AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:50 p.m. EST

Women’s sports saw pivotal growth in deals, interest in 2022

Popularity across women’s sports has grown steadily over the past few years and there was pivotal movement in 2022. Several sports and leagues saw growth in viewership and ratings, sponsorship deals and prime-time coverage. The past WNBA regular season was the most watched since 2006. The league has a deal with ESPN/ABC where the company paid the WNBA $27 million in 2021. That number goes up $1.5 million per season until 2025. At the collegiate level, name, image and likeness has been a game changer for female athletes. And women’s soccer has seen increased global revenue from sponsorships and broadcast deals.

Cardinals’ J.J. Watt indicates he’ll retire at end of season

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Even though he’s still playing great football, it looks as if J.J. Watt is ready to call it a career. The three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year indicated Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season, posting pictures of his wife and family on social media while writing: “Koa’s first ever NFL game. My last ever NFL home game. My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It’s been an absolute honor and a pleasure.” Watt and his wife, Kealia, became parents in October. Koa is the name of their son. The 33-year-old Watt was among the premier defensive players in the NFL during the early 2010s with the Houston Texans.

Analysis: In wide-open NBA, uncertainty is only certainty

DENVER (AP) — Boston leads the East and Denver the West in NBA conference races that are wide open with New Year’s Day approaching. How 2023 unfolds could be determined simply by who heals the fastest or who can stay the healthiest. The reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors are missing Stephen Curry, and Phoenix star Devin Booker lasted a little more than four minutes in his return from a groin injury. Domantas Sabonis is day-to-day as the Sacramento Kings try to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum has the Celtics humming along, and Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic is threatening to join Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird as the only players to win three consecutive MVP awards.

Analysis: Some NFL teams won’t reap reward for poor seasons

With two weeks left in the regular season, next year’s NFL draft is starting to take shape. Four of the top 11 picks will go to teams reaping the benefits of a trade. The Seahawks currently hold the third overall selection because Denver traded its first-round pick for Russell Wilson. The Lions own the Rams’ pick that currently stands at No. 7 because of the Matthew Stafford deal that paid dividends in Los Angeles last season. The Eagles have the 10th pick from the Saints, and the Texans the 11th pick from the Browns following the Deshaun Watson trade.

Impatient Penner leads Broncos’ wide-open search for coach

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — New Broncos CEO and co-owner Greg Penner put his stamp on the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, several months after his family spent $4.65 billion for the NFL franchise. Penner made it clear that he is leading the search for Nathaniel Hackett’s replacement and the new head coach will report directly to him and not to GM George Paton. Penner said he’s confident in Paton despite a series of moves that have backfired. The Broncos aren’t limiting their head coaching search to experienced head coaches even though their past three hires were first-time head coaches who didn’t pan out.

Novak Djokovic back in Australia a year after deportation

SYDNEY (AP) — Novak Djokovic has arrived in Australia almost a year after he was deported over his stance against COVID-19 vaccination. Tennis Australia confirmed that the 35-year-old Serb arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday night. Djokovic will open his 2023 campaign in Adelaide as he prepares for a shot at a 10th Australian Open title. The 21-time major winner has been granted a visa by the Australian government and is listed to play at the Adelaide International which starts Sunday. The Australian Open runs from Jan. 16-29 in Melbourne.

Hilton’s quick hit with Cowboys may be spark for larger role

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — T.Y. Hilton’s notable first catch with Dallas could mean a quicker path to a larger role with the playoff-bound Cowboys. Hilton caught a 52-yarder on third-and-30 in the fourth quarter of last week’s 40-34 victory over Philadelphia. Dallas was down seven at the time with the Eagles poised to clinch the NFC East. Instead, the Cowboys are still alive in the division race going into a game at Tennessee on Thursday night. Quarterback Dak Prescott says the big play to Hilton is a quick way to build trust with a new receiver. Hilton signed as a free agent this month after a 10-year career with Indianapolis.

Power vs. speed: Michigan, TCU present unfamiliar challenges

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — No. 2 Michigan brings its smash-mouth ways into the College Football Playoff semifinal to face No. 3 TCU on Saturday. It’s tempting to boil down the Fiesta Bowl matchup to Big Ten power vs. Big 12 speed on each side of the ball, especially when the Wolverines’ offense is on the field. Both sides think that’s an oversimplification. While Michigan’s heavy personnel packages and towering offensive line isn’t what TCU is used to facing, the same can be said for the Wolverines going up against a Horned Frogs’ defense that regularly lines up with five defensive backs.

Georgia built RB depth as plan for run at repeat CFP title

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart’s plan for a deep running back corps was based on more than making it through a 12-game regular season. Smart wanted his backs to be fresh for the College Football Playoff. The No. 1 Bulldogs will take a group of four running backs, led by Kenny McIntosh, into Saturday’s Peach Bowl semifinal against No. 4 Ohio State. McIntosh leads the Bulldogs with 709 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Daijun Edwards, Kendall Milton and Branson Robinson have made significant contributions. The depth gives the defending national champion Bulldogs a strong running complement to quarterback Stetson Bennett’s passing game.

TCU’s cornerbacks 2 examples of transfer portal success

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Josh Newton and Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson are two examples of TCU’s success in the transfer portal during the offseason. While Newton was a great addition, Hodges-Tomlinson was a great holdover, sticking with the program through its transition to first-year coach Sonny Dykes. Now the Horned Frogs are having a dream season. They’ll play Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl. Top-seeded Georgia plays Ohio State in the other CFP semifinal at the Peach Bowl, which also is Saturday.