Former Connecticut Sun coach hired to lead Caitlin Clark’s team

Former Connecticut Sun coach hired to lead Caitlin Clark’s team

BASKETBALL

The Indiana Fever hired Stephanie White as coach on Friday, putting her in charge of a team led by the WNBA rookie of the year, Caitlin Clark.

White spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Connecticut Sun before parting ways with the team earlier this week.

White, a former star at Purdue, served on the Fever coaching staff from 2011-16, including as head coach for the final two seasons. The Fever won the WNBA title in 2012 with White on the staff.

White replaces Christie Sides, who led the Fever to a 20-20 record last season and the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2016. The organization announced it was moving on from Sides, who was the head coach for two seasons before being let go Sunday.

TENNIS

PARIS MASTERS: Alexander Zverev advanced to the semifinals by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-4, also knocking Tsitsipas out of contention for the ATP Finals.

Zverev, the French Open runner-up, next faces 2022 champion Holger Rune for a shot at the title. He’s into his third Paris semi-finals in the past four years, although he’s never won the hard-court tournament.

The other semifinal will match Ugo Humbert against 2018 champion Karen Khachanov.

AUTO RACING

FORMULA 1: British driver Oliver Bearman replaced an ill Kevin Magnussen in a Haas car at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo and excelled.

Bearman, 19, was third in the morning practice, only 0.195 seconds behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, the fastest. Later, Bearman left countryman Lewis Hamilton behind in the final part of the sprint race qualifier and finished 10th.

Haas did not elaborate on Magnussen’s illness. Rules allow the Danish driver to return for qualifying Saturday if he’s fit.

FIGURE SKATING

GRAND PRIX: Amber Glenn of the United States is on course for her first win after taking a big lead in the short program at the French round of the series in Angiers, France.

Glenn was the only skater in the women’s event to land a triple axel on her way to 78.14 points, taking the lead by more than seven points from Kim Chaeyeon of South Korea on 70.90.

Jin Boyang of China led the men’s short program in search of his first Grand Prix win since his home Cup of China in 2020. Jin landed a quadruple toeloop as he scored 88.12, with Aleksandr Selevko of Estonia on 85.73 and Kazuki Tomono of Japan on 83.45 .

BASEBALL

MAJOR LEAGUES: Second baseman Jorge Polanco’s $12 million option was declined by Seattle Mariners, which will pay a $750,000 buyout and allow him to become a free agent.

The Mariners also said infielder Luis Urías cleared waivers and elected to become a free agent.

Polanco hit a career-low .213 with 16 homers and 45 RBI this year. He was sidelined between May 26 and June 24 by a strained right hamstring.

• The White Sox declined a $25 million option on third baseman Yoán Moncada after he missed almost the entire season because of a left adductor strain.

Chicago also turned down a $7.5 million option on catcher Max Stassi.

COLLEGES

MOUNTAIN WEST: Grand Canyon accepted an invitation to join the conference no later than 2026, according to an announcement sent by the school.

The Antelopes will join a conference that has six existing members, including Air Force, New Mexico, Nevada, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming. UTEP and Hawaii also announced they’re joining the league.

Grand Canyon said 17 of its 21 sports teams will play in the Mountain West. The Antelopes do not have a football program but have had considerable success in men’s basketball, making the NCAA Tournament in three of the past four seasons.

HOCKEY

NHL: Florida captain Aleksander Barkov had a goal and three assists in his return to his hometown, Sam Reinhart scored twice and the Panthers beat the Dallas Stars 6-4 at Tampere, Finland.

Finnish players put on a show. Barkov had four points, Anton Lundell had a goal, and Niko Mikkola had an assist for Florida, while Esa Lindell had a goal and an assist for the Stars. All seven Finns on the rosters started the game.

Aaron Ekblad had three assists for Florida, which won its fourth straight. Evan Rodrigues and Mackie Samoskevich also scored for the Panthers, who got 32 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky.

SOCCER

YORKE HIRED: Former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke was appointed coach of Trinidad and Tobago, aiming to lead his home islands back to the World Cup.

Yorke captained the Soca Warriors at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the only time they qualified. Trinidad and Tobago did not advance from a group including England, Sweden and Paraguay.

The team is second behind Costa Rica in a five-team World Cup qualifying group. The top two advance to the next stage, and Trinidad’s place could be sealed by beating Saint Kitts and Nevis on June 6.