July 18, 2025 2:28 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have made star outside linebacker T.J. Watt the NFL’s highest-paid defender. A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that Watt has agreed to a three-year pact that will average $41 million annually. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been made public. Watt, who was entering the final season of the four-year extension he signed in 2021, skipped organized team activities and mandatory minicamp to put pressure on the Steelers’ front office for a new contract.
July 18, 2025 4:20 am
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open at Royal Portrush had a little bit of everything in the opening round. There was sunlight and there was rain, a breeze and strong gusts that blew rain sideways. And there was world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler once again in the mix. Matt Fitzpatrick and Harris English are part of a five-way tie for the lead at 67. It’s the largest logjam after one round of the British Open since a six-way tie in 1938. Scheffler was one shot behind. Rory McIlroy wobbled early on the back nine but shot 70 despite hitting only two fairways.
July 18, 2025 4:20 am
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark is out of All-Star weekend as a participant. The Indiana Fever guard injured her right groin on Tuesday night in the final minute of the team’s win over the Connecticut Sun. She said Thursday in a message posted on X that she was “sad and disappointed” to pull out of the All-Star Game and 3-Point Contest. Clark is captain of one of the All-Star teams. The second-year guard was the leading vote getter from the fans and has been a huge reason the league has had a boon in attendance and ratings over the last two seasons.
July 17, 2025 4:20 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals have reacquired veteran utility player Adam Frazier in an All-Star break trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kansas City sent minor league infielder Cam Devanney to Pittsburgh. Frazier has played in 78 games this season split between second base, left field and right field, hitting .255 with 21 RBIs. He spent last season with KC after bouncing around the majors following his start with the Pirates. The 33-year-old has played every position except catcher and pitcher during his career since debuting in 2016. Frazier joins the Royals as they are 4 1/2 games out of the final AL wild-card spot.
July 17, 2025 4:21 am
Von Miller is joining the Washington Commanders. Miller is signing a one-year contract with Washington, a person familiar with the agreement tells The Associated Press. The NFL’s active sacks leader posted to social media, “DC… What’s good?” with an automated image of him in a No. 24 Commanders uniform. The 36-year-old edge rusher’s deal comes a week before the start of training camp. Miller was cut by Buffalo in a salary cap-saving move in March after injuries derailed his time with the Bills.
July 17, 2025 4:23 am
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The 153rd edition of the British Open is underway at Royal Portrush. Padraig Harrington of Ireland had the honor of the opening tee shot. That was a fitting choice. He’s a two-time Open champion. And it meant the Open at Royal Portrush would start the way the last one ended with big cheers for an Irish golf shot. The last time here was 2019 when Shane Lowry ended it with a tap-in par to win the claret jug. Rory McIlroy is the favorite son of Northern Ireland and played in the afternoon. Scottie Scheffler was part of the morning wave.
July 17, 2025 4:22 am
NEW YORK (AP) — The Indiana Fever might be without star guard Caitlin Clark again for a bit after she injured her groin Tuesday night late in a win over the Connecticut Sun. It will be a busy week for the league’s young star if she can play at all. She sat out the team’s 98-77 loss against New York and her status for WNBA All-Star weekend, which Indiana is hosting, is up in the air. Clark is supposed to compete in a loaded 3-point contest Friday night and is captain of one of the All-Star teams.
July 16, 2025 4:31 am
ATLANTA — Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was dominant in his second consecutive All-Star Game start on Tuesday night at Truist Park in Atlanta. Skenes set down the first three American League hitters. He struck out Gleybar Torres and Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers swinging to start the first inning, then got the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge to ground out to second base to end it. Torres swung through a 99.7-mph fastball, and Greene whiffed on a 100.3-mph heater.
July 16, 2025 4:29 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber went 3 for 3 in the first All-Star Game home run swing-off to put the National League ahead 4-3 following a 6-6 tie in which the American League rallied from a six-run deficit. In baseball’s equivalent of soccer’s penalty-kicks shootout, the game was decided by having three batters from each league take three swings each off coaches. The change was agreed to in 2022 to alleviate the concern of teams running out of pitchers. Schwarber was named All-Star MVP after going 0 for 2 with a walk in the game.
July 16, 2025 4:32 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh successfully used the robot umpire to gain a strikeout for pitcher Tarik Skubal in the first inning of the All-Star Game. He changed an 0-2 pitch to a strike on San Diego’s Manny Machado. Four of five challenges of plate umpire Dan Iassogna’s calls were successful in the first All-Star use of the ABS system, which could make its regular-season debut next year. The players’ association is unsure whether the Automated Ball-Strike System is accurate enough. A decision for 2026 use likely will be considered by sport’s 11-man competition committee.
