cia Page 2 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Alycia Parks kicks off Qatar Open by upsetting Diana Shnaider
A recent practice session with the great Serena Williams may have paid off for Alycia Parks, who took down Russian 15th seed Diana Shnaider 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) to begin the Qatar TotalEnergies Open on Sunday in Doha.,Parks, an American ranked 85th in the world, recently told the website Tennis Majors ...

OWGR to start awarding ranking points to LIV golfers
Members of the LIV Golf league will receive points toward the Official World Golf Ranking system on a limited basis, the OWGR governing body announced Tuesday.,The decision allows for players who finish in the top 10 (and ties) of LIV Golf's individual stroke play events to receive ranking points. P...

Rams hire special teams coach Bubba Ventrone
The Los Angeles Rams hired two coaches to help fix the team's issues on special teams which proved costly this past season, including in their NFC Championship Game loss to the Seattle Seahawks.,Head coach Sean McVay confirmed Monday that Bubba Ventrone will take over as Rams' special teams coordina...

Mavs coach Jason Kidd fined $35K for ripping refs
The NBA fined Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd $35,000 on Monday for public criticism of the officials and using profane language during a media interview.,Kidd's remarks came after the Mavericks' 111-107 road loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday.,Kidd was upset at the referees for not call...

Oklahoma vaults into top 10 as SEC sets Top 25 record
Oklahoma jumped six spots to No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll Monday following last week's upset of South Carolina.,Fellow Southeastern Conference member Georgia (18-3) joined those two in the rankings this week at No. 23 to give the SEC a record 10 teams in the Top 25.,...

Report: Mets agree to deal with reliever Luis Garcia
The New York Mets are in agreement with veteran reliever Luis Garcia, MLB Network reported on Wednesday.,The deal with the free agent right-hander, who turns 39 on Jan. 30, is pending the results of a physical.,Garcia finished 2-2 with a 3.42 ERA and two saves in 58 appearances last season while pit...

Bucs hire former Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith
Special teams coordinator Danny Smith has left the Pittsburgh Steelers after 13 seasons for the same role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.,Smith and the Steelers' entire coaching staff, though under contract through February, have been permitted to seek employment elsewhere, according to reports. Mike...

Shawn Smith to referee Super Bowl LX
Shawn Smith will head up the officiating crew for Super Bowl LX, the NFL announced Tuesday.,Smith will serve as the referee of the Super Bowl for the first time in his career. He joined the NFL's officiating ranks as an umpire in 2015 before being promoted to a referee in 2018.,Umpire Roy Ellison wi...

Report: Bucs hiring Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith
Special teams coordinator Danny Smith is leaving after 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the same role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL Network reported on Tuesday.,Smith, 72, and the entire coaching staff, though under contract through February, have been permitted by the Steelers to se...

Ryan Garcia gets title shot against Mario Barrios in Vegas
Social media sensation Ryan Garcia, who returned to the ring last spring after serving a one-year drug suspension, will get his first title shot when he takes on WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Feb. 21 in Las Vegas.,The 27-year-old Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs, 1 no contest) held the WBC interim ...

O's claim former top prospect Marco Luciano off waivers from Pirates
The Baltimore Orioles claimed outfielder Marco Luciano, a former top minor league prospect, off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.,In other moves, the Orioles sent left-hander Josh Walker outright to Triple-A Norfolk and designated outfielder Jhonkensy Noel for assignment two days aft...

Arizona narrowly holds on to No. 1 spot in AP Top 25 poll
Arizona maintained the slimmest of grips on No. 1 in the latest Associated Press men's top 25 poll released Monday.,The Wildcats (14-0) earned 32 first-place votes, with Michigan (13-0) garnering the remaining 29. In all, Arizona received 1,494 votes, with the Wolverines capturing just one fewer.,Th...

No resolution for LIV Golf's OWGR points pursuit as 2026 season looms
LIV Golf will begin its fifth season in February, potentially with its application for Official World Golf Ranking points still pending.,Trevor Immelman, chairman of the OWGR, issued a statement on the matter Tuesday.,"Since the end of June, the Governing Board has endeavored to thoroughly evaluate ...

No resolution for LIV's OWGR points pursuit as 2026 season looms
LIV Golf will begin its fifth season in February, potentially with its application for Official World Golf Ranking points still pending.,Trevor Immelman, chairman of the OWGR, issued a statement on the matter Tuesday.,"Since the end of June, the Governing Board has endeavored to thoroughly evaluate ...

NBA reinstates ref Eric Lewis, assigns him to G League
The NBA announced the reinstatement on Friday of referee Eric Lewis, who retired in August 2023 amid a league investigation into violations of its social media policy.,Lewis, 54, was investigated for allegedly using a burner account on the social media site Twitter, now X, in order to defend himself...

Sergio Garcia signs multi-year extension, fills out all-Spanish team
Sergio Garcia signed a multi-year contract extension with LIV Golf on Friday and will return to his role as the team captain for Fireballs GC.,The move also comes after Garcia did not renew his DP World Tour membership for 2026.,Garcia will lead countrymen David Puig, Josele Ballester and Luis Masav...

Rams WR Puka Nacua rips refs in since-deleted tweet
Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Puka Nacua is creating headlines both on and off the field this week.,On the field, Nacua had 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams' 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.,That performance came one day after he performed a...

Daniel Ricciardo clears Max Verstappen for No. 3 switch
Max Verstappen will finally race a Formula 1 season with his favorite number on the nose of his car in 2026.,The Red Bull star confirmed that he will switch to No. 3 next season after former teammate Daniel Ricciardo gave him permission.,Ricciardo had the No. 3 when Verstappen joined the F1 grid wit...

OF Adolis Garcia officially signs 1-year deal with Phillies
Veteran outfielder Adolis Garcia signed a one-year deal worth a reported $10 million with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.,"His power stands out in any part of the ballpark," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Tuesday as the team introduced Garcia to the media. "He's a really good defender, he c...

Sergio Garcia loses Abraham Ancer to all-Latin American team
Abraham Ancer is leaving captain Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC to become part of Torque GC's all-Latin American lineup for the 2026 LIV Golf season.,Mexico's Ancer replaces the relegated Mito Pereira and joins countryman Carlos Ortiz and Colombia's Sebastian Munoz on Chilean captain Joaquin Niemann's...