Griner call with wife back on

A phone call between jailed WNBA star Brittney Griner and her wife has been rescheduled after an earlier attempt to connect on the couple’s anniversary failed because of an “unfortunate mistake,” Biden administration officials said.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said the original call last weekend could not be completed because of a logistical error that officials have worked quickly to fix so that a new call can take place. The State Department and White House did not offer a date for the rescheduled call.

“It was a mistake. It is a mistake that we have worked to rectify,” Price told reporters Tuesday. “The call has been rescheduled and will take place in relatively short order.”

Griner was to have spoken with her wife Cherelle on Saturday, the couple’s fourth anniversary, for the first time since her arrest in Russia in midFebruary.

MLB

GOLDSCHMIDT OUT WITH BACK TIGHTNESS » Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was out of the lineup for a game against the Brewers due to what Manager Oliver Marmol described as back tightness.

“He’ll experience it from time to time,” Marmol said. “Usually he takes a day, it loosens up, he’ll get treatment and be back at it. That’s our hope.”

The Cardinals had made a late switch in their lineup Monday, switching Goldschmidt from first base to designated hitter and having Juan Yepez play first base instead. Marmol said they made the move to try to keep the six-time All-Star off his feet as much as possible.

“He tried to play through it yesterday,” Marmol said. “It made sense to give him a day today.”

NHL

STARS HIRE DEBOER » Peter DeBoer has twice gone to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season with a new team. Now he is the new coach of the Stars, who were there two summers ago.

“Every team that he has taken over has not only shown immediate improvement but has been ultra-competitive in the Stanley Cup playoffs,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “His resume displays the high standards he sets and his ability to get his team to play up to that level consistently.”

The Stars announced DeBoer’s hiring, a month after he was fired by the Golden Knights. An introductory news conference was scheduled for today.

Swimming

MILAK SETS WORLD RECORD » Hungary’s Kristóf Milák thrilled home fans by lowering his own world record in the men’s 200 butterfly at the swimming world championships, and American swimmers claimed another three gold medals.

The 22-year-old Milák produced a stunning swim to clock 1 minute, 50.34 seconds and earn Hungary its first gold medal of the competition.

“Now it hurts a lot, I don’t feel my legs,” said Milák, who shaved 0.39 seconds off the previous record he set at the last worlds. “I think I pushed a bit harder over the first 100 meters, that’s why it was so painful at the end but I really wanted this world record, wanted it more than anything.”

American swimmer Bobby Finke also set a national record of 7:39.36 as he produced a sizzling finish to win the first gold of the evening in the men’s 800 freestyle.

Ukrainian swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk looked headed for victory but Finke, who was fourth going into the last 50 meters, swam it in only 25.93 seconds to overtake Romanchuk.