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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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OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS COVERAGE
FORMATS: LiveVideo, DigitalPlans, Video, Alternate Headlines, AP 360, Text, Photo
1. DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of these events/matches is planned:
2. GENERAL: Italy Anti-Olympics Protest Anti-Olympics protest against the environmental, economic, and social impact of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games. Greenpeace joining several organizations for the protection of environment and against ’the harmful effects of the Olympics. --Text and photos,
3. ALPINE SKIING: OLY--SKI-Men’s Downhill BORMIO, Italy -- Swiss racers Marco Odermatt and Franjo von Allmen are the favorites in the men’s downhill as the first medal of the Milan Cortina Games is awarded Saturday. By Pat Graham. Race starts at 11:30 a.m. local time. Coverage of the final women’s downhill training session including Lindsey Vonn.
4. BIATHLON: BOBSLED/LUGE/SKELETON: Text coverage of men’s singles luge event on merit.
5. FIGURE SKATING: OLY--FIG-Team Event -- World champion Ilia Malinin will perform his short program as the defending champion U.S. tries to extend its lead in the figure skating team competition. The free dance also takes place Saturday, setting up the final day Sunday. By Dave Skretta. 600 words, photos. Competition starts 7:45 p.m. local/1:45 p.m. ET.
6. FREESTYLE SKIING/SNOWBOARDING: OLY--FRE-Slopestyle Qualifying -- Eileen Gu hits the mountain for the first time for slopestyle qualifying Saturday, the first step on another quest for three Olympic medals. By Eddie Pells. 500 words. Competition starts at 10:30 a.m./4:30 a.m. EST.
7. OLY--SBD-Men’s Big Air -- Ollie Martin is the only American in snowboarding’s big air final, where one of his idols, China’s Yiming Su, looks to defend his title. By Eddie Pells. 600 words. Competition starts at 7:30 p.m./1:30 p.m. EST
8. ICE HOCKEY: OLY--HKW-US-Finland -- The United States, coming off a preliminary round-opening win, is scheduled to play a Finland team dealing with a depleted roster at the Milan Cortina Games women’s hockey tournament. Finland has yet to play after it’s opener was postponed due to 13 players being sidelined by a stomach flu. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. 650 words, photos.
9. SKI JUMPING/NORDIC COMBINED: SPEEDSKATING: UPCOMING: By 02/07/2026 12:00 p.m. EST
10. WITH: OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS FEATURES COVERAGE
11. DESCRIPTION: AP text features planned today:
12. GENERAL: Olympics Cortina Uber Snowmobile The Three Peaks of Lavaredo are dramatic, jagged limestone pinnacles just 23 kilometers (14.3 miles) from the Cortina venues where athletes will compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. For one month starting on Saturday, spectators keen for a side trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site can hail a ride there with Uber and travel up a snow-covered road via snowmobile. --Text. Photo TBD.
13. ALPINE SKIING: BIATHLON: OLY--BIA-Biathlon Venue -- Biathletes return to familiar terrain in Anterselva, a classic Italian venue hosting the Olympic events in the sport. By Martha Bellisle. 0900 GMT.
14. BOBSLED/LUGE/SKELETON: CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/SKI MOUNTAINEERING: CURLING: FIGURE SKATING: OLY--FIG-The Next Gen -- Four of the American figure skaters at the Milan Cortina Olympics trace their roots to parents who skated for the former Soviet Union. They include Ilia Malinin, the favorite to win gold, whose mom Tatiana Malinina and dad Roman Skorniakov competed in the Winter Games. By Dave Skretta. 700 words, photos.
15. FREESTYLE SKIING/SNOWBOARDING: SBD--SAVING SNOWBOARD RACING -- Snowboard’s parallel giant slalom may be facing its swansong at the Winter Olympics. The IOC has said it will consider ditching the alpine snowboarding race from the Olympics in four years depending on a review of its showing at 2026 Winter Games. For former American racer Justin Reiter that would be “a mistake.” Reiter is the coach of Ester Ledecka, who will be aiming for Olympic history if she can win a third consecutive gold medal in parallel giant slalom at these Games. 900 words. By Joseph Wilson.
16. ICE HOCKEY: OLY--HKO-Germany 2018 Memories -- When the NHL skipped the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, Germany made an improbable run to the gold-medal game before losing to the Russians with Kirill Kaprizov, Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk on a stacked roster. Joined by superstar Leon Draisaitl with the NHL returning, three players with silver medals from eight years ago — Dominik Kahun, Moritz Muller and Jonas Muller — are back to try to pull off some more upsets. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. 500 words, photos.
