PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike McCarthy have reached a verbal agreement for McCarthy to become the club's next head coach. McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native, would replace Mike Tomlin, whose surprise departure created just the third job opening in Pittsburgh since 1969. Tomlin stepped down earlier this month after his 19th season ended with a seventh straight playoff loss. McCarthy posted a 185–123–2 record across 18 seasons, 13 with Green Bay and five with Dallas. His resume includes a victory over the Steelers in the Super Bowl following the 2010 season.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The NBA game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors has been postponed following another fatal shooting by a federal officer in Minneapolis. The league announced the decision was made Saturday to “prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community” after 37-year-old Alex Pretti was killed in a confrontation with officers on a street in a commercial district less than two miles from Target Center, the downtown arena where the Timberwolves play. The game was rescheduled for Sunday afternoon. The Timberwolves and Warriors are also scheduled to play on Monday night.
Figure skating for decades has provided a progressive sort of safe space for those within the LGTBQ+ community, some of whom still may be trying to realize their authentic selves. And while there are plenty of out athletes in other sports, what might set skating aside is the incredible success enjoyed by the LGBTQ+ community. It wasn't always that way. Throughout the 1900s, women often were encouraged to be more effeminate, and male counterparts were told to embrace their masculinity. But that began to change about 40 years ago, as more athletes embraced who they were. Now, those in skating's LGBTQ+ community are leaning on each other amid a tumultuous time in their country, where some politicians are aiming for many of their rights.
SPINDLERUV MLYN, Czech Republic (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin has locked up the World Cup slalom title with two races to spare and became the first skier with nine season titles in one discipline. The American star dominated the last slalom before the Olympics as she won both runs to beat runner-up Camille Rast. The race took place at the Czech venue of Shiffrin’s World Cup debut at age 15 in March 2011. No other skier in the six-decade-long history of the World Cup has won more than eight globes in a single event. Shiffrin's teammate Lindsey Vonn has eight downhill titles and leads those standings again in the current season.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka held off 19-year-old Vicky Mboko 6-1, 7-6 (1) to advance to an Australian Open quarterfinal against another teenager, 18-year-old Iva Jovic. The 29-seeded Jovic overwhelmed Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 in 53 minutes as she moved into the last eight in a Grand Slam for the first time. She's been getting some good advice from 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic during the tournament. Coco Gauff, 21, is into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the third straight year. And so is men's No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who had a 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5 win over No. 19-seeded Tommy Paul. He's also been looking to Djokovic for inspiration on his serve.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Coco Gauff wants those people posing questions about what advice she'd give the teenagers breaking through at the Australian Open to remember one thing: She’s 21. The 18-year-old Iva Jovic will face Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Sabalenka defeated 19-year-old Vicky Mboko on Sunday. Gauff, a two-time major winner, reached the quarterfinals for the third straight year by beating Karolina Muchova. Gauff makes a conscious effort to welcome new players, recalling her own lonely start in the professional ranks. Rather than offer advice, she offers connection.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Learner Tien has become the youngest man to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals in 11 years. The 20-year-old American defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 on Sunday in the fourth round at Melbourne Park. Tien's victory makes him the youngest American man to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal since Andy Roddick at the 2002 U.S. Open. His next challenge is against No. 3 Alexander Zverev, last year's runner-up in Melbourne. Tien had a brief medical timeout after the third game but continued without any dramas. Tien anticipates a tough match against Zverev, recalling their previous encounters.
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Si Woo Kim has the lead at The American Express. One shot behind are world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and 18-year-old Blades Brown. Scheffler had to make a 25-foot par save on the final hole for his 68 at the Stadium Course at PGA West. Brown ended his round on the same course by making three straight birdies for a 68. All but forgotten was Kim. The 30-year-old South Korean was 15 minutes away at La Quinta and posted a 66 to lead by one shot. Brown is trying to become the youngest winner of the modern PGA Tour.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s Charles Bediako had four dunks, two steals and two blocks in his first college action in nearly three years against Tennessee. Playing two days after a Tuscaloosa judge temporarily reinstated his college eligibility and blocked the NCAA from retaliating for his return, the 7-footer finished with 13 points and three rebounds in 25 minutes in a 79-73 loss to the Volunteers. Bediako checked into the game amid a rousing ovation with 16:11 to play in the first half and helped the 17th-ranked Crimson Tide score 26 points in the paint while building a 39-36 lead at the break. The 23-year-old center added an inside presence that Alabama had been missing all season.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Patrick Reed finally has a European tour title and a lot of perks that come with it. He shot 72 and won the Dubai Desert Classic by four shots. This was his first regular European title. The victory will move him inside the top 30 in the world for the first time since he joined LIV Golf in 2022. It also should exempt him for all the majors this year. And he had jokingly said a big payoff would help cover his European tour fines for when he plays LIV. Reed led by at least two the whole way.
Finals
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Buffalo 5 N-Y Islanders 0
Final Utah 5 Nashville 2
Final Columbus 8 Tampa Bay 5
Final Detroit 5 Winnipeg 1
Final Boston 4 Montreal 3
Final Carolina 4 Ottawa 1
Final SO Los Angeles 5 St. Louis 4
Final OT Florida 4 Minnesota 3
Final OT Edmonton 6 Washington 5
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Arizona 88 West Virginia 53
Final (2)UConn 75 Villanova 67
Final (11)Illinois 88 (4)Purdue 82
Final (5)Duke 90 Wake Forest 69
Final (12)Texas Tech 90 (6)Houston 86
Final (7)Nebraska 76 Minnesota 57
Final (8)Gonzaga 68 San Francisco 66
Final (9)Iowa State 84 Oklahoma State 71
Final (10)Michigan State 91 Maryland 48
Final (13)BYU 91 Utah 78
Final (22)North Carolina 85 (14)Virginia 80
Final (15)Vanderbilt 88 Mississippi State 56
Final Auburn 76 (16)Florida 67
Final Tennessee 79 (17)Alabama 73
Final (18)Clemson 77 Georgia Tech 63
Final (19)Kansas 86 Kansas State 62
Final (20)Arkansas 85 LSU 81
Final Texas 87 (21)Georgia 67