PARIS (AP) — Monaco dropped points in the race to qualify directly for next season's Champions Le...

PARIS (AP) — Monaco dropped points in the race to qualify directly for next season's Champions League after drawing at Ligue 1 struggler Le Havre 1-1 on Saturday.Monaco moved above Marseille and into second place on goal difference, but direct rivals Lyon in fourth, Nice in fifth and sixth-placed Strasbourg all won to move one point behind Monaco with three matches left.The top three qualify automatically and the team finishing fourth enters qualifying. Marseille needs to beat mid-table Brest on Sunday to reclaim second spot.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Lyon's attack purring</h3>Lyon blew Rennes apart in the first half on the way to a 4-1 win.Belgium forward Malick Fofana scored a brilliant goal, cutting in from the left and curling the ball into the top right corner from 20 meters out.Veteran captain Corentin Tolisso curled one into the bottom right corner from outside the penalty area and Alexandre Lacazette blasted a shot into the top right following a rapid counterattack for his 13th league goal.Rennes replied early in the second half through 17-year-old striker Mohamed Kader Meite before Lyon's fourth goal from Georges Mikautadze, which was the best of the night.Midfielder Rayan Cherki swapped passes inside the penalty area with Mikautadze and then, despite having almost no space, flicked the ball up to the Georgia winger, who controlled it on his chest before adroitly volleying in.<h3>Le Havre keep fighting</h3>The draw boosted Le Havre's chances of staying up after fellow relegation battler Saint-Etienne earlier lost at Strasbourg 3-1.Le Havre was in 16th place and the relegation-promotion playoff spot, one point above Saint-Etienne.The draw relegated rock-bottom Montpellier.Lorient was promoted from the second tier after beating last-placed Caen 4-0.<h3>Saint-Etienne sliding</h3>Saint-Etienne's defeat left the 10-time former champion in deep trouble.Strasbourg's scorers were left wing back Diego Moreira, striker Emanuel Emegha, and right wing back Dilane Bakwa, who finished a move skilfully started by Guela Doue, the older brother of Paris Saint-Germain star Desire Doue.Georgia winger Zuriko Davitashvili equalized for Saint-Etienne.On Friday, French champion PSG lost 3-1 at home to Nice to end its chances of finishing the league unbeaten.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Le Havre's Guinean midfielder #94 Abdoulaye Toure (L) shakes hands with Monaco's French midfielder #11 Maghnes Akliouche at the end of the French L1 football match between Le Havre AC and AS Monaco at the Stade Oceane in Le Havre, north-western France, on April 26, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31108471/related

Ligue 1 roundup: Monaco drop points in UCL race, Lyon's attack purring

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ty France doubled, singled and drove in a run as the Minnesota Twins matched t...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ty France doubled, singled and drove in a run as the Minnesota Twins matched their season high with 13 hits and beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 on Saturday for their fourth win in five games.Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel bruised his right knee when he fouled off a pitch in the fourth inning and needed assistance when he left the field. He was replaced by a pinch hitter.Carlos Correa had two singles and two RBIs, while Brock Lee had a single, a double and drove in a run.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Simeon Woods Richardson (2-2) gave up one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings with no walks and seven strikeouts, Four pitchers combined on one-hit reliefAfter taking two of three from the Chicago White Sox and winning the first two games against the Angels, the Twins have consecutive series victories for the first time since last Aug. 12-18.Zach Neto had three hits including a home run and had a career-best three stolen bases for the Angels, who have lost four of five.Yusei Kikuchi (0-4) lost his fifth straight decision, giving up four runs, nine hits and four walks in two-plus innings with no strikeouts. Kikuchi failed to record an out in the third inning for the first time in six starts this year.José Fermin, a 23-year-old right-hander, made his big league debut for the Angels, striking out two and walking one in a hitless eighth,Minnesota took a 3-0 lead in the first as Correa, France and Jonah Bride drove in runs during an inning that included six singles.Correa had another RBI single in the second, and France and Lee doubled for a 5-1 lead in the sixth.Key momentAfter Woods Richardson allowed a one-out single to Neto in the fifth, Brock Stewart struck out Mike Trout and retired Taylor Ward on a flyout.Key statMinnesota left the bases loaded in each of the first three innings.Up nextAngels RHP José Soriano (2-3, 4.34) faces Twins RHP Joe Ryan (1-2, 4.00) in Sunday’s series finale.___More AP baseball: <a href="https://apnews.com/MLB">https://apnews.com/MLB</a>

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 26: Jonah Bride #31 of the Minnesota Twins and Ty France #13 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate afer winning a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Target Field on April 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31109103/related

Twins match season high with 13 hits vs. Angels, get 4th win in 5 games

LOWELL, Mass. (AP) — Lexie Adzija and Hannah Brandt scored first-period goals and Klara Peslarova...

