WTA players now eligible for paid maternity leave

Pregnant players on the women’s tennis tour now can receive 12 months of paid maternity leave, and those who become parents via partner pregnancy, surrogacy or adoption can get two months off with pay. That is available under a program sponsored by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and announced Thursday by the WTA.

More than 300 players are eligible for the fund, which is retroactive to Jan. 1. The WTA would not disclose how much money is involved. The program also provides grants for fertility treatments, including egg freezing and IVF.

Gil out at least 3 months, LeMahieu out a few weeks

TAMPA, Fla.>> Yankees pitcher Luis Gil will be sidelined for at least three months because of his lat strain and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton would have surgery on his elbows only as a last resort, according to general manager Brian Cashman. Infielder DJ LeMahieu told reporters he has a grade 1 or 2 left calf strain and will be sidelined for several weeks in his fifth straight injury-hampered season.

A’s hire former Raiders president for the same role

LAS VEGAS>> Former Las Vegas Raiders President Marc Badain has been hired for the same position with the Athletics. Badain succeeds Dave Kaval, who announced his resignation Dec. 27.

Sandy Dean, who has been spearheading approval and construction of a new stadium in Las Vegas approved, had been the acting president.

Players’ union, Bad Bunny agency agree to dismiss lawsuit over discipline

NEW YORK>> Bad Bunny’s sports representation firm and the Major League Baseball Players Association have filed an agreement to dismiss the union’s lawsuit over penalties imposed for making improper inducements.

The sides submitted a stipulation telling U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden in Manhattan they had settled the matter. The MLBPA disciplined Rimas Sports, the agency co-owned by Puerto Rican musical artist Bad Bunny, last April over violations of its agent regulations. It revoked the agent certification of Rimas’ William Arroyo and denied certifications of executives Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda.

An arbitrator upheld five-year suspensions of Assad and Miranda and cut Arroyo’s suspension to three years.

Blues defenseman Parayko to miss 6 weeks with injury

ST. LOUIS>> St. Louis Blues No. 1 defenseman Colton Parayko is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after injuring his left knee in the team’s shootout victory at the Los Angeles Kings.

President of hockey operations and general manager Doug Armstrong said Thursday that Parayko will undergo a scope on the injured knee and be evaluated in six weeks. The Blues play their final regular-season game two days short of the six-week mark.

Nebraska makes end of its spring game official

LINCOLN, Neb.>> Nebraska’s spring game will be replaced with skills competitions and 7-on-7 games at Memorial Stadium on April 26. Coach Matt Rhule had said five weeks ago he highly doubted a spring game would be played because of his concerns about other teams scouting players in the scrimmage and possibly poaching them through the transfer portal.

— The Associated Press