SPORTS HEADLINES

United States wins 3rd Olympic gold in women’s hockey, beating Canada 2-1 on Megan Keller’s OT goal

MILAN (AP) — The United States has won its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey. Megan Keller backhanded in a shot 4:07 into overtime, and the Americans beat Canada 2-1 at the Milan Cortina Games on Thursday night to close another thrilling chapter of one of sports’ most heated rivalries. American captain Hilary Knight forced overtime by tipping in Laila Edwards’ shot from the blue line with 2:04 remaining. The goal was the 15th of her Olympic career and 33rd point to break the U.S. record in both categories. The U.S. previously won gold at the 1998 Nagano Games, the first to feature women’s hockey, and in 2018 in Pyeongchang.

Alysa Liu dazzles to win figure skating gold, ending a 24-year Olympic drought for US women

MILAN (AP) — Alysa Liu won Olympic gold for the U.S. in women’s figure skating, ending a 24-year drought. Liu delivered a near-flawless free skate at the Milan Cortina Games to beat out Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai of Japan on Thursday night. Liu had returned to the sport after stepping away following the Beijing Games. She posted a career-best 226.79 points, while Sakamoto took silver after a mistake. Nakai earned bronze after a slip as well. American teammate Amber Glenn celebrated in the kiss-and-cry area with Liu after Nakai’s score was read. Glenn rebounded from Tuesday’s short program and finished fifth.

Winter Olympics recap: US beats Canada in OT for women’s hockey gold medal, Stolz stunned in 1,500

MILAN (AP) — The U.S. women’s hockey team delivered an Olympic comeback for the ages by beating Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics. With her team trailing 1-0, American captain Hilary Knight forced overtime by tipping in Laila Edwards’ shot with 2:04 remaining in regulation. Megan Keller then scored 4:07 into overtime to hand the U.S. its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey.

Bears’ potential move to Indiana takes step forward as effort to build stadium in Illinois lingers

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears’ potential move to Indiana took another step forward when a key committee approved a plan to create an agency that would help get a stadium built. The Indiana House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee passed a bill establishing a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to finance, construct and lease a stadium by a 24-0 margin. The Bears are looking at a tract of land near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Ind. The team calls it “the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date” in a statement. Republican Gov. Mike Braun and lawmakers in Indiana have been aggressive in trying to lure the Bears amid a yearslong effort to build an enclosed stadium in Illinois. The Bears did not mention Illinois in their statement.

Without nationwide rules, South Carolina lawmakers move to keep college athlete payments secret

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina lawmakers have approved a bill to keep secret how much money teams and athletes are paid under new college sports rules. The state is poised to join Arkansas, Utah, Colorado and Kentucky, which already keep Name, Image and Likeness deals from the public. The push to do so came after a lawsuit prompted athletic directors from Clemson, South Carolina and other schools to ask for a new law. Gov. Henry McMaster says he supports transparency but will study the bill. Supporters say schools need secrecy to stay competitive. Critics say secrecy blocks oversight of public money and hurts athletes who want to know their market value.

NCAA official says March Madness expansion will not be discussed until after this year’s tournaments

The NCAA won’t discuss expanding the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments until after this year’s version of March Madness finishes. That’s what NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt told a group of reporters attending an NCAA event Thursday in Indianapolis. There has been talk for the past few months that the NCAA could expand the tournament field to 72 or 76 starting in 2027. NCAA President Charlie Baker said last year that adding teams could add value to the tournament, and he said the NCAA already has had “good conversations” with TV partners CBS and Warner Bros., whose deal runs through 2032 at the cost of around $1.1 billion a year.

If you’ve gotten tired of watching curling, imagine how the athletes feel

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — If you’ve gotten tired of watching curling, imagine how the athletes feel. By the end of the Milan Cortina Olympic Games, there will have been a total of 147 curling matches crammed into 18 days. In Cortina, curling began on Feb. 4, a full two days before the Opening Ceremonies. It ends Feb. 22, the last day of competition at the Games. Athletes coming off the ice say that this Olympics has left them worn out, physically and mentally. That reflects the near-constant competition schedule that has led to curling’s popular reputation as the Olympic sport that’s always on.

Joe Gibbs Racing sues ex-director Chris Gabehart, alleging a ‘brazen’ trade secrets theft

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joe Gibbs Racing has sued former competition director Chris Gabehart. The team claims he stole sensitive data to help rival Spire Motorsports. JGR filed the case in federal court in North Carolina. JGR claims a dispute over Gabehart’s power ended with his planned exit. The team says it discovered he was moving to Spire and a laptop review showed searches, folders, and images of confidential setups. JGR says Gabehart misled them about a Spire role. JGR says the alleged actions caused more than $8 million in damages.

Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is expected to play against the Rockets a day after being in a car crash

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball is not listed on the team’s injury report and is expected to play Thursday night against the Houston Rockets, one day after being involved in a two-car crash in Charlotte. The Hornets have won 10 of their last 11 games. Ball appeared to be driving through an intersection when his camouflage-colored, custom-made Hummer collided with another vehicle Wednesday, according to video obtained by WSOC-TV in Charlotte. The station later posted video of Ball, wearing an aqua-colored Hornets hoodie, getting out of his truck and into another car before being driven away. Police were on the scene at the time.

Georgia is facing more reckless driving problems following the arrests of Cole and Ikinnagbon

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia linebackers Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon have been arrested on misdemeanor charges of speeding and reckless driving. Ikinnagbon also was charged by Athens-Clarke County Police with following too closely. Georgia coach Kirby Smart addressed his frustration last season in trying to put an end to driving offenses by players. Georgia had three players leave the program following arrests on driving offenses last season. Cole ranked fourth on the team with 59 tackles and second with seven tackles for losses, including 4.5 sacks, as a sophomore last season. Ikinnagbon had two tackles as a freshman.