LOWELL, Mass. (AP) — Lexie Adzija and Hannah Brandt scored first-period goals and Klara Peslarova finished with 29 saves in her first career start to lead the Boston Fleet to a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Sceptres on Saturday as the Professional Women’s Hockey League returned to action after a nearly month-long international break.It took just 2:35 for Boston to grab the lead when Lexie Adzija used an assist from Jamie Lee Rattray to score her second goal of the season. Rattray’s assist was her fourth.The Fleet (9-6-4-9) took a two-goal lead at 11:47 on Hannah Brandt’s second goal with assists from Megan Keller — her eighth — and Hannah Bilka — her fourth. Peslarova had nine saves to keep Toronto off the scoreboard in the first period.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Boston took advantage of a power-play opportunity after Renata Fast was sent off for two minutes for an illegal check at 18:12 in the second period, scoring on a goal by Theresa Schafzahl with six seconds left in the period for a 3-0 lead. Schafzahl’s third netter of the campaign came with assists from Rattray and Loren Gabel — her first.Peslarova made one other appearance this season on Feb. 16 and also earned a victory when she played the final 40 minutes and stopped all 15 shots on goal as the Fleet rallied to beat Minnesota 4-2 after trailing 2-0 before Peslarova entered.Kristen Campbell finished with 12 saves for Toronto. She needs 13 more to become the third goalie to top 1,000 through the league’s first two seasons.Toronto will host New York on Tuesday needing one point to clinch a playoff spot with two matches remaining.Boston travels to play Montreal on Monday. The Fleet trail second-place Toronto by two points.___AP Women’s Hockey: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey">https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey</a>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31108886/related

Peslarova blanks Sceptres in 1st PWHL start

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Ashton Bell scored two goals, including a shorthanded winner with 13 secon...

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Ashton Bell scored two goals, including a shorthanded winner with 13 seconds remaining, to rally the Ottawa Charge to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Victoire as the Professional Women’s Hockey League returned to action on Saturday after a nearly month-long international break.Bell’s winner came after Shiann Darkangelo was sent off the ice for two minutes for slashing with 1:39 left in regulation.Darkangelo and Jocelyn Larocque both notched their seventh assists of the season when Bell scored at the 10:38 mark of the first period to put Ottawa up 1-0.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Brianne Jenner netted her sixth goal of the campaign to give the Charge (12-1-4-11) a 2-0 lead a little over three minutes later. Darkangelo had another assist and Tereza Vanišová collected her sixth of the season.Anna Wilgren scored in the final minute to pull the Victoire (11-6-3-8) with a goal at the end of the first period. Laura Stacey earned her 11th assist and Jennifer Gardiner her 13th on the goal.That was all the scoring until Catherine Dubois tied the game six minutes into the third period with her fourth goal — unassisted.Elaine Chuli finished with 24 saves for first-place Montreal, which has already earned a spot in the playoffs with 48 points but failed to clinch one of the top two seeds with two games remaining.Gwyneth Philips totaled 25 saves for Ottawa. The Charge moved into third place with 42 points, two ahead of the Boston Fleet who were playing later in the day.Montreal will host Boston on Monday. Ottawa will host Minnesota on Wednesday.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - APRIL 26: Ashton Bell #21 of the Ottawa Charge celebrates her goal against the Montreal Victoire during the third period at The Arena at TD Place on April 26, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31108334/related

Bell scores twice to lift Charge over Victoire

MIAMI (AP) — Donovan Mitchell didn't have a great shooting day. Darius Garland was in street clot...

MIAMI (AP) — Donovan Mitchell didn't have a great shooting day. Darius Garland was in street clothes, out with an injury.And Cleveland rolled anyway, moving to the brink of Round 2.Jarrett Allen scored 22 points, De'Andre Hunter added 21 and the Cavaliers — bullying Miami around all day — handed the Heat their worst playoff loss with a 124-87 win Saturday to take a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Cavs took control with a 33-5 run early, outrebounded Miami 46-29 and outscored the Heat 60-30 in the paint."Our guys knew that was the key, rebounding and winning the rebounding battle," Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. "We really executed defensively."Evan Mobley scored 19 and Max Strus added 18 for Cleveland. Ty Jerome had 13 points and 11 assists in 22 minutes — he was plus-33 in those minutes — and Mitchell scored 13 on 4-for-14 shooting.They didn't need more from him and didn't need anything from Garland, their All-Star guard who was out with a sprained toe."Look, our guys really want this and it probably looks like our guys don't," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But I know what our last six weeks have been like, just to fight and scratch and claw to get into this."Bam Adebayo scored 22 and Davion Mitchell added 16 for Miami. The worst Heat playoff loss before Saturday was a 36-point defeat in Game 3 of the 2013 NBA Finals at San Antonio.That Heat team won an NBA title. This Heat team is on the brink of being swept.It's the 11th time that a Cavaliers team has taken a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series — the other 10 were all in the LeBron James eras in Cleveland, and they all ended in 4-0 sweeps.These Cavs will try to finish off a sweep of their own in Game 4 at Miami on Monday. It's the 159th time in NBA history that a team has taken a 3-0 series lead; the first 157 went on to win the series, and Oklahoma City is the 158th and could oust Memphis later Saturday.It was all Miami for the first 5 1/2 minutes. After that, it was all Cleveland, the Cavaliers taking full control of the game over the next 8 minutes with a 33-5 run.Cleveland shot 13 for 17 during the spurt, scoring on its first eight possessions of the run. And it ended with five consecutive makes from 3-point range, those coming in a span of just over 2 minutes.Just like that, 15-6 Miami became 39-20 Cleveland."We took the first punch," Mobley said. "And from there we just took the game over."It was 62-42 at halftime, and Cleveland missed its first eight shots of the second half. But Miami scored only four points during that span, wasting a chance. Cleveland led 88-64 going into the fourth and that was it."Clearly, a very disappointing day," Spoelstra said.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NBA">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 26: Jarrett Allen #31 celebrates with Ty Jerome #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after scoring against the Miami Heat during the second quarter in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Kaseya Center on April 26, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31106477/related

Cavs hand Heat worst-ever playoff loss, take 3-0 series lead

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Chicago White Sox acquired infielder Gage Workman in a trade w...

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Chicago White Sox acquired infielder Gage Workman in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.The White Sox sent cash to the Cubs for Workman, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday. Infielder Nick Maton was designated for assignment by the South Siders to make room on their roster.“Really excited about the athlete,” White Sox manager Will Venable said of Workman. “Some pop on the left side of the plate, and excited to see what he can do. Some defensive versatility. So you can see him against some right hand pitching. You can see him come off the bench and run, come off the bench and play defense. So, yeah, excited to see what he can do.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Workman, 25, was a Rule 5 draft pick from Detroit in December. Under the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft, the players must stay on the big league roster all of next season or clear waivers and be offered back to their original organization for $50,000.Workman appeared in nine games with the NL Central-leading Cubs, going 3 for 14 with two RBIs.“He was in a tough spot,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I think Rule 5 picks are always in a tough spot, especially on this team, on kind of the expectations of this team. In a lot of ways you could say he did not get the appropriate opportunity. We couldn't give him that opportunity."The White Sox were last in the AL Central with a 6-20 record heading into their game at the Athletics. Workman was selected by the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2020 amateur draft out of Arizona State. He hit .248 with 57 homers and 263 RBIs in the minor leagues.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 22: Gage Workman #25 of the Chicago Cubs plays third base in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31106437/related

White Sox acquire Workman for cash in trade with Cubs

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Walt Jocketty, a three-time baseball executive of the year and former general ma...

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Walt Jocketty, a three-time baseball executive of the year and former general manager for both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds, has died. He was 74.Jocketty died Friday in the Phoenix area, former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told the team after speaking with Jocketty’s wife Sue.The Cardinals announced the death Saturday. Jocketty had been battling health issues for the several years.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Cardinals won the National League Central Division seven times under Jocketty’s leadership. St. Louis also won National League championships in 2004 and 2006 and their 10th World Series title in 2006.“On behalf of the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization, I would like to offer condolences to Walt’s family and his many friends,” Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr. said in a statement. “Walt was our first GM when we purchased the ballclub and he helped to lead our baseball operations through some of the franchises most successful and memorable years.“He will be sorely missed but long remembered for his distinguished career in baseball.”Jocketty became the general manager in St. Louis on Oct. 14, 1994. After the team was sold in 1995, the new ownership kept Jocketty in his job. His biggest move was hiring La Russa in 1996. The two men had worked together in Oakland.La Russa would go on to be the winningest manager in the Cardinals history and a Hall of Famer.Jocketty revamped the team’s roster and in 1996 the Cardinals returned to postseason play for the first time in nine seasons.In his tenure with St. Louis, Jocketty either drafted or acquired such stars as Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Mark McGwire, Adam Wainright, Chris Carpenter, David Eckstein, Jason Isringhausen, Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen and others.With Jocketty at the helm, St. Louis put together seven consecutive winning seasons. In 2004 and 2005, the Cardinals won more than 100 games.He was named the MLB Executive of the Year in 2000, 2004 and 2010.Leading up to the 2000 season, Jocketty became the first GM in baseball history to trade for a 20-game winner (Darryl Kile from Colorado) and a 40-home run hitter (Edmonds from Anaheim) in the same offseason.After he was fired by the Cardinals in 2007 because of differences with ownership, Jocketty was hired by the Cincinnati Reds as a special adviser on Jan. 11, 2008. He then was named general manager of the Reds after Wayne Krivsky was fired on April 23, 2008. He served in that role until Dick Williams replaced him on Dec. 27, 2016.The Reds made the playoffs three times when Jocketty served as the GM — in 2010, 2012 and 2013. They have made the playoffs only once since.Jocketty is survived by his wife and two children, Ashley and Joey.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 22: Walt Jocketty of the Cincinnati Reds speaks during 2016 Cactus League Media Availability on Monday, February 22, 2016 at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31104681/related

