National Sports - The Morning Sun

Fans make their way into the Delta Center before a first-round college basketball game between Long Beach State and Arizona in the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City, Thursday, March 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Isaac Hale)

NHL team moving from Arizona to Salt Lake City will have a name starting with Utah

The NHL team moving from Arizona to Salt Lake City will be known as Utah at least initially. New owner Ryan Smith says the name will begin with Utah and he does not want to rush the process of … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 4/18/24

FILE - United States' Lilia Vu plays her tee shot on the 4th hole during her single match at the Solheim Cup golf tournament in Finca Cortesin, near Casares, southern Spain, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. Europe play the United States in this biannual women's golf tournament, which played alternately in Europe and the United States. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

Defending champion Lilia Vu withdraws from Chevron Championship with back injury before 1st round

Defending champion and world No. 2 Lilia Vu withdrew from the Chevron Championship before the first round because of a back injury. The LPGA announced her withdraw and said the back injury she has … more

4/18/24

Carolina Hurricanes' Jesperi Kotkaniemi, left, and Maxime Comtois celebrate their goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

NHL PLAYOFFS: 'It's wide open' is the theme as the race to the Stanley Cup begins

There is no prohibitive favorite to win the Stanley Cup as the NHL playoffs begin this weekend. Carolina gets the slight edge after the Hurricanes won 16 of their final 21 games and look every bit … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 4/18/24

FILE - Referee Ashley Moyer-Gleich (13) waits for play during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in Atlanta. The NBA announced its first-round playoff referees on Friday, April 18, 2024, and Ashley Moyer-Gleich became the first woman selected for the postseason since 2012. Moyer-Gleich got the nod in her sixth NBA season.(AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

Moyer-Gleich picked for NBA playoff officiating roster, 1st woman in that role since 2012

Ashley Moyer-Gleich checked her email just before heading to the airport on Saturday for a trip to what she thought would be her final game of the season. That’s when the news came in: She has more … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/18/24

FILE - Miami's Haley Cavinder (14) and Hanna Cavinder (15) celebrate following a second-round college basketball game against Indiana in the women's NCAA Tournament Monday, March 20, 2023, in Bloomington, Ind. Haley Cavinder announced her return to Miami on Friday, April 18, 2024, one day after twin sister Hanna said she was going back to the Hurricanes. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

Hanna and Haley Cavinder say they're returning for 1 last season at Miami

The Cavinder twins are back at Miami. One day after Hanna Cavinder revealed she was returning to the Hurricanes, twin sister Haley Cavinder said she was decommitting from TCU and headed back to Miami … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/18/24

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) goes to the basket ahead of Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in New Orleans. The Lakers won 110-106. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Butler, Williamson injuries are part of story for Heat-Bulls and Kings-Pelicans play-in finales

All four teams in the finales of the NBA play-in tournament on Friday night are dealing with injury issues. Chicago goes to Miami and then Sacramento plays at New Orleans. The winner of the … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/18/24

FILE - Villanova guard Lucy Olsen (3) shoots against Oregon State during the second half of an NCAA basketball game on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Corvallis, Ore. Iowa has added one of the nation’s most productive scorers from last season as the Hawkeyes get ready to begin their post-Caitlin Clark era. Lucy Olsen said on social media Wednesday, April 17, 2024, that she’s joining the Hawkeyes after the former Villanova star entered the transfer portal. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman, File)

Scoring sensation Lucy Olsen transferring to Iowa. She led Villanova with 23.3 points this season

Iowa added one of the nation’s most productive scorers to fill the void left by superstar Caitlin Clark. Lucy Olsen said on social media that she’s joining the Hawkeyes after the former Villanova … more

4/18/24

Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler, left, drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers' Nicolas Batum during the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Miami Heat guard Jimmy Butler will have MRI Thursday, may miss play-in game Friday

Miami guard Jimmy Butler says he will need an MRI on his right knee after he was injured in the first half of the Heat’s play-in tournament loss to the 76ers. Butler was hurt late in the first … more

By DAN GELSTON | 4/18/24

PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates at the end of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The ideal Champions League final is within reach if Mbappé and Real Madrid can deliver

The tantalizing prospect of Kylian Mbappé squaring up to Real Madrid in the Champions League final looms large. Mbappé becomes a free agent after the season when Madrid is favorite to finally land … more

By JAMES ROBSON | 4/18/24

FILE - LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates with his parents on senior day, for his final home game, before an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Daniels is a possible first round pick in the NFL Draft.(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

