Reuters Sports News Summary

The Americans are seeking an unprecedented third consecutive title at a time of major growth in the women's game, as FIFA believes the tournament in Australia and New Zealand is on track to be the most attended standalone women's sporting event ever. MLB roundup: Angels clip White Sox on walk-off wild pitch Mike Trout scored from third base on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Tennis-Lopez extends career by a day at least with emotional Mallorca win

Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez extended his career by at least one more day with an emotional victory at the Mallorca Open on Tuesday -- the final event of his 26-year career. The 41-year-old left-hander was cheered on by friend and compatriot 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal during his 6-3 7-5 victory over Max Purcell.

NHL-Bedard offers Blackhawks a chance to fast-track the rebuild

Connor Bedard has yet to lace up his skates in a professional game but when he does the projected top pick of the 2023 NHL Draft will carry the weighty expectations of leading his new team back into contention for a Stanley Cup. There is no reason to think the Chicago Blackhawks will not use the top pick of the NHL Draft on Wednesday in Nashville to select Canadian Bedard, who has positioned himself as the best prospect since Connor McDavid entered the league in 2015.

Tennis-WTA tweaks circuit with plans for pay parity in top events by 2027

The governing body of women's tennis announced a new circuit structure on Tuesday with a "pathway to handing out equal prize money" for men and women at combined WTA 1000 and 500 events starting from 2027. Tennis has sought to be a leader in the battle for equality in the last couple of decades with equal prize money offered to men and women at the four Grand Slams.

Soccer-'I'm still cool': US World Cup squad bridges generational divide

Women's World Cup debutant Sophia Smith has no problem getting hyped up for a game - just do not expect her to recognize the music her Millennial team mates are playing in the locker room. The 22-year-old forward is among a small group of Generation Z talent on a U.S. squad that spans some two decades, united in the goal of bringing home a third consecutive title when the tournament kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

Carlsen, Chess.com beat Niemann's $100 million suit over cheating scandal

A Missouri federal court on Tuesday dismissed U.S. chess prodigy Hans Niemann's $100 million defamation lawsuit alleging Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen and Chess.com falsely accused him of cheating, though his lawyers said they will pursue their claims in state court. U.S. District Court Judge Audrey Fleissig rejected Niemann's claims that Carlsen and Chess.com broke antitrust laws by colluding to exclude him from lucrative tournaments. Fleissig also found she did not have jurisdiction over Niemann's state law claims for defamation and breach of contract, among others.

WTA roundup: Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff cruise in England

Third-seeded Jessica Pegula and fifth-seeded Coco Gauff each recorded straight-set wins to advance to the second round of the Rothesay International on Tuesday in Eastbourne, England. Pegula posted a 6-3, 6-4 victory over 24th-ranked Qinwen Zheng of China in 1 hour, 38 minutes, while Gauff fired six aces en route to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Bernarda Pera in 61 minutes.

Soccer-Rapper Stormzy, Palace's Zaha to buy Croydon Athletic

Rapper Stormzy has teamed up with Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha to buy ninth-tier English soccer side Croydon Athletic, the club said on Tuesday. Zaha was born in the Ivory Coast but grew up in Croydon from the age of four, while Grime sensation Stormzy also hails from the London borough. The duo have joined forces with former Palace head of player care Danny Young to buy the club.

Motor racing-Rossi sees Reynolds' winning touch boosting Alpine

Renault-owned Alpine believe Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds has the Midas Touch to help get the team back to the top in Formula One. "Deadpool" star Reynolds was announced on Monday, along with Wrexham soccer club co-owner Rob McElhenney, in a group of investors taking a 24% equity stake in the former world champions.

Soccer-World Cup presents 'paradigm shift' in women's game, says Rapinoe

The World Cup will be a transformational moment for women's sport, U.S. forward Megan Rapinoe said on Tuesday, four years after a bitter pay dispute between her team and federation hung over their successful 2019 campaign. The Americans are seeking an unprecedented third consecutive title at a time of major growth in the women's game, as FIFA believes the tournament in Australia and New Zealand is on track to be the most attended standalone women's sporting event ever.

MLB roundup: Angels clip White Sox on walk-off wild pitch

Mike Trout scored from third base on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night in Anaheim, Calif. White Sox reliever Aaron Bummer's 83-mph sweeper to Mike Moustakas was low and away and in the dirt, and White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal couldn't block it, allowing Trout to score. Trout led off the ninth with a walk against White Sox reliever Reynaldo Lopez.