Nadal says he’s a no-go for Laver Cup

Rafael Nadal withdrew Thursday from next week’s Laver Cup in Berlin, leaving it unclear when the Spanish great will play again. The Laver Cup — the tournament where Roger Federer retired in 2022 after teaming up with Nadal in doubles — would have been Nadal’s first event since the Paris Olympics and potentially one of his last ever. “I’m really disappointed to share that I won’t be able to compete at the Laver Cup in Berlin next week,” the 38-year-old Nadal said. “This is a team competition and to really support Team Europe, I need to do what’s best for them and at this moment there are other players who can help the team deliver the win.” The 22-time Grand Slam champion didn’t address his current fitness after a spate of injuries in recent years, or when he might play again. Nadal withdrew last month from the U.S. Open, meaning he missed three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in 2024. The Laver Cup, to be held from Sept. 20-22, is an indoor hard-court men’s competition pitting Team Europe against Team World in a format reminiscent of golf’s Ryder Cup.

Wilson sets new WNBA scoring mark

A’ja Wilson broke the WNBA single-season scoring record just before the first half of the Aces’ game against the Fever on Wednesday night in Indianapolis. Wilson hit a jumper from the free throw line with 26.4 seconds left in the second quarter to surpass the previous mark of 939 points set by Jewell Loyd in 2023. The Aces’ two-time league MVP came into the game averaging 27.3 points and 11.9 rebounds. She finished the game with 27 points and 12 rebounds as the two-time defending champion Aces won 86-75. The 28-year-old Wilson credited her teammates for helping her break the record. “I don’t want to sound cliché but I don’t get any of that without every single teammate along the way. I’m so grateful to be able to play with selfless women,” she said. “My teammates are the heartbeat. They keep me going. I don’t get any points without them passing me the basketball. ... The group that we have in this locker room is something that I’m truly so happy to be around.” Wilson needed just 35 games to top last year’s record by Loyd, who did it in 38 games.

Lions great, ex-coach Schmidt dies

Joe Schmidt, the Hall of Fame linebacker who helped the Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957 and later coached the team, has died Wednesday. He was 92. One of pro football’s first great middle linebackers, Schmidt played his entire NFL career with the Lions from 1953-65. An eight-time All-Pro, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the college football version in 2000. Schmidt played college football in his hometown at Pittsburgh. He dealt with injuries throughout his college career and was drafted by the Lions in the seventh round in 1953. As defenses evolved in that era, Schmidt’s speed, savvy and tackling ability made him a valuable part of some of the franchise’s greatest teams. He was elected to the Pro Bowl 10 straight years from 1955-64, and after his arrival, the Lions won the last two of their three NFL titles in the 1950s. Schmidt became an assistant coach after wrapping up his career as a player. He was the Lions’ head coach from 1967-72, going 43-35-7. Schmidt was part of the NFL’s All-Time Team revealed in 2019. —AP