U.S. Soccer’s Morgan supports transgenders in sports

Forward Alex Morgan says the U.S. national team should have internal discussions about whether to play exhibition games in states that restrict transgender kids from participating in sports.

The team is preparing for the SheBelieves Cup, a round-robin tournament with Canada, Brazil and Japan that starts next week. Matches are scheduled in Florida and Texas, two states that have enacted laws aimed at transgender athletes.

“Looking at these games in Florida and Texas, respectively, we’re going to need to continue to step it up, and have internal discussions as well with the team, because we’re not ones to shy away from hard conversation or taking a stand for what’s right,” Morgan, a Cal alum, said Wednesday during a conference call with reporters.

The U.S. women previously have criticized efforts to limit transgender kids from playing organized sports. Last year during a game in Texas, several players wore wristbands that said “Protect Trans Kids.”

ELSEWHERE St. Louis acquires Misiewicz from K.C.

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired left-hander Anthony Misiewicz from their cross-state rival

Kansas City Royals for cash considerations.

Misiewicz, 28, who was expected to compete for a spot in the Royals’ bullpen, split last season between the Mariners and Kansas City. He went 1-2 with a 4.34 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 29 innings. To make room on the 40man roster, St. Louis designated right-hander James Naile, a former A’s farmhand, for assignment.

• The Cleveland Guardians traded outfielder Will Benson to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Justin Boyd and a player to be named.

Cincinnati drafted Boyd in the second round last year out of Oregon State. He led the Pac-12 with a .373 batting average and 24 steals in 2022. Benson was once considered one of Cleveland’s top outfield prospects, but has since been surpassed by Steven Kwan, Oscar Gonzalez and Will Brennan.

• Outfielder Kyle Tucker went to salary arbitration with the World Series champion Houston Astros, asking for $7.5 million rather than the team’s $5 million offer.

Basketball: L.A. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue will replace Phoenix’s Monty Williams (family issues) on Warriors head coach Steve Kerr’s USA Basketball men’s national-team coaching staff for this year’s World Cup and next year’s Paris Olympics.

• The WNBA is investigating Dearica Hamby’s allegations that the Las Vegas Aces bullied and manipulated her for being pregnant.

• Jordin Canada is staying with her hometown Los Angeles Sparks, for whom she started 25 of 32 games and averaged 9.2 points and 5.5 assists last season after four years in Seattle. Skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin took silver in the super-G for her first medal at the world championships in Meribel, France, finishing behind Italy’s Marta Bassino. Later, the Italian team went into mourning after it was learned that former teammate Elena Fanchini, whose career was cut short by a tumor, died at 37.