AP Sports SummaryBrief at 1:10 a.m. EDT
3 years after the NFL added a 17th game, the push for an 18th gets stronger
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The debate about whether the NFL will expand the regular season once again seems to have been resolved and now it's a matter of how soon the league adds an 18th game. Commissioner Roger Goodell has talked openly about it, union chief Lloyd Howell recently told the Washington Post that the NFLPA is open to doing it before the current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2030 season. Players seem resigned to the inevitability no matter how they might personally feel. The bigger question now might be what concessions can players get to agree to a longer season.
Quincy Hall gets a gold in the Olympic 400 meters with yet another US comeback on the Paris track
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Quincy Hall became the latest American to electrify Olympic track and field with an out-of-nowhere comeback, sprinting from far behind in the 400 meters to reel in three runners and capture the gold medal. Hall, buried in fourth place as the runners rounded the last bend, outran the runner on his outside, then two more to the inside to cross the line in 43.40 seconds, the fourth-fastest time ever. Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith finished second and Muzala Samukonga of Zambia finished third. Hall is the first American since LaShawn Merritt in 2008 to win the one-lap race. His victory came an evening after American Cole Hocker came from behind late to beat the favorites in the men's 1500.
A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young help US rout Nigeria 88-74 to reach Olympic women's hoops semifinals
PARIS (AP) — A'ja Wilson scored 20 points and Jackie Young added 15 points to help the U.S. beat Nigeria 88-74 in the quarterfinals, extending its record winning streak to 59 consecutive Olympic wins. Breanna Stewart also had 13 for the Americans, who haven't lost since the 1992 Barcelona Games and are now two victories away from an unprecedented eighth consecutive gold medal. They will face a familiar foe in Australia in the semifinals on Friday night. The Opals routed Serbia 85-67. The other medal round game will feature host France playing Belgium.
NCAA hands former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh a 4-year show cause order for recruiting violations
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The NCAA says former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh had impermissible contact with recruits and players while access was restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has handed him a four-year show-cause order if he wants to return to college coaching. The NCAA says Harbaugh engaged in unethical conduct, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance and violated head coach responsibility obligations. Harbaugh left the national-championship winning Wolverines to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. The NCAA has already given Michigan three years of probation, a fine and recruiting limits in the same case.
Kyle Schwarber hits 3 homers, drives in 7 runs as Phillies rally past Dodgers, 9-4
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kyle Schwarber hit three homers and drove in seven runs, helping the Philadelphia Phillies rally to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-4 on Wednesday night. The Dodgers lost two of three in the matchup between the National League's top two teams, cutting their NL West lead to three games over surging Arizona — their smallest margin since late April. Schwarber's three-run homer capped a five-run sixth during which the NL East-leading Phillies took the lead. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was ejected by third base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after an interference call on Miguel Rojas during the Phillies' outburst. Schwarber hit is 27th homer leading off the ninth against Michael Grove. Gavin Stone gave up a two-strike homer to Schwarber leading off the game.
Rafael Nadal withdraws from the US Open, the 3rd Grand Slam tournament he'll miss this year
Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the U.S. Open. He announced his withdrawal via social media on Wednesday. It is the third Grand Slam tournament he's missed this season and raises more questions about his future in tennis at age 38. He has won four of his 22 major championships at Flushing Meadows, most recently in 2019. The draw for the year's last Grand Slam tournament is scheduled for Aug. 22 and play is set to begin Aug. 26. Nadal has not announced anything about a possible retirement, but his age and a recent history of injuries suggest he might not play much longer. He says the Laver Cup in September will be his next event.
Lin Yu-ting advances to gold-medal Olympic bout, excelling amid misconceptions about her gender
PARIS (AP) — Boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan has advanced to the gold-medal bout in the women's featherweight division at the Paris Olympics. She beat Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey 5:0 for her third consecutive victory in the tournament while dealing with widespread scrutiny regarding misconceptions about her gender. Both Lin and Imane Khelif have responded to the scrutiny generated by the International Boxing Association's decision to disqualify them from last year's world championships by going on two of the best runs of their careers in Paris. Lin again used her superior height and technique to beat the more physical Kahraman. Lin will fight for gold on Saturday, taking on Julia Szeremeta of Poland.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker says he stands behind comments he made during polarizing speech
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker said Wednesday he was "very intentional" in the comments he made during a polarizing college commencement speech in May and that he stands behind what he said then. During the speech at a private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, the three-time Super Bowl champion told the graduating class that most of the women receiving degrees were probably more excited about getting married and having children, and that some Catholic leaders were "pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America." Butker also assailed Pride month and President Joe Biden's stance on abortion.
Everything Simone Biles did at the Paris Olympics was amplified. She thrived in the spotlight
PARIS (AP) — Every single thing Simone Biles has done at the Paris Olympics has been spotlighted. She won four medals, had an online feud with a former teammate and a social media post that appeared to take a swipe at presidential candidate Donald Trump. Her TikToks regularly draw millions of views and her revelation that she'd gotten Botox made headlines. Biles is the most decorated gymnast of all-time and America's golden girl. She has a unique ability to retain her staying power beyond Olympic cycles, in part because of her remarkable career achievements. But it is also her authenticity that has made her relatable, inspirational and liked by millions around the world.
It's some Olympic rematches in the Paris basketball semifinals, with US-Serbia and Germany-France
PARIS (AP) — U.S. men's basketball coach Steve Kerr knows something unexpected is going to happen when his team plays against Serbia in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics. Maybe Serbia will change its lineup. Maybe Nikola Jokic will play the entire game. Or maybe the surprise will be that there's no surprise at all. Whatever the case, Kerr knows the Americans have to be ready for anything. The U.S. will look to reach the gold-medal game for the 18th time in its 20 Olympic appearances when it faces Serbia in the semifinals of the Paris Games on Thursday night. France will play Germany in the other semifinal.
AP-Scorecard
TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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INTERLEAGUE
Final Arizona 7 Cleveland 3
Final Chicago Cubs 8 Minnesota 2
Final Arizona 5 Cleveland 3
Final St. Louis 5 Tampa Bay 2
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Houston 6 Texas 4
Final Oakland 3 Chicago White Sox 2
Final N.Y. Yankees 5 L.A. Angels 2
Final Baltimore 7 Toronto 3
Final L.A. Angels 8 N.Y. Yankees 2
Final Kansas City 8 Boston 4
Final Detroit 6 Seattle 2
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final San Francisco 7 Washington 4
Final Miami 6 Cincinnati 4
Final Milwaukee 8 Atlanta 5
Final San Diego 9 Pittsburgh 8
Final N.Y. Mets 5 Colorado 3
Final Philadelphia 9 L.A. Dodgers 4