Ohio State University has won its fight to trademark the word “The.” The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved the university’s request Tuesday. The school says it allows Ohio State to control use of “The” on branded products associated with and sold through athletics and collegiate channels. Those include such items as T-shirts, baseball caps and hats. A university spokesman noted that “THE has been a rallying cry in the Ohio State community for many years. The university’s licensing and trademark program generates over $12.5 million a year in revenue, which helps fund student scholarships and university programs.

Brittney Griner will have a place at the WNBA All-Star Game. League commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the Mercury center will be an honorary starter. Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson were selected as co-captains, having received the most votes from fans. They will be joined this year by Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles, who both have announced they will retire at the end of the season. It’s Bird’s 13th All-Star appearance, which is a WNBA record. Stewart and Fowles will be paired up, as will Wilson and Bird to choose their teams. Other starters include Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones, Los Angeles’s Nneka Ogwumike, Chicago’s Candace Parker, New York’s Sabrina Ionescu and Las Vegas teammates Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning’s bid for a three-peat is alive and well.

NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly an hour after playing her final regular-season game in New York, Sue Bird was still soaking in the moment.