Shortly after the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation “mutually agreed” to end their three-year deal to hold the WTA Finals in Riyadh, the WTA announced on Wednesday that the 2026 WTA Finals would be held in Indian Wells, Calif.

The deal would have continued this year, but now the WTA Finals will take place at the site of the BNP Paribas Open, which is held annually in early March.

“From its world-class facilities and passionate fan base to its proven ability to deliver premier tennis events, the venue offers everything needed to showcase the very best of women’s tennis,” WTA chair Valerie Camillo said in a statement. “We are excited to bring the WTA Finals to Southern California and continue building one of the premier championships in global sport.”

Per Front Office Sports, the WTA’s deal with Indian Wells is only for one year.

Charlotte is the favorite to host the WTA Finals next year, although there is no deal in place.

The WTA was not expected to keep the finals in Saudi Arabia, as the event has struggled to draw fans and keep them engaged in the matches.

According to the site Bounces, the WTA ended the Saudi Arabia deal early due to “turmoil and uncertainty around war and geopolitical tension in the Middle East.”

This past spring after the Dubai Tennis Championships, former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev and several other players and tournament staff members were stuck in the Middle East because of the war between the U.S. and Iran.

The war also caused the cancellation of two Formula One races.

This year’s WTA Finals will be held Nov. 8-15 and feature the eight top-ranked singles and doubles pairs.

The WTA Finals are typically the most lucrative for players, as last year’s singles winner, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, earned a record $5.2 million.

–Field Level Media

Ozzie Albies hit a home run and Atlanta pitchers retired the final 20 batters as the Braves took a 5-1 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

The win ended Atlanta’s three-game losing streak and evened the three-game series at one game apiece.

Albies went 2-for-4, scored two runs and had two RBIs. The slumping Atlanta offense showed more life by going 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

The Braves got a much-needed lift from starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (4-1), who was able to throw five innings and allowed one run on two hits, both coming in the first inning, and one walk. He struck out six in his second start since returning to the rotation.

The Atlanta bullpen closed the game with four perfect innings. Dylan Dodd, Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee and Raisel Iglesias each pitched one inning.

St. Louis starter Michael McGreevy (3-7) delivered a quality start, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

The Cardinals scored in the first inning when Ivan Herrera hit a ground-rule double with one out and scored on Jordan Walker’s two-out RBI single to right field.

Atlanta got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Drake Baldwin led off with a hit and scored on Albies’ double to right. Albies was thrown out at third trying to pick up an extra base.

The Braves took a 2-1 lead in the third when Albies hit a solo homer, his 13th, into the stands in right-center.

Atlanta left fielder Mauricio Dubon took a possible homer away from Jose Fermin in the eighth, hauling in a long fly at the base of the fence.

The Braves put the game away by scoring three runs in the ninth. Michael Harris II had an RBI single, Dubon delivered a run-scoring squeeze bunt and Austin Riley ended an 0-for-17 skid with an RBI single. There could have been more damage, but Harris was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Walker after Dominic Smith singled.

–Field Level Media

With Phase 2 of All-Star Game voting ending Thursday, the Los Angeles Angels are making a late push for Mike Trout.

The outfielder grew up in Millville, N.J., about 45 miles from Philadelphia, which hosts the midsummer classic July 14 at Citizens Bank Park.

While Trout remains on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, he traveled with the Angels for their trip to Seattle this week. The three-game series wraps up Thursday at T-Mobile Park after taking Wednesday off for a FIFA World Cup match at Lumen Field across the street.

Nearly the entire Angels roster, along with the coaching staff, wore “Vote Trout” T-shirts during batting practice Monday before a 6-2 loss. The Angels’ social media team also visited nearby Pike Place Market and got fishmongers to toss around a few trout while wearing fish-shaped red foam Trout hats that featured his signature and number on the side.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Trout, an 11-time All-Star. “One of my things when I was coming into spring training, I knew the game was going to be in Philly, so it would be cool to go back. I love my teammates and I take care of them and they take care of me. We have a tight group, and it’s pretty cool to see that.”

In results announced Wednesday on MLB.com, Trout leads all American League outfielders with 23% of the vote, followed by Minnesota’s Byron Buxton (20%) and the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge (19%) and Cody Bellinger (16%).

Trout has been on the IL since June 18. Before the injury, he missed only one of the Angels’ first 75 games and produced a .234/.394/.472 slash line along with 17 home runs and 36 RBIs.

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said Tuesday that Trout has been increasing his baseball activities each day and feels good.

“Obviously, Mike doesn’t need the extra notoriety and support. … He’s Mike Trout,” Suzuki said. “Just having the organization behind you and helping to promote like Mike to get to the All-Star Game is definitely a great thing.”

The Angels lost the first two games of the series after winning six of their previous eight. They dropped an 8-3 decision Tuesday.

The Mariners, who entered the week with a franchise record-tying streak of 13 consecutive games scoring three runs or fewer, have scored 19 over their past three. That includes a 6-5 loss Sunday in Cleveland in which they blew a three-run lead in the eighth inning.

Julio Rodriguez and rookie Colt Emerson each had three hits Tuesday, part of a 13-hit attack.

“We’re starting to see the results come through,” Emerson said. “We know our process. We know everything we’re doing is going to lead to wins, so I think you’re just now seeing the results. A lot of guys are working super hard behind the scenes, a lot of guys are staying committed to their plans, and it’s cool to see a lot of great at-bats (Tuesday) in such a good game.”

Thursday’s series finale will feature a pair of right-handers in the Angels’ Walbert Urena (5-6, 3.14 ERA) and the Mariners’ Bryce Miller (3-2, 1.97).

Urena suffered a 9-3 loss to the visiting Athletics last Friday, allowing seven runs over 4 1/3 innings. The 22-year-old rookie had won four of his previous five decisions, including when he pitched five scoreless innings against the A’s in a 7-0 victory on June 20. This will be Urena’s first appearance against Seattle.

Miller lost his past two starts, though he gave up just four earned runs over 10 2/3 innings in that span. He allowed three runs in 5 2/ 3 innings Thursday in a 5-1 defeat in Pittsburgh.

Miller, who has issued just four unintentional walks versus 54 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings this season, is 2-2 with a 3.05 ERA in seven career starts against the Angels.

–Field Level Media