PHILADELPHIA (AP) — LeBron James has signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, joining Bryce Harper as another superstar in the city. Both athletes were teenage phenoms and top draft picks. Harper, who signed with the Phillies ahead of the 2019 season, expressed excitement about James' arrival. LeBron's influence extends beyond basketball, with endorsements and a massive global following. His decision to join Philly isn't about money but the desire to compete and win. The 76ers have struggled to advance in the playoffs, but with LeBron expectations are high. Fans are eager to see if he can lead them to a championship.
The WNBA has never been bigger. More people are watching. More are investing. Salaries for many players are higher than ever. With the attention, scrutiny of some of the league's biggest challenges has intensified: race, gender and sexuality. Mounting turmoil and discord has accompanied this transformative period for the WNBA that has featured a landmark collective bargaining agreement, league expansion and skyrocketing player recognition. It seems to have reached a new flashpoint as the league approached the halfway point of its 30th season. Race-driven conversations resurfaced after an incident between Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, while players have voiced frustrations with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and leadership.
Gabby Thomas chose to view herself as “healing” instead of “injured” last year. That, in short, is how the Olympic gold medalist in track — slowed, then eventually stopped by an aching Achilles tendon — made it through a frustrating 2025 and turned it into a much more interesting and successful 2026. Thomas isn't competing this weekend at U.S. championships, but she says that's not a sign she's injured. She's simply tailoring her schedule toward events in Europe and the plan is working. Recently, she ran her fifth sub-22 second 200 meters of the year and now she's got 20 of those times, more than any other woman.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — CBS NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. A Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office’s arrest report says Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests after getting stopped while driving south on Interstate 43 on Thursday. Sheriff’s officials said Romo was taken into custody, booked and released. He has a court appearance set for Sept. 21. Romo went to high school about 35 miles from Milwaukee in Burlington, Wisconsin. The 46-year-old Romo has been the lead game analyst for CBS’ NFL coverage since 2017. CBS had no comment.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been cleared to start training camp after knee surgery last year. Mahomes says he met all the necessary benchmarks to report on time. The Chiefs begin practice Saturday for rookies, quarterbacks and select players recovering from injuries. Mahomes hurt his knee in December and underwent surgery immediately afterward. He spent the offseason rehabbing at the Chiefs' facility. Coach Andy Reid says Mahomes is fully cleared but will be evaluated daily. Mahomes plans to wear a knee brace and participate in camp as usual. The Chiefs' preseason opener is August 15. The regular season begins September 14.
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Michael Kim shot the 15th 59 in PGA Tour history Friday, making a 24-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole at the 3M Open. Kim birdied the final four holes of his bogey-free round at TPC Twin Cities to get to 14 under for the tournament and open a a three-shot lead over three players. Ben Kohles, who had a two-shot lead entering the day, shot a 69 to drop into a tie for second with Chandler Phillips (65) and Emiliano Grillo (67). Two bad swings cost Scottie Scheffler, and the world’s top-ranked player was seven shots back after 70.Jim Furyk holds the tour record with a 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship.
Those NBA schedule-makers who have been stuck in limbo can go ahead and hit overdrive now. LeBron James might have made their work pretty simple. Opening night, go ahead and expect Philadelphia at New York. Christmas Day, go ahead and expect Philadelphia on the schedule. National television games, go ahead and give Philadelphia a ton of those, too. The 76ers got perhaps the biggest bargain in sports history on Friday, when James — the NBA’s all-time scoring king — announced he would be finishing his career in Philadelphia.
CHICAGO (AP) — Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings became the first rookie to win the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest, scoring 30 points in the championship round. The No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft hit her first six shots in the finals to get into rhythm. She edged Bridget Carleton, from the expansion Portland Fire, who had 29 points in the opening round. Carleton got off to a slow start in the finals and couldn’t recover, finishing with 19 points. Elena Delle Donne, Shakira Austin and high schooler Jezelle Banks led team Washington to the Shooting Stars championship to tipoff the Friday night festivities. The trio scored 31 points to edge Seattle’s three in the finals, with Banks hitting two of the 4-point shots from just inside halfcourt to put the team over the top.
DETROIT (AP) — Tarik Skubal had a season-high 12 strikeouts and allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings in what could have been his last home start for Detroit, helping the Tigers to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. The two-time defending AL Cy Young winner pitched out of a seventh-inning jam before walking off the mound to a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd. Skubal, the subject of trade rumors as he approaches free agency, returned for the eighth inning with 89 pitches, but was replaced by Brenan Hanifee after retiring Carter Jensen. He left to another ovation, having given up four hits and two walks in his 61st win for the Tigers. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 12th save .
NEW YORK (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles surged to 100-meter wins at the U.S. track and field championships on Friday night. The 26-year-old Richardson got off to a slow start but quickly made up time, finishing in 10.77 seconds to breeze past training partner Kayla White and win by 0.13 seconds at Icahn Stadium. Lyles, the reigning Olympic champion, was trailing early but quickly caught up to the field — and then blew right by them. He matched his personal-best time by finishing in 9.79 seconds. The 32-year-old Ronnie Baker took second and Kenny Bednarek finished third.
Finals
INTERLEAGUE
Final N.Y. Yankees 1 Philadelphia 0
Final Atlanta 7 Baltimore 6
Final San Francisco 7 L.A. Angels 6
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Detroit 2 Kansas City 1
Final Tampa Bay 11 Cleveland 3
Final Boston 6 Toronto 4
Final Athletics 2 Minnesota 0
Final Texas 5 Seattle 4
Final Houston 9 Chicago White Sox 5
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Colorado 5 Milwaukee 2
Final Chicago Cubs 3 Pittsburgh 2
Final Arizona 3 Washington 2
Final L.A. Dodgers 4 N.Y. Mets 2
Final San Diego 4 Miami 2