UConn guard Azzi Fudd, who hasn't played since suffering a right knee injury more than a year ago, is available to return to action Wednesday as the No. 2 Huskies host Fairleigh Dickinson.

Coach Geno Auriemma is seeking his record-breaking 1,217th victory Wednesday, which would move him past retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer for most in Division I history in men's or women's basketball.

Fudd suffered the injury in practice on Nov. 14, 2023. She played just two games last season and is now a redshirt junior. In all, Fudd has been limited to 42 games in college after being the No. 1-rated recruit in the Class of 2021, according to HoopGurlz.

Fudd has averaged 13.1 points and 2.4 rebounds at UConn, but she has dealt with injuries throughout her time with the Huskies. She played 25 games, starting 17, her freshman year in 2021-2022, when the Huskies lost the national championship game to South Carolina.

She played 15 games in 2022-2023, when fellow guard Paige Bueckers missed the entire season with a knee injury. UConn's streak of 14 consecutive Final Four appearances ended that season.

Bueckers returned last season as the Huskies made the Final Four, but the two players have not had much time on the court together.

Bueckers, who is averaging 21.3 points per game, is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. However, she could still return for one more season in college because of the COVID-19 waiver from 2020-2021.

Fudd, who still has this season and another of college eligibility remaining, would be projected as a potential lottery pick if she declared for the 2025 draft.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs acquired reliever Eli Morgan from the Cleveland Guardians in a trade Wednesday, sources told ESPN.

The Cubs, who also designated infielder Patrick Wisdom for assignment, sent a minor league prospect to Cleveland in the deal.

Morgan, 28, is coming off an injury-plagued 2024 season when he appeared in 32 games, compiling a 1.93 ERA over 42 innings. The veteran right-hander has spent his four-year career with the Guardians after being drafted in the eighth round in 2017. He has a career record of 18-12 with a 3.97 ERA in 161 games, including 19 starts when he first came up to the big leagues.

Morgan spent time on the injured list in 2024 with both elbow and shoulder problems, returning for the final two months of the season.

Morgan offers a three-pitch mix including a fastball, slider and changeup. Opposing batters hit just .176 off his four-seam fastball last season. He'll be a welcome addition to a Cubs bullpen that struggled at times last season; he projects as a middle man who could also earn some save opportunities.

Wisdom, 33, batted just .171 last year with eight home runs while appearing in 75 games. He spent the past five years with Chicago, compiling more than 20 home runs in three consecutive seasons from 2021-23.

Wisdom's playing time diminished as the team broke in third baseman Christopher Morel before he was traded for another third baseman, Isaac Paredes from the Tampa Bay Rays.

NEW YORK -- Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner confirmed that club officials recently met with free agent slugger Juan Soto in California, describing it as a "good meeting" that included "very honest back-and-forth dialogue" without divulging many other details.

"Our fans really enjoyed having them in New York," Steinbrenner said Wednesday in the lobby of MLB's offices where the owners meetings are being held this week. "He's definitely a significant part of why we got to the World Series. I've got ears. I know what's expected of me. So, look, it's been a priority. We wouldn't have gone out to the West Coast if it wasn't."

Steinbrenner said the Yankees' delegation included general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone, president Randy Levine, and Omar Minaya, a special assistant to the general manager. The owner declined to share the team's pitch to Soto or if any offers were made over the couple of hours, but he said he told Soto he would establish a relationship with the star outfielder similar to the one he has with franchise cornerstones Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge if Soto chooses to re-sign. Steinbrenner noted Soto asked about the organization's player development system.

"No idea," Steinbrenner said when asked if he was confident the team would re-sign Soto. "We'll be in the mix. I'll leave it at that."

In addition to the Yankees, Soto has met with the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers over the past week. The Mets, buoyed by billionaire owner Steve Cohen's deep pockets, are widely considered as the Yankees' chief competition for Soto's services.

"I could say that about a couple other owners too," Steinbrenner said when asked about Cohen's spending power. "Or corporations, for that matter, that represent the ownership group. So, I mean, of course it's a concern."

The Yankees acquired Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres last December for five players. They made the trade knowing that keeping Soto, then an accomplished three-time All-Star entering his age-25 season, beyond one year would require a significant investment. Soto went on to raise his price another level with an excellent 2024 campaign, partnering with Judge to create the most dangerous duo in baseball.

