Tina Charles’ decorated WNBA career has a new highlight. The eight-time All-Star, nine-time all-WNBA selection and 2012 MVP is now the second-leading scorer in WNBA history. Charles tied Tina Thompson with a 3-pointer in the third quarter of the Atlanta Dream’s 72-63 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, putting the pair at 7,488 points apiece. Charles later passed Thompson with another 3 on the opening possession of the fourth quarter to claim second place alone with her 7,491st point. Charles is already the second-leading rebounder in WNBA history. Tina Charles is now the 2nd all-time leading scorer in WNBA history with 7,491 PTS 🔥 🎥 @WNBA | @AtlantaDream pic.twitter.com/n1r6F7wEp4 — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 22, 2024 It was fortuitous that the moment took place with the league’s all-time leading scorer, Diana Taurasi, on the court for the opposing Mercury. Taurasi’s lead in that department is secure, however, as she entered the game 3,018 points clear of Charles. Taurasi currently sits at 10,500 points and is the only WNBA player to score 8,000 in her career. The Dream stopped the game to commemorate Charles’ accomplishment at the ensuing dead ball, allowing the top two scorers to celebrate together. “To hear my name in the (same) sentence as Diana is unimaginable, what she’s meant to me personally, this league, her impact. She’s definitely the GOAT,” Charles said after the game. “I’m just thankful.” 2nd All-Time Leading Scorer 👏 Congratulations, @tina31charles 💐 pic.twitter.com/e8JYo7KRZ4 — WNBA (@WNBA) August 22, 2024 A member of the WNBA’s 25th anniversary team in 2021, Charles had a near-incomparable first decade of her career. Entering the league as a two-time national champion out of UConn, she was the first pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft, won Rookie of the Year and proceeded to stake her claim as one of the greatest forwards in the sport. In addition to her WNBA accolades, Charles was a three-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion from 2010 to 2021. For the bulk of her career, she lived off her overseas earnings and donated her WNBA salary to Hopey’s Heart Foundation, which provides defibrillators to schools, recreation centers and public institutions. Charles’ WNBA career took a turn in 2022, when an attempted super team-up in Phoenix went awry. The Mercury and Charles agreed to a contract divorce midseason, and the star spent the rest of the year in Seattle. She struggled in the postseason, however, and didn’t sign with a W team for 2023. The Dream arrived in 2024 as a lifeline for Charles, a chance for redemption, and she has taken full advantage. The 35-year-old is averaging 14.0 points and 8.4 rebounds and has helped Atlanta start the second half of the season strong. She scored the game-winner in the Dream’s first game back against Seattle and sealed the win against Connecticut with six points down the stretch, including the go-ahead bucket. Her 12 points and 17 rebounds helped Atlanta collect its third win in three tries Wednesday to pull within one game of Chicago for a playoff spot. “Just to be with this team, to be coached by Tanisha (Wright), a person who has the most impact on my life and career, I just give God thanks,” Charles said. The one accolade left to earn in Charles’ career is a WNBA title, which probably won’t come with this particular Dream team. But Charles is at least reclaiming the opportunity to see out her WNBA career on her own terms. Rookies around the league, including Cameron Brink and Angel Reese, have praised Charles for her affability and advice during games. Charles’ legacy was already solidified. One more accolade makes it that much more special. Required reading Tina Charles doesn’t call it a comeback, but she’s playing better than ever Phoenix Mercury sign Tina Charles, WNBA’s 2021 leading scorer (Photo: Catalina Fragoso / NBAE via Getty Images)

In the end, it was the 40-year-old Joey Votto who decided he was no longer able to play at the major-league level. The longtime Cincinnati Reds first baseman announced his retirement on social media Wednesday, closing a career that included six MLB All-Star selections and spanned 17 MLB seasons, all played with the Reds. Votto posted his retirement announcement on Instagram just before a game between the Reds and the Toronto Blue Jays — his hometown team he was hoping to end his career with. He recorded the announcement in the parking lot of the stadium of the Toronto Blue Jays’ Triple-A team in Buffalo, N.Y., before arriving at Rogers Centre in Toronto for the end of the Reds’ 11-7 victory over the Blue Jays. After 15 games for Buffalo that saw Votto go 6-for-42 with 22 strikeouts, Votto decided to retire. “I just decided, you know, you’ve played long enough, you can interpret what’s going on, and I was awful,” Votto told reporters after Wednesday’s game. “I was awful down there. And the trend was not fast enough, and I didn’t feel at any point in time like I was anywhere near major-league ready.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Joey Votto (@joeyvotto) Votto signed a minor-league deal with his hometown Blue Jays this spring. He saw just a single pitch in spring training, hitting a home run off the Phillies’ Zack Wheeler. He suffered an ankle injury later in that game, halting his comeback. The Pulse NewsletterFree, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. document.querySelectorAll(".in-content-module[data-module-id='the-pulse-newsletter'] .in-content-module-img img ").forEach((el) => { el.setAttribute("style", "pointer-events: none;");}) Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox.Sign Up Votto played 31 games over three levels for the Blue Jays, hitting a combined .165 for the Blue Jays’ Florida Complex League team, the Low-A Dunedin team and Buffalo. Votto was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts for the Bisons on Tuesday. Following the 2023 season, the Reds declined Votto’s $20 million option for 2024. The signing of first baseman Jeimer Candelario effectively closed the door on Votto’s return to Cincinnati. Votto said he felt he could still play and the Blue Jays gave him that chance. Ultimately, Votto wasn’t able to perform to his standards. “I can say to the very last pitch I was giving my very all,” Votto said. “But you know, there’s an end for all athletes. Time is undefeated, as they say. And I can say with pride that I did this baseball thing, you know, I tried to do it with what I was given, and using the guidance from the people who have instructed me and the people I’ve played with and my competition. So I have zero regrets.” GO DEEPERJoey Votto reflects on decision to retire, falling short of dream to play for Blue Jays Selected by the Reds out of a Toronto-area high school in the second round of the 2002 MLB Draft, Votto amassed a Hall of Fame resume that includes a .294 career batting average, a .409 on-base percentage, 2,135 hits, 356 home runs and the 2010 National League Most Valuable Player Award. “It would have been awesome for (Votto) to be here and to play against him, but he had a hell of a career, and it was an honor to get to know him as a friend and as a player, and he’s an all-time great,” Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson said following Wednesday’s game. “And I mean, I grew up watching him. I was in high school, and here we are. I got to be a teammate with him. He had an unbelievable career — great teammate, great friend.” In the caption of the Instagram post announcing his retirement, Votto wrote, “Toronto + Canada, I wanted to play in front of you. Sigh, I tried with all my heart to play for my people. I’m just not good anymore. Thank you for all the support during my attempt.” “Cincinnati, I’ve only played for you,” his post continued. “I love you.” Required reading ‘Joey Votto is playing chess, and the rest of us are playing checkers’: Reds first baseman may be the most interesting man in baseball Joey Votto on Joey Moppo: The Reds star dishes about his own oral history Joey Votto has no hard feelings after Reds’ buyout: ‘I’ll always be a Cincinnati Red’ Reds’ Joey Votto ejected after first inning in potential last game of career (Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

HOUSTON — Alex Bregman’s availability to play third base will “kind of be a fluid situation” for the rest of the season, he said Wednesday. It’s troublesome news for an already inflexible Houston Astros roster and for a pending free agent performing in his platform year. Bregman returned to Houston’s starting lineup Wednesday following a five-game absence due to swelling in his right elbow. Serving as the team’s designated hitter, Bregman struck a solo home run in his first at-bat before going hitless across the next three. Asked after the game whether he could return to third base for Thursday’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles, Bregman intimated the issue inside his elbow will need to be carefully managed for the rest of the season. He reiterated there is no structural damage to his ulnar collateral ligament, but swelling remains a problem. “Some little gremlins in there are causing some swelling that I’m just going to have to try to mitigate through the rest of the year and keep the swelling out,” Bregman said. Following the 2018 season, Bregman underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips in this same elbow, though it is unclear if this problem is related. Bregman resumed throwing before Wednesday’s game and said he “didn’t feel any pain or discomfort or anything.” “But it’s going to be one of those things to take day by day and see how it feels the rest of the year,” Bregman said. Bregman said he doesn’t feel pain while swinging or throwing. Putting his arm in awkward positions can exacerbate some of his existing symptoms. “Honestly, I haven’t really felt it doing either, it’s more so if I put my arm in a weird position or sleep weird or something like that,” Bregman said. “It just kind of flares up. I’m trying to not have it do that. Just going to do everything we can, come