Griner returns to U.S. after Russian prisoner swap

Brittney Griner returned to the United States early Friday, nearly 10 months after the basketball star’s detention in Russia made her the most high-profile American jailed abroad and set off a political firestorm.

Griner’s status as an openly gay Black woman, her prominence in women’s basketball and her imprisonment in a country where authorities have been hostile to the LGBTQ community heightened concerns for her and brought tremendous attention to the case. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after her arrest complicated matters further.

The deal that brought home Griner in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout achieved a top goal for President Joe Biden. But the U.S. failed to win freedom for another American, Paul Whelan, who has been jailed for nearly four years.

Baseball

PHILLILES PICK UP LHP STRAHM WITH 2-YEAR DEAL

>> Left-handed pitcher Matt Strahm has joined the Philadelphia Phillies on a twoyear deal, the team announced Friday.

The 31-year-old free agent was a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in the 2022 season, with a 3.83 ERA in 50 appearances, striking out 52, giving up 17 walks and allowing just five home runs.

Strahm has been a reliever and a starter over his seven seasons in the MLB, playing for Kansas City and San Diego before landing in Boston.

CARDS SIGN ALL-STAR CATCHER CONTRERAS TO 5-YEAR DEAL >> For the first time in more than 18 years, the St. Louis Cardinals will have a new starting catcher.

Catcher Willson Contreras signed a five-year contract with a club option for 2028, the team announced Friday at a news conference. AP SOURCE: RIGHTY TREBVOR WILLIAMS, NATS AGREE ON 2-YEAR DEAL >> Trevor Williams and the Washington Nationals agreed to a two-year contract Friday, giving the rebuilding club a right-handed pitcher with experience as a starter and reliever.

The agreement was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because nothing had been announced yet.

BOGAERTS, PADRES FINALIZE $280M, 11-YEAR DEAL >> Xander Bogaerts’ $280 million, 11-year contact with the San Diego Padres was finalized Friday after the All-Star slugger passed his physical.

The Padres planned to introduce the shortstop at an afternoon news conference at Petco Park.

Golf

JAMIESON’S RECORD 63 GIVES HIM 3-SHOT LEAD IN

SOUTH AFRICA >> Scott Jamieson carded a course-record 63 and earned a threeshot lead of the Alfred Dunhill Championship going into the weekend on Friday.

Jamieson made nine birdies in a bogey-free second round at Leopard Creek Country Club.

The Scot hit four successive birdies on the front nine and three straight on the way home to reach 13 under par in the European tour event. However, his best shot was probably a par save on the 16th when he got up and down from a bunker and stayed two ahead of the pack.

NBA

AP SOURCE: NBA, NBPA EXTEND OPT-OUT DEADINE FOR

CBA >> The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are giving each other more time to decide if they want to opt out of the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, a person with knowledge of the talks said Friday.

The new opt-out date — which was going to be Dec. 15 — will be set for early 2023 and could be moved yet again depending on the progress of talks, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because nothing was revealed by either the NBA or NBPA.

College basketball

LARRY BROWN STEPS DOWN AT MEMPHIS AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT

>> Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown is stepping down from his role as a special advisor to Memphis coach Penny Hardaway due to ongoing health concerns, the school announced Friday.

“We wish Coach Brown a speedy recovery,” Hardaway said in a statement released by the school, which said the health issues are not considered serious. “Having Coach Brown as part of our program over the last year-and-a-half was very impactful on our studentathletes and me as a coach, and we hope all the best for him and good health moving forward.”

High school basketball

NIKE HOOP SUMMIT TO FEATURE WOMEN’S GAME FOR FIRST TIME >> The Nike Hoop Summit, an annual event that pits top U.S. high school players against a team of International players age 19 and under, is adding a women’s matchup for the first time.

The next summit will be in Portland on April 8, USA Basketball announced Friday.

“The Nike Hoop Summit has been a great event to showcase the USA’s top talent against the World’s top talent on an annual basis,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said. “With the addition of a women’s game, there is another opportunity for our top women’s players to compete on an international stage.”

NFL

HUNTLEY LIKELY TO START FOR INJURED JACKSON >>

Lamar Jackson missed a third straight day of practice for the Baltimore Ravens on Friday, and coach John Harbaugh conceded that backup quarterback Tyler Huntley would likely start Sunday at Pittsburgh.

Jackson is listed as doubtful on the injury report, but there’s been little indication that he’s recovering quickly enough to play this weekend after hurting his knee in last Sunday’s game against Denver.

“It looks like it’s going to be Tyler on Sunday, yes,” Harbaugh said.

JAGUARS QB LAWRENCE FEELS ‘GOOD’ AFTER RETURNING TO PRACTICE >> Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is listed as questionable to play at Tennessee despite returning to practice Friday.

Lawrence missed two days of practice because of a badly sprained big toe on his left foot, watching from the sideline as C.J. Beathard took all the repetitions with the first-team offense. But Lawrence reclaimed his position Friday and is expected to start against the Titans (7-5) on Sunday, a game the Jaguars need to win to keep alive slim playoff hopes in the AFC South. BROWNS TOP WR COOPER QUESTIONABLE VS BENGALS >> Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson could be without top target Amari Cooper on Sunday in Cincinnati after the wide receiver sustained a hip injury in practice.

Cooper leads Cleveland with 61 catches for 832 yards and seven touchdowns. He didn’t practice Friday and is listed as questionable against the Bengals (8-4), who have lost five straight to the Browns (5-7).

College football

TCU DOMINATES AP BIG 12 HONORS >> TCU quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Max Duggan is The Associated Press Big 12 offensive player of the year in a unanimous vote, as was the selection of Sonny Dykes for coach of the year after his first season with the Horned Frogs.

Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah was chosen as the top defensive player, and Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a transfer from UCF, was the newcomer of the year.

Nine TCU players — six on offense, three on defense — were first-team picks after the Frogs were the first Big 12 team since Texas in 2009 to finish the regular season 12-0. They made the four-team playoff, with a spot in the Fiesta Bowl against Michigan, even after losing in overtime to Kansas State in the league championship game.