Aces star Wilson

earns AP award

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson followed up a historic season with another incredible one to earn AP Player of the Year for the second straight time.

The Las Vegas Aces star topped Napheesa Collier of Minnesota and Alyssa Thomas of Phoenix, who both had terrific seasons. Aces coach Becky Hammon says Wilson “is the most exciting player in the W.”

Paige Bueckers is AP Rookie of the Year and Golden State’s Natalie Nakase is AP Coach of the Year. The WNBA will announce its postseason awards over the course of the playoffs which begin Sunday.

Commanders’ Wise

out for the season

WASHINGTON (AP) — A person with knowledge of the players’ status tells The Associated Press that Washington Commanders defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. will miss the rest of the season after having surgery for a quadriceps injury.

The person also says Friday that the Commanders believe starting running back Austin Ekeler tore his right Achilles tendon in their loss to the Green Bay Packers but are awaiting tests to confirm the severity of the injury. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because nothing had been announced by the club.

Wise is a 31-year-old in his ninth NFL season and first with Washington. Ekeler is a 30-year-old in his ninth NFL season and second with Washington

FanDuel agrees

to pay Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with discussions says FanDuel has agreed to pay the Jacksonville Jaguars roughly $5 million to help offset the nearly $20 million that a former employee stole from the NFL franchise and deposited at the sportsbook.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because neither side had disclosed the agreement publicly. ESPN first reported the deal, which was finalized earlier this year. It came a year after financial manager Amit Patel pleaded guilty to stealing $22 million through a virtual credit card system the team used for expenses.

Patel is serving a 6 1/2 year sentence in federal prison. He sued FanDuel last year.

Morel homers,

but Cubs win

CHICAGO (AP) — Christopher Morel got a chance to catch up with some old friends on Friday.

He made quite the impression in his return to Wrigley Field.

Morel hit a three-run homer for the Tampa Bay Rays in their 6-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs. It was his first game against his former team.

“It feels very good. I’m very happy,” Morel said through a translator when asked about the reception he got from his former teammates and the crowd.

Chandler Simpson hit a leadoff single and Yandy Díaz walked before Morel batted in the first inning against Matthew Boyd. After hearing some cheers from the crowd of 38,794, he hit a towering drive into the bleachers in left-center.

The 26-year-old Morel also homered in his first at-bat at Wrigley in his major league debut on May 17, 2022, against Pittsburgh.