NFL players in the past three Pro Bowls have had a taste of flag football under the new format for the all-star game. For a select few, the Olympics could be next.

League owners have unanimously approved permission for players to participate in flag football for the 2028 Olympics.

The vote at the spring meetings in Minnesota on Tuesday authorized the league to negotiate safety provisions and scheduling logistics with the NFL Players Association, the sport’s international governing body and the relevant Olympic authorities before it becomes reality during the next Summer Games in Los Angeles.

The 10-player Olympic rosters will be selected by the national committee for each country, with six teams each in separate tournaments for men and women. Only one player per NFL club would be allowed for each country. The game itself is a 5-on-5 competition on a 50-yard field.

Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson attended the news conference along with teammate Brian Asamoah, a backup linebacker and special teams ace whose parents were born in Ghana and could potentially play for his country of heritage.

While Jefferson would provide some serious star power, players of his stature might not be willing to risk injury right before the season. He said he’d have to consider his participation, but as one of the league’s global ambassadors for the sport he’s a true champion of flag football.

“The Pro Bowl game was honestly way more fun,” he said. “We felt like kids out there.”

League owners this week at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel next determine the fate of the tush push.

After tabling the issue seven weeks ago, a vote was expected on Wednesday on the proposal by the Green Bay Packers to prohibit the play popularized by the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. To enact the ban, 24 of the 32 teams must approve.

Women’s hockey

Knight says ’26 will be her last Olympics

Hilary Knight is preparing to make the 2026 Milan Winter Games her fifth and final Olympics, the face of U.S. women’s hockey told USA Today.

“It’s time,” Knight was quoted as saying.

The decision comes as Knight turns 36 in July, while entering her 20th year with the national team since making her debut in the 2006 Four Nations Cup tournament as a 17-year-old.

Over that time, Knight has become one of her sport’s most decorated and dominant players, including being named the winner of the IIHF’s inaugural female player of the year award in 2023.

Last month, she led the U.S. with nine points in winning her 10th gold medal at the world championships, a tournament in which Knights holds the career record for most goals, assists and points. At the Olympics, Knight won gold at the 2018 Games in South Korea along with three silvers.

And she’s coming off a PWHL season in which the Boston Fleet captain finished tied for the league lead with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 30 games.

Though she’s retiring from international play, Knight said she intends to continue her PWHL career in a league she played a role in helping launch in the summer of 2023.

WNBA

Dream outlast Clark and Fever with late free throw

Rhyne Howard made a go-ahead free throw with 9.1 seconds left, and the Atlanta Dream withstood a thrilling fourth-quarter rally led by Caitlin Clark to beat the Indiana Fever 91-90.

Clark ignited the Fever with two of her signature deep 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter and finished with 27 points and 11 assists. Brittney Griner scored 21 points in her first victory with the Dream, and Howard made four 3-pointers and scored 20. Aaliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell each scored 24 points for the Fever, who trailed 76-65 at the start of the fourth quarter.

MILB

Saints matchup with Norfolk postponed

The Saints’ streak of games without a rainout ran to 14 on Sunday but was snapped when their game against Norfolk at CHS Field was postponed.

It’s St. Paul’s 12th rainout this season, a record since the team became the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate.

The teams are scheduled to make it up as part of a double-header on Thursday with Game 1 beginning at 5:07 p.m. Both games are scheduled for seven innings, the second beginning approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.

Fans that purchased tickets for the May 20 game via phone or online will have rain tickets put into their account equal to the ticket value they purchased and can be used towards any 2025 Saints regular season game. Fans that purchased tickets in person at the box office must redeem their tickets for any 2025 regular season game during normal box office hours Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. — 5 p.m. or Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

— John Shipley

NHL

Gretzky congratulated Stars in locker room

Wayne Gretzky was in the Dallas Stars locker room congratulating them after they advanced to their third consecutive Western Conference final, where they will face the franchise with which “The Great One” was a four-time Stanley Cup champion.

“He said we’re going up against a pretty good team now,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said. “And I had to ask him who he was cheering for. It felt right, and he didn’t answer, obviously.”

Briefly

NBA >> San Antonio guard Stephon Castle, also rookie of the year, was the only unanimous first-team selection on the All-Rookie team.

College >> NCAA’s expansion deal with Genius Sports includes a caveat that the sportsbook will not take any negative prop bets.

Nascar >> Drivers Kurt Busch, Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant were voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, while executive Humpy Wheeler was named the Landmark Award winner for his contribution to the sport.

— From news services