National Sports

Amid calls for the NHL to take an ownership stake in women's hockey, a former WNBA commissioner says the women's basketball league wouldn't have survived without the NBA. Val Ackerman was WNBA president for the first nine of its 23 years.

TORONTO — James Lackey's students at Brampton Christian School will have to forgive him for cheering on Golden State this week as the Toronto Raptors open up the NBA Finals against the Warriors.

TORONTO — A father of four in addition to being Toronto FC coach, Greg Vanney is used to have his nerves tested. The 44-year-old former U.S. international is normally a picture of cool.

TORONTO — Count Toronto FC midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo as one of the growing number of Toronto Raptors converts.

MONTREAL — With the Impact entering a stretch of three home games in eight days, midfielder Samuel Piette believes this is a pivotal point in Montreal's season.

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. — Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., was one of four golfers named to Canada's team on Tuesday for the upcoming Pan-American Games in Lima, Peru.

TORONTO — An NCAA men's basketball tripleheader will be played in Toronto in November. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that the inaugural James Naismith Classic will be held on Nov. 16 at Scotiabank Arena.

PARIS — Canada's Bianca Andreescu has advanced to the second round of the French Open after a two-month injury absence. The No. 22 seed from Mississauga, Ont.

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed Sheldon Keefe to a two-year contract extension as head coach of the club's American Hockey League affiliate.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Klay Thompson craved a little calm. The Golden State guard needed something more to balance out his basketball routine, so he added meditation to help him get centred before games and better deal with the pressures of NBA life.