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.

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UPCOMING

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SOC--WORLD CUP

FORMATS: Video, Photo, Text, LiveVideo

1. WITH: SOC--WORLD CUP COVERAGE

2. DESCRIPTION: Coverage of group play in the US, Canada and Mexico

3. UPCOMING: By 06/18/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

4. WITH: SOC--WORLD CUP

5. DESCRIPTION: GUDALAJARA, Mexico -- Co-host Mexico faces South Korea in Group A.

6. UPCOMING: By 06/18/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

7. WITH: SOC--WCUP-SWITZERLAND-BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

8. DESCRIPTION: INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Switzerland attempts to rebound from a rough start to World Cup play against upset-minded Bosnia-Herzegovina. By Greg Beacham. 500 words, photos.

9. UPCOMING: By 06/18/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

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BKN--MAGIC-SWEENEY

DESCRIPTION: Sean Sweeney is introduced as the new coach of the Orlando Magic. Sweeney comes to the Magic after spending this season as the associate head coach of the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds.

UPCOMING: By 06/18/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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HKN--GOLDEN KNIGHTS-CRAIG

DESCRIPTION: Ryan Craig is introduced as the Vegas Golden Knights’ new coach.

UPCOMING: By 06/18/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BBO--LABOR

DESCRIPTION: Baseball’s collective bargaining resumes after a three-week break. By Ronald Blum. 600 words, photos, by 5 p.m.

UPCOMING: By 06/18/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BKN--NBA DRAFT COVERAGE

FORMATS: Photo, Text

10. WITH: BKN--NBA DRAFT COVERAGE

11. DESCRIPTION: Coverage of the NBA draft

12. UPCOMING: By 06/18/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

13. WITH: BKN--NBA DRAFT-FORWARDS

14. DESCRIPTION: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is a favorite to go No. 1 overall in the NBA draft, and he’s the headliner of a top tier of one-and-done forwards. The list includes Duke’s Cameron Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson. By Aaron Beard. Text, photos.

15. WORDS: 1,097 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 6 a.m. EDT

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BBO--BREWERS-MISIOROWSKI

Jacob Misiorowski wasn’t content being MLB’s hardest-throwing starter. Now he also might be the best

SUMMARY: Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski isn’t content with merely being the game’s hardest-throwing starting pitcher. He’s intent on becoming the best. He already may be there. The guy hitting velocities no starter had reached since the pitch tracking era began in 2008 has spent the last month producing a dominant run unlike any seen in the last century. Misiorowski has allowed just one run over his last eight starts heading into his Friday matchup with the Atlanta Braves. Misiorowski reached 104.5 mph while throwing a one-hit shutout against Philadelphia in his last start.

WORDS: 1252 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 1:30 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e28c09f678ace7b0519c38e6c02f22c0&mediaType=text

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HKN--OILERS-BABCOCK

NHL clears Mike Babcock to coach the Oilers after review of his Columbus tenure

SUMMARY: The NHL says it has completed a review of Mike Babcock’s tenure in Columbus and cleared him to coach. The league launched an investigation at the request of the NHL Players’ Association in light of the Edmonton Oilers’ interest in hiring Babcock. The league said even in the least favorable light, there was no basis to restrict Babcock’s employment. It was not immediately clear if the Oilers would hire the 63-year-old who has not coached in the NHL since 2019. Babcock coached Detroit to the Stanley Cup in 2008 and has made two other trips to the final along with guiding Canada to Olympic gold medals in 2010 and ’14.

WORDS: 267 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 1:18 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:aa9661e18f1027e94049578c90629327&mediaType=text

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BKN--KNICKS-CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE

New York Knicks revel in their NBA victory parade as joyous fans and celebs fill the streets

SUMMARY: The New York Knicks celebrated their first NBA championship in 53 years with a ticker-tape parade through Manhattan’s “Canyon of Heroes,” drawing thousands of fans dressed in the team’s blue and orange. Finals MVP Jalen Brunson hoisted the trophy toward the crowd so they could touch it, while teammates rode floats through the streets or got off to interact with cheering fans. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and celebrities including Spike Lee and Alicia Key joined Knicks legends like Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Carmelo Anthony. The parade marked a historic moment for the franchise and city, which did not hold championship parades after the Knicks’ title wins in the 1970s.

WORDS: 1033 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 1:00 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3a701ffd169009d5cfb418334734646b&mediaType=text

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US--CONGRESS-COLLEGE SPORTS

College sports bill clears key Senate hurdle despite SEC, Big Ten opposition

SUMMARY: A bipartisan bill top lawmakers and athletic leaders have described as the best chance to stabilize college sports has cleared a major hurdle in the Senate. The Senate Commerce Committee voted 19-9 to advance the bill on Thursday. The Protect College Sports Act would regulate athlete payments, limit players to one unrestricted transfer and stop coaches from changing jobs during a season. The bill has support from several athletic conferences and the NFL, the NFL Players Association and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. But the SEC and the Big Ten have not endorsed it. Support and opposition for the bill crosses party lines.

