AP Sports Digest
The highlights of Monday's AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, https://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, https://newsroom.ap.org. 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 supervisor is Ryan Kryska, followed by Linda Petre at 5 p.m. and Vin Cherwoo at 1 a.m. The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636.
ADVISORIES
The Associated Press is introducing a new game recap format for NBA, NHL and college basketball games. Details can be found here.
AUDIO HEADLINES
Dodgers finish off Mets with 10-5 win in NLCS and advance to face Yankees in World Series
New York Liberty win first WNBA championship, beating Minnesota 67-62
Joey Logano seizes fresh chance in NASCAR playoffs to take spot in championship finale
All times EDT
TOP STORIES
BKC--PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA
Alabama’s Mark Sears and North Carolina’s RJ Davis headline The Associated Press preseason All-America men’s basketball team. Sears received all but one vote from a 55-person panel and Davis was right behind him with 51. They were joined by Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson, Auburn forward Johni Broome, Arizona guard Caleb Love and Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. Love and Flagg tied for the final spot, creating a six-man team. By John Marshall. SENT: 800 words, photos.
FBN—DOLPHINS-TAGOVAILOA
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could return Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals after medical experts cleared him to return to practice following his latest concussion. Tagovailoa will practice on Wednesday, coach Mike McDaniel said Monday, and if that goes well, the plan is for him to start at home on Sunday for the Dolphins. SENT: 200 words, photos. Updates coming.
FBN--BROWNS-WATSON-INJURY
CLEVELAND — Deshaun Watson won’t finish the season as Cleveland’s starting quarterback for the second straight year. Watson ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the first half of Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati. The team said on Monday imaging tests confirmed the rupture. The Browns signed Watson to a controversial $230 million contract in 2022 as he dealt with off-field accusations of sexual assault brought by two dozen women in Texas. By Tom Withers. SENT: 800 words, photos.
FBN--COMMANDERS-DANIELS
Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn provides an update on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has a rib injury. Daniels’ status for the team’s next game against No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears is uncertain. By Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos by 6 p.m. Developing from 3:30 p.m. video news conference.
FBN--RAVENS-BUCCANEERS
TAMPA, Fla. — Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens try to extend their winning streak to five games when they visit Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams are looking to improve to 5-2 on the season. By Fred Goodall. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
FBN--CHARGERS-CARDINALS
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert try to win their second straight game when they travel to face the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night. By David Brandt. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m.
BBN--NL CHAMPION DODGERS
LOS ANGELES — The World Series is always the goal for the big-spending Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ve just fallen short in recent years, including first-round flops two years running. Now, with Shohei Ohtani leading the way, they’re back to contend for a championship. They overcame a litany of injuries that decimated their starting pitching and picked up a couple of key contributors at the July trade deadline. By Beth Harris. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 6 p.m.
BBA--WORLD SERIES-YANKEES
NEW YORK — Yankees manager Aaron Boone looks ahead to the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 5 p.m. With BBA-Yankees-Cortes (sent).
BKN--NBA-SEASON PREVIEW
The Boston Celtics open their bid for back-to-back NBA titles on Tuesday night, when the league opens its 79th season. The Celtics know there will be plenty of challengers, and as always, storylines are everywhere. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
COMMENTARY
CAR--NASCAR-IN THE PITS
LAS VEGAS — Few had a worse week than Alex Bowman, who left Charlotte Motor Speedway celebrating Hendrick Motorsports claiming four spots in NASCAR playoff field of eight drivers. Then he was disqualified, Joey Logano took his spot in the playoff field, and parlayed it into the victory Logano needed to advance to NASCAR's title-deciding championship finale. By AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 650 words, photos.
FBC--T25-AP TOP 25 EXTRA POINTS
Never mind that a faction of fans lament college sports' transition from amateurism to above-board professionalism. This football season is delivering when it comes to unpredictability and entertainment value. By College Football Writer Eric Olson. SENT: 800 words, photos.
NOTABLE
BBN--METS-WRAPUP
NEW YORK -- Yes, the New York Mets have much to feel good about following a rousing run of unexpected success this season. All those warm and fuzzies were warranted. Now, the cold reality: Pete Alonso’s uncertain future is far from the only priority this winter. New York will probably have about a dozen free agents to replace, and the pitching staff is particularly thin at the moment. The good news is the Mets have an established core and well over $100 million coming off their payroll as they look to build on a surprise run to the NLCS. By Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 6 p.m.
HKN--EARLY-SEASON SURPRISES
The first two weeks of the season have not been kind to a few of the Western Conference's top Stanley Cup contenders. Colorado, Edmonton and Nashville have combined to lose 13 of their first 17 games. The new-look Predators started 0-5-0 after spending more than $100 million in free agency. The Avalanche are struggling to compensate for some major absences and look out of sorts. And Connor McDavid's Oilers have been one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league coming off their trip to the final. Shaking off summer habits and lingering playoff hangovers could explain some of the early surprises. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos by 4 p.m.
FBC--T25-ALABAMA'S HOPES
Alabama football looked every bit the Nick Saban-style juggernaut through the first 15 minutes against fellow Southeastern Conference power Georgia. Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide have looked downright mortal, perhaps even mediocre, since then and will enter November with multiple losses for the first time since 2007. By John Zenor. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 4 p.m.
GLF--TGL SCHEDULE
Tiger Woods makes his debut in the second week of the indoor TMRW Golf League, part of a schedule released Monday that has the six teams wrapping up the inaugural season on ESPN two weeks before the Masters. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 500 words, photos.
SOC--FIFA-SAUDI ARABIA
ZURICH — Former U.S. national team captain Becky Sauerbrunn and Netherlands forward Vivianne Miedema are among more than 100 women’s soccer players who have signed an open letter protesting FIFA’s sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco. SENT: 300 words, photos.
SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW
It’s the best in Spain against German soccer royalty in the latest round of games in the Champions League. A rematch of last season’s final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund is the headliner on Tuesday. Barcelona hosts Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the next chapter of what has been a fairly one-sided rivalry in Europe’s top club competition. All four teams have been European champions inside the last 30 years and they’ve made mixed starts to this season’s revamped format. By Steve Douglas. SENT: 650 words, photos.
MOVING TOMORROW
— BKW--Preseason All-America
— ACC and Big Ten men's basketball previews
— NBA opening night, BKN--Knicks-Celtics (with BKN--Celtics-Banner 18) and BKN--Timberwolves-Lakers
___
Monday’s Time Schedule
NFL
Baltimore at Tampa Bay, 8:15 p.m.
L.A. Chargers at Arizona, 9 p.m.
NHL
Tampa Bay at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
