• MLS reportedly plans to announce that St. Louis has secured an expansion club, with an event said to be scheduled next Tuesday. Around this year’s All-Star Game, Commissioner Don Garber praised the efforts made by the ownership group, led by Carolyn Kindle Betz, president of Enterprise Holdings Foundation, and Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of World Wide Technology Inc., as the league aims for expansion from 27 clubs to 30. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

• The U.S. women’s soccer team ended its mediation discussions with the U.S. Soccer Federation without reaching an agreement on its gender-discrimination lawsuit against the governing body. A spokeswoman for the players said they now “eagerly look forward to a jury trial,” while a spokesman for the federation said that counsel for the women’s team took an “ultimately unproductive approach” as it allegedly presented “misleading information to the public.” (The Wall Street Journal)

• Lawyer Michael Avenatti, who was charged by the U.S. federal government with extorting Nike Inc., and his legal team responded with allegations of their own, alleging in a court filing that executives with the sports apparel brand discussed paying $55,000 between 2019 first-round NBA Draft selections Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans) and Romeo Langford (Boston Celtics). Avenatti, who denies demanding money from Nike, and his lawyers didn’t provide evidence that payments were made to the two players, both of whom signed with Nike following their collegiate careers. (The Action Network)

Disney Signs Deal With Charter for Channels, Streaming Services
Christopher Palmeri and Gerry Smith, Bloomberg

Walt Disney Co. and Charter Communications Inc. reached a new agreement for the second-largest U.S. cable TV provider to carry channels such as ESPN and ABC, along with streaming services like the upcoming Disney+. The deal allows the companies to work together to distribute a new wave of online video services from Disney, including Hulu and ESPN+.

Rugby World Cup Shines Spotlight on a Less-Traveled Japan
Allan Richarz, The New York Times

This autumn, fans from around the world will descend upon Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the first time the tournament will be held in Asia. With venues spread across the country, the five-week-long tournament provides an opportunity to see a variety of sights in Japan.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy’s threats might boost the brand, but at what cost?
Ilyse Liffreing, Ad Age

Sports media company Barstool Sports has always leaned on its defiant and polarizing nature to grow its brand, led by the example of its provocative founder Dave Portnoy, and its latest stunt is proving that its rambunctious style works on its audience. But at what cost?

The Las Vegas Aces Are Sharing The Spotlight — And Winning A Lot
Jenn Hatfield, FiveThirtyEight

Before her injury in July, Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson was going through a down season compared to her WNBA Rookie of the Year campaign of 2018. She was scoring less, grabbing fewer rebounds and blocking fewer shots.

NFLPA issues ‘work stoppage guide’ to players
Dan Graziano, ESPN

As collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the NFL and the NFLPA continue to make little progress, the NFLPA has issued a “work stoppage guide” to its players to help them prepare in case of a strike or lockout following the 2020 season. Sources on both sides continue to insist a work stoppage is unlikely.

Jay-Z defends NFL-Roc Nation deal, talks Kap
Jason Reid, ESPN

Unsigned NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick might as well have been seated next to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during Wednesday’s news conference to officially announce the league’s new partnership with Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s entertainment company. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s presence was definitely in the room.

Colin Kaepernick recognizes protest anniversary
Wayne Sterling, CNN

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick — who became a lightning rod in 2016 when he refused to stand during the National Anthem to protest the police shootings of black men and other social injustices faced by African Americans — recognized the three-year anniversary of his first pregame protest on social media Wednesday.

For N.F.L. Kickers, Near Perfect Isn’t Close Enough
Bill Pennington, The New York Times

Kicker Aldrick Rosas was one of three Giants who made the Pro Bowl last year; the star running back Saquon Barkley and safety Landon Collins were the others.

In rethinking the Wizards, Ted Leonsis blocked the noise and called Barack Obama (and 77 others)
Candace Buckner, The Washington Post

On April 2, Ted Leonsis dialed up Adam Silver to share the news — and seek advice on what to do next. The Washington Wizards’ managing partner and the NBA commissioner communicate regularly about league matters, but near the end of the 2018-19 season, the conversations shifted to a specific topic: Leonsis wanted to know how other teams have organized their basketball operations departments.

Stan Van Gundy bolting ESPN in major NBA media move
Andrew Marchand, New York Post

Turner Sports is revamping its NBA coverage and is on the verge of hiring Stan Van Gundy away from ESPN to be a prominent game analyst, The Post has learned. Van Gundy’s addition could have long-term implications for Turner’s top games.

Tyronn Lue Will Coach in Los Angeles After All (for the Clippers)
Marc Stein, The New York Times

The Los Angeles Clippers are close to hiring Tyronn Lue, the former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach, as a top assistant to Coach Doc Rivers, according to three people familiar with the negotiations. In May, Lue was widely billed as the leading candidate to take over as head coach of the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers before talks abruptly collapsed over contract terms.

Lonzo Ball told LaVar that Big Baller Brand is ‘demolished’
Andrew Joseph, For The Win

The past few months have not been kind to LaVar Ball’s attempts at building a business empire with Big Baller Brand. The company has seen its co-founder Alan Foster accused of a multimillion-dollar embezzlement scheme, and the Ball brothers have publicly distanced themselves from the brand.