Former Cardinals, Reds GM Walt Jocketty dies at 74

BERLIN (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen postponed Bayern Munich's Bundesliga title celebrations on Saturda...

BERLIN (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen postponed Bayern Munich's Bundesliga title celebrations on Saturday, leaving the Bavarian powerhouse on the verge of winning the trophy without top-scorer Harry Kane.Kane was shown his fifth yellow card of the season during Bayern's 3-0 win at home over Mainz, meaning the England captain will be suspended for Bayern's next match at Leipzig — where Bayern will likely win its 34th German league title.Bayern needed a win over Mainz and favor from Augsburg against Leverkusen to be crowned champion on Saturday, but goals from Patrik Schick and Emiliano Buendia gave Leverkusen a 2-0 win and kept the defending champion eight points behind Bayern with three rounds remaining.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Leverkusen can still theoretically defend its first ever Bundesliga title by winning its last three games if Bayern loses its final three, but even a draw against Leipzig next weekend should be enough for Bayern, which has a far superior goal difference.Waldemar Anton scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Borussia Dortmund a 3-2 win at Hoffenheim, but the result was marred by arguments because Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was struck in the head by Carney Chukwuemeka's knee before Anton scored. Referee Benjamin Brand allowed the goal after a VAR check found it was an accidental clash.The win lifted Dortmund to sixth, three points behind Freiburg in fourth. Freiburg moved into the last place for Champions League qualification with a 1-0 win at Wolfsburg, for which captain Maximilian Arnold was sent off for a bad foul in the first half.There was also stoppage time drama in Kiel, where Japanese forward Shuto Machino scored his second goal in stoppage time to give Holstein Kiel a 4-3 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.The win lifted Kiel off the bottom, three points behind Heidenheim in the relegation playoff place.Eintracht Frankfurt faced Leipzig in a duel for Champions League qualification later Saturday.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

26 April 2025, Bavaria, Munich: Soccer: Bundesliga, Bayern Munich - FSV Mainz 05, Matchday 31, Allianz Arena, Munich's Harry Kane applauds after the game. Photo: Daniel Löb/dpa

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31102542/related

Bayern Munich 1 win away from securing Bundesliga title

MADRID (AP) — Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva reached the last 16 of the Madrid Open for the thir...

MADRID (AP) — Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva reached the last 16 of the Madrid Open for the third straight year by defeating Magdalena Frech 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday.The 17-year-old Andreeva, ranked No. 7, is yet to lose before the fourth round in Madrid.She reached that stage for the first time in 2023 while playing as a wild-card entry in her second WTA main draw. Last year, she made it to her first WTA 1000 quarterfinals in the Spanish capital.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I was very, very nervous,” Andreeva said. “I still struggle to find my best tennis in Madrid. Super happy that I could manage to play consistent throughout the whole match.”Andreeva, who will turn 18 on Tuesday, will next face Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva, who defeated 18th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.___AP tennis: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">https://apnews.com/hub/tennis</a>

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 26: Mirra Andreeva celebrates defeating Magdalena Frech of Poland in the third round on Day Five of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 26, 2025 in Madrid, Spain

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31101059/related

Russian teenager Andreeva reaches last 16 of Madrid Open for 3rd time

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. got hot from deep, Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated in the paint a...

