AP Sports Digest

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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BKW--T25-TOP 25 THIS WEEK

DESCRIPTION: UConn completed its 11th undefeated regular season in school history with a win over St. John’s on Sunday night and now is nine wins away from repeating as national champions and a seventh perfect season. Despite winning by an average of nearly 38 points, coach Geno Auriemma insisted that this season hasn’t been as easy its looked from the outside. He also knows that winning a 13th national championship won’t be as easy as last season’s title run. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg.

UPCOMING: By 03/03/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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BKN--AROUND THE NBA

DESCRIPTION: Kevin Durant has been in the NBA for 18 seasons, 19 if counting the one he missed while recovering from an Achilles tear. And in many of those seasons, there were clear favorites in the race to make the NBA Finals when the calendar flipped to March. It doesn’t feel that way this season. And he likes it. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/03/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text, Photo

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BKW--T25-TCU-MARCH AT HOME

DESCRIPTION: Olivia Miles and TCU opened March with another win at home, their 42nd in a row wrapping back-to-back outright Big 12 regular-season titles. After a trip to Kansas City this week for the Big 12 tournament, the Horned Frogs could potentially spend the rest of March playing in the NCAA Tournament in Fort Worth. By Stephen Hawkins. 550 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/03/2026 7:00 a.m. EST, Text, Photo

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GLF--ON THE FRINGE-LOWRY

DESCRIPTION: ORLANDO, Fla. -- It’s OK to feel sad for Shane Lowry, who could picture his 4-year-old daughter running onto the 18th green to celebrate him winning until he threw away the Cognizant Classic. But there’s no need to feel sorry for him. Lowry knows as well as anyone the extreme highs and gut-wrenching lows golf can deliver. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 900 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/03/2026 11:00 a.m. EST, Text, Photo

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FBN--FRANCHISE TAG RDP

DESCRIPTION: The deadline to place a franchise or transition tag on potential free agents comes Tuesday with questions about what Indianapolis will do with quarterback Daniel Jones and receicer Alec Pierce. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. 500 words, photos

UPCOMING: By 03/03/2026 2:45 p.m. EST, Text

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BKC--T25-ARIZONA-DOMINANT RUN

DESCRIPTION: TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd took a chance by building a team mostly around freshmen. The calculated risk paid off with a dominating run to the Big 12 regular-season championship. By John Marshall. 700 words, photos by 3 p.m. MT.

UPCOMING: By 03/03/2026 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

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BKC--T25-GEORGETOWN-ST JOHN’S

DESCRIPTION: In the final regular-season home game for Zuby Ejiofor and his fellow St. John’s seniors, the 18th-ranked Red Storm look to pull even with UConn atop the Big East standings when they host old rival Georgetown at Madison Square Garden. By Mike Fitzpatrick. 300 words, with photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/03/2026 9:30 p.m. EST, Text

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CAR--F1-CADILLAC F1 ARRIVES

DESCRIPTION: Cadillac brings a new American team to the Formula 1 grid as the season opens in Australia. The team makes its racing debut this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. The project started with Michael Andretti’s bid, but it now belongs to TWG Motorsports and General Motors. Cadillac signed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to lead the effort. Cadillac says it has come to win.

UPCOMING: By 03/03/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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BKC--T25-TOP 25-THIS WEEK

DESCRIPTION: North Carolina won the first meeting with rival Duke on a buzzer beater that required two court stormings. The rematch this weekend could be even more intense after a Blue Devils staffer was left bloodied in the chaos. By John Marshall. 650 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/03/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKN--BUCKS-ANTETOKOUNMPO

Giannis Antetokounmpo returns and says he can’t rush back from injuries at age 31

SUMMARY: Giannis Antetokounmpo developed a reputation for making rapid returns from injury during his rise to superstardom, but the Milwaukee Bucks forward acknowledges those days may be drawing to a close. Antetokounmpo had 19 points and 11 rebounds Monday night in Milwaukee’s 108-81 loss to the Boston Celtics, his first action since straining his right calf on Jan. 23. The two-time MVP has missed a career-high 29 games this season, 23 of those with calf injuries. Antetokounmpo says he has to be smart and methodical in his rehab and noted that he’s 31, not 23.

WORDS: 716 - MOVED: 03/03/2026 12:04 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:59bec8a000948bec079c84ca208bd85e&mediaType=text

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OLY--HKO-US-GOLD-TONIGHT SHOW

US Olympic gold medalists Hilary Knight and Quinn and Jack Hughes appear on ‘Tonight Show’

SUMMARY: Jimmy Fallon made fun of Jack Hughes for getting a tooth knocked out before scoring his Olympic-final overtime goal and praised Hilary Knight for winning at her fifth Games as the U.S. gold medal-winning hockey players made another late-night television appearance. Knight, Jack Hughes and his brother Quinn Hughes shared the stage on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Monday night, 48 hours after their memorable cameo alongside women’s golden goal scorer Megan Keller on “Saturday Night Live.”

WORDS: 626 - MOVED: 03/03/2026 12:01 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:402d8e7db05c6d3edbc977e2cac1fea8&mediaType=text

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BKL--UNRIVALED-SEMIFINALS

Phantom BC to face Mist in Unrivaled final after teams win semifinals at packed Barclays Center

SUMMARY: Kelsey Plum scored 31 points to lead short-handed Phantom BC to the Unrivaled championship game as the top seed beat Vinyl 83-75 in the semifinals of the 3-on-3 league at Barclays Center. Phantom will face Breanna Stewart and second-seeded Mist after it rallied to beat No. 5 Breeze 73-69 in the second semifinal on a 3-pointer by Arike Ogunbowale from the corner. The championship game will be Wednesday night at Unrivaled’s home arena in Miami. The winning team will take home a prize pool of $600,000 that will be split among the players from the championship club.

WORDS: 720 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 11:44 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6e2a0aed05593ef599c22889c5aad004&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-IOWA ST-ARIZONA

Bradley scores 17 as No. 2 Arizona clinches outright Big 12 title with 73-57 win over No. 6 Iowa St

SUMMARY: Jaden Bradley scored 17 points, Motiejus Krivas added 13 and No. 2 Arizona clinched the outright Big 12 regular-season title with a 73-57 win over No. 6 Iowa State. The Wildcats secured at least a share of the conference crown by using big runs in each half to beat No. 14 Kansas 84-61 on Saturday. Arizona earned it outright by smothering Iowa State defensively to give Tommy Lloyd his 140th victory, most in NCAA history in a coach’s first five seasons. Coming off their first home loss of the season, the Cyclones labored against Arizona’s physical defense, shooting 29% from the floor, including 7 of 30 from 3-point range. Tamin Lipsey led Iowa State with 17 points.

WORDS: 340 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 11:33 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:257d0649cc794713cf756f231265fc21&mediaType=text

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BKN--HAWKS-MAGIC CITY NIGHT-KORNET

NBA player Luke Kornet calls on Hawks to cancel promotion with Magic City adult entertainment club

SUMMARY: Luke Kornet has called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their upcoming collaboration with Magic City. Kornet says he and other NBA players were surprised by the team’s decision to promote the adult entertainment club. The San Antonio Spurs center wrote Monday that allowing the March 16 event during the Hawks’ game against the Orlando Magic “would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.” The Hawks announced the promotion last week. Kornet noted that the team failed to acknowledge that Magic City is a strip club.

WORDS: 241 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 11:12 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e422f9344fc122168bd0ebafb3fe1e98&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-DUKE-BOOZER

Cameron Boozer helped No. 1 Duke secure the outright ACC title. He had the marks to prove it, too

SUMMARY: Duke star freshman Cameron Boozer had a pair of long, thick and inflamed scatches wrapped around his right shoulder after a lopsided win at N.C. State. The victory secured the outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title for the Blue Devils. Boozer finished with 26 points in the 93-64 win. He joked that “the Wolfpack got me” afterward with “long claws.” Boozer says the scratches came from one of the Wolfpack’s big men after halftime.

WORDS: 431 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 11:02 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cdd7bb800cb365695396008ad1b7fea5&mediaType=text

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BKN--WIZARDS-TRAE YOUNG

Trae Young ejected from game after leaving bench, days before his expected Wizards debut

SUMMARY: Trae Young was thrown out of a Washington game and he isn’t even set to play for the Wizards for a few more nights. Young was ejected Monday night from the Wizards’ game against the Houston Rockets when he left the bench and walked onto the court to complain to a referee. Young was then kicked out during a confrontation between Houston’s Tari Eason and Washington’s Jamir Watkins. Young made an Instagram post of himself working out in Wizards gear earlier Monday and ended it with “3/5.” The Wizards are set to host Utah that night. Coach Brian Keefe said the point guard was trending toward being ready to play against the Jazz.

