Naomi Girma, women’s soccer’s first million-dollar player, was injured and substituted on her Chelsea debut.

The United States defender was taken off after 59 minutes of the 2-2 draw against Brighton and it was not immediately clear how serious the unspecified injury was.

“We’ll need to assess her tomorrow, but it doesn’t look too bad, but we will see,” Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor said.

The 24-year-old Girma joined Chelsea from San Diego Wave in January for a reported fee of 900,000 pounds ($1.1 million). That deal surpassed the previous world-record fee of $788,000 that Bay FC paid to sign Zambia striker Rachael Kundananji from Madrid CFF last year.

San Diego FC coach condemns homophobic chants >> San Diego FC coach Mikey Varas and sporting director Tyler Heaps expressed disappointment and anger after their club’s inaugural home match was marred in the second half by three occurrences of the homophobic chant frequently heard at the Mexican national team’s soccer matches.

The club uniformly decried the notorious one-word Spanish chant both during and after San Diego finished a scoreless draw with St. Louis City at Snapdragon Stadium, which was packed with 34,506 fans celebrating the arrival of Major League Soccer’s 30th team.

“The chant that was heard tonight is unacceptable,” Varas said. “It’s outside of our value system. It doesn’t represent the players, myself or the club, and it certainly doesn’t represent San Diego or Baja California. It’s not a reflection of who we are. We’re a community full of love, of support, and we believe in the power of diversity.”

Golf

Former gang member wins New Zealand Open >> Ryan Peake, an Australian former motorcycle gang member who turned his life around through golf, earned a place at the British Open when he won the 104th New Zealand Open by one stroke.

The 31-year-old from Western Australia called the win “life-changing” after sinking an eight-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to avoid a four-way playoff with fellow Australian Jack Thompson, South African Ian Snyman and Japan’s Kazuki Higi.

His final-round 66 saw him finish at 23 under.

Baseball

Yankees LeMahieu injured in Spring training debut >> New York Yankees’ third baseman DJ LeMahieu injured his left calf in his spring training debut.

Serving as designated hitter, LeMahieu was injured Saturday on his second at-bat in New York’s 9-3 win over the Houston Astros.

It’s the latest in a string of injuries for the 36-year-old LeMahieu, who ended last season on the injured list with a right hip injury after missing the opening months of the season after fracturing his right foot on a foul ball in spring training.

Detroit’s Meadows out indefinitely >> Detroit center fielder Parker Meadows is out indefinitely with a nerve issue in his throwing arm.

Manager A.J. Hinch said that there is no timetable for his return from the issue in his upper right arm. The Tigers haven’t yet ruled him out for Opening Day but for now he can’t do any baseball activities.

“My understanding is that we’re in a wait-and-see (situation),” Hinch told reporters.

College football

Pitt freshman dies in Car Accident >> Pittsburgh freshman cornerback Mason Alexander died Saturday in a car crash in Indiana, authorities said.

Alexander, 18, was a passenger in a vehicle that swerved off the road and struck a tree in Fishers, a northeastern suburb of Indianapolis, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The car burst into flames upon impact. Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene. Alexander was a star at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers. He signed with the Panthers in December and enrolled at Pitt in January.

NBA

Magic’s Suggs out for season >> Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic will have arthroscopic surgery to remove a cartilage fragment in his left knee.

The Magic said that a timetable for Suggs’ return to play won’t be known until the team sees how he responds to post-operative treatment and rehabilitation.

Suggs was diagnosed last week with a trochlea injury in the knee, a problem that was discovered after he was experiencing discomfort while trying to return from a bruised left quadriceps.

Women’s basketball

South Carolina earns SEC No. 1 seed >> South Carolina will be the No. 1 seed in the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament after winning a coin flip.

The sixth-ranked Gamecocks and top-ranked Texas both finished 15-1 in conference play. They split their season series, leading to a coin flip to determine the top seed for the tournament, which begins Wednesday in Greenville.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey flipped a coin from Birmingham, Alabama, during halftime of LSU’s game against Mississippi to determine the top seed. The flip was broadcast live on the SEC Network, and a loud cheer could be heard from the South Carolina locker room immediately afterward.

No. 8 North Carolina falter late against Virginia >> Paris Clark and Kymora Johnson each hit two late foul shots to help Virginia beat No. 8 North Carolina 78-75.

Latasha Lattimore had 23 points for Virginia (16-14, 8-10 ACC) in its third consecutive win. Clark scored 17 points, and Johnson had 15 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds.

Clark was fouled by Indya Nivar with 13.1 seconds left. She made two free throws to give her team a 76-75 lead. Johnson added two more foul shots with 3 seconds to go.

Texas clinches >> Kyla Oldacre scored 18 points and No. 1 Texas beat Florida 72-46 to earn a share of the Southeastern Conference regular season championship with South Carolina.