AP National Sports

By LUJAIN JO Associated Press DOHA, Qatar (AP) — It could be any other top-notch hospital in Doha, the capital of Qatar. There are radiology and operation rooms, and all the the high-tech tools of modern surgery on hand. But there’s just one difference: It’s for falcons. In the tiny, wealthy emirate of Qatar, the

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer VICIS has the top four performing helmets in the NFL and NFLPA’s eighth annual study. For the first time a position-specific helmet took the top spot. The helmet is made specifically for offensive and defensive linemen. The league says as technology and information continue to develop there will be

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Japan has qualified for a seventh straight World Cup after beating Australia 2-0 and has ended the Socceroos’ chances of automatic qualification. The result in Sydney also qualified Saudi Arabia from Group B. Australia remains in qualifying contention. The Aussies face a playoff against the third-place team from Group A.

By DANIEL NIEMANN Associated Press COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — The players of Ukrainian women’s soccer club FC Kryvbas are living and training in Germany after being forced to leave their home when Russia invaded. A former youth player helped them link up with Bundesliga club Cologne and they are using the German team’s facilities. Players

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Japan has qualified for a seventh successive World Cup after beating Australia 2-0 in Sydney and ending the Socceroos’ chances of automatic qualification. The result also qualified Saudi Arabia from Asia Group B. Australia remains in qualifying contention. It faces a playoff against the third-place team from Group A, currently

LONDON (AP) — Former England striker Jermain Defoe has announced his retirement from soccer at the age of 39. It ends a 22-year professional career. Defoe scored 20 goals in 57 games for his country and was in England’s squad for the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2012. He played at

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Ada Hegerberg is returning to the Norwegian national team for the first time since 2017. The 26-year-old striker is widely regarded as one of the best players in women’s soccer. She hasn’t played for her country since deciding to rule herself out of selection because of what she perceived

OSLO (AP) — Ada Hegerberg is returning to the Norwegian national team for the first time since 2017. The 26-year-old striker is widely regarded as one of the best players in women’s soccer. She hasn’t played for her country since deciding to rule herself out of selection because of what she perceived to be a

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer MEXICO CITY (AP) — Zack Steffen was picked over Ethan Horvath to be in goal at Estadio Azteca when the United States opened the final qualifying window against Mexico. They were backups with English clubs for much of the season. Both were coming off big saves in Sunday’s FA

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Fourth-seeded Maryland faces top-seeded Stanford on Friday night in the women’s Sweet 16. This is only the second time in the last seven NCAA Tournaments that Maryland is seeded this low. It’s also the first time the Terps will play against a No. 1

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer It has been seven years since the Big Ten had a team reach the Final Four and more than two decades since the conference had a national champion in women’s basketball. With the conference having four teams in the Sweet 16 for a second consecutive year, those streaks could

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Arkansas coach Eric Musselman has learned that his players need to balance the grind of basketball preparation and enjoying themselves through learning about a new city. That’s why he took the Razorbacks on a tour of San Francisco’s iconic sights in the leadup to the

By LUJAIN JO Associated Press DOHA, Qatar (AP) — It could be any other top-notch hospital in Doha, the capital of Qatar. There are radiology and operation rooms, and all the the high-tech tools of modern surgery on hand. But there’s just one difference: it’s for falcons. In the tiny, wealthy emirate of Qatar, the

By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Madison Square Garden won’t host the NIT semifinals and championship game the next two years, according to a person with direct knowledge of the decision — ending a college basketball tradition that dates to 1938. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer DENVER (AP) — Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller scored 1:52 apart early in the third period, Jaroslav Halak stopped 32 shots and the Vancouver Canucks beat the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 3-1. Boeser got things rolling by taking advantage of a turnover with a goal 1:23 into the final period.

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joel Embiid had 30 points and 10 rebounds, James Harden added 24 points and the Philadelphia 76ers hung on for a 126-121 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers without LeBron James. Two nights after the Sixers beat Eastern Conference-leading Miami despite playing without Embiid and