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. got hot from deep, Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated in the paint and together they gave the Milwaukee Bucks new life in their first-round playoff series.Trent tied a franchise playoff record with nine 3-pointers and scored 37 points, Antetokounmpo also had 37 and the Bucks used a big second half to beat Indiana 117-101 on Friday night and cut the Pacers' series lead to 2-1.“My mindset was just to come in and get a win," said Trent, who got a rare start and had his highest playoff scoring output.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Trent also was assigned to cover Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was held in check for most of the game.“I was trying to be all over him to start the game," Trent said. "Let him know you’re there and try to take him out of his game.”Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Trent's aggressiveness earned him a start.“There were two reasons. The offensive part because he’s really aggressive and the defensive part because of his hands," Rivers said. “We wanted somebody aggressive to attack Haliburton. I thought he did that."The Pacers led 57-47 at halftime, but Trent hit three 3-pointers early in the third to pull the Bucks even at 62. The Bucks grabbed a 72-69 lead on Antetokounmpo’s three-point play and led 86-75 at the end of the quarter.The lead grew to as many as 20 in the fourth and Trent finished 9 for 12 behind the arc to tie Hall of Famer Ray Allen's mark for most 3-pointers in a postseason game. The Bucks outscored the Pacers 70-44 in the second half.Antetokounmpo added 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which hosts Game 4 on Sunday. A.J. Green scored 12 points and Bobby Portis had 10 for the Bucks, who took on the Pacers for the 18th time in the past two seasons.“We have to stay humble,” Antetokounmpo said. “It's just one game.”Indiana had won five of the last six playoff games between the teams and ousted the Bucks from the playoffs in the opening round last season.“We were bad on both sides of the ball,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “They were great, we were bad.”Pascal Siakam had 28 points and Aaron Nesmith scored 18 for the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 14 points and 10 assists.After trailing throughout Game 2, the Bucks grabbed an early lead. Antetokounmpo and Trent combined to score Milwaukee’s first 21 points. No other Bucks player scored until Green sank a 3-pointer with 2:28 left in the opening quarter.Milwaukee shot 4 for 23 from 3-point range over the first two quarters but was 11 for 18 after halftime.Bucks star guard Damian Lillard was held to seven points on 2-of-12 shooting. He made just 1-of-8 3-pointers.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks plays defense during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2025 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE .

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31096862/related

Giannis, Trent combine for 74 points as Bucks beat Pacers in Game 3

The National Women's Soccer League has asked U.S. Soccer to sanction a lower division women's pro...

The National Women's Soccer League has asked U.S. Soccer to sanction a lower division women's professional soccer league that could launch as early as next year.The six-team league would sit on the second tier of the U.S. soccer pyramid, below the NWSL and the USL Women's Super League, and would serve to develop young players.The NWSL on Friday confirmed that it had "formally submitted an application and supporting documentation for a new for a Division II league" with the U.S. Soccer Federation. The move was first reported by CBS Sports.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"As a global leader in the women's soccer landscape both on and off the pitch, the NWSL and its member clubs are committed to growing our sport in meaningful ways," the league said in a statement. "The demand for professional soccer has never been higher. We look forward to working to build a strong foundation for future generations of players, officials and coaches and ensure the continued advancement of the women's game."U.S. Soccer has certain conditions for Division II sanctioning, including a minimum number of teams and stadiums that seat at least 2,000. In the case of the NWSL, all of the lower-division teams would be affiliated with top-tier clubs, sharing ownership and infrastructure.The NWSL clubs that would field a Division II team include the Kansas City Current, Bay FC, North Carolina Courage, Racing Louisville, Gotham FC, Orlando Pride, Seattle Reign and Washington Spirit.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 19: Temwa Chawinga #6 of Kansas City Current and Danielle Colaprico #24 of Houston Dash battle for the ball during the NWSL match between Kansas City Current and Houston Dash at CPKC Stadium on April 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31091357/related

NWSL pushing for lower-tier league to advance women's game

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers first-round draft pick Derrick Harmon’s mother, Tiffany Saine, died la...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers first-round draft pick Derrick Harmon’s mother, Tiffany Saine, died late Thursday night shortly after Pittsburgh selected the defensive lineman from Oregon with the 21st overall pick.Harmon said after he was drafted that he planned to visit his mother, who he said was on life support at a hospital in the Detroit suburbs. Saine had endured several brain surgeries and a stroke in recent years. Harmon, 21, pointed to his mother as an inspiration for him to keep going as he made his way from Michigan State to Oregon.Steelers President Art Rooney II extended the team’s condolences to their newest star.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“Though we are excited to select Derrick in the first round of the NFL Draft, our hearts are heavy as we mourn the death of his mother, Tiffany Saine,” Rooney said in a statement. “We will support Derrick and his family however we can as he navigates this period of grief. In times like this, we hope Derrick finds comfort in the love and support from the organization and Steelers fans around the world.”___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Derrick Harmon #DL15 of Oregon speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31091208/related

Derrick Harmon's mother dies shortly after his 1st-round selection

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain's bid to go unbeaten in Ligue 1 was ruined on Friday when it los...

