Swiss snowboarder, age 26, dies in avalanche

Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger has died following an avalanche at a mountain resort. The country’s skiing federation says the incident took place at the Arosa resort in Switzerland.

The 26-year-old Hediger competed at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in the women’s snowboard cross and the mixed team version of the same event.

Hediger achieved her first two World Cup podium finishes in the 2023-24 season. Her best result was a second place in St. Moritz in January.

Heat lose guard Dru Smith for remainder of season with torn Achilles tendon

Miami Heat guard Dru Smith has suffered another season-ending injury, this one a torn Achilles in his left leg. It is the third time that Smith has had a season cut short since February 2022.

Smith got hurt Monday night in Miami’s 110-95 win over Brooklyn. The Achilles tear was the preliminary diagnosis once he left the court for evaluation, and an MRI exam on Tuesday confirmed the injury’s severity.

This injury comes 13 months after he was lost for most of the 2023-24 season with a right knee injury. Smith also saw his 2021-22 season in the G League cut short by a knee injury.

Dolphins’ Chubb will not play at all this season

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.>> Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb will not play in 2024 as he continues to work back from a serious knee injury suffered at the end of last season. Chubb spent this season on the physically unable to perform list after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus and patellar tendon in his right knee on New Year’s Eve last year.

Earlier this month, Miami opened his 21-day practice window to potentially return, but decided not to activate him by the Christmas Day deadline.

Eagles player pleads guilty to federal fraud charges

HARRISBURG, Pa.>> Former Philadelphia Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood Jr. is facing sentencing after he pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges. The plea agreement was approved Friday by a federal judge in Delaware.

Smallwood, of New Jersey, was accused of submitting fraudulent tax returns and applications for hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 pandemic aid programs. Smallwood’s lawyer says he took full responsibility for his actions and is trying to make amends.

The Eagles drafted Smallwood out of West Virginia in 2016. The Delaware native played three seasons for the Eagles before spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the team now known as the Washington Commanders.

Red Sox acquire reliever Morán from Minnesota for utility player Mickey Gasper

The Boston Red Sox continued to rebuild their pitching staff, acquiring left-hander Jovani Morán from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for catcher and infielder Mickey Gasper.

The 27-year-old Morán appeared in 79 games as a reliever for the Twins from 2021 to 2023, posting a 4.15 ERA, striking out 112 with 52 walks and holding opponents to a .208 batting average. He missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He originally was chosen in the seventh round of the 2015 draft.

In Gasper, the Twins are getting a 29-year-old who made his major league debut last season and appeared in 13 games with Boston.

— The Associated Press