AP National Sports

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament reported strong viewership numbers this week.  The event is packaged with 28 others in a broadcast rights deal with ESPN. That agreement expires in two years. There is speculation that the NCAA might see if the women’s tournament can be marketed as its own

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians began opening day Thursday by making official a $20 million, five-year contract with Emmanuel Clase, ensuring one of the breakout stars of the rechristened club will be closing games for the foreseeable future. The deal, which was agreed to over the

DETROIT (AP) — The Chicago White Sox expect third baseman Yoán Moncada to miss the first three weeks of the season because of a strained right oblique. The team placed Moncada on the 10-day injured list on Thursday as part of a flurry of moves to get the roster down to 28 players. General manager

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. is not among the Atlanta Braves players who will be missing Freddie Freeman as the team opens its season. Acuña criticized Freeman, the former longtime Braves first baseman who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason, in an Instagram Live interview.

By JOSH DUBOW AP Sports Writer SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson is stepping down after 19 seasons on the job. The team announced Joe Will remains interim GM until a full-time replacement can be found. Will has been running the team’s hockey operations since Wilson went on medical

NEW YORK (AP) — Winners of the Roberto Clemente Award will wear his No. 21 on the back of their caps for the rest of their major league careers. Major League Baseball said it was a “special tribute to his enduring legacy.” The announcement was timed for the 50th anniversary of the year in which

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has returned from Africa following the death of his older brother. Joshua Emmanuel Owusu-Koramoah, who played linebacker for William & Mary, was found dead inside a burned house in Hampton, Virginia, on Tuesday. Police are investigating the 23-year-old’s death as a

ATLANTA (AP) — The World Series champion Atlanta Braves are carrying three catchers on their opening day roster. William Contreras made the team behind starting catcher Travis d’Arnaud and top backup Manny Piña. The Braves sent veteran infielders Phil Gosselin and Pat Valaika to Triple-A Gwinnett. The 24-year-old Contreras hit .215 with eight homers and

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — A South American soccer official who was acquitted of a racketeering conspiracy charge in the United States has had his life ban by FIFA annulled and sent back for a fresh investigation. The Court of Arbitration for Sport says its judges partially upheld an appeal by Manuel Burga against FIFA. The

TORONTO (AP) — Niagara IceDogs general manager Joey Burke and head coach Billy Burke have been indefinitely suspended by the Ontario Hockey League. The two men and the team have been fined a combined total of $150,000. The team is based in St. Catharines, Ontario. The league cited transcripts of a March 6 WhatsApp conversation.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Two Black coaches have joined Brian Flores in his lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices by the NFL toward coaches and general managers. The updated lawsuit filed Thursday in Manhattan federal court adds coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton. Wilks alleges he was discriminated against by the

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger Woods is back. Walking with the slightest hint of a limp after a devastating car wreck that could’ve cost him his right leg, Woods sent the Masters patrons into an uproar with his first birdie of the tournament. After five straight pars, Woods delivered

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer Serena Williams’ coach for a decade is going to work with Simona Halep. Patrick Mouratoglou announced his partnership with Halep via social media on Thursday. It raises questions what this means for the future of Williams as a player. Williams owns a professional-era-record 23 Grand Slam singles titles but

DUBLIN (AP) — Conor McGregor has appeared in a court in Dublin charged with six driving offenses. The biggest star in mixed martial arts was stopped by police as he was driving in his Bentley in west Dublin on March 22. McGregor was accused of two counts of dangerous driving as well as driving without