Sources: Ogwumike files appeal to play in Tokyo Games for Nigeria
Former Stanford star Nneka Ogwumike and Elizabeth Williams have filed appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a lastditch effort to play basketball for Nigeria in the upcoming Olympics, said two people familiar with the situation.
The pair were notified earlier this week by FIBA that their petition to play for the African nation had been denied because they played for the U.S. national program for too long. The people spoke to The Associated Press Friday on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.
The two WNBA players would need to have FIBA’s decision overturned by Sunday’s registration deadline for the Olympics or have the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) grant them a provisional allowance and add them to the roster until a hearing can occur.
The CAS, which is located in Switzerland, helps facilitate the settlement of sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation.
Williams, Ogwumike and her younger sister Chiney also sent a letter to FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis hoping he might overturn the decision.
Ogwumike and her two sisters have dual citizenship with the United States and Nigeria and feel they believe they should eligible to represent the country in Japan. The Ogwumikes’ parents, Peter and Ify, were both born in Nigeria and came to the United States before their daughters were born.
Nneka Ogwumike and Williams have been given consent by USA Basketball to play for Nigeria. Usually players that compete for the U.S. in major FIBA events after they turn 17 are not allowed to start playing for another country. AUSTRALIA STUNS US
WOMEN IN EXHIBITION >> Australia handed the U.S. women their second straight loss in pre-Olympic exhibitions, getting 17 points from Ezi Magbegor to win 70-67 in Las Vegas.
The Americans, who got together as a team for the first time earlier this week, were beaten by a team of WNBA All-Stars on Wednesday night.
Breanna Stewart’s threepoint play tied the game at 66 with 2:59 left before Magbegor hit a layup and Marianna Tolo made a reverse layup with 2 minutes remaining to give Australia a 70-66 advantage it wouldn’t relinquish.
Golf
POSTON LEADS PGA’S BARBASOL CHAMPIONSHIP >> J.T. Poston shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 to take the second-round lead in the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship in Nicholasville, Ky.
Poston had a 13-under 131 total at rain-soaked Keene Trace in the tournament that was delayed twice Thursday because of rain and lightning.
Ryan Armour and Joseph Bramlett were a stroke back, each shooting 67.
Brian Stuard, tied for the first-round lead after a 64, shot a 69 to drop into a tie for fourth at 11 under with Taylor Pendrith (68), Luke List (68) and Seamus Power (68).
DEFENDING CHAMPS CLANTON,
SUWANNAPURA TIED FOR LPGA LEAD >> Defending champions Cydney Clanton and Jasmine Suwannapura shot a bogey-free 5-under 65 in alternate-shot play to take a share of the lead into the final round of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in Midland, Mich.
Pajaree Anannarukarn and Aditi Ashok had a bogey-free 67 to match Clanton and Suwannapura at 15-under 195 at windy Midland Country Club. The teams will close today with a best-ball round.
Nelly and Jessica Korda, tied for the first-round lead after a 65, were 10 under after a 66.
Football
FORMER 49ERS RECEIVER TED GINN JR. RETIRES >> Ted Ginn Jr. announced his retirement from the NFL after a 14-year career.
The 36-year-old Ginn spent 14 seasons in the NFL with San Francisco, Miami, Carolina, Arizona, New Orleans and Chicago. In 193 regular-season games, he had 412 receptions for 5,742 yards — averaging 13.9 yards a catch — and 33 touchdowns. He also returned four punts and three kickoffs for TDs.
Last season in six games with Chicago, he had three catches for 40 yards. SOURCE: 2 NFL TEAMS ARE
UNDER 50% VACCINATED
>> Two NFL teams remain under 50% vaccinated less than two weeks from the start of training camp, a person familiar with the vaccination rates told The Associated Press.
As for Friday, Washington and Indianapolis had the two lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates among the 32 teams in the league, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Pittsburgh, Miami, Carolina and Denver have the highest vaccination rates and are among 10 teams that have achieved at least 85%. About 73% of players have been vaccinated.
Soccer
U.S. MAULS MARTINIQUE IN CONCACAF GOLD CUP >> Daryl Dike scored twice to pace the U.S. men’s national team to a 6-1 victory against Martinique in Kansas City, Kan., on Thursday - a win that advanced the U.S. to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The U.S. and Canada qualified from the fourteam Group B with 2-0-0 records and six points, with one match left. They will play Sunday in Kansas City with the top spot at stake.
Motorsports
HAMILTON TOPS VERSTAPPENINF1WARMUP>> Lewis Hamilton boosted his bid to reignite his Formula One title defense at the British Grand Prix by getting his Mercedes at the top of the grid for today’s sprint qualifying.
Hamilton was .075 seconds quicker than championship leader Max Verstappen much to the delight of a packed Silverstone crowd.