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Serena Williams insists she’s ‘NOT coming back’ amid growing rumors of return to tennis

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Serena Williams insists she’s ‘NOT coming back’ amid growing rumors of return to tennis

Tennis great Serena Williams took to X on Tuesday to insist that she is not planning a return to the court, hours after news broke that she has re-entered the sport’s drug-testing pool.

“Omg yall I’m NOT coming back,” the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion wrote. “This wildfire is crazy-”

Williams played her last match on Sept. 2, 2002, a loss to Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the U.S. Open. The next day, Williams registered as retired with the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which oversees anti-doping and anti-corruption efforts in the sport, meaning she was no longer subject to regular drug testing.

An ITIA spokesperson confirmed to The Times on Tuesday that Williams is back in the agency’s drug-testing pool. Retired players “may not return to sanctioned events unless they have made themselves available for out-of-competition testing for at least six months prior to the event in question,” according to the ITIA website.

That is why talk of a potential Williams comeback was spreading like “wildfire” before the 44-year-old attempted to extinguish the flames on X. The mother of two did not explain why she is back in the testing pool. A representative for Williams did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Times.

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Williams famously avoided the word “retirement” when she announced her plan to step away from tennis in an August 2022 column in Vogue.

“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution,” she said. “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”

Older sister Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, returned to the court earlier this year after a lengthy hiatus. During her run to the U.S. Open women’s doubles quarterfinals with partner Leylah Fernandez, Venus Williams mentioned that her sister was “coaching from afar.”

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Broncos star Jonathan Cooper arrested on domestic violence charges

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Broncos star Jonathan Cooper arrested on domestic violence charges

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Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper and his girlfriend were both arrested on domestic violence charges on Friday.

Both Cooper and his girlfriend were held on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief, according to Douglas County jail records.

An argument broke out between the two over cheating allegations, according to TMZ.

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(Left) Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) looks on after a defensive play in the overtime period of the AFC Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 17, 2026. (Right) Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief in Colorado. (Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images; Courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)

The pair, who have been seeing each other on and off for years, were hanging out at Cooper’s residence when she confronted him over his alleged infidelity. The woman grabbed Cooper’s phone and threw it against a wall, and then eventually regained control of the device to go through it, the arrest affidavit said, according to TMZ.

Cooper and the woman then struggled for the phone, which Cooper eventually retrieved after a physical struggle. He then demanded that the woman leave his home, or he allegedly told her he would break her cell phone, the probable cause affidavit said, per TMZ.

After the woman did not leave, he bit down and broke the screen on the iPhone, according to the affidavit.

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Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief in Colorado. (Courtesy of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)

Cooper had a hearing at 9:45 a.m. in a Douglas County courtroom, and a follow-up hearing will be held on Monday, when Cooper is expected to enter a plea, according to 9NEWS.

Following the hearing, Cooper was released on a personal recognizance bond, according to 9NEWS’ report.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Broncos and Cooper’s agency for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper stands on the field before the game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Dec. 21, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

Cooper, 28, has been with the Broncos since they drafted him out of Ohio State in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, and he has spent all five seasons of his career with Denver.

In 17 games last season, Cooper recorded 50 tackles and eight sacks and was a key member of the Broncos’ stout defense. In his career, Cooper has played 81 games, recording 266 tackles and 31.5 sacks.

The Broncos signed him to a four-year, $60 million contract extension in November 2024.

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Alison Lee moves into prime position to challenge for U.S. Women’s Open title

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Alison Lee moves into prime position to challenge for U.S. Women’s Open title

Alison Lee is trying to balance a major championship and motherhood.

So far, so good.

The former UCLA standout shot a 68 at Riviera Country Club on Friday to inch to the top of the leaderboard in the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open, putting the devoted mom in prime position for a weekend run at her first major victory.

Lee grew up in Valencia, and that’s where she’s staying this week so her parents can watch their 13-month-old grandson, Levi Todd Kidd, who late Friday afternoon was perched on his mother’s lap in the scoring tent.

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“I will say over the last few months it’s been tough,” Lee conceded earlier this week. “But we had a breakthrough last week and he’s sleeping a lot better. Therefore, my life has been a lot easier.”

Lee, who shot 70 on Thursday, likewise could be on the verge of a career breakthrough. She has yet to win on the LPGA Tour.

“To win in basically my backyard would be super cool,” she said.

She isn’t the only local player with momentum heading into the weekend. Fellow Bruin Patty Tavatanakit is three shots off the lead, as is Allisen Corpuz, who played at USC.

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In Gee Chun reacts her par putt on the eighth hole during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open.

