Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the NCAA to block the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, arguing that it tricks and misleads fans.

The lawsuit filed in state district court in Lubbock and announced Sunday, argues the NCAA violates the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by promoting women’s sports that may include a transgender athlete. The law is designed to protect consumers from being misled or tricked into buying products or services that are not as advertised, the lawsuit said.

The Texas lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and push the NCAA into banning them from competition. President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to stop trans athletes from competing.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the NCAA from allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports in Texas, or in sports that involve Texas programs. Or it wants the court to require the NCAA to stop marketing events as “women’s” sports if transgender athletes are allowed.

In a statement, Paxton appeared to reference the recent controversy involving San Jose State women’s volleyball, where several opponents forfeited matches this season on grounds the Spartans had a transgender player.

A federal court last month refused to block the school from playing in the Mountain West Conference championship.

“When people watch a women’s volleyball game, for example, they expect to see women playing against other women, not biological males pretending to be something they are not,” Paxton said. “Radical ‘gender theory’ has no place in college sports.”

Brooke Slusser, the San Jose State volleyball co-captain who was among the group of players who sued the Mountain West Conference over her teammate’s participation, praised the Texas lawsuit on social media.

“Hey NCAA, just in case you haven’t realized yet this fight will just keep getting harder for you until you make a change!,” Slusser posted on X.

Women’s basketball

Ionescu joins Unrivaled 3-on-3 league >> Bay Area native and WNBA champion Sabrina Ionescu has signed with the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league as the 36th and final player to join the new league.

ESPN said she will join Phantom BC and sign a lucrative deal that “puts her in a category of her own.”

Ionescu will play with Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson, Natasha Cloud and former Oregon teammate Satou Sabally.

Elite players such as Breanna Stewart, Rhyne Howard, Arike Ogunbowale, Kahleah Copper, Jewell Lloyd, and Aliyah Boston are also playing. Ex-Stanford stars Cameron Brink and Lexie Hull will also play.

Valkyries expansion draft pick Kate Martin will also play in the new league, which begins play on Jan. 17 and runs until Mar. 17. The WNBA season does not begin until May.

Ionescu, 27, won the WNBA title with the New York Liberty, scoring an average of 18.2 points per game and earning second-team All-WNBA honors.

-- Joseph Dycus

Men’s basketball

Saint Mary’s falls to Falslev, Utah State >> Mason Falslev’s 18 points helped Utah State (11-1) defeat Saint Mary’s 75-68 on Sunday night.

Mitchell Saxen finished with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Gaels (10-3).

MLB

Rangers, DH Pederson agree to deal >> The Texas Rangers and free agent designated hitter Joc Pederson have agreed on a contract, according to multiple reports.

The Rangers will be the third team in three years for Pederson, who rebounded from a sub-par 2023 season with San Francisco to hit a career-best .275 with 23 homers and 64 RBIs last season with Arizona.

The Bay Area native is a career .241 hitter with 209 homers and 549 RBIs.

Buehler reportedly joining Red Sox >> The last pitch of their 2024 World Series victory is the last pitch Walker Buehler will throw for the Dodgers.

Buehler has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Boston Red Sox that also includes $2.5 million in potential bonuses. The deal is pending a physical.

The Dodgers did not make the qualifying offer to Buehler when he became a free agent in November. This year’s qualifying offer is a one-year, $21.05 million contract.

Manaea to get $75M from Mets deal >> Sean Manaea reportedly is set to return to the New York Mets on a $75 million, three-year contract.

Manaea, a former Oakland A’s and Giants pitcher, blossomed into New York’s top starting pitcher this year during his first season with the team, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts.

Phillies add Oakland’s Ross on 1-year deal >> The Philadelphia Phillies and right-handed pitcher Joe Ross finalized a $4 million, one-year contract.

The 31-year-old former Bishop O’Dowd High star Ross made 10 starts and 25 total appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. He went 3-6 with a 3.77 ERA.

The 6-foot-4 Ross has pitched in 123 career games across seven seasons with Washington nsNationals and Brewers. In his career, he has combined for a 4.19 ERA with 469 strikeouts to 170 walks. He’s 29-34 with a 4.19 career ERA.

NHL

Penguins’ Crosby ties Lemieux’s assists record >> Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby tied Mario Lemieux’s franchise record for most assists in team history during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Philip Tomasino finished Crosby’s backhand pass for a power-play goal at 17:44 of the first period, giving Pittsburgh a 4-1 lead and equaling Lemieux’s mark.

Crosby and Lemieux both have 1,033 assists, which ranks 12th all-time in NHL history.