SEOUL, South Korea — The president of Iran’s national Olympic committee said Thursday that competitive climber Elnaz Rekabi will not be punished or suspended after competing in South Korea over the weekend without wearing her nation’s mandatory headscarf. Supporters of Rekabi, however, remain worried for the 33-year-old climber as other athletes have been targeted by … Read more
10:47 PM ET Jeff WagenheimESPN Alexa Grasso showed Saturday she has fully settled in as a flyweight, winning her fourth fight in a row since bulking up from strawweight two years ago. Her conquest in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas came by unanimous decision against a fellow top-10 contender in … Read more
WASHINGTON — WNBA star Brittney Griner is at her “absolute weakest moment in life right now” as she faces a hearing in Russia later this month for her appeal of a nine-year prison sentence for drug possession, Griner’s wife said in an interview that aired Thursday. Cherelle Griner told CBS “This Morning” that her wife, … Read more
Yan Xiaonan put on a show for the fans — make that fan, singular — in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas. Yan got the better of Mackenzie Dern in standup fighting and survived relentless grappling threats by her multiple-time jiu-jitsu world champion opponent to earn a majority-decision victory … Read more
SYDNEY — Breanna Stewart and the United States used a dominant defensive effort to beat Canada and reach the gold medal game of the World Cup for the fourth consecutive tournament. Stewart scored 17 points and the Americans raced out to an early lead to put away Canada 83-43 on Friday. The 43 points was … Read more
SYDNEY — There’s been a long legacy of success for the U.S. women’s basketball team at the World Cup. The names change over time, but the results don’t seem to. Kelsey Plum scored 20 points, Chelsea Gray added 16 and the United States routed Bosnia and Herzegovina 121-59 on Tuesday to break the team record … Read more
SYDNEY — Brionna Jones scored 24 points, A’ja Wilson added 20 and the U.S. used a dominant inside effort for a record performance in a 145-69 win over South Korea on Monday in the World Cup. It broke the highest scoring game in World Cup history, surpassing the 143 points Brazil had in 1990. It … Read more
Naomi Osaka‘s title defense at her home Pan Pacific Open ended Thursday when the former world No. 1 withdrew ahead of her second-round match against Beatriz Haddad Maia due to abdominal pain. “I am really sorry that I am not able to compete today,” Osaka said in a statement. “It’s an honor to be able … Read more
Owner Robert Sarver on Wednesday announced that he has begun the process to sell both the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury franchises. “As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness,” Sarver said in a statement Wednesday. “I expected that the commissioner’s one-year suspension would provide the time … Read more
6:36 PM ET M.A. VoepelESPN.com Close M.A. Voepel covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball, and other college sports for espnW. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996. UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Nearly a year ago, the Las Vegas Aces suffered a season-ending loss that burned within them throughout the … Read more