Virginia

advances

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Kymora Johnson scored 28 points as 10th-seeded Virginia became the first First Four to reach the regional semifinals after an 83-75 double-overtime win over No. 2 seed Iowa on Monday in a women’s NCAA Tournament second-round game.

The Cavaliers (22-11) won three games in five days, defeating Arizona State 57-55 in Thursday’s First Four game, following that with an 82-73 overtime win over Georgia in Saturday’s first-round game, and then the Hawkeyes (27-7), who were playing in front of a sellout home crowd of 14,332. Johnson scored 14 of her points in the two overtimes. Ava Heiden led Iowa with 26 points.

Robot strike

zone to debut

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike System changes how pitches get called, and some players gain while others lose. On Wednesday night, it makes its regular-season debut when the Yankees play the Giants.

Statcast data shows Kyle Hendriks led in strikes called on pitches that missed the zone over the past decade, and Aaron Nola and Kevin Gausman also benefitted. Patrick Corbin lost the most pitches that were called balls even though they were in the zone. Among batters, Mookie Betts led in called strikes out of the zone.

Seahawks

sign WR

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba have agreed to a four-year, $168.8 million contract extension, with $120 million guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract, which will make him the highest-paid wide receiver, hasn’t been finalized.

Smith-Njigba, 24, set the team record for yards receiving (1,793) and receptions (119) in a single season en route to winning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year last season and helping lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.

WNBA players

accept pact

NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA players have unanimously approved the new collective bargaining agreement with more than 90% participating in voting over the weekend. The seven-year CBA, which will begin this season and run through 2032, represents a landmark labor deal for the WNBA and its players.

The union says the deal “delivers consequential economic progress and expanded benefits that support players on and off the court.” Once the WNBA Board of Governors approves the CBA it will become official. Then there will be a sprint to the start of the regular season on May 8.

Arizona State

draws Bennett

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona State is expected to lure Randy Bennett away from Saint Mary’s to become its next men’s basketball coach, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday because Bennett is meeting with his team at Saint Mary’s before an official announcement will be made.

Bennett spent 25 years as Saint Mary’s head coach, repeatedly turning down offers to coach at larger programs. The chance to return to his home state of Arizona after the firing of Bobby Hurley was too much for the 62-year-old coach to turn down this time.

Bennett led the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament 12 times and was a seven-time West Coast Conference coach of the year.