Brittney Griner plans to sign with the Atlanta Dream, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

Griner has spent her entire 11-year career with Phoenix since getting drafted No. 1 in 2013. The 6-foot-9 center decided this offseason to test free agency for the first time.

The 34-year-old Griner missed the 2022 season when she was detained for nearly 10 months in a Russian prison after authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis. She was freed in a prisoner swap when the United States released notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

WNBA free agents can’t sign contracts until Feb. 1. ESPN first reported Griner’s agreement with the Dream.

Phoenix gets Thomas in big trade >> The Phoenix Mercury were finalizing a deal to acquire Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press.

The Sun also will send Ty Harris to Phoenix, while Connecticut will receive Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen and the No. 12 pick in this year’s draft, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the deal.

Thomas has played her entire career with Connecticut and helped the franchise reach the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022. Thomas was an unrestricted free agent before she was designated as the team’s franchise player earlier this month, meaning the only way she could sign with another team was via trade.

Since the deal is a sign-and-trade, it can’t become official until Feb. 1. ESPN first reported the trade.

Thomas’ fiancee, DeWanna Bonner, is a free agent and could also go to Phoenix, where she spent the first 10 years of her WNBA career.

The 32-year-old Thomas won an Olympic gold medal with the United States this past summer and averaged 10.6 points, 7.9 assists and 8.4 rebounds last season. She’s the WNBA’s career leader in triple-doubles with 15, four of which came in the postseason.

Thomas was the WNBA’s MVP runner-up in 2023.

MLB

Skenes, Henderson, De La Cruz on video game cover >> MLB The Show 25 announced that rising stars Paul Skenes, Gunnar Henderson and Elly De La Cruz will be the cover athletes on its upcoming video game.

It’s the first time MLB The Show has featured three athletes on the same cover. The game is scheduled to hit the market on March 18.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Skenes, 22, was last season’s National League Rookie of the Year. The hard-throwing right-hander recently stirred a frenzy when his coveted rookie card was unveiled by an 11-year-old from the Los Angeles area. The card could hold a high value considering the potentially bright future ahead for Skenes, who finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting.

He finished the season 11-4 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop De La Cruz, 23, become the fifth player since 1901 to have at least 20 home runs and 60 stolen bases in a single season last year. He finished 2024 with 25 homers and led the majors with 67 stolen bases.

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Henderson, 23, was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2023. He participated in the Home Run Derby last season. He finished the year with 37 homers, 92 RBIs and a .281 batting average.

Orioles hire ex-All-Star Jones as adviser >> Retired five-time All-Star outfielder Adam Jones is returning to the Baltimore Orioles as a special adviser to general manager Mike Elias as well as a community ambassador.

Jones played for the Orioles from 2008-18 and won four Gold Gloves during that stretch.

Men’s basketball

Arizona rides half-court buzzer-beater to big upset >> Arizona’s Caleb Love hit a tying heave from beyond half-court at the end of regulation, then added two more 3s in overtime to send Arizona to an improbable 86-75 win over No. 3 Iowa State on Monday.

Love, who finished with 22 points, made a name for himself for making big shots in three seasons at North Carolina. He led the Tar Heels to the 2022 national title game by scoring 30 points against UCLA in the Sweet 16, then scored 28 points against Duke in the Final Four.

Love, who earned Pac-12 player of the year honors last year, was just 1 of 10 from beyond the arc against the Cyclones (17-3, 7-2 Big 12) before his shot from near the midcourt logo banked in and sent a roar through McKale Center.

Love rode the momentum of his midcourt miracle, hitting two corner 3s in overtime to send Arizona (14-6, 8-1) to its first win over a top-five opponent as an unranked team since beating No. 3 UCLA in 1979.

Soccer

Neymar to return to Brazilian team >> Neymar has agreed to return to Santos nearly 12 years after he left the Brazilian team, club president Marcelo Teixeira said in his social media channels.

The Brazilian striker confirmed earlier that his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal had been terminated by mutual consent.

The 32-year-old Neymar won six titles with his boyhood club Santos, including a Copa Libertadores trophy in 2011. He will return to the club after a frustrating spell at Al-Hilal, where he played only seven matches and scored once.

Dunn leaving Gotham FC after one year >> Gotham FC and U.S. team veteran Crystal Dunn have agreed to part ways. The NWSL team said the decision comes as “Dunn pursues a new opportunity.” No details about the opportunity were announced.

The 32-year-old Dunn was signed as a free agent by Gotham FC in late 2023. She played one season with the club, appearing in 23 matches with one goal and two assists.

She played on the U.S team that won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics last summer.