9:25 AM ET Associated Press The women’s professional tennis tour will bring its events back to China later this year, announcing Thursday the end of a boycott instituted in late 2021 over concerns about the safety of former player Peng Shuai after she accused a high-ranking government official there of sexual assault. WTA chairman and
Month: April 2023
8:16 AM ET CHRISTINA LINARDATOU WILL return to the ring Saturday against Mikaela Mayer. While no title will be on the line, it’s a fight of significance, as Mayer is the type of opponent Linardatou worked toward facing again. However, it’s just not the fight — or fighter — she initially wanted or expected to
7:52 AM ET Nate Diaz and Jake Paul have been exchanging trash talk on social media and in the press for over a year. Their two teams got into a physical altercation backstage during one of Paul’s fights. Paul called Diaz out on several exchanges, including in his postfight interview after beating Anderson Silva last
7:57 AM ET Jeff WagenheimESPN “This is going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” That’s a sentiment one might expect from a fighter who has worked his way up from lower-tier MMA promotions and is about to debut among the sport’s elite in the UFC. But the career journey of Shane Burgos is
5:00 AM ET Tor-Kristian Karlsen The list of high-profile players whose contracts expire this summer is impressive, but there are a number who look set to remain at their clubs. Real Madrid veterans Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are all reportedly close to agreeing another year, with forward Marco Asensio ready to sign
11:59 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN TORONTO – As Fred VanVleet stepped up to the free throw line with 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Wednesday’s play-in game between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors, the home crowd went silent as the Raptors guard took a few hard dribbles and spun the ball in
3:24 AM ET The war in Ukraine and the plight of its tennis players must be at the forefront of discussions at Wimbledon, not the Grand Slam’s decision to reverse its ban on Russian and Belarusian players, former world No. 1 Andy Murray said. Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam to ban competitors from Russia
10:28 PM ET ESPN News Services ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays won their 12th straight game to start the season, one short of the best major league start since 1900, as Randy Arozarena hit a three-run homer in a 9-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. The 1987 Milwaukee
9:57 PM ET ELMONT, NY — The New York Islanders defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Wednesday night to clinch the final Stanley Cup Playoff berth and eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins, ending their streak of 16 straight playoff appearances. Brock Nelson had two goals, while goalie Ilya Sorokin made 17 saves. The last time Pittsburgh
5:08 PM ET Jeff Bezos is not going to bid on the Washington Commanders, a source close to him said Wednesday, ending a pursuit that struggled to mount any momentum. Bezos had some interest in buying the franchise and his presence hovered over the proceedings, despite never having made a bid. He even hired a
3:29 PM ET Stephen HolderESPN INDIANAPOLIS — Colts coach Shane Steichen, asked whether the team has turned its focus away from free agent Lamar Jackson and toward the NFL draft in its pursuit of a franchise quarterback, suggested the team is currently more preoccupied with the draft. “We’re focused on the draft and I’m focused
3:43 PM ET Arkansas freshman Anthony Black, a projected top-10 pick, will enter the 2023 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility, he said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Wednesday. “Being one and done was always a goal of mine, but it wasn’t something I necessarily expected to happen,” Black told ESPN. “Coming in,
6:50 PM ET Franchon Crews-Dezurn will be making the first defense of her undisputed super middleweight title, but her opponent will be different from the one initially ordered. A source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday that Crews-Dezurn will fight Savannah Marshall in June in the United Kingdom on a Ben Shalom BOXXER card instead of
4:12 PM ET Texas Rangers star shortstop Corey Seager will miss at least four weeks with a strained hamstring. Rangers general manager Chris Young told reporters Wednesday that Seager has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring. The Rangers placed Seager on the 10-day injured list and activated outfielder Leodys Taveras
5:29 PM ET MILAN —Ismael Bennacer gave AC Milan a 1-0 first-leg advantage in their Champions League quarterfinal against Napoli following a tough defensive battle against the Serie A leaders. Bennacer’s left-foot strike on 40 minutes was the difference between the two teams, but it was a costly night for Napoli who lost midfielder Andre-Frank
3:32 PM ET Minnesota Wild winger Ryan Hartman was suspended one game following his interference infraction in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Hartman was disciplined by the NHL on Wednesday for his huge open-ice hit against Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers at the 11:31 mark of the third period. Hartman was penalized for interference
11:00 AM ET New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley does not plan to sign his franchise tender before the team’s offseason program begins Monday, according to Newsday and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Giants designated Barkley as their franchise player last month but have continued contract negotiations with the former No. 2 overall draft
12:00 PM ET Ten World Cup veterans, including AC Milan defender Sergino Dest, highlight the 23-player roster named by U.S. men’s national team interim manager Anthony Hudson to face Mexico in Glendale, Ariz., on April 19. “We are delighted with the group we have put together. Anytime you get to play against your closest rivals