The 26-year-old right fielder belted a career-high 41 home runs with a .288 batting average, .989 OPS, 129 walks and an American League-leading 128 runs scored. He made his fourth All-Star team, and his 8.1 fWAR ranked fourth in the majors. He supplied the production while providing entertainment value with swagger and showmanship and helped lead the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009.

Soto's looming free agency prompted the Washington Nationals to trade him in July 2022 after he declined a 15-year, $440 million offer and led to the Padres unloading him last year. Now he is expected to command a contract well over $500 million that could break records for highest present-day total value and present-day annual average value. The price the Yankees are willing to pay Soto is unclear.

Last offseason, Steinbrenner said the Yankees established a "walkaway" number when negotiating with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who wound up signing with the Dodgers. The owner said he hasn't "thought about it" in regard to Soto.

Including Soto's $31 million salary in 2024, the Yankees had approximately $80 million in free agents come off their books after carrying a $300-million-plus luxury tax payroll. Steinbrenner reiterated that spending that much money on the roster is not tenable.

"We're in a better starting position than we were a year ago. There's no doubt about that," Steinbrenner said. "Look, year after year after year after year, payrolls similar to this year and the luxury taxes they produce are not sustainable. That's the case for the vast majority of owners, maybe all of them. Year after year after year -- it doesn't mean in any given year I can't do what I want to do. I mean, we've got the ability to sign any player we want to sign."

Steinbrenner said he didn't know what was the next step in the Soto pursuit. He said he had "no idea" if the Yankees will meet with him again. Whether the Yankees wait for Soto to make his decision before pivoting to other players remains to be seen.

"Haven't made that decision," Steinbrenner said. "But again, guys are going to start to come off the board, right? So that's a discussion that needs to be had."

Germany will face the Netherlands in the Davis Cup semi-finals after beating Canada 2-0 in Malaga.

Despite being without their star player, world number two Alexander Zverev, Germany won the tie without requiring the doubles rubber.

Daniel Altmaier beat Gabriel Diallo 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 and Jan-Lennard Struff defeated Denis Shapovalov 4-6 7-5 7-6 (7-5).

Germany are three-time Davis Cup winners, last lifting the title in 1993.

The Netherlands defeated hosts Spain on Tuesday, ending Rafael Nadal's playing career.

On Wednesday, Italy face Argentina and the United States will play Australia for a place in the last four.

Gatland says he has received support over the last few days.

"The amount of people who have contacted me in the last week or and the messages I've had, whether that's by phone or email or messages through my family, has been incredible," said Gatland.

"There obviously seems to be a bit of a divide, doesn't there? You know, 'to go or stay'.

"I appreciate people that have reached out and support they've given me but you understand that there's another side of opinion as well."

Welsh rugby is still waiting for a strategic plan and is struggling on and off the field, compared to Gatland's first 12-year stint in charge of Wales.

"I mentioned in the past that when the dam burst, it was going to take a while to plug it up again, that's probably where we are at the moment," said Gatland.

"For a number of years we felt like the success we had with the national team was papering over the cracks underneath.

"We need to look at the future and the pathway and some of the structures to make some changes.

"I've encouraged the union on a number of occasions to be bold about some of the changes that we make in the best interests of Welsh rugby."

England have not won since beating Japan in the summer, losing to New Zealand three times before defeats by Australia and world champions South Africa.

Jones, who masterminded Japans seismic shock win over the Springboks at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, has prioritised speed in both thought and action since taking over from Jamie Joseph in January.

"We want it to be a core identity of Japanese rugby," Jones said after his appointment.

"So you play against South Africa, you know it's going to be physical. When you play against New Zealand, they're the best counter-attacking team in the world. So we want to develop Japan into the best team at playing fast rugby."

When I first came into the camp, I didnt know the training was going to be so hard and tough harder than before - but I have enjoyed it, said centre Siosaia Fifita.

Autumn Test: Scotland v Australia

Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield Date: Sunday, 24 November Kick-off: 13:40 GMT

Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app

Forward Will Skelton says Australia are preparing for their toughest game so far on their autumn tour when they face Scotland on Sunday.

After a troubled couple of years including a disastrous showing at last year's World Cup, the Wallabies have sparked a revival with impressive wins against England and Wales.

