The Redeem Team had one goal at the 2008 Olympics. Its final reward awaits in the Hall of Fame
The 2008 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team, forever to be called the Redeem Team, goes into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend. It went 8-0 in those Beijing Olympics, winning gold and righting a ship that had gone a bit wayward after losses in the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2006 world championships. The U.S., even with NBA-laden rosters, was no longer unbeatable on the international stage, and it was up to that 2008 team to remind the rest of the world where the best basketball was played.
For decades, US Open women's champs got a smaller replica trophy than the men. Now they're equal
NEW YORK (AP) — For decades, U.S. Open women's singles champions received a replica trophy that was much smaller than the ones the men's title winners were allowed to take home. That changed in 2023, when the U.S. Tennis Association started giving the women keepsake hardware that is the same size as the men's trophy. That year was the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Open's move to award equal prize money for women and men. Coco Gauff was the first women's champion in New York to get a replica that was much bigger than what she was shown on court — so she was surprised when her French Open take-home trophy was much smaller than what she posed with after winning the final in Paris this year.
NBA says it will open investigation into report that Clippers broke cap rules with Leonard deal
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NBA says it will investigate if a $28 million endorsement contract between Kawhi Leonard and a California-based sustainability services company allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to circumvent league salary cap rules, following a report by journalist Pablo Torre. The probe will focus on ties between Leonard, the Clippers and a company called Aspiration Fund Adviser, LLC, which filed for bankruptcy this year. It listed several creditors at that time, among them the Clippers (who were owed about $30 million) and a company called KL2 Aspire LLC that was owed $7 million. Leonard is listed as the manager of that company in California filings.
Amanda Anisimova upsets Iga Swiatek at the U.S. Open after 6-0, 6-0 loss to her in Wimbledon's final
NEW YORK (AP) — Amanda Anisimova has upset Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-3 in the U.S. Open quarterfinals less than two months after losing to the six-time Grand Slam champion in the Wimbledon final by a 6-0, 6-0 score. The victory Wednesday allowed the No. 8-seeded Anisimova to reach her third major semifinal and first at Flushing Meadows. Anisimova is a 24-year-old who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Florida. The powerful strokes and poise Anisimova displayed in Arthur Ashe Stadium against No. 2 Swiatek — the 2022 U.S. Open champion — were such a striking contrast to what happened at the All England Club’s Centre Court on July 12.
Ford Racing: A new era for America's race team
Ford Motor Company has rebranded its motorsports program to Ford Racing. The announcement was made in a letter to employees by Will Ford, the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford. The rebranding aims to link road and race operations and develop performance vehicles. The new logo features the stylized Ford in white lettering inside a blue oval, with "RACING" in bold blue underneath. The change will be implemented immediately, with the first Ford Racing production vehicle debuting in January. Ford Racing plans to compete at major events like F1, Dakar, and Daytona, emphasizing innovation and performance.
After deadly bus crash, Brazilian football team rebuilding and drawing inspiration from NFL
CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — The Coritiba Crocodiles are a Brazilian team that plays American-style tackle football and they're in the midst of a season that's about more than just competition on the field. The team is still rebuilding after a September 2024 bus crash that killed three players, including the team captain. The Crocodiles were founded in 2003 and are three-time Brazilian champions in a competition that involves teams from the Amazon to the country’s impoverished Northeast region. The NFL has been shooting a documentary about the recovering Crocodiles since the beginning of the year.
No. 1 Sinner meets Auger-Aliassime, and No. 2 Alcaraz faces Djokovic in the US Open semifinals
NEW YORK (AP) — No. 1 Jannik Sinner will take on No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime, and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz meets No. 7 Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open men's semifinals. The winners of Friday's matchups will face each other for the championship on Sunday. Sinner already owns four major titles, Alcaraz five and Djokovic 24. Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old from Canada, lost his only previous Slam semifinal at Flushing Meadows in 2021. He has the daunting task of trying to stop Sinner, who is the defending champion and has won his last 26 matches at hard-court majors. Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic have combined to win the last 12 major trophies.
NBA moving closer to a US vs. International format for the All-Star Game, AP source says
The NBA is close to finalizing another new format for this season’s All-Star Game that would include two eight-man teams from the U.S. and one eight-man team composed of international players squaring off in a round-robin tournament. A person with knowledge of the plan spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the format has not been finalized. The person says the league’s competition committee has reviewed details of the plan and reacted positively to the concept. The league is about 70% American players and about 30% international.
Angel Reese voices frustration with Chicago Sky's losing season
CHICAGO (AP) — Angel Reese aired her frustrations with the Chicago Sky as the franchise finishes another losing season. The two-time WNBA All-Star told the Chicago Tribune that she “might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me” if the team doesn’t improve its outlook. Chicago routed Connecticut Wednesday night to improve to 10-30. Reese walked back her comments after the win and said she had already apologized to the team. She said her language was taken out of context and she did not mean to put down her teammates.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, fighting an illness, has 2 hits after opting not to pitch vs. Pirates
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's next start on the mound is uncertain as he deals with a lingering illness. The Los Angeles Dodgers star skipped his turn in the rotation on Wednesday night against Pittsburgh. Manager Dave Roberts has not set a date for Ohtani's return to pitching. Ohtani managed to play and had two hits in a 3-0 loss. He has been dealing with a deep cough but continues to contribute on the field. All-Star catcher Will Smith also exited the game with a hand contusion. The Dodgers have lost four of their last five games.
