Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones accepted a plea agreement, becoming the first to take a deal in the federal gambling investigation that led to more than two dozen arrests.

Jones, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, one day after former Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier learned prosecutors were adding charges against him.

“I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association,” Jones said in brief comments in the courtroom.

Jones confessed to participating in what feds labeled “Operation Royal Flush” and being a “face card” in at least three rigged poker games between October 2020 and September 2023. He said two of the games were held in Miami and he participated knowing the games were rigged.

Evidence shared by the prosecution placed Jones at all three games through witness testimony and text messages recovered from seized cell phones and iCloud accounts and wire activity detected in interstate transfers of funds. The investigation turned up technology that made cheating easy without detection, the prosecution said.

Sentencing was scheduled for January 2027.

His guilty pleas on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo were in two separate federal cases in which Jones is named: U.S. v. Earnest and U.S. v. Aiello.

A sentencing range of five years to 78 months was tied to the case prior to the arraignment late last year. Jones agreed on Tuesday to the terms of forfeiture of no less than $38,000 tied to his winnings during the scheme.

Jones played 11 seasons in the NBA and crossed over with LeBron James in Cleveland and Miami, later coaching without an official title with the Lakers. Prosecutors contended he shared privileged information, including at least one instance involving James’ injury status against the Milwaukee Bucks, for the ill-gotten gains of a professionally-tied gambling ring.

The sentence in that case is not more than 27 months.

Jones initially pleaded not guilty in December. He can be credited up to two years for entering a plea agreement.

–Field Level Media

This summer’s Women’s Open will celebrate its 50th anniversary with players competing for a record purse of $10 million, The R&A announced Tuesday.

Although the increase is a relatively modest $250,000 from last year, it marks a consistent trend in prize increases in recent years for the major championship.

“This is the sixth consecutive year that the AIG Women’s Open prize fund has been increased,” said R&A CEO Mark Darbon. “These consistent and sustainable investments in the prize fund clearly demonstrate The R&A and AIG’s commitment to elevating the Championship on the global stage.”

Starting with the inaugural Women’s British Open in 1976 when the total prize fund stood at 500 euros, the event has seen steady prize increases over the years, particularly over the past two decades.

By 2008, when the championship was last held at Sunningdale — announced Tuesday as the venue for the 2028 event — the purse was at $2.1 million.

Ten years later, the last time the Women’s Open was held at England’s Royal Lytham & St Annes — the site of this year’s event from July 29 to Aug. 2 — the total purse was just $3.25 million, meaning this year’s $10 million purse is triple that of just eight years ago.

The Women’s Open is now the third LPGA major to hit the $10 million mark in prize money, joining the U.S. Women’s Open and Women’s PGA which each have a $12 million purse.

This past weekend, the Chevron Championship came close to that mark, bumping its purse up by $1 million just two days before the opening round to a record $9 million, with Nelly Korda claiming the $1.35 million top prize.

Broadcast coverage of the Women’s Open will also be increasing to 34 hours across four days.

“The AIG Women’s Open reflects our commitment to advancing women in business, sports and society, which is core to AIG’s values,” Peter Zaffino, AIG chairman and CEO, said Tuesday. “In partnership with The R&A, we are making important strides in elevating the women’s game by continuing to increase the Championship purse and extending live broadcast coverage that will reach an even wider global audience of fans.”

–Field Level Media

As the Edmonton Oilers face possible elimination from the playoffs Tuesday night, they may have to do so without star center Connor McDavid, a game-time decision due to an ankle injury.

McDavid sustained the injury to his right ankle in Game 2 and continued to play but has appeared limited.

The 29-year-old captain has one goal and three assists in the series after leading the league with 138 points (48 goals, 90 assists) in 82 games during the regular season.

The two-time defending Western Conference champion Oilers are down 3-1 in the best-of-seven first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks, who visit Edmonton on Tuesday night for Game 5 looking for their first series win in nine years.

Anaheim has won three in a row after blowing a late lead and dropping the series opener 4-3 on April 20.

The Oilers may also be without fellow center Jason Dickinson, who missed Games 2 and 3 with a lower-body injury before returning for Game 4. Dickinson is also a game-time decision.

–Field Level Media