IN BRIEF

NFL: NO TALK OF CHARGERS RETURNING TO SAN DIEGO

The NFL is pushing back against the poor optics of empty seats and a stadium that holds 27,000 hosting more opposing fans than those of the newly relocated Los Angeles Chargers. Despite the questions over the long-term viability of two franchises in the Los Angeles market, the league strongly dismissed reports that have surfaced that claimed the NFL and the Chargers were considering a possible return to San Diego, the market they just opted to leave in January. “The only place I’ve heard that, is that I’ve seen it on the Internet,” NFL vice president of communications

Joe Lockhart said Tuesday in a conference call. “There are no discussions of returning to San Diego from the league or from the club.” In Sunday’s 26-24 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chargers faced a crowd at their temporary home, StubHub Center, which featured a majority of Eagles fans. After failing to secure a stadium solution in San Diego, team owner Dean Spanos announced the decision to relocate after spending 56 years in San Diego. Upon the completion of Los Angeles Rams owner Stan

Kroenke’s Inglewood stadium, the Chargers will share the venue with the Rams. The project is expected to reach its completion in 2020. — A.J. Perez

SPARKS, LYNX TO DECIDE WNBA TITLE WEDNESDAY

Before the 2016 season, the WNBA board of governors ushered in a number of changes in the league’s playoff structure, including one that allowed for teams from the same conference to compete in the finals instead of the traditional NBA format of East vs. West. The result, over the last two years, has been two of the most competitive Finals series in history: On Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), the Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx face off again in Minnesota for a deciding game five. The Lynx look to capture their fourth title in seven seasons and the Sparks look to become the first WNBA team to repeat since 2002. “I don’t know how many years in a row where it felt like the Western Conference finals was the finals because it was the teams that had been the best all season,” ESPN analyst and former WNBA player

Rebecca Lobo said. The Sparks and the Lynx were almost unquestionably heading to a finals rematch since the start of the season. They finished the regular season within one game of each other (Minnesota had the edge). In this Finals series, neither team has won two in a row and the largest margin of victory came in Games 3 and 4 when each team won by 11 points. — Nina Mandell

BLUE JAYS LET BAUTISTA GO

The Toronto Blue Jays will decline their mutual option on outfielder Jose Bautista, making the six-time All- Star a free agent. General manager Ross Atkins announced the decision Tuesday. Bautista signed a one-year, $18 million contract to return to the Blue Jays in 2017. That deal included a $17 million option for

2018, with a $500,000 buyout, and a $20 million option for 2019. He hit .203 with 23 homers and

65 RBI, setting a Blue Jays season record with 170 strikeouts.

OFFICIAL SUES WEBSITE

NCAA basketball official John

Higgins has filed a federal civil lawsuit against the website Kentucky Sports Radio, alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, tortious interference with a business and civil conspiracy. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Nebraska on Tuesday, alleges KSR and its operators Matt Jones and Drew Franklin, caused harm to his family and his business by sharing Higgins’ personal and business information about his company, Weatherguard, online and on radio broadcasts. The Athletic was first to report news of the lawsuit. The suit calls for an award of damages in excess of $75,000. “The Higgins lawsuit against KSR is absurdly frivolous and without any legal merit what- soever,” Jones tweeted.

BAYLOR DISMISSES TWO

Baylor has dismissed senior offensive lineman Ishmael Wilson and junior cornerback

Jourdan Blake from the team. Coach Matt Rhule didn’t give specifics but said it was “nothing criminal.” Wilson, a Texas A&M transfer, didn’t start but played in Saturday’s 33-20 loss at Kansas State. Blake also didn’t start.

SAINTS PUT STRIEF ON IR

The New Orleans Saints placed right tackle Zach Strief on injured reserve, possibly ending his season. Strief left Sunday’s victory over Miami in London with a knee injury. It was his second knee injury this season. Strief is in his 12th NFL season.

The NFL reduced Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Tre

vathan’s suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Ad

ams from two games to one.