17. SKI JUMPING/NORDIC COMBINED: SPEEDSKATING: Olympics Ceremony Sidelines Snowshow Just as one of the Winter Olympics’ most-watched events took place Friday night — the opening ceremony — a smaller Olympics-themed spectacle was staged in a tiny theater in another part of Milan: Slava’s Snowshow. The show that was the brainchild of a Russian clown, and which has gained acclaim around the world, will be shown through the month of February with a special “Olympic version” in celebration of Milan Cortina 2026. --Text and photos. ETA TBD.
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BKC--T25-DUKE-NORTH CAROLINA
DESCRIPTION: The famed rivalry returns when No. 4 Duke visits No. 14 North Carolina on Saturday night. By Aaron Beard. 300 words, photos. Game starts at 6:30 p.m.
UPCOMING: By 02/07/2026 6:30 p.m. EST, Text
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GLF--PHOENIX OPEN
DESCRIPTION: Japanese players Ryo Hisatsune and Hideki Matsuyama will be paired together in the third round of the Phoenix Open, with Scottie Scheffler lurking behind them. By John Marshall. 600 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 02/07/2026 8:30 p.m. EST, Text
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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BKC--T25-BIG EAST SHOWDOWN
No. 22 St. John’s makes Big East statement, ending 18-game win streak for third-ranked UConn
SUMMARY: With an impressive performance at a pulsating Madison Square Garden, No. 22 St. John’s showed everyone that third-ranked UConn has a legitimate challenger in the Big East. Zuby Ejiofor had 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Red Storm powered past the Huskies 81-72, snapping their 18-game winning streak. In the first showdown this year between the Big East’s top two teams, Dillon Mitchell added 15 points and Bryce Hopkins scored 14 for the Red Storm, who have won nine straight and 14 of 16. They moved within a half-game of the first-place Huskies in the conference standings. The victory also tied Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino with Roy Williams for third place in Division I history with 903 career wins.
WORDS: 846 - MOVED: 02/07/2026 1:09 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d1329a5b10e80f86f915c7dea22e9e2a&mediaType=text
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BKC--T25-UCONN-ST JOHN’S
Ejiofor leads No. 22 St. John’s past No. 3 UConn 81-72 at MSG, ending Huskies’ 18-game win streak
SUMMARY: Zuby Ejiofor had 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as No. 22 St. John’s beat third-ranked UConn 81-72, snapping the Huskies’ 18-game winning streak. In the first Big East showdown this season between the league’s top two teams, Dillon Mitchell added 15 points and Bryce Hopkins 14 for the Red Storm, who have won nine straight and 14 of 16. They moved within a half-game of the first-place Huskies in the conference standings. The victory also tied Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino with Roy Williams for third place in Division I history with 903 career wins on the court. Silas Demary Jr. had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists for UConn. Alex Karaban scored 17 before a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden.
WORDS: 390 - MOVED: 02/07/2026 12:51 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5ad3f7de02078a7929e39419e3aaa289&mediaType=text
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BKN--BUCKS-ANTETOKOUNMPO-KALSHI
Giannis Antetokounmpo joins Kalshi as a shareholder, marking a new venture for the NBA star
SUMMARY: Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has become a shareholder in Kalshi, a major prediction market with a wide array of sports trading opportunities. Kalshi says Antetokounmpo is the first basketball star to join the company as a shareholder. The partnership includes help with live events and marketing. Antetokounmpo was the subject of widespread rumors ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. In the days leading up to the deadline, Kalshi had several posts on X highlighting its event contracts on Antetokounmpo’s trade market and the fluctuating odds connected to the teams believed to be in the mix for his services. According to Kalshi’s release, Antetokounmpo will be forbidden from trading on markets related to the NBA.
WORDS: 475 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 11:18 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c611cae905f7c4dbdbba5f371cf92701&mediaType=text
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FBN--FORMER JET-MURDER CHARGE
Former Jets 1st-round pick Darron Lee charged with 1st-degree murder in Tennessee
SUMMARY: Former New York Jets player Darron Lee has been arrested in Tennessee and charged with first-degree murder. Authorities identified him as the suspect in the death of his girlfriend and took him into custody on Thursday. The Hamilton County sheriff’s office reported the incident. The victim’s identity has not been released. Lee, a former Ohio State linebacker, was the Jets’ 20th overall pick in 2016. He played 58 games with the Jets, Kansas City, and Buffalo from 2016 to 2020. Lee also faces charges of tampering with evidence, with additional charges possible as the investigation continues.
WORDS: 209 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 10:21 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f330a62285c7f9f5f604c0131f22eb26&mediaType=text
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BKL--WNBA-CBA
WNBA union president says significant work remains for season to begin on time
SUMMARY: Nneka Ogwumike is confident there will be a WNBA season this year, but knows a lot has to happen for it to start on time. For that to happen the league and the union will have to come to a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement and the two sides still aren’t very close right now on key issues like revenue sharing and salaries according to Ogwumike and the clock is ticking. The league submitted a new proposal to the union Friday evening according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions. This ended a more than six-week wait from the players association for a counter to their last offer.
