AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:10 a.m. EDT
LeBron James says at ESPYS he will play for Lakers in upcoming season
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James plans to play next season for the Los Angeles Lakers. The 38-year-old superstar announced his intentions at The ESPYS. James accepted the record-breaking performance award for becoming the NBA's career scoring leader. James had said at the end of last season that he wasn't sure if he would be back. He says the day he can't give everything to the game he will retire, but he told the crowd, "Lucky for you guys that day is not today." The audience in Los Angeles greeted his words with a huge cheer.
Panama upsets US 5-4 on penalty kicks after 1-1 tie to reach CONCACAF Gold Cup final
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Adalberto Carrasquilla converted the decisive penalty kick after Cristian Roldan failed to convert his attempt, and Panama beat the defending champion United States 5-4 in a shootout after a 1-1 tie to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico. Iván Anderson scored in the ninth minute of extra time. Jesús Ferreira tied the score for the U.S. six minutes later. Panama reached the final for the third time after losing to the U.S. in 2005 and 2013. The U.S. failed to reach the final for the first time since a 2015 semifinal loss.
Patrick Mahomes is more focused on improving and winning more Super Bowls than his legacy
Patrick Mahomes already is a two-time Super Bowl MVP and AP NFL MVP before turning 28, compiling an impressive Hall of Fame-worthy resume in only six seasons. If any player is ever going to challenge Tom Brady for greatest-of-all-time status, Mahomes has the best chance. Like Brady and other superstar athletes, Mahomes still works to improve, aiming to keep the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl contention. Mahomes told the AP Pro Football Podcast he thinks about his legacy but is more focused on improving and getting better. The Chiefs are seeking to become the first repeat Super Bowl champs since Brady's Patriots in 2003-04.
Chris Eubanks' magical Wimbledon ends against Daniil Medvedev, who faces Carlos Alcaraz next
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Daniil Medvedev has ended American Chris Eubanks' surprising run at Wimbledon in the quarterfinals. Medvedev came back to beat Eubanks in five sets on Wednesday. The 2021 U.S. Open champion reached his first semifinal at the All England Club. Next up for Medvedev is a matchup against No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who eliminated Holger Rune. Ons Jabeur eliminated defending champion Elena Rybakina in a rematch of last year's final to get back to the semifinals. Jabeur now meets Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, a winner against American Madison Keys.
Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka both make their way back into the Wimbledon semifinals
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — A spot in the Wimbledon semifinals was as good as guaranteed from where Ons Jabeur was sitting on Centre Court. The sixth-seeded Tunisian walked into the main stadium at the All England Club to play Elena Rybakina in a rematch of last year's final. Jabeur lost that time but not this time. And she joked it was possibly thanks to the seating arrangements. Jabeur says when they entered the court "I made sure I changed seats ... I went for the other seat that she won (from) last year." Jabeur won 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1 and will next face Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals on Thursday. The second-seeded Belarusian beat Madison Keys 6-2, 6-4.
Ja Morant's lawyers cite 'stand your ground' law, self-defense in pickup basketball lawsuit
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The future of a lawsuit accusing Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant of assaulting a teenager during a pickup basketball game hinges on whether Morant will be allowed to say that he was acting in self-defense and can receive immunity under Tennessee law. A judge on Wednesday allowed Morant's lawyers to proceed with their case that Morant was acting in self-defense when he punched then-17-year-old Joshua Holloway during a game at Morant's Memphis-area home in July 2022. Morant's lawyers have acknowledged he punched Holloway one time after Holloway threw a basketball at Morant and the ball hit him in the chin. Morant has filed a countersuit against Holloway.
ESPN's Dick Vitale diagnosed with cancer for a 3rd time
Longtime ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale says he has been diagnosed with cancer for a third time. Vitale tweeted Wednesday that he had surgery in Boston this week, and tests revealed that he has vocal cord cancer. He said he will undergo six weeks of radiation treatments. He says he will fight to be ready to call games when the college basketball season begins this fall. The 84-year-old Vitale has previously been treated for melanoma and lymphoma. Vitale has been with ESPN since 1979, the year the network launched. He's also a longtime fundraiser for cancer research.
Suspect in Larry Nassar stabbing said ex-doctor made lewd remark watching Wimbledon, AP source says
WASHINGTON (AP) — A prisoner suspected of stabbing Larry Nassar at a federal penitentiary in Florida said the disgraced former sports doctor provoked the attack by making a lewd comment while they were watching a Wimbledon tennis match. That's according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Court records show the inmate, identified as Shane McMillan, was previously convicted of assaulting a correctional officer at a federal penitentiary in Louisiana in 2006 and attempting to stab another inmate to death at the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado in 2011. Messages seeking comment were left with lawyers who've represented McMillan in his past cases.
Schauffele and Spieth say PGA Tour Commissioner Monahan has to earn back trust
GULLANE, Scotland (AP) — PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is set to return to work next week. Xander Schauffele says there are tough questions for him to answer about the tour's stunning commercial deal with the Saudis. And he believes Monahan has some trust to earn back from the players because of the secretive nature of the deal with the Saudi Arabia wealth fund behind LIV Golf. Schauffele says Monahan had his trust and now has a lot less of it. Jordan Spieth also said Monahan will have quite a bit of trust issues with players. Scottie Scheffler says he wishes player representatives were kept in the loop.
Messi mania engulfs Miami ahead of Argentine soccer superstar's arrival
MIAMI (AP) — A hamburger and drink combination called the Lionel Messi. A huge sketch of the soccer star's smiling face on a restaurant wall beside a meme that went viral during the 2022 World Cup. A beer with a pink label matching the color of the Inter Miami jersey he will wear. Wherever you turn in Miami these days something reminds you of the imminent arrival of the Argentine soccer legend. There is no hiding the euphoria generated by Messi in Miami as he begins the new Major League Soccer phase of his career in one of the most Latino cities in the United States.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Connecticut 84 Chicago 72
Final OT New York 95 Indiana 87
Final Dallas 107 Minnesota 67
Final Atlanta 85 Seattle 75
Final Las Vegas 97 Los Angeles 78
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Final New England 2 Atlanta 1
Final Cincinnati 2 New York 1
Final Chicago 3 CF Montréal 0
Final Minnesota 3 Houston 0
Final tie Real Salt Lake 2 Sporting Kansas City 2
Final Philadelphia 2 Nashville 0
Final San Jose 2 Seattle 0
Final Vancouver 2 Austin FC 1
Final Los Angeles FC 3 Saint Louis City SC 0
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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