Aces’ Wilson is WNBA MVP
A’ja Wilson earned WNBA MVP honors for the second time. The 26-yearold Las Vegas Aces forward received 31 of 56 first-place votes from a media panel. Seattle forward Breanna Stewart was second, earning 23 first-place votes and finishing 32 points behind Wilson, who had 478 points. Wilson also earned defensive player of the year honors.
Joe Flacco will start at quarterback for the New York Jets in the season opener Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens in place of the injured Zach Wilson . ... Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders announced his retirement after a 12-year NFL career that included six seasons in Denver, where he helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 . ... The Arizona Cardinals put backup quarterback Colt McCoy on injured reserve heading into their opener against the Kansas City Chiefs . ... A court hearing was postponed until Oct. 12 in the case alleging ex-Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs caused a fatal crash while driving his sports car drunk at 156 mph last November on a residential street.
Luka Doncic scored 47 points — the second most by anyone in the history of the European championships — and led Slovenia past France 88-82 for the top seed out of Group B going into this weekend’s start of the knockout round. Also in Group B, Lithuania beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 8770, and Germany beat Hungary 106-71. Spain beat Turkey 72-69 in its Group Aclinching win with both countries advancing to the knockout round. Belgium advanced while eliminating Bulgaria 89-80. Montenegro claimed the last qualifying spot out of Group A, topping Georgia 81-73.
Two-time Olympic silver medalist Joe Kovacs set the third-longest mark in shot put history with a throw of 76 feet, 21 inches at the Diamond League finals.
Kirby Dach agreed to a four-year, $13.45-million contract with the Montreal Canadiens. The 21-year-old center, who was a restricted free agent, had 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 70 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season . ... Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle agreed to an eightyear, $66.8-million contract extension. Stutzle has 34 goals and 87 points in 132 NHL games.
Facundo Torres broke through with a goal in the 75th minute, then converted on a penalty kick to give Orlando City its first trophy with a 3-0 victory over Sacramento Republic in the U.S. Open Cup final . ... UEFA and French authorities opened investigations into claims that some Juventus fans made Nazi salutes and monkey noises during the team’s Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain.
IndyCar newcomer Scott McLaughlin signed a multiyear contract extension with Team Penske. The New Zealander is heading into his first championship race since joining the series. McLaughlin was last year’s IndyCar rookie of the year in a class that included Romain Grosjean and Jimmie Johnson. He heads into Sunday’s season finale mathematically in the title hunt.