Sports Briefs

By Associated Press

Blues’ Krug diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle

ST. LOUIS | St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug is in danger of missing the entire 2024-25 NHL season after being diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle. The team announced Tuesday that Krug will work to rehabilitate the injury without surgery over the next six to eight weeks before being re-evaluated. If an operation is needed, the 33-year-old would be out for the season. The team says the diagnosis is a cumulative result of a bone fracture earlier in his career. Krug injured his left ankle in a preseason game in 2018 while playing for Boston.

Jason Wright is out as Washington Commanders president

Jason Wright is no longer president of the Washington Commanders and is expected to leave the organization after the 2024 season. A team spokesperson confirmed Wright will shift to a senior advisory role while the search for his successor is ongoing. Wright in 2020 became the first Black president of an NFL team. He was hired by former owner Dan Snyder, who sold to a group led by Josh Harris last year. Wright served in his previous role last season after Harris took over control of the franchise.

WNBA players’ union leader concerned league being undervalued in new media rights deal

PHOENIX | WNBA players’ union head Terri Jackson is concerned the league is being undervalued with the $2.2 billion over 11 years it will receive as part of the NBA’s recently approved media rights deals. The NBA’s Board of Governors approved that league’s next media rights deals with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video at its meeting Tuesday, moving the league one giant step closer to finalizing the 11-year agreements that will be worth about $76 billion. A person familiar with the deal confirmed the WNBA would receive about $200 million a year.

Argentina tops FIFA men’s rankings as government hits back at critics of racist song

Argentina is confirmed as the world’s No. 1 team in the FIFA men’s rankings. FIFA published them after the national government in Argentina doubled down on defending the players who celebrated winning the Copa America by singing a racist song targeting No. 2-ranked France. The song mocked the African heritage of some France players and was filmed on Sunday by midfielder Enzo Fernandez. A sports official in Argentina’s government who urged Lionel Messi to apologize was fired. The vice president in Argentina’s far-right government hit back at critics as hypocrites. FIFA and Fernandez’s club Chelsea are looking into the incident.