out, compete and grind my ass off.” Bregman has authored a total turnaround after a brutal beginning to his season. Since sporting a .534 OPS on May 13, Bregman has been one of the sport’s most valuable players, worth 3.4 wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs. Among third basemen, only Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and José Ramírez have been worth more. Wednesday’s home run raised Bregman’s OPS to .768 and his slugging percentage to .450. The baseball exited his bat at 109.1 mph — the second-hardest hit ball he’s ever had in his major-league career. That alone should provide solace that Bregman can combat the elbow problems across Houston’s final 36 games, but if he’s limited to serving as a designated hitter, it complicates constructing the Astros’ lineup. It would all but force manager Joe Espada to play Yordan Alvarez daily in left field — something he has long advocated against — while trusting prospects Shay Whitcomb or Zach Dezenzo to man third base. The two rookies are a combined 9-for-47 since being summoned from Triple-A Sugar Land. Whitcomb committed an error on a routine ground ball during Houston’s win on Monday, too. Experimenting with catchers Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini at first base would allow Espada to get both of their streaking bats in the lineup, but at some point, spots run out for players pigeonholed into one or no positions. Required reading As Astros search for outfield stability, former prospect Wilyer Abreu flourishes in Boston Ryan Pressly hits injured list during Astros’ toughest stretch of the season The legend of Justin Verlander at Old Dominion: Vanity plates, house parties and high heat (Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

Oklahoma went into Texas and scored its biggest Class of 2025 recruiting win to date on Wednesday when five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi committed to coach Brent Venables and the Sooners. Fasusi, who is originally from Nigeria but now lives in Lewisville, Texas, announced his decision at a ceremony at his high school. The 6-foot-5, 295-pounder is the first five-star commit in the Sooners’ class, and he chose Oklahoma over Texas, Texas A&M, Oregon and Missouri. He is ranked No. 12 overall and the No. 3 offensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite. Should he sign with Oklahoma, Fasusi would become the program’s highest-rated offensive line recruit of the modern era (dating back to 2002). And it couldn’t come at a better time as the Sooners transition into the SEC, where most of the nation’s top defensive linemen play. Oklahoma’s class jumped three spots to No. 8 nationally with Fasusi’s pledge. He is OU’s 23rd commit and the ninth from Texas. The Sooners are up to 14 blue-chippers and seven top-150 prospects. Fasusi is the fourth offensive lineman in the class, joining four-star Ryan Fodje (No. 122 nationally) out of Texas, three-star Darius Afalava out of Utah and three-star Owen Hollenbeck, also out of Texas. Required reading High school football 2024 guide: National matchups, top talent, QB recruits College football recruiting index: Time to panic at Colorado, South Carolina and Texas Tech? (Photo of Brent Venables: Brian Bahr / Getty Images)

Austin Dillon’s attempt to be reinstated into NASCAR’s playoffs has hit the wall. For now, at least. The three-member National Motorsports Appeals Panel denied Richard Childress Racing’s request to overturn NASCAR’s penalty following Dillon’s win at Richmond after a hearing Wednesday in Concord, N.C. Dillon and RCR have one final opportunity to plead their case in a hearing before the Final Appeals Officer. RCR said in a statement it was “disappointed” with the results of Wednesday’s hearing. “We respect the NASCAR appeals process, but we do not believe that today’s outcome reflects the facts presented.” Richard Childress Racing is disappointed in the results of today’s hearing in front of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel. We respect the NASCAR appeals process, but we do not believe that today’s outcome reflects the facts presented. We plan to appeal the decision to the… — RCR (@RCRracing) August 21, 2024 In the meantime, Dillon’s Richmond victory will still not count toward NASCAR postseason eligibility. Dillon took out two drivers in separate incidents on the race’s final lap in an attempt to bulldoze his way into the playoffs. But NASCAR, in an unprecedented move, decided three days later Dillon’s win should not count toward an automatic playoff berth because of how he won it. The panel agreed with the decision and said, “NASCAR represents elite motorsports and, as such, its drivers are expected to demonstrate exemplary conduct if its series’ championships are to be validated. In this case, the ‘line’ was crossed.” On a positive note for RCR, spotter Brandon Benesch — who was suspended for three races after yelling at Dillon to “wreck him!” — saw his penalty reduced to a one-week suspension. Benesch already served that penalty and can return to the racetrack this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Required reading Austin Dillon’s Richmond win won’t count toward NASCAR playoff eligibility Thankfully, NASCAR draws the line in stripping Austin Dillon’s playoff eligibility NASCAR drivers react to Austin Dillon penalty, ponder its message (Photo: Logan Whitton / Getty Images)

Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. was released from University Hospitals after being transported there by ambulance after practice Wednesday, the Browns said in a statement. Strong sustained a rib contusion and was brought to the hospital as a precaution after experiencing shortness of breath. Strong walked into the practice facility with a member of Cleveland’s training staff before being placed in an ambulance adjacent to the field and the ambulance departed a few minutes later. Strong, 25, is entering his third NFL season and second with the Browns. He was a fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2022 NFL Draft and spent one season in Foxborough before being traded to Cleveland in August 2023. Strong appeared in all 17 games last season and rushed for 291 yards and a touchdown. He is in line to again make the team as a core special teams player — and likely one of the team’s primary kickoff returners. Strong is one of the fastest players on the team and was good last season as a punt gunner. It’s unclear if he’s made a push for playing time at running back. Required reading Browns preseason: Cleveland encounters emergency situation at OT vs. Vikings Browns defense dominant, offense shaky in joint practices with Vikings (Photo: Don Juan Moore / Getty Images)

Sean Payton may as well have been telling Bo Nix his shoe was untied. When the coach of the Denver Broncos pulled the rookie aside before Wednesday’s practice and told him he would be the team’s starting quarterback in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, the conversation was brief. “He walked up and said he was going to tell you guys (in the media) this afternoon,” Nix said, “And, ‘Let’s have a good practice.'” Nix’s reaction was equally understated. “He smiled and he got ready to practice. It was good,” Payton said. “We didn’t have any cake and candles or anything.” There was no drama in the announcement because there was no lingering doubt about a quarterback competition Nix had turned into a coronation over the past two-plus weeks. The move was widely expected after Nix’s impressive preseason start against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday when he completed 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. That performance capped an impressive offseason for the No. 12 pick, who surged ahead in a competition against veteran Jarrett Stidham and trade acquisition Zach Wilson. Payton resisted calls to name Nix the starter after a promising preseason debut in Indianapolis on Aug. 11 — Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown — but it became clear then the announcement would be merely a formality. “We’ve gone through our process,” Payton said. “In the very beginning of it all, just speaking with (general manager) George (Paton) and (owner) Greg (Penner), understanding that, a lot of times, these things often take care of themselves, but we’re not in a hurry to arrive at those types of decisions. “We want to see it. I think it’s important, relative to the team, that we handle it that way.” Nix has made clear progress since the start of training camp, creating a swelling of optimism among fans and teammates alike about his readiness to guide the Broncos. “To see him come in and handle what he’s handled so far, it’s been really fun to see him do his thing,” Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton said of Nix. “I’m excited for him. He’s handling these early couple games of preseason success really well, but he’s not letting it go to his head. He’s taking it in stride. “‘What else can I get better at?’ ‘What else can we get better at?’ ‘We like this route, we like this, but let’s try and do it like this next time and we might be able to get more yards and take it to another level.’ To have a young guy like that, to be that hungry and not complacent is really encouraging.” Nix will become the Broncos’ first rookie quarterback to start a Week 1 game since John Elway in 1983 and the first rookie to start any game for Denver since 2019. He will also become the first rookie quarterback to start an opener for Payton during his 17 seasons as a coach. “It’s great to share with such a great player like John Elway,” Nix said of becoming a season-opening rookie starter for the Broncos. “But I definitely want to go out there and ultimately do whatever I can for the team. It doesn’t matter when your first start is. It doesn’t matter if you have to wait or if you go right now. You just want to get out there and get that first win and ultimately compete at a high level and give your team the best chance you can.” Nix earned the starting job by demonstrating a poise born of extensive experience. He started an FBS-record 61 games across five seasons as a college starting quarterback at Auburn and Oregon. Nix became a starting varsity quarterback at Scottsboro High School in Alabama as an eighth grader and later won two state championships at Pinson Valley High School. The common refrain from those who have coached Nix and played alongside the 24-year-old is that it hasn’t felt like they were watching a rookie compete. The rookie has dropped back 34 times in the preseason without being sacked. He hasn’t turned the ball over in a game and has only thrown one interception in training camp during 11-on-11 sessions. “He has a very unique combination of humility and confidence that goes a long way for his position and certainly as a rookie stepping in here with a lot of pressure on himself,” veteran right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “He’s taken that in stride and there’s no fear of competition and there’s no fear of getting out there and going for it. That certainly has shown in the way that he’s progressed all of camp.” The Broncos released Russell Wilson in March after just two seasons in Denver, taking on an $85 million dead-money hit across two seasons in the process. Nix, both financially as a starter on a rookie contract and by way of his performance, offers the Broncos a chance to quickly emerge from the failed experiment with Wilson. He will become the Broncos’ seventh Week 1 starter in the past nine seasons, and there is hope he can become the one who finally jams a wrench into a quarterback carousel that has been spinning for the Broncos since Peyton Manning retired in 2016. The Broncos still have questions at quarterback. Namely, will they keep both Stidham and Zach Wilson, who had arguably his best practice of training camp Wednesday? Payton didn’t provide any clues as to how the rest of the room will shake out with final roster cuts just six days away. The focus Wednesday was on Nix. His, though, was turned to the afternoon meetings to come. He said he didn’t call or text members of his family to share the news after coming off the practice field. “I’m sure they already heard it from you guys. We’ll talk about it later, I’m sure, and they’ll be excited,” Nix said. “They’ll all tell me the same thing: ‘You’ve got to go back and work.’ Now the expectations and the standard is even higher, so you’ve got to get back to the main thing and keep that the main thing.” Payton said Nix’s performance in camp has been “outstanding,” and he was particularly pleased with how he made off-schedule plays and navigated the pocket when pressure arrived. But the coach also provided a reminder that Nix’s pro development has just begun. “There’s a ton of room for growth,” Payton said. “There’s a lot of things he needs to work on.” Payton has praised Nix for his ability to process information quickly, so much so, in fact, that the Broncos are trying to get him to slow it down in some instances. “If there’s one thing we’re working on now, he’s really quick through the process and sometimes maybe a little quick past one in the read because his internal clock is going. There’s been some times where he snaps the ball and we’ve got a shift, and it might to you look like a motion, (but) we’re making a note like, ‘Hey, let this guy get set,’ that kind of thing.” Nix can drill down on those improvements with the peace of mind that he will be the starter on Sept. 8. The competition is officially over. The Broncos have their quarterback. Scoop City NewsletterFree, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. document.querySelectorAll(".in-content-module[data-module-id='scoop-city-newsletter'] .in-content-module-img img ").forEach((el) => { el.setAttribute("style", "pointer-events: none;");}) Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.Sign Up All signs pointed to Nix Because of the competition (Stidham and Wilson) and his experience (61 college starts), it would have been surprising if Nix wasn’t named the season-opening starter. So far in the preseason, Nix has looked like the same player we saw at Oregon — a mobile quarterback who shines in the quick game and understands where to go to sustain drives. But the true test of his development will come against NFL regular season defenses that take away the quick options and force him to read things out from the pocket. One of the main concerns with Nix’s college tape came when his eyes would speed up on him versus pressure, leading to frantic decisions. But Payton is one of the best at understanding his quarterback and simplifying things for him, which gives this marriage a chance to make it past the honeymoon stage. — Dane Brugler, NFL Draft analyst Required reading Bo Nix puts emphatic claim on Broncos’ starting QB job in breezy win vs. Packers ‘Cannot get a bead off him’: One trait helping Broncos QB Bo Nix progress in camp Peyton Manning says Bo Nix a fit for Broncos’ ‘extremely quarterback-friendly’ offense NFL Projection Model, AFC win totals: Can anyone dethrone the Chiefs? (Photo: Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images)