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-PRO PICKS-WEEK 5

DESCRIPTION: The Bills-Rams and 49ers-Seahawks matchups highlight Week 5. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi.

UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BKW--BIG TEN TILT

DESCRIPTION: Big Ten women’s basketball has a decidedly West Coast tilt of late. Since joining the Big Ten, USC and UCLA have each won the regular-season title once and UCLA has won the tournament twice. The Bruins are coming off a national title and USC figures to be elite again with Juju Watkins back. Iowa and Michigan among others could have a chance to restore the traditional power structure. By Luke DeCock. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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BBO--POSTSEASON

FORMATS: Text

1. WITH: BBO--NLDS-DODGERS-BRAVES

2. DESCRIPTION: Tyler Mahle is expected to start for the Braves against Tyler Glasnow and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the NL Division Series. By Charles Odum. 500 words, photos. Game scheduled for 6:08 p.m. EDT start.

3. UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

4. WITH: BBO--ALDS-GUARDIANS-WHITE SOX

5. DESCRIPTION: Miguel Vargas and the Chicago White Sox go for a sweep when they face Chase DeLauter and the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of their AL Division Series. The White Sox haven’t clinched a postseason series at home since 1906. By Baseball Writer Jay Cohen. Game scheduled for 4:08 p.m. EDT start.

6. UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

7. WITH: BBO--ALDS-RAYS-YANKEES

8. DESCRIPTION: Max Fried starts for the New York Yankees, who trail 2-0 in the best-of-five series, and Nick Martinez takes the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays, trying to reach the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2020. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. 700 words, photos. Game scheduled for 8:08 p.m. EDT start.

9. UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

10. WITH: BBO--NLDS-BREWERS-PADRES

11. DESCRIPTION: Walker Buehler starts Game 4 when the San Diego Padres attempt to avoid elimination for the second straight night at Petco Park against the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers, who have now lost 12 straight road playoff games since 2018 after a nail-biting defeat in Game 3. By Greg Beacham. 700 words, photos. Game scheduled for 10:08 p.m. EDT start.

12. UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

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FBC--EXTREME WEATHER-SPORTS

DESCRIPTION: Tropical Storm Isaias could make landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast this weekend, hours before No. 2 Georgia plays at No. 6 Alabama in a major college football game President Donald Trump was expected to attend. Both schools are making backup plans in case the game time and location need to be changed for safety. By Maura Carey. Text, photos. With US--Extreme Weather-Gulf.

UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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HKN--MAMMOTH-EASTERN INFLUENCE

DESCRIPTION: As they look to transform from a team contending for a playoff spot to one of the best in the West, the Utah Mammoth added gritty forwards Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee, who have spent a lot of time in the Eastern Conference. Beyond experience, they bring a different brand of hockey than the young, speedy core has succeeded with. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--RAIDERS-ADVERSITY

DESCRIPTION: The Las Vegas Raiders faced plenty of adversity last year in going 3-14, but they opened this season by winning their first three games before a close loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. How will they respond?

UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BKL--WNBA PLAYOFFS

FORMATS: Photo, Text

13. WITH: BKL--VALKYRIES-FAN’S COURAGE

14. DESCRIPTION: SAN FRANCISCO -- Sparkling and sequined in Valkyries violet colors from head to toe, even down to her cane and prosthetic left leg, Cynthia Cheak reaches into a cross-body bag and pulls out a handful of Golden State playoff-themed bracelets she ordered herself to share all around the arena. Then she begins her nightly ritual of walking through Chase Center giving them away to anyone and everyone. The second-year WNBA franchise has given Cheak new life. She was struggling both emotionally and physically after losing her left leg a couple of years before Golden State began playing last year. Now, the Valkyries are in the WNBA semifinals against the defending champion Aces and Cheak is a beloved regular in the “Ballhalla” home crowd. By Janie McCauley. 840 words, photos.

15. SENT: By 10/07/2026 7:30 p.m. EDT

16. WITH: BKL--LIBERTY-DREAM

17. DESCRIPTION: ATLANTA -- The No. 8 seed New York Liberty will try to recover after losing the opening game of the WNBA semifinals series when they play the No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream in Game 2. By Alan Cole. 450 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

18. UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 10:30 p.m. EDT

19. WITH: BKL--ACES-VALKYRIES

20. DESCRIPTION: SAN FRANCISCO -- The Golden State Valkyries host the Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 of their best-of-five WNBA semifinal series. Golden State leads 1-0. By Janie McCauley. 450 words, photos. Game starts at 9:30 p.m. EDT.

21. UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 11:55 p.m. EDT

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HKN--PENGUINS-CAPITALS

DESCRIPTION: The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Capitals in the first game since Washington star and all-time goals leader Alex Ovechkin announced this will be his final season. 250 words, more on merit. Game starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

UPCOMING: By 10/07/2026 10:30 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BBO--ALDS-RAYS-MARTINEZ

Once kicked out of Yankee Stadium, Nick Martinez returns to try to pitch the Rays into ALCS

SUMMARY: Once ejected from Yankee Stadium as a college student, Nick Martinez returns trying to pitch the Tampa Bay Rays into the AL Championship Series. Martinez played for Fordham, just 5 miles from the stadium, and recalls being rowdy during a Red Sox game. Tampa leads the best-of-five AL Division Series 2-0 against New York. Martinez, who became an All-Star this year, was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2011 and later played in Japan, which he credits for revitalizing his career. Now with Tampa Bay, he’s become a full-time starter.

