WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to intervene in a discrimination lawsuit led by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL, allowing the case to proceed toward trial.

The justices rebuffed an appeal from the league, which wanted the case handled through its arbitration process rather than open court in New York. Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented from the decision not to hear the case.

Flores, who’s Black, sued the league and three teams in February 2022, alleging the league was “rife with racism” regarding its hiring practices when it comes to Black coaches. He was later joined in the lawsuit by fellow Black coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton.

Flores, who was fired by the Dolphins shortly before the suit was filed, is now the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator.

The NFL has argued Flores should go through arbitration rather than the legal system, but lower courts have sided with the plaintiffs. The league said it respected the Supreme Court decision, which allows lower-court rulings to stay in place, but is “fully prepared to defend ourselves as this matter proceeds.”

David Gottlieb and Douglas Wigdor, attorneys for the plaintiffs, said they were pleased with the decision. “The NFL must now accept that its commissioner cannot be the arbitrator over discrimination claims against the league and its teams. We look forward to litigating these claims in court,” they said in a statement.

Flores was fired after posting a 24-25 record over three years without a playoff appearance. The Dolphins did have back-to-back winning seasons before Flores was dismissed.

Flores sued the NFL as well as the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants and the Houston Texans. He interviewed with the Broncos in 2019 and the Giants and Texans in 2022.

Wilks, who was fired as the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator in December, joined the lawsuit by claiming the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 hired him as a “bridge coach” — promoting him to interim coach after they fired another coach but then passing over him for the full-time role. He said the Cardinals didn’t provide him with a realistic chance to succeed.

Horton, who last coached in the NFL in 2019, alleged the Tennessee Titans didn’t offer him a genuine interview for the head coaching position in 2016.

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Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this story.

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Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court and the NFL at https://apnews.com/hub/nfl.

Top prospect Gage Jump is set to join the Athletics’ roster when starter Aaron Civale is placed on the injured list, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

A left-handed strikeout pitcher, Jump has fanned 56 batters in 38 innings over nine starts at Triple-A Las Vegas this season. The 23-year-old has walked 20 and posted a 4.50 ERA with an 0-2 record.

A second-round draft pick out of LSU in 2024, Jump is the No. 41 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline, which rated him third among A’s prospects behind shortstop Leo De Vries and left-hander Jamie Arnold. Arnold was the 11th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of Florida State and is currently pitching at Double-A Midland.

Civale was pulled after four innings on Monday, raising red flags with a velocity drop that manager Mark Kotsay traced postgame to an issue with his right shoulder or lat. The A’s said Civale would undergo testing Tuesday.

He allowed seven runs on nine hits and one walk, tossing only 73 pitches in Monday’s 9-2 loss to the visiting Seattle Mariners. He allowed five runs in five innings to the Los Angeles Angels last week, when he said he had been “working through” the arm issue “for a little bit.”

His fastball velocity averaged 88.3 mph on the stadium radar gun on Monday, more than 3 mph off of his 2026 season average.

Civale, 30, is 5-2 this season and his ERA stands at 4.20 through 11 starts. Prior to facing the Angels and Mariners in the past two turns through the rotation, he had a 2.70 ERA. He surrendered 14 hits (six home runs) and 12 earned runs in those two games.

–Field Level Media

By Vincent Daheron

PARIS, May 26 (Reuters) – French teenager Moise Kouame announced himself on the Grand Slam stage in emphatic fashion on Tuesday, beating former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 7-6(4) 6-2 6-1 at the French Open to become the youngest man to win a major main-draw match in 17 years.

Handed a wildcard by organisers, the 17-year-old Frenchman looked entirely unfazed on Court Simonne Mathieu in the first-round match as he made his Grand Slam debut against a player 20 years his senior and a former world number three.

Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champion and a Roland Garros semi-finalist in 2022, arrived in Paris ranked 46th in the world but was outplayed by the fearless teenager, whose speed in defence and deft drop shots repeatedly drew applause from the crowd.

Ranked 318th, Kouame edged a tense opening set in a tiebreak after saving two set points before taking control of the match.

“It wasn’t easy. I always try to stay in the present moment and not think too much about the score. Today I managed to do that really well,” Kouame said on court.

Kouame did not concede a break of serve throughout the contest as he sealed victory in straight sets.

At 17 years and two months old, Kouame became the youngest player to win a Grand Slam match since Australia’s Bernard Tomic reached the 2009 Australian Open second round at the age of 16.

He is also the youngest player to advance past the first round at Roland Garros since Romania’s Dinu Pescariu achieved the feat in 1991 at 17 years and one month old.

“It’s a lot of emotion, it’s exceptional,” Kouame said. “Coming into this tournament, I didn’t really know what to expect. The team and I worked hard to be as ready as possible.”

The teenager, coached by former French player Richard Gasquet, claimed only the second main-tour win of his career after earning his first at the Miami Masters in March.

He will next face Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo who advanced after 20th seed Cameron Norrie retired injured.

Kouame’s breakthrough run caps a rapid rise this season.

The Frenchman has won three ITF titles — the third tier of professional tennis — and received several wildcards on the main circuit, including at the Miami and Monte Carlo Masters.

“All the experience I gained in Miami and Monte Carlo probably helped me a little,” Kouame told reporters. “Technically, I felt pretty calm. I knew I was ready and I felt good mentally and physically.”

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Don Rea Jr. is out as president of the PGA of America, effective immediately.

Tuesday’s news came on the heels of the PGA of America’s board of directors suspending Rea for the remainder of his two-year team, which ends in November.

PGA of America vice president Nathan Charnes has been named acting president.

Rea came under fire for failing to apologize amid a raucous New York crowd hurling personal insults at Rory McIlroy and his family during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Rea did later issue apologies, but he was also caught on video performing a karaoke version of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” on Saturday night of the Cup, when the U.S. trailed by seven points.

