AP Sports SummaryBrief at 3:14 p.m. EST

Usain Bolt fires business manager over Jamaica fraud case

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt tells reporters he is baffled over how $12.7 million of his money has gone missing from a local private investment firm that authorities are investigating as part of a massive fraud. Bolt also said Friday that he has fired his business manager. The retired star athlete laughed when asked if he was “broke.” He says he isn’t but that the missing money was for his future. He notes he has three children and supports his parents. Bolt’s attorneys have said the athlete’s account with Kingston-based Stocks and Securities Limited dwindled from nearly $12.8 million to some $12,000. They had threatened to take action on Friday.

Aryna Sabalenka wins 1st Grand Slam title at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka has won her first Grand Slam title by coming back to beat Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Australian Open women’s final. Sabalenka used 17 aces to help overcome seven double-faults Saturday in her first championship match at a major tournament. The 24-year-old Sabalenka is from Belarus. She improved to 11-0 in 2023. The only set she has dropped all season was the opener on Saturday against Wimbledon champion Rybakina. But Sabalenka put that behind her quickly and used her aggressive style to turn things around in the last two sets. Sabalenka says, “I’m super happy that I was able to handle all those emotions and win this one.”

Shiffrin wins slalom, moves within 1 win of World Cup record

SPINDLERUV MLYN, Czech Republic (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin has dominated a slalom for her 85th career victory to move within one of the World Cup record set by Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark in the 1980s. Shiffrin can match the best mark of 86 wins in another slalom Sunday. Shiffrin had shared the women’s record of 82 wins with former teammate Lindsey Vonn until last week. The American posted the fastest times in both legs to beat Germany’s Lena Dürr of Germany by 0.60 seconds. Shiffrin said “I have to do my best turns to have a chance because these women are so strong.”

NFL playoffs: Vegas believes some classics could be coming

If Vegas oddsmakers are correct — and there’s a reason those casinos are huge and luxurious — then football fans are in for a treat this weekend. The NFL’s conference championship weekend is here: The Philadelphia Eagles will host the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC title while the Kansas City Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC. Both games are Sunday. The gambling odds are tight for both games, though both home teams have a slight edge. The Eagles are a 2 1/2-point favorite while the Chiefs are favored by 1 1/2 points, according to odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. The winners will meet in the Super Bowl on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.

Report: NWSL to expand in Boston, Utah and California

The National Women’s Soccer League is close to expanding by three teams in Boston, Utah and the San Francisco area. That’s according to a Friday report in the Wall Street Journal. The women’s pro league previously indicated it would expand by at least two teams by 2024. The WSJ says that the franchises in northern California and Utah are set to start play next year, with Boston to join at a later date. The NWSL says it will share news about any expansion teams when there is something to note.

Hurts, Purdy set for college-era rematch in NFC title tilt

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy have been here before. Just not in the NFL. The two met in November 2019, when Hurts was the QB for Oklahoma and Purdy was the QB for Iowa State. In that game, Hurts passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more scores for Oklahoma. Purdy passed for five touchdowns for Iowa State. could be primed for a shootout in the NFC championship game. Hurts is now an NFL MVP finalist for the Philadelphia Eagles and Purdy is the rookie sensation for the San Francisco 49ers.

Stevenson’s 31 leads West Virginia over No. 15 Auburn

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Erik Stevenson scored a career-high 31 points and West Virginia withstood a furious late rally from No. 15 Auburn to beat the Tigers 80-77 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday. The Mountaineers have won two straight for the first time in a month and now head into the teeth of the Big 12 schedule that will determine an NCAA Tournament berth. Auburn couldn’t overcome another slow start and has lost two straight, something it hasn’t done in two years. After Stevenson staked the Mountaineers to a 45-29 halftime lead, Auburn cut the deficit to a point late but never took the lead. Jaylin Williams led Auburn with 18 points.

Grizzlies, other NBA teams speak out on Tyre Nichols’ death

The outrage, frustration, sadness and anger over the killing of Tyre Nichols was evident around the NBA on Friday. Games were played not long after the video was released showing how Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was killed by five Memphis police officers. Several teams released statements of support for the family, as did the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. And the emotions around the league were palpable, as has been the case so many times after so many other other incidents of violence by police against Black men and women in recent years.

Teen Isabeau Levito wins U.S. women’s figure skating title

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Teen star Isabeau Levito needed a near-flawless free skate to capture gold at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships after Bradie Tennell’s beautiful performance minutes earlier. And the 15-year-old accomplished just that, delivering a dazzling 149.55 score for a 223.33 total to win her first women’s national championship. Levito drew a rousing standing ovation from an audience wowed by her poise under pressure on the big nationals stage.

NFC title game a Philly reunion for 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — DeMeco Ryans might be in San Francisco, but he still has some influence in Philadelphia. He finished his player career there and four teammates who are still with the Eagles say they learned a lot from him. Ryans has helped put together the NFL’s stingiest defense with the 49ers. The two teams play Sunday for the NFC title and a Super Bowl berth. Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham says Ryans had a knack for knowing what play was coming next from the opposing offense and was able to communicate that to his teammates.