Transfer reforms approved by NCAA

College athletes will no longer need permission from their coach or school to transfer and receive financial aid from another school.

The NCAA Division I Council approved the change effective Oct. 15 on Wednesday. The council also decided that D-I football players will be allowed to play in up to four games in a season without losing a year of eligibility if they can no longer play because of injuries “or other factors.”

The long-awaited transfer reform ended up being a narrow change, but should provide more freedom for athletes to transfer when and where they want. The change will come with stricter tampering rules to help appease coaches who worry illegal recruiting could rise.

CAL SIGNEE INJURED >> Incoming freshman linebacker Chris Fatilua has suffered a serious spinal cord injury, Cal and Fatilu’s family announced. The family said the injury stemmed from an accident Monday in San Diego and that Fatilua’s long-term prognosis is unknown.

Basketball

HALL OF FAMER DONOVAN DIES >> Anne Donovan, the Basketball Hall of Famer who won a national championship at Old Dominion, two Olympic gold medals as a player and another as a coach, died Wednesday of heart failure. She was 56. Donovan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995, was part of the inaugural class of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.

Soccer

MLS HIGHLIGHTS >> Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his 10th goal to help New York beat Seattle 2-1 . ... Josef Martinez scored his MLS-leading 14th goal of the season to help Atlanta beat Columbus 2-0. Atlanta (10-3-3), the Supporters’ Shield leader, snapped the Crew’s nine-game unbeaten streak.

NFL

COWBOYS’ MARTIN GETS BIG DEAL >> The Dallas Cowboys and Zack Martin reportedly have agreed to terms on an $84 million, six-year contract extension that will make the two-time All-Pro the highest-paid guard in the NFL. The 27-year-old Martin has made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons.

WNBA

LAIMBEER’S ACES BEAT OLD TEAM >> Dearica Hamby scored 17 points and Kayla McBride added 16 to lead a balanced offense in the Las Vegas Aces’ 78-63 victory over the New York Liberty. The game marked the return of Bill Laimbeer, who coached the Liberty for five years before heading to Las Vegas in the offseason.

NHL

TROTZ, CAPS IN TALKS >> Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals have begun discussing a contract extension that would keep the pending free agent coach around for next season and beyond after winning the Stanley Cup. General manager Brian MacLellan says he will meet with ownership over the next week and that he doesn’t believe either side feels pressure to get a deal done given Trotz’s contract expires June 30.

Tennis

FEDERER RETURNS WITH WIN >> Roger Federer rallied to beat home favorite Mischa Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Stuttgart Open in his first match in nearly three months..

• French Open champ and No. 1 ranked Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next week’s Queen’s Club tournament in an attempt to be ready for Wimbledon.