Caitlin Clark draws a big crowd for LPGA pro-am

SPORTS BRIEFING

WNBA player Caitlin Clark, of the Indiana Fever, right, shows her gold-soled Nike golf shoes to LPGA pro golfer Nelly Korda, left, at the ninth tee during the pro-am at the LPGA Tour golf tournament on Wednesday in Belleair, Fla. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD — TAMPA BAY TIMES VIA AP

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Caitlin Clark brought her golf game and a big buzz to the LPGA Tour on Wednesday when the basketball star played in a pro-am that attracted a bigger crowd than the tour often gets for its tournament rounds.

Clark played nine holes with Nelly Korda, the No. 1 player in women’s golf who is competing for the first time in nearly two months after a minor neck injury. She played the back nine at Pelican Golf Club with Annika Sorenstam, host of a tournament called The Annika.

During a brief interview with Golf Channel, the WNBA rookie of the year was asked if she picked up any tips from Korda.

“I’ve watched and she’s amazing,” Clark said. “But golf is hard.”

The gallery packed behind the ropes to watch Clark, and she signed autographs for hundreds of fans when the pro-am was over.

Clark has an endorsement deal with Indiana-based Gainbridge, the presenting sponsor of the LPGA’s penultimate tournament on the schedule. She also took part in a women’s leadership summit hosted by Gainbridge.

“It can only help grow women’s golf,” Brittany Lincicome said Tuesday, bringing a basketball for Clark to sign for her daughters.

PWHL

Minnesota Frost fill out coaching staff

As they prep to defend their Walter Cup title, the Minnesota Frost women’s hockey team can honestly claim to have assembled a gold-medal staff for the 2024-25 season.

The team, which beat Boston last May to win the inaugural PWHL crown, announced 10 additions to their off-ice roster Wednesday, including former Olympic gold-medal winners Dani (Cameranesi) Brodzinski and Haley Skarupa in scouting consultant roles.

Other new hires for the Frost, who open the season Dec. 1 at home versus the New York Sirens, include assistant coach Chris “Critter” Johnson, goalie coach Pete Samargia, team services manager Nick Bryant, strength and conditioning coach Shannon MacAulay, skills coaches Andy Ness and John Schiavo, assistant equipment manager Blake Kruse, and scouting consultant Alyssa Sleasman, in addition to Brodzinski and Skarupa.

Johnson, who played at Augsburg and is a descendant of hockey royalty, will join head coach Ken Klee and assistant Mira Jalosuo on the bench.

He is the son of Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson and grandson of legendary coach “Badger” Bob Johnson. Samargia is also an Augsburg grad and played two seasons for the Gophers after a standout prep run on the Iron Range.

Brodzinski is a two-time Olympic medalist, winning gold in 2018 and silver in 2022. She will scout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest for the Frost. Skarupa also won gold in 2018, and will scout the East Coast and International games for the Frost.

-- Jess Myers

NBA

Spurs coach Popovich had a stroke this month

Basketball Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich has been away from the team because he suffered a mild stroke earlier this month, the San Antonio Spurs announced.

Popovich is in his 29th season as coach of the Spurs and there is no timetable for his return to the sideline, the team said. The stroke happened on Nov. 2 at the team’s arena, and Popovich is expected to make a full recovery.

The 75-year-old Popovich, the NBA’s all-time win leader who has led the Spurs to five championships and USA Basketball to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has already started a rehabilitation program, the team said.

“During this time, the organization is grateful to the extended community for providing privacy and space to the Popovich family,” the Spurs said in a release.

Assistant coach Mitch Johnson has been the acting head coach in Popovich’s absence.

TENNIS

Alcaraz back in the running at ATP Finals

Carlos Alcaraz had his drop shot clicking and it helped him overcome physical issues to claim a 6-3, 7-6 (8) victory over Andrey Rublev at the ATP Finals.

The win put Alcaraz back into contention for a spot in the semifinals of the year-ending tournament for the top eight players, after he was beaten by Casper Ruud in straight sets in his opener.

Also, Alexander Zverev made it two wins in two matches by beating Ruud 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Zverev leads the group, Alcaraz and Ruud have one win each, and Rublev dropped to 0-2 after losing to Zverev in their opener.

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner leads the other group ahead of Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur.

The top two finishers in each round-robin group advance to the semifinals.

Broadcasts

Prime to host FanDuel regional channels

Diamond Sports Group announced it reached a multiyear agreement with Prime Video to make its 16 regional sports network channels available as an add-on subscription.

FanDuel Sports Network RSNs will be available for customers living within each team’s designated geographic area. The 16 networks cover fans in 31 states.

Prime Video announced earlier this year that it would buy a minority stake in Diamond Sports.

A final hearing on Diamond’s bankruptcy reorganization plan is scheduled for Thursday. Diamond Sports has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the Southern District of Texas since it filed for protection in March 2023. The company said in a financial filing last year that it had debt of $8.67 billion.

Diamond announced Tuesday that it will offer single-game pricing for NBA and NHL games beginning Dec. 5.

CEO of league-owning company steps down

Greg Maffei is stepping down as president and chief executive of Liberty Media, the company that owns Formula 1.

Liberty Media said that Maffei would leave his role when his contract expires at the end of the year and become an adviser. The company’s 83-year-old chairman, John Malone, will be the interim CEO.

— From news services