Sports

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool looks like being one European giant too many for Villarreal. A third Champions League final in five years is in sight for the English club after a 2-0 win in the first leg of the semifinals, secured after an own-goal by Pervis Estupinan and

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — Very little is certain heading into an NFL draft. Not that the prospects on hand seem to care. There’s a level of confidence that, for them, Thursday night’s first round is a sure thing. “I know I am the best cornerback in this draft,”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have picked up the fifth-year option on defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. The Titans announced they picked up the option worth $10.7 million on the 19th pick overall of the 2019 draft. Simmons is coming off his best season yet after posting a career-high 8 1/2 sacks, including three

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer The Philadelphia 76ers were up 3-0 in their series against the Toronto Raptors just a few days ago. The lead has since been sliced to 3-2. That is waking up some echoes for 76ers coach Doc Rivers. He’s the only coach in NBA history to lose three series in

ROME (AP) — A goalkeeping blunder handed Bologna a 2-1 win as Inter Milan wasted a lead and a chance to reclaim the Serie A lead in a match that was postponed from January. Defending champion Inter was left trailing city rival AC Milan by two points with four matches remaining. Reserve goalkeeper Ionut Radu

MUNICH (AP) — Eighteen-year-old Danish player Holger Rune has stunned top-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the BMW Open on Wednesday. Rune broke in Zverev’s first service game in each set to take control of the match on his way to his first career win over a player ranked in the

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Melvin Gordon III is returning to the Denver Broncos, but it’s likely that he’ll serve as the second jab in the team’s 1-2 punch. Gordon and rookie Javonte Williams split carries right down the middle last season, each one getting 203 handoffs, but Gordon

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer Brittney Griner remains detained in Russia and it’s unclear how an unexpected prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia that freed marine veteran Trevor Reed on Wednesday will affect the status of the WNBA star. Griner has been detained in Russia since mid-February. The deal announced by the

by PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks fought hard just to make the playoffs. They battled to the very last second against the top-seeded team in the East. But in the end, there’s only one word to describe this season. Disappointing. Coming off a surprising run to the conference final

CHICAGO (AP) — The United States will play 13th-ranked Uruguay in a June 5 soccer exhibition at Kansas City, Kansas. That completes the schedule for the first four of six planned World Cup warmups for the Americans. The No. 15 U.S. plays No. 24 Morocco on June 1 in an exhibition at Cincinnati and has

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper threw his support behind struggling head coach Matt Rhule on Wednesday, saying it takes patience and time to build a winning foundation in the NFL. Rhule is 10-23 in his two seasons with the Panthers. Only the Lions, Texans, Jets

ATLANTA (AP) — Peyton Manning has set up a scholarship at Georgia Tech honoring former teammate Demaryius Thomas. The NFL receiving great died in December from an apparent seizure at his suburban Atlanta home. He was 33. Manning’s PeyBack Foundation will fund academic scholarships in the receiver’s name at his alma mater. The financial aid

LONDON (AP) — West Ham great Mark Noble will stick to his decision to retire at the end of the season even if the team qualifies for the Champions League for the first time. Noble has played for West Ham since 2004. He announced in March last year that this season would be his last

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have picked up the fifth-year contract option on Pro Bowl linebacker Devin White, who has 15 sacks, four forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries over three NFL seasons. The Bucs announced the expected move on Wednesday. White signed a four-year, $29.315 million deal as the fifth overall

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — High-scoring Buffalo guard Dyaisha Fair has transferred to Syracuse. The Rochester, New York native averaged 23.1 points over the past three seasons for the Bulls of the Mid-American Conference. She finished her junior year fourth in the nation in points per game (23.4). The move reunites Fair with Syracuse coach Felisha