WORDS: 946 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 1:17 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ec23f64276288cea0aaaff86dfb7e145&mediaType=text

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FBC--T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS

College football picks: Week 6 matchups give Power Four contenders chance to jockey for position

WORDS: 1094 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 12:59 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e153a189f1254fe79d96c4273567bebf&mediaType=text

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HKN--HOCKEY ROMANCE-AUDIOBOOKS

NHL’s hockey romance-themed audiobooks disappear online after opening week of the season

SUMMARY: A series of audiobooks the NHL launched to connect with fans of the hockey romance genre is no longer available online. A league spokesperson told The Associated Press that the “Hot for Hockey” episodes were specific to games during the opening week of the season and one small part of a marketing campaign. Commissioner Gary Bettman last week in Philadelphia called the genre a cultural phenomenon with viewers of “Heated Rivalry” and “Off Campus” taking interest in the sport. He said the NHL plans to continue marketing to new fans in the hopes that they remain interested.

WORDS: 611 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 12:29 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e3edca8b8b1817d592de95adba6ea312&mediaType=text

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FBN--49ERS-JUSZCZYK

49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk wins appeal on fine over ‘Juice’ celebration that NFL said imitated beer chug

SUMMARY: San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk has won his appeal over the fines issued by the NFL for what it deemed an “offensive” celebration when he imitated drinking a beverage, which the league said looked like he was chugging a beer. Juszczyk was initially fined $29,852 for two infractions of the league’s sportsmanship rules after celebrating two catches in the third quarter of a Week 2 win against the Miami Dolphins by doing the celebration he has done for years while the fans at Levi’s Stadium cheered “Juice!” for his nickname. He appealed the fine and an appeals officer ruled in his favor, according to the league.

WORDS: 349 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 12:05 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6499125eb7e20259af94b48a42fa9d4b&mediaType=text

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FBN--INSIDE THE NUMBERS

The NFL has a record-tying 5 teams with an 0-4 record so far this season

SUMMARY: There’s a race to the bottom of the NFL standings four games into the season, including two surprisingly winless teams. A record-tying five teams are 0-4 one month in, marking just the seventh time that has happened in NFL history and the first since 2019. Some of the winless teams aren’t too surprising, with Miami there as part of a rebuild and Tennessee winless after back-to-back three-win seasons. The other winless teams are a bit more of a surprise, with Tampa Bay, Houston and the Los Angeles Chargers all entering the season as contenders.

WORDS: 930 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 9:47 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8a399f57ef89e9362b99c0440d83da79&mediaType=text

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SOC--SOUTH KOREA-MILITARY EXEMPTION

South Korea signals military exemption cuts for athletes after Asian Games backlash

SUMMARY: South Korea is reconsidering military service exemptions for champion athletes after backlash for comments made by some gold medalists at the Asian Games. Three soccer players faced criticism for remarks about their exemption following victory over Japan in the men’s final. They apologized, but the incident sparked debate over whether athletes should receive special treatment. On Wednesday, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the exemption system for artists and athletes might be scaled back. Most South Korean men must serve 18 to 21 months in the military but Olympic medalists and Asian Games champions have been able to replace this with a shorter service.

WORDS: 654 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 8:15 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:11b74b8c9f2e2a3815135f55a6cf38d3&mediaType=text

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BKL--VALKYRIES-FAN’S COURAGE

Sparkling from head to toe, amputee Cynthia Cheak becomes a key face of Valkyries’ ‘Ballhalla’ crowd

SUMMARY: Sparkling and sequined in the Valkyries’ violet colors from head to toe, even down to her cane and prosthetic left leg, Cynthia Cheak reaches into a cross-body bag and pulls out a handful of Golden State playoff-themed bracelets she bought to share all around the arena. Then she begins her nightly ritual of walking through Chase Center giving them away. The second-year WNBA franchise has given Cheak new life. She was struggling emotionally and physically after her left leg was amputated two years ago. Now, the Valkyries are in the WNBA semifinals against the defending champion Aces, and Cheak is a beloved regular in the “Ballhalla” home crowd — a play on Valhalla from Norse mythology.

WORDS: 914 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2d455a5985042dbb25e681ed7912c1f4&mediaType=text

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BBO--NLDS-PADRES-MILLER-PATERNITY

Padres pitchers step up after star closer Mason Miller goes on paternity list before Game 3 of NLDS

SUMMARY: The San Diego Padres stepped up with a resourceful bullpen performance to win Game 3 of their NL Division Series over the Milwaukee Brewers in the absence of top relievers Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon. Miller, the team’s All-Star closer, went on the paternity list about 45 minutes before the first pitch. Morejon, an elite setup man, has shoulder discomfort. But after starter Nick Pivetta faltered in the fifth, three relievers fought to get eight outs against the Brewers’ relentless lineup before Game 2 starter Michael King took care of the final two innings on one day of rest for his first save since 2023.

WORDS: 697 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 3:38 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:71223e5d38ea74ca06fd591b02c5de4e&mediaType=text

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HKN--PANTHERS-MARCHAND

Panthers forward Brad Marchand sustains left leg injury in second period against Kings

SUMMARY: Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand sustained a left leg injury in the second period of their 2-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings. Marchand was hurt after taking a stick to the face from Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke with 52.6 seconds remaining, which caused him to twist around and collide with the right post before his left leg bent back in an awkward way. Marchand was down on the ice for several minutes being examined by an athletic trainer before teammates Brady Tkachuk and Niko Mikkola helped him to the bench, with Marchand unable to put any weight on his leg.

WORDS: 401 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 1:58 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:81acec6e5f3955695a1b3dc3a72ae26e&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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BBO--POSTSEASON

Coverage of Major League Baseball’s postseason.

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BKL--WNBA PLAYOFFS

Coverage of the WNBA semifinals.

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BKC--BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS

Spot coverage of Big Ten basketball media days.