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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BBO--YANKEES-JUDGE

DESCRIPTION: Preparing to captain the U.S. at the World Baseball Classic, Aaron Judge discusses his recovery from a shoulder injury. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. 600 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/16/2026 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

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CAR--NASCAR-IN THE PITS

DESCRIPTION: Michael Jordan said a few hours before the Daytona 500 that the federal lawsuit he won against NASCAR was behind him and he wants to focus on winning races. He was in victory lane six hours later celebrating Tyler Reddick making him a Daytona 500-winning team owner. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. 650 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/16/2026 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

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BKC--T25-HOUSTON-IOWA ST

DESCRIPTION: AMES, Iowa — Big 12 leader and second-ranked Houston visits No. 6 Iowa State, which is two games behind the Cougars and coming off a big win over Kansas. 300 words, photos. Game starts at 9 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 02/16/2026 11:30 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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OLY--BOB-SHAQ THE BOBSLEDDER

The Shaq of the bobsled track makes his Olympic debut for Canada

SUMMARY: Canadian bobsledder Shaquille Anfernee Murray-Lawrence was named after two basketball stars. His father had hoped he’d end up following in their footsteps. In a way, he has. Murray-Lawrence was named after Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, who were teammates with the Orlando Magic and teamed up to win Olympic gold for USA Basketball at the Atlanta Games in 1996. Murray-Lawrence probably won’t be winning gold at these games. He and pilot Taylor Austin were 15th after Monday’s first two runs of the two-man event. But he can say that just like his namesakes, he’s now an Olympian.

WORDS: 531 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 1:43 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3e6b1f67c82288832c52e75dbbd30d49&mediaType=text

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BBO--METS-COHEN

Mets owner Steve Cohen says club won’t have a captain as long as he’s in charge

SUMMARY: New York Mets owner Steve Cohen likes the vibe in a revamped clubhouse, and says he’ll never have a captain in charge of that scene. Cohen says, “As long as I’m owning the team, there will never be a team captain.” The Mets said goodbye to popular slugger Pete Alonso, star closer Edwin Díaz and two other Mets stalwarts before Christmas. But they added free agent Bo Bichette and traded for All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta. Cohen says he likes the clubhouse energy going into manager Carlos Mendoza’s third season.

WORDS: 734 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 1:39 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fa87773d8fdcd8593129f6aa54baa5f6&mediaType=text

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OLY--SKI-MCGRATH’S MELTDOWN

Olympic meltdown: Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath loses gold medal in slalom, then control of emotions

SUMMARY: Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath saw his gold-medal hopes slip away in the Olympic slalom and decided to send his ski poles sailing along with them. He tossed each pole over the netting, then climbed the fencing on the side of the course to begin a long walk to the wilderness. It was part of an epic Olympic meltdown that turned the men’s slalom into high-tragic theater Monday. As the first run leader, McGrath was the last to go among the top 30 racers. He had a medal within his sights until he straddled a gate and was out. He lost a medal and then control of his emotions in a race won by Loic Meillard of Switzerland.

WORDS: 787 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 1:28 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2d4ac3376f808c8f14ad46eedc5899f1&mediaType=text

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BKO--THE 6-7 SENSATION

The ‘6-7’ craze is going strong at NBA and college basketball games

SUMMARY: The global “6-7” craze is still going strong at pro and college basketball games. Young fans, players and coaches are eagerly tracking when teams near 67 points. Dictionary.com named the term “6-7” its word of the year for 2025. The Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans are among NBA teams that feature “6-7” cams during timeouts at some games. Seth Bennett, the Hornets’ chief marketing officer, said Charlotte’s marketing and game presentation teams started discussing a possible “6-7” cam to capitalize on the trend and player LaMelo Ball’s involvement in it.

WORDS: 1116 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 1:10 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2c1f1e562756410eea60da3c007b1e2f&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-MEN’S POLL

Michigan rises to No. 1 in AP Top 25 men’s hoops poll for 1st time since January 2013

SUMMARY: Michigan is No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the first time in 13 years, ending Arizona’s nine-week reign. The Wolverines claimed 60 of 61 first-place votes in Monday’s new poll to climb one spot and supplant the Wildcats. Arizona had been unbeaten entering last week before falling at Kansas and at home to Texas Tech. It marks Michigan’s first No. 1 ranking since January 2013. Houston, Duke, Arizona and UConn rounded out the top five. No. 24 Wisconsin and No. 25 Alabama were the week’s new additions. They replaced Clemson and Kentucky.

WORDS: 344 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 1:01 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c8609da09f04c8475fc32d4e25ba38be&mediaType=text

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OLY--MILAN CORTINA-WHAT TO WATCH

What to watch on Day 11 of the Milan Cortina Olympics: ‘Blade Angels’ skate and more big tricks

WORDS: 511 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 12:36 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1f78036873c5d23bedae83eee80791f7&mediaType=text

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OLY--CUR-CURLING CONTROVERSY-OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Is there such a thing as bad publicity? At the Olympics, curling is finding out ... probably not

SUMMARY: Curling is hoping to take advantage of its moment in the Olympic spotlight. The sport made headlines over the weekend when Canada’s Marc Kennedy was accused of making an illegal “double touch” while releasing the stone. Kennedy’s emotional response made the exchange go viral, with even outlets like “People” magazine taking note. Though the rhetoric directed at Kennedy has become perhaps overheated, leaders and promoters see a chance for curling to capitalize on its newfound notoriety. The CEO of a new professional curling league that will launch in April believes the tiff helped bring new fans to the sport.

