AP Sports Summary for Sunday
Analysis: Wimbledon's champion says a taste for McDonald's makes her normal. But she's unique
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova says she's "just a normal person" because she likes to eat chocolate and eat McDonald's during a Grand Slam tournament. What she showed by becoming the first unseeded woman to claim the title at the All England Club is that she is unique. She is a 24-year-old lefty from the Czech Republic who missed Wimbledon last year after having two operations on her left wrist. Vondrousova grew up playing on clay at a club in Prague and her first big success was reaching the 2019 French Open final on that surface. She later was the runner-up at the Tokyo Olympics on hard courts. And now she has succeeded on grass.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz meet in the Wimbledon final
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Novak Djokovic is bidding for his record-tying eighth Wimbledon singles championship and fifth in a row. Carlos Alcaraz is trying for his first trophy at the All England Club. Djokovic wants his 24th Grand Slam title. Alcaraz wants his second. There is plenty on the line when Djokovic and Alcaraz meet each other at Centre Court in the Wimbledon final on Sunday. There's also this: Alcaraz is ranked No. 1, and Djokovic is ranked No. 2. In addition to the Wimbledon trophy, the winner will have the top ATP ranking. This is a rematch of the showdown between Alcaraz and Djokovic in the French Open semifinals last month.
LeBron James will return to No. 23 next season after switching from No. 6
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James is not only coming back for a 21st season, he's coming back in his original uniform number. James will return to No. 23 next season, a move the Los Angeles Lakers revealed Saturday by tweeting a picture of his back with James' name and number showing on the gold jersey. James has alternated between No. 23 and No. 6 after wearing 23 when he entered the NBA in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was in No. 6 while becoming the NBA's career scoring leader last season, a number now retired by the league following the death of Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Bill Russell. James' agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN that James decided to make the switch out of respect for Russell.
Shohei Ohtani homers in 9th inning, Angels win 13-12 in 10th on Astros error
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtan hit his major league-leading 33rd homer to key the Angels' tying rally in the ninth inning, and rookie Trey Cabbage scored on rookie Grae Kessinger's throwing error in the 10th to end Los Angeles' wild 13-12 victory over the Houston Astros. The Astros' rookie shortstop threw wide of first base while attempting to turn an easy inning-ending double play on Taylor Ward's grounder. Cabbage scored from third in only his second major league game to set off a wild celebration for the Angels, who rallied from a six-run deficit in the seventh and a three-run deficit in the ninth.
Brittney Griner makes emotional and dominant return to record-setting WNBA All-Star Game
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brittney Griner scored 18 points, including two dunks, in her return to the All-Star Game to lead Team Stewart to a 143-127 win over Team Wilson. Team Stewart's Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm broke the All-Star Game scoring record with 31 points. Maya Moore and Kelsey Plum each had the previous record with 30 points. Loyd earned MVP honors for the game. Plum actually tied her own record with 30 points, one of four Las Vegas Aces competing for Team Wilson. The 143 points and 270 combined point are All-Star Game records.
BRITISH OPEN '23: Back to Royal Liverpool with all eyes on McIlroy
HOYLAKE, England (AP) — The British Open returns to Royal Liverpool and all eyes are on Rory McIlroy. He has gone nine years since winning his last major. McIlroy came close to ending that drought last month at the U.S. Open and last year at St. Andrews. Padraig Harrington refers to him as a person of interest at the 151st Open because McIlroy seems due. It helps that McIlroy won the last time the British Open was held at Royal Liverpool in 2014. Conditions are favorable for him historically. The forecast for the area just south of Liverpool is for softer conditions than normal.
Martin Truex Jr. is undecided on retirement or another NASCAR season for Joe Gibbs Racing
LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. knows he has to make a decision soon on his race future. Truex could announcement his retirement or decide to return for another season with Joe Gibbs Racing. The 43-year-old has floated retirement before, only to be coaxed back to return for another year in the No. 19 Toyota. Truex has two wins after he missed the playoffs last season. JGR would likely look to Xfinity Series drivers John Hunter Nemechek or Sammy Smith to fill the spot if Truex decides to retire.
Kobe Brown shows star power for LA Clippers in Summer League with 35-point performance
Kobe Brown thought he deserved to go higher in the NBA draft and he's beginning to show why. The final pick in the first round at No. 30 overall, Brown is proving he has a chance to make an impact as a rookie for the Los Angeles Clippers after putting together one of the more complete game lines in Las Vegas. He scored 35 points on seven 3-pointers Friday night to go along with eight rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Through four games, the Missouri product is averaging 17.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks.
Lionel Messi makes it official by signing with Inter Miami and Major League Soccer
Lionel Messi has finalized his deal to join Major League Soccer. And after years of planning and pursuing, Inter Miami has landed a global icon. Messi's contract is now official, about five weeks after he declared that he would be coming to Inter Miami. The team will introduce him Sunday night at its stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The first home match of the Messi era is likely to be July 21 in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul. A formal news conference is scheduled for Monday and his first training session with his new club is likely to be Tuesday.
Stephen Curry makes hole-in-one, leads American Century celebrity golf tournament
STATELINE, Nev. (AP) — Stephen Curry, from way downtown! The Golden State Warriors star made a hole-in-one Saturday in the American Century Championship celebrity tournament. Fans roared as Curry hit the shot on the 152-yard par-3 seventh hole at Edgewood Tahoe, ripped off his hat, held a finger in the air and sprinted to the hole. The eight-point ace helped Curry maintain the lead in the modified Stableford event, three points ahead of Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski and former tennis player Mardy Fish. Players also receive a point for par, three for birdie and six for eagle and are deducted two points for double bogey or worse. Curry had 50 points after his 23-point round. Fish, the 2020 winner, had a 29-point day. Pavelski scored 24 points.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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INTERLEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 10 Boston 4
Final Toronto 5 Arizona 2
Final Chicago White Sox 6 Atlanta 5
Final Baltimore 6 Miami 5
Final N.Y. Yankees 6 Colorado 3
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 6 Kansas City 1
Final Texas 2 Cleveland 0
Final Tampa Bay 4 Kansas City 2
Final Minnesota 10 Oakland 7
Final Detroit 6 Seattle 0
Final L.A. Angels 13 Houston 12
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Philadelphia 6 San Diego 4
Final Washington 7 St. Louis 5
Final San Francisco 3 Pittsburgh 1
Final Milwaukee 3 Cincinnati 0
Final L.A. Dodgers 5 N.Y. Mets 1
Final St. Louis 9 Washington 6
Final Philadelphia 9 San Diego 4
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WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Team 143 Team 127
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Final Orlando City 2 Atlanta 1
Final Cincinnati 3 Nashville 1
Final CF Montréal 2 Charlotte FC 0
Final New England 4 D.C. United 0
Final Philadelphia 2 New York City FC 1
Final Chicago 1 Toronto FC 0
Final tie Los Angeles FC 1 Minnesota 1
Final Saint Louis City SC 3 Miami 0
Final Austin FC 2 Sporting Kansas City 1
Final tie Houston 0 Colorado 0
Final Real Salt Lake 3 New York 1
Final Portland 3 Columbus 2
Final tie FC Dallas 1 Seattle 1
Final Vancouver 4 LA Galaxy 2
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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INTERLEAGUE
Chi White Sox at Atlanta 1:35 p.m.
Miami at Baltimore 1:35 p.m.
Arizona at Toronto 1:37 p.m.
Boston at Chi Cubs 2:20 p.m.
N-Y Yankees at Colorado 3:10 p.m.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay at Kansas City 2:10 p.m.
Cleveland at Texas 2:35 p.m.
Minnesota at Oakland 4:07 p.m.
Detroit at Seattle 4:10 p.m.
Houston at L-A Angels 7:10 p.m.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
San Francisco at Pittsburgh 12:05 p.m.
San Diego at Philadelphia 1:35 p.m.
L-A Dodgers at N-Y Mets 1:40 p.m.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati 1:40 p.m.
Washington at St. Louis 2:15 p.m.
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