Aces center Wilson earns WNBA MVP honors

Aces star A’ja Wilson is the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player, the league announced Thursday.

The No. 1 overall pick three years ago led the Aces to an 18-4 record during the shortened season and the top seed in the WNBA playoffs. Wilson, 24, averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and two blocks this year for the Aces. She received 43 of the 47 first-place votes.

The Lynx’s Crystal Dangerfield was named rookie of the year and Cheryl Reeve coach of the year.

Cycling: Primoz Roglic of Slovenia moved closer to winning his first career Tour de France title, avoiding mishaps on the final mountain stage and keeping the yellow jersey. Roglic remained 57 seconds ahead of countryman Tadej Pogacar with three stages remaining. Polish rider Michal Kwiatkowski won Stage 18.

NBA: The Kings named Monte McNair their GM. McNair had been the Rockets assistant GM since 2018. He replaces Vlade Divac, who stepped down as the Kings’ GM last month.

NFL: The Chargers placed four-time Pro Bowl C Mike Pouncey, 31, on IR and he will miss the season because of a hip injury . ... The league’s passed tests on all Texans and Chiefs players, coaches and team employees from the teams’ Week 1 opener Sept. 10 in Kansas City, Missouri, came back negative this week, ESPN reported.

But 10 fans who attended the game have been told to quarantine after one fan tested positive for COVID-19, Kansas City health officials announced. A person who watched the game from the group’s box in Arrowhead Stadium’s lower level tested positive the day after the game.

NHL: The Coyotes named Bill Armstrong their GM. Armstrong, 50, had been the Blues assistant GM/director of amateur the last two seasons.

Tennis: U.S. Open champ Naomi Osaka announced that she will not play in the French Open. Osaka said a sore hamstring will keep her from adequately preparing for the claycourt Grand Slam, which begins Sept. 27 in Paris.