Sports

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency says Iran blocked women from attending the country’s last 2022 World Cup soccer qualifying match. ISNA said 12,500 tickets were sold online, of which 2,000 had been reserved for women. Iran defeated Lebanon 2-0 in the match. A victory in January over Iraq assured the team

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — The World Series champion Atlanta Braves’ season opener against the visiting Cincinnati Reds will be televised nationally by ESPN2 on April 7. Coming off their first title since 1995, the Braves will raise their championship banner before the game, which will be pushed back slightly from its intended 7:20 p.m. Eastern

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms with free agent center Ethan Pocic. He’ll compete with Nick Harris for the starting job. Pocic was selected in the second round of the 2017 draft by Seattle and started 40 games for the Seahawks. The 26-year-old has more experience than Harris and the pair

By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer The Jacksonville Jaguars have reupped their commitment to playing annually at Wembley Stadium in London. The Jaguars received formal approval at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, to move forward with a three-year contract to play at Wembley. The deal gives the small-market franchise exclusivity at

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Right-hander Chris Archer and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract. Archer gives the Twins a potential boost for their rotation. He is a two-time All-Star who’s coming off an injury-ruined season. The 33-year-old Archer made five starts and one relief appearance for the Tampa Bay Rays

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge says former high school football players in Alabama and their parents can’t sue an ex-coach and others over claims that young team members were beaten in a hazing ritual. WALA-TV reports a court ruled in favor of former Davidson High School coach Fred Riley and others in dismissing

SALZBURG, Austria (AP) — Russia and Belarus have been suspended as members of biathlon’s world governing body. It steps up the countries’ isolation after most Olympic sports already banned athletes and teams from Russia and Belarus from competing because of the war on Ukraine. The International Biathlon Union says Russia and Belarus “have violated the

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Duke and North Carolina split two regular-season meetings in what appeared to be the final rivalry games for retiring Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski. Instead, the Blue Devils and Tar Heels will meet in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in their

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Louisville’s Emily Engstler made just 1 of 9 field goals against Michigan in the Wichita Region final. She missed all five of her 3-point tries and was held to five points. But she also had 16 rebounds, six steals and four assists and played a

By PAT EATON-ROBB AP Sports Writer BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — UConn’s players were visibly shaken Monday night when teammate Dorka Juhasz suffered a horrific injury to her left arm during the first half of the Huskies regional final win over North Carolina State. But in what has become a team hallmark this season, Connecticut shook

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — When the NFL launched its Inspire Change program in 2017, the goal was to reach $250 million over 10 years in its commitment to social justice initiatives. The league is almost five years ahead of schedule. At the owners meetings Monday, the NFL

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Wennberg scored 14 seconds into the game, Jared McCann got his team-leading 24th goal and the Seattle Kraken dominated on both ends of the ice in a 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Chris Driedger stopped 36 shots for the expansion Kraken, who

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Wennberg scored 14 seconds into the game, Jared McCann had his team-leading 24th goal of the season and the Seattle Kraken dominated on both ends of the ice in a 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Chris Driedger stopped 36 shots for the