Vinik sells majority stake in Lightning, but will keep control for next 3 years

TAMPA, Fla. >> Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik announced Thursday that he has sold a majority stake of the NHL team but will retain control of the franchise for the next three years.

The team said the sale for an undisclosed price to a group of investors led by Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz was approved by the NHL board of governors on Oct. 1.

Under terms of the deal, Vinik will retain full control of the team and act as the Lightning’s governor.

Golden Knights make Shea Theodore their 2nd highest-paid player

LAS VEGAS>> The Vegas Golden Knights made defenseman Shea Theodore their second highest-paid player Thursday, signing him to a seven-year contract worth an average of $7.425 million per year.

Theodore’s deal is valued just above fellow blueliner Noah Hanifin’s $7.35 million average. Hanifin signed an eight-year extension in April, about a month after being acquired from the Calgary Flames.

Alyssa Thompson scores 1st goal for U.S. women, who beat Iceland 3-1

AUSTIN, Texas>> Alyssa Thompson scored her first goal for the United States, Jaedyn Shaw provided the go-ahead goal in the 85th minute, and the Americans beat Iceland 3-1 in an exhibition on Thursday night.

Sophia Smith also scored for the U.S. in its first match since winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer under new coach Emma Hayes.

Inter Miami’s Messi leads list of MLS MVP finalists

No surprise here: Lionel Messi is among the finalists for Major League Soccer’s MVP award for this season. In addition to Messi, Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez is among five finalists for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP announced on Thursday.

The others include Evander from the Portland Timbers, Cucho Hernandez of the Columbus Crew and D.C. United’s Christian Benteke, who also won this season’s Golden Boot for most goals.

WNBA

N.Y. Liberty honored with ticker-tape parade in Canyon of Heroes

NEW YORK >> Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and their New York teammates were showered with confetti as the Liberty celebrated winning the WNBA title in the Canyon of Heroes in downtown Manhattan.

The Liberty won the franchise’s first championship, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in overtime in a decisive Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

NHRA’s Force will attend a race four months after his traumatic brain injury

LAS VEGAS>> NHRA legend John Force, who suffered a traumatic brain injury during a harrowing crash at Virginia Motorsports Park in June, has been cleared to attend a race.

The 16-time Funny Car champion announced Thursday that he will travel with his wife, Laurie, to the Nevada Nationals next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“At the end of the day, I’m gonna recover and I’m getting better already,” Force said in a video released by John Force Racing. “I’m working at it every day.”