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; graphics, ext. 7636.

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UPCOMING

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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.

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; graphics, ext. 7636.

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UPCOMING

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ATH--BOSTON MARATHON-GIBB STATUE

DESCRIPTION: HOPKINTON, Mass. -- There was only one sculptor qualified to capture the combination of pain and satisfaction that Bobbi Gibb felt when she became the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon. Gibb herself. The artist, lawyer and athletic pioneer helped unveil her self-portrait in bronze alongside the Town Green, just a few steps from the marathon starting line. The statue — the first of a woman on the course — will greet the 30,000-plus runners who line up for the race on Patriots’ Day. By Jimmy Golen. Upcoming: 650 words, photos by 5 a.m.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 6 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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FBC--VANDERBILT-QB SEARCH

DESCRIPTION: The Vanderbilt Commodores wrap spring practice as only the first step in coach Clark Lea’s process of picking a new starting quarterback to replace Diego Pavia. By Teresa M. Walker.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 7:00 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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HKN--PLAYOFFS-BY THE NUMBERS

DESCRIPTION: A numerical look at the 2026 NHL playoffs, from the favorites to the long shots and what to expect in the four-round tournament for the Stanley Cup. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 11:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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US--SUPREME COURT-TRANSGENDER ATHLETES

DESCRIPTION: A transgender high school athlete in West Virginia is focused on finishing on the podium again in the girls’ state track championships as the U.S. Supreme Court mulls whether to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 12:00 p.m. EDT, Video, Text, Photo

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BKN--NBA POSTSEASON COVERAGE

FORMATS: Text, Photo

1. WITH: BKN--HAWKS-KNICKS PREVIEW

2. DESCRIPTION: NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks believe they can have another long postseason run after reaching the Eastern Conference finals last year. First, they have to get past the Atlanta Hawks, who surged into the playoffs with a strong second half of the season. By Brian Mahoney.

3. UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT

4. WITH: BKN--NBA POSTSEASON COVERAGE

5. DESCRIPTION: BKN--NBA Playoffs-Spurs-Wembanyama Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs don’t have much championship experience on their roster but San Antonio believes they are built to win a title – this year. Tim Reynolds. MOVING at 6 a.m. ET

6. BKN--Pistons-Cunningham. Cade Cunningham won an appeal to be eligible for NBA awards, though he’s more interested in helping the Detroit Pistons advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2008. By Larry Lage. 600 words, photos.

7. BKN--Rockets-Durant Kevin Durant is back in the playoffs after missing out last season and he and the Houston Rockets are hoping to make some noise this postseason. “I’m grateful to be here healthy, with a team that’s looking forward to trying to do some big things,” he said. By Kristie Rieken. 750 words. Photos.

8. BKN--NBA-Playoff Preview The 2026 NBA playoffs start Saturday. A look at what’ll happen over the next two months. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds.

9. BKN--NBA-Inside the Numbers. Key stats and trends going into the start of the 2026 NBA playoffs. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos.

10. BKN--Hornets-Magic The Magic hosts the Hornets Friday night with the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs at stake. By Dick Scanlon. Game starts at 7:30 ET

11. BKN-Warriors-Suns Steph Curry the Warriors travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns as both teams look to lock up the No. 8 seed in the West. By David Brandt. Game start at 10 pm ET

12. UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

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FBN--NFL DRAFT-COLLEGE BREAKDOWN

DESCRIPTION: When it comes to producing players for the NFL, the top performing colleges not surprisingly do the best. Where it gets more interesting is which schools are the best at certain positions. Here’s a look at what colleges have done best the past decade and developing players at different positions. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. 900 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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BKN--TRAIL BLAZERS-WILD SEASON

DESCRIPTION: PORTLAND, Ore. The Trail Blazers’ season started with their coach’s arrest in an alleged gambling scheme. It ended with Portland in the playoffs for the first time since 2021. It’s been an interesting path to the postseason to say the least for the Blazers, who also overcame a January slump, some untimely injuries and the ale of the team to finish the regular season above .500 at 42-40. By Anne M. Peterson. Upcoming: 650 words and photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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HKN--PLAYOFFS-YOUNG STARS

DESCRIPTION: Pittsburgh’s 18-year-old Ben Kindel, Boston’s Fraser Minten and Montreal’s Ivan Demidov are among the budding stars to watch in a playoffs full of young talent. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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HKN--WILD-STARS PREVIEW

DESCRIPTION: The Dallas Stars host Game 1 against Minnesota in a first-round series between Central Division foes that had been expected for several months. By Stephen Hawkins. 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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FBN--NFL-MOCK DRAFT

DESCRIPTION: The AP releases its third version of the 2026 NFL mock draft. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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GLF--RBC HERITAGE

DESCRIPTION: HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Ludvig Aberg had a one-shot lead going into the second round of the RBC Heritage. Scottie Scheffler was five behind. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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SOC--JAPAN-US WOMEN

DESCRIPTION: COMMERCE CITY, Colo. After a 1-0 loss to Japan snapped a 10-game U.S. winning streak in Seattle on Tuesday, the two teams meet again on Friday night in Colorado to conclude a three-game series. Upcoming: 400 words and photos. Game starts at 9 p.m. ET.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 9:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BKN--TIMBERWOLVES-NUGGETS PREVIEW

DESCRIPTION: DENVER -- The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets renew their rivalry when their first-round series begins Saturday. And yes, it is a rivalry. “I don’t think there’s anything else to call it but a rivalry,” the Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards said. By Pat Graham. 650 words, photos by 5 p.m. ET.

UPCOMING: By 04/17/2026 9:48 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKL--LYNX-COLLIER

Lynx re-sign 5-time All-Star forward Napheesa Collier

SUMMARY: The Minnesota Lynx have re-signed five-time All-Star forward Napheesa Collier. The team announced the move Thursday night but didn’t provide contract details. ESPN reported that Collier signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax deal. This comes a day after the Las Vegas Aces re-signed A’ja Wilson to a three-year, $5 million supermax contract, the most lucrative in WNBA history. The 29-year-old Collier averaged a career-high 22.9 points per game last season. She became the first WNBA player to achieve 50/40/90 shooting splits while averaging 20 or more points per game.

WORDS: 419 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 12:10 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ed50272dd877d9a3db23193db798cecc&mediaType=text

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BBO--ORIOLES-GUARDIANS-NO-HITTER ALERT

Rookie pitcher Parker Messick comes within 3 outs of ending Cleveland’s 45-year no-hitter drought

SUMMARY: Rookie left-hander Parker Messick came within three outs of ending Cleveland’s 45-year drought without a no-hitter. Instead, he became the second Guardians pitcher in eight months to fall short in the ninth inning. “I did my best. Maybe next time,” Messick said after Cleveland’s 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Leody Taveras led off the ninth with a grounder that just eluded diving second baseman Juan Brito and went into right field for a single to break up Messick’s no-hit bid. Cleveland still has the longest current gap between no-hitters of any major league franchise. The team’s most recent one was Len Barker’s perfect game on May 15, 1981, against the Toronto Blue Jays.

WORDS: 924 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 11:46 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1629b227a9c485e99c5a9251d8f10059&mediaType=text

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HKN--DEVILS-MEHTA

Devils hire two-time Panthers Stanley Cup-winning executive Sunny Mehta as general manager

SUMMARY: The New Jersey Devils have hired Sunny Mehta as their general manager. Owner David Blitzer announced the hire Thursday night, less than 48 hours after the team’s regular season ended without a playoff appearance. Mehta was an assistant when the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup each of the past two years. Mehta returns to New Jersey, where he served as director of hockey analytics from 2014-18.

WORDS: 449 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 8:33 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:79691f2b16b2b0035179fdfa396824d1&mediaType=text

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GLF--RBC HERITAGE

Ludvig Aberg cleans up his game and leads at Hilton Head with a 63

SUMMARY: Ludvig Aberg has the lead at the RBC Heritage with a bogey-free 63 at Harbour Town. The Swede is coming off a disappointing week at the Masters by his standards. He tied for 21st after two previous years in the top 10. Aberg says he wasn’t worried because his swing felt good. He just made some silly mistakes. That wasn’t the case on a warm day along the Calibogue Sound. He was one shot ahead of Harris English and Viktor Hovland. Scottie Scheffler hit his first tee shot out-of-bounds and recovered in plenty of time for a 68.

WORDS: 790 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 7:49 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:73d86584b16dc76804170499229bd6cc&mediaType=text

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US--BASEBALL DRONE CONCERNS

Drone violations of restricted airspace at Colorado Rockies games prompt warning from authorities

SUMMARY: A rash of drone sightings during the Colorado Rockies’ first homestand of the season against the Philadelphia Phillies sent law enforcement scrambling to track down the operators. No one was arrested after more than a half dozen drone sightings around Coors Field earlier this month, but it is possible the drone pilots could still face fines up to $75,000. Still officials issued a warning Thursday to try to keep drones away from the stadium during the Rockies’ next home games because they are concerned about the potential threat they pose. Even if the drones aren’t attacking, their presence distracts law enforcement from other potential threats that could be more serious, officials say.

WORDS: 366 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 7:35 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:126627f9b56b77f1e935e69d6cdaf5f7&mediaType=text

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BKN--LAKERS-LEBRON-BRONNY-PLAYOFFS

Bronny and LeBron James are looking forward to postseason playing time together with the Lakers

SUMMARY: LeBron James and Bronny James seem likely to play postseason minutes together this month when the Los Angeles Lakers face the Houston Rockets in the first round. The greatest scorer in NBA history and his 21-year-old son have been teammates for nearly two years, but the prospect of accomplishing a new first is still special to both generations. Bronny’s playing time has increased over the last month, and he has been a rotation piece for the Lakers since Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves went down with injuries two weeks ago. LeBron takes an obvious fatherly pride in Bronny’s development into a contributor for their short-handed team.

WORDS: 812 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 7:11 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5c5f358b77f24744bc2d8413967510a2&mediaType=text

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FBC--NCAA-OKLAHOMA-HEINECKE

Oklahoma standout LB Owen Heinecke gets court injunction to return to Sooners for another year

SUMMARY: Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke has been cleared to return to the Sooners for another season. Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman granted Heinecke a preliminary injunction against the NCAA that gives him immediate relief and allows him to rejoin his team days before Oklahoma’s annual spring game. Balkman said the NCAA “failed to consider the totality of the case” while announcing his ruling in court. Heinecke called Sooners coach Brent Venable after the decision and said, “Let’s go coach!” Heinecke played three games of lacrosse at Ohio State in February 2022, costing him a year of eligibility.

WORDS: 467 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 6:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:eb26c6c93b0ef91eb7f2b50f3088ed5b&mediaType=text

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BBO--ANGELS-TROUT

Mike Trout crushes another Yankee Stadium homer, his fifth in four games

SUMMARY: Mike Trout homered for the fifth time in four games on Thursday afternoon when he hit a 446-foot drive in the seventh inning for the Los Angeles Angels. The three-time MVP joined Jimmie Foxx (1933), Darrell Evans (1985) and George Bell (1990) as the fourth player with five homers in a series against the Yankees, according to MLB research. Trout homered twice Monday before going deep again in the previous two games. In the finale of a four-game series, Trout homered again when he sent a 2-2 slider from New York reliever Angel Chivilli about halfway up the left field bleachers to give the Angels a 7-4 lead.

WORDS: 513 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 6:18 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2ca7fc2ed0859e8c4325a41d79bf4591&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-AWARD ELIGIBILITY

Doncic and Cunningham eligible for NBA awards after appeals of 65-game rule. But Edwards is not

SUMMARY: The Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic and Detroit’s Cade Cunningham will be eligible for awards such as MVP and All-NBA this season despite falling short of the 65-game minimum. The league and the National Basketball Players Association announced the ruling on Thursday. Doncic played in 64 games and Cunningham played in 63. But the league and the union both agreed that each should be on the ballot based on the “extraordinary circumstances provision” in the collective bargaining agreement. An appeal to get Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards on the ballot failed.

WORDS: 724 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 6:18 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2caf8c5044f87b6eeba2dcc0694859db&mediaType=text

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GLF--LIV GOLF

LIV Golf leader says the show will go on amid reports of Saudi funding uncertainty

SUMMARY: The CEO of LIV Golf is seeking to quell speculation about the Saudi-funded league’s financial status by saying the rest of the season will go on interrupted. Scott O’Neil’s memo to the staff says LIV will be at full throttle as it heads into the heart of the season. The memo follows a long day of reports that suggested Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund was on the verge of cutting its support. LIV Golf is in Mexico City this week for its sixth tournament of the year. Left unclear in the memo was how much longer the funding would last.

WORDS: 788 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 5:46 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8fa932ade38658c54238aa563a4307d3&mediaType=text

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BKN--SPORTS BETTING-ARRESTS

Ex-NBA player Damon Jones is expected to become first person to plead guilty in gambling sweep

SUMMARY: Ex-NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones is expected to become the first person to plead guilty in a gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people, including reputed mobsters and other basketball figures. A change of plea hearing for Jones is scheduled for April 28 in Brooklyn federal court. That’s according to court filings on Thursday. The 49-year-old Jones had previously pleaded not guilty to separate indictments charging him with profiting from rigged poker games and providing sports bettors with non-public information about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anonpublicis. A message seeking comment was left for his lawyer, Kenneth Montgomery.

WORDS: 717 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 3:50 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:db3d2048d7e826aeec2808fa092d6631&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-PLAY-IN PREVIEW

Play-in finales: Hornets-Magic, Warriors-Suns await on Friday night to set last 2 NBA playoff spots

SUMMARY: The Golden State Warriors spent the last month resigned to their fates. Even before they were locked into the play-in tournament, they knew they were headed there and would have to win two games to grab an unlikely playoff spot. So, they prepared for a two-game season. And the mission, in their eyes, is only half-finished. The Warriors, along with Charlotte, Orlando and Phoenix, will be in win-or-go-home matchups Friday as the play-in tournament comes to a close and sees two teams grab the last two available spots on the playoff bracket.

WORDS: 793 - MOVED: 04/16/2026 3:10 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3cf3632a5a38000c90fa875d7d754e97&mediaType=text

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