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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BBO--SMALL-MARKET WORLD SERIES

DESCRIPTION: Two teams in the bottom half of payroll will meet in the World Series for the first time since 1991, a matchup occurring at a time baseball owners insist a salary cap is needed to help small-markets compete with the big spenders. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. 600 words, photos, by 5 p.m. EDT

UPCOMING: By 10/16/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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TEN--WUHAN OPEN

DESCRIPTION: Tennis action at the Wuhan Open, a WTA Tour 1000-level event.

UPCOMING: By 10/16/2026 8:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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BBO--ALCS-RAYS-GUARDIANS

DESCRIPTION: CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Guardians host the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series. There is a chance the game could get postponed due to the threat of rain in Cleveland. By Joe Reedy. 700 words, photos. Game scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

UPCOMING: By 10/16/2026 8:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKN--NBA-BREAKTHROUGH TEAMS

With Anthony Edwards, Minnesota is among the teams that could add to NBA’s parity era

SUMMARY: Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves is determined to lead his team to an NBA championship. He believes in willpower over hope. The NBA has seen eight different champions in the last eight years, and Edwards aims to make Minnesota the next team on that list. The Timberwolves have been close, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2023 and 2024. With new additions like LaMelo Ball and a strong core, they have high expectations. Edwards, a four-time All-Star, is focused on winning a ring, driven by determination and hard work.

WORDS: 797 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 1:10 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2b9695158790e4aec570f91f4933a3a1&mediaType=text

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HKN--RANGERS-LIFE AFTER IGOR

Rangers believe they can sustain winning after losing Igor Shesterkin to a season-ending injury

SUMMARY: The New York Rangers are getting used to life without Igor Shesterkin after their franchise goaltender was sidelined with a season-ending injury. There have been speed bumps along the way, including a 7-1 blowout at New Jersey on Thursday night. But coach Mike Sullivan, captain J.T. Miller and the Rangers believe they have a recipe to succeed even without Shesterkin. That includes playing responsibly in front of successor Dylan Garand or whoever is in net. New York has won six of its first nine games.

WORDS: 692 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 1:00 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:75576d8d0509e84b2270b1ecb8cef0c5&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-SPORTS BETTING

Some wagers, certain parlays no longer can be offered to bettors, NBA tells sportsbooks

SUMMARY: The NBA has told sportsbooks about new restrictions on certain types of wagers for the upcoming season. These include bets on which player records the first stat of a game and the outcome of the opening tip. The league also requires players, coaches, and staff to attend in-person training on sports betting rules. The changes follow betting scandals that led to arrests of former NBA figures. Additionally, the NBA has developed an AI-based platform to monitor unusual betting activity and has upgraded protections against harassment from sports bettors.

WORDS: 491 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 12:22 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e902f3a237d12fd7831fcd3348999575&mediaType=text

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US--NCAA ELIGIBILITY

NCAA sues Ohio governor over his executive order allowing schools to ignore new eligibility rule

SUMMARY: The NCAA has filed a federal lawsuit against Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. This comes after DeWine signed an executive order allowing Ohio colleges to let athletes who graduated in 2022 play a fifth year. NCAA President Charlie Baker says the lawsuit, filed Friday, aims to prevent DeWine from disrupting fair competition among schools. The order allows public and private universities in Ohio to let athletes play, despite the NCAA’s new rule excluding those who have played four seasons. The rule, passed in June, is already facing multiple court challenges.

WORDS: 739 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 12:18 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e7a9026e4f3a260ba8735de4afa65027&mediaType=text

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BBO--ALCS-RAYS-GUARDIANS-GAME 4 STARTERS

Guardians to open with Shawn Armstrong; Rays start Nick Martinez in ALCS Game 4

SUMMARY: Shawn Armstrong will be the opener for Cleveland and Tampa Bay will start Nick Martinez in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series on Friday night. The Guardians have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after Petey Halpin’s two-run homer propelled them to a 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Thursday afternoon. Both teams waited to announce their pitching plans because of the weather. It is supposed to rain in Cleveland most of Friday, but there is a window between 8-11 p.m. ET that could allow them to get the game played. An ALCS game has not been postponed since 2019, when the New York Yankees hosted the Houston Astros.

