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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BKN--NBA PLAYOFF COVERAGE
FORMATS: Text, Photo
1. WITH: BKN--TIPOFF
2. DESCRIPTION: Victor Wembanyama did a little bit of work in San Antonio. Joel Embiid did a little bit of work in Philadelphia. As a trio of Game 3s loom Friday night -- the Spurs going to Portland, the 76ers hosting Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers going to Houston -- injury watches are all the rage. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.
3. UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT
4. WITH: BKN--NBA-POSTSEASON GUIDE
5. DESCRIPTION: The daily look at the NBA playoffs with info, stats and more. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.
6. SENT: By 04/23/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT
7. WITH: BKN--NBA-SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
8. DESCRIPTION: Derrick White of the Boston Celtics is this season’s NBA Sportsmanship Award winner. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.
9. SENT: By 04/23/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT
10. WITH: BKN--NBA PLAYOFF COVERAGE
11. DESCRIPTION: Coverage of the NBA playoffs
12. UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT
13. WITH: BKN--TRAIL BLAZERS-SPLITTER’S SEASON
14. DESCRIPTION: As uncertainty about his future with the Portland Trail Blazers swirls, interim coach Tiago Splitter is approaching the job with the same positivity that has helped carry the team through a strange season and into the playoffs.By Anne M. Peterson. Upcoming: 650 words and photos. By Noon.
15. UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT
16. WITH: BKN--KNICKS-HAWKS
17. DESCRIPTION: The Atlanta Hawks return home for Game 3 of their playoff series against the New York Knicks after splitting the first two games in New York. By Paul Newberry. 400 words, photos. Game starts at 7 p.m. EDT.
18. UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 10:00 p.m. EDT
19. WITH: BKN--NUGGETS-TIMBERWOLVES
20. DESCRIPTION: The Minnesota Timberwolves return to their home court for Game 3 of the first-round series against the Nuggets after gaining a split in Denver. By Dave Campbell. 400 words, photos. Game starts at 9:30 p.m. EDT.
21. UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 11:55 p.m. EDT
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SOC--GERMAN ROUNDUP
DESCRIPTION: Stuttgart hosts Freiburg in the semifinals of the German Cup.
UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 4:45 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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SOC--SPANISH ROUNDUP
DESCRIPTION: MADRID -- Third-place Villarreal visits last-place Oviedo in the Spanish league.
UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 5:35 p.m. EDT, Text
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GLF--CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP
DESCRIPTION: HOUSTON -- The Chevron Championship gets underway, the first LPGA major of the year on its third course in five years at Memorial Park. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 700 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 8:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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GLF--ZURICH CLASSIC
DESCRIPTION: First-round play begins Thursday in the Zurich Classic, the PGA Tour’s only team event. Top teams include brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick of England, as well as Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, and defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak.
UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 8:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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HKN--NHL PLAYOFFS COVERAGE
FORMATS: Text, Photo
22. WITH: HKN--HURRICANES-SENATORS
23. DESCRIPTION: Carolina visits Ottawa for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Text, photos. Games starts 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
24. UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT
25. WITH: HKN--AVALANCHE-KINGS
26. DESCRIPTION: LOS ANGELES — The Colorado Avalanche attempt to take a 3-0 lead in their first-round series with the Kings. By Greg Beacham. Text, photos. 10 p.m. ET start.
27. UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT
28. WITH: HKN--FACEOFF
29. DESCRIPTION: In a rite of spring, the start of the NHL playoffs is full of scrums, pushing, shoving and chippiness, with the third game of the Tampa Bay-Montreal, Vegas-Utah and Edmonton-Anaheim series up next Friday night. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. Text, photos.
30. UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT
31. WITH: HKN--SABRES-BRUINS
32. DESCRIPTION: The Bruins play the Sabres in Game 3 of the NHL playoffs. By Jimmy Golen. Text, photos. Game time 7 p.m. Eastern.
33. UPCOMING: By 04/23/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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BBO--PHILLIES-WALKER
Slumping Phillies release high-priced righty Taijuan Walker, recall Nolan Hoffman
SUMMARY: The slumping Philadelphia Phillies released veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker before Thursday’s game against the Chicago Cubs and recalled righty Nolan Hoffman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Walker exited the Phillies clubhouse a couple of hours before Thursday’s contest. He’s in the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract. The 33-year-old Walker was an All-Star with the New York Mets in 2021 and peaked with a 15-6 record and 4.38 ERA with Philadelphia in 2023. But he’s slid ever since, starting 2026 at 1-4 with a 9.13 ERA in five games, and has a combined 9-19 record with a 5.67 ERA over the past three seasons.
