Professional basketball

In this Sept. 17, 2011 file photo, Serbia's Head Coach Dusan Ivkovic reacts during the EuroBasket European Basketball Championship 7th to 8th position classification match against Slovenia, in Kaunas, Lithuania. Serbian Basketball Federation says famous coach Dusan Ivkovic has died at the age of 77. Serbian media said Ivkovic died in a Belgrade hospital after a lung failure on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. During his 46-year coaching career, Ivkovic led teams such as Partizan Belgrade, CSKA Moscow as well as Greek teams Aris, PAOK, Panionios, Olympiacos, AEK, as well as the Yugoslav and Serbian national teams. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)

Dusan Ivkovic, Serbian basketball coach, dies at 77

Sep. 16, 2021 06:36 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 file photo, Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri in action during the team's NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Dallas. While the AfroBasket tournament doesn’t boast the star power of an Olympics, it does showcase ever-competitive and improving quality of basketball on the continent. Mejri, a more slender 7-foot-2 center who played for the Dallas Mavericks from 2015-19, hopes to use his 3-point shooting to draw former NBA draft pick Walter “Edy” Tavares away from the basket. Ugandan players struggled in the paint, knowing Tavares was looming to swat away shots. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, file)

Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks 2/22/2019

Sep. 03, 2021 02:20 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, May 17, 2019 file photo, Madrid's Walter Tavares gestures during the Euroleague Final Four semifinal basketball match between CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid at the Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria, Spain. While the AfroBasket tournament doesn’t boast the star power of an Olympics, it does showcase ever-competitive and improving quality of basketball on the continent. Tiny Cape Verde has one big advantage as it tries to become champion of African basketball for the first time: 7-foot-3 former NBA draft pick Walter “Edy” Tavares. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos, file)

Tall task: Cape Verde aims high in AfroBasket semifinals

By Ken Maguire Sep. 03, 2021 02:18 PM EDT

Stern, Catchings, Cash inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall

By Al Lesar Aug. 21, 2021 08:26 PM EDT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — What David Stern did for the sport of basketball transcended any gender bias and opened a whole new world for women in the game. ...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Aug. 19, 2021 11:49 AM EDT
Aug. 24 1904 — Holcombe Ward wins the men’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association singles title. 1908 —...

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird holds the champions trophy after the Commissioner's Cup WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Bird savors trips home to New York, puts off retirement talk

By Doug Feinberg Aug. 18, 2021 02:37 AM EDT

United States' head coach Dawn Staley gestures to the players during women's basketball gold medal game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

South Carolina's Staley opens the door for Olympic return

Aug. 17, 2021 05:30 PM EDT

Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart holds the MVP trophy after the Commissioner's Cup WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

WNBA teams ready for sprint to the finish of regular season

By Doug Feinberg Aug. 17, 2021 02:04 PM EDT

Nneka Ogwumike returns, helps Sparks beat Fever 75-70

Aug. 15, 2021 11:27 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike had 12 points in her return from a knee injury to help Los Angeles beat the Indiana Fever 75-70 on Sunday night in the Sparks...

Diggins-Smith scores 19 points, Mercury beats Dream 92-81

Aug. 15, 2021 09:03 PM EDT
PHOENIX (AP) — Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 19 points, Diana Taurasi had 18 and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Atlanta Dream 92-81 on Sunday in the first game for...

Storm rout Sun 79-57 to win inaugural Commissioner's Cup

By Doug Feinberg Aug. 13, 2021 12:12 AM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Aug. 12, 2021 12:07 PM EDT
Aug. 13 1919 — Upset scores a win against Man o’ War in the Sanford Memorial Stakes at Saratoga. The defeat is Big Red’s only loss in 21...

Brooklyn Nets sign veteran Australian guard Patty Mills

Aug. 10, 2021 02:57 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets have signed veteran Australian guard Patty Mills. The NBA team did not disclose terms of the deal for the...

United States's Sue Bird (6), right, and teammate Diana Taurasi (12), center, celebrate after their win in the women's basketball gold medal game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

EXPLAINER: What's next for USA Basketball women's program

By Doug Feinberg Aug. 08, 2021 12:55 PM EDT

United States's Sylvia Fowles (13) and Brittney Griner (15) celebrate after their win in the women's basketball gold medal game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Fowles' Diary: Teary as she wraps U.S. career with 4th gold

By Sylvia Fowles Aug. 08, 2021 08:45 AM EDT

US rolls to women's hoops gold medal in Bird's last Olympics

By Doug Feinberg Aug. 08, 2021 12:31 AM EDT

US women win seventh straight gold medal in basketball, beat Japan 90-75 to cap Sue Bird's 17-year Olympic career

Aug. 07, 2021 11:57 PM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — US women win seventh straight gold medal in basketball, beat Japan 90-75 to cap Sue Bird's 17-year Olympic career. ...

NBC's Tirico reflects on Tokyo Games, looks ahead to Beijing

By Joe Reedy Aug. 07, 2021 05:03 PM EDT
Like many, Mike Tirico had some doubts about whether the Tokyo Games would go on. But once he landed in Japan last month to continue preparations as the host...

United States' Kevin Durant (7), left, interacts with head coach Gregg Popovich during men's basketball gold medal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

EXPLAINER: What's next for the USA Basketball men's program

By Tim Reynolds Aug. 07, 2021 11:06 AM EDT

Belgium's Julie Vanloo (35), left, offers help to Puerto Rico's Jazmon Gwathmey (24) during women's basketball preliminary round game between Belgium and Puerto Rico at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

ITF Belgium 03A, Women Singles

Aug. 07, 2021 07:18 AM EDT