In Gee Chun reacts her par putt on the eighth hole during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

On an afternoon that was cooler and grayer than Thursday, the woman ranked No. 1 in the world got back on track. After shooting a 73 in the opening round, Nelly Korda relocated her rhythm with four birdies on her way to a 67, earning some cheers from a gallery that, though relatively modest, was the biggest of the day.

Lee was among a small group of players who shot a 68. That included “Dumbo” — South Korea’s In Gee Chun — who got that nickname years ago because of her exceptionally keen hearing. She has embraced the moniker. The Disney character adorns her golf bag and is her driver headcover, and her fans refer to themselves as the “Flying Dumbos.”

Chun is in the hunt for her fourth major championship, having won the Open in 2015, Evian in 2016, and Women’s PGA in 2022.

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Were Chun to win this tournament, she would be in rarefied air with bookend victories separated by 11 years. According to Elias Sports Bureau, among women with multiple U.S. Open titles, Meg Mallon had the longest gap (13 years apart), followed by Annika Sorenstam (10 years).

Of course, there’s a big difference between being at a logjam atop the leaderboard on Friday and lifting the Harton S. Semple Trophy on Sunday.

“Just stick to the game plan, nothing changes,” Chun said of her mindset heading into the weekend. “I don’t want to think about the future to put extra pressure on me.”

Jennifer Kupcho, who led the field with a 66 on Thursday, has her own way of dealing with external pressure. She talks to her mom before and after a tournament — but not during it.

Ruoning Yin hits out of a green side bunker on No. 17 during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open.

Ruoning Yin hits out of a green side bunker on No. 17 during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday. Yin is tied with Lee for the lead at four-under through 138 holes.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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“Me and my mom kind of have an understanding,” she said, “like, ‘Just don’t text me. I don’t want to hear from you if I play good. I don’t want to hear from you if I play bad. We’ll talk at the end of the tournament.’”

Kupcho, raised in Colorado, said she hasn’t banned her folks from attending, “But I don’t think they’re going to.”

Maybe she could have used a sympathetic ear Friday. After leading outright Thursday, she came back to earth Friday with a 73 but was still only a shot off the leader.

Jennifer Kupcho hits out of a fairway bunker on No. 9 during the second round of the 81st U.S. Women's Open.

Jennifer Kupcho hits out of a fairway bunker on No. 9 during the second round of the 81st U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The same could not be said for Michelle Wie West, who followed a 75 with a 74 — a deflating finish for the LPGA legend who came out of retirement to use her final year of exemption to play at Riviera.

“Obviously I would be lying to say I wasn’t disappointed. I would have loved to have made the cut today, granted all day,” Wie West said. “But I had a blast honestly, with playing here at Riv, such a special week to have played it, and to have family, friends, a lot of familiar faces coming out, it was a lot of fun.

“I hit some good shots, hit some good putts, and kind of felt that feeling again, which is awesome.”

Nelly Korda misses a birdie putt on No.3 during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open on Friday.

Nelly Korda misses a birdie putt on No.3 during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Caitlin Clark reveals she vomited during halftime of Fever’s win, powered through illness

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Caitlin Clark reveals she vomited during halftime of Fever’s win, powered through illness

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If you watched Caitlin Clark on Thursday night and thought she looked a little different in the second half of the Indiana Fever’s win, you’d be correct.

Clark told reporters after the Fever’s 83-71 victory over the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse that she vomited during halftime and didn’t spare any of the nauseating details.

“I haven’t puked that much in a really long time,” Clark said, via ESPN. “But then I felt fine. I felt light. So, I was running around feeling good in the second half, but [I] feel OK. Obviously, I’m losing my voice a little bit. But I’ll be good.”

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark looks on during the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 4, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)

Clark powered through the illness, finishing with 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. She also tied her own WNBA record in the process.

During the win, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 150 points and 50 assists in a season. She first achieved the feat last season.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark looks on during the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 4, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)

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The win was a needed one for the Fever. Head coach Stephanie White and Clark became the talk of the WNBA after a video of their heated sideline exchange went viral. The win snapped a two-game losing streak and brought them back to over .500, at 5-4.

Clark said everybody this week looked in the mirror and found ways to improve.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts to a foul in the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 4, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)

“A lot of people have called and asked me how I am, and I said, ‘What do you mean? I’m great,’” Clark said. “I think a lot of self-reflection from everybody (this week), like look yourself in the mirror and find ways to get better. That’s certainly what I did.”

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Clark will try to overcome her illness when the Fever look to build on their positive momentum against the New York Liberty on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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