National Sports

The Portland Fire return after 24 years as WNBA expansion team opens the season

PORTLAND, Ore. — After 24 years, the Fire have returned to Portland. The expansion Portland Fire took the court at the city's Moda Center, dubbed the "Fire Pit" for the occasion, for the team's WNBA season opener against the Chicago Sky on Saturday night. "Yeah, the fire pit was really lit," guard Sarah Ashlee Barker said with a smile following the game. The Portland players warmed up wearing T-shirts that said "Legacy Reignited" on the front and "2002 PDX 2026" on the back — paying homage to the original Fire, who played three seasons from 2000-02. The game was a sellout ...

WNBA’s new CBA sets blueprint as emerging women’s leagues chart their own path

Mo'ne Davis was preparing for a Women's Professional Baseball League scrimmage when the WNBA and its players agreed to a landmark collective bargaining agreement last month. Davis, who rose to stardom as a little league pitching sensation, followed developments as WNBA players negotiated ...

Hurricanes beat the Flyers 4-1 in Game 3, take a 3-0 series lead

PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov scored on the power play and Jalen Chatfield added a short-handed goal, keying a special teams effort that helped the Carolina Hurricanes win their seventh straight playoff game, 4-1 over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 on Thursday night. The Hurricanes — who outshot the Flyers 30-19 —can complete their second straight postseason series sweep in Game 4 on Saturday in Philadelphia. "Not the prettiest of games for anyone," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "It's kind of been our calling card all year, whatever way the game ...

Wembanyama, Spurs take out frustration on Timberwolves to even semifinal series at one apiece

SAN ANTONIO — Whether it's chess, a drawing contest or table tennis, San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama hates to lose. A loss in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals to the Minnesota Timberwolves only magnified that loathing. Wembanyama responded by setting a suffocating ...

Yankees lose a legend

Sinner adds his voice to French Open prize money protests and awaits Wimbledon response

ROME — The top tennis players are already upset they are not receiving a bigger share of tournament revenues at the French Open. Now they're hoping Wimbledon and the U.S. Open respond to their demands, according to Jannik Sinner. Fellow No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said this week the players should consider a boycott. "It's more about respect. Because I think we give much more than what we are getting back," Sinner said on Thursday at the Italian Open. "It's not only for the top players; it's for all of us players." Sinner wouldn't commit to a boycott. "It's tough to say," he said. "I ...