Biles, U.S. women extend worlds reign
Simone Biles and her teammates were far from perfect, and yet nothing could stand in the way of a victory that set a record for both the U.S. women's team and the greatest gymnast in history.
The U.S. women earned a record seventh consecutive team title at the gymnastics world championships on Wednesday night. For Biles, it was also her 33rd major championship medal — across the worlds and Olympics — to make her the most decorated female gymnast ever.
“It wasn't Team USA's best day,” Biles said. “It's crazy, we still pulled it out. So I'm really, really proud of the team.”
The American team of Biles, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely, Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong combined for a total of 167.729 points to edge secondplace Brazil and France.
The U.S. team won by a margin of 2.199 points as the final proved to be a closer contest than anticipated after the Americans put up a dominant performance in qualifying to finish more than five points ahead of the field.
“We had some mistakes here and there, but just keep going, keep relying on our training,” Biles said. “But I think this team that we have brought this year has the most great courage and fight . ... We had so many emotions going throughout the day.”
The U.S. women have won gold in the team event at every world championship that included a team competition since 2011. Their victory in Antwerp broke a tie with the Chinese men for the longest streak of consecutive team titles.
Biles now has 26 world championship medals, 20 of them gold, to go with her seven Olympic medals, including the 2016 Olympic title. Her 33 combined medals at the sport's two biggest events are one more than what Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union achieved.
Russia was banned from the event because of sanctions imposed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) as a result of the war against Ukraine. In the absence of their Russian rivals — the defending Olympic champions — the Americans were the overwhelming favorites.
But the U.S team overcame an early scare as Roberson was forced out of the event before it started after she seemed to hurt an ankle while warming up at the vault. She was helped off the mat and subbed by Wong.
Jones then kicked off the event smoothly for the Americans with a Double Twist Yurchenko, with only a small hop. Wong responded to the last-minute call with a clean effort before Biles opted for the slightly safer “Cheng” vault rather than the Yurchenko Double Pike she performed during qualifying on Sunday.
The Americans amassed 42.966 points and were second behind China after the first rotation following the Chinese gymnasts' excellent display on uneven bars.
Biles and her teammates then bested their Chinese opponents' performance on bars as they took the overall lead with a margin of 1.467 points. They increased it a bit further after the beam — despite a sixth-place finish on that apparatus — as Biles made up for the modest 11.700 Wong received by scoring 14.300 with a solid routine.
Biles capped off a successful night for the U.S team with a spectacular floor routine rewarded by a 15.166.
Sources: Golden State awarded franchise
The WNBA agreed to grant the Golden State Warriors an expansion franchise in 2025, multiple sources reported.
While the deal hasn't been finalized, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is expected to be in the San Francisco Bay Area today to announce the new franchise.
Sinner wins in Beijing
Jannik Sinner won his third title of the year by beating third-ranked Daniil Mevedev 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) at the China Open in Beijing.
The 22-year-old Italian had not beaten Medvedev in their six previous meetings, but he quickly found his rythym from the baseline to earn his ninth title.
In the women's tournament, second-ranked Iga Swiatek dropped only two games and advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Magda Linette 6-1, 6-1.
Earlier, Jelena Ostapenko defeated fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2.
Fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina won 10 of the last 11 games in her comeback 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory against Mirra Andreeva, 16.
LSU player Brooks fighting brain cancer
LSU safety Greg Brooks was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer, his family and the hospital caring for him announced.
Brooks had emergency surgery three weeks ago to remove a tumor between his cerebellum and brainstem.
“Greg's speech and ability to communicate has been impacted, and although he is responsive and working daily with physical therapy, he will face months of intensive rehabilitation,” said Dr. Catherine O'Neal, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake Health. “The surgery was successful in removing the tumor, and there is no evidence that the cancer has spread.”
Brooks, who grew up in the New Orleans area, started 13 games for the Tigers last season, when he intercepted two passes to go with a sack, a forced fumble and three tackles for losses. He finished that season with five passes defended and 66 solo or assisted tackles. Brooks played in the first two games this season.
• The NCAA Division I Council approved a smaller window during which football and basketball players can enter their names into the transfer portal and still be eligible to play at a new school the following season.
The decision shaves the timeframe from 60 days to
45. The council also voted to eliminate caps on how many players Division I football teams can sign in a year, though overall scholarship limits will remain in place.
The council tackled several items over two busy days of meetings in Indianapolis, during which it approved a package of proposals that would regulate name, image and likeness compensation for athletes and another that recommends stricter penalties for individuals who commit rules violations.
The council also directed committees responsible for athlete reinstatement and eligibility issues to re-examine penalties for those who bet on sporting events, but not on their own teams.
Changes could go into effect as soon as late October and be applied retroactively, which could impact athletes such as Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon, who has already been suspended for the season for gambling.
2030 World Cup sites to span 3 continents
The 2030 men's soccer World Cup is set to feature games in six countries on three continents in a unique format that will allow the tournament to celebrate its 100th anniversary in Uruguay.
FIFA reached an agreement between soccer's continental leaders to accept a bid spearheaded by cohosts Spain, Portugal and Morocco as the only candidate for the hosting rights. The agreement also includes staging games in South American countries Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, which had earlier promoted a rival co-hosting bid.
Those three countries will each host one match to start the tournament, which allows FIFA to stage the opening game in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, where Centenario Stadium hosted the inaugural 1930 World Cup final.
• FIFA approved the possible reintegration of Russian youth teams into its competitions and eased a total ban on the country in international soccer amid the war in Ukraine.
The decision by the FIFA Council followed eight days after European soccer body UEFA provoked a rare split among its own executive committee and member federations by welcoming back Russian national teams for boys and girls into its competitions.
FIFA's decision means Russian teams can play in its Under-17 World Cups, but only if they advance through UEFA-run qualifying formats. Any Russian youth team in its competitions would play under the name “Football Union of Russia” rather than “Russia,” FIFA said.
Thompson to play men at Shriners event
LGPA Tour trailblazer Lexi Thompson will compete against men at the PGA Tour's upcoming event in Las Vegas.
The Shriners Children's Open announced that Thompson received an unrestricted exemption into its tournament that begins Oct. 12 at TPC Summerlin. She will compete with 131 men for a $8.4 million purse.
Thompson will become the seventh woman to compete in a PGA Tour event and the first since Brittany Lincicome did so at the 2018 Barbasol Championship.