SPORTS HEADLINES

Audio By Carbonatix

A historic win by 45-year-old Venus Williams resonates and shows there are no limits for excellence

WASHINGTON (AP) — There are plenty of reasons why this particular victory by Venus Williams in this particular tennis match resonates with so many folks. That she’s 45, for one thing. Only one woman, Martina Navratilova, ever has won a tour-level singles match while older; her last victory came at 47 in 2004. That Williams hadn’t entered a tournament anywhere in 16 months. That she needed surgery for uterine fibroids. And when asked Tuesday night after beating her 23-year-old opponent, Peyton Stearns, 6-3, 6-4 at the DC Open what message others might take away from that performance and that result, Williams was quick to provide an answer about there being no limits for excellence.

US Olympic and Paralympic officials bar transgender women from competing in Olympic women’s sports

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has barred transgender women from competing in women’s sports. The committee is citing an executive order from President Donald Trump. The order, signed in February, threatens to cut funding for organizations allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports. The policy is listed under the USOPC Athlete Safety Policy and follows a similar move by the NCAA earlier this year. National governing bodies for various sports like swimming and track and field are expected to comply with the directive.

NASCAR will hold first street race on active military base at Naval Base Coronado in 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR will hold a street race on Naval Base Coronado in Southern California next June as a replacement for its downtown Chicago event that ran the last three years. The move to the San Diego area doesn’t eliminate a return to Chicago, where NASCAR will still maintain an office and effort an eventual return, perhaps as early as 2027. But the shift next year will allow NASCAR to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy by hosting all three of its national series over a three-day weekend on June 19-21.

Miami Dolphins’ Bayron Matos airlifted to hospital after training camp injury

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Bayron Matos suffered an undisclosed injury at the end of Wednesday’s practice and was flown to a hospital on a helicopter for evaluation. The injury happened in the final minutes of Day 1 of the Dolphins’ training camp. Matos, a second-year offensive tackle, was airlifted in stable condition, the team said. The Dolphins did not release information on the injury. The 24-year-old Matos played college at South Florida.

Jannik Sinner rehires the fitness coach he fired for playing a role in his doping case

ROME (AP) — Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has rehired Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach nearly a year after firing him for his role in the top-ranked player’s doping case. The move comes after Sinner recently removed fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio from his team. A statement from Sinner’s team says “Umberto has played an important role in Jannik’s development to date and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level.” Ferrara purchased the product that led to Sinner’s three-month ban earlier this year.

Big Ten’s Petitti: No support for SEC’s at-large bid preference for College Football Playoff

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Big Ten commissioner is reiterating the league’s preference for multiple automatic qualifiers in the next version of the College Football Playoff, increasing the likelihood of a showdown with the Southeastern Conference when the format for 2026 is decided. Commissioner Tony Petitti says any change that adds at-large bids and increases the discretion and role of a selection committee — a format the SEC and others have shown a preference for — “will have a difficulft time getting support of the Big Ten.”

Rich Hill becomes oldest player in majors at 45 with start against Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — Kansas City’s Rich Hill seemed a bit rusty in his return to the majors as baseball’s oldest active player. His Royals teammates didn’t make the 45-year-old left-hander’s start against the Cubs any easier. Hill gave up three runs and six hits over five innings in his first major league appearance since last September with Boston. He threw 90 pitches (55 strikes), walking two and striking out one. He left with Chicago leading 3-0. Hill’s start at Wrigley Field marked the debut of his 21st season in the majors and his first with Kansas City. The Royals are his 14th major league team, matching Edwin Jackson’s record. Hill became the oldest player to start a major league game since May 27, 2012, when lefty Jamie Moyer tossed his final game with Colorado at age 49.

Rafael Devers debuts at first base for Giants after refusing to play position for Red Sox

ATLANTA (AP) — Rafael Devers has made his debut at first base for the San Francisco Giants. Tuesday night’s start at Atlanta was the slugger’s first at the position that he refused to play for his previous team, the Boston Red Sox. Boston traded Devers to San Francisco in June after his relationship with management deteriorated less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023. After the trade, Devers said he felt he had “earned some respect” because of his production in Boston. But he added that he’d be happy to play first for the Giants.

Frank Reich excited about Bryce Young’s resurgence after ‘terrible’ start to QB’s NFL career

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Former Panthers coach Frank Reich recently reflected on his time coaching quarterback Bryce Young. Speaking at ACC media days on Tuesday, Reich expressed happiness for Young’s late-season resurgence in 2024. Young, who struggled early in his career, was benched in his second season but made a strong comeback after an injury to veteran Andy Dalton. He ended the season with impressive stats, giving the Panthers hope for the future. Reich, fired after 11 games in 2023, said starting Young as a rookie was the right decision. Young now enters his third season as Carolina’s clear starting quarterback.

Commanders GM says non-football topics such as President Trump’s comments don’t reach him

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Washington’s NFL franchise used to be in the news all the time for reasons other than football. That seemed to have changed under new team ownership, but President Donald Trump’s remarks about the team name and possibly holding up a stadium deal are making waves just as training camp opens. Still, Commanders general manager Adam Peters made clear Tuesday — at a news conference with coach Dan Quinn a day before the team’s first training camp practice — that he doesn’t expect any of that sort of outside conversation to interfere with their real jobs.