AP Sports Digest

The highlights of Wednesday's AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, https://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan . You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, https://newsroom.ap.org . Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports

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AUDIO HEADLINES

Naomi Osaka gets her first top-10 win in more than four years https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/NaomiOsakagetsherfirsttop-10wininmorethanfouryears/a17a0882820641b588a7b05afd383f92

A number of big names are out of work after the 32 NFL teams trim their rosters for the start of the season, the NFL also approves private equity stakes for its teams, the NCAA looks to make changes to football’s transfer portal, and Naomi Osaka upsets a top-10 seed in the US Open while Britain’s Daniel Evans wins the longest US Open match since tiebreakers were introduced. https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/Thelatestinsports/405ceca2ea6c45a0bdd76328866a3219

Recommendation to eliminate 15-day spring transfer portal window for football players moves forward https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/Recommendationtoeliminate15-dayspringtransferportalwi(…)rfootballplayersmovesforward/488a8db1417e4f6aafd80e8dcde221e9

All times EDT

TOP STORIES

TEN--US OPEN-PLAYER COMPLAINTS

NEW YORK — It’s nothing new for tennis players to worry aloud about their sport’s overcrowded calendar, too-tough season and too-short offseason. No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek added an additional complaint this week at the U.S. Open: Athletes are not being heard when they express concerns about potential harm to mental and physical health. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. SENT: 820 words, photos.

TEN--US OPEN

NEW YORK — Defending U.S. Open champions Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic play their second-round matches on Wednesday night. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Night session begins at 7 p.m.

WITH:

— TEN--US OPEN-CYBERBULLYING — By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos.

FBC--T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS

After a brisk Week 0 warmup, Week 1 of the college football season arrives with dozens of games from Thursday through Monday, including a few tasty matchups. No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson in Atlanta; No. 7 Notre Dame at No.20 Texas A&M; No. 8 Penn State at West Virginia; No. 19 Miami at Florida; No. 13 LSU vs. No. 23 Southern California on Sunday night in Las Vegas highlight the schedule. There is also a lot of filler on this slate. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 800 words, photos.

FBN--NOTABLE FREE AGENTS

Joe Flacco sat on his couch until November and ended up leading the Browns to the playoffs and winning the AP Comeback Player of the Year award. Ryan Tannehill would be a top choice to play that role this season. He's among several notable players who remain free agents. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. SENT: 550 words, photos.

FBN--NFL OWNERS-PRIVATE EQUITY-EXPLAINER

EAGAN, Minn. — The NFL has finally relaxed a few of its strict rules around team ownership, formally approving the entry of private equity funds into the equation. Owners voted on Tuesday at a special meeting in Minnesota to allow up to 10% stakes in individual clubs by investment groups, an emerging trend in the financial world that the league was content to let other pro sports take the lead on while it carefully took notes and considered how it might integrate the practice into its booming business for the good of all 32 teams. By Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell. SENT: 790 words, photos.

NOTABLE

BBO--YANKEES-NATIONALS

WASHINGTON — Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and the powerful New York Yankees conclude a three-game series against the Nationals. By Ben Nuckols. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts at 6:45 p.m.

FBC--T25-WHAT TO WATCH

College football season begins in earnest this week with a full slate of games highlighted by three Top 25 matchups. The race for the playoff already has begun. It’s not even Labor Day and one team expected to make the 12-team field is teetering. By College Football Writer Eric Olson. SENT: 690 words, photos.

FBC--COLORADO-THE PRO WRESTLER & DEION

BOULDER, Colo. — Hall of Fame wrestler Bill Goldberg may have been one of the most popular figures at a recent and rare Colorado practice open to the public. He frequently headed over to the stands to take selfies sign autographs for anyone who screamed out "Gold-berg" like they used to do when he entered the ring. But Goldberg's not just another celebrity that Deion Sanders has at practices or brings in for team meetings to give motivational speeches. Goldberg's got a vested interest — his son, Gage, is a freshman walk-on linebacker at Colorado. By Pat Graham. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 6 p.m.

FBN--STEELERS-QUARTERBACKS

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to let Russell Wilson cook. Coach Mike Tomlin announced the nine-time Pro Bowler as the starter on Wednesday, putting an end to a largely perfunctory quarterback competition with Justin Fields in which the 35-year-old Wilson held the “pole position” as Tomlin put it for months and did little to cede ground to Fields. By Will Graves. SENT: 610 words, photos.

GLF--TOUR-MONAHAN

ATLANTA — PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan says the priority remains high on getting an investment deal with the Saudi-backers of LIV Golf. There was no indication how soon it could get done. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 3 p.m.

GLF--TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

ATLANTA — Scottie Scheffler comes to the FedEx Cup finale as the No. 1 seed for the third straight year without ever having left with the trophy and its $25 million prize. Now he faces an additional challenge of dealing with an overhaul at East Lake. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 3 p.m.

BKL--MERCURY-TAURASI AND GRINER

PHOENIX — The combo of Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner has become the face of the Phoenix Mercury over a dozen seasons. They won the WNBA championship in 2014 and also won three Olympic gold medals together. They've also endured the heartbreak of tough losses, injuries and off-the-court issues. Now they're preparing for what might be one final playoff run. By David Brandt. SENT: 735 words, photos.

OLY--PARALYMPICS-OPENING CEREMONY

PARIS — Only a few weeks after hosting the Olympics, the summer of sports in Paris begins its final chapter Wednesday with the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games. More than 4,000 athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments will compete in 22 sports over the next 11 days. By Jerome Pugmire. SENT: 370 words, photos.

MOVING TOMORROW

FBN--NFL SEASON PREVIEW

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are going for the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era. Aaron Rodgers returns to the Jets, aiming to help them end their playoff drought. Then there’s Josh Allen and the Bills, Joe Burrow and the Bengals, C.J. Stroud and the Texans. Don’t forget Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in a highly competitive AFC. The NFC is also wide open, though only the 49ers, Lions, Eagles and Packers seem like legitimate Super Bowl contenders. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos.

FBN--NFL-BETTING

LAS VEGAS — The Chicago Bears are drawing a lot of bets, which isn’t completely new. Bears fans often bet with their hearts, but this time they have a potential franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams to put their hopes on. By Mark Anderson. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos, by 7 p.m.

FBC--STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

With the College Football Playoff field tripling in size, expect the debates about strength of schedule this season to at least do the same. Superconferences have brought a new world order. Expect conferences to constantly be touting how tough they are, though the most interesting debates might come from within these bloated leagues where schedules can be drastically different from team to team. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. UPCOMING: 750 words, with photos by noon.

Wednesday’s EDT Time Schedule

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.

Kansas City at Cleveland, 1:10 p.m.

Houston at Philadelphia, 4:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Seattle, 4:10 p.m.

Texas at Chicago White Sox, 5:10 p.m., 1st game

L.A. Angels at Detroit, 6:40 p.m.

Oakland at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at Washington, 6:45 p.m.

Toronto at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

San Diego at St. Louis, 7:45 p.m.

San Francisco at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

Texas at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m., 2nd game

Miami at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

N.Y. Mets at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

Baltimore at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

WNBA

Connecticut at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Washington at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Atlanta at Seattle, 10 p.m.

Minnesota at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

New York at Los Angeles, 10 p.m.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Columbus at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.