Sports News Roundup: Basketball-NBA should pass rule requiring players to cut their nails, says Gortat; Hockey players asked to surrender in sexual assault case and more

Smith Entertainment Group, parent company of the NBA's Utah Jazz, formally requested Wednesday that the NHL initiate the expansion process. Chargers strike deal with Jim Harbaugh Jim Harbaugh was named head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday, returning to the NFL after leading Michigan to the college football national championship earlier this month.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Salt Lake City launches push for NHL expansion team

A Salt Lake City group has moved a step closer to bringing the NHL to Utah. Smith Entertainment Group, parent company of the NBA's Utah Jazz, formally requested Wednesday that the NHL initiate the expansion process.

Chargers strike deal with Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh was named head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday, returning to the NFL after leading Michigan to the college football national championship earlier this month. "Jim Harbaugh is football personified," said Dean Spanos, Chargers owner and chairman in a franchise announcement. "And I can think of no one better to lead the Chargers forward. The son of a coach, brother of a coach and father of a coach who himself was coached by names like (Bo) Schembechler and (Mike) Ditka, for the past two decades Jim has led hundreds of men to success everywhere he's been -- as their coach. And today, Jim Harbaugh returns to the Chargers, this time as our coach. Who has it better than us?"

Women's Top 25 roundup: Oklahoma edges No. 10 Texas

Lexy Keys' 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining helped Oklahoma hold on for a 91-87 victory over No. 10 Texas on Wednesday in Austin, Texas. The Sooners (12-6, 6-1 Big 12) led by 10 points with 3:47 to play before the Longhorns (18-3, 5-3) went on an 11-2 run. Texas climbed within 85-84 on Madison Booker's layup with 59 seconds remaining.

NHL roundup: Avs' Nathan MacKinnon nets 4 goals vs. Caps

Nathan MacKinnon scored four goals, three in a span of 6:37 of the second period, and added an assist as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Washington Capitals 6-2 on Wednesday in Denver. MacKinnon had a natural in the second period and matched his career-best, single-game goal total. He has recorded at least one point in all 24 Colorado home games, breaking a tie with Joe Sakic (2000-01) for the longest home point streak in franchise history. MacKinnon's second straight four-plus-point game gave him the NHL scoring lead with 82 points.

F Nneka Ogwumike leaving Sparks in free agency

Forward Nneka Ogwumike, who was named the WNBA MVP in 2016, will not be returning to the Los Angeles Sparks next season as she explores other options in free agency. Ogwumike spent the first 12 seasons of her career in Los Angeles.

Tennis-Zheng aiming for Djokovic 'chill' in semi-final

Zheng Qinwen reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time with her win over Anna Kalinskaya on Wednesday, and now the Chinese 12th seed wants to learn to be as chilled as men's world number one Novak Djokovic. Zheng defeated Russia's Kalinskaya 6-7(4) 6-3 6-1 in the quarter-final and afterwards spoke of her brief chat with Djokovic the previous day when they crossed paths after her practice session, as the Serb was about to take on Taylor Fritz in his quarter-final.

Draymond Green suspensions cited as reason for Team USA omission

USA Basketball will not have two-time gold medal winner Draymond Green in its player pool as it works on finalizing a roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Grant Hill, the executive director of USA Basketball, cited Green's two suspensions this season with the Golden State Warriors as the reason for the defensive specialist's absence when the 41-player pool was revealed Tuesday.

Hockey players asked to surrender in sexual assault case

Five players from Canada's 2018 World Juniors team reportedly will face sexual assault charges in the country, a case that could involve current NHL players. The Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, reported Wednesday that the five men are tied to an alleged sexual assault that occurred in June 2018 and have been ordered to turn themselves in to police in London, Ontario.

NFL-'Football personified': LA Chargers hire Harbaugh as head coach

The Los Angeles Chargers have hired Jim Harbaugh as their next head coach, the team announced on Wednesday, marking his return to the NFL ranks after spending the last nine years with Michigan. Harbaugh led the 15-0 Wolverines to a national title this past season, ending his alma mater's 26-year championship drought.

Basketball-NBA should pass rule requiring players to cut their nails, says Gortat

Former NBA center Marcin Gortat said the league should pass a rule governing the length of players' finger nails, recalling his duels with former team mate Dwight Howard who left the Pole "bleeding in every practice". The pair played together at Orlando Magic from 2007-2010 before Gortat, who retired in 2020, signed with the Phoenix Suns ahead of his Washington Wizards move in 2013.