MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Michael Carrick has been fired by Manchester United after overseeing the 20-time English champion’s worst start to a Premier League season. U.S. men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino is a potential candidate to succeed him. Carrick’s departure comes less than six months after he was given a two-year contract and the responsibility of reviving the fortunes of the once-dominant force of English soccer. United hasn’t won the league title since managerial great Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. United says “After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions." United adds the “club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.
GENEVA (AP) — The United States soccer body has pulled its team from the boys’ Under-17 World Cup in Qatar starting next week for security reasons. FIFA has confirmed the U.S. Soccer Federation decision on Thursday. Qatar and the Gulf region has been on high security alert since the United States military attacks on Iran started in February. The 48-nation FIFA tournament kicks off in Doha next Wednesday. The U.S. team’s scheduled first game was Nov. 21 against Montenegro. Its other opponents were Chile and Algeria. FIFA cites the "existing US Level 3 travel advisory.” No replacement team was named.
Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski and the New York Yankees’ Cam Schlittler were unanimous Cy Young Award winners after delivering dominant performances in their first full major league seasons. Misiorowski won the National League award after helping the Brewers win their first World Series title while setting a new standard for velocity by a starting pitcher. Schlittler was the AL winner, becoming the second Yankees pitcher in four years to receive the award. The right-handers made their major league debuts in the summer of 2025. The Baseball Writers' Association of America votes on the awards. Toronto’s Louis Varland won the AL Reliever of the Year award and San Diego’s Mason Miller won the NL honor.
HOUSTON (AP) — Golden State star Stephen Curry left Wednesday night’s game against Houston in the first quarter with right abdominal soreness and did not return. Curry made a 3-pointer with about 7½ minutes left in the first quarter and put his hand on his right side and winced as he backpedaled after the shot. He immediately walked over to coach Steve Kerr and headed to the locker room. He appeared to be in pain and was walking gingerly and holding his right side as he exited the court. Kerr says the injury is not one Curry has experienced before. The coach says his “concern is high.”
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Kirk Cousins has rejoined the Minnesota Vikings after not quite three years away, with the familiarity and comfort providing a welcomed boost for his preparation this week to play the Green Bay Packers. The quarterback-desperate Vikings acquired Cousins in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. Kyler Murray is sidelined by a hamstring strain. Carson Wentz played poorly in the last game against Buffalo. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was Cousins' quarterbacks coach with Washington in 2017 before reuniting with him in 2022 in Minnesota. Cousins ranks second in the NFL with 20 touchdown passes.
The NCAA has released data showing that the graduation rate for Bowl Subdivision football players who transferred more than once are 27% lower than those who stayed at one school. This data, shared with The Associated Press on Wednesday, is seen as a warning sign amid ongoing legal battles over eligibility and player movement. The statistics analyzed the six-year graduation rate for around 36,000 athletes who enrolled in college in the 2018-19 school year. NCAA President Charlie Baker says this highlights the negative impact of court-imposed transfer rules on academic outcomes.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former NFL coach Rex Ryan has turned himself in for allegedly hitting pedestrians with his truck in Nashville and leaving the scene. Police say two pedestrians had the right of way crossing a main street Thursday night when Ryan allegedly turned at a red light, running over their feet. Ryan faces misdemeanor charges of leaving the scene of an accident, failing to give information or render aid and failing to obey a traffic control signal. Ryan turned himself in early Wednesday and was later released. His attorney says Ryan “has been fully cooperative.” Ryan is a former head coach of the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets and is now an analyst on ESPN’s NFL pregame show.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United is working on a potential deal to have U.S. men’s team coach Mauricio Pochettino to replace Michael Carrick, who is under pressure after a dismal start to the season. United is in 18th place in the Premier League standings after 10 rounds, the club’s worst start in the modern era. A source told The Associated Press that preparations to appoint Pochettino have been carried out as a matter of “due diligence.” Pochettino, who has coached in the Premier League before, is under contract with the U.S. team through the 2030 World Cup.
Alexander Zverev has won more of the big titles this year and has the No. 1 ranking. It’s Carlos Alcaraz though who goes to the ATP Finals as the player to beat. That’s because Alcaraz has displayed the best form lately. Zverev arrives on a two-match losing streak while Alcaraz comes to Turin on a 10-match winning run after titles in Vienna and Paris. Alcaraz is also hungry to raise the trophy at the Finals for the first time. The season-ending event for the year’s top eight men’s players starts on Sunday in Turin.
HOUSTON (AP) — Brad Ausmus was named manager of the Houston Astros on Wednesday. New general manager Randy Flores made the announcement, which brings Ausmus back to the place where he spent 10 years of his playing career. He replaces Joe Espada, whose contract wasn’t renewed after the Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox in a Wild Card series. Ausmus is the 21st manager in franchise history. This is the third managerial job for Ausmus, who managed the Angels in 2019 and spent 2014-17 leading the Tigers. He most recently worked as the bench coach for the Yankees from 2024 through last season.
Finals
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 8 Buffalo 3
Final N-Y Rangers 3 Calgary 1
Final OT Edmonton 3 Philadelphia 2
Final Vegas 5 Utah 3
Final Nashville 4 Anaheim 2
Final SO Pittsburgh 3 San Jose 2
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (8)Houston 92 Jacksonville State 46
Final (9)UCLA 106 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 37
Final (13)St. John's 90 Colgate 59
Final (19)Arkansas 76 Robert Morris 53
Final (20)Michigan 84 Marquette 70
Final (21)USC 77 California 65
Final (25)Nebraska 94 Lindenwood 60