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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FBN--PATRIOTS-VRABEL

DESCRIPTION: Patriots vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf is scheduled to meet with reporters to preview the upcoming NFL draft. It will be the first time a member of the team front office has spoken since the New York Post published viral photos of Vrabel with NFL reporter Dianna Russini at a private hotel that have raised questions about the nature of their relationship. Vrabel, who participated in last year’s draft news conference, isn’t expected to attend. By Kyle Hightower.

UPCOMING: By 04/13/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BKN--NBA-PLAYOFF OFFICIAIS

DESCRIPTION: The NBA announces its 36 officials that’ll be used for the first round of the playoffs. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/13/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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BKN--HEAT-PIMENTAL’S FIGHT

DESCRIPTION: Rob Pimental won’t be with the Miami Heat at the play-in tournament that starts Tuesday. He’ll be working from home instead. The team’s equipment manager has been waiting months for kidney and pancreas transplants, yet has barely missed a day of work while he awaits that phone call. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/13/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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HKN--AWARDS WATCH

DESCRIPTION: Who wins the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP is a test of whether the award goes to the best hockey player in the league or the most valuable. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid are tops in points, while San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini and the New York Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer are outsized reasons why their teams were way better than most expected. By Hockey Writers Stephen Whyno and John Wawrow. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/13/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United hosts fierce rival Leeds in the Premier League. 250 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/13/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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BKN--NBA POSTSEASON

FORMATS: Text

1. WITH: BKN--WARRIORS-CURRY

2. DESCRIPTION: SAN FRANCISCO -- Two-time MVP Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors have a daunting task just to get into the playoffs: They are the tenth seed in the Western Conference and need to win a pair of elimination road games to earn the eighth seed and a chance to face defending champion and No. 1 Oklahoma City. Golden State will play Wednesday night against the Clippers in Los Angeles. By Janie McCauley. UPCOMING: 835 words, photos.

3. UPCOMING: By 04/13/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

4. WITH: BKN--NBA POSTSEASON

5. DESCRIPTION: BKN--NBA Play-in Preview. A preview of the NBA’s four play-in games, with the tournament starting Tuesday. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds BKN--Lakers-LeBron Takes Over. LOS ANGELES — LeBron James is back in an all-too-familiar role this spring as he attempts to carry an undermanned team deep into the NBA playoffs. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined by injury for the near future, the 41-year-old James must be the primary driver of the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense once again, and he isn’t flinching at the challenge. By Greg Beacham. BKN--NBA Postseason-Betting Odds Oddsmakers don’t have a lot of belief in Eastern Conference teams as the NBA playoffs begin with a notable exception being the Boston Celtics. By Mark Anderson BKN--Bucks-Giannis’ Future MILWAUKEE — The playoffs are starting without Milwaukee for the first time in a decade as the Bucks enter an offseason of uncertainty surrounding the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo. It seems like trading the two-time MVP is more of a realistic possibility than ever before. By Steve Megargee BKN--Blazers-Suns-Preview PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers in a Western Conference play-in tournament game on Tuesday night. The winner will be the No. 7 seed while the loser gets another chance to try and capture the No. 8 seed. By David Brandt.

6. UPCOMING: By 04/13/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

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HKN--PANTHERS-GIRLS HOCKEY

DESCRIPTION: The Florida Panthers are creating a girls travel hockey program for elite players. It’s been in the works for months, and gets announced just two months after USA Hockey’s women captured Olympic gold in Milan. By Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/13/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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SWM--WORLD AQUATICS-RUSSIA

Swimming becomes first major Olympic sport to lift restrictions on Russian athletes

SUMMARY: The governing body for international swimming and aquatic sports will allow athletes from Russia to compete without restrictions and with their national flag and anthem. World Aquatics says it will remove restrictions which had required Russian and Belarusian athletes to be vetted and to compete under neutral status. It says they will take part “in the same way as their counterparts representing other sport nationalities.” Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov has praised the decision and Ukraine has condemned it as “shameful and divorced from reality”. World Aquatics isn’t the first sports body to reinstate Russia in full but it’s by far the biggest.

