Williams highlights Wimbledon draw
Serena Williams will begin her Wimbledon comeback by facing Harmony Tan, a 24-year-old from France who is ranked 113th and owns a 2-6 career record in Grand Slam matches.
Theplacement of Williams inthe women’s bracket was themost anticipated aspect of thedraw at the All England Club.
Sheis making her first appearancein singles at any tournamentsince she hurt herright leg and stopped playing during the first set of herfirst-round match at CentreCourt a year ago.
Thetop seed is world No. 1 IgaSwiatek.
Onthe men’s side, Novak Djokovicis the top seed and willstart on Centre Court Mondayagainst 75th-ranked KwonSoon-woo of South Korea.
Hockey
A busy Penguins offseason of hockey operations changes continued with a departure and two promotions. Scott Young, who served as director of player development for the past five seasons, joined former Penguins GM Jim Rutherford’s Vancouver Canucks as director of player personnel. To fill Young’s vacancy, the Penguins promoted Tom Kostopoulos from player development coach to director of player development. Also, Madison Nikkel was promoted to video coach, replacing Andy Saucier who was previously named hockey operations analyst/pro personnel, a newly created role.
Baseball
CatcherAlex Alvarez hit a three-runhomer in the secondinning to lead the WashingtonWild Things (25-12) pastthe Windy City ThunderBolts (16-19), 16-2, in the openinggame of the road series.
College basketball
TheACC/Big Ten Challenge features Pitt at Northwesternon Nov .28 and Penn Stateat Clemson on Nov. 29. Thetwo conferences announcedthe 14 matchups for the24th edition of the event. TheACC has a 144-121 advantagein all games since the genesisof the challenge in 1999.
•Mikaylah Williams, the top-rankedwomen’s recruit inthe Class of 2023, committedto Kim Mulkey’s LSU program.Williams, a 6-foot-1 guardfrom Bossier City, La., choseLSU over Mississippi, Baylor,and Texas A&M.
•Top-five recruit Robert Dilling ham committed to
Kentucky,giving the Wildcatstheir second top-30 guard in the 2023 class.
Golf
Xander Schauffele shot his second consecutive 7-under 63 to take a five-stroke lead in the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn. The Olympic champion shot a 31 on the front nine at TPC River Highlands with four birdies, then had a 32 on the back, making birdies on 11, 14 and 17. He has hit 33 of 36 greens in regulation and is the only player in the tournament without a bogey. First-round leader Rory McIlroy was six shots back after a 70.
• Li Haot on gkep this one stroke lead at the BMW International Open in Munich as RyanFox moved up to secondwith a strong round of 8under64.
High schools
Abasketball coach with yearsof experience on the women’sDivision I college levelwill be in the WPIAL nextseason. Eddie Benton is thenew girls basketball coachat Oakland Catholic. Benton,who played at Perry inthe City League in the 1990s,spent last season as an assistant at Mississippi State andalso has been an assistantat Brown, Cincinnati, Duquesneand Saint Francis (Pa.).He also has been a head women’scoach at La Roche.
Swimming
KatieLedecky extended herrecord haul of medals andAustralia set a world recordin the mixed 4x100 meters freestyle final at the worldswimming championshipsin Budapest, Hungary.American star Ledecky wonthe 800 freestyle final for thefifth time at the worlds to sealher fourth consecutive 400/800/1,500 triple at the event.
Pro basketball
Charlotteagreed to terms withSteve Clifford on a multiyeardeal to be the team’s12th head coach in franchise history. Clifford returnsto the place where he servedas head coach from 2013-18,guiding the Hornets toa pair of playoff appearancesin his tenure. He finishedwith a 196-214 record beforehe got fired in 2018 whenthe Hornets’ shifted things in their front office andhired Kupchak.
•Memphis announced the final pieces of its draft night trade,sending guard De’AnthonyMelton to the 76ers for thedraft rights to forward DavidRoddy and wing DannyGreen.
•Sabrina Ionescu scored 21 pointswith 9 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the visiting NewYork Liberty (8-10) past theChicago Dream (8-9), 8977,in WNBA action. Natasha Howardadded 19 points 10 reboundsand 5 assists for the Liberty.
Pro football
Bearslinebacker Matt Adams was charged with misdemeanor firearms possession. Chicago police said they recovereda weapon during a searchof his vehicle in downtownChicago Thursday night.He was also cited for possessinga high-capacity magazinewithin the city limitsand metal-piercing bullets, amunicipal code violation.