the first-rounder on "The Michael Kay Show" on ESPN New York radio. He said that Wilson's performance was "disgusting" and that he's "seen enough of Zach Wilson," predicting the third-year quarterback never will develop into a good player. Wilson, thrust into the lineup when Aaron Rodgers went down with a season-ending Achilles injury on the fourth play in Week 1, has...

Fired  Spartans football coach Mel Tucker informed Michigan State University on Thursday he is preparing to file a potential wrongful termination lawsuit against the school. Tucker's attorney sent a letter to Michigan State's general counsel requesting that the school maintain electronic and paper records for all members of the athletic department along with several other university employees "in anticipation of litigation." Michigan State fired Tucker for cause Wednesday, roughly one month after sexual abuse prevention advocate Brenda Tracy accused the coach of sexually harassing her after she contracted to work with the football program. Athletic director Alan Haller said Tucker was being fired for cause because his "admitted and undisputed behaviors ... brought public disrespect, contempt and ridicule upon the university; and constitute a material breach of his agreement, and moral turpitude." Tucker's attorney, Jennifer Belveal, called Michigan...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- David Bakhtiari's nearly three-year recovery from his torn left ACL took another turn when the Green Bay Packers placed their All-Pro left tackle on injured reserve. Bakhtiari had already been ruled out of Thursday night's game against the Lions but now will miss at least three more games after that. His earliest possible return is Nov. 5 against the Rams. After playing in the season opener, Bakhtiari missed the next two games before Thursday's move. This all stems from the Dec. 31, 2020, knee injury he suffered in practice. He had three surgeries on that knee since the injury and has missed 24 of a possible 47 regular-season games since the start of the 2021 season. The 31-year-old Bakhtiari, a five-time All-Pro selection, said earlier this month that up to that point he had not strongly considered retirement. "I think it's going to be more like a doctor having to be like, 'You'd know. What are you doing?'" Bakhtiari said Sept. 20. "And I'd...

EAGAN, Minn. -- The bad news about the Minnesota Vikings' season is obvious: They are one of four winless teams in the NFL. The good news, receiver Justin Jefferson said Thursday, is that there are far too many games remaining to begin drawing conclusions about their season's fate. Speaking to a group of reporters in the Vikings' locker room, in fact, Jefferson said he is tired of hearing about how their 0-3 start could impact plans for 2024 and whether some players will or should be traded to stockpile draft picks. "At the end of the day it's not going to be perfect every time," said Jefferson, whose NFL-high 458 receiving yards is a league record for the first three weeks of a season. "There's things that you've got to go through throughout the season to really tell if you're going to be a great team or not. We're handling adversity early in the season with the turnovers and being 0-3, but there is a whole bunch of more games to go. "I'm tired of people saying...

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to miss the first two months of the regular season after having back surgery Thursday. Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois announced Vasilevskiy, a five-time NHL All-Star and the 2019 Vezina Trophy winner, underwent a successful microdiscectomy Thursday morning to repair a lumbar disc herniation. BriseBois said Vasilevskiy informed the team in August that he was having a back issue but was feeling better after having an injection. It wasn't until the Lightning's first practice when Vasilevskiy started feeling discomfort. Vasilevskiy's absence is a significant blow to the Lightning, who are aiming for a seventh straight postseason appearance in an Eastern Conference landscape that could prove even more challenging considering teams like the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins just missed out on the playoffs while others such as the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators...

EAGAN, Minn. -- The bad news about the Minnesota Vikings' season is obvious: They are one of four winless teams in the NFL. The good news, receiver Justin Jefferson said Thursday, is that there are far too many games remaining to begin drawing conclusions about their season's fate. Speaking to a group of reporters in the Vikings' locker room, in fact, Jefferson said he is "tired" of hearing about how their 0-3 start could impact plans for 2024 and whether some players will or should be traded to stockpile draft picks. "At the end of the day it's not going to be perfect every time," said Jefferson, whose NFL-high 458 receiving yards is a league record for the first three weeks of a season. "There's things that you've got to go through throughout the season to really tell if you're going to be a great team or not. We're handling adversity early in the season with the turnovers and being 0-3, but there is a whole bunch of more games to go. "I'm tired of people saying...

DALLAS -- Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving described himself as "happy to come back here" after the eight-time All-Star re-signed with Dallas in free agency following an exploration of his limited options elsewhere in the league. Irving and the Mavs agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $126 million in the opening hour of free agency, a contract negotiated by his agent and stepmom, Shetellia Riley Irving. Due to having Irving's Bird rights after trading for him last season, the Mavs could offer Irving significantly more money than other potential suitors who interested him, such as the Phoenix Suns, who were limited to veteran's minimum deals in free agency. "It wasn't too difficult of a process," Irving said after Thursday's practice, the first time he has spoken to the media since the final week of last season. "Had Dallas as No. 1 on my list. Obviously I looked elsewhere -- salary cap opportunities, where I could fit in with other guys around the league --...

CHICAGO -- Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy is encouraged by the growth he's seeing from Justin Fields despite Chicago's 0-3 start after an offseason of high expectations linked to the quarterback's development. "Our expectations have always been the same," Getsy said Thursday. "It's about [Fields] getting better every single week and making sure that he's mastering what we're doing from our perspective. And being the leader of that unit. And I think he's doing a really nice job in the midst of a lot of s--- right now and going on, that he's ... manning up and taking a leadership role for these guys. So, it's been good to see him be able to put it on his shoulders and be the guy that wants to help make this thing get right." Fields threw for 99 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 41-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. His completion percentage and passer rating have declined each week since a season-opening loss to the ...

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has cleared the concussion protocol, the team announced Thursday. Waddle will be available for Miami's Week 4 matchup against the Buffalo Bills after missing the Dolphins' 70-20 Week 3 victory over the Denver Broncos while in the protocol. Even without Waddle, the high-powered Dolphins offense set a franchise record for points in a game and became the first team in NFL history to score 70 points and compile 700 yards (726) of offense in the same game. Waddle had four catches for 86 yards in the Dolphins' win over the New England Patriots in Week 2 before a hit from linebacker Marte Mapu knocked him out of the game late in the fourth quarter. Mapu was flagged for unnecessary roughness and fined $5,620 for the helmet-to-helmet hit. Waddle, a 2021 first-round pick, has eight receptions for 164 yards in two games this season. He surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, including...

The XFL and USFL said Thursday that the two spring football leagues plan to merge and begin play next year. In a joint statement, the XFL and USFL said the merger will be subject to customary regulatory approvals. "If the transaction is consummated, the new league will establish best-in-class operations based on the most recent seasons of both leagues," the leagues said. "This historic combination will anchor professional spring football with substantial capabilities and resources to ensure future growth and continue to enhance the development of the collective players, coaches, and staff that are coming together." The XFL is owned by movie star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and his ex-wife, Dany Garcia, while the USFL is under the ownership of Fox Corp. Johnson and Garcia led the ownership group that purchased the XFL for $15 million from longtime WWE chairman Vince McMahon, who owned the original version of the league that folded in 2001 and oversaw its 2020 relaunch that was...