Mets Playoff Push Means Advertisers Pay Double on Team-Owned SNY
Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams, Bloomberg

The only thing climbing faster than the New York Mets in the standings are the advertising rates on the team’s SNY regional sports network. Ratings over the past 10 games, eight of which were Mets wins, have skyrocketed about 40%.

Albert Pujols becomes the all-time foreign-born hits leader in Angels’ win
Maria Torres, Los Angeles Times

Albert Pujols did not allow the Angels to be swept by a middling Pittsburgh Pirates team on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. The veteran first baseman had two hits and drove in three runs in the Angels’ 7-4 victory.

How many minutes should NHL stars play?
Ian Tulloch, The Athletic

Last week, there was an interesting quote from Mike Babcock floating around on Twitter that I thought deserved a deeper investigation. In a vacuum, this sounds pretty reasonable.

Emiliano Sala Suffered Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Fatal Plane Crash
Anna Schaverien, The New York Times

Emiliano Sala, the Argentine soccer player who died in a plane crash in the English Channel in January, had been exposed to “potentially fatal” levels of carbon monoxide, the British authorities revealed on Wednesday. Mr. Sala, 28, who was on a flight from France to Wales on Jan. 21 when the aircraft went down, sustained carbon monoxide poisoning in the cockpit of the plane, according to a report released by Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch as part of its inquiry into the crash.

For this soccer superstar, skipping World Cup in protest was painful, lonely and necessary
Steven Goff, The Washington Post

As the Women’s World Cup unfolded this summer in France, the game’s best player was a spectator by choice. Ada Hegerberg, a Norwegian forward with an astonishing scoring rate, attended the opener in Paris and the final in Lyon, the charming city she has called home as a pro player since 2014.

Liverpool defeats Chelsea on penalties to win European Super Cup
James Masters, CNN

Liverpool held its nerve to win the European Super Cup after defeating Chelsea on penalties in Istanbul on Wednesday. After an enthralling contest that finished at 2-2 after extra time, it was Liverpool that prevailed 5-4 on spot kicks, with goalkeeper Adrián stopping a shot from Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham to spark celebrations from those in red.

Semenya says she never felt supported by other women
Tanisha Heiberg, Reuters

Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya, who has been locked in a battle over her testosterone levels with athletics authorities, said on Wednesday that she has not felt supported by other women in sport. The South African athlete will not be able to defend her 800-metres title at the world championships in September after the Swiss Federal Tribunal reversed a ruling that temporarily lifted testosterone regulations imposed on her.

The Disruption of the Golf Ball Market Is in Full Swing
Michael Croley, Bloomberg

Unless you’re developing a fertilizer, you probably don’t expect to disrupt the golf industry from the spare room of a sewage company. But that’s where Dean Snell found himself four years ago, holed up in an office with a single computer.

Tiger and Serena Confront Twilight and Aching Backs
Karen Crouse, The New York Times

Tiger Woods was walking with his pro-am playing partners Wednesday at Medinah Country Club when he heard that Serena Williams had pulled out of a tournament in Ohio because of back spasms. It was the second time in the span of three days that she was forced to drop out of a competition.

Golf’s New Breed Tries to Speed Things Up
Karen Crouse, The New York Times

A pace-of-play problem that has simmered for decades on the PGA Tour reached full boil in 2 minutes 20 seconds, the time it took Bryson DeChambeau to execute an eight-foot putt last week. A video of that stroke, and another of DeChambeau laboring even longer over a 70-yard approach, went viral.

ESPN’s first ‘College Gameday’ will be unrecognizable. Thanks, Mickey Mouse.
Matt Bonesteel, The Washington Post

First, the good news: College football is back in 10 short days with two “Week Zero” games, Miami vs. Florida and Arizona at Hawaii. And here’s some more good news: ESPN’s “College Gameday,” that Saturday morning staple of the fall, will be in Orlando, site of the Hurricanes-Gators tilt.

Football May Take a Toll on the Brain, Even Without Concussions
Gretchen Reynolds, The New York Times

After a season of college football, portions of players’ brains can show worrying signs of damage, even if they did not experience a concussion, according to a timely new study of contact sports and brain health. The study, which concentrated on changes to white matter in players’ brains, amplifies growing concerns about the effects of repeated, subconcussive hits to the head and whether we are doing enough to protect athletes from knocks that once might have seemed minor.

Fortnite World Cup Audience Shows Fan Base Isn’t Just Young Men
Randall Williams, Bloomberg

Two weeks ago, Epic Games Inc. held its first-ever Fortnite World Cup, a three-day video game competition extravaganza that had — at one point — 2.3 million viewers from around the globe. Now we’re getting a closer look at the demographics of those viewers, providing insight into whether the video-game industry’s biggest hit has become a mainstream cultural phenomenon.

Rick Fox’s League Of Legends Team Is No More
Ethan Gach, Kotaku

After months of internal strife following the news that one of its investors had called a fellow shareholder the n-word, the esports organization co-founded by Rick Fox has officially lost its coveted spot in the League of Legends Championship Series, Riot Games announced today.

Las Vegas oddsmakers see L.A. as the city of potential sports champions
Arash Markazi, Los Angeles Times

Championships are the only currency that matters to Los Angeles sports fans. It’s a city without pity when it comes to disappointment. Expectations are often greater than they should be in L.A., where reality and fandom don’t mix well.