Minnesota United will go on the road to Louisville City FC for the U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 32 on May 6 or May 7, according to the national tournament’s draw Thursday. Match details to be announced.

MNUFC will have its first team in the tournament this year, after its second team was in the field a year ago. MNUFC2 beat Chicago House in Round 1 in Elmhurst, Ill., but then lost to Michigan Stars in Round 2 at Allianz Field.

In this iteration, the Loons, if they advance, have “first hosting priority” for the Round of 16 on May 20-21. Union Omaha and St. Louis City will play on the other side of the bracket.

Louisville City is coached by Danny Cruz, who played for MNUFC in its final North American Soccer League season in 2016. He won USL Championship Coach of the Year in 2024 as the LouCity reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.

— Andy Greder

Minor league baseball

Saints allow two more homers, lose 6-2 at Iowa

A day after giving up eight home runs, the Saints’ pitching staff gave up two more, including an eighth inning grand slam by Chase Strumpf in a 6-2 loss to the Iowa Cubs at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Marco Raya, on a strict pitch count early this season, made his third start. He pitched three shutout innings for the Saints despite giving up four hits and a walk. He struck out three and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second by inducing a double-play grounder.

Armando Alvarez put the Saints up 1-0 with a groundout in the first inning, and Greg Allen out St. Paul up 2-1 with a two-run home run in the second. Mike Ford added a solo home run in the ninth.

The game remained a one run contest until the eighth when the I-Cubs put it away. With the bases loaded Chase Strumpf clubbed a grand slam over the center field wall, his third homer of the season, putting the I-Cubs up 6-1.

Randy Dobnak (0-0, 4.50) will start for the Saints on Friday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

— Staff report

gophers gymnastics

Hooten wraps career as 2nd Team All-American

Gophers fifth-year senior Mya Hooten finished her collegiate career on Thursday afternoon at the 2025 NCAA Gymnastics Championships.

She scored a 9.8875 on the floor, placing tied for fifth out of all floor competitors during session I.

Hooten earned NCAA Championships Second Team All-America honors with her performance, her 13th career All-America honor.

golf

Thomas sinks 11 birdies to take Heritage lead

Justin Thomas found just the right tonic for his post-Masters week. He has tied the course record at Harbour Town with a 61 to lead the RBC Heritage.

Thomas made 11 birdies and nearly had the course record all to himself until missing a 5-foot birdie chance at the end. He leads by three shots over defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.

Scheffler played without stress. He only got out of position once and only one other time had to scramble for par in his round of 64.

Liu, Buhai share lead at LPGA’s LA Championship

Yan Liu birdied the final three holes for a 9-under 63 and a share of the first-round lead with Ashleigh Buhai in the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship.

Liu overcame an opening bogey to play the next nine in 7 under — making a 6-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th and five birdies.

Buhai had nine birdies in her bogey-free morning round.

hockey

U.S. in semis of women’s world championships

The United States cruised past Germany 3-0 to reach the semifinals at the women’s ice hockey world championship.

Kelly Pannek, Lacey Eden and Alex Carpenter each scored.

Captain Hilary Knight registered an assist to extend her record at the worlds to 51.

Jennifer Gardiner and Sarah Fillier both struck twice and Canada grabbed a spot in the semifinals at the women’s ice hockey world championship by routing Japan 9-1.

Joining Canada and the U.S. in the semis are Czechia and Finland.

The U.S. will play Czechia while Canada takes on Finland on Saturday.

college basketball

Ward to take over as Florida A&M head coach

Former Florida State dual-sport star and 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward is set to become the new men’s basketball coach at Florida A&M University.

Ward, 54, graduated from Florida State in 1994 and went on to have an 11-year NBA career, which included nine-plus seasons with the New York Knicks.

NFL

White rejoining Bills on 1-year, $6.8M contract

Cornerback Tre’Davious White is rejoining the Buffalo Bills after agreeing to a one-year contract worth up to $6.8 million.

White, 30, returns to Buffalo a year after being part of a salary cap-related purge of veterans in March 2024.

White’s production and playing time was slowed by major injuries sustained in consecutive seasons.

soccer

Spurs, Man U advance to Europa semifinals

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United joined Athletic Bilbao and Nowegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semifinals.

Tottenham downed Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 in Germany, while Man U’s ferocious extra-time rally downed Lyon 5-4 in front of a delirious Old Trafford crowd.

Bodo/Glimt continued its upset run by besting Lazio on penalty kicks, while Bilbao topped Scottish side Rangers 2-0.

BRIEFLY

NCAA >> The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel gave final approval to a rule designed to discourage football players from faking injuries to stop the game clock.

— From news services