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NBA Finals: Game 1 of Thunder-Pacers set to happen in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Winning Game 1 of the NBA Finals does not guarantee anything. The 79th title series in league history — it has been called different names over the years — starts Thursday night, when the Oklahoma City Thunder play host to the Indiana Pacers. And the winner of Game 1 will obviously leave the floor feeling good about themselves. But in the past 78 years, only 55 Game 1 winners have gone on to eventually win the title, or just about 71%.

Federal judges rule in favor of NASCAR in lawsuit filed by Jordan-owned 23XI and Front Row

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A three-judge federal appellate panel has ruled in favor of NASCAR in the antitrust lawsuit filed by two teams, one owned by Michael Jordan. The judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday vacated an injunction that required 23XI and Front Row be recognized as chartered teams as their case snakes through the legal system. Both race teams sued NASCAR late last year after refusing to sign new agreements on charter renewals. Jordan owns 23XI. The charter system is similar to franchises in other sports, but the charters are revocable by NASCAR.

White Sox reach agreement for potential future sale of controlling interest to Justin Ishbia

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have reached an agreement that will give Justin Ishbia, the brother of Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, the chance to buy a future controlling interest in the club. The team made the announcement Thursday, adding that Ishbia will make capital infusions into the White Sox as a limited partner in 2025 and 2026, which will be used to pay down existing debt and support ongoing team operations. Ishbia was already a limited partner. His brother Mat and father Jeff Ishbia will also be “significant investors,” the team said. Under the agreement, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf will have the option to sell controlling interest in the team to Ishbia from 2029-33. After the 2034 season, Ishbia can acquire the controlling interest.

Olympic champ Imane Khelif skips Eindhoven event after World Boxing introduces mandatory sex testing

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AP) — Olympic champion Imane Khelif is skipping the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands less than a week after World Boxing announced mandatory sex testing for all athletes. Algerian boxer Khelif won gold at the Paris Games last summer amid scrutiny over her eligibility. She did not register in time for the event before applications closed on Thursday. Tournament media director Dirk Renders says “The decision of Imane’s exclusion is not ours. We regret it.” Khelif had intended to return to international competition at the tournament in Hotel Eindhoven before World Boxing announced its new sex testing policy last Friday.

French Open: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka ends Swiatek’s reign and meets No. 2 Coco Gauff for the trophy

PARIS (AP) — Coco Gauff has reached her second final at Roland-Garros by beating Loïs Boisson 6-1, 6-2 to end the surprising, upset-filled run by a French wild-card entry who is ranked No. 361. The victory on Thursday by No. 2 Gauff sets up a blockbuster championship match against No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. It will be just the second 1 vs. 2 women’s final at the French Open in the last 30 years. Sabalenka got there by ending Iga Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. Sabalenka’s 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 win in the semifinals prevents Swiatek from becoming the first woman to win four consecutive championships at Roland-Garros.

Coco Gauff defeats Loïs Boisson 6-1, 6-2 to reach her second French Open final

PARIS (AP) — Coco Gauff has turned to an old trick with the French Open crowd loudly singing her French opponent’s name. Gauff pretended Thursday they were chanting “Coco!” Not that it mattered much, truly, because Gauff was by far the superior player throughout a 6-1, 6-2 victory that earned her a second trip to the final at Roland-Garros. The No. 2-seeded Gauff will now face No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for the championship on Saturday. It will be the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 final in Paris since 2013, when Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years.

What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games

GENEVA (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump often says the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are among the events he is most excited about in his second term. Yet there is significant uncertainty regarding visa policies for foreign visitors planning trips to the U.S. for the two biggest events in sports. Trump’s latest travel ban on citizens from 12 countries has added new questions about the impact on the World Cup and the Summer Olympics, which depend on hosts opening their doors to the world. Here’s a look at the potential effects of the travel ban on those events.

‘The heat got to us:’ Giants’ practice ends with a fight as players push, shove and throw punches

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants went from running plays to squaring off, ready to rumble in the middle of the field. Punches were thrown and helmets and players tossed aside. And they haven’t even made it to minicamp yet. Edge rusher Brian Burns said the heat got to the players Thursday after the Giants’ sixth practice of organized team activities. First, Burns and left tackle James Hudson took off their helmets and squared up as if they were going to fight. On the next play, edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor got into it and Thibodeaux took a swing at his teammate. A few players ended up on the ground.

Bruins name ex-forward Marco Sturm as head coach after missing playoffs for first time since 2016

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Bruins have hired Marco Sturm as coach to help the Original Six franchise get back to the playoffs after missing them for the first time since 2016. The Bruins picked Sturm to replace interim coach Joe Sacco, who took over from the fired Jim Montgomery in November and led the team to a 25-30-7 record — much of it after a trade deadline roster purge. Sturm becomes the 30th head coach in Bruins history after spending the past three seasons as head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign.

Olympic star, 3-time pro champion Vasiliy Lomachenko announces retirement from boxing

Vasiliy Lomachenko has announced his retirement from boxing after a decorated career that included two Olympic gold medals and professional world titles in three weight classes. The Ukrainian star burst onto the international boxing scene at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when the 20-year-old steamrolled the competition. He won gold in London before embarking on a pro career. Lomachenko won the WBO featherweight title in his third professional fight in June 2014, and he later added junior lightweight and lightweight belts. Lomachenko finished his pro career 18-3 with 12 stoppage victories.