Expansion is on the table for the six-team Professional Women’s Hockey League, and executives aren’t placing limitations on which North American markets they’ll consider in a bid to add as many as two franchises for the 2025-26 season.

The only certainty is a vision of the timing being right to build on the support the PWHL generated in its inaugural year, and the growth the league projects entering its second season, which opens on Nov. 30.

“I don’t think we rule out any market,” senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “This is a good opportunity for us to learn and continue to explore. So everything’s on the table right now.”

To reinforce how open-ended the PWHL’s expansion search will be, senior VP for business operations Amy Scheer told the AP the league has targeted more than 20 markets to be issued requests for proposals for expansion by next week. And that doesn’t include additional markets that might approach the league for consideration.

The initial timeline calls for requests for proposals to be returned by the end of December to determine interest before assessing each market. Though the goal is adding two teams by next year, Hefford and Scheer would not commit to that being a certainty.

Scheer said geography won’t be a limitation for a league that currently has teams based in Boston; Newark, New Jersey; St. Paul; Toronto; Montreal; and Ottawa, Ontario. Neither will a market’s affiliation with an NHL team, though both aspects will be considered.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Gophers men beat Hamline in exhibition

Injuries have been a steady subplot in the Gophers men’s basketball team’s preseason.

Point guard Lu’Cye Patterson returned from a shoulder injury for the second exhibition game — a 79-57 win over Hamline at Williams Arena on Tuesday — but starting forward Frank Mitchell left with an apparent shoulder injury of his own very early in the first half.

Minnesota has been without guards Femi Odukale (hip) and Tyler Cochran (foot) for both tune-ups, including a 90-65 win over Bemidji State on Oct. 19. Odukale is not expected to be out long, while Cochran could be sidelined into December.

On Tuesday, Brennan Rigsby led Minnesota with 16 points, including 4 three-pointers. The Oregon transfer first showed his range during the win over the Beavers 10 days ago.

Minnesota staked a 42-25 halftime lead. Both teams shot over 50 percent, but the Gophers often limited the Pipers to one shot per possession. The U out-rebounded Hamline 36-20.

Key Gophers players — Dawson Garcia, Mike Mitchell and Parker Fox — did not play more than 18 minutes. Garcia had 11 points, while Fox and Mitchell each contributed nine.

— Andy Greder

MLS

New York beats Crew in playoffs

Felipe Carballo scored his first goal with New York in the 25th minute and the Red Bulls beat the Columbus Crew 1-0 in the opening game of the best-of-three series.

New York won a road game during the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time since 2017. It was also the Red Bulls’ first postseason win in Columbus following four straight losses.

Carballo volleyed home a header from Dylan Nealis on a corner kick.

New York’s scoring leader Lewis Morgan nearly doubled the lead in the 37th when he sent a fastbreak shot just wide of the far post. Morgan also had a one-on-one opportunity in the 67th when he rounded goalkeeper Patrick Schulte but could not get a shot away.

NBA

76ers rule out injured George and Embiid

Joel Embiid and Paul George are 0 for 4 for the 76ers’ season.

Embiid’s and George’s season debuts remain on hold for the Philadelphia 76ers, and both players will miss Wednesday’s game against Detroit with knee injuries.

Embiid and George participated in portions of Tuesday’s practice and their playing status will be reassessed later in the week.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse declined to elaborate on their health and potential timeline to return to the lineup.

George has yet to make his Sixers debut after he signed a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer. The 34-year-old has a bone bruise but did not suffer any structural damage when he hyperextended his left knee during a preseason game.

A nine-time All-Star, George was injured when his knee buckled on a defensive play.

Embiid, who won an Olympic gold medal in Paris with Team USA, has been out with what the team calls left knee management. The 30-year-old did not play in the preseason.

Embiid’s absence from the season opener raised suspicion in the NBA, and the league fined the team $100,000 for public statements, including by president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and by Nurse, that were inconsistent with Embiid’s health status and in violation of NBA rules, including the league’s player participation policy.

TENNIS

Alcaraz and Tsitsipas reach 3rd round at Paris

Carlos Alcaraz overcame some rusty moments on his serve to beat Nicolas Jarry 7-5, 6-1 and reach the third round of the Paris Masters.

The second-seeded Spaniard was troubled by Jarry’s strong forehand at times. The Chilean broke Alcaraz’s serve in the ninth game and held for 5-5 but double-faulted in his next service game to lose the first set.

Tenth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets to stay in contention to reach the season-ending ATP Finals for the top eight players.

But sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev’s hopes of qualifying took a hit when he lost 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) to Francisco Cerundolo. He was so frustrated at one point in the second set that he smashed his racket against his left knee at least seven times in succession and made it bleed.

U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz became the fifth player to qualify for the Finals. The big-serving American reached the season-ending tournament for the second time in three years. The indoor event takes place from Nov. 10-17.

Fritz joined U.S. Open champion Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev in the field.

BRIEFLY

NBA >> Lonzo Ball, who returned to the Chicago Bulls after a lengthy absence because of leg injuries, will miss at least 10 days with a sprained right wrist.

— From news services