Breanna Stewart, US women’s basketball team advance to gold medal game at Paris Olympics

PARIS (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored 16 points and the U.S. women advanced to their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal game with a 85-64 victory over Australia on Friday. The Americans, who extended their Olympic winning streak to 60 consecutive games, will face France on Sunday. The U.S. is trying to become the first team to win eight consecutive gold medals, breaking the tie with the American men’s program that won seven in a row from 1936-68. A win Sunday would give Diana Taurasi a record six gold medals.

Boxer Imane Khelif wins gold to cap an Olympics marked by scrutiny over her sex

PARIS (AP) — Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. She emerged victorious Friday from a tumultuous run at the Games where she endured intense scrutiny and online abuse over misconceptions about her womanhood. Khelif beat Yang Liu of China 5:0 in the women’s welterweight division, wrapping up the best series of fights of her boxing career. Cheering crowds have embraced Khelif in Paris, chanting her name, waving Algerian flags and roaring every time she’s landed a punch. That’s even as she’s faced an extraordinary amount of scrutiny from those who questioned her sex or falsely claimed she was a man. She thanked her supporters and said her win was a dream for eight years.

Sha’Carri Richardson rallies US women in Olympic 4×100 while men shut out again

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson won her first Olympic gold medal, bringing the American women from behind in the anchor lap to capture the 4×100 relay. The U.S. men extended their drought to 20 years without a medal, disqualified for an illegal pass after Christian Coleman crashed into teammate Kenny Bednarek. Andre De Grasse put a bright mark on an otherwise disappointing Olympics by anchoring Canada to gold in a time of 37.50 seconds. Rai Benjamin won gold for the U.S. in the 400 hurdles, defeating world-record holder Karsten Warholm.

California bookie pleads guilty to running illegal gambling business used by ex-Ohtani interpreter

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California bookmaker who took thousands of sports bets from the former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani has pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business. Mathew Bowyer entered the plea in federal court in Santa Ana on Friday. He also pleaded guilty to money laundering and subscribing to a false tax return. He’s due to be sentenced Feb. 7. Federal prosecutors contend that Bowyer ran an illegal gambling business for at least five years in Southern California and Las Vegas, and that he took wagers from more than 700 bettors, including Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

Coach says Noah Lyles had a 102 fever when he won a bronze; says he’ll be back for 2028 Olympics

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — The night Noah Lyles won a bronze medal in the 200 meters, his coach said the sprinter had a 102-degree fever. It’s what made that medal, in his last sprint at the Paris Olympics, all the more impressive to Lance Brauman, who described the sprinter’s condition and his future in an interview with The Associated Press Friday. Lyles tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and finished third in Thursday’s final behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and American teammate Kenneth Bednarek. Lyles was back at the track Friday night wearing a protective mask while accepting his medal. Brauman says he expects Lyles to compete again at the 2028 Games.

Beau Hossler shoots 10-under 60 at vulnerable Sedgefield in the rain-delayed Wyndham Championship

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Beau Hossler shot a 10-under 60 on Friday in the rain-delayed Wyndham Championship, squandering a chance for a sub-60 round with pars on the last three holes at soft and vulnerable Sedgefield Country Club. Hossler had a two-stroke lead over Billy Horschel in the tournament that started a day late after heavy rain and wind from Tropical Storm Debby washed out play Thursday. Play also was delayed Friday, with Horschel among the 66 afternoon starters unable to finish the round because of darkness. He had two holes left. With players allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairways, Hossler was 6 under after a tap-in eagle on the par-5 fifth and birdied the par-4 eighth in a front-nine 28.

C.J. Stroud throws TD pass in Texans’ 20-12 exhibition victory over Steelers

PITTSBURGH (AP) — C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown pass to Tank Dell in his preseason debut to help the Houston Texans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-12 on Friday night. Held out of the Hall of Fame game last week against Chicago, Stroud completed 2 of 4 passes for 41 yards. Following a three-and-out, Stroud led the Texans to the touchdown on a three-play series. Stroud threaded a pass to Dell, who dodged a pair of missed tackles for a 34-yard score. Justin Fields played three series for Pittsburgh, finishing 5 of 6 for 67 yards. He was sacked twice and fumbled two exchanges.

Top-seeded Coco Gauff tumbles out of National Bank Open, falling 6-4, 6-1 to Diana Shnaider

TORONTO (AP) — Top-seeded Coco Gauff tumbled out of the National Bank Open on Friday, falling 6-4, 6-1 to 14th-seeded Diana Shnaider in windy conditions at Sobeys Stadium. Preparing for her U.S. Open title defense, Gauff was broken trailing 5-4 in the first set. The 20-year-old American double-faulted down 2-1 in the second and Shnaider held serve to go up 4-1. Shnaider, also 20, sealed the victory with another break to set up a quarterfinal match against No. 6 Liudmila Samsonova, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Elise Mertens. In the late match, No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka beat Katie Boulter 6-3, 6-3. Earlier, third-seeded defending champion Jessica Pegula beat qualifier Ashlyn Krueger 6-2, 6-4.

Domingo Germán is getting a 2nd chance in the majors with the Pirates after flameout in New York

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Domingo Germán is getting a second chance in the big leagues, a year after he flamed out with the New York Yankees because of behavioral issues. The Pittsburgh Pirates have selected the right-handed pitcher’s contract from Triple-A Indianapolis. Germán was 6-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 13 starts with the Indians this season. Last June, Germán tossed the 24th perfect game in major league history. Two months later, he was put on MLB’s restricted list following an incident in the Yankees clubhouse that reportedly involved a confrontation with manager Aaron Boone. It was another strike against The 32-year-old Dominican pitcher was suspended 81 games in 2019 by MLB for violating the league’s domestic violence policy during an incident involving his then-girlfriend, whom he later married.

Contract holdouts and hold-ins cast a shadow over NFL contenders

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Contract disputes are playing a prominent role across the NFL this summer. Some of the top contenders to compete for the Super Bowl are headed into the first full weekend of exhibition games with some of their most important players unwilling to take the practice field before they get new contracts. San Francisco is locked in contract disputes with star receiver Brandon Aiyuk and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams. Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb, Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and the New York Jets’ Hasson Redick are among the other stars not practicing.