Digest

OLYMPICS

Team USA roster includes LeBron, Curry

USA Basketball has settled on most of its roster for the Paris Olympics, which will include Stephen Curry making his first trip to the Games, ESPN and The Athletic reported Monday.

The team, led by managing director Grant Hill, has cemented 11 of 12 roster spots while leaving one vacancy to be filled after a training camp this July, according to ESPN.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns are also featured on the roster. James is slated to make his first Olympic appearance since 2012 and the fourth of his career.

The other team members locked in are Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday of the Boston Celtics, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, the reports said.

Curry was not selected for the team that participated in the 2012 London Games, which took place after his third year in the NBA, and before his rise as one of the greatest shooters in league history. He withdrew from consideration for the roster in 2016 due to multiple nagging injuries and turned down the Tokyo Games.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr serves as Team USA's head coach and will be assisted by Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Gonzaga coach Mark Few.

SOCCER

Xie is Chinese Super League's first female ref

After taking charge of the match between Shanghai Port and Shandong Taishan in the 2024 Chinese Super League on Monday, Xie Lijun became the first woman to referee a top-flight men's soccer match in China.

Xie, 35, is an elite assistant referee for the Asian Football Confederation. She officiated at the 2022 Women's Asian Cup and the 2024 U20 Women's Asian Cup finals, as well as multiple FIFA games. She was the only Chinese referee on the field at the 2023 Women's World Cup.

"In 2023, I was the only one to referee in the women's World Cup, and I hope to have more Chinese female referees participate in the World Cup," said Xie.

Before her CSL debut, Xie had studied for a long time on the sidelines. "I watch the CSL matches on the spot very often. Before this game, I reviewed the previous competitions between the two teams, focusing on the analysis of both teams' tactics and made plans in advance," Xie said.

Roma's Ndicka released from hospital

AS Roma defender Evan Ndicka has been discharged from hospital and will undergo additional tests in Rome after he collapsed on the pitch during its match at Udinese on Sunday, the Serie A club said on Monday.

The 24-year-old Paris-born player, who represents the Cote d'Ivoire, was carried off on a stretcher after falling backwards onto the pitch in the 18th minute, with the game later abandoned at 1-1.

Ndicka was conscious, but visibly in pain, rubbing his chest with his right hand as the medical team rushed towards him. Roma later said he was in "good spirits".

"First and second-level cardiological tests were administered that were negative for cardiac pathologies," Roma said in its latest statement.

"In light of the last tests undergone this morning, the medical situation is compatible with a thoracic trauma with minimal left pneumothorax."

RUNNING

Back-to-back Boston titles for Kenya's Obiri

Hellen Obiri's legs were carrying her closer to Boston, but her mind was thinking about Paris.

"I'm not giving up. I'm not going to let this one go," the two-time Olympic medalist recalled, thinking about miles away from the Boston Marathon finish line.

She didn't relent, and her latest trip down the world's oldest annual marathon course put her in rare company, and in line to add to her Olympic medal count.

Kenyan Obiri broke away late from a large pack to become the first woman to repeat victory at the Boston Marathon since 2005, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 22 minutes and 37 seconds on Monday.

"Defending the title was not easy. Since Boston started, it's only six women. So I said, 'Can I be one of them?' If you want to be one of them, you have to work extra hard," she said. "And I'm so happy, because I'm now one of them. I'm now in the history books in Boston."

TENNIS

Nadal says he's 'ready enough' to play

Rafael Nadal is "ready enough" to play on Tuesday in what he expects to be his last Barcelona Open.

Nadal on Monday confirmed his participation in his first clay-court tournament this year.

"It was a positive week of training and I'll be on the court," said Nadal, who will face Flavio Cobolli in his opening match. "It's a gift to be here. I have a feeling that it will be my last time here and I want to enjoy it."

Nadal, a 12-time champion in Barcelona, had hip surgery last summer and, this year, has played only three competitive matches, all in Brisbane, before skipping the Australian Open.

"I'm ready enough to play," Nadal said. "It is what it is right now. I have to keep going day by day."

The Spaniard said he was in a unique situation after "two tough years" of injuries, and felt he can still "be competitive".

The 37-year-old Nadal pulled out of last week's Monte Carlo Masters before it started because of a lingering injury, saying "my body simply won't allow me".

Agencies