Sports briefs
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White gestures during the second half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Las Vegas Aces in Indianapolis, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) celebrates with Kyle Teel (8) after scoring off a 2-run single hit by by Sam Antonacci during the second inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White gestures during the second half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Las Vegas Aces in Indianapolis, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) celebrates with Kyle Teel (8) after scoring off a 2-run single hit by by Sam Antonacci during the second inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
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Fever, Aces
square off
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces have gotten well acquainted after playing 13 times over the past two seasons. They understand better than most how to contend with these two star-studded lineups led by four-time league MVP A’ja Wilson and three-time All-Star Caitlin Clark.
They expect the two WNBA Coaches of the Year, Becky Hammon and Stephanie White, to make all the right moves for Game 14 when they meet tonight. And, fittingly in Vegas, it’s it’s a winner-take-all contest for the second straight year.
Wilson dominated the middle in Game 1 as Las Vegas showed its championship pedigree with a 102-85 victory. Clark countered with a historic performance and perhaps her best all-around game as a pro, leading the Fever to a 99-89 season-saving victory Tuesday.
Pope backs
White Sox
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Chicago White Sox received a letter from Pope Leo XIV on the same day of their playoff opener against the Houston Astros.
The Sept. 9 letter was addressed to White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and the team said it arrived at Chicago’s Rate Field on Tuesday ahead of Game 1 of its AL Wild Card Series against the Astros.
The White Sox won Game 1 of the best-of-three series 6-3.
Leo is a White Sox fan dating to his days growing up in Chicago. He was known as Robert Prevost or Father Bob when he went to the World Series opener 21 years ago, a 5-3 White Sox victory over the Astros.
"The Pope having our back and supporting us means a lot,” White Sox manager Will Venable said.
Daniels still
might start
WATFORD, England (AP) -- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has a shot to start Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts in London and would wear a brace on his injured left elbow. Coach Dan Quinn says it’s “too early to call” if Daniels, who dislocated his elbow in Week 2, would return after missing last week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Quinn says “as we’re working through the week, he’ll get more reps. … By Friday we’ll have a definite determination of where we’re at.” Daniels did some light footwork and passing drills wearing a brace at practice. Marcus Mariota started last week and threw three touchdown passes in Washington’s 33-31 win over Seattle
Sports bill
lifts Olympics
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The Protect College Sports Act, passed by the Senate this week, aims to safeguard Olympic sports in the U.S. The bill addresses issues like name-image-likeness payments and requires colleges to maintain scholarships and roster spots for Olympic sports.
This is crucial as many U.S. Olympic athletes come from college programs. The bill also includes a new retention pool, with $5 million per school earmarked for women’s and Olympic sports.
Despite potential challenges, Olympic leaders believe the bill offers a sustainable solution. However, with uncertain House passage, they are exploring other options to support these sports.
MLB attendance
rises again
NEW YORK (AP) -- Major League Baseball attendance rose for the fourth straight year to 71.75 million, reaching its highest total since 2017 with a boost from the Tampa Bay Rays’ return to Tropicana Field.
Teams averaged 29,589 for 2,425 dates, a 0.4% increase from the average of 29,471 last year, when attendance totaled 71.4 million. MLB attendance has risen in four straight seasons for the first time since 2004-07.
Tampa Bay had biggest increase, up 628,255 to 1,414,975 as the Rays won the AL East for the first time since 2021. The Rays spent 2025 at Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ spring training ballpark, while damage to their stadium from Hurricane Milton was repaired.
Ronaldo
walks out
(AP) -- Cristiano Ronaldo has walked out on Portugal’s training camp hours after coach Jorge Jesus said the star forward would not start the game against Denmark in the Nations League on Thursday.
Ronaldo says that “in time” he will “tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons” behind his departure. Jesus had said in the pre-game news conference that he was not planning to start Ronaldo. But he dismissed the notion there was a feud between the pair.