Month: November 2021

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer The WNBA is changing its playoff format to a more traditional bracket. The postseason will consist of three rounds — best-of-three games for the first round and best-of-five games for subsequent ones — beginning this summer. The top eight teams overall will make the playoffs. The league adopted a

By JOE REEDY and ROB HARRIS AP Sports Writers A person familiar with the deal says NBC will continue to broadcast England’s Premier League with a bid of more than $2.7 billion over six years. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the financial terms were confidential. NBC has been

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BERLIN (AP) — Prince Boateng is back at his hometown club Hertha Berlin for possibly the final chapter in a colorful career. He returned 14 years after leaving on an odyssey through teams in England, Spain, Italy and Turkey. The 34-year-old former Ghana international rejoined Hertha in the offseason

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown seemed to have everything going his way in 2020. The receiver was having his best season yet in the NFL on the way to earning his first Pro Bowl honor. Brown said Thursday he was battling so

CHICAGO (AP) — Most minor league players will get their own beds provided in team housing under a new Major League Baseball policy. Stepping up improvements for minor leaguers after widespread criticism, MLB’s housing policy will require teams provide furnished accommodations, with a single bed per player and no more than two players per bedroom.

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ Associated Press SAN ANTONIO (AP) — UTSA hosts defending Conference-USA champion UAB on Saturday at the Alamodome. The Roadrunners’ dream season and the league’s West division title are on the line. No. 15 UTSA (10-0, 6-0) are seeking their first C-USA title but have lost four straight to the Blazers (7-3, 5-1).

By IAN HARISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Two months with the Toronto Blue Jays was enough to make José Berríos change his mind about waiting one more year to reach free agency. Berríos finalized a $131 million, seven-year deal to stay with the Blue Jays. In doing so, the 27-year-old right-hander passed up the

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — When the Los Angeles Rams examine themselves during this bye week, they’ll see a team that currently resembles a stunned boxer who just got saved by the bell from imminent danger of a knockout. Los Angeles’ first back-to-back losses of the season fortuitously occurred right

By The Associated Press No. 2 Alabama hosts 21st-ranked Arkansas trying to secure a spot in the conference championship game. The Crimson Tide have won the past 14 meetings, but face a Razorbacks team that has won three straight games. The game features Arkansas’s running game that ranks sixth nationally against Alabama’s third-rated run defense.

By The Associated Press No. 1 Georgia will be looking to protect its undefeated record and top ranking in the College Football Playoff when it faces Charleston Southern. The Bulldogs are expected to use the game to give extensive playing time to backups. While looking to avoid a monumental upset, Georgia’s other main goal is

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says the United States is considering a diplomatic boycott of next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing over China’s human rights abuses. Such a boycott would keep American dignitaries, but not U.S. athletes, from the games. Biden made the comment to reporters Thursday as he hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield returned to practice after missing one day to rest an assortment of injuries. Mayfield is dealing with shoulder, foot and knee issues. However, he’s expected to play Sunday when the Browns host the winless Detroit Lions. Mayfield was kept off the

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings are used to the stress of defending against Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The three-time NFL MVP has 24 touchdown passes and just three interceptions in 13 games against Minnesota under coach Mike Zimmer. The Packers’ defense will pose a tough test

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The most dynamic offense in the NFL will be on display inside Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. It won’t belong to the Kansas City Chiefs. Oh, the two-time defending AFC champs are still capable of scoring points — just ask the Raiders after their 41-14

By The Associated Press No. 23 San Diego State looks to keep the inside track for the West Division championship and a spot in the Mountain West championship game when it visits UNLV. The Aztecs are 5-1 atop the West, ahead of Fresno State at 5-2, with two games remaining. After playing the Rebels, SDSU

By The Associated Press Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich heads to local rival Augsburg looking to extend its four-point lead at the top of the table. Defender Niklas Süle remains in isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus shortly after joining up with the German national team last week and forward Kingsley Coman is out with

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Justin Fields studied Lamar Jackson last season as he prepared to jump from Ohio State to the NFL. He gets an in-person lesson this week. Jackson and the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens look to shake off a tough loss when they visit Fields and

By The Associated Press Houston can win its 10th straight game and secure the Cougars’ first 10-win season since 2015. Houston is also looking to go 8-0 in conference play for the second time in school history and first time since 2011. Memphis is seeking to become bowl eligible for an eighth straight season. 

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Changes are coming to the Denver Broncos. Just not anytime soon. Someone else will be signing the paychecks next year. Someone new almost certainly will be under center in 2022. And in all likelihood somebody else will be calling the shots from the sideline,

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton says Formula One is “duty bound” to raise awareness of human rights issues as the series closes its season in the Middle East. F1 concludes with races in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. It has also raced since 2004 in Bahrain. Ahead

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Olympic officials have met with Taliban-appointed sports leaders from Afghanistan. The IOC says the talks led to a commitment that Afghanistan’s athletes and teams will continue to compete internationally. The outcome could mean Afghan athletes will compete at the Beijing Olympics in February. Hundreds of athletes and sports officials have left

By The Associated Press The Tennessee Titans have the NFL’s longest active winning streak at six games and host the skidding Houston Texans who’ve lost eight straight. The Titans have won three straight and five of the last seven in the series against the team that replaced the former Oilers in Houston. Tennessee hired Mike

By BRANDON GDULA numberFire Tua Tagovailoa fits as a traditional streamer against a New York Jets defense that ranks 32nd in Adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per play allowed. Tua, in three games against defenses ranked outside the top 20 in adjusted pass defense, has averaged 21.1 fantasy points per game by way