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AP Sports Digest

Posted 1/25/26

Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. …

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AP Sports Digest

Posted

Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, including agate, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.

The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918.

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UPCOMING

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SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Premier League leader Arsenal hosts Manchester United. By James Robson. 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 01/25/2026 3:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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CAR--IMSA-ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

DESCRIPTION: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Porsche Penske Motorsports goes for a third consecutive victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Should a Roger Penske-owned car win — to start Team Penske’s 60th anniversary in racing -- Team Penske would become the third team in the history of the race to win three consecutive years. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. 700 words. Race ends at 2 p.m. Eastern.

UPCOMING: By 01/25/2026 3:00 p.m. EST, Text

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FBN--PATRIOTS-BRONCOS

DESCRIPTION: DENVER -- Jarrett Stidham makes his first start in two years when he fills in for an injured Bo Nix and tries to lead the Denver Broncos (15-3) to the Super Bowl with a win over Drake Maye and the New England Patriots (16-3), who have lost all four of their playoff games at Denver. By Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton. 800 words, photos, sidebars on merit. Game starts at 3 p.m. Eastern.

UPCOMING: By 01/25/2026 6:00 p.m. EST, DigitalPlans, Text, Photo

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SOC--FRENCH ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Brazil forward Endrick looks to shine in Ligue 1 as Lyon goes to Metz and veteran striker Olivier Giroud’s Lille side hosts Strasbourg. By Jerome Pugmire. 450 words.

UPCOMING: By 01/25/2026 6:30 p.m. EST, Text

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GLF--AMERICAN EXPRESS

DESCRIPTION: Si Woo Kim has a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf, and Blades Brown, the 18-year-old trying to become the youngest winner on the modern PGA Tour at The American Express. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 01/25/2026 7:30 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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BKN--WARRIORS-TIMBERWOLVES

DESCRIPTION: The Golden State Warriors visit the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in a game postponed from the previous day. By Dave Campbell. 300 words, photos. Game starts at 5:30 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 01/25/2026 8:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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FBN--RAMS-SEAHAWKS

DESCRIPTION: The Rams play the Seahawks in the NFC championship game with the NFC West guaranteed to send one of its teams to the Super Bowl. By Andrew Destin. 800 words, photos, sidebars on merit. Game starts at 6:30 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 01/25/2026 9:30 p.m. EST, DigitalPlans, Text, Photo

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FBN--SUPER BOWL-LOOKAHEAD

DESCRIPTION: The teams facing off in Super Bowl 60 will be determined. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi.

UPCOMING: By 01/25/2026 10:00 p.m. EST, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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SKI--WCUP-WOMEN’S SLALOM

Mikaela Shiffrin wins last slalom before Olympics and locks up record ninth season discipline title

SUMMARY: Mikaela Shiffrin has locked up the World Cup slalom title with two races to spare and became the first skier with nine season titles in one discipline. The American star dominated the last slalom before the Olympics as she won both runs to beat runner-up Camille Rast. The race took place at the Czech venue of Shiffrin’s World Cup debut at age 15 in March 2011. No other skier in the six-decade-long history of the World Cup has won more than eight globes in a single event. Shiffrin’s teammate Lindsey Vonn has eight downhill titles and leads those standings again in the current season.

WORDS: 630 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 10:56 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6ff95237c4b4938a692521afe599f30e&mediaType=text

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GLF--DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

Patrick Reed wins in Dubai. Money earned can go toward European tour fines for playing LIV

SUMMARY: Patrick Reed finally has a European tour title and a lot of perks that come with it. He shot 72 and won the Dubai Desert Classic by four shots. This was his first regular European title. The victory will move him inside the top 30 in the world for the first time since he joined LIV Golf in 2022. It also should exempt him for all the majors this year. And he had jokingly said a big payoff would help cover his European tour fines for when he plays LIV. Reed led by at least two the whole way.

WORDS: 728 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 10:50 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a691e11e2387f7e0b8aede53ad366d13&mediaType=text

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TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-YOUNG LEARNER

Learner Tien reaches Australian Open quarterfinals, the youngest man in the last eight since 2015

SUMMARY: Learner Tien has become the youngest man to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals in 11 years. The 20-year-old American defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 on Sunday in the fourth round at Melbourne Park. Tien’s victory makes him the youngest American man to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal since Andy Roddick at the 2002 U.S. Open. His next challenge is against No. 3 Alexander Zverev, last year’s runner-up in Melbourne. Tien had a brief medical timeout after the third game but continued without any dramas. Tien anticipates a tough match against Zverev, recalling their previous encounters.

WORDS: 659 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 9:04 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d17ff2d432ecede0c2dccb493bd5ec60&mediaType=text

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TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-COCO GAUFF-AGE

At 21, Coco Gauff has enjoyed hanging out with emerging teens at Australian Open

SUMMARY: Coco Gauff wants those people posing questions about what advice she’d give the teenagers breaking through at the Australian Open to remember one thing: She’s 21. The 18-year-old Iva Jovic will face Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Sabalenka defeated 19-year-old Vicky Mboko on Sunday. Gauff, a two-time major winner, reached the quarterfinals for the third straight year by beating Karolina Muchova. Gauff makes a conscious effort to welcome new players, recalling her own lonely start in the professional ranks. Rather than offer advice, she offers connection.

WORDS: 756 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 7:44 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e5bf9db0f09d5433eac2e36c821828da&mediaType=text

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TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Aryna Sabalenka beats 19-year-old Mboko, faces 18-year-old Jovic in Australian Open quarterfinals

SUMMARY: Aryna Sabalenka held off 19-year-old Vicky Mboko 6-1, 7-6 (1) to advance to an Australian Open quarterfinal against another teenager, 18-year-old Iva Jovic. The 29-seeded Jovic overwhelmed Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 in 53 minutes as she moved into the last eight in a Grand Slam for the first time. She’s been getting some good advice from 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic during the tournament. Coco Gauff, 21, is into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the third straight year. And so is men’s No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who had a 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5 win over No. 19-seeded Tommy Paul. He’s also been looking to Djokovic for inspiration on his serve.

WORDS: 824 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 7:03 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7755fd634cf2f2d006eb188bcfd63594&mediaType=text

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TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-ALCARAZ ADVANCES

Serving it up, Carlos Alcaraz advances to the Australian Open quarterfinals

SUMMARY: Carlos Alcaraz has advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals with a straight-set win over Tommy Paul. The top-ranked Alcaraz has been tweaking his serve, which worked well on Sunday. Alcaraz’s revamped serve has caught the attention of Novak Djokovic, who joked about a copyright fee. Alcaraz played along on Sunday, saying negotiations are in progress. The fourth-round match was briefly paused due to a medical emergency in the crowd. Alcaraz, who is in Melbourne seeking to complete a career Grand Slam but has never gone past the Australian Open quarterfinals, will face local hope Alex de Minaur next.

WORDS: 634 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 5:58 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2b686942b05f83beb029b74946c491a6&mediaType=text

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OLY-FIG--SKATING’S SAFE SPACE

A safe space: How figure skating became a comfort zone for the LGBTQ+ community amid perilous times

SUMMARY: Figure skating for decades has provided a progressive sort of safe space for those within the LGTBQ+ community, some of whom still may be trying to realize their authentic selves. And while there are plenty of out athletes in other sports, what might set skating aside is the incredible success enjoyed by the LGBTQ+ community. It wasn’t always that way. Throughout the 1900s, women often were encouraged to be more effeminate, and male counterparts were told to embrace their masculinity. But that began to change about 40 years ago, as more athletes embraced who they were. Now, those in skating’s LGBTQ+ community are leaning on each other amid a tumultuous time in their country, where some politicians are aiming for many of their rights.

WORDS: 1191 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 5:38 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:08374be56761b7656836ed1ed144c7b7&mediaType=text

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TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-DJOKOVIC ADVANCES

Novak Djokovic advances to Australian Open quarterfinals on a walkover after Jakub Mensik withdraws

SUMMARY: Novak Djokovic has advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals after Jakub Mensik withdrew from their fourth-round match because of an abdominal injury. The tournament confirmed Mensik’s withdrawal late Sunday. The match had been scheduled for Rod Laver Arena on Monday night. Mensik said the injury worsened over recent matches, posing a risk to his future tournaments and health. Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open champion, reached 400 Grand Slam singles wins on Saturday by defeating Botic van de Zandschulp. Mensik, the No. 16 seed, had beaten Ethan Quinn in straight sets on Saturday.

WORDS: 413 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 5:33 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7a93a343fdca6479bef7b575809623a9&mediaType=text

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BKN--LAKERS-DONCIC IN DALLAS

Luka Doncic’s emotions ease in 2nd Dallas visit as Lakers star beats his former team again

SUMMARY: Luka Doncic walked toward the wrong locker room at halftime before a quick U-turn by the Los Angeles Lakers star in his second trip to Dallas. Hey, at least he wasn’t weeping on the bench before the game against the Mavericks, or still trying to process the emotions of the shocking trade that sent him to the Lakers almost a year ago. A big fourth-quarter rally by the Lakers in a 116-110 victory over Dallas was a nice bonus for Doncic. He also took another step toward the rest of his career with a visit to his first NBA city that wasn’t nearly as emotional as his return last April.

WORDS: 827 - MOVED: 01/25/2026 2:25 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3d3d77c57ee48692a303287cb9de68e4&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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BKW--T25-WOMENS POLL

The Associated Press releases its latest AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll at noon Eastern.

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BKC--T25-MENS POLL

The Associated Press releases its latest AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll at 1 p.m. Eastern.

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OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS-DIVERSITY-EUROPE

Immigration from Africa and the Middle East is rapidly changing the demographics of European countries like Germany, France, Norway and Sweden, but that’s not reflected in their Winter Olympics rosters. By Steve Douglas.

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OLY--SKI-PINHEIRO BRAATHEN

A Brazilian skier at the Winter Olympics? Lucas Pinheiro Braathen could make history. By Daniella Matar.

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