SPORTS SHORTS

NFL: Watson hearing concludes

Deshaun Watson’s disciplinary hearing concluded Thursday with the NFL adamant about an indefinite suspension of at least one year, and the quarterback’s legal team arguing there’s no basis for that punishment, two people with knowledge of the case told the AP.

MLB: Progress on A’s park plan

A California agency cleared the way for the Athletics to continue planning a $12 billion waterfront ballpark project. The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission voted 23-2 to reclassify a 56acre terminal at the Port of Oakland as a mixed-use area to build a new ballpark.

■ In Philadelphia, Kyle Schwarber finished off the month with his 12th home run of June and 23rd of the season and the Phillies avoided a three-game sweep with a 14-4 rout of the Braves.

■ In Toronto, Teoscar Hernandez and Santiago Espinal each hit two-run home runs, Yuseki Kukuchi struck out a season-high eight over six innings to snap a seven-start winless streak and the Blue Jays beat the Rays 4-1.

NHL: Montgomery to coach Bruins

The Bruins’ next head coach will be former Stars head coach Jim Montgomery, according to multiple media reports. The deal will reportedly be for three years at $2 million per year.

The 53-year-old Montgomery, who led the University of Denver to an NCAA title in 2016-17, saw instant success in leading the Stars back to the playoffs in 2019 following a two-season absence. Nevertheless, 31 games into the following season, Montgomery was fired for “unprofessional conduct” and entered rehab for alcohol abuse in Jan. 2020.

■ The Red Wings have hired Derek Lalonde to coach their rebuilding team, hoping the two-time Stanley Cup-winning assistant can help make the franchise relevant again. Lalonde spent the past four years on Jon Cooper’s Tampa Bay staff.

■ The Capitals named Emily EngelNatzke as video coordinator, making her the first woman to hold a full-time position on an NHL coaching staff.

WNBA: Liberty fall to Atlanta

Tiffany Hayes, playing for the first time this season after a knee injury, scored nine of her 21 points in overtime to lift the Atlanta Dream to a 92-81 victory over the Liberty at Barclays Center. Stefanie Dolson finished with 20 points for the Liberty, while Sabrina Ionescu had 17 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

SOCCER: Ngoma lifts Red Bulls

Serge Ngoma scored in the 89th minute and the Red Bulls beat Atlanta United 2-1 in Harrison, N.J. Ngoma’s goal came six minutes after teammate Lewis Morgan scored on a penalty kick to tie the score.

ETC.: Strickland to helm LIU

Bronx native Rod Strickland, a 17-year NBA point guard, is the new men’s basketball coach at Long Island University. Strickland, who had been the program director for the G-League Ignite, was hired to replace Derek Kellogg, who led the Sharks to a 16-14 record last season.

■ Fordham parted ways with women’s basketball coach Stephanie Gaitley, the school announced. Athletic director Ed Kull will appoint an interim head coach.