He ruffled feathers at the end of the matches, when Europe won 15-13 and Rea said Europe “retained” the Cup rather than won it outright during the trophy presentation.

And earlier in 2025, Rea was widely seen as overshadowing the PGA’s CEO at the time, Derek Sprague, at the PGA Championship press conference with his big personality.

Rea was named the 44th president of the PGA of America on Nov. 7, 2024.

–Field Level Media

Guard Matt Able pulled out of the 2026 NBA Draft and will play for North Carolina this season, he told ESPN on Tuesday.

“I’ve decided to withdraw my name from the 2026 NBA Draft and continue my development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” Able said, per ESPN. “Grateful for the feedback I received throughout this process and excited to be part of the Tar Heel family.”

The deadline for the decision was Wednesday.

Listed at 6-foot-6, Able averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 34 games off the bench for North Carolina State in 2025-26. He shot 41.6% from the floor and 35.5% from 3-point range.

–Field Level Media

Pending unrestricted free agent forward Claude Giroux wants to return for a 20th NHL season, TSN reported on Tuesday.

Giroux, 38, recorded 49 points (14 goals, 35 assists) and a plus-20 rating in 82 games this season with Ottawa. He was held off the scoresheet in all four games as the Senators were swept in an Eastern Conference first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Giroux has totaled 1,165 points (379 goals, 786 assists) in 1,345 career games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers and Senators. The seven-time All-Star was selected by the Flyers with the 22nd overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Manny Fernandez, a key member of the Miami Dolphins’ defensive line during the Super Bowl championship seasons of 1972 and 1973, died at 79.

The Dolphins confirmed the news over social media on Tuesday but did not disclose a cause of death.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Manny Fernandez, a member of the 1972 Perfect Team, a two-time Super Bowl champion, Ring of Honor member and an anchor of the Dolphins’ legendary No-Name Defense,” the team said in a statement.

“His consistent and selfless contributions on the field were instrumental to the Dolphins’ success throughout the early 1970s, particularly in the team’s three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, in which he produced some of the most memorable defensive performances in the history of the game. Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones and teammates as we remember one of the best players in Dolphins history.”

An undrafted Fernandez signed with Miami in 1968 and played with the team before retiring in 1975. He was named to the team’s Honor Roll as part of the perfect 1972 team as well as individually in 2014.

Fernandez excelled in Super Bowl VII, recording 17 tackles and a sack in the Dolphins’ 14-7 win over Washington.

–Field Level Media

By Shrivathsa Sridhar

PARIS, May 26 (Reuters) – Naomi Osaka turned heads with another sparkling Grand Slam fashion statement on Tuesday and the former world number one matched it with striking tennis to dismantle unseeded German Laura Siegemund 6-3 7-6(3) in the French Open first round.

Months after dazzling with a jellyfish-inspired outfit at the Australian Open, Osaka walked onto Court Suzanne Lenglen in a sequined waistcoat blouse and a black mesh floor-length train before unveiling a layered yellow-brown and gold match dress.

“Honestly it’s very couture,” Osaka said in her on-court interview about her kit. “Funnily enough, I feel like … you know the Eiffel Tower at night when it’s sparkly? I think I look like that a bit.”

Siegemund, far more understated in attire, held her own once the clash began but four-times Grand Slam champion Osaka quickly took control of the opening set with her power and aggression to close it out with minimum fuss.

As the blazing afternoon sun made conditions more difficult for players, Osaka allowed the momentum to shift slightly in the next set, but the 16th seed saved a set point and powered back from 5-3 down to force a tiebreak and prevail.

“I felt really nervous but for me, I haven’t played on this court in a little while, so it’s nice to get out here and play in front of everyone,” Osaka added.

“It’s really hot so I hope everyone is drinking water.”

Osaka takes on 2024 Paris Olympics silver medallist Donna Vekic in the next round after the Croat eased past local hope Alice Tubello.

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris; Editing by Ken Ferris)

PARIS, May 26 (Reuters) – Reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff recovered from a slow start to power past fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-0 as her title defence began in style on Tuesday.

On a baking Court Philippe-Chatrier, Gauff struggled to find her range early on and was a point away from slipping two breaks of serve behind against her compatriot.

But the fourth seed quickly recovered her poise to take control and move safely through to the second round.

Gauff double-faulted on set point at 5-3 in the opener but broke the Townsend serve in the next game to move ahead.

After that it was one-way traffic as she raced to victory.

“I have so many great memories on this court,” Gauff, who beat Aryna Sabalenka in the final last year, said.

“I was a little nervous going out today, that showed a bit, but I was able to find my calm.”

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)

May 26 (Reuters) – Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez is set to return for the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, his team Ducati said on Tuesday, following two surgeries after his crash at Le Mans earlier this month.

Marquez missed the French Grand Prix race as well as the Catalan Grand Prix weekend after fracturing his foot in a nasty highside crash in the sprint at Le Mans.

The 33-year-old had surgery on a metatarsal fracture as well as a separate shoulder operation, which was originally scheduled for after his home Catalan Grand Prix.

“Following a positive medical check, Marc will travel to Mugello tomorrow,” Ducati said in a statement.

“He is scheduled for a final trackside assessment on Thursday to secure the ‘fit to race’ clearance for the Italian Grand Prix.”

Ducati’s Italian test rider Michele Pirro will replace Marquez’s brother Alex on the Gresini Racing bike after the Spaniard suffered a horror crash at the Catalan Grand Prix.

Alex will miss the Grands Prix in Italy and Hungary after suffering a marginal fracture in a vertebra near his neck, along with a fracture to his right collarbone.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)