Newsmakers

Extended The Atlantic Coast Conference and ESPN have extended their television deal through the 2026-27 season. A person familiar with the agreement told the Associated Press that it’s worth $3.6 billion over the 15 years. The deal comes ahead of the planned additions of Pittsburgh and Syracuse from the Big East and would represent a 33 percent increase in TV money for each league school from the previous deal unveiled nearly two years ago. ACC Commissioner John Swofford said the deal was “another step forward” for the league and “certainly bodes well in terms of our future.”

• St. Bonaventure basketball coach Mark Schmidt signed a contract extension with the school that will keep him in the fold through 2018-19. Schmidt led the Bonnies in March to their first Atlantic 10 tournament title and their first NCAA tournament berth since 2000.

Invited Goalkeeper Hope Solo and star striker Abby Wambach are part of the 28-player soccer roster invited to training camp for the United States as it prepares to play China. The roster for the exhibition game on May 27 in Philadelphia was announced by coach Pia Sundhage. The U.S. team will train at Princeton, N.J., from May 10-25 for the next-to-last domestic match before the London Olympics. Sundhage will choose 18 players for the match with China. Other World Cup veterans invited include defenders Rachel Buehler, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts and Christie Rampone; midfielders Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Heather O’Reilly; and forwards Alex Morgan and Lauren Cheney.

Approved The Brazilian senate has approved a bill giving FIFA the guarantees needed to organize soccer’s 2014 World Cup. The approval came just a day after the Brazilian government met with FIFA officials in Switzerland to discuss the country’s preparations. The congress’ lower house passed the bill in March after several delays, especially over the sale of alcohol inside stadiums – currently against the law but a FIFA demand because Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor.