LeBron James Leaving Lakers, Will Play 24th NBA Season Elsewhere
LeBron James will not return to the Los Angeles Lakers and intends to continue his career — now in a record-extending 24th NBA season — with a different franchise. The move is considered the biggest piece of the NBA’s offseason puzzle, coming alongside news that Giannis Antetokounmpo was dealt by Milwaukee to Miami, one of James’ former teams. The Lakers issued a statement Tuesday expressing gratitude for James’ eight years with the organization. James became eligible to speak with other teams once the league’s free agency window opened at 6 p.m. EDT Tuesday, though he cannot formally sign with any new club until July 6.
Kawhi Leonard Heading Back to Toronto in Deal with Clippers
A source familiar with the situation says Kawhi Leonard is returning to the Toronto Raptors after the team reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers to bring back the player who guided Toronto to the 2019 NBA title. In exchange for Leonard, the Raptors are 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 anonymously Tuesday because the deal has yet to receive official league approval.
Mbappé Doubles Up to Match Messi’s World Cup Goal Tally as France Downs Sweden 3-0
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring with a dazzling crossover move in the 45th minute and then added another goal later in the match to break a World Cup knockout round scoring record, helping France defeat Sweden 3-0 and advance to a round of 16 clash with Paraguay. Bradley Barcola contributed a goal in the 53rd minute, and Mbappé sealed things in the 74th minute for his third multi-goal performance in four games. His six tournament goals put him level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the tournament lead and pushed his career World Cup total to 18, just one behind Messi’s all-time record.
Serena Williams Savors Wimbledon Return Despite Three-Set Defeat at Age 44
LONDON — Serena Williams fell 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 to 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia in the first round of Wimbledon, marking her first professional singles match in nearly four years. The 44-year-old Williams displayed the thunderous serve and powerful groundstrokes that earned her 23 Grand Slam singles titles — including seven at Wimbledon — but Joint proved capable of absorbing the pressure and winning the key points by keeping Williams on the move across Centre Court. Williams had entered two doubles matches just ahead of Wimbledon 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 Abuse Following WNBA Suspension
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas revealed Tuesday that she has received death threats and been subjected to racial slurs online in the wake of her one-game suspension stemming from contact she made with her fist to Caitlin Clark’s throat during last week’s game against Indiana. Speaking to reporters at the team’s practice facility, Thomas also took aim at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, criticizing her for failing to do enough to shield the league’s players. The incident occurred with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter of a matchup against Clark’s Indiana Fever and was ruled a non-basketball act. The league assessed Thomas a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty.
New York Liberty Top Las Vegas Aces 93-85 to Capture 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 claim the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday night. The Aces were without four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who suffered a right ankle injury Sunday during a victory over Chicago. Despite Wilson’s absence, Las Vegas made things difficult for New York, fueled by Jackie Young’s standout performance — she scored 25 of her 31 points in the second half.
QB Brendan Sorsby Won’t Sue NFL, Now Eligible for 2027 Draft
NEW YORK — Brendan Sorsby’s path to the NFL now runs 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 petition over integrity concerns. He is now draft-eligible in 2027 and cannot sign an NFL contract before then. The league will not penalize him for previously known misconduct but may conduct additional investigation. The NCAA declared Sorsby ineligible after he wagered thousands of dollars on sports, including bets on 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, with manager Dave Roberts choosing to give him additional rest. The Dodgers are in the middle of a stretch of 13 games over 13 consecutive days, and Roberts wanted to ensure Ohtani had time to recharge. 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 the A’s. On the mound this season, Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA across 13 starts, with 82 strikeouts and 24 walks in 79 and two-thirds innings. He has won the MVP award four times.
Benches Clear in Boston as Willson Contreras Ejected for Second Consecutive Game
BOSTON — Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was thrown out of a game for the second day in a row following a confrontation with Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli. After Cavalli struck out Contreras to lead off the fourth inning, he shouted in Contreras’ direction. Contreras responded by walking toward the mound, prompting both dugouts to empty. Contreras hurled his helmet at Cavalli before teammates stepped in to hold him back. The altercation resulted in several ejections, including Contreras and Boston interim manager Chad Tracy. It marks the first time in the Red Sox’s 126-year franchise history that a player has been ejected in back-to-back games.
U.S. Men’s National Team Prepares for Round of 32 Showdown with Bosnia-Herzegovina
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The U.S. squad spent Monday watching the action unfold at other World Cup venues, taking in a slate of dramatic matches that included a major upset as Germany fell to Paraguay, three contests that went down to the final moments, and two tense penalty shootouts. Now the Americans are refocusing on their own task at hand — a round of 32 matchup against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday that figures to be a major indicator of how deep this U.S. team can go in the tournament.
