AP National Sports

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Shakhtar Donetsk is heading directly to the next Champions League group stage after Villarreal was eliminated in the semifinals. The upgrade should guarantee Shakhtar tens of millions of dollars in Champions League prize money next season. Amid so much turmoil in Ukrainian soccer, Shakhtar has been

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford has been given a one-game suspension for a boarding incident in Toronto’s playoff-opening win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The NHL’s department of player safety issued the suspension on Tuesday following a hearing with Clifford. It described the incident as a forceful hit to a defenseless

By MARK PRATT Associated Press When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy autographed a baseball for an American collector in 2019, he probably had no idea it would one day be used to help his nation during a time of need. Auctioneer RR Auction of Boston said Tuesday that the official Rawlings Major League baseball is being

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken’s first season ended up looking like nearly every other NHL expansion season from the past 30 years. The comparisons with the last expansion team , the Golden Knights, were inevitable and the high bar set by Vegas in its first season almost ensured

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tuesday night’s scheduled game between the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians has been postponed by rain and a soggy forecast. The rainout will be made up Wednesday as part of a traditional doubleheader starting at 1:10 p.m. San Diego’s Mike Clevinger, who missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, will

VILLARREAL, Spain (AP) — Liverpool has rallied after an early scare to defeat Villarreal 3-2 and advance to its third Champions League final in five seasons. Villarreal looked on its way to another stunning upset after opening a two-goal lead in the first half to offset its 2-0 first-leg loss in England. But the modest

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have appointed Jeff King and Kansas City Chiefs executive Trey Koziol co-directors of player personnel under new general manager Ryan Poles. King was a tight end who played seven seasons in the NFL with Carolina and Arizona after starring at Virginia Tech. He started as a scouting

DETROIT (AP) — The game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers has been rained out. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader Wednesday. The postponement at Comerica Park was announced several hours before the game was supposed to begin. Pittsburgh and Detroit will start at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday in a straight

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer Sleepless nights. Rewinding the loss in his mind over and over again. Therapy sessions as well. And weeks and weeks of time. Ryan Tannehill has lost big games before. Losing as the AFC’s No. 1 seed with the Titans quarterback throwing three interceptions left him with what

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Novak Djokovic is off to a good start at the Madrid Open after a 6-3, 6-2 win over Gael Monfils in the second round. The top-ranked Djokovic is looking to regain his best form ahead of the French Open. He saved all five break points he

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed safety Damontae Kazee to a one-year contract. Kazee spent the 2021 season in Dallas, making 52 tackles and finishing with two interceptions in 17 games, with 15 starts. The 28-year-old Kazee began his career in Atlanta, playing four seasons for the Falcons from 2017-20. He tied for

WASHINGTON (AP) — Akok Akok is transferring to Georgetown from UConn to play men’s basketball. It is the latest in a series of additions and subtractions for coach Patrick Ewing’s Hoyas after the worst season in Big East history. Georgetown announced Akok’s move on Tuesday. The team went 6-25 last season, including 0-19 in conference

By ERIC TUCKER and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has determined that WNBA star Brittney Griner is being wrongfully detained in Russia, meaning the United States will more aggressively work to secure her release even as the legal case against her plays out, the State Department said Tuesday. “The U.S.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer The New Orleans Saints and Tyrann Mathieu have agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract, reuniting the All-Pro safety with his hometown team, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person confirmed the contract, first reported by ESPN.com, on condition of anonymity because