WORDS: 619 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 1:04 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:21e6a5e3ad73844cb2eef29b72a96326&mediaType=text

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BKN--WARRIORS-CURRY

Stephen Curry hopes to lead a surprise Warriors playoff run now that he’s healthy after knee injury

SUMMARY: Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors have a daunting task just to get into the playoffs. They are the tenth seed in the Western Conference and need to win a pair of elimination games on the road to earn the eighth seed and a chance to face defending champion and No. 1 Oklahoma City. Golden State will play Wednesday night against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

WORDS: 878 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 11:25 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:db2a0e56bcd5e65e98709a896818419c&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA DRAFT

A $500,000 payday awaits the No. 1 WNBA pick as the Dallas Wings go on the clock again

SUMMARY: The Dallas Wings are on the clock with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft for the second straight year. The Wings could take guard Azzi Fudd from UConn, Spanish forward Awa Fam Thiam or UCLA center Lauren Betts to complement a talented roster led by last season’s No. 1 choice Paige Bueckers. Whoever Dallas chooses at No. 1 will make $500,000 in her first year thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement that was ratified last month. That’s nearly seven-times what Bueckers made last season. The No. 2 and No. 3 picks will get $466,913 and $436,016, respectively.

WORDS: 323 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 11:01 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0a00d49021a7aca63629b01c36e20d95&mediaType=text

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BKN--BUCKS-GIANNIS’ FUTURE

Bucks’ disappointing finish leads to an uncertain offseason regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future

SUMMARY: The postseason is starting without the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time in a decade. How soon Milwaukee gets back to the playoffs could depend on an offseason that’s shaping up to be among the most critical in franchise history due to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s uncertain future. Has the two-time MVP played his last game in a Bucks uniform? “I don’t know,” Antetokounmpo said Sunday after the Bucks finished their 32-50 season with a 126-106 loss at Philadelphia. Antetokounmpo has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee.

WORDS: 1071 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 11:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0591654a15cb5e6860b749ab87b67617&mediaType=text

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BKN--BUCKS-RIVERS OUT

Doc Rivers steps down as Bucks’ coach after 32-50 season that snapped 9-year playoff streak

SUMMARY: Doc Rivers is stepping down as Milwaukee Bucks coach, capping a tumultuous year in which he was selected for the Hall of Fame while his injury-riddled team fell far short of expectations. The announcement comes a day after the Bucks ended a 32-50 season that snapped their run of nine straight playoff appearances. The team didn’t indicate whether Rivers might have any role with it moving forward. Rivers went 97-103 in 2 1/2 seasons with the Bucks. He owns a 1,194-866 overall record and ranks sixth on the career wins list among NBA coaches.

WORDS: 1029 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 10:42 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1f75eb1abbb83984fee3bdc4198d0146&mediaType=text

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GLF--MCILROY’S MAJORS

Rory McIlroy a Masters champion again and the chase is on for more majors

SUMMARY: Rory McIlroy has become the fourth player to win the Masters two years in a row, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in this elite group. McIlroy reflected on the difficulty of winning the Masters, saying it’s a challenging journey. He struggled with motivation last year after achieving the Grand Slam. However, he’s in a good place now, having won his sixth major. McIlroy emphasizes that this win is part of his ongoing journey. He plans to use a similar preparation strategy for future majors, inspired by Nicklaus. The next major starts May 15.

WORDS: 1031 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 10:38 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cb936e3ef5977964fbe8dc2a2cf7d8ed&mediaType=text

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BKN--BUCKS-RIVERS-FUTURE

Doc Rivers isn’t expected back as Bucks’ coach next season, AP source says

SUMMARY: A person familiar with the situation says the Milwaukee Bucks don’t expect Doc Rivers back as their coach next season. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement about Rivers’ decision has been made. There has been some discussion about whether Rivers will stay with the organization in some capacity. ESPN first reported that Rivers won’t be back as Milwaukee’s coach. Rivers said before the Bucks’ season-ending 126-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday that he wasn’t going to announce anything. But he left little doubt about his intentions.

WORDS: 1007 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 9:09 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:61364e953286aa42814669229ccc9253&mediaType=text

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HKN--OVECHKIN-CELEBRATION

Ovechkin response to fans’ request for 1 more year: ‘I’ll think about it’

SUMMARY: If this was indeed the final home game of Alex Ovechkin’s sensational NHL career, the Washington Capitals star collected enough memories to take him deep into retirement. From the opening faceoff to the celebratory post-game skate in which he waved gratefully to the adoring fans, Ovechkin enjoyed one heck of a day. Best of all, the Capitals won Sunday to remain in the playoff hunt. Playing in front of a loud, appreciative crowd, the Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0. The 40-year-old Ovechkin will wait until the offseason to decide whether to retire or return for a 22nd NHL season.

