Alyssa Thomas has surgery on torn Achilles tendon

Alyssa Thomas' 2021 WNBA season may be in jeopardy after she underwent successful surgery on Tuesday afternoon to repair a torn Achilles tendon. The Connecticut Sun mainstay is an unrestricted free agent.
Miller signs four-year extension with Connecticut Sun

The Connecticut Sun announced Tuesday that general manager and head Ccach Curt Miller has signed a four-year contract extension through the 2024 WNBA season.
Hiedeman accepts qualifying offer to return to Sun

The Connecticut Sun announced Friday that reserve guard Natisha Hiedeman has signed the qualifying offer extended by head coach and general manager Curt Miller.
COLUMNS
Villanova finally returns to action and picks up a win
The Wildcats, picked to win the Big East in the league's preseason poll, last played on Dec. 23.
UCONN
Christyn Williams will be at home as No. 3 UConn travels to No. 19 Arkansas

Christyn Williams spent a significant amount of time last year at home in Little Rock, Arkansas, due to the pandemic, more than she has since she left to play for the UConn women's basketball team.
COVID-19 issues force UConn men to postpone next two games

An official who worked Tuesday's home game against Butler at Gampel Pavilion tested positive for COVID-19, forcing UConn to postpone Thursday's showdown with No. 3 Villanova and Sunday's game at St. John's.
UConn men roll by Butler, 63-51

The Huskies led by as many as 19 on the way to beating Butler, 63-51, at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, snapping a two-game losing streak.
COLLEGES
NCAA, Power Five play defense with Dems controlling Congress

The NCAA and the Power Five conferences will have to work harder to prevent major changes to college sports now that Democrats control Congress and the White House
Reaves' 23 points, late FT lift Oklahoma over Texas 80-79

Austin Reaves scored 23 points and made two free throws with 18.3 seconds left that proved to be the difference as No. 24 Oklahoma beat short-handed No. 5 Texas 80-79
Top 25 men's and women's basketball roundup

Jaden Shackelford scored 21 points to help No. 9 Alabama beat Kentucky 70-59 and complete its first regular season two-game sweep over the Wildcats since 1989
HIGH SCHOOL
NL's Jenkins continues to build Bunnell football program despite challenges

New London native Tywan Jenkins kept it real for his Bunnell football team last fall even though the Bulldogs didn't have a regular season.
Grasso Tech, Norwich Tech hoops to play in four-school pod

Ellis Tech, Grasso Tech, Norwich Tech and Windham Tech will be part of a four-school pod in boys' and girls' basketball this winter, playing each team in the pod for times.
Strecker retires after 25 seasons at Waterford, the last six as head football coach

John Strecker, head football coach at Waterford High School for six seasons, announced his retirement on Thursday.
MOST READ
LOCAL ROUNDUP
Local calendar
BASEBALL/SOFTBALLEastern Connecticut Board of Umpires — Looking for new members for the high school and American Legion baseball seasons. Training will begin in February. Contact: Matt McShane,...
Local colleges: Mitchell names Bashant men's and women's cross country coach
Michael Bashant, a recent University of New Hampshire graduate, has been named head coach of the Mitchell College men's and women's cross country programs.
PROFESSIONAL
Yanks finalize deals with Kluber, LeMahieu, agree with O'Day

The retooling New York Yankees have finalized a $90 million, six-year contract to retain AL batting champion DJ LeMahieu and completed an $11 million deal to add right-hander Corey Kluber
New Jays OF Springer sees echoes of Astros in Toronto's core
With the Houston Astros, outfielder George Springer witnessed firsthand how a group of talented youngsters could grow and develop into consistent World Series contenders
Baseball Hall gets no new members; Schilling 16 votes shy

The baseball Hall of Fame won’t have any new players in the class of 2021 after voters decided no one had the merits — on-the-field or off — for enshrinement in Cooperstown on this year’s ballot
ON THE AIR
Basketball
7 p.m., CBSSN — NCAA men: Marquette at Providence.
7 p.m., ESPN2 — NCAA men: Georgia at South Carolina.
7 p.m., FS1 — NCAA men: Creighton at Seton Hall.
7 p.m., NESN — NCAA men: Virginia Tech at Notre Dame.
7:30 p.m., YES, WFAN (660-AM) — NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks.
7:30 p.m., ESPN — NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Philadelphia 76ers.
8:30 p.m., NBCSB — NBA: Boston Celtics at San Antonio Spurs.
9 p.m., CBSSN — NCAA men: Boise State at Colorado State.
9 p.m., ESPN2 — NCAA men: Kansas State at Baylor.
9 p.m., ESPNU — NCAA men: Washington State at Colorado.
9 p.m., FS1 — NCAA men: St. John's at DePaul.
9 p.m., NESN — NCAA men: Louisville at Clemson.
10 p.m., ESPN — NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors.
11 p.m., FS1 — NCAA men: Utah State at UNLV.
Football
12:30 p.m., ESPNU — NCAA: Senior Bowl practice from Mobile, Ala.
Golf
4:30 p.m., Golf Channel — NCAA: Southwestern Invitational from Westlake Village, Calif.
11 p.m., Golf Channel — European PGA: Dubai Desert Classic from United Arab Emirates.
Hockey
7:30 p.m., NBCSN — NHL: Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators.
Soccer
3:10 p.m., NBCSN — Premier League: Sheffield United at Manchester United.