AP Sports Digest
The highlights of Friday'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, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.
The supervisor is Chris Lehourites, followed by Ben Nuckols at 4:30 p.m. and Vin Cherwoo at 12:30 a.m. The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918.
ADVISORIES
The Associated Press is introducing a new game recap format for NBA, NHL and college basketball games. Details can be found here.
The AP is retiring the BBA and BBN slugs for baseball coverage beginning with the 2024-25 offseason. Details can be found here.
AUDIO HEADLINES
Jared Goff and Lions clinch playoff spot, beating Packers 34-31 on last-second field goal
Donovan Mitchell scores 28 as Cavaliers improve to 13-1 at home by beating Jokic and Nuggets 126-114
Necas, Svechnikov lead Hurricanes to 5-3 win over Avalanche
All times EST
TOP STORIES
FBC--MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
BOISE, Idaho — No. 19 UNLV plays No. 10 Boise State at Albertsons Stadium in the Mountain West championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. By Jason Chatraw. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts at 8 p.m.
BKL--WNBA EXPANSION DRAFT
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries build their roster ahead of the expansion franchise's inaugural season of 2025. By Janie McCauley. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Draft show starts at 6:30 p.m.
SKI--VONN'S COMEBACK
COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — Lindsey Vonn's comeback to ski racing at the age of 40 starts this weekend in a pair of lower-level FIS speed races. The three-time Olympic medalist will take part in a downhill on Saturday and a super-G on Sunday. First, though, a training run Friday. By Pat Graham. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos by 5 p.m.
WITH:
— SKI--VONN-DEFYING FATHER TIME. SENT: 500 words, photos.
SOC--MLS MVP-MESSI
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. By Tim Reynolds. SENT: 820 words, photos.
ANALYSIS
FBN--ON FOOTBALL-COACHING CANDIDATES
The next NFL coaching cycle features an impressive list of candidates ranging from proven champions to up-and-coming coordinators. Six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick heads the list of well-known names that includes 2021 AP Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel. Don’t count out Pete Carroll, and Robert Saleh could get another chance quickly. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. SENT: 850 words, photos.
NOTABLE
FBC--CFP-BID UNCERTAINTY
The Big Ten and Southeastern conferences have positioned themselves as what amounts to a Power Two from overflowing coffers to multiple CFP bids, leaving other top leagues in a tricky position as they try not to be squeezed out — both with Sunday's unveiling of the first-ever 12-team field and beyond. By Aaron Beard. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos by 5 p.m.
FBC--T25-AAC CHAMPIONSHIP
WEST POINT, N.Y. — No. 24 Army tries to win the American Athletic Conference championship in its first season in the league when it hosts Tulane on Friday night. The Green Wave are in the championship game for the third straight season. By Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts at 8 p.m.
FBC--BIG TEN-PENN ST COACH
INDIANAPOLIS — The empty trophy case that stares back at the players in the Penn State team meeting room says as much about the program as it does about its coach. If the Nittany Lions can top Oregon in the Big Ten title game Saturday, they'll capture just their second trophy in the coach's 10-year career. By Eddie Pells. SENT: 990 words, photos.
GLF--WORLD CHALLENGE
NASSAU, Bahamas — Cameron Young had a two-shot lead over Justin Thomas going into the second round of the Hero World Challenge. Scottie Scheffler was among those three back. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 6 p.m.
BBO--WHICH DEAL IS BIGGEST?
NEW YORK — Deciding whether Juan Soto tops Shohei Ohtani for baseball’s largest contract could be in the eye of the beholder because of deferred compensation. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. SENT: 710 words, photos.
OLY--SAFESPORT-LAWMAKERS
Four members of Congress unveiled a bill Friday that would reform the U.S. Center for SafeSport, placing a time limit on resolving cases that can sometimes take years to resolve and improving communication between the center and victims. By Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 4 p.m.
BKN--NBA-CHINA
The NBA is returning to China next season, striking a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned over Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 850 words, photos.
SOC--MLS-STATE OF THE LEAGUE
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber speaks ahead of the MLS Cup final in his annual state-of-the-league address. By Anne M. Peterson. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos by 5 p.m.
MOVING TOMORROW
FBC--T25-SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
ATLANTA — No. 2 Texas goes for a Southeastern Conference championship in its first year in the league when it takes on No. 5 Georgia, which handed the Longhorns their only loss during the regular season. No matter the outcome, both teams are headed to the College Football Playoff. By Paul Newberry. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts at 4 p.m.
SOC--MLS CUP FINAL
CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy will attempt to win their team’s record sixth MLS Cup championship when they host the scrappy New York Red Bulls, who are trying for their first Cup victory in any competition. The Galaxy have made an incredible one-season turnaround from a decade of struggles, while the Red Bulls have made a stirring underdog run through the MLS playoffs. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts at 4 p.m.
Friday’s EST Time Schedule
FOOTBALL
College Top 25
Mountain West Championship
No. 10 Boise St. vs. No. 19 UNLV, 8 p.m.
American Athletic Championship
No. 24 Army vs. Tulane, 8 p.m.
BASKETBALL
National Basketball Association
Orlando at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Sacramento at San Antonio, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Golden State, 10 p.m.
Utah at Portland, 10 p.m.
College Top 25
Men
No. 19 Illinois at Northwestern, 9 p.m.
Women
No. 15 West Virginia vs. ETSU, 10:30 a.m.
HOCKEY
National Hockey League
Seattle at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Washington at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Dallas at Vegas, 10 p.m.
Minnesota at Anaheim, 10 p.m.
Professional Women’s Hockey League
Montreal at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
