Tokyo Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist and Torrance native Alix Klineman announced on social media she is retiring from the sport, about three weeks after her “A-Team” partner April Ross said she is moving on.

They will play their final event together at the AVP League championship at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, starting Saturday.

Klineman, 34, a former Mira Costa High star and a four-time All-American at Stanford in indoor volleyball, switched to the beach in 2017 and joined Ross to win the gold medal in Tokyo, her only Olympic experience.

In her retirement video, she recited an open letter to the sport of volleyball, saying her focus had changed since having a son, Theo, last year.

“It’s no longer just about you, volleyball. It’s not about me, either. It’s about my family. It’s about my priorities. And they’re different now,” she said. “I thought I could do both — be a mom and play. ... But I can’t do both the way that I want to do both. To do that, I have to sacrifice the way that I show up for Theo, and I don’t want that.”

Ross, 42, led USC to back-to-back NCAA championships in indoor volleyball before switching to the beach. She won a silver medal at the London Games, bronze in Rio and gold with the 6-5 Klineman in Tokyo. She had a son last year and was married in September.

“It is with a very fulfilled and grateful heart, and also some tears, that I am announcing my retirement,” Ross posted on Instagram last month. “I’m glad I can say I lived it to the fullest and that it was an absolute BLAST. At the same time, I’m in disbelief it’s (almost) over, it feels like it went by in a heartbeat.”

MLB

Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames were among 13 free agents who received $21.05 million qualifying offers. Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman and Max Fried also were given the one-year offer before Monday’s deadline.

Players have until 1 p.m. on Nov. 19 to accept. If they do, they will be under contract with their 2024 club for another season. If they decline and sign elsewhere, their new team must forfeit draft picks and their previous organization will receive at least one draft pick as compensation.

Ace pitcher Gerrit Cole decided to remain with the New York Yankees rather than become a free agent.

Cole’s $324 million, nine-year deal, agreed to before the 2020 season, gave him the right to opt out following the 2024 World Series but said the Yankees could void the opt out by adding a $36 million salary for 2029 to his contract. A 34-year-old right-hander, Cole won the 2023 AL Cy Young Award. His 2024 season didn’t start until June 19 because of nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. The six-time All-Star went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, then was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.

Atlanta picked up All-Star designated hitter Marcell Ozuna’s $16 million option for 2025 and turned down options on right-hander Luke Jackson and catcher Travis d’Arnaud. Jackson’s option was for $7 million with a $2 million buyout, and d’Arnaud’s option was for $8 million with no buyout.

Texas pitcher Nathan Eovaldi became a free agent after declining a $20 million option for next season with the Rangers. Eovaldi will get a $2 million buyout from an option that vested when he threw more than 300 innings over his two years with Texas.

After losing to the Dodgers in the World Series last week, the Yankees made a qualifying offer as expected to Soto — the biggest prize on the free agent market.

Perhaps the biggest surprise among the group was Boston pitcher Nick Pivetta, who went 6-12 with a 4.14 ERA in 145 2/3 innings this year.

Coming off a surprising run to the National League Championship Series, the New York Mets made qualifying offers to Alonso and starting pitchers Sean Manaea and Luis Severino. Baltimore offered Burnes and outfielder Anthony Santander. Other players given the offer were Arizona first baseman Christian Walker and Cincinnati right-hander Nick Martinez. Adames was offered by Milwaukee, Bregman by Houston, and Fried by Atlanta.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was among the eligible free agents who did not receive a qualifying offer. They can sign elsewhere with no draft picks attached.

Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Dick Allen, and Luis Tiant are among eight men on the ballot for the baseball Hall of Fame’s classic era committee that meets Dec. 8 at the winter meetings in Dallas. Dave Parker and Ken Boyer are also on the ballot along with former Negro Leaguers John Donaldson and Vic Harris, the Hall said.

The Texas Rangers promoted Ross Fenstermaker to general manager, hired Cole Figuerora as assistant GM and named Justin Viele their new hitting coach.

Milwaukee’s starting rotation could have a new look next season with right-handers Frankie Montas and Colin Rea heading into free agency. The Brewers announced that Montas declined his part of a $20 million mutual option for 2025. The Brewers turned down the $5.5 million club option on Rea’s contract.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe and reliever Chris Stratton picked up their player options. Renfroe made $5.5 million last season and will make $7.5 million next season, when the 32-year-old outfielder hopes to bounce back from a subpar season. He hit just .229 with 15 homers and 18 doubles and was frequently relegated to the bench during the stretch run. Stratton made $3.5 million last season and will make $4.5 million next season. He also will try to bounce back after posting a 5.55 ERA before ending the season on the injured list with a right forearm flexor strain.

Veteran outfielder Rob Refsnyder remained with the Boston Red Sox after the club exercised his $2.1 million option.

TENNIS

Aryna Sabalenka reached the semifinals of the WTA Finals with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jasmine Paolini for a second straight victory in the group stage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The top-ranked Sabalenka cruised in the first set after building a 4-0 lead, then saved two set points in the second to advance at the year-ending tournament for the top eight ranked players.

Another round-robin win will secure Sabalenka the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career.

In the other Purple Group match, Zheng Qinwen defeated Rybakina 7-6 (4) 3-6, 6-1 to maintain chances of advancing.

COLLEGEs

Darius Johnson scored 24 points and assisted on a go-ahead slam dunk with less than a minute remaining to lead UCF to a 64-61 win over No. 13 Texas A&M in Orlando, Fla. Johnson had five assists, including the pass to Benny Williams that helped put the Knights ahead 62-61 with 45.5 seconds left. The Aggies didn’t score in the final 2:13.

Injured Mississippi running back Henry Parrish Jr. isn’t on the depth chart for Saturday’s game against No. 2 Georgia. Parrish went down with what appeared to be a serious left leg injury in the Rebels’ win over Arkansas.

Alabama receiver and return man Cole Adams will miss the rest of the season with a lower body injury.