The 32-year-old says the victories have generated "a good buzz" among the squad but that nobody in the Australia camp is getting carried away.

"We've won two games, we're very aware of that," said the La Rochelle lock.

"The Test against Scotland is going to be the hardest one yet. We're excited about this weekend and we're looking forward to ripping into it.

"Physically they're up there with the top five in the world. I think set-piece wise they're really strong.

"You've got a guy like Finn Russell who's a maestro at the back there. I think it's going be a close one and we'll be up for it.

"There's some class players in the Scottish team and, when they're at it they're world class, so we're going to have to be on top of our game."

It will be a special match for Australia-born Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu and Skelton says the Wallabies are fully aware of the Glasgow centre's threat.

"He's a class player, good with and without the ball," Skelton said of the 27-year-old.

"It's awesome to see an Australian as a captain as well, playing for another country, which is cool. He's going to be a handful this week and we'll be ready to try and nullify him as a threat."

Scotland legend Donna Kennedy is one of five players that will be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame this weekend.

Scotland's most-capped player, male or female, was a stalwart of the women's national team for much of the first two decades of its existence.

She made her Test debut as a second row in Scotland's first international in February 1993, helping the side to a 10-0 victory against Ireland.

Kennedy played in her first Women's Rugby World Cup a year later and featured in four more editions of the global tournament.

In 2004 she moved out of the back row where she had become a keystone of the Scotland pack to win four caps on the wing.

That same year she overtook England's Gill Burns to became the world's most-capped women's player when she played her 74th Test and stretched her tally to 115 by the time she retired. England's Rocky Clark surpassed her total in 2016.

Her cap record and positional versatility led to her being named World Rugby's International Women's Personality of the Year in 2004.

"It's like the damehood of rugby isn't it? Getting that email through to tell me the news, it was just like 'wow!'" said Kennedy, who played in 95 of Scotland's first 100 Tests.

"It feels so surreal but it's such an honour. I feel like this recognition isn't just about me, and I really mean that.

"It's recognition of the journey I've been on with Scotland Women. I hold it up for everyone players and coaches it's not just for me."

The Biggar native was a coach with the Scottish Rugby Union and also took charge of English club Worcester after ending her playing career.

Kennedy, Emilee Cherry of Australia, New Zealanders DJ Forbes and Chris Laidlaw plus Sergio Parisse of Italy will enter the Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The World Rugby Hall of Fame recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to the game while also demonstrating rugby's character-building values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Washington Capitals put Alex Ovechkin on injured reserve Wednesday and recalled fellow Russian winger Ivan Miroshnichenko from the minors.

Ovechkin, 39, is considered week-to-week with a lower left leg injury. Going on IR rules out Ovechkin for at least the next three games.

But he is expected to miss significantly more time after his shin-on-shin collision with Utah's Jack McBain on Monday night.

Ovechkin's absence slows his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record. He's 27 back of passing Gretzky after scoring 15 times in his first 18 games this season.

The Russian winger was on pace to get to 895 sometime in February before going down in the third period at Utah. Earlier that game, he tied the NHL record by scoring on his 178th different goaltender.

In addition to putting Ovechkin on IR, Washington is putting winger Sonny Milano on long-term injured reserve. Milano has been out with an undisclosed upper-body injury.

Romania have been awarded a 3-0 victory over Kosovo after their Nations League match in Bucharest was abandoned when the visiting team walked off, UEFA said on Wednesday.

The game between Group C2 leaders Romania and second-placed Kosovo was abandoned in stoppage time on Friday after the Kosovo players left the field with the score at 0-0 when they heard pro-Serbia chanting from home fans, which Romania has denied.

The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) was fined 128,000 ($135,000) for a range of charges relating to "xenophobic anti-Hungarian chants," "provocative political messages not fit for a sports event," and disturbing the national anthems.

The FRF has also been ordered to close its stadium for the next home match due to racist and discriminatory behaviour by the team's supporters.

The Football Federation of Kosovo will pay a fine of 6,000 for the improper conduct of its team.

The state of Romania does not recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008 from Serbia.

The match in Bucharest was suspended in stoppage time and later abandoned. There were scuffles between players from both sides and Kosovo players walked off the pitch.

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report