Cale Makar captured the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman for a second time in four seasons.

The Colorado Avalanche standout finished the regular season with 30 goals to become to first NHL blueliner to reach that mark since Mike Green scored 31 for Washington in 2008-09. Makar also led all defensemen this season with 62 assists and 92 points.

He received first-place votes on 176 of the 191 ballots cast by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The 26-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, has been a Norris finalist in each of the last five seasons.

Makar finds himself in elite company as he joins Bobby Orr (eight times), Denis Potvin (three), Paul Coffey, Rod Langway and Erik Karlsson as the only players to take home two or more Norris Trophies before turning 27.

College sports

Gophers’ Zaltos wins NCAA hammer throw

University of Minnesota graduate student Kostas Zaltos won his first NCAA title in the men’s hammer throw on Wednesday at the outdoor track and field championships in Oregon. Teammate and fellow Greek national Angelos Mantzouranis took silver in the hammer throw.

It’s the first time since 2018 that the Gophers’ men have had an outdoor track and field champion. Zaltos and Mantzouranis are the first teammates to finish first and second in the hammer throw since Virginia Tech in 2011.

Zaltos’ winning throw came on his fourth attempt of the competition, clearing a lifetime best 78.08 meters (256 feet, 1.7 inches).

Female athletes appeal landmark settlement

Eight female athletes filed an appeal Wednesday of a landmark NCAA antitrust settlement, arguing that women would not receive a fair share of $2.7 billion in back pay for athletes who were barred from making money off their name, image and likeness.

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week, clearing the way for direct payments from universities to athletes and the end of the NCAA’s amateurism model.

The athletes who appealed the settlement competed in soccer, volleyball and track. They are Kacie Breeding of Vanderbilt; Lexi Drumm, Emma Appleman, Emmie Wannemacher, Riley Hass, Savannah Baron and Elizabeth Arnold of the College of Charleston; and Kate Johnson of Virginia. They have standing to appeal because they previously filed objections to the proposed settlement.

Ashlyn Hare, an attorney representing the athletes, said in a statement that the settlement violates Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education.

basketball

Knicks denied on Kidd, Udoka and Wolves’ Finch

The New York Knicks were denied permission to speak with coaches Jason Kidd of Dallas, Ime Udoka of Houston and Chris Finch of Minnesota in a slow start to find Tom Thibodeau’s replacement.

All three coaches are under contract and their organizations declined to make them available for interviews with the Knicks, two people with knowledge of the details said Wednesday. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the interview process was to remain private.

ESPN first reported on all three decisions and added later Wednesday that the Knicks had also been denied by Atlanta in a request to interview Hawks coach Quin Snyder.

baseball

Royals place All-Star LHP Ragans on IL

The Royals put left-hander Cole Ragans back on the injured list after one dismal start against the Cardinals, this time with a left rotator cuff strain, and activated reliever Lucas Erceg from the IL.

The 27-year-old Ragans, an All-Star for Kansas City last season, went on the IL in mid-May with a left groin strain. He returned three weeks later at St. Louis, where he allowed five runs on five hits and three walks in just three innings, dropping him to 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA through his first 10 starts this season.

Tigers rookie Jobe to have Tommy John surgery

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the team announced Wednesday.

The 22-year-old rookie went 4-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 starts after making Detroit’s opening-day roster. He was placed on the 15-day injured with a Grade 1 right flexor strain following his May 28 outing.

Last original member of women’s league dies

Betsy Jochum, the last of the 60 players from the inaugural season of what became known as the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — which decades later inspired Penny Marshall’s 1992 film, “A League of Their Own” — died May 31 at her home in South Bend, Indiana. She was 104.

Her death was announced by Carol Sheldon, vice president of the league’s players association.

In her rookie season, the 5-foot-7 Jochum played in the outfield, batted .273, led the league in hits, stole 66 bases and was chosen for the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field.

Saints end losing streak in Indianapolis

Entering Wednesday, the St. Paul Paints had lost eight straight games in Indianapolis, including Tuesday’s series-opener against the Indians. St. Paul finally stopped the streak with a 5-4 win.

Marco Raya pitched five scoreless innings for the Saints, who scored a run in the first inning after Bubba Chandler — the No. 2 overall and top pitching prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline — walked four batters, the fourth plating a run.

BRIEFLY

college football >> Colorado coach Deion Sanders posted on social media Wednesday that “everything is OKAY” after not being able to attend football camps in Boulder, Colorado, so far this spring. The Colorado coach’s health has come into question because of his extended absence.

College basketball >> College basketball coaches will be able to challenge officials’ calls next season for the first time, and the NCAA also said there is “positive momentum” toward switching the men’s game from halves to quarters. The NCAA announced several minor rule changes Tuesday that affect both men’s and women’s basketball.

— From news services