All-American forward Abbey Murphy is returning to the University of Minnesota women’s hockey program for her final season of eligibility, head coach Brad Frost announced on Wednesday.

“We are ecstatic that Murph has chosen to come back,” Frost said in a statement. “She is a staple within our Gopher program and women’s hockey worldwide. Our team and college hockey will be better with her in it.”

Murphy, a senior last season, finished with a career-high 65 points during the 2024-25 season, second in the nation in goals (33) and fourth in point. She has the opportunity to return because of an Olympic redshirt during the 2021-22 season and an extra year of eligibility that was granted in 2020 due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19.

“I’m beyond excited to announce I will be coming back for my final year of college hockey,” Murphy said in a statement. “I am pumped for another go around with this team. It’s been a great ride but we’re not done yet.”

Gophers’ McCauley finishes junior season

Isabella McCauley shot an even-par 72 on Wednesday in her final round of the NCAA Columbus regional tournament.

McCauley’s three-day score of plus-4 put her in a tie for 18th overall and she didn’t advance to the NCAA championships.

“Another great season for Bella,” Gophers coach Matt Higgins said in a release from the team. “To make regionals for the third time in three years says a lot about her and her game. Her ball striking this week was the best that I’ve seen. She just needed a couple more putts to drop, and she would have been right there. Super proud of her and how she ended this season.”

Soccer

Loons beat Louisville City in U.S. Open Cup

Darius Randell scored in his Minnesota United debut as the Loons beat Louisville City 1-0 on Wednesday in the round of 32 of the U.S. Open Cup.

Randell was one of nine players signed to short-term agreements from MNUFC2 earlier in the day. Goalkeeper Wessel Speel; defenders Kieran Chandler, Britton Fischer, Kisa Kiingi; midfielders Curt Calov, Babacar Niang; and forwards Luke Hille and Muba Nour were also signed.

Randell scored in the 65th minute after Sang Bin Jeong passed across the front of the goal to the far side, where Randell finished with a quick shot.

Speel played all 90 minutes in goal for Minnesota, which advances to play in the next round with a game to be determined.

Minor league baseball

Ford’s homer in 9th leads Saints to win over Bisons

Mike Ford’s three-run homer in the ninth inning propelled the St. Paul Saints to an 8-7 walkoff win against Buffalo on Wednesday.

Ford’s seventh homer of the season led St. Paul to its fourth straight win. Ryan Fitzgerald had three hits, while Edouard Julien had two hits.

NFL

Steelers trade WR Pickens to Cowboys

The Pittsburgh Steelers have run out patience with wide receiver George Pickens, agreeing Wednesday on a trade that sends the talented but mercurial 24-year-old to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Steelers will get a third-round pick in the 2026 draft and a fifth-rounder in 2027. The Cowboys get a sixth-round choice in two years.

The trade was first reported by ESPN.

Pickens is about to enter the final year of the rookie deal he signed in 2022 when the Steelers took the former Georgia star in the second round. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Pickens has spent his first three seasons in the NFL being equal parts productive and petulant, mixing highlight-reel catches with bouts of immaturity along the way.

NBA

Former Lakers G Scott sued for sexual assault

A woman is suing former Los Angeles Lakers player and coach Byron Scott, accusing him of sexually assaulting her during a team event at her high school in 1987, when he was 26 and she was 15.

The lawsuit first filed in December 2022 and amended on May 1 accuses Scott of sexual battery and false imprisonment. Scott, 64, fought to have his name removed from court documents, but a judge denied his request to be identified only as “John Doe.” The updated complaint named him publicly for the first time.

During a visit from the Lakers, the alleged victim was attending summer classes at Campbell Hall High in Los Angeles when “she was sexually assaulted by Byron Scott in a locked janitor’s closet in the high school gymnasium,” according to the court filing. Scott was a Lakers player at the time.

The lawsuit was filed in 2022 under a California law that temporarily allowed older cases to be filed for underage plaintiffs. That law required the defendant to remain anonymous until certain thresholds were crossed.

Scott’s attorney, Linda Bauermeister, said her client doesn’t deny that sexual contact occurred, but maintains he thought the girl was of legal age.

“Our client is devastated by this complaint,” Bauermeister said in a statement Wednesday. “Our client believed the plaintiff to be over 18 and had no idea she would claim otherwise until 35 years later. He respects girls and women, and the claims have blindsided him and his family.”

BRIEFLY

NHL >> Former NHL forward Eric Staal, who played four seasons with the Wild, is rejoining the Buffalo Sabres, this time in a front-office role as special assistant to general manager Kevyn Adams, the team announced Wednesday.

College sports >> Attorneys handling the $2.8 billion NCAA settlement proposed a massive do-over Wednesday when it comes to roster limits, offering athletes who lost their spots a chance to play without counting against the new caps for as long as they have eligibility.

College football >> Police have charged Florida cornerback Dijon Johnson with two felonies, including possession of a firearm, and two misdemeanors after his arrest over the weekend while driving a car in Tampa.

NFL >> The Jacksonville Jaguars released veteran receiver Gabe Davis on Wednesday, moving on nearly 14 months after signing him to a three-year, $39 million contract in free agency.

— From staff and news service reports