Lillard and Antetokounmpo won an NBA Cup together. Now, the next challenge: chasing the big prize

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo stood side-by-side during the postgame celebration after the NBA Cup final. Antetokounmpo was holding the MVP trophy. Lillard was holding the bigger trophy. And it was a moment that Lillard had waited a long time to savor. He’s been a rookie of the year, a 3-point contest champion, an All-Star MVP, even a member of the league’s 75th anniversary team. And while his biggest goal is still winning an NBA championship, the significance of winning the NBA Cup was not lost on the 13-year veteran.

Donald Trump said he wants to ban trans athletes from competing. The reality is more nuanced

President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promise to ‘ban’ transgender athletes struck a chord with voters. It’s uncertain, however, what exactly Trump will do once his second term begins in January. The most immediate action could be to remove Title IX protections for trans-athletes that were introduced by the Biden administration. Several ongoing court battles about the participation of trans-athletes could also shape the near future of the issue.

The darker side of the rise of women’s sports: With more visibility comes more online harassment

NEW YORK (AP) — As women’s sports set new records for attendance and viewership this year, longtime fans have watched with both optimism and unease. The meteoric rise in popularity propelled by stars like the WNBA’s Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has also revealed strong backlash to this success. It’s a cycle female athletes and fans of women’s sports have come to recognize: With the increased and sought-after visibility also comes added scrutiny and, often, harassment and online abuse targeting some players. Much of it has been racially motivated and directed at players of color across the sports landscape.

Ex-teammates expect the best from Lindsey Vonn in return to World Cup ski racing at age 40

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — A trio of well-known and well-decorated American ski racers are all rooting for their longtime teammate Lindsey Vonn as she returns to ski racing at 40 this weekend in St. Moritz, Switzerland. More than anything, Bode Miller, Ted Ligety and Julia Mancuso, all in their 40s, just want their teammate to be safe as she races at top speeds again. Vonn retired in 2019 not because she was slowing down, but because she was broken down. She has a new titanium knee and feels strong again as she competes in a Word Cup race for the first time in nearly six years. Vonn has 82 World Cup wins.

No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 9 Indiana take one last spin with 1-year QBs Kurtis Rourke and Riley Leonard

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti pursued Kurtis Rourke in the transfer portal because he wanted a proven winner. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman wanted Riley Leonard because he thought the former Duke quarterback could win a national championship. So the two programs with vastly different histories made the same choice — betting big on veteran quarterbacks with only one-year of eligibility remaining. The reward comes Friday night when the 10th-seeded Hoosiers visit the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish in the first College Football Playoff game ever played on a college campus. The winner advances to a quarterfinal round matchup against second-seeded Georgia.

Wake Forest reaches deal with Washington State’s Jake Dickert to become coach, AP source says

Wake Forest has agreed to a deal with Washington State’s Jake Dickert to become the Demon Deacons’ next football coach. That’s according to a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school hasn’t spoken publicly yet about its coaching search. Dickert is set to replace Dave Clawson, who resigned unexpectedly Monday after 11 seasons. Dickert has guided the Cougars to 20 wins in three full seasons since taking over that program.

NFL has a record number of playoff clinches and bottom dwellers with 3 weeks to go

There might by more intrigue in the race for the No. 1 pick than in the race to make the playoffs in the final three weeks. There’s already a record number of teams that have clinched a playoff spot with three weeks to play in the NFL season and a record number of teams with three or fewer wins after Week 15 as a league built on parity has become one of haves and have nots. Seven playoff spots have been clinched at this point in the season for the first time ever and the 50% of playoff berths filled are the most with three weeks remaining.

The ATP men’s tennis tour paid $1.3 million to 26 players via a guaranteed-income plan in 2024

LONDON (AP) — The ATP men’s tennis tour is paying out $1.3 million to a total of 26 players in 2024 under a new financial program called Baseline that guarantees minimum annual incomes for players ranked in the top 250. The tour said Monday that players received money in each of three categories: 17 got paid as part of minimum guarantees that make up the difference if players do not reach certain thresholds in prize money, three through injury protection that helps those whose tournament participation is limited by health issues, and seven via newcomer investment that provides funds to new members of the top 125.

The group behind a new European soccer competition has resurfaced. Here’s what they propose

The group behind a breakaway European soccer competition to rival the Champions League has resurfaced. The Madrid-based A22 Sports Management is back with a new incarnation of the proposed European Super League, which is now being called the Unify League. A22 is seeking to change the face of soccer in its most lucrative market by creating a rival for UEFA’s club competitions. It is nearly four years since the initial Super League plan was ambitiously launched and quickly aborted. The rebels have been emboldened by a successful legal challenge last year and now are back with a new name for the competition and a new business model. It remains to be seen who signs up for the project.

Michael Vick accepts head coaching job at Norfolk State

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Michael Vick has agreed to become the head coach at Norfolk State in a return to football for the former NFL star, who has never coached at any level. The 44-year-old Vick announced on his Facebook page on Tuesday night that he has accepted the job. Norfolk State did not immediately confirm the hiring of Vick, who grew up in nearby Newport News. Vick starred in college at Virginia Tech and was a four-time Pro Bowler in 13 seasons for Atlanta, Philadelphia, the New York Jets and Pittsburgh. He served 18 months in federal prison in the prime of his career after pleading guilty to his role in a dogfighting ring.