In brief: Luke Walton will coach Golden State on interim basis
NBA: Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr will take a leave of absence as he recovers from back surgery and will be replaced on an interim basis by Luke Walton.
The length of his absence is unknown.
• Former Bucks cheerleader files lawsuit: A former Milwaukee Bucks cheerleader has filed a lawsuit against the team, saying the flat-rate pay system dancers work under leaves them earning less than minimum wage. Lead plaintiff Lauren Herington says she and others haven’t been fairly compensated for games, practices, team functions or photo shoots.
Donovan resigns as coach of WNBA Suns
Basketball: Anne Donovan stepped down as the head coach of the Connecticut Sun after three losing seasons. She was a combined 38-64 at Connecticut.
• Women’s tournament returns to Saturday start: The NCAA women’s basketball tournament will go back this season to having first-round games on Saturday and Sunday.
Regional semifinals will also be on Saturday and Sunday. This past year the opening round was moved up a day to play on Friday which put it in more of a conflict with the men’s tournament that plays its second-round games that day.
Serena Williams out of tournaments
Tennis: Serena Williams said she is withdrawing from the season-ending WTA Finals and the China Open to take time to heal after playing through injuries all year.
Ali honored in his Kentucky hometown
Boxing: Muhammad Ali won another round of love and appreciation for his achievements as a fighter in and out of the ring.
Former boxers Larry Holmes and George Foreman, friends, associates, dignitaries and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal were on hand for the ceremony on the 40th anniversary of Ali’s third fight with Joe Frazier in the Philippines, an epic known as the “Thrilla in Manila.”
Sapp takes plea deal in domestic battery
Miscellany: Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp took a plea deal that spares him jail time in a domestic violence case involving a scuffle with his former girlfriend that began at a Las Vegas-area casino hotel. The deal involved a fine, restitution, community service and counseling.
• Arizona Bowl to debut: A new bowl game is coming to Arizona Stadium in Tucson in December. The Arizona Bowl will feature teams from Conference USA, the Sun Belt or Mountain West Conference on Dec. 29 at Arizona’s home stadium.
The addition of the Arizona Bowl brings the total to a record 41 bowl games this season.
• Weather prompts time change: The Big Ten Conference changed the time of Michigan’s game at Maryland to noon Eastern Saturday, moving up kickoff by 8 hours amid concerns over drenching rain and the approach of Hurricane Joaquin.