National Sports

Brittney Griner’s guilty plea Thursday has not lessened the support the Olympic gold medalist continues to receive from her WNBA peers.

A win over Panama plus a little help from Costa Rica and Canada can book its ticket to the 2023 Women's World Cup on Friday.

REGINA — The phrase "next man up" may seem like a cliché, but it's been a reality this season for the injury-riddled Saskatchewan Roughriders.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon because of a torn abdominal muscle on Thursday, a day before he was supposed to play Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers say assistant coaches Dave Manson and Glen Gulutzan will return next season as the NHL team shored up its hockey operations staff on Thursday.

CALGARY — Rod Hay continues to live the rodeo life, but times three. An eight-time national champion and winner of four Calgary Stampede titles, no other Canadian saddle bronc rider has qualified for more world championships.

TORONTO — Inter Miami coach Phil Neville called the acquisition of Toronto FC star Alejandro Pozuelo a statement, although it is unclear how long the Spanish playmaker will call the Sunshine State home.

MOSCOW (AP) — When Brittney Griner pleaded guilty Thursday to drug possession in a Russian court, hopes rose that her months of detention could soon be over, either through a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap or a pardon from President Vladimir Putin.

SAINT CATHARINES, Ont. — Wayne Gretzky has become a minority owner in the Ontario Hockey League's Niagara IceDogs. The transfer of the club to majority owner Darren DeDobbelaer was announced Thursday by the league.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings have hired former star goaltender Manon Rheaume to a front-office position, furthering the recent trend of women landing high-profile jobs with NHL teams.