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain's bid to go unbeaten in Ligue 1 was ruined on Friday when it lost to Nice 3-1.PSG's first home defeat in almost a year was a shock reverse for a club which clinched the French league title three weeks ago and was shifting its focus to the Champions League semifinal first leg at Arsenal on Tuesday.Coach Luis Enrique rested several starters but it was still one-way traffic as PSG dominated the early stages.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>However, profligate finishing and an inspired performance by Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka kept PSG scoreless.Nice's Morgan Sanson broke the deadlock when Badredine Bouanani's elegant through ball left him with only Gianluigi Donnarumma to beat, and he slipped the ball neatly under the keeper.Nice's lead, however, lasted only five minutes. PSG's Fabián Ruiz turned inside the box and fired home a neat chip over the defense from Ousmane Dembélé.Nice did the unlikely again a minute into the second half, and once more it was Sanson who did the damage, scoring with a spectacular scissor kick volley.Even with the introduction of Bradley Barcola, Gonçalo Ramos, Warren Zaire-Emery, and Lucas Beraldo, the home side failed to react and, incredibly, Nice scored again. An unmarked Youssouf Ndayishimiye headed home the third in the 70th.The win lifted Nice into fourth place, equal on points with Monaco and a point behind second-placed Marseille.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 25: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Paris Saint - Germain reacts during the French Ligue 1 (L1) football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Nice at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France on April 25, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31090194/related

PSG fall short of Ligue 1 history as unbeaten run ends with loss to Nice

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The family of Ecuadorian soccer player Jackson Rodriguez was rescued after ...

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The family of Ecuadorian soccer player Jackson Rodriguez was rescued after being kidnapped from their home in the coastal city of Guayaquil, police authorities reported on Friday.Rodriguez, 26, hid under his bed while his 24-year-old wife and five-year-old son were taken on Wednesday by four "hooded and heavily armed individuals" who forced their way into the home in the Mucho Lote neighborhood.The wife and son received medical attention following their release and were safe, police commander Pablo Davila said.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The kidnappers demanded $500,000 for the release of the wife and son but the family refused to pay, Davila added. Rodriguez is a left back who plays for first division club Emelec.After police operations late Thursday, officers located the pair in the popular neighborhood of "El Fortin" in the northwest part of the city. The area is considered one of the most dangerous, a place where 22 people were massacred in March.Guayaquil is 270 kilometers (170 miles) southwest of the capital, Quito.The kidnapping occurred amid a state of emergency declared 10 days ago by the government in nine areas of the country, including the province of Guayas, to which Guayaquil belongs. The measure allows the mobilization of security forces in those territories to combat the operations of organized crime groups, which authorities blame for the wave of violence.Insecurity and crime have plagued Ecuador for four years, with an increase in the first few months of the year, according to the government. From January to March, 2,345 violent deaths were reported, 742 of them in Guayaquil.The port city is considered one of the most dangerous areas in the country. From those ports, illegal drug shipments are sent to Europe, Central America, and the United States, according to authorities.Other athletes have been targeted in the past. Last December, Liga de Quito soccer player Pedro Perlaza was kidnapped in Esmeraldas, 182 kilometers northwest of Quito, and rescued a few days later.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LIMA, PERU - JANUARY 12: Jackson Rodriguez of Emelec looks on during the Tarde Blanquiazul 2025 match between Alianza Lima and Emelec at Estadio Alejandro Villanueva on January 12, 2025 in Lima, Peru.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31089556/related

Wife, 5-year-old son of Ecuadorian player rescued after kidnapping

MADRID (AP) — Top seeds Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka scored comfortable victories in thei...

MADRID (AP) — Top seeds Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka scored comfortable victories in their opening matches at the Madrid Open on Friday.Zverev cruised past home favorite Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-2, while Sabalenka triumphed against qualifier Anna Blinkova 6-3, 6-4.Zverev, the Madrid champion in 2018 and 2021, extended his winning streak to six matches. The German player moved to No. 2 in the world after capturing the Munich title last weekend.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"A good match, I knew I had to focus against Roberto," said Zverev, who improved to 24-5 in Madrid. "This is my favourite center court in the world, I only lost twice here in my entire life. I hope that stays the way throughout the next 10 days and that I can continue playing good tennis."In the third round, Zverev faces Nuno Borges or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.<h3>Sabalenka tops Blinkova</h3>Sabalenka, Madrid winner in 2021 and 2023 and last year's runner-up to Iga Swiatek, converted three of her seven break opportunities to defeat the 76th-ranked Blinkova.The top-ranked Sabalenka will face No. 28 seed Elise Mertens in the third round.Anastasia Potapova upset eighth-seeded Qinwen Zheng, while 15th-seeded Amanda Anisimova lost to fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. Sixth-seeded Jasmine Paolini eased past Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-2.Third-seeded Jessica Pegula reached the third round by defeating Eva Lys 6-2, 6-2. Pegula reached the Madrid final in 2022, losing to Ons Jabeur.Pegula, who has a tour-leading 27 wins, will next face Moyuka Uchijima, who defeated Jabeur in three sets.<h3>Fritz advances</h3>In other action on the men's side, fourth-ranked Taylor Fritz of the U.S. — who returned from an abdominal injury that kept him sidelined since Miami — routed Christopher O'Connell of Britain 6-1, 6-4, and Casper Ruud beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-4."It feels great to come back and play a really solid match," Fritz said. "The first ball I hit since the match I lost in Miami was the day before I flew here, so I had three weeks of nothing, then five days of tennis. I'm super happy I can come out and produce that level on the little bit of prep I had."Fellow American Ben Shelton rallied past Mariano Navone 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. The 85th-ranked Navone served for the match at 5-4 in the third set.Juan Manuel Cerundolo beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets, while Daniil Medvedev advanced after Laslo Djere withdrew because of a shoulder injury.Gael Monfils, who on Wednesday became the oldest winner in the tournament's history, withdrew from his meeting with defending champion Andrey Rublev because of an illness.Holger, who beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Barcelona final last weekend, retired because of a thigh injury with Flavio Cobolli leading 6-2 in the first set.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 25: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after winning against Anna Blinkova of Russia during the Mutua Madrid Open 2025, ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tennis tournament, celebrated at Caja Magica on April 25, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31087508/related

