Jun 28, 2023 4 min read

In the NHL

The NHL salary cap is getting another modest increase, going up $1 million again to $83.5 million.

The league and NHL Players’ Association announced the cap number for the 2023-24 season Wednesday. It’s the second consecutive season the cap went up by $1 million after staying flat the previous two.

This small increase was the recommendation made last week to the league’s board of governors. General managers were informed of the expected decision earlier this week.

There was a small chance the cap would get a bigger jump if revenue from previous seasons was enough to eclipse the money players still owed owners from the pandemic. That would have taken players raising the amount of money they make held in escrow, and NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said they were not willing to do that.

The cap floor for next season will be $61.7 million.

• The Arizona Coyotes say they have identified a half-dozen potential sites to construct a privately funded arena and entertainment district to revive what might be the franchise’s last opportunity to stay in the Phoenix area.

In soccer

The 2024 Major League Soccer All-Star Game will be played at the Columbus Crew’s Lower.com Field on July 17, the league said Wednesday.

Columbus hosted the game in 2000 and 2005 at its previous stadium.

This year’s All-Star Game, in which MLS All-Stars play Premier League powerhouse Arsenal, is at Audi Feld in Washington, D.C., on July 19.

The 2024 opponent will be announced later.

ESPY awards

The U.S. women’s national soccer team will be honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at The ESPYS on July 12.

Liam Hendriks, the Chicago White Sox reliever who battled non-Hodgkin lymphoma, will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. The Pat Tillman Award for Service will go to the Buffalo Bills training staff for helping save the life of safety Damar Hamlin, who collapsed on the field in January.

The U.S. women’s team successfully fought for equal pay with the men’s national team that helped set a standard for other sports. The team has since worked to raise awareness around pay inequity and social injustices in the United States.

Hendriks returned to play in May, six months after being diagnosed. He donated $100,000 to cancer research.

After Hamlin’s collapse, the Bills training staff performed live-saving measures before Hamlin was rushed to the hospital. He has since been cleared to return to football. The Tillman award is given to a group that serves others in a similar way to the former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger.

In the NFL

The NFL is finalizing disciplinary action against more players for gambling violations, including Indianapolis Colts defensive back Isaiah Rodgers Sr., two people familiar with the plans told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because an official announcement won’t be made until later this week.

A year-long suspension would be consistent with other punishments handed down for similar violations.

A spokesman for the Colts declined comment. Rodgers’ agent didn’t respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday.

The first indication Rodgers was involved came when a website that covers sports wagering, sportshandle.com, reported in early June that an unidentified Colts player had been involved with “pervasive” betting. The report said the player placed “hundreds” of bets, some on the Colts.