Basketball
The U.S. women’s basketball team is just showing off
NEWARK, Del. – Nneka Ogwumike scored 26 points in an intrasquad exhibition game between players in the U.S. national women’s basketball team pool Thursday night at the University of Delaware.
It wasn’t enough for the White squad, which fell to the Red team 95-87.
The entertaining back and forth contest showcased some of the best talent in the world. Maya Moore connected with Angel McCoughtry for three beautiful alley-oop layups. Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike finished off the fastbreak, while UConn junior Breanna Stewart was all over the floor on offense and defense.
With the game tied at 74 in the fourth quarter, Lindsay Whalen scored six points for the Red team during an 11-2 run that put the game away.
Cycling
Fabio Aru wins Vuelta’s 18th stage; Contador still leads
MONTE CASTROVE, Spain – Fabio Aru of Italy surged to win the Spanish Vuelta’s hilly 18th stage Thursday, while Alberto Contador kept the leader’s red jersey with three stages remaining.
Chris Froome finished one second behind, gaining time overall, and Alejandro Valverde came third – 13 seconds behind.
Froome, who charged up the category-2 Monte Castrove ascent with Aru just behind him, improved to second overall, 1 minute, 19 seconds behind Contador, having overtaken Valverde, who was third overall, 1 minute, 32 seconds down.
Although Contador looked tired and conceded time to Froome, he appeared totally recovered from the broken shin that forced him to retire from the Tour de France on July 15.
Golf
Horschel, Kirk share lead at Tour Championship at 4 under
ATLANTA – Billy Horschel and Chris Kirk took a big step Thursday toward the biggest payoff in golf.
Both players already have won FedEx Cup playoff events to earn the top two seeds going into the Tour Championship. Playing together in the last group at East Lake, they both made late birdies and were tied for the lead at 4-under 66.
If either of them were to win the Tour Championship, they would capture the FedEx Cup and the $10 million bonus.
Masters champion Bubba Watson isn’t out of the mix just yet. He made bogey from the bunker on the last hole for a 67 and was one shot behind, along with Jason Day, Jim Furyk and Patrick Reed.
Joost do it: Luiten looks to defend title at the KLM Open
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands – Defending champion Joost Luiten fired a 5-under-par 65 and took a shared clubhouse lead at the KLM Open after a first round interrupted when Fabrizio Zanotti was hit on the forehead by a wayward tee shot Thursday.
Zanotti was driven off the course in an ambulance for checks at a nearby hospital after being hit while playing the 16th.
Luiten went on a strong run after the suspension, shooting three birdies and an eagle over his last seven holes.
Kim takes 4-shot lead at Evian major; Wie out of event
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – South Korean teen Hyo-Joo Kim posted a faultless 10-under 61 to take a four-shot lead over veteran Karrie Webb after the first round of the Evian Championship on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Michelle Wie’s bid for a second major ended early.
Tied for fourth place here two years ago, the last year before Evian became a major, the 19-year-old Kim had 10 birdies in a perfectly symmetrical round with five each on the front and back nine. The 39-year-old Webb had eight birdies but was undone by two bogeys.
Wie retired after just 13 holes – by which time she had two double bogeys and was 5 over. The U.S. Women’s Open champion returned after five weeks out nursing a right index finger injury and clearly was in pain.
Associated Press