NFL draft has potential to set a record for most players on offense selected in the first round

The 2024 NFL draft has the potential to set a record for most players on offense selected in the first round. No draft has seen more than 19 players on offense chosen in the first round. That … more

By ROB MAADDI | 4/18/24

FILE - PSG's Tabitha Chawinga celebrates after scoring during the women's Champions League group C soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in Munich, Germany, on Jan. 30, 2024. Paris Saint-Germain forward Tabitha Chawinga faced challenges as a young soccer player growing up in Malawi. Her parents disapproved and wanted her to stop playing. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

PSG star Tabitha Chawinga of Malawi overcomes obstacles en route to Champions League success

Paris Saint-Germain forward Tabitha Chawinga faced challenges as a young soccer player growing up in Malawi. Her parents disapproved and wanted her to stop playing. As a teenager, Chawinga was once … more

By KEN MAGUIRE | 4/18/24

Arizona Coyotes fans start to gather for what is expected to be the franchise's final NHL hockey game in the Phoenix area, against the Edmonton Oilers, at the main entrance to Mullett Arena on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Party's over: Coyotes end tenure in the desert with raucous atmosphere before move

Mullett Arena buzzed like few times in the two years since the Arizona Coyotes moved in, the fans amped for one last desert hurrah. For 60 minutes, they got one last chance to watch the team they … more

By JOHN MARSHALL | 4/18/24

Arizona Coyotes' Logan Cooley, right, Michael Carcone (53) and Josh Doan arrive on the ice prior to the team's NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes are moving to Salt Lake City in a deal that could be signed less than 24 hours after the game. Hockey could return, perhaps within five years, but the stark reality is this is the end for the foreseeable future. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Coyotes close out 28-year tenure in Arizona with 5-2 win over Oilers

The Coyotes closed out their 28-year Arizona tenure as winners, getting a goal and an assist from Dylan Guenther in a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The Coyotes buzzed early at Mullett Arena … more

By JOHN MARSHALL | 4/18/24

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger blocks a St. Louis Blues shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars clinch top seed in Western Conference by getting to overtime against Blues

The Dallas Stars will be the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since 2016. Dallas was tied 1-1 with the St. Louis Blues at the end of regulation. That gave the Central … more

4/18/24

Joel Embiid scores 23 points, has the big assist as 76ers beat Heat in play-in to earn No. 7 seed

Joel Embiid had 23 points, 15 rebounds and one huge assist to Kelly Oubre Jr. on a late go-ahead three-point play that led the 76ers to a 105-104 win over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference … more

By DAN GELSTON | 4/17/24

Manchester City's Kyle Walker fights for the ball with Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Vinícius Junior injured in Real Madrid's Champions League quarterfinals match against Man City

Vinícius Junior was taken off injured in the Champions League quarterfinals second leg between Manchester City and Real Madrid. The Brazil winger appeared to hurt his groin during a race to the ball … more

By JAMES ROBSON | 4/17/24

Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck is doused after throwing a three-hitter against the Cleveland Guardians in a baseball game Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Boston. The Red Sox won 2-0. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Houck throws 3-hitter in 2-0 win over Guardians for Boston's 1st CG shutout at Fenway since 2017

Tanner Houck pitched a three-hitter with nine strikeouts for Boston’s first complete-game shutout at Fenway Park in nearly seven years, and the Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-0, Connor Wong … more

By MAUREEN MULLEN | 4/17/24

Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller throws to a Cincinnati Reds batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Bryce Miller and 3 relievers combine on a 1-hitter as Mariners beat Reds 5-1 to complete sweep

Bryce Miller and three relievers combined on a one-hitter, Cal Raleigh, Mitch Garver and Josh Rojas all hit solo home runs, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 to complete a … more

By TIM BOOTH | 4/17/24

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson, front left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Denver Nuggets realize defending their NBA championship will be a tough task in improved West

The defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets placed a premium on heading into the playoffs at optimal health rather than going all out for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference like they had a year … more

By ARNIE STAPLETON | 4/17/24

Jon Rahm, of Spain, puts the green jacket on winner Scottie Scheffler after the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Scottie Scheffler had a quick Masters celebration. Now, it's time to get back to work

Scottie Scheffler has never been one to celebrate. He made a brief exception for his second Masters title. Scheffler flew home to Dallas and joined his wife and friends at a tavern. They left 20 … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 4/17/24