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Dallas hosts Atlanta to open playoffs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

Atlanta Dream (19-21, 11-9 Eastern Conference) at Dallas Wings (22-18, 11-9 Western Conference)Arlington, Texas; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Wings -6.5; over/under is 168.5WNBA PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Wings host first series matchupBOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Wings host the Atlanta Dream to start the first round of the WNBA playoffs. Dallas went 3-0 against Atlanta during the regular season. The Wings won the last regular season meeting 94-77 on Sept. 10 led by 32 points from Arike Ogunbowale, while Rhyne Howard scored 19 points for the Dream.The Wings have gone 11-9 in home games. Dallas leads the Western Conference in rebounding, averaging 38.7 boards. Natasha Howard leads the Wings with 8.0 rebounds.The Dream are 8-12 on the road. Atlanta ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference giving up 84.0 points while holding opponents to 43.0% shooting.TOP PERFORMERS: Satou Sabally is scoring 18.6 points per game and averaging 8.1 rebounds for the Wings. Ogunbowale is averagin...

Sykes, Mystics to face Stewart, Liberty on Friday

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

Washington Mystics (19-21, 9-11 Eastern Conference) at New York Liberty (32-8, 16-4 Eastern Conference)New York; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Liberty -9.5; over/under is 162.5WNBA PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND:BOTTOM LINE: The New York Liberty square off against the Washington Mystics.The Liberty have gone 16-4 against Eastern Conference teams. New York scores 89.2 points while outscoring opponents by 8.6 points per game.The Mystics are 9-11 against Eastern Conference teams. Washington has an 8-6 record in games decided by 10 points or more.TOP PERFORMERS: Breanna Stewart is scoring 23.0 points per game with 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Liberty. Betnijah Laney is averaging 17.1 points over the last 10 games for New York.Natasha Cloud is averaging 12.7 points and 6.2 assists for the Mystics. Brittney Sykes is averaging 18.2 points over the last 10 games for Washington.LAST 10 GAMES: Liberty: 8-2, averaging 91.3 points, 36.8 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 6.8 steals and ...

Anastasia Potapova stuns top-seeded Ons Jabeur in San Diego Open

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Anastasia Potapova stunned seventh-ranked Ons Jabeur 6-4, 7-6 (4) on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Cymbiotika San Diego Open.It was the fourth time this year the 27th-ranked Potapova beat a player ranked in the Top 10.“I think it was my patience, just to stay focused as much as I could because Ons is very tough to play,” the 22-year-old Russian player said. “She’s truly one of the best in the world. With her style, it’s very uncomfortable for myself, but I’m really happy and proud to get this win.”Jabeur, from Tunisia, was the top seed. She landed just 39 of 85 first-serves, had nine double-faults and could never really find any rhythm. But Potapova said it was still difficult to close out the three-time Grand Slam finalist.“Tell me about how popular she is — my mother, she loves her so much,” Potapova said. “Every time I talk to my mom on FaceTime with Ons around, she’s like, ‘Call Ons! She’s my best player!’ They’re actually pretty good friends....

Tunisia denies entry to EU lawmakers on official visit

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

BRUSSELS — Tunisia denied entry to a group of European Parliament lawmakers planning an official visit to the North African country, due to get under way Thursday. The group of MEPs from the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by Germany’s Michael Gahler, were blocked from entering Tunisia on Wednesday evening. “This delegation will not be allowed to enter national territory,” the Tunisian government wrote in a letter seen by POLITICO addressed to the EU’s embassy in Tunis.The move comes after the European Commission struck a controversial deal with Tunisia in July to stem migration flows to Europe. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the agreement as a template for similar deals with other countries in her State of the European Union speech on Wednesday, despite mounting criticism from the Parliament, NGOs and national governments including Germany.The Parliament’s delegation condemned the Tunisian authorities’ action and deman...

Ukraine says it wrecked Russian submarine with British cruise missiles

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

KYIV — Ukraine on Thursday confirmed it wrecked a Russian submarine with British weapons, during a missile attack on the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea. The Russian cruise missile carrier — the Rostov-on-Don — was significantly damaged in the massive Ukrainian strike, as was Kremlin warship the Minsk. A senior Ukrainian military official confirmed to POLITICO that Ukrainian pilots used the British cruise missile Storm Shadow for the attack.Russia’s Defense Ministry said Ukraine launched 10 cruise missiles on the Sevastopol shipyard on Wednesday, but only three hit their targets, damaging two military vessels. Unusually, on Thursday morning Ukraine’s army claimed the attack and said Russia would not be able to repair the ships in the near future.“The large Russian landing ship Minsk and the submarine Rostov-on-Don, which were hit during the night attack in Sevastopol, most likely cannot be restored,” Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Ministry ...

