v Page 76 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

With playoffs in sight, Sparks welcome Fever
With two weeks left in the WNBA regular season, the Los Angeles Sparks stand 1 1/2 games behind Seattle for the last of eight playoff spots.,But to use an old hockey term, Los Angeles has one major advantage: Games in hand.,The Sparks have eight games left, three more than the Storm. And the first o...

Tennessee flips 5-star WR Tristen Keys from LSU
Two days before its 2025 season begins, the Tennessee football team landed a huge recruiting win on Thursday.,Five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys announced on Instagram that he has flipped his commitment from LSU to the Volunteers. He had previously been committed to the Tigers since March.,Keys, t...

No. 12 Illinois attempts to put winning on repeat in 2025
No. 12 Illinois has claimed a spot in the preseason Top 25 poll for the first time since 2008. ,That's a long time ago, but it pales in comparison to the last time Illinois pulled off back-to-back excellent seasons. That hasn't happened since John Mackovic was in charge, when the Jeff George-led 198...

Differing stakes for Dream, Wings in late-season matchup
The Atlanta Dream welcome the Dallas Wings to College Park, Ga. in a matchup between two teams who sit on opposite ends of the standings on Friday night.,But both teams are competing for different things at the end of the WNBA regular season.,The Dream (24-14) can clinch a guaranteed spot in the pla...

Broncos WR Marvin Mims Jr. (groin) will return to practice Monday
It seemed that the Denver Broncos could be in for some bad news after wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. left midway through Wednesday's practice with a groin injury.,However, Broncos head coach Sean Payton said on Thursday that testing showed Mims avoided serious injury and that he's expected to be back...

Padres hope Luis Arraez will find his swing in series at Twins
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt has faith that Luis Arraez will work his way out of a month-long slump at the plate.,Arraez, after all, is a three-time batting champion.,After keeping Arraez out of the starting lineup on Wednesday, Shildt is expected to pencil him back into his traditional No. ...

First-place Tigers out to 'be better' against Royals
The Detroit Tigers have a seemingly comfortable lead over second-place Kansas City in the AL Central. And yet, it's the Royals that are playing more like a playoff team at the moment.,While looking to continue their season success against those Royals, the Tigers try to avoid a fifth straight defeat...

Rays, Nationals turn to struggling pitchers in series opener
Time is running out for the Tampa Bay Rays.,As August winds down, the Rays are lingering on the fringe of the American League wild-card race with three teams between them and the Seattle Mariners, who hold the final spot.,A ray of hope has been provided by the schedule makers. On Friday night, Tampa...

Aiming for wild-card catch-up, Guardians enter key series vs. M's
It's now or never for the Cleveland Guardians, who host the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series beginning Friday.,Seattle has taken control of the final American League wild-card position, owning a three-game lead over the Kansas City Royals, a 4 1/2-game advantage over the Texas Rangers and a f...

Mets C Francisco Alvarez plans to play through pinky fracture
Despite yet another injury, this time a small fracture on the pinky finger of his left hand, New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez still intends on playing in the major leagues down the stretch.,Alvarez was on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday when he was hit by a pitch and forc...

Hawaii rides wave of momentum into Arizona visit
A week after Hawaii achieved the biggest win of the coach Timmy Chang era, the Rainbow Warriors are in search of an even larger accomplishment Saturday on the mainland against Arizona at Tucson, Ariz.,Hawaii's 23-20 season-opening win over Stanford at Honolulu last week was the first victory over a ...

Chasing 21st straight home win, Washington hosts Colorado State
Washington had a losing record last season just one campaign after falling to Michigan in the College Football Playoff national championship game.,Kalen DeBoer fled to become Alabama's coach and player departures were rampant on both sides of the ball. Still, the Huskies managed a 6-0 home mark.,Now...

Guardians release veteran 1B Carlos Santana
The Cleveland Guardians released veteran first baseman Carlos Santana on Thursday, ending his third tenure with the club.,Santana, 39, is having the least productive season of his career, with a .225/.316/.333 slash line through 116 games. His .650 OPS is the lowest of his career.,The 2019 All-Star ...

UCLA to begin Nico Iamaleava era against Utah
UCLA football coach DeShaun Foster has kept a tight lid on practices this summer.,With very little to see, there hasn't been much to report on leading up to the Bruins' season opener on Saturday night against visiting Utah at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.,"We are trying to win games," said Foste...

Freshman QB takes lead as BYU faces Portland State
When BYU's Bear Bachmeier takes the field against Portland State in Provo, Utah, on Saturday, he will be the first true freshman quarterback to start a season opener for the Cougars.,Bachmeier transferred from Stanford after spring practices and earned a shot to claim the starting job after returnin...

Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. makes 'short term' move to bullpen
Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. will be available to work out of the bullpen in the "short term," manager Joe Espada said prior to Thursday's game against the Colorado Rockies.,McCullers initially was in line to start Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Right-hander Cristia...

D-backs 1B/DH Pavin Smith (quad) headed to IL
The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to place first baseman/designated hitter Pavin Smith on the 10-day injured list with a quadriceps issue, MLB.com reported Thursday.,Smith, 29, was lifted from Wednesday's 3-2 win at Milwaukee in the seventh inning with tightness in his left quad.,He returned to ...

Cowboys ($13B) top Forbes' list, average team worth $7.1B
The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable NFL team for a 19th consecutive year, according to the annual list published by Forbes on Thursday.,The Cowboys have a record valuation of $13 billion. That serves as a 29-percent increase from last August when "America's Team" became the first pro sports clu...

Missouri State opens FBS chapter against USC
Southern California welcomes Missouri State to the ranks of the Football Bowl Subdivision when the programs meet on Saturday in Los Angeles. ,USC embarks on a pivotal 2025 campaign against the fledgling FBS program, which is in its first season as a Conference USA member. ,The Bears were members of ...

Cubs place RHP Jameson Taillon (groin) on 15-day IL
The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Jameson Taillon on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left groin strain.,The move is retroactive to Monday for Taillon, who completed a brief bullpen session without issue on Wednesday. That said, the Cubs opted to exercise caution.,"The way I had this prese...