TENNIS

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — The recurring cries of “Come on, Andy!” at Center Court has meandered somewhere along the continuum from push to pleading as two-time champion Andy Murray’s shortest stay at Wimbledon has come to an end.

Unable to overcome big serves from the big John Isner, as he always has in the past, the revered Murray lost in the second round to the 20th seeded American 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 6-4 at the All England Club, capping a disappointing afternoon and evening in the main stadium of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament for the hosts.

Prior to Murray against Isner, the host nation’s other main player, defending US Open champion Emma Raducanu, was eliminated by France’s Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-3.

Asked if he plans to return in a year, Murray, 35, said: “It depends on my physical condition. If physically I feel good, we will try to continue playing. But it’s extremely difficult, with the problems I’ve had with my body in recent years, to make predictions.

NBA

James Harden takes less with hopes the Philadelphia 76ers can do more.

A person familiar with the situation said Harden opted not to exercise his $47.4 million option for next season and would become a free agent — but with no intention of leaving Philadelphia. Harden has made the decision to give the 76ers the flexibility they need to sign more players this summer, the person who spoke to The Associated Press told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side has confirmed these plans publicly.

That will be a major factor when the NBA opens the free agency trading window at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, with Philadelphia among the teams expected to target Miami forward PJ Tucker, among others.

The most likely scenario for Harden now is this: The 10-time All-Star signs a new contract with Philadelphia, for something close to that $47.4 million figure, after the team responds to d other needs and improved his chances of becoming a true championship contender. in 2023. Had Harden opted before his Wednesday afternoon deadline, Philadelphia would have had a much harder time finding financial avenues to attract free agents.

– By AP basketball writer Tim Reynolds.

NFL

The NFL and Deshaun Watson’s legal team made their case to a disciplinary officer for a second day on Wednesday, with both sides standing firm as the hearing is set to continue in Delaware on Thursday.

The league insists on an indefinite suspension and Watson’s team argues there is no basis for such a significant sanction, two people present told The Associated Press. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the hearing is not public.

Former U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players Association, is tasked with determining whether Watson violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy and whether to impose a discipline.

If the union or league appeals Robinson’s decision, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or his designate “will issue a written decision which shall constitute a full, final and complete settlement of the dispute”, pursuant to the terms of Article 46. of the collective agreement.

Watson has agreed to settle 20 of 24 civil sexual misconduct lawsuits, but the league is seeking at least a one-year suspension, one of the people told the AP. Watson’s team expects a suspension but wants the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback to play for the Cleveland Browns at some point this season, another person told the AP.

– By Rob Maaddi, AP professional football writer.

MLB

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets aces Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer have taken the next steps toward returning to the New York rotation.

DeGrom, sidelined since July 7, has thrown 27 shots at batting in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and could move to a minor league injury rehab assignment.

A two-time Cy Young Award winner, the 34-year-old right-hander missed the second half of last season with a sprained elbow. He returned and started spring training on March 22 and 27, then was sidelined by a stress reaction in his right shoulder blade that caused inflammation. He did not launch another bullpen until June 4.

Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has been sidelined since straining his left oblique muscle while pitching against St. Louis on May 18. He made his second rehab start for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Wednesday night, throwing 80 throws against the Hartford Yard Goats.

The right-hander allowed three runs – two earned – and four hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking one.

WNBA

SEATTLE (AP) — Sue Bird became the WNBA leader in career wins with 324 as the Seattle Storm beat the Las Vegas Aces 88-78.

Bird, who announced this will be his final season, passed former Minnesota star Lindsay Whalen.

Jewell Loyd led Seattle (12-7) with 24 points, and Breanna Stewart had 14 points and seven rebounds. Stephanie Talbot added 15 points and Bird had 13 points and six assists. Tina Charles scored four points in her debut for the Storm.

Bird made a 3-pointer in transition to cap Seattle’s 13-0 run for a 55-47 lead midway through the third quarter. But Las Vegas tied it at 60 later in the quarter after a 13-2 run.

A’ja Wilson had 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Aces (14-5). Kelsey Plum scored 16 points, Jackie Young added 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Chelsea Gray had 10 points and eight assists. Iliana Rupert scored 11 points off the bench.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Roy Williams and Jim Calhoun will join John Beilein and Lon Kruger in a star-studded cast of coaches who will be inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame in November.

Another longtime coach, Jerry Krause of Eastern Washington, will join the foursome along with players Richard Hamilton of UConn, Larry Miller of North Carolina, Frank Selvy of Furman and Jimmy Walker of Providence.

The date for the induction ceremony has not been announced, but it usually coincides with the Hall of Fame Classic, which will take place Nov. 21-22 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Williams retired in 2021 after leading two of college basketball’s bluebloods, Kansas and North Carolina, to a total of 903 wins – the third most for a Division I coach – and nine Final Four appearances . He spent his first 15 seasons with the Jayhawks before returning to his alma mater in 2003, where he led the Tar Heels to three national championships in 18 seasons.

Calhoun won three national championships at UConn, the first of them with Hamilton, who was voted Final Four MVP after the Huskies beat Duke for the 1999 title. Calhoun’s other championships came in 2004 and 2011, making him one of only six managers in Division I history with at least three national titles.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — Emoni Bates, one of the top recruits in the 2021 men’s basketball recruiting class, said he was transferring from Memphis to eastern Michigan.

Bates, in an Instagram post, announced his decision to return to his hometown of Ypsilanti to play for the Mid-American Conference Eagles. An EMU spokesman said he could not confirm Bates’ transfer.

Bates averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in his freshman season at Memphis and started 13 of 18 games. He missed 15 games with a back injury before appearing in the Tigers’ two NCAA Tournament games.

The 6-foot-9 forward announced in April that he would be leaving Memphis and later said he would decide between Michigan, Arkansas, Seton Hall, DePaul, Louisville and Eastern Michigan.

NHL

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings have acquired forward Kevin Fiala from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for their first-round pick in the upcoming draft and prospect Brock Faber.

Fiala is a restricted free agent, but the Kings are expected to sign the Swiss star to a long-term contract extension.

Fiala has been one of the most attractive potential acquisitions in the NHL this summer after hitting career highs of 33 goals and 52 assists for the Wild last season. The left winger appears to be a perfect fit on the front row for the Kings, who ended their three-year playoff drought last spring despite scoring fewer goals than all playoff teams except from Dallas.

The Wild get the 19th overall pick in the draft along with Faber, the Kings’ 2020 second-round pick and a star defenseman from the University of Minnesota.

OLYMPIC GAMES

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A stolen Olympic gold medal belonging to a member of the 2020 United States women’s volleyball team has been found in Southern California, authorities said.

Jordyn Poulter reported the medal was stolen on May 25 after the Olympian discovered her car had been broken into in a parking lot in Anaheim, police said.

Detectives later arrested a suspect in the robbery, but were unable to immediately locate the missing medal.

On Monday, the owners of an Anaheim hair salon said they found the gold medal in a discarded plastic bag outside their business, police said in a statement. They handed him over to the police, who plan to return him to Poulter.

Poulter was part of the team that won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, after the games were delayed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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