Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 7:30 p.m. GMT/ 2:30 p.m. ET. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect.

TOP STORIES

TENNIS-BJKCUP/CHINA

Billie Jean King Cup to be hosted in China

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be hosted in Shenzhen, China fromthis year until 2027, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Thursday.

GOLF-OPEN

British Open returns to St Andrews in 2027

The 2027 British Open will be played at St Andrews in Scotland, tournament organisers the R&A announced on Thursday.

RUGBY-UNION-ENGLAND/SWEENEY

RFU chief Sweeney defends bonus and says he won't walk away

England Rugby Football Union CEO Bill Sweeney defended his pay package on Thursday and said he had no intention of walking away from his job despite facing a special general meeting called by disgruntled clubs.

UPCOMING

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

BASKETBALL-NBA-IND-SAS/ (PIX) $(TV)$

NBA - Indiana Pacers v San Antonio Spurs post-game press conference

Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs coaches hold post-game press conference, after 2024-25 NBA Season match (Regular Season) in Paris' Accor Arena.

23 Jan 19:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-ORL-POR/ (PIX)

NBA - Orlando Magic v Portland Trail Blazers

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Kia Center, Orlando, Florida

24 Jan 00:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-ATL-TOR/ (PIX)

NBA - Atlanta Hawks v Toronto Raptors

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

24 Jan 00:30 ET / 00:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-MIL-MIA/ (PIX)

NBA - Milwaukee Bucks v Miami Heat

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

24 Jan 00:30 ET / 00:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-OKC-DAL/ (PIX)

NBA - Oklahoma City Thunder v Dallas Mavericks

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

24 Jan 01:00 ET / 01:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-DEN-SAC/ (PIX)

NBA - Denver Nuggets v Sacramento Kings

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado

24 Jan 02:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-LAL-BOS/ (PIX)

NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Boston Celtics

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

24 Jan 03:00 ET / 03:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-GSW-CHI/ (PIX)

NBA - Golden State Warriors v Chicago Bulls

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Chase Center, San Francisco, California

24 Jan 03:00 ET / 03:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-LAC-WAS/ (PIX)

NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Washington Wizards

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

24 Jan 03:30 ET / 03:30 GMT

SOCCER

SOCCER-EUROPA-MUN-RAN/REPORT (PIX)

Europe - UEFA Europa League - Manchester United v Rangers

Manchester United play Rangers in the UEFA Europa League.

23 Jan 20:00 ET / 20:00 GMT

SOCCER-ARGENTINA-TIG-VEL/REPORT (TV)

Argentina - Argentine Primera Division - Torneo Apertura - Tigre v Velez Sarsfield

Tigre play Velez Sarsfield in the Argentine Primera Division.

23 Jan 22:00 ET / 22:00 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-LIV-IPS/PREVIEW (TV)

England - English Premier League - Liverpool press conference

Liverpool manager Arne Slot speaks to the media ahead of their Premier League match against Ipswich Town.

24 Jan 09:00 ET / 09:00 GMT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-CAR-CBJ/ (PIX)

NHL - Carolina Hurricanes v Columbus Blue Jackets

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina

24 Jan 00:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-BOS-OTT/ (PIX)

NHL - Boston Bruins v Ottawa Senators

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

24 Jan 00:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-NYR-PHI/ (PIX)

NHL - New York Rangers v Philadelphia Flyers

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

24 Jan 00:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-DET-MTL/ (PIX)

NHL - Detroit Red Wings v Montreal Canadiens

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

24 Jan 00:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-MIN-UTA/ (PIX)

NHL - Minnesota Wild v Utah Hockey Club

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

24 Jan 01:00 ET / 01:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-STL-VGK/ (PIX)

NHL - St. Louis Blues v Vegas Golden Knights

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri

24 Jan 01:00 ET / 01:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-CGY-BUF/ (PIX)

NHL - Calgary Flames v Buffalo Sabres

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta

24 Jan 02:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-EDM-VAN/ (PIX)

NHL - Edmonton Oilers v Vancouver Canucks

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta

24 Jan 02:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-ANA-PIT/ (PIX)

NHL - Anaheim Ducks v Pittsburgh Penguins

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Honda Center, Anaheim, California

24 Jan 03:00 ET / 03:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-SEA-WSH/ (PIX)

NHL - Seattle Kraken v Washington Capitals

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington

24 Jan 03:00 ET / 03:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-SJS-NSH/ (PIX)

NHL - San Jose Sharks v Nashville Predators

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California

24 Jan 03:30 ET / 03:30 GMT

TENNIS

TENNIS-AUSOPEN/ (PIX) (TV)

Australian Open

Action from the men's semi-finals of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, which is the first Grand Slam of the year.

24 Jan 03:30 ET / 03:30 GMT

CRICKET

CRICKET-AUSTRALIA-T20-BIGBASH/

Big Bash League - Semi Final - Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder

Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder battle it out for a place with Hobart Hurricanes in the 2024-25 Big Bash League season decider.

24 Jan 08:30 ET / 08:30 GMT

ARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT

PEOPLE-KOBE BRYANT/FILE (PIX)

FILE: Fifth anniversary of Kobe Bryant's death

January 26 marks five years since Kobe Bryant, one of the NBA's all-time greatest players and an athlete of global renown, was killed at age 41 in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven on board.

24 Jan