NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball says robot home plate umpires are unlikely for 2025.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says there has not been as much progress in the minor leagues this year as MLB had hoped for.

Manfred said if and when the automatic ball-strike is adopted, it likely would be a challenge system.

Speaking following an owners meeting, Manfred said Houston, Miami, San Juan and Tokyo will be sites for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Also, Manfred said a Nike representative “appropriately took responsibility for the issues with respect to the new uniforms and the rollout.”

MAVS HAVE LEAD OVER WOLVES

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kyrie Irving injected a burst of energy into the Dallas Mavericks to begin the Western Conference finals with a furious flurry of drives to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Irving contributed in many ways to the Game 1 victory.

He scored 24 of his 30 points in the first half.

The 32-year-old guard has an NBA championship and 87 career playoff games on his resume to give him experience in this part of the postseason that nobody on either side in this series can match.

Minnesota hosts Game 2 on Friday.

CAVALIERS FIRE COACH BICKERSTAFF

CLEVELAND (AP) — J.B. Bickerstaff has been fired as Cleveland’s coach despite leading the Cavaliers through a major rebuild, an injury-ravaged season and into the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Bickerstaff’s dismissal came one week after the Cavs were eliminated in five games by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Cleveland played the final two games without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell.

Bickerstaff’s team made progress in each of his four seasons with Cleveland.

The 45-year-old Bickerstaff went 170-159 in the regular season and 6-11 in the playoffs.

The Cavs defeated Orlando in the first round before losing to Boston.

TORONTO GETS WNBA FRANCHISE

By The Associated Press

Toronto has been awarded the WNBA’s first franchise outside the United States, with the expansion team set to begin play in 2026.

The team will be owned by Larry Tanenbaum-led Kilmer Sports Ventures.

Tanenbaum also is the chairman and a minority owner of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns several Toronto sports franchises, including the NBA’s Raptors and NHL’s Maple Leafs.

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau attended the press conference, along with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

The Toronto team will play at the 8,700-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum.