BASKETBALL
Kim Mulkey, the coach of defending national champion LSU, agreed to a 10-year contract worth about $32 million that will set a record for the richest coaching contract in women’s college basketball.
The Hall of Fame coach has been at LSU for two seasons, taking a program that missed the NCAA tournament three seasons ago and elevating it to the pinnacle of its sport.
It was her fourth national title as a head coach – the first three were at Baylor, where she coached from 2000-21. Her record at LSU in two seasons is 50-8, with NCAA tournament berths both years.
NBA: New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, who hurt his left knee during a workout this week, underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair his meniscus and is expected to return to “basketball activities” in 10 to 12 weeks.
In addition to a meniscectomy, the Pelicans said, Murphy received a biologic injection that is meant to slow or stop inflammation around the injured joint.
BASEBALL
EASTERN LEAGUE: The Portland Sea Dogs’ game at Reading was suspended by rain in the third inning and will be resumed Friday.
The game will pick up at 5:05 p.m. with Portland trailing 2-0 and Corey Rosier at the plate with one out. The entire nine innings will be played, with a seven-inning game to follow.
Carlos De La Cruz hit a two-run homer for the Fightin Phils.
GOLF
LPGA: Ruixin Liu of China was still suffering from allergies that forced her to withdraw from the tour event last week. It didn’t stop her from posting a 7-under 65 for her best round of the year and a one-shot lead in the Kroger Queen City Championship at Cincinnati.
Liu started so well that her lone regret was a par on the 12th hole when she hit her approach to 18 feet on the par 5 and three-putted for a par. She had seven birdies through 13 holes, then closed with five pars.
Liu had a one-shot lead on the Kendale course at Kenwood Country Club over Peiyun Chien, Elizabeth Szokol, short-hitting Dottie Ardina and Linnea Strom.
EUROPEAN: Adrian Meronk started birdie-birdie and shot 69 in a solid start to his title defense of the Irish Open at County Kildare, Ireland.
On a day when Rory McIlroy – the big draw this week as a home favorite – felt the love of the crowds and also shot 69, the lead was shared at 66 by two Englishmen, Jordan Smith and Ross Fisher, and a 52-year-old Dane, Thomas Bjorn.
CYCLING
SPANISH VUELTA: Juan Sebastián Molano of Colombia sprinted to win the 12th stage at Zaragoza, Spain, and American rival Sepp Kuss kept the overall lead for the fifth straight day.
Molano was launched by UAE Team Emirates teammate Rui Oliveira over the final meters to win the 94-mile ride from Olvega to Zaragoza in northern Spain. He also won a stage at last year’s Vuelta.
After three days of relatively flat terrain, the three-week race next faces one of its most highly anticipated stages on Day 13 when it crosses into France to ascend the Col du Tourmalet, a classic climb for the Tour de France.
SOCCER
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: Two-time champion France resumed its qualifying campaign with a fifth straight win, and the Netherlands eased to a 3-0 victory over Greece to keep its chances alive in Group B.
France produced yet another shutout, beating Ireland 2-0 in Paris and extending its lead to nine points over both the Netherlands and Greece.
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