WORDS: 1167 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 12:15 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6a5aa89763bb2aff9cabb98448e8cbf3&mediaType=text

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BKW--T25-WOMEN’S POLL

Geno Auriemma ties Tara VanDerveer for most AP Top 25 appearances as UConn stays No. 1

SUMMARY: Geno Auriemma has tied Tara VanDerveer for most appearances in the AP women’s basketball Top 25 poll when UConn remained No. 1. Auriemma has led the Huskies to 654 appearances in the poll during his 41-year Hall of Fame career to match VanDerveer, who retired from Stanford in 2024. UConn has been ranked for the past 619 consecutive weeks, dating to the preseason 1993-94 poll, and once again was a unanimous choice at No. 1 from the 31-member national media panel. Monday was the 900th poll in the 50-year history of the rankings.

WORDS: 427 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 12:00 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ed9b503cb40a9886a13fcd112ea6517f&mediaType=text

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Real Madrid returns to Benfica for Champions League revenge mission with Mbappé back

WORDS: 637 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 11:30 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9236ecbc4b8dffb3974b9685d8e7d4f0&mediaType=text

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BKN--ALL-STAR WEEKEND

Good game, bad dunk contest. The highs and lows of an eventful NBA All-Star weekend

SUMMARY: If you still didn’t like the NBA’s newest All-Star Game format, you probably just don’t like All-Star games. That seemed to be the sports sphere’s consensus after the U.S.-against-the-world, round-robin tournament produced an entertaining show. Something about the setup compelled these stars to play their exhibition at a level much closer to real competition than usual. But not everything was rosy at the NBA’s annual midseason showcase. The dunk contest was widely criticized for lacking excitement and star power. Damian Lillard won his third 3-Point Contest in impressive fashion.

WORDS: 1053 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 10:08 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1a83f84e9d6735ac8e3ecd31f448bbd9&mediaType=text

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OLY--HKO-QUALIFICATION LOOKAHEAD

Sweden has arguably the toughest path to men’s hockey gold at the Olympics

SUMMARY: Sweden has an incredibly difficult path through the Olympic men’s hockey tournament. The seventh-seeded Swedes play Latvia in the qualification round Tuesday with the winner of facing off against the United States in the quarterfinals. Switzerland beating Czechia in overtime set up a qualification matchup against winless Italy. Czechia and Denmark play with the winner next going up against the machine that is Canada. Germany set itself up nicely with France up first and a matchup in the quarters against Slovakia.

WORDS: 758 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 9:23 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b15e2a844a173d936745e818c3934ba1&mediaType=text

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OLY--FIG-MALININ-SOCIAL MEDIA

Ilia Malinin hints at ‘inevitable crash’ amid Olympic pressure and online hate in social media post

SUMMARY: Ilia Malinin shares a stark video that shows his Olympic highs and a painful low, and he says more is coming. On Monday, the U.S. figure skating star posted the clip and hinted at a “version of the story” coming on Saturday. That lines up with the exhibition gala that closes Olympic figure skating. Malinin helped the U.S. win team gold, then he stumbled in the individual short program and ended up eighth. He says Olympic pressure and online hate have weighed on him. He described negative thoughts and past trauma flooding in during his skate. He later congratulated the surprise champion, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan.

WORDS: 586 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 7:47 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ecf86a141b63a3697a4f9d95e45429d0&mediaType=text

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OLY--FIG-FEMALE ROLE MODELS

Bold new US trio eyes Olympic figure skating gold while serving as role models for a new generation

SUMMARY: The three U.S. women who will be going for Olympic gold when their figure skating competition begins Tuesday night are role models for a whole new generation. They call themselves the “Blade Angels,” but they are hardly the innocent ice princesses of yesteryear. Amber Glenn is 26 and speaks candidly about LGBTQ+ rights, politics and mental health. Alysa Liu retired at 16, spent two years of self-discovery, and made a comeback while becoming a hero to the alt, punk and emo crowd. Isabeau Levito may portray an ice-princess image, but her searing sarcasm comes through away from the cameras. Together, they also will be trying to rescue what has been a largely disappointing Olympics for the American figure skating team.

WORDS: 1371 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 6:58 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f526d8d269b0fc1656b177ed6a46175a&mediaType=text

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OLY--BIA-BY-THE-NUMBERS

A look at the Olympic sport of biathlon by the numbers

SUMMARY: The sport of biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and precision target shooting, requires hundreds of hours of training and the ability to push your body to the maximum effort to have a chance of success at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Biathletes also require special equipment to compete at the top levels. Their gear includes thousands of bullets, dozens of skis and poles and a team to keep everything running smoothly.

WORDS: 729 - MOVED: 02/16/2026 6:47 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5053a2eb2d98cc025d1e36ee3f004321&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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FBC--MICHIGAN-MOORE

Fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is due back in court on charges of stalking and home invasion against a woman with whom he had been having an affair after she broke off the relationship and reported it to school officials. Moore was fired earlier the same day. On merits coverage from motions hearing at 2 p.m. Eastern.