WORDS: 237 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 9:45 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:54af7a81710f199eeac5aff56ba5580c&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-DUKE-NC STATE

No. 1 Duke clinches outright ACC title with 93-64 win at NC State

SUMMARY: Star freshman Cameron Boozer scored 26 points and top-ranked Duke shot 55.2% to beat N.C. State 93-64. The win secured the outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title. The Blue Devils had already clinched the No. 1 seed for next week’s ACC Tournament with a weekend rout of No. 13 Virginia. Boozer made 8 of 10 shots to go with nine rebounds. Dame Sarr added 14 of his 16 points before halftime. Darrion Williams scored 17 points for the Wolfpack. N.C. State has lost five of six. Three of those losses have come by 29 or more points.

WORDS: 386 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 9:23 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7e2e0c498de2d51b5e4059d8558f7dfa&mediaType=text

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BKN--WARRIORS-PORZINGIS

Warriors center Porzingis misses 5th straight game with illness coach Steve Kerr calls “mysterious”

SUMMARY: Golden State center Kristaps Porzingis is still dealing with a medical issue that has sidelined him for a week and a half. Porzingis had returned to practice Friday and was listed as questionable for Saturday’s home loss to the Lakers, then missed his fifth straight game Monday with an illness. It’s unclear if he will travel for the team’s upcoming three-game trip.

WORDS: 233 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 9:12 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1f9db0b39e0652b312ad37a28d577e82&mediaType=text

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BBI--US-WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC-ROTATION

San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start WBC opener for Team USA against Brazil

SUMMARY: San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start on the mound for Team USA in its first World Baseball Classic game Friday night against Brazil, manager Mark DeRosa said Monday. DeRosa added that two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is expected to start Saturday against Britain, followed by NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes versus Mexico on Monday. New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday in the final pool-play game against Italy, though he’s dealing with an illness and wasn’t with the U.S. team for Monday’s practice.

WORDS: 229 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 8:47 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d322a72ad3277bd0113009f074d39e50&mediaType=text

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US--IRAN-US-SPORTS

War disrupts sports with doubt over Messi’s ‘Finalissima,’ Ronaldo games and F1 races

SUMMARY: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewis Hamilton are among the sports stars whose schedules are in doubt because of the spreading war in the Middle East. Cancellations and travel shutdowns are already affecting events since the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran on Saturday. Organizers of Formula 1 and major soccer games face deciding within weeks whether they can go ahead as scheduled. Middle Eastern nations have become crucial to the world sports landscape over the last decade as event hosts, financial backers and employers for some of the world’s top athletes.

WORDS: 760 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 7:25 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:46cc551e816533216a7971f67dd9c06c&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-IRAN

Iran’s World Cup place in US put in doubt by Middle East war. FIFA has Iraq next in line

SUMMARY: Iran’s place at the men’s soccer World Cup in three months has been put in doubt amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by tournament co-host the United States. Iran is due to play three group-stage games in the U.S. from June 15-26. Two are in Inglewood, California and one in Seattle. It is unclear if the state-backed Iranian soccer federation could refuse to send its team to the 48-nation tournament that Canada and Mexico will co-host. Or if the U.S. government could effectively block the team. If Iran doesn’t play, Iraq is next in line from Asia.

WORDS: 985 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 7:10 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8882f12c6e9cb3f3dc1306fd2dd9a208&mediaType=text

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FBN--LIONS-TEXANS TRADE

Lions trade Montgomery to Texans for Scruggs, 4th, 7th-round picks, AP source says

SUMMARY: The Detroit Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs along with fourth and seventh-round picks, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. Detroit dealt a veteran running back who wanted more carries for much-needed depth on the offensive line and extra selections in next month’s draft. The Lions later released 33-year-old offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, who started 14 games last season and has started 136 games in his 10-year career.

WORDS: 310 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 6:23 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:58632a9055a645cddebf6a150be3461b&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-MEN’S POLL

Duke extends No. 1 record in AP Top 25 as Michigan State, Nebraska and Texas Tech crash top 10

SUMMARY: Duke is No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the second straight week, extending its all-time record with the program’s 149th appearance in the top spot. The Blue Devils received 55 of 59 first-place votes. No. 2 Arizona received the other four. Michigan, UConn and Florida round out the top five. No. 19 Miami of Ohio, Division I’s only remaining undefeated team, climbed two spots for its highest ranking since reaching No. 12 in 1952-53.