WORDS: 379 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 1:42 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b95fc5ad1f543341a65339fc7783c705&mediaType=text
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BKN--SPURS-WEMBANYAMA
Victor Wembanyama will travel with the Spurs to Portland but his Game 3 status remains uncertain
SUMMARY: Victor Wembanyama will travel with the San Antonio Spurs to Portland but his status for Game 3 against the Trail Blazers remains uncertain. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stopped short of saying Wembanyama will play. The team was scheduled to travel to Portland on Thursday afternoon. Game 3 is on Friday and Game 4 is on Sunday. Wembanyama suffered a concussion in the Spurs’ Game 2 loss to Portland on Tuesday night. He left the game in the second quarter. There are very specific steps that players have to clear before being removed from the league’s concussion protocol.
WORDS: 459 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 1:15 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dfe49f8392771325bf4251af62740c3a&mediaType=text
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SOC--WCUP-IRAN-ITALY
Italy dismisses replacing Iran at the World Cup after suggestion by Trump official
SUMMARY: Four-time champion Italy is not interested in replacing Iran at the upcoming World Cup in North America following a suggestion to that effect by U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli. Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup and the team is currently preparing to play its group-stage games in California and Seattle as planned in June. Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi says “first of all it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea.” Zampolli told The Financial Times that he suggested the swap to President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
WORDS: 665 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 12:42 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:93fc46cd72a9b8e0540377c96bc14ba9&mediaType=text
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BKN--NBA DRAFT-DYBANTSA
AJ Dybantsa officially declares for the NBA draft and is a top candidate to be the No. 1 pick
SUMMARY: AJ Dybantsa is entering the NBA draft. The BYU forward made the announcement Thursday. He is widely expected to be a top candidate to be the No. 1 pick. Dybantsa led the nation by averaging 25.5 points per game in his lone college season, along with 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He’s the first player to have a season with all those averages and be named a consensus All-American since Larry Bird did it for Indiana State in 1978-79. Dybantsa says “now the work starts again, all over again.”
WORDS: 404 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 12:41 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:758c41cc281b43a79cac7c6bc92fd74d&mediaType=text
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BBO--KOUFAX-LIFETIME AWARD
Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax wins Baseball Digest lifetime achievement award
SUMMARY: Sandy Koufax has won the sixth Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Baseball Digest. The Hall of Fame pitcher was honored Thursday with an annual distinction. Willie Mays won the inaugural award in 2021, followed by Vin Scully, Joe Torre, Dusty Baker and Bob Costas. The 90-year-old Koufax made his major league debut for his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. After the team moved to Los Angeles, he became one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers during the 1960s. The left-hander won three Cy Young Awards, an MVP trophy and five consecutive ERA titles. Twice he was selected World Series MVP.
WORDS: 371 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 12:00 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f43ae9e421ac9981e96ac10f06d4b5b1&mediaType=text
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OLY--FRENCH ALPS 2030-ICE HOCKEY
Paris offers to host 2030 Winter Games ice hockey after Nice mayor opposes Olympic plan
SUMMARY: The Olympic Games could return to Paris as soon as 2030. The Paris Entertainment Company has submitted a bid to host ice hockey for the 2030 Winter Games in France. The company has offered Adidas Arena and Accor Arena. They were used during the 2024 Paris Summer Games. The move comes after Nice’s new mayor, Eric Ciotti, opposes using Allianz Arena for ice hockey. Sports Minister Marina Ferrari says alternative solutions are being explored. The final venues will be confirmed in June when the IOC decides on the sports and events.
WORDS: 325 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 11:29 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:42c3d06a772d10e75d47de417cde758c&mediaType=text
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SOC--BARCELONA-YAMAL
Yamal to miss rest of Barcelona season but be fit for World Cup with Spain
SUMMARY: Barcelona says forward Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of the club season but should be healed from a leg injury in time to play for Spain at the World Cup. Barcelona says 18-year-old Yamal will miss the remaining six La Liga games for the leaders as he heals a muscle injury in his left leg that he picked up on Wednesday. He hurt himself converting a penalty in a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo. The club adds in a statement that its doctors “foresee that (Yamal) will be available for the World Cup.”
WORDS: 430 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 10:54 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6b3e0c5a81f7e5d03162edef498eefe6&mediaType=text
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SOC--WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW
It’s Arsenal-Lyon and Bayern-Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League semifinals
WORDS: 420 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 10:46 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c4f5e6f31036bc5417f8c0b57a365fcd&mediaType=text
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BBO--ABS-RISING-WALKS
Players say MLB’s robot umpires are shrinking the strike zone
SUMMARY: The new Automated Ball-Strike system has contributed to a spike in the Major League Baseball’s walk rate so far this season. The 9.8% walk rate through Tuesday’s games is the highest rate since 1950. The ABS system has made the strike zone more uniform throughout baseball, using the width of home plate and the height of the batter. It remains to be seen whether pitchers can adjust to the tighter zone and bring the walk rate down. Recent rule changes in baseball have created a lasting effect. A new MLB rules package in 2023 caused a big jump in stolen bases and the rate remains high in 2026.
