LeBron James Leaving Lakers, Heading Into Record 24th NBA Season
LeBron James will not return to the Los Angeles Lakers and is set to play a record-breaking 24th NBA season with a new team. His departure is considered the most significant move of the NBA’s offseason player movement period, which also includes Giannis Antetokounmpo being dealt from Milwaukee to Miami — a city where James once played. The Lakers issued a statement Tuesday expressing gratitude for James’ eight years with the franchise. James became eligible to speak with other teams at 6 p.m. EDT Tuesday when the league officially opened its free agency window, though he cannot formally sign with a new club until July 6.
Kawhi Leonard Returning to Toronto in Deal with Clippers
Kawhi Leonard is heading back to the Toronto Raptors, according to a person familiar with the trade. Toronto struck a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers to bring back the player who guided the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship. In exchange for Leonard, Toronto is sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks, and a pick swap to Los Angeles, according to the source, who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the trade has not yet received official league approval.
Mbappé Nets Two Goals, Ties Messi for World Cup Scoring Lead as France Tops Sweden 3-0
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring with a dazzling crossover move in the 45th minute and added another goal in the second half to break a World Cup knockout round scoring record, leading France to a 3-0 victory over Sweden and a round of 16 matchup against Paraguay. Bradley Barcola put France up further in the 53rd minute before Mbappé sealed it in the 74th minute, completing his third multi-goal performance in four games. The six-goal total matched Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the top spot in the tournament’s scoring race and pushed Mbappé’s career World Cup total to 18, just one behind Messi’s all-time record.
Serena Williams Loses Three-Set Match at Wimbledon in Singles Return at Age 44
LONDON — Serena Williams fell 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 to 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint in the first round of Wimbledon, marking her first professional singles appearance in nearly four years. The 44-year-old Williams displayed the same powerful serve and heavy groundstrokes that earned her 23 Grand Slam singles titles — including seven at Wimbledon — but Joint proved capable of handling the pace and winning the critical points by moving Williams around Centre Court. Williams had played two doubles matches just before the tournament to signal her return to professional tennis, but had not competed in a singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open.
Alyssa Thomas Reports Death Threats and Racial Slurs Following Suspension
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said she has been subjected to death threats and racial slurs online in the wake of her one-game suspension after she made fist contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat during last week’s game against Indiana. Thomas also took aim at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Tuesday, speaking to reporters at the team’s practice facility and criticizing her for not doing enough to protect players in the league. The incident occurred with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter of the game against Clark’s Indiana Fever on Wednesday and was ruled a non-basketball act. The league assessed Thomas a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty.
New York Liberty Defeat Las Vegas Aces 93-85 to Claim Commissioner’s Cup
NEW YORK — Sabrina Ionescu poured in 26 points and Breanna Stewart contributed 25 as the New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 93-85 to capture the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday night. The Aces were without four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who injured her right ankle Sunday during a win over Chicago. Las Vegas still gave the Liberty a tough battle, largely thanks to Jackie Young, who erupted for 25 of her 31 total points in the second half.
QB Brendan Sorsby Eligible for 2027 NFL Draft After Choosing Not to Sue League
NEW YORK — Brendan Sorsby’s path to the NFL will run through 2027. The league notified its teams that Sorsby, a quarterback who was banned by the NCAA for gambling, will not take legal action against the NFL. Sorsby, who played at Indiana and Cincinnati before transferring to Texas Tech, had sought entry into the NFL’s supplemental draft, but the league rejected that request over integrity concerns. He is now eligible for the 2027 draft and cannot sign an NFL contract before then. The league will not punish him for previously known misconduct but may conduct further investigation. The NCAA declared Sorsby ineligible after he wagered thousands of dollars on sporting events, including games involving his own team while at Indiana.
Shohei Ohtani Sitting Out Wednesday Start Against Athletics for Rest
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will not take the mound for his scheduled start Wednesday against the Athletics, manager Dave Roberts announced, giving the Japanese star some additional rest during a stretch of 13 games in 13 days. Ohtani is expected to pitch in San Diego on Friday instead. Roberts said Ohtani will serve as the team’s designated hitter for Wednesday’s series finale against Oakland. On the mound this season, Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA over 13 starts, tallying 82 strikeouts and 24 walks across 79 and two-thirds innings. He has won four MVP awards in his career.
Willson Contreras Ejected for Second Straight Game as Red Sox and Nationals Benches Clear
BOSTON — Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was thrown out of a game for the second consecutive day after a confrontation with Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli. Cavalli struck out Contreras to lead off the fourth inning, then directed words at him, prompting Contreras to charge toward the mound and both dugouts to empty. Contreras hurled his helmet at Cavalli before teammates stepped in to restrain him. The altercation resulted in multiple ejections, including Contreras and Boston interim manager Chad Tracy. It marks the first time in the franchise’s 126-year history that a Red Sox player has been ejected in back-to-back games.
U.S. Soccer Faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in Round of 32 World Cup Clash
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The U.S. national team spent Monday watching from the sidelines as other World Cup drama unfolded, including a major upset when Germany lost to Paraguay, three matches that came down to the final moments, and two tense shootouts. Now attention turns back to the Americans, who face Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday in a round of 32 matchup that could define how far this U.S. World Cup run goes.
