In Brief: NHL reportedly chooses Las Vegas for new team
NHL: The NHL is ready to roll the dice on Las Vegas.
A person with direct knowledge of the NHL’s decision says the league has settled on Las Vegas as its choice for expansion, provided organizers can come up with a $500 million fee.
The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because details have not been released by the league ahead of its Board of Governors meeting on June 22 in Las Vegas. Quebec City was also considered for expansion.
The 2017-18 season would be the earliest the league would expand.
The franchise would be the NHL’s 31st team and the first major professional sports franchise in Las Vegas, the rapidly growing gambling center of the American West.
The NHL hasn’t expanded since 2000, when Minnesota and Columbus paid $80 million each to join the league. Prospective Vegas owner Bill Foley is a wealthy businessman who isn’t likely to blink at the elevated price tag previously proposed by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as an expansion fee.
The Las Vegas bid says it has secured more than 13,200 season-ticket deposits for the new team, which will play in T-Mobile Arena, the sparkling new multipurpose building on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.
Storm fall short
in loss to Stars
WNBA: Moriah Jefferson scored a career-high 19 points, Dearica Hamby had 15 points and 18 rebounds, and the host San Antonio Stars (2-7) beat the Seattle Storm 77-70.
Seattle pulled within 71-70 with 47 seconds left, but Jefferson made 1 of 2 free throws and after an offensive rebound, Kayla McBride hit a 3-pointer to put the Stars up 75-70. Sue Bird missed a 3-pointer and Hamby made two free throws with 5 seconds left.
Breanna Stewart had 19 points and 15 rebounds for Seattle (4-7).
Argentina beats Bolivia in Seattle
Soccer: Erik Lamela and Ezequiel Lavezzi scored two minutes apart early in the first half, Victor Cuesta scored his first international goal later in the half and Argentina dominated Bolivia 3-0 in Seattle to win Group D of the Copa America.
Argentina star Lionel Messi subbed on at the beginning of the second half for his most extensive game action since Barcelona beat Sevilla 2-0 to win the Copa del Rey on May 22.
The Hungary goalkeeper became the first 40-year-old player to participate in the continental championship, surpassing the record set by Germany great Lothar Matthaus by almost a year.
“We are sure (our fans) will not do the same, they will not give any reasons to disqualify our team,” Slutsky said Tuesday, shortly after UEFA said Russia will be sent home if there is any repeat of the violence witnessed in Saturday’s game against England.
UEFA’s ruling came after Russia fans attacked England supporters at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille following a 1-1 draw that had been overshadowed by three days of clashes.
French Open champ Muguruza loses
Tennis: Garbine Muguruza lost her first match since winning the French Open, falling to Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Mallorca (Spain) Open.