Zelenskyy heading to New York to court the rest of the world

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

Call it Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “special diplomatic operation.”The Ukrainian president plans to show up in person at the United Nations’ annual gathering of world leaders next week. And he has a mission: Use one-on-one charm to convince an array of hesitant countries to back Kyiv against Russia.Zelenskyy hopes to make his case both in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly and in a blizzard of meetings with fellow leaders, according to a senior Ukrainian government official familiar with the planning.But the effort faces serious challenges. Many of the countries that have avoided taking sides hail from Africa, Asia and Latin America — often called the Global South — and they are loath to anger any world power if it could damage their own national interests. Even if they’ve rhetorically condemned the Kremlin’s invasion, many haven’t cut economic or diplomatic ties or enforced Western sanctions on Russia, allowing Moscow to keep up some cash flow.Still, Ukrainian leaders believe they hav...

Girls volleyball preview: Newton North will be challenged to repeat as Div. 1 champions

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

After piecing together a 24-1 Div. 1 state title-winning season, Newton North will look to overcome strong opposition and defend its crown.The Tigers retain two Bay State Conference All-Stars in outside hitter Chloe Lee and libero Alexa Marucci. Kaitlin Simmons will step back in as the setter, with Jojo Wang and Briana Milliken blocking from the middle.In the Dual County League, All-Stars Emma Agne and Joyce Li are back for semifinalist Lincoln-Sudbury. Abby Venis is a middle hitter, while Maddie Gulko slots in as a libero. Newton South will feature All-Stars Anna Julia Silva and Stephanie Saloum.Needham will lean on two-time All-Scholastic outside hitter Samatha Tam (257 kills in 2022). Bay State Conference All-Star Izzy Streeper is back as the libero, and Lizzie Tam will do the setting.Molly Fredo and Molly Gleason are the outside hitters for Barnstable, while fellow Cape and Islands League All-Stars Logan Hurwitz and Sadie Wellbeloved take up the libero and setter positions.All-S...

Patriots proving to be better fit for ex-Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

FOXBORO — As Mike Gesicki prepares to face his former team for the first time, there’s little question the tight end must be enjoying the fit with his new one.Gesicki was drafted by the Dolphins in 2018 and spent the first five seasons of his career in Miami before signing with the Patriots prior to this season. And it’s clear that New England is interested in utilizing the tight end’s strengths, that of an athletic weapon in the passing game.“He’s a three-level route runner. I mean, he can go over the top,” Patriots safety Adrian Phillips said. “He’s wiggly, like when he runs his route, it’s kind of hard to figure out what he’s running because he kind of has this like unorthodox run. He’s able to break off at like any stride, so that makes it tough, and I would just say his catch radius is what makes it so tough to guard him because even if you have good coverage, he has long arms, he can jump. He can just go pluck the ball.”Those talents were on display during a career season for ...

Man facing impaired driving charges after west end crash, rollover

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

A man is facing impaired driving charges after an overnight crash and rollover in Toronto’s west end.The collision happened around 2:30 a.m. Thursday at Dufferin and Dundas Streets.Toronto police say a car crashed into parked vehicles near the intersection and then rolled over onto its roof.The driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police tell CityNews he is being charged with impaired driving.No other injuries were reported.

Ken Paxton’s defense is set to begin in the Texas Attorney General’s impeachment trial

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:17 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lawyers for impeached Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton were set to begin presenting their defense Thursday as the trial that will determine whether the Republican is removed from office winds down.Attorneys for the bipartisan group of lawmakers prosecuting Paxton’s impeachment rested their case Wednesday after a woman who was expected to testify about an extramarital affair with Paxton made a sudden appearance at the trial, but never took the stand. The affair is central to the historic proceedings and accusations that Paxton misused his power to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, who was under FBI investigation and employed the woman, Laura Olson. One of the 16 articles of impeachment against Paxton alleges that Paul’s hiring of Olson amounted to a bribe. Olson was called to the stand Wednesday morning in the Texas Senate and waited outside the chamber. But her testimony was delayed for hours before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is acting as the...