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WNBA task
force reports
(AP) -- An WNBA anti-hate task force is criticizing those trying to create a narrative about transgender women playing in the league. The task force met virtually on Wednesday.
A league spokesperson says “there are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the league.” The spokesperson also says the league opposes “bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others.”
The league’s collective bargaining agreement says only women are eligible to play in the WNBA, without specifics. Last week, two former NBA players said they wanted to enter the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.
Westbrook
retires
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Russell Westbrook, the NBA’s career leader in triple-doubles and the 2017 MVP, announced Wednesday he’s retiring after 18 seasons during which he was selected to the league’s 75th anniversary team.
The two-time scoring champion shared his decision on social media in a post featuring a video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan where the guard never says a word. Westbrook was the No. 4 pick in 2008 out of UCLA by the Seattle SuperSonics, just before they moved to Oklahoma City.
He played his first 11 seasons with the Thunder and spent this past season with the Sacramento Kings.
Hasselbeck
joins study
PHOENIX (AP) -- Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has participated in a study at Boston University to find ways to diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy in living individuals.
The degenerative brain disease linked to head trauma currently can only be diagnosed after death. Hasselbeck, who played in the NFL for 17 years, hopes his involvement will aid researchers in finding ways to diagnose CTE accurately. Michael Alosco leads the study, which seeks participants who played football or have Alzheimer’s disease.
The research aims to distinguish CTE from Alzheimer’s and develop diagnostic markers. Hasselbeck’s participation highlights changing attitudes towards head injuries in football.
Odell ready
to play
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Odell Beckham Jr. is set to play for the New York Giants in their exhibition opener against Minnesota on Saturday at home, coach John Harbaugh says. Even though it’s preseason, it will be the popular wide receiver’s first time playing a game in a Giants uniform in nearly six years.
Beckham is back with the team he spent his first five NFL seasons with as he tries to show he still belongs in the league at age 33. Harbaugh dodged the question of whether quarterback Jaxson Dart and the rest of the expected staters will take part against the Vikings.