Reuters Sports News Summary

Republican president Trump said last month that he would consider moving games from Democrat-controlled San Francisco and Seattle if they did not cooperate with his immigration and crime initiatives. ESPN networks break WNBA viewership records Broadcasts of the WNBA regular season and postseason were the most-watched ever across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Soccer-Relocating World Cup matches unlikely despite Trump rhetoric, current and former officials say

Senior figures behind the 2026 World Cup dismissed concerns that U.S. president Donald Trump could move matches from cities he does not deem "safe". Republican president Trump said last month that he would consider moving games from Democrat-controlled San Francisco and Seattle if they did not cooperate with his immigration and crime initiatives.

ESPN networks break WNBA viewership records

Broadcasts of the WNBA regular season and postseason were the most-watched ever across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. For 25 regular season games, WNBA action on ESPN networks averaged 1.3 million viewers, up 6% year-over-year. The numbers across 24 postseason games were up 5% with an average of 1.2 million viewers.

Commanders place newly signed DE Drake Jackson on IR

Two days after signing free agent Drake Jackson, the Washington Commanders placed the edge rusher on injured reserve on Thursday. Multiple reports said the team's plan all along was to "stash and save" the 24-year-old former second-round pick, who is coming back from a serious knee injury.

Caitlin Clark 'honored' to return to The Annika pro-am

Caitlin Clark fever will return to the LPGA Tour next month when the WNBA superstar makes another appearance at The Annika pro-am in Belleair, Fla. Thousands of fans lined the fairways last year to watch the Indiana Fever guard compete in the event. One of Clark's many endorsement deals is with Gainbridge, the presenting sponsor of The Annika event.

Soccer-More than one million World Cup tickets sold through Visa pre-sales

More than one million tickets for the 2026 World Cup have been sold following the conclusion of the Visa pre-sales phase, world football's governing body FIFA said on Thursday. Fans from 212 countries and territories purchased tickets during the pre-sales period, which opened in mid-September, FIFA said in a statement.

Blue Jays' homer barrage halves Mariners' ALCS advantage

SEATTLE -- Balls aren't supposed to fly out of T-Mobile Park as they did on Wednesday, especially not on a cool October night. But the Toronto Blue Jays couldn't be contained.

Warriors lead Sportico's NBA team valuations at $11.33B

The Golden State Warriors are the most valuable NBA team and No. 2 among sports franchises globally, according to research from Sportico released Thursday. The Warriors are worth $11.33 billion, surpassed only by the NFL's Dallas Cowboys ($12.8 billion). This is the fifth consecutive year that the Warriors have held the highest valuation in Sportico's NBA rankings.

Motor racing-Formula One declares heat hazard for second race in a row

Formula One's governing body declared a heat hazard for the second race in a row at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin on Thursday. Race director Rui Marques said in a statement sent to teams that an official forecast predicted the heat index would be more than 31 degrees Celsius (87.8°F) at some time during the Saturday sprint or Sunday Grand Prix.

Baseball-Pedro Martinez credits stars, faster pace for MLB's revival

Pedro Martinez credited the emergence of generational talents like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, as well a faster pace of play, for the recent surge in baseball's popularity but the Hall of Fame pitcher says a labor showdown could stall that momentum. Major League Baseball implemented a raft of rule changes in 2023 after seeing attendances and ratings wane, introducing a pitch clock and expanding the role of video replays.

Banged-up Bucs could catch break as WR Mike Evans eyes MNF return

Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans could be a one-man cavalry when Tampa Bay treks to Detroit in a fight atop the NFC standings on Monday night. Tampa Bay (5-1) owns the best record in the conference and a long list of hurting wide receivers with the Lions (4-2) up next in the primetime rematch of a 20-16 win by the Bucs last season.

Coroner: Ex-champ Ricky Hatton died by suicide

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton died by suicide last month, according to coroner's court testimony on Thursday in England. Paul Speak, manager for the 46-year-old Hatton, said he found his client unresponsive on the morning of Sept. 14 at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)