SPORTS SUMMARY

NBA agrees to terms on a new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, AP source says

The NBA has agreed to terms on its new media deal, an 11-year agreement worth $76 billion that assures player salaries will continue rising for the foreseeable future and one that will surely change how some viewers access the game for years to come. A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the networks have the terms sheets, with the next step being for the league’s board of governors to approve the contracts. The deal sets NBA records for both its length and total value and goes into effect for the 2025-26 season.

England reaches European Championship final by beating Netherlands 2-1 on Watkins late goal

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — England has reached a second straight European Championship final by beating the Netherlands 2-1 thanks to substitute Ollie Watkins’ stoppage-time winner. Watkins came on for captain Harry Kane in a bold call by coach Gareth Southgate. He turned and smashed a fierce shot into the bottom corner in the first minute of added-on time. England will play Spain in Sunday’s final in Berlin. It will be the nation’s first title match on foreign soil having won the World Cup in 1966 and lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

Ex-NBA player Jontay Porter pleads guilty in case tied to gambling scandal that tanked his career

NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA player Jontay Porter has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a federal criminal case. The charge is tied to the betting scandal that got Porter banned from the league. The former Toronto Raptors center entered the plea Wednesday at his arraignment in a New York federal court. Porter admits he agreed to withdraw early from games so that co-conspirators could win bets on his performance. He says he’s undergone inpatient treatment for a gambling problem and remains in therapy. The former center is free on $250,000 bond while awaiting his sentencing Dec. 18.

Derrick White replaces Kawhi Leonard on US Olympic men’s basketball team

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Derrick White has been named to the U.S. men’s basketball team for the Paris Olympics as a replacement for Kawhi Leonard. The announcement Wednesday from USA Basketball marked the first shakeup to a roster that was announced in the spring. Leonard missed 12 of the Los Angeles Clippers’ final 14 games this past season with right knee inflammation, though he said in recent days that he felt fine and the knee was doing well. USA Basketball said it, along with the Clippers, made the decision on Leonard’s status for Paris. He was replaced by White, who averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists for the NBA champion Boston Celtics this past season.

Lionel Messi says he will keep on playing for Argentina beyond Copa America final

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Lionel Messi plans to keep playing for Argentina beyond Sunday’s Copa America final. Speaking after Canada’s 2-0 win over Canada, Messi says: “I intend to continue” and adds ”I intend to keep living day by day without thinking about what will come in the future or whether I’ll continue or not. It’s something I just live each day. I’m 37 years and only God knows when the end will be.” Messi scored his 109th international goal, his first in this year’s tournament. It was his 14th in Copa America play, three shy of the record.

Lorenzo Musetti reaches his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon and will face Novak Djokovic

LONDON (AP) — Lorenzo Musetti has reached his first Grand Slam semifinal by eliminating Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon and will face Novak Djokovic next. The 25th-seeded Musetti beat the 13th-seeded Fritz 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. It was the 37th five-setter at the All England Club this year, the most at any Grand Slam tournament. Djokovic’s trip through the bracket was made even easier when he moved into a record-tying 13th semifinal at the tournament via a walkover. Alex de Minaur withdrew before the match with a hip injury. Elena Rybakina and Barbora Krejcikova earned spots in the women’s semifinals. Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022. Krejcikova won the 2021 French Open.

Injuries are adding up at Wimbledon and determining the outcomes of matches

LONDON (AP) — There’s no single explanation for all of the injuries to players in the latter stages at Wimbledon this year. This much is certain: The timing could hardly be worse. The man Novak Djokovic was supposed to face on Wednesday, Alex de Minaur, withdrew hours before their scheduled quarterfinal because he jarred his hip at the end of his victory two days earlier. Taylor Fritz’s fourth-round opponent, Alexander Zverev, slipped on an unworn patch of green grass in his previous match and said it left him one “one leg.” Danielle Collins’ last Wimbledon appearance before retirement ended with tape wrapped around her hamstring. The list goes on and on.

Phillies All-Star slugger Bryce Harper out against Dodgers with bruised left hand

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — First baseman Bryce Harper made a short-lived return to the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup. The All-Star slugger is sitting out Wednesday night’s game against Los Angeles because of a bruised left hand. Harper was hurt during Tuesday’s 10-1 win over the Dodgers. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Harper’s hand was bruised on a groundball in the first inning. Harper, though, clearly grabbed his hand and hunched over in pain on a second-inning chopper by Miguel Rojas. Thomson also said All-Star right-hander Zack Wheeler was still “a little sore” but no structural damage was found after an MRI on his back.

England and Netherlands fans clash in Dortmund ahead of Euro 2024 semifinal game

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Police say five people have been injured in clashes between fans of England and the Netherlands ahead of the Euro 2024 semifinal game between the two teams. More than 100,000 Dutch soccer fans were in Dortmund ahead of the game for a march to the stadium, as well as large numbers of England fans. The U.K. Football Policing Unit deals with soccer violence involving British fans and has officers in Germany for the tournament. It says it believes five people received minor injuries in relation to apparent cases of Dutch fans attacking English supporters in bars.

Simone Biles and LeBron James are among athletes expected to bid ‘adieu’ to the Olympics in Paris

Simone Biles and LeBron James lead the list of athletes likely competing at their final Olympics. Add in that Andy Murray will be retiring after the Paris Games and that Rafael Nadal may bid goodbye to tennis too and the stage is set for some high-profile goodbyes. Other top competitors expected to say “adieu” to the Olympics in the French capital include Shelly-Anne Fraser Pryce, Gianmarco Tamberi, Sarah Sjöström, Tom Daley, Mikkel Hansen and Teddy Riner.