WORDS: 630 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 5:39 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5c7ec81f1303ace9a8b1e18f3e9db3f6&mediaType=text

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FBN--NFL COMBINE WRAPUP

Hoosiers continue making history by sending school-record 9-player contingent to NFL combine

SUMMARY: The national champion Indiana Hoosiers just keep making history. Less than two months after winning their first national championship and becoming the first major college football team with a 16-0 record since the 1890s, the Hoosiers made themselves at home during the NFL’s annual scouting combine. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza led a school-record nine-player contingent to Indianapolis in a far cry from the one or two players they typically send. They’ll set another school record on draft weekend if eight or more Hoosiers are chosen.

WORDS: 988 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 5:08 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:45c44129cbb5acdd125b5dd766ac6865&mediaType=text

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ATH--HALF MARATHON-WRONG TURN

US half marathon women’s leaders guided off course in error. One asks officials to ‘make it right’

SUMMARY: The runner who was leading the women’s race of the U.S. half marathon championships until she was mistakenly led off the course by a guide vehicle is calling for USA Track & Field to make right an outcome that cost her a spot in the world road running championships this fall. Jess McClain was ahead by a wide margin with about 1.5 miles to go Sunday when she and three other runners followed the guide vehicle on a wrong turn. McClain says in an Instagram post that she followed a police escort, official lead vehicle and a media motorcycle off the course for about one kilometer.

WORDS: 558 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 3:51 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2ac799b72b602889607a403670bdc88f&mediaType=text

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FBC--COLORADO-REMEMBERING PONDER

Colorado players are grieving after the death of backup quarterback Dominiq Ponder

SUMMARY: The Colorado Buffaloes began spring practice with heavy hearts Monday as they remembered quarterback Dominiq Ponder. The 23-year-old from Florida died early Sunday morning in a single-car crash, police said. Ponder played in two games for the Buffalos last season. The players were given the option by coach Deion Sanders to skip the first day of spring practice. But in an emergency meeting to grieve together, everyone agreed that taking the field was the best option. Running back DeKalon Taylor said the team broke the huddle with the chant of “Dom.”

WORDS: 878 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 3:49 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:937c67bd73833837623a3e9aa9c44170&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-JGR-GABEHART LAWSUIT

Federal judge allows Gabehart continue working at Spire so long as he avoids Gibbs-related duties

SUMMARY: A federal judge has ruled Chris Gabehart can keep working at Spire Motorsports but only in a role unrelated to work he did as competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing. The ruling follows a Friday hearing in which JGR sought a restraining order to block his move. The judge also ordered Gabehart to return any data and materials to his former team. She set March 16 for a full hearing. Gabehart holds a top job overseeing TWG Global’s racing groups. He can travel to Phoenix Raceway this weekend.

WORDS: 850 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 3:06 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8a8d77f1ecc6d1bbd40e339678e94cca&mediaType=text

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FBC--INDIANA-CIGNETTI CONTRACT

Indiana’s Curt Cignetti cashes in on title run with 8-year extension worth $13.2 million per year

SUMMARY: Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is cashing in on his first national championship run — even more than initially expected. Athletic department officials have announced the two-time national coach of the year signed a memorandum of understanding on an eight-year contract extension, paying him an annual average of $13.2 million — or an increase of about $1.6 million per year from what school officials initially said Cignetti would earn when he first agreed to the deal in October. The 64-year-old Cignetti’s paycheck could be even higher if he cashes in on the bonus clauses.

WORDS: 792 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 2:48 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2a2d4db9907719ba85b9652bbb84264b&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA-CBA

WNBA’s new CBA offer boosts pay, fast-tracks max deals for stars like Caitlin Clark, AP source says

SUMMARY: The WNBA sent a new CBA proposal to the players’ union Sunday night that includes allowing some of its young stars like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers a chance to earn a maximum salary quicker, a person familiar with the deal has told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of negotiations. The new offer would allow players on rookie contracts who were first or second team all-league to become eligible to sign a maximum contract in their fourth year and would not be eligible for a franchise tag designation following that extension.

WORDS: 981 - MOVED: 03/02/2026 1:47 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d4306962d1aa5eeb07a10dedea5fa90c&mediaType=text

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