WORDS: 502 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 9:08 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d71e040fe45d886d28789d506bf09718&mediaType=text

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Three of European soccer’s greats are on the brink of Champions League elimination

WORDS: 860 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 8:21 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a7d34c364169942bedd66c75833a36bc&mediaType=text

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CYC--CYCLING-GOLDEN AGE

Don’t miss it! Cycling’s golden era delivers weekly brilliance and once-in-a-lifetime rivalries

SUMMARY: Cycling is experiencing a golden age with champions like Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, and Jonas Vingegaard. They bring drama and excitement to the sport. Over the weekend, the Paris-Roubaix race saw unexpected twists. Van der Poel’s hopes were dashed by punctures, while Wout van Aert beat Pogačar in the final sprint. Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme praised Pogačar’s enthusiasm. The season has been thrilling, with young talents like Paul Seixas adding to the excitement. Cycling’s renewed energy is captivating fans.

WORDS: 913 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 7:36 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8937c4107c86f0dbac31d1d8cc1dc0e0&mediaType=text

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TEN--SINNER-ALCARAZ-RANKINGS

Jannik Sinner reclaims the No. 1 ranking from Carlos Alcaraz and sets sights on the French Open

SUMMARY: Sure Jannik Sinner is pleased to have the No. 1 ranking back. His biggest takeaways from a victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo Masters final though were finally winning a big clay-court title and doing it by beating his biggest rival on his most challenging surface. Sinner says “it means a lot to me because it means I’m progressing.” For Sinner it was a first step toward achieving his main goal for 2026 of winning the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam. That’s an achievement that Alcaraz completed when he won the Australian Open in January to become at 22 the youngest man to have held aloft all four major trophies.

WORDS: 799 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 7:20 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ae090334bb47654dcaa4a966621dc0df&mediaType=text

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FBN--NFL DRAFT-NO. 1 QBS IMPACT

QBs taken No. 1 overall in the NFL draft this century have rarely experienced Super Bowl success

SUMMARY: The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to draft Fernando Mendoza with the first pick in the NFL draft. They hope he becomes their franchise quarterback. Recent history shows that quarterbacks taken first overall often face challenges. Only Eli Manning has won a Super Bowl with his original team this century. Just three others have even made the big game, each losing in their only appearance. Analysts say the pressure and lack of continuity can be tough on young quarterbacks.

WORDS: 1051 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:59876bf01f767e8422686077d053714e&mediaType=text

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BBO--THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL

MLB games are lasting a little longer this season. One reason could be the new ABS system

SUMMARY: It could be argued that the Automated Ball-Strike system has been the MVP of Major League Baseball through the season’s first 2 1/2 weeks, creating a game-within-the-game that’s producing winners, losers and some dramatic moments. There appears to be at least one tradeoff. The ABS system could be one of the factors that is making games a little longer so far this season, with the time of a nine-inning game creeping upward to 2 hours, 42 minutes through Saturday’s contests, according to baseball-reference.com. That’s up from 2 hours, 38 minutes last season and 2 hours, 36 minutes in 2024.

WORDS: 641 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cd0720d2c1382878d449fc9af5cfc015&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-PLAY-IN PREVIEW

Play-in tournament will decide the final 4 spots in NBA playoff field

SUMMARY: There are 10 teams done for the season. Another 12 are in the playoffs. And that leaves eight teams for the four remaining playoff spots. The play-in tournament, this version of it anyway, is back for a sixth season and starts Tuesday night. Miami is at Charlotte, followed by Portland at Phoenix. On Wednesday, the schedule has Orlando at Philadelphia and Golden State at the Los Angeles Clippers.

WORDS: 1069 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:41697c4c3d62179ac95d18dffd26e8a5&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-GUIDE

World Cup 2026: Who’s in, where to watch, betting odds, schedules and more

SUMMARY: The biggest FIFA World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, is fast approaching. The tournament will be held across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Argentina, the defending champion, is back, and four nations will make their World Cup debuts. The group stage begins June 11, with teams guaranteed three matches. The top two teams from each group, plus the best eight third-place teams, will advance. The U.S. plays its first match on June 12. Argentina star Lionel Messi’s participation remains uncertain, but is expected

WORDS: 868 - MOVED: 04/13/2026 5:01 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cb70708367cc68bd94edff66416b3c7d&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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BKN--NBA POSTSEASON COVERAGE

Coverage of the NBA postseason.

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FBN--NFL DRAFT-PAVIA

Diego Pavia’s confidence, seen by outsiders as sheer cockiness, has taken him from a junior college in New Mexico to the Southeastern Conference and then New York as the Heisman Trophy runner-up. His next target? The NFL.

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SOC--WCUP-SOCCER BALL ARTIST

A Miami artist has a unique way to hype the World Cup. She’s painting soccer balls to depict great moments in the game’s history.

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