WORDS: 419 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 11:41 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:842c326d04ee7367d7f6ebb868377352&mediaType=text

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BKN--KNICKS-BRUNSON

Jalen Brunson may be small, but he wears a big target now after leading the Knicks to the NBA title

SUMMARY: Jalen Brunson doesn’t overwhelm anyone athletically like Michael Jordan or LeBron James. He’ll never overpower anybody like Shaquille O’Neal. Brunson is listed at 6-foot-2 and doesn’t look like someone who would ever dominate an NBA game. That has left countless frustrated opponents wondering why they couldn’t stop him from leading the New York Knicks to the top. Players who watched what Brunson did last season while leading the Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973 clearly admire what the 2018 second-round pick has become. James and Giannis Antetokounmpo were among the superstars praising Brunson when training camps opened.

WORDS: 1019 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 11:23 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b5154c617a5ef0a32c3e4822fda3f39a&mediaType=text

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SOC--REAL MADRID-LA LIGA-TEBAS

Madrid demands La Liga president resigns after comparing attacks on referees with Nazi propaganda

SUMMARY: Real Madrid has again demanded the resignation of the president of La Liga after he compared the club’s efforts to discredit referees with the propaganda techniques of the German Nazi regime. La Liga president Javier Tebas has lashed out at Madrid on social media with a long post that criticized how its club television channel says referees hurt its chances of winning. Real Madrid TV regularly runs reels of what it considers gross errors. Tebas compared the tactic with those of Joseph Goebbels, the minister of propaganda in World War II Nazi Germany.

WORDS: 354 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 10:26 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cc7ae3efe132428738875b7913c94e4d&mediaType=text

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TEN--SHANGHAI MASTERS

Jodar beats Ruud to make Shanghai Masters history and set up semifinal against Medvedev

SUMMARY: Rafael Jodar has become the youngest semifinalist in Shanghai Masters history after advancing with victory against Casper Ruud. He next meets Daniil Medvedev who overcame American Tommy Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. The 20-year-old Spaniard Jodar was a set down and rallied to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win. It is the fourth straight match at the ATP Masters 1000 event in which he has mounted a comeback from losing the first set. Jodar powered to victory in 2 hours 20 minutes by breaking Ruud’s serve five times in the second and third sets.

WORDS: 222 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 9:47 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:02d27239025a02f570760659e8074b71&mediaType=text

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SOC--ASIAN CUP-SECURITY CONCERNS

Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia stays on track as safety fears grow amid Middle East conflict

SUMMARY: Asian Cup organizers have confirmed that plans for the continental soccer tournament in Saudi Arabia remain on track despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Saudi organizing committee issued a statement Friday saying preparations are progressing according to schedule for the tournament set to kick off in January. Concerns have been raised by South Korea’s Professional Footballers’ Association following attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. At least 19 people have been killed in recent attacks. South Korea is set to open against Yemen on January 10, but safety concerns remain. The Asian Football Confederation president said the tournament could be postponed by a year if necessary.

WORDS: 497 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 9:34 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6e84ad35e25582f3b9f45e598fc1e4e7&mediaType=text

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REL-BKC--CATHOLIC COLLEGE BASKETBALL

From March Madness miracles to a season opener in Rome: The story of Catholic college hoops

SUMMARY: Catholic college basketball has a rich history, filled with talented teams, colorful coaches, and unforgettable characters. That legacy will soon be celebrated with the first-ever Eternal City Tip-Off on November 1 in Rome, when Notre Dame and Villanova’s men’s and women’s teams face off at the Palazzo dello Sport. The arena is near the Vatican, home base to Pope Leo XIV. Not only is he the first American pope, he’s a sports fan and a Villanova alum. Villanova has accounted for three the 10 men’s titles won by Catholic schools since the NCAA tournament began in 1939.

