Axios

Brittney Griner, the WNBA star imprisoned in Russia, met with U.S. embassy officials Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed.

The latest: “We are told she's doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances,” Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday he is "disappointed" that Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving did not apologize for posting a link to a film that contained "deeply offensive antisemitic material."

Why it matters: In his statement, Silver stopped short of levying a suspension or handing down a more serious punishment for the Brooklyn Nets star.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports, a tech-focused company set to launch a virtual golf league in 2024, announced its first round of investors on Wednesday.

Driving the news: Among the 50+ high-profile investors were 26 active or retired athletes, along with a handful of team owners.

A day after the Phillies made history with their bats, the Astros did it with their arms.

Driving the news: Houston's Cristian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly combined to no-hit the Phillies in Wednesday's 5-0 victory, tying the World Series at two games apiece.

Dan Snyder is seeking a buyer for the Washington Commanders after a 23-year ownership that's been best known for losing football and off-field controversies. But private equity funds won't be among the bidders.

What to know: NFL rules prevent private equity funds and other forms of institutional capital from owning franchises, even if they only hold minority stakes. That's different from many other pro sports leagues, including the NBA, MLB, NHL and Premier League.

Tennessee debuted at No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, with Ohio State, Georgia and Clemson rounding out the top four.

Why it matters: Tennessee has never even been ranked in the CFP top four, much less No. 1. Not bad for a team just two years removed from going 3-7.

Prime Video has signed a deal with Overtime Elite (OTE) for the exclusive global streaming rights to 20 live games per season for the next three years.

The big picture: OTE is a six-team basketball league featuring some of the best players in the world ages 16 to 20. Players receive six-figure salaries and an education as they prepare for college and professional hoops.