WORDS: 815 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 9:40 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b896b2cfa825e225034c56b0bacebacd&mediaType=text
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GLF--PHOENIX OPEN
Hisatsune chips in for birdie after water ball, shoots 63 to take 2nd-round lead at Phoenix Open
SUMMARY: Ryo Hisatsune chipped in for birdie after driving his ball in the water on the par-4 17th hole and shot a bogey-free 8-under 63 to surge into the lead in the second round of Phoenix Open. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler closed out a 65 with a 3-foot birdie on No. 18 to extend the PGA Tour’s longest cuts streak to 65. He’s seven shots back at 4 under. Two-time Phoenix Open champion Brooks Koepka had a much tougher go of it, finishing at 2 over to miss the cut in his second tournament since being reinstated by the PGA Tour. Two-time Phoenix Open champion Hideki Matsuyama had a run of six straight birdies to shoot 63 in the morning wave to take the lead at 10 under. Hisatsune surpassed him in the afternoon by going 6 under in a five-hole stretch.
WORDS: 754 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 8:36 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f795787c4ecf3da88f09ec0387991351&mediaType=text
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US--PUIG-GAMBLING CASE
Ex-MLB player Yasiel Puig found guilty of obstruction and lying to federal officials
SUMMARY: A jury has found former major league outfielder Yasiel Puig guilty of obstruction of justice and lying to federal officials investigating an illegal gambling operation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday. The verdict came after a multiweek trial that featured testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii baseball coach that Puig placed bets through. Puig now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
WORDS: 546 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 7:42 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1b97afb8200f23c431b1fadb69152dd4&mediaType=text
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BBO--ARBITRATION
Reds’ Graham Ashcraft and Rays’ Edwin Uceta win arbitration cases as players improve to 5-0
SUMMARY: Pitchers Graham Ashcraft and Edwin Uceta have won their salary arbitration cases, improving players to 5-0 this year. Ashcraft will receive $1.75 million instead of the Cincinnati Reds’ $1.25 million offer. Uceta will be paid $1,525,000, rather than the Tampa Bay Rays’ $1.2 million proposal. The decision for Uceta was kept sealed until Friday. In other cases, Tarik Skubal, Kyle Bradish, and Yainer Diaz also won their hearings. Two cases have been argued with decisions withheld until next week. Six players remain scheduled for hearings through Feb. 13.
WORDS: 516 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 7:10 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:14b9f7d7b096cc3ea830e1c32d556c73&mediaType=text
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BKC--NCAA-ALABAMA-BEDIAKO
Alabama’s Charles Bediako preparing to play again while judge mulls decision in eligibility case
SUMMARY: An Alabama circuit judge didn’t rule immediately following Charles Bediako’s lawsuit hearing against the NCAA, clearing a path for the 7-footer to continue to play. The Crimson Tide play at rival Auburn on Saturday. County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet said he would have a ruling “soon” but did not provide one by the end of the business day. Bediako is expected to continue to play under a temporary restraining order that allowed him to join Alabama in the middle of the season despite questions regarding his collegiate eligibility. The 23-year-old Bediako is averaging 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in four outings. Alabama is 2-2 in those contests.
WORDS: 343 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 6:38 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c4d5bb5e8cce63d14faa43de149e07f7&mediaType=text
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OLY--MILAN CORTINA-OPENING CEREMONY
The Milan Cortina Olympics officially open with a multi-site ceremony for a spread-out Winter Games
SUMMARY: The unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron Milan Cortina Winter Games have officially been declared open at the conclusion of a ceremony replete with references to Italian icons and culture. This is the most spread-out Olympics in history, with competition venues dotting an area roughly the size of the state of New Jersey. The main hub Friday is in Milan at San Siro soccer stadium. Allowing athletes to participate in the Parade of Nations at the mountain locales created what perhaps was an unintended consequence: Zero competitors from any of the first five countries actually showed up at the main stadium.
WORDS: 1101 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 5:59 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e98f512c4dd8328bff2da166224740fa&mediaType=text
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OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS-US-VANCE
Cheers for Team USA turn to jeers for Vance at Milan Cortina opening ceremony
SUMMARY: American athletes receive an enthusiastic welcome at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Led by speedskater Erin Jackson, Team USA enters Milan’s San Siro stadium on Friday. The crowd cheers for the Americans, but jeers erupt when cameras show Vice President JD Vance and his wife. Support for the U.S. has been eroding due to the Trump administration’s aggressive foreign policy. Jeers also greet Israel’s delegation, while Ukraine and Mexico receive some of the loudest cheers, alongside the host nