Caitlin Clark is ready to play again, meaning the Indiana Fever will have their best player back in time to play the reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty on Saturday afternoon.

The Fever made the less-than-surprising announcement Friday. Clark missed five games with a quadriceps injury, then practiced this week with all signs pointed toward her playing against the undefeated defending champs.

Fever coach Stephanie White says “as long as we don’t have any regressions, she’s going to be ready to roll.”

Gophers track and field

Minnesota men seventh at NCAA Championships

Minnesota concluded its 2025 campaign in Eugene, Ore., at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field.

The men’s team finished seventh overall, its highest finish since 1948 while the women’s team gathered two All-America finishes.

Kostas Zaltos won the NCAA title in hammer throw at 256 feet, 2 inches, while teammate Angelos Mantzouranis took second at 252-6.

Charles Godfrield was fourth in long jump at 25-11 1/2.

Minnesota’s best finish on the women’s side was Ali Weimer in the 10,000-meter run. She finished 15th in a time of 32 minutes, 42.31 seconds.

Dyandra Gray ended her Minnesota career with her first All-America finish, taking 22nd in the 400-meter hurdles in 58.86 seconds.

saints

Indianapolis walks off St. Paul in extra innings

For the seventh time in franchise history, the Saints were losers via the walk off at Indianapolis’ Victory Field.

This time, it took 11 innings for the Indians to top St. Paul 7-6 on a one-out RBI single.

The Saints led 4-3 after four innings and 6-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but could not hang on.

Mickey Gasper hit a three-run homer, while Jefferson Morales went 3 for 5 with two RBI and one run scored.

The loss dropped St. Paul to 31-34 on the season, while Indianapolis improved to 38-28.

The Saints and Indians play twice more this weekend.

NFL

Vikings sign OL Lee, release S Bolden

The Vikings announced the signing of offensive lineman Vershon Lee and released safety Bubba Bolden.

Lee, an undrafted free agent, played in 51 college games over five seasons for South Carolina.

He started 18 games at center, 16 at left guard and six at right tackle during his tenure with the Gamecocks.

Rams sign former Cardinal Humphries

The Los Angeles Rams signed veteran offensive tackle D.J. Humphries to a one-year deal.

Humphries, a longtime starter for the Arizona Cardinals, will provide insurance on the Rams’ offensive line behind starting left tackle Alaric Jackson.

MLB

Brewers deal restless Civale to White Sox

The Milwaukee Brewers have traded right-hander Aaron Civale and cash to the Chicago White Sox for first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

The Brewers had announced they were removing Civale from their rotation. The pitcher said Thursday he wanted to remain a starter even if it meant leaving Milwaukee.

One day later, Civale was traded. The Brewers also are sending $807,000 to the White Sox as part of the deal.

Angels promote top prospect Moore

The Los Angeles Angels promoted their top prospect, second baseman Christian Moore, who started at second base and hit ninth in his debut.

Moore was the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Tennessee. He began his season with Double-A Rocket City and was promoted last month to Triple-A Salt Lake. He hit five homers with 32 RBIs overall in the minor leagues this season.

Astros trade former top prospect to Tampa Bay

The Houston Astros traded Forrest Whitley to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash, sending the struggling right-hander to a new home after he was once a highly regarded prospect.

The 6-foot-7 Whitley was selected by Houston with the No. 17 pick in the 2016 amateur draft. He had no record and an 8.44 ERA in eight relief appearances before he was designated for assignment.

Caribbean Series coming back to Miami in 2028

The Caribbean Series will return to the Miami Marlins’ loanDepot park after the team reached a multiyear agreement with the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation.

The deal will allow the Marlins, who hosted the Caribbean Series in 2024, to host three more editions of the winter league champions tournament beginning in 2028.

NBA

Westrook not opting back in for Nuggets

Russell Westbrook will not be exercising his $3.5 million player option with the Denver Nuggets for next season and will instead become a free agent.

The decision doesn’t necessarily mean that Westbrook won’t be back with the Nuggets.

Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Nuggets this season — his 17th in the NBA.

GOLF

Quartet deadlocked for lead at LPGA Classic

Karis Davidson, Carlota Ciganda, Hye-Jin Choi and Celine Boutier are all tied for the lead at 8-under at the PGA Classic at Blythefield C.C. in Belmont, Mich.

Ciganda and Choi each shot 67, and Boutier had a 68, all playing the morning session. Davidson carded a 70.

motorsports

NASCAR’s Mexico race hitting travel snags

NASCAR’s first Cup Series race outside the United States was off to a bumpy start with several teams yet to arrive in Mexico City because of travel issues in North Carolina.

At least one chartered flight to Mexico City was grounded Thursday with an engine issue, leaving teams scrambling to find alternative routes to Mexico. Some drove to Atlanta to catch a commercial flight.

— From news services