PARIS (AP) — Dawn Staley is trying something new at the Paris Olympics: She’s a fan. Yes, Staley has been to six previous Olympics — three as a player, two as an assistant and then one as the head coach. And all six of those teams won gold medals in women's basketball. In Paris, she’s seen a slew of gold-medal moments, but as a spectator. Staley says, “I am living my best life.”
UNDATED (AP) — Plaintiffs’ attorneys in a federal antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA that is not part of a recent $2.78 billion settlement agreement filed a motion Friday asking a judge to deny preliminary approval of the deal. Attorneys in Fontenot v. the NCAA say the agreement to settle three antitrust lawsuits facing the association and five major conferences is settling for “just pennies on the dollar.” The NCAA, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference agreed in May to pay billions in damages to former and current college athletes. A preliminary approval hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 5.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas running back CJ Baxter injured a knee in practice this week and will miss the 2024 season. Baxter will have surgery, but the team provided no other details about the injury in a statement Wednesday. Baxter in 2023 was the first Longhorn freshman tailback to start a season opener since Ricky Williams in 1995. But he was limited by rib and foot injuries in the first two games, and then sat out the third game. Baxter finished the 2023 season with 659 yards rushing and five touchdowns as Texas won the Big 12.
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — American sprint star Sha'Carri Richardson has her first Olympic gold. Richardson ran down two competitors in the final stretch to lift the U.S. to victory in the women's 4x100 meter relay. The Americans were third when Richardson received the baton from teammate Gabby Thomas. She raced through the rain to win by a step. The win is the first at the Olympics for Richardson, who earned silver in the women's 100 meters earlier in the Games.
UNDATED (AP) — Women’s college basketball teams are a step away from getting financially rewarded for success in the NCAA Tournament. The Division I Board of Directors agreed to introduce a proposal to give performance units to teams that make March Madness. Units represent revenue from the NCAA's lucrative media rights deal. They have long been a part of the men's tournament. Under the new media rights deal with ESPN, women’s basketball is valued at $65 million per tournament — roughly 10 times more than in the contract that ends this year. If approved in January, the plan would take effect in 2025.
NEW YORK (AP) — Georgia will open the season ranked No. 1 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll a year after having its two-year run as national champion end. The Bulldogs received 46 of the 55 first-place votes from college football coaches. Preseason No. 2 Ohio State got seven votes at No. 1, followed by Oregon, Texas and Alabama. The Associated Press preseason college football poll is scheduled to be released next Monday. Texas and defending national champion Michigan each got a first-place vote. The Wolverines will open ranked No. 8.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says Florida running back Montrell Johnson is considered week to week following arthroscopic knee surgery. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not disclosed Johnson’s injury. The person says Johnson was injured during the opening days of training camp and adds that his surgery was considered minor. Johnson should be back in time for the Gators’ season opener against in-state rival Miami on Aug. 31. Johnson, a senior who followed coach Billy Napier to Gainesville from Louisiana-Lafayette, led the Gators in rushing the last two seasons.