National Sports

NICE, France — Delayed but alive again and out on French roads, the strangest Tour de France ever set off Saturday in a bubble of anti-COVID protocols to try to keep the 176 riders virus-free for three weeks of racing through the country's worsening

Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse was surprised to hear some of his players say they hadn't wanted to come to the NBA bubble in the first place.

LONDON — Canadian international Jessie Fleming celebrated her first silverware with Chelsea on Saturday in a 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield, marking the return of English women's soccer after a six-month, pandemic-enforced absen

After several days of postponements and protests, the professional sports schedule is slated to kick back into high gear on Saturday.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Chelsea Gray scored a season-high 27 points, Nneka Ogwumike added 17 points and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Connecticut Sun 80-76 on Friday night.

Friday's Games NHL Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at Toronto Tampa Bay vs. Boston, ppd. (Lightning lead series 2-1) Western Conference Semifinals at Edmonton Colorado vs. Dallas, ppd.

TORONTO — Raptors Uprising GC point guard Kenneth (Kenny Got Work) Hailey, whose perfect season was derailed in the playoff semifinals last week, has been named NBA 2K League MVP.

MONTREAL — The decision to return to play was not taken lightly by Justin Morrow and his Toronto FC teammates, who wrestled with the implications of their actions for the last two days.

Randal Grichuk hit a two-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.

Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals owner Dell Loy Hansen is taking a leave of absence following a report that he made racially insensitive comments and used a racial slur.