WORDS: 1473 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 8:16 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9747974c22e96512a3720ea0b0a57ffe&mediaType=text

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REL-BKC--CATHOLIC NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

Catholic NCAA men’s basketball champions

SUMMARY: Catholic NCAA men’s basketball champions

WORDS: 81 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 8:02 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:99e8e2f688137604712191c2dda7edce&mediaType=text

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FBN--JAGUARS-LITTLE

Jags kicker Cam Little outlines challenges Harry Kane would face to achieve NFL dream

SUMMARY: Cam Little is confident Harry Kane has the skill to become an NFL kicker. But the Jacksonville Jaguars kicker says the hard part for Kane would be shifting from star striker to bit player. Little says “you don’t have the same moxi because he is a star striker” compared to NFL kicker who is “out there just to back everyone up basically.” The England captain and Bayern Munich star Kane has mused over the years about one day kicking in the NFL. He recently floated the idea of combining his NFL goal with also joining a Major League Soccer team.

WORDS: 608 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 6:57 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:09fefd3490b507edc890f4baf16b923f&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA FINALS-BETTING ODDS

No Las Vegas, no New York, yet the WNBA Finals handle still beats 2022

SUMMARY: The WNBA Finals between Atlanta and Golden State isn’t the matchup many expected, but it’s drawing more betting action than a few years ago. BetMGM Sportsbook’s Christian Cipollini noted increased interest since 2022. A matchup between Las Vegas and New York would have likely attracted more bets due to their star players and past championships. Sports betting isn’t legal in California or Georgia, limiting interest. Golden State is favored to win, but Atlanta could surprise. Both teams excel defensively.

WORDS: 725 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:78b18fa0a3ccb5e070c44ba0ed70a47b&mediaType=text

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BBO--PHILLIES-TURNER

Phillies put Trea Turner on notice. Get better at shortstop or find another position

SUMMARY: Trea Turner has seven years left on his $300 million contract with the Phillies, but his future as their starting shortstop is uncertain. Phillies executive Dave Dombrowski has criticized Turner for his poor performance this season, including a .242 batting average and a league-worst 21 errors. Dombrowski warned Thursday that Turner could face a position change if he doesn’t improve. Turner, who joined the Phillies in 2023, has taken responsibility for the team’s postseason struggles and is determined to improve. The Phillies have other options in the infield, including top prospects Aidan Miller and Bryan Rincon.

WORDS: 879 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fc595066339008faf0c871a9bc93207e&mediaType=text

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FBN--ON FOOTBALL-HURTS’ FUTURE

Jalen Hurts’ future in Philadelphia is now a question mark

SUMMARY: Jalen Hurts has faced questions about his passing efficiency, willingness to run and leadership ability despite winning one Super Bowl MVP award and leading the Philadelphia Eagles to two NFC championships. He faces a challenge bigger and more serious than silencing critics and quieting fickle fans. Hurts has a blood clot in his calf and has to miss at least one game. His health is the top priority now. But the NFL is a business and Hurts’ availability for the remainder of the season is in doubt so it’s fair to wonder about his future in Philadelphia.

WORDS: 947 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3fa981399add189ffb627bc18df0c389&mediaType=text

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BBO--NLCS-DODGERS ELIMINATED

Dodgers’ dream of World Series 3-peat unravels as Brewers storm back to sweep NLCS

SUMMARY: The Los Angeles Dodgers’ hopes of winning three consecutive World Series titles are over. Their dream faded due to an anemic offense, a shaky bullpen, and an ailing Shohei Ohtani slumping in the postseason. Ohtani hit a three-run homer that helped the Dodgers take an early 4-0 lead in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. However, the Milwaukee Brewers staged a comeback, winning 6-4 and completing the four-game sweep. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says the team gave it everything it had. The Dodgers struggled with hitting, and Ohtani and Will Smith slumped badly throughout the playoffs.

WORDS: 578 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 4:39 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cf8cae471d5ac994236a9d9a6a96a31a&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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FBC--T25-OHIO STATE-INDIANA

No. 4 Indiana puts the nation’s longest active winning streak, 22 games, in its biggest challenge yet against No. 5 Ohio State. The Hoosiers are looking for their first home win over the Buckeyes since 1988 in a rematch of last year’s Big Ten championship game. By Michael Marot.

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BBO--POSTSEASON

Coverage of Major League Baseball’s postseason.

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BKL--WNBA FINALS

Coverage of the WNBA final.

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