‘I want to talk’: Griner opened up on long trip home

WASHINGTON » WNBA star Brittney Griner didn’t want any alone time as soon as she boarded a U.S. government plane that would bring her home.

“I have been in prison for 10 months now, listening to Russian. I want to talk,” Griner said, according to Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, who helped secure the basketball star’s release and bring her back to the U.S. last week.

She then asked Carstens, referring to others on the plane: “But, first of all, who are these guys?”

“And she moved right past me and went to every member on that crew, looked them in the eyes, shook their hands and asked about them, got their names, making a personal connection with them,” Carstens recalled in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “It was really amazing.”

Ultimately, Griner spent about 12 hours of an 18-hour flight talking with others on the plane, Carstens said. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury star spoke about her time in the Russian penal colony and her months in captivity, Carstens recalled, although he declined to go into specific details.

“I was left with the impression this is an intelligent, passionate, compassionate, humble, interesting person, a patriotic person,” Carstens said. “But above all, authentic. I hate the fact that I had to meet her in this manner, but I actually felt blessed having had a chance to get to know her.”

Although Griner is undergoing a full medical and mental evaluation, Carstens said she appeared “full of energy, looked fantastic.”

Mets sign Japanese pitcher Senga

NEW YORK » Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga and the New York Mets have agreed to a $75 million, five-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

It is the latest big move for owner Steve Cohen during a dizzying week. Senga figures to slot into the middle of a rotation headed by three-time Cy Young Award winners Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

The Mets completed a $162 million, eight-year contract Saturday to bring back free agent center fielder Brandon Nimmo. New York also finalized deals with free-agent pitchers Verlander, José Quintana and David Robertson.

Within the last week, the Mets have committed $359.7 million to five free agents, including Senga. Those moves push New York’s projected 2023 payroll to around $340 million.

Senga, a hard-throwing right-hander, did not have to go through the posting system with the Japanese big leagues because of his 11 seasons of service time.

Senga, who turns 30 in January, was 11-6 with a 1.94 ERA in 22 starts for the Pacific League’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks last season. He tossed three scoreless innings in two outings for Japan against the U.S. in the Olympics last year.

Navy’s Niumatalolo out after 15 seasons

ANNAPOLIS, MD. » Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo is out after 15 seasons at the helm.

The academy announced Sunday that Niumatalolo would not return, a day after the Midshipmen lost to Army in overtime and finished 4-8 for the second straight year. Niumatalolo is the winningest coach in school history at 109-83. But after going 11-2 in 2019, Navy hasn’t finished above .500 since.

“Our sincerest gratitude to Coach Ken for what has been a distinguished and impactful legacy at the Naval Academy,” athletic director Chet Gladchuk said in a statement. “Navy football flourished for many years under his leadership. He will forever be remembered for the influence he has had on the lives of those who played for him.”

Niumatalolo was hired in 2008. In the Midshipmen’s first two years in the American Athletic Conference, Niumatalolo led the team to a share of an AAC West Division title in 2015 and won the AAC West outright in 2016. Navy also shared the West title in 2019.

The Midshipmen have gone 11-23 over the last three seasons and have had one winning season in the last five years. Navy is 4-10 against service academies over the last seven years.

Theegala’s birdie leads to QBE win

NAPLES, FLA. » Sahith Theegala made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole as he and Tom Hoge closed with a 10-under 62 in fourballs and became the first rookie team to win the QBE Shootout in 11 years.

Ryan Palmer and Charley Hoffman each missed birdie putts from about 12 feet at Tiburon Golf Club that would have forced a playoff. They had a 65.