Top seeds Zverev and Sabalenka advance with easy victories at Madrid Open

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Erling Haaland and Rodri, Manchester City's two star players, are clos...

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Erling Haaland and Rodri, Manchester City's two star players, are closing in on a return after long injury absences.Just not in time for the FA Cup semifinals this weekend.Haaland hasn't played since <a href="https://apnews.com/article/erling-haaland-man-city-1aa48b15bbbf63834afe706bf0ab1fe2">hurting his ankle on March 30</a> but the striker is back in individual training.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"He's getting better, step by step," City manager Pep Guardiola said Friday. "Still didn't train with the team but we'll see in the next days how it will evolve."Rodri has been out for much longer, since sustaining an ACL injury on Sept. 22. The Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder is training with the main squad and "doing really well," said Guardiola, who will be guided by the club's medical staff."I don't know what Rodri wants," Guardiola said, "but the doctors are going to tell me, 'Pep, you have the green light to give him some minutes' or so on. I'll rely on the doctors in that case."City plays Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium on Sunday after reaching the FA Cup semifinals for a seventh straight season. The team is aiming for a third straight appearance in the final, having won and lost the title match to Manchester United over the past two years.After this weekend, City has four games left in the Premier League as it seeks to secure Champions League qualification before competing in the Club World Cup in the United States, which takes place in June and July.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Erling Haaland of Manchester City looks on from the substitutes bench prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31086802/related

Haaland and Rodri unavailable for FA Cup semifinal despite injury progress

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brian White and Sebastian Berhalter scored and the Vancouver W...

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brian White and Sebastian Berhalter scored and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 on Thursday night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal.The second leg is Wednesday night at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The series winner will advance to the final against either Cruz Azul or Tigres UNAL on June 1.Many in the record crowd of 53,837 at BC Place Stadium came to watch Messi. They weren’t disappointed when the Argentine superstar started the game and played the entire match. Joining him in the star-studded kickoff was Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, forward Luis Suarez of Uruguay and defender Jordi Alba from Spain.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Despite Miami’s star power, it was White who produced one of the loudest roars from the crowd when he headed a pass from Pedro Vite past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari in the 25th minute. Berhalter made it 2-0 in the 84th.___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - APRIL 24: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF looks dejected following the team's defeat after the CONCACAF Champions Cup Semi-final first leg match between Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami CF at BC Place on April 24, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31084829/related

Whitecaps beat Messi and Miami in 1st leg of Champions Cup semifinal

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Chet Holmgren scored all but one of his 24 points in the second half and th...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Chet Holmgren scored all but one of his 24 points in the second half and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a 29-point deficit after Ja Morant left the game with a hip injury and beat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-108 on Thursday night for a 3-0 series lead.Morant was hurt with just over three minutes left in the first half and Memphis leading 67-40. The Grizzlies led by 26 at halftime.The 29-point comeback was the second-largest in an NBA postseason game since play-by-play data began being recorded in the 1996-97 season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The only one bigger: A comeback from 31 points down by the Los Angeles Clippers against Golden State on April 15, 2019.The top-seeded Thunder, who won Game 1 131-80 in the fifth-biggest margin of victory in NBA postseason history, didn’t even have a lead in this one until the fourth quarter. Now, they can close out the series Saturday.“I just through out of halftime, we kind of reconnected to who we are. We were very out of character in the first half,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points for Oklahoma City and Jalen Williams added 26, splitting a pair of free throws with 1:20 left to give the Thunder their first lead.Scotty Pippen scored 28 points, two short of his career high, to lead Memphis. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 22 points as Memphis saw its substantial lead evaporate in the second half.“Understanding leads,” Williams said. “You’re never too far ahead, and you’re never too far behind.”“They built a 29-point lead in a half, so we felt like all we had to do was build our own 29-point lead,” GIlgeous-Alexander said.Morant went down hard under the basket with just over three minutes remaining in the first half and was ruled out for the remainder of the game early in the second half with a left hip contusion.Memphis was on a fast break after a Thunder turnover. Pippen was driving to the basket when he dropped the ball off to Morant at the rim. Luguentz Dort, who was stumbling at the time, fell into Morant while he was in the air, sending the Morant crashing to the floor. The play was reviewed for a flagrant foul, but was ruled a common foul.Morant had 15 points and five assists.Memphis carried a 77-51 lead into the break. But the Thunder used a 36-18 scoring edge in the third quarter to claw back,“I think it is very hard to describe to anyone who hasn’t been in that situation,” Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo said.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 24: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during Round One Game Three of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2025 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31084325/related

Thunder erase 29-point hole after Morant injury to push Grizzlies to brink

DETROIT (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns was aggressive early and Jalen Brunson was effective late.  Tow...

DETROIT (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns was aggressive early and Jalen Brunson was effective late.Towns scored 11 of his 31 points in the first quarter and Brunson had 12 of his 30 in the fourth to help the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/new-york-knicks">New York Knicks</a> hold on for a 118-116 win over the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/detroit-pistons">Detroit Pistons</a> on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series."I thought the way we started the game was much better," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. "And, we made timely plays down the stretch."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Game 4 is on Sunday in Detroit.The Pistons have lost eight straight home playoff games since 2008, pulling within one of an NBA record set by Philadelphia from 1968 to 1971.When Detroit won at New York in Game 2, the franchise ended a league-record, 15-playoff game losing streak to take home-court advantage, but the Knicks snatched it back.Brunson, who won the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year award on Wednesday, made consecutive layups late in the game to give the Knicks a seven-point lead.Brunson made one of two free throws with 3.5 seconds left for a four-point lead after Detroit's coaches, players and fans were screaming for an over-and-back violation to be called."If you catch the ball, have possession and put it down, to me, that's possession in the front court," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.Brunson made another free throw with 0.5 seconds left and after missing the second intentionally, the Pistons were given the ball in front of their bench after the buzzer sounded prematurely."It doesn't seem right to me," Thibodeau said. "It's unfortunate. That should never happen in a playoff game."Detroit, though, didn't get a final shot off because Jalen Duren's pass from in front of his team's bench went out of bounds on the other side of the court.Towns, a 7-foot center, made 4-of-8 3-pointers after combining to shoot 1 of 5 beyond the arc over the first two games."He bounced back," Thibodeau said. "He can score a lot of different ways and he used his versatility to his strength."Detroit's Cade Cunningham scored 24 points and had 11 assists, but missed 15 of 25 shots and had six turnovers.Tim Hardaway Jr. had 24 points, making a career playoff-high seven 3-pointers. Dennis Schroder scored 18 points and Duren had 16 for the Pistons.OG Anunoby scored 22 points and Mikal Bridges added 20 points for the Knicks.New York led 33-27 after an emotionally charged opening quarter and was ahead 66-53 at halftime.The Pistons pulled within one point twice in the third, but the Knicks went on another surge to take a 10-point lead into the final quarter and the cushion was comfortable enough to hold off Detroit's attempts to rally.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/nba">https://apnews.com/nba</a>

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 24: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives the ball against Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on April 24, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31082455/related

Towns drops 31, Brunson adds 30 as Knicks take series lead vs. Pistons

BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — Bologna advanced past Empoli to reach its first Italian Cup final in more t...

BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — Bologna advanced past Empoli to reach its first Italian Cup final in more than half a century on Thursday.Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and the team advanced 5-1 on aggregate.Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Bologna won the first leg 3-0.In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna will face AC Milan, which eliminated city rival Inter Milan on 4-1 aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday.Bologna last reached the Cup final in 1974, when it claimed its second title in the competition.It's the fourth final for Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano in three seasons, having guided Fiorentina to the last two Conference League finals and the Cup final in 2023.The Cup winner earns a spot in the Europa League. But Bologna is currently fourth in Serie A and on course to qualify for the Champions League for a second straight season.Last weekend, Bologna beat Serie A leader Inter Milan 1-0 in the Italian league.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 24: Thijs Dallinga of Bologna celebrates his goal during the coppa Italia Semi Final match between Bologna FC and Empoli at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on April 24, 2025 in Bologna, Italy.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31077184/related

Bologna to face Milan in Coppa Italia final after ending Empoli's run

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/the-associated-press/content_cards