Although the WNBA is bringing in more money than ever, many players still find themselves financially unsteady when the final whistle blows. Former WNBA star Sue Wicks found her next calling in oyster farming on New York’s East Moriches Bay. Wicks has worked as a commentator, college basketball coach and at a fitness start-up since retiring from the WNBA in 2002. She says she feels lucky to again find a career “that works for my soul.” But the reality is that even a successful run as one of the world’s best basketball players didn’t earn her enough to fully retire.
NEW YORK (AP) — Fernando Mendoza, the enthusiastic quarterback of No. 1 Indiana, won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, becoming the first Hoosier to win college football’s most prestigious award since its inception in 1935. Mendoza beat Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The law firm hired by the University of Michigan to investigate former football coach Sherrone Moore’s relationship with a staffer will continue its probe of the program and is prepared to expand its inquiry throughout the athletic department. That's according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details. Michigan fired Moore on Wednesday, when the school said an investigation uncovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. He is married with three daughters.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The firm hired by Michigan to search for a football coach to replace Sherrone Moore has contacted representatives for Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because they were not authorized to share details of the search. Moore was fired on Wednesday, when the school said an investigation uncovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Two days later, Moore was charged with three crimes.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Oklahoma City's 16-game winning streak has ended with a 111-109 loss to San Antonio in the NBA Cup semifinals. The Thunder, now 24-2 this season, missed their chance at the Cup. Coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged the team's lackluster performance, while Thunder guard Jalen Williams emphasized the opportunity for growth. Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found the loss an exciting challenge, likening it to a learning experience. Despite shooting struggles and turnovers, the Thunder remain optimistic. They face San Antonio again on December 23 and Christmas Day, offering a chance for redemption.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Navy has beaten Army for a second straight season. Blake Horvath threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich with 6:32 remaining — on fourth-and-goal — and the 22nd-ranked Midshipmen rallied for a 17-16 win on Saturday. Horvath turned the ball over twice, and his fumble near the goal line nearly spoiled Navy’s key drive. But Heidenreich fell on the ball, and Horvath found him when Navy gambled and went for it on fourth down. With President Donald Trump in attendance, the Midshipmen won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight season.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Demond Williams Jr. threw three of his four touchdown passes in the second quarter, and Washington had five interceptions as the Huskies kicked off bowl season with a 38-10 victory over Boise State in the LA Bowl. Denzel Boston made a 78-yard TD catch for Washington’s first score before Dezmen Roebuck, Raiden Vines-Bright and Quentin Moore caught TD passes for the Huskies in the school’s fourth victory in its last five bowl games. Coach Jedd Fisch’s Huskies had no players opt out of bowl participation from their solid Big Ten roster, and it showed in their overwhelming performance against the Mountain West champion Broncos.
ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — New Zealand’s Alice Robinson has won a World Cup super-G for her first career victory in the discipline. Robinson finished 0.08 seconds ahead of Romane Miradoli of France and 0.19 ahead of Sofia Goggia of Italy. The 41-year-old American standout Lindsey Vonn was fourth 0.27 behind. It was in a downhill on Friday that Vonn became the oldest winner in the circuit’s history. Mikaela Shiffrin missed the final gate of her first speed race in nearly two years. Saturday's downhill winner Emma Aicher fell but appeared uninjured. The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 6-22.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts have promoted 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to the active roster, making him eligible to play — and perhaps start — in Sunday’s crucial game at Seattle. Indy (8-5) brought the Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist out of retirement Tuesday when it signed him to the practice squad. Rivers practiced all week but he hasn’t taken a snap since what appeared to be the end of his career following the 2020 season. Rookie Riley Leonard still could make his first career start. The move to add Rivers to the active roster will take him off the Hall of Fame ballot for the class of 2026.
KOLKATA, India (AP) — Lionel Messi’s much-hyped tour of India has gotten off to a rocky start with angry fans throwing bottles and attempting to vandalize a stadium after many of them failed to get more than just a glimpse of their hero. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has apologized to the Argentine soccer star for apparent mismanagement of the event. The Times of India report that many ticket-holders said that they failed to see Messi at all despite waiting for hours. Messi’s three-day “GOAT India Tour” was to bring the World Cup winner from Kolkata to Hyderabad and then Mumbai before concluding in New Delhi on Monday.
Finals
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final New Jersey 4 Anaheim 1
Final Minnesota 3 Ottawa 2
Final OT San Jose 6 Pittsburgh 5
Final SO N-Y Islanders 3 Tampa Bay 2
Final Edmonton 6 Toronto 3
Final Vegas 3 Columbus 2
Final SO Carolina 4 Philadelphia 3
Final Winnipeg 5 Washington 1
Final OT N-Y Rangers 5 Montreal 4
Final Detroit 4 Chicago 0
Final Florida 4 Dallas 0
Final Colorado 4 Nashville 2
Final OT Calgary 2 Los Angeles 1
TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Final (22)Navy 17 Army 16
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Arizona 96 (12)Alabama 75
Final (2)Michigan 101 Maryland 83
Final (6)Purdue 79 Marquette 59
Final (7)Houston 99 New Orleans 57
Final (8)Gonzaga 82 (25)UCLA 72
Final (9)Michigan State 76 Penn State 72
Final (10)BYU 100 UC Riverside 53
Final (11)Louisville 99 Memphis 73
Final (23)Nebraska 83 (13)Illinois 80
Final (14)North Carolina 80 USC Upstate 62
Final (15)Vanderbilt 83 Central Arkansas 72
Final (17)Arkansas 93 (16)Texas Tech 86
Final (18)Florida 80 George Washington 70
Final (19)Kansas 77 North Carolina State 76
Final (21)Auburn 92 Chattanooga 78