Reuters Sports News Summary

The longtime WNBA star retired from her playing career last week after 16 years in the league. Basketball-Jokic named NBA MVP for third time Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic won the NBA's Most Valuable Player award for the third time in four seasons, the league announced on Wednesday.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

MLB roundup: Cubs top Padres on Michael Busch's walk-off HR

Michael Busch homered to lead off the ninth inning, lifting the host Chicago Cubs to a walk-off, 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Busch deposited a first-pitch fastball from Enyel De Los Santos (1-2) over the wall in right-center field. The homer was Busch's seventh of the season and first since he went deep in five straight games from April 10-15.

Rudy Gobert named Defensive Player of Year for 4th time

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth time on Tuesday. Gobert tied Hall of Fame big men Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most times winning the award in league history. He received 72 first-place votes and 433 points from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

MLB roundup: Chris Sale, Braves blank Red Sox

Chris Sale threw six shutout innings and Marcell Ozuna hit two home runs to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 5-0 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday and a sweep of their two-game series. Sale (5-1) scattered six hits, walked one and struck out a season-high 10 batters against his former team. The Red Sox were 0-for-6 with runners on base and left seven runners on base against Sale, whose scoreless outing was saved in the sixth when left fielder Jarred Kelenic reached over the wall to take away a homer from Garrett Cooper.

Adidas names Candace Parker president of women's basketball

Candace Parker was named Adidas' new president of women's basketball on Wednesday. The longtime WNBA star retired from her playing career last week after 16 years in the league.

Basketball-Jokic named NBA MVP for third time

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic won the NBA's Most Valuable Player award for the third time in four seasons, the league announced on Wednesday. Jokic beat Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks for the honor, receiving 79 first-place votes from a panel of broadcasters and journalists.

Baseball star Ohtani's ex-interpreter agrees to plead guilty to bank fraud

Japanese baseball great Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges he fraudulently wired nearly $17 million stolen from the athlete's bank account to pay off his own gambling debts, court records showed on Wednesday. The plea agreement between federal prosecutors and Ippei Mizuhara, the onetime translator and de facto manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers' power-hitting pitcher, was announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office in L.A., where the case was first brought last month.

Olympics-Flame arrives in Marseille amid tight security

The Olympic flame landed on French soil amid tight security on Wednesday, firing the starting gun on a summer extravaganza of sport that President Emmanuel Macron hopes will showcase the splendours of France and burnish his legacy. The flame arrived in Marseille, a port city in southern France founded by Greek merchants, after a 12-day trip from Greece onboard the Belem, a 128-year-old three-masted tall ship that once transported sugar from France's colonies in the West Indies to the metropole.

NHLPA announces Ted Lindsay Award finalists

Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov were named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award on Wednesday. Voted on by fellow members of the NHL Players' Association, it is presented annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL.

Tennis-Nadal happy to be playing third straight event after injury return

Rafa Nadal said he is encouraged by his steady progress after returning from injury last month, as the 14-times French Open champion continues his preparation for Roland Garros at this week's Rome Masters. Nadal, who has said he expects to retire after this season, spent most of last year nursing a hip issue that required surgery, before a muscle tear in Brisbane stalled his comeback in January.

Fever add 11 TV markets for Caitlin Clark's rookie season

Former Iowa standout Caitlin Clark is getting the Indiana Fever some more screen time. Twelve television markets will aid in broadcasting 17 of Indiana's games for free this season, allowing fans to get a better glimpse at Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's WNBA draft.