WORDS: 866 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 8:56 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d91f6007fa1b0e69b8b586e992a469b3&mediaType=text
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FBN--PATRIOTS-VRABEL
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling and will miss Day 3 of the NFL draft
SUMMARY: New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling and will not be with the team for Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday, following the publication of photos of the coach and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort. Vrabel told ESPN he will start counseling this weekend. The Patriots confirmed Vrabel will miss the third day of the draft. The photos of Vrabel and Russini were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post. The NFL said it is not investigating Vrabel’s behavior. Vrabel and Russini are both married. Russini resigned from The Athletic.
WORDS: 414 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 8:39 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5745bab2d82dff263d7534d7f9510701&mediaType=text
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FBN--NFL DRAFT
NFL teams are almost on the clock as draft night in the Steel City has arrived
SUMMARY: Put aside the mock drafts because it’s time for the real deal. The NFL draft is here in the Steel City. A total of 257 players will live out a dream and hear their name called over the course of the next three days, culminating a long journey that required a ton of hard of work and plenty of sacrifice. The first round kicks off Thursday night when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell takes the stage inside the main theater outside Acrisure Stadium and announces the Las Vegas Raiders’ selection with the No. 1 pick. Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who quarterbacked Indiana to its first national title, is the consensus favorite for the Raiders.
WORDS: 515 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 8:11 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c69763dbea64665a5806bab697fa27df&mediaType=text
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SOC--NEW PLAYERS’ GROUP
A new players’ group launches to try to challenge FIFPRO’s global union role
SUMMARY: A new international group representing soccer players has launched as a rival to long established global union FIFPRO. FIFPRO has been in dispute with FIFA. The Association of International Footballers or AIF was founded on Thursday in Madrid by David Aganzo. Aganzo is president of the new group that claims it will represent nearly 30,000 players. Aganzo also leads the players’ association in Spain and was ousted as FIFPRO president in 2024. FIFA says it is aware of the creation of AIF. FIFPRO has criticized the new group, calling it “a speculative attempt” by Aganzo “to boost his own standing.”
WORDS: 428 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 7:00 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:aed952d5517ce1f33e0691ca0670004b&mediaType=text
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SOC--WCUP-IRAN
Iran government says men’s soccer team is preparing for ‘proud participation’ at World Cup in US
SUMMARY: An Iranian government spokesperson says the men’s national team is preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the United States. Iran’s ability and willingness to go to the World Cup across north America starting June 11 has often been unclear since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks Feb. 28. Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohejerani tells Iran’s state TV “the Ministry of Youth and Sports made an announcement about the full preparedness of our national soccer team for presence in the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., by the order of the minister.”
WORDS: 427 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 5:03 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c54f5f8ff8bbf62fcf757c72a1203a6d&mediaType=text
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HKN--STARS-WILD
Wyatt Johnston’s double-OT deflection gives Stars 4-3 win over Wild in Game 3
SUMMARY: Wyatt Johnston scored on a power-play deflection at 12:10 of the second overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild early Thursday for a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. Matt Duchene tied it for Dallas on a power play midway through the third period seconds after his backcheck on Matt Boldy averted a short-handed goal that would’ve put Minnesota up by two. Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson scored to put the Stars up 2-0 in the first period. Marcus Johansson, Joel Eriksson Ek and Michael McCarron had goals in the Wild’s rally.
WORDS: 775 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 2:53 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a48ffc9329fa2cc6d454fdc445093766&mediaType=text
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BBO--WHITE SOX-MURAKAMI
White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami ties MLB rookie record with HR in 5th straight game
SUMMARY: Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami tied a Major League Baseball rookie record by homering in his fifth straight game, crushing a 451-foot shot to right-center field against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his 10th homer of the season. He is the 13th rookie in MLB history to go deep in five straight. The Japanese first baseman also tied the team’s franchise record, a mark shared by A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Ron Kittle (1983) and Greg Luzinski (1983). Murakami’s two-run homer came off Diamondbacks reliever Ryan Thompson in the seventh, cutting Arizona’s lead to 10-7.
WORDS: 243 - MOVED: 04/23/2026 2:46 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:761c99f1b95106a8b9bfd58bcfeed56c&mediaType=text
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MOVING TOMORROW ___
—FBN--NFL Draft
—HKN--NHL Playoffs Coverage
—BKN--NBA Playoff Coverage
—Be Well-Japan-Radio Exercise
—SOC--WCup-Spain-Racism