WORDS: 647 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 12:15 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9e6407070cf271bcc34babd1886eca0a&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-KITS

Inside the colorful, compelling and controversial jersey designs at the World Cup

SUMMARY: The kits at the World Cup are mishmash of verve and color featuring elements of the competing nations’ culture and history. Almost all of the designs have compelling, even controversial backstories. Cape Verde’s jerseys have a geometric, triangular print representing the network of flight paths that connect the 10 volcanic islands in the African country. Belgium’s multicolored away jersey is a nod to the European nation’s surrealist heritage and a master of this movement, René Magritte. Haiti’s original jersey included a depiction of a battle in the Haitian War of Independence in 1803 but was rejected on the grounds of it being too political and therefore requiring a redraft.

WORDS: 1064 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 11:43 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:20867a8fd9a705a892e9a2dc303376c4&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-IVORY COAST-WAHI

Ivory Coast’s Elye Wahi denied entry to Canada at World Cup amid betting probe

SUMMARY: Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi has not been authorized to travel to Canada for his team’s World Cup match against Germany. The Ivorian soccer federation announced this on Thursday. Wahi remains in the United States. He started in Ivory Coast’s win over Ecuador in Philadelphia on Monday. Wahi is being investigated in France for suspected match-fixing. The French soccer league reported unusual betting activity on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 game in May. The Marseille prosecutor’s office has confirmed a 23-year-old player was questioned in connection with an investigation into organized fraud and sports corruption. The Ivory Coast federation has expressed support for Wahi

WORDS: 449 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 10:52 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5cf3397edcfd7867219390b51dc803fe&mediaType=text

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GLF--US OPEN

US Open off to a slow and foggy start at Shinnecock Hills

SUMMARY: The U.S. Open has stopped just 30 minutes after it started. For all the concern about wind affecting Shinnecock Hills, fog turned out to be the culprit. Only 14 players completed holes before the horn sounded to stop play. Players were kept in place for 15 minutes. When it didn’t get any better, the USGA brought them in. Players could no longer see landing areas in the fairway. It’s the first time since the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego that the opening round was delayed by fog. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have early starting times.

WORDS: 308 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 9:39 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7bf63fc873c50f8efb410c88ffc2d884&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA DRAFT-FORWARDS

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Duke’s Cameron Boozer, UNC’s Caleb Wilson headline forwards in NBA draft

SUMMARY: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa has been the long-running favorite to be the No. 1 overall NBA draft pick and headlines the group of forward prospects. Dybantsa led the country in scoring and was a first-team Associated Press all-American. He headlines a position that includes a pair of fellow freshmen in the top tier with Duke’s Cameron Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson. Boozer was AP national player of the year. Wilson was a second-team All-American. They join Kansas guard Darryn Peterson in the clear top tier of overall prospects entering Tuesday’s first round.

WORDS: 1254 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 9:27 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:53b4f2ab1a127b30ebf5af2696e0416b&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-FANS-PHOTO GALLERY

World Cup fans flood stadiums and fan zones with dazzling costumes, facepaint and flags — in photos

WORDS: 42 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 7:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1d86f9b4c972d1537f88f906b56d49d3&mediaType=text

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GLF--US OPEN-OPENER

At Shinnecock, the forecast calls for a windy, wild US Open

SUMMARY: The USGA is preparing for what could be a rugged week at the U.S. Open. With wind expected to blow at 30 mph and above, organizers plan to water the greens during first and second rounds and do their best to keep them from running too fast. It’s part of what they think they have to do to keep Shinnecock Hills fair and playable for the 156 players who tee off Thursday. Shinnecock has long been one of the toughest layouts in America, made more difficult when it’s windy. The winning score at the last U.S. Open here was 1-over par by Brooks Koepka back in 2018.

WORDS: 904 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 7:01 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d817166e4222b7b625ce4fa4862a39fe&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-TEAM FORMATIONS-EXPLAINER

World Cup formations, explained: A look at how coaches are setting up their squads

WORDS: 836 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:faf94631967f99eae7d17aa4f7816fd3&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-COLOMBIA-DÍAZ-FATHER

Colombia’s Luis Díaz stars in World Cup debut, less than 3 years after his parents’ kidnapping

SUMMARY: After contributing a goal and an assist in his World Cup debut, Colombia’s Luis Díaz walked to the sidelines to look for his father. They spotted each other, fulfilling a dream that was years in the making. Díaz made his World Cup debut three years after his parents were kidnapped by armed guerillas at the Colombia-Venezuela border. He returned to Colombia from his club at the time, Liverpool, to advocate for his father’s release, which was eventually secured. This week, Díaz’s father posted a viral video of himself praying over his son’s jersey.

WORDS: 307 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 1:52 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f3cd46c8ac0a24204d4b3c24e20740a6&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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SOC--WORLD CUP

Coverage of group play in the US, Canada and Mexico.