Yahoo Sports 
Yahoo SportsWhy many NCAA women's basketball stars didn't grow up watching the game
It’s rather common to hear women’s basketball players grew up without having watched the game they aspire to play at the highest level. But that's changing, and the extra exposure should have a huge impact on the next generation.
The Canadian PressLopez shuts down Royals as Twins begin defense of AL Central title with 4-1 win
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pablo Lopez allowed one run over seven innings, Royce Lewis homered before leaving with an injury, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 on Thursday to begin defense of their AL Central crown. Carlos Correa added three hits and two RBIs to back a near-peerless performance by Lopez, who picked up where he left off last postseason. The right-hander allowed four hits and struck out seven without a walk in his first opening-day start. The lone run Lopez (1-0
The Canadian PressMartini homers twice, Montas pitches 6 shutout innings and Reds beat Nationals 8-2 in opener
CINCINNATI (AP) — Nick Martini homered twice and drove in five runs in his first opening-day start, Frankie Montas pitched six shutout innings in his Cincinnati debut and the Reds cruised to an 8-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Martini, a 33-year-old designated hitter with his fourth major league team since 2018, hit a two-run homer in the second inning and a three-run shot in the third for a 7-0 lead off Josiah Gray (0-1). Martino became the first Cincinnati player to hit two h
The Canadian PressShohei Ohtani reaches 3 times in home debut as the Dodgers rout the Cardinals 7-1
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani reached three times in his home debut for the Dodgers, and Los Angeles beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-1 Thursday in the Dodger Stadium opener to a season of sky-high expectations. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman homered in the third inning, and Tyler Glasnow pitched six innings of two-hit ball for the Dodgers. One week after Los Angeles began the season with two games in South Korea, the club showed off the talent throughout an expensive, star-studded roster hea
Yahoo SportsMLB Opening Day 2024: Shohei Ohtani debuts at Dodger Stadium with double and baserunning error in win
The Dodgers beat the Cardinals 7-1 with homers from Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman and a strong start by Tyler Glasnow.
The Canadian PressSkubal pitches 3-hit ball over 6 innings as Tigers open with 1-0 win over White Sox
CHICAGO (AP) — Tarik Skubal pitched six innings of three-hit ball and the Detroit Tigers opened a promising season on a winning note, beating the Chicago White Sox 1-0 on Thursday. Skubal and three relievers combined to retire the final 17 batters. The White Sox did not advance past first base and wasted a terrific start by Garrett Crochet. Javier Báez singled and scored on Andy Ibáñez’s sacrifice fly in the third. The Tigers finished with six hits. Skubal (1-0) picked up right where he left off
The Canadian PressBarcelona wins to set up Women's Champions League semifinal vs. Chelsea. PSG advances to face Lyon
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Aitana Bonmatí led Barcelona to its sixth straight Women's Champions League semifinals on Thursday, scoring the opening goal in a 3-1 win over Brann that sets up a last-four clash with Chelsea. The Ballon d'Or winner put the Catalan team in the driver's seat with a curling shot in the 24th minute before Fridolina Rolfo made it 2-0 from close range in the second half. Defender Tomine Svendheim cut the deficit 20 minutes from time before Patri Guijarro sealed Barcelona's wi
The Canadian PressScott, Beckie rejoin Canada for SheBelieves Cup after long knee injury layoffs
Desiree Scott and Janine Beckie return after lengthy knee injury layoffs to join Canada at next month's SheBelieves Cup. The four-team tournament, which runs April 6-9 in Atlanta and Columbus, also features the fourth-ranked United States, No. 7 Japan and No. 10 Brazil. The 36-year-old Scott earned the last of her 185 Canada caps in November 2022 in a 2-1 win over Brazil. Like Beckie, the Kansas City Current midfielder missed the 2023 NWSL season after knee surgery. The 29-year-old Beckie, who h
The Canadian PressBurnes brilliant in Baltimore debut, allows 1 hit as the Orioles rout the Los Angeles Angels 11-3
BALTIMORE (AP) — Corbin Burnes allowed one baserunner in a dominant debut for Baltimore, and Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins both homered as the Orioles began their AL East title defense with an 11-3 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. Mike Trout hit a first-inning home run off Burnes, but the Angels managed nary a peep against the new Baltimore ace after that. Burnes (1-0) struck out 11 in six innings in his first start after the Orioles acquired the right-hander from Milwaukee in
The Canadian PressUniversity of the Pacific hires ex-Carleton basketball coach Dave Smart as head coach
STOCKTON, Calif. — Dave Smart, a 10-time U Sports coach of the year, is getting a head coaching gig in the United States. The longtime leader of the Carleton University men's basketball program has been hired by the University of the Pacific Tigers as head coach of the men's NCAA Division I team. "I could not be more excited than I am now to have coach Smart join our Tigers family and lead our men's basketball program," Pacific director of athletics Adam Tschuor said in a statement. "He is one o
The Canadian PressSting coach Letang, assistant suspended by OHL for abuse of officials
TORONTO — The Ontario Hockey League has suspended Sarnia Sting head coach Alan Letang three games and assistant coach Micheal Haley two games for conduct demeaning to game officials. The Sting have also been fined $2,500. Letang and Haley were both ejected from Sarnia's 4-2 loss to visiting Saginaw last Friday after receiving game misconducts for abuse of officials within three minutes of each other in the third period. Letang, who was Canada's head coach at the 2024 world junior championship, w
The Canadian PressWelsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit agrees to a contract with the Chiefs, AP source says
Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit has agreed to a contract with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, a person with knowledge of the contract told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the deal. The 23-year-old Rees-Zammit, one of the best wingers in rugby, announced in January that he was leaving the Welsh national team to pursue a dream of playing in the NFL. He’s projected as a returner/running ba
Yahoo SportsJets owner Woody Johnson rips NFL Nework's report about 'heated argument' with HC Robert Saleh
The NFL owner has some issues with the NFL-owned media outlet.
Yahoo SportsLeBron James announces high school teammate Dru Joyce as Duquesne’s next head coach
Dru Joyce will take over for Keith Dambrot, who retired after leading the Dukes to their first NCAA tournament win in more than 50 years this spring.
Yahoo SportsJ.J. McCarthy second overall? + QB class red flags, Dak Prescott on the open market | Inside Coverage
Jason Fitz is joined by Senior NFL Reporters Charles Robinson and Jori Epstein to go behind the scenes on the latest rumors and news around the NFL. The trio start with takeaways from the NFL owner's meetings as Jori was on the ground in Orlando. The hosts discuss the fallout of the new kickoff rule (are rosters going to change because of it?), the two Christmas Day games and what the heck Jerry Jones was doodling in his notebook. Next, it's time to pull out the crystal ball as the hosts attempt to look into the future for some key quarterbacks, starting with Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy's draft stock has been skyrocketing lately as some rumors emerged that he could go as high as second overall. Charles gives his thoughts and what he's hearing from GMs around the league before moving onto Brock Purdy and whether San Francisco will be willing to pay him when the time comes. Charles dives deeper into the 2024 quarterback class and why every prospect has a massive red flag, and Jori gives us the latest on the Dak Prescott contract negotiations, which seem to be heading in the wrong direction. All signs are pointing towards Dak hitting free agency next offseason. Finally, Fitz wraps things up by asking about Deion Sanders' comments about choosing where his sons get drafted and whether or not player empowerment could be ascending to a new level with the emergence of NIL.
Yahoo SportsDraft Deep Dive RBs: No elite prospects but instant contributors are plentiful
Our draft deep dive on skill prospects continues with a look at the 2024 RB class. Charles McDonald and Matt Harmon look at the top running back prospects and which can make an instant contribution on the field and for fantasy teams this season.
The Canadian PressA new era in Baltimore: Orioles eye bright future as David Rubenstein takes over as owner
BALTIMORE (AP) — David Rubenstein took over the Baltimore Orioles at a particularly optimistic moment for the franchise — and the new owner seems well aware of what this team could accomplish in the immediate future. “Today is an easy day to say everything is great, and hopefully we'll win opening day, but I don't want this to be the high-water mark,” Rubenstein said Thursday, a day after Major League Baseball's owners unanimously approved his purchase of the Orioles. “I want the high-water mark
The Canadian PressCommissioner Rob Manfred hopes MLB investigation of Shohei Ohtani will be short but isn't sure
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he hopes the sport’s gambling investigation of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will be short but he isn’t sure. MLB announced its investigation Friday after the Dodgers fired Ohtani’s interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well over $1 million. Ohtani said Monday he never bet on sports or knowingly paid any gambling debts accumulated by Miz
Yahoo Sports2024 NFL Draft: How every team should tackle the QB position
The quarterback position is always a hallmark of the NFL Draft, and 2024 is no different. Fantasy analyst Matt Harmon runs down what every team should do.
The Canadian PressAbuse-Free Sport registry made public by Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner
The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner has made public a registry of people barred or provisionally suspended from participating in sport. The establishment of a public searchable database of individuals who have been sanctioned under the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent Abuse and Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), or whose eligibility to participate in sport has been restricted, was announced in June 2023 by former federal sports minister Pascale St-Onge. The purpose of the registry is
The Canadian PressPackers sign former Vikings kicker Greg Joseph to provide competition for Anders Carlson
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Veteran kicker Greg Joseph has signed with the Green Bay Packers after spending the past three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers announced the Joseph signing on Thursday. His arrival provides competition for Anders Carlson, who struggled with consistency as a rookie kicker last season. Joseph, 29, went 24 of 30 on field-goal attempts last season while going 3 of 6 from 40 to 49 yards and 4 of 7 from at least 50 yards. He was 36 of 38 on extra-point attempts.
The Canadian PressDodgers deferred payroll total rises to $915.5M after adding $50M more in catcher Will Smith's deal
Catcher Will Smith's $140 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers includes $50 million payable from 2034-43, raising the team's deferred compensation liability to $915.5 million owed five players. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández also are due deferred payments extending from 2028-44. Smith receives a $30 million signing bonus under the deal announced Wednesday, half payable on Nov. 15 and the rest on Jan. 15, 2025, according to contract terms obta
The Canadian PressVeteran Harris has no doubts that he'll be ready for the start of Riders camp
Trevor Harris will be full-go when the Saskatchewan Roughriders open training camp in May. The veteran quarterback missed most of last season — his first in Regina — with a significant knee injury. But Harris told reporters Thursday he could have returned at about 70 per cent efficiency had Saskatchewan reached the West Division final and was back at full strength by Christmas. "I'm just doing maintenance now," he said during a video conference. "Right around Christmas time . . . I was able to d
Yahoo SportsAndy Reid brings Lombardi Trophy for Royals 1st pitch, throws a strike to George Brett
The Chiefs' coach had a pretty good toss to start the Royals' season.
Yahoo SportsWhy former UFC champion Chris Weidman isn't ready to call it a career just yet
MMA is governed by a life cycle that is as brutal as it is brief. Weidman, 39, knows his career is winding down, but he's not done yet.
Headlines
- Shohei Ohtani debuts at Dodger Stadium with double and baserunning error in win
- Scott, Beckie rejoin Canada for SheBelieves Cup after long knee injury layoffs
- Michael Porter Jr. defends brother Jontay amid reported betting probe
- Knicks cruise past Raptors 145-101 in most lopsided home loss in Toronto's history
- Wander Franco removed from Rays' roster, placed on administrative leave amid probe
