Napheesa Collier of the Lynx was named the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month, while Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for June.

This marks Collier’s second Player of the Month honor this season and the third of her career, making her the third player in franchise history to receive the award three or more times (Maya Moore – 8, Sylvia Fowles – 4).

Collier recorded one 30-plus point and five 20-plus point games throughout the month and leads the league with three 30-plus point games this season. She has notched five double-doubles this season, three of which came in June, including one 30-plus point/10-plus rebound game and two 20-plus point/10-plus rebound games.

It is the first Rookie of the Month honor for Bueckers, whom the Wings selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA draft, and the first for a Wings newcomer since 2019.

The UConn product averaged 21.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks over seven games in June. She shot .475 from the field and .929 from the free-throw line.

Saints

St. Paul falls once again on road at Gwinnett

The Saints fell to 4-5 in the second half of the International League schedule following a 7-4 loss to Gwinnett.

St. Paul took a 4-2 lead on the Stripers (5-4) after three innings, but the Georgia hosts logged runs on four of their final five at-bats to earn the victory.

Saints designated hitter Aaron Sabato went 1 for 4 with a two-run homer in the third while centerfielder Peyton Eeles went 3 for 5 with one RBI.

Trent Baker took the loss after allowing three earned runs over three innings in relief of starter Cory Lewis, who also allowed a trio of earned runs in his four innings of work.

GOLF

Ghim sets early pace at John Deere Classic

Doug Ghim holed out for eagle on the par-4 sixth hole and kept bogeys off his card on a day of low scoring Thursday. He opened with a 9-under 62 in a bid to become the latest first-time PGA Tour winner at the John Deere Classic.

Ghim had a one-shot lead over Max Homa and Austin Eckroat at the TPC Deere Run, where the winning score has been 20-under par or lower 12 of the last 15 years.

He has been around long enough — six years on the PGA Tour, 160 tour starts as a pro — to know it’s only a start. The conditions were so ideal Ghim wasn’t even sure his 62 would hold up as the lead by the end of the day.

With a little more wind in the afternoon, the best anyone could do was 65 by four players, including Cameron Champ and Mexico Open winner Brian Campbell.

NFL

Steelers hand GM Khan three-year extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed general manager Omar Khan to a three-year extension after an offseason that saw the team bring in quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Steelers announced the deal that will keep Khan with Pittsburgh through the 2028 season. He was hired as the team’s GM in 2022.

Khan and coach Mike Tomlin are structuring their offense around Rodgers, the four-time NFL MVP who’s returning for a 21st season. The 41-year-old Rodgers signed a one-year deal after a season in which Justin Fields and Russell Wilson combined to lead the Steelers to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth.

To bolster the receiver spot, Pittsburgh acquired two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf from Seattle.

NBA

Oregon jury convicts McLemore of rape

A jury in Oregon has found former NBA player Ben McLemore guilty of raping a 21-year-old incapacitated woman during a lake house party attended by many of his then-teammates from the Portland Trail Blazers.

The jury found 32-year-old McLemore guilty of rape, unlawful sexual penetration and one count of sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on another count of sexual abuse.

Sentencing was scheduled for Wednesday.

The charges stemmed from a party on Oct. 3, 2021, at a home owned by Robert Covington, McLemore’s then-teammate.

soccer

Liverpool’s Jota killed in car accident in Spain

Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother were killed in a car accident in Spain.

The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed that Jota and his brother were found dead after their car went off a road near the city of Zamora.

Police were investigating the causes. They said there were no other vehicles involved.

The 28-year-old Jota and his brother, 25-year-old André Silva, both Portuguese players, were in the car. Jota also played for Portugal’s national team. Silva played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions.

Chelsea set to sign winger Gittens from Dortmund

Chelsea is expected to sign English winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, the German club said.

Gittens follows in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho, another former Manchester City youth player who developed his game at Dortmund. Sancho spent last season on loan at Chelsea from Manchester United.

Dortmund said that “all parties involved agreed in principle” in Florida and contract details were being finalized.

Gittens joined Dortmund in 2020 shortly after his 16th birthday and scored 12 times in all competitions last season.

Formula 1

Russell expects to remain with Mercedes

George Russell says there’s an “exceptionally low” chance he’ll leave Mercedes next year, even after he claimed the team was holding talks with Max Verstappen.

Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, Russell said he was confident of staying with Mercedes and argued that changing drivers would risk the team’s competitiveness when sweeping rule changes come in 2026.

Russell caused a stir last week when he suggested that “conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing” as a reason why he had yet to renew his contract for 2026.

— From news services