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Reese takes
center stage
(AP) -- Angel Reese is the biggest star left on the WNBA’s brightest stage as she gets her first chance at winning a pro championship. It’s been a tumultuous journey but coming to Atlanta this season has been the perfect move for the three-time All-Star.
She has done so much this year to silence many of her critics. Leading the Dream to a title would quiet the rest of them when the best-of-seven series against the Golden State Valkyries begins Saturday in California.
Reese is the first player from the heralded 2024 draft class that saw Caitlin Clark go No. 1 to reach the finals as a starter.
Rays-Guardians
start moved
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Today’s Game 3 of the AL Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians has been moved up to a 1 p.m. start because of the threat of rain in Cleveland.
Major League Baseball moved the start time up five hours in order for the series to remain on schedule.
The ALCS game will still be broadcast on TBS and other TNT Sports platforms. That best-of-seven series is even at 1-1 after the Rays’ 3-1 victory Tuesday night.
Infantino
faces critics
ZURICH (AP) -- Gianni Infantino is about to face his biggest critics as FIFA president. Today, he chairs the first FIFA Council session since his controversial World Cup sell-off plan was revealed and quickly dropped 11 weeks ago.
The meeting comes ahead of a Nov. 18 deadline for presidential election candidates. Infantino’s leadership style and proposal to sell tournament rights to private investors are under scrutiny.
UEFA has filed court applications in the U.S. seeking evidence for a possible criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland. FIFA has accused UEFA of a smear campaign. Infantino’s ties to Donald Trump and other ethical concerns are also on the agenda.
Phillies keep
Mattingly
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia Phillies are keeping Don Mattingly as manager on a two-year contract. Mattingly led the Phillies to a 79-55 record and a spot in the playoffs after he replaced the fired Rob Thomson in late April.
The Phillies lost in three games to the Atlanta Braves in the NL Wild Card Series. The Phillies were 9-19 when they fired Thomson in April after he led the Phillies to four straight playoff appearances, including the 2022 World Series, and consecutive NL East titles.
Astros won’t
renew Espada
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Astros have parted ways with manager Joe Espada after deciding not to renew his expiring contract. The team announced the decision Wednesday while also moving on from several members of his coaching staff.
His contract is set to expire at the end of this month. Team owner Jim Crane says “we are thankful for Joe’s hard work, his passion for the game, and for his commitment to the Houston Astros.”
The move comes after the Astros won the AL West with an 81-81 record and become the first team in Major League Baseball history to reach the postseason without a winning record.
76ers look to
break through
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The 76ers have made numerous attempts to find the missing piece to win a championship with Joel Embiid. They’ve tried stars like Jimmy Butler, Paul George, James Harden and Tobias Harris, but none led them past the second round of the playoffs.
Now, the team is going all-in by trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James. The 76ers hope this new lineup can break their championship drought, which dates back to 1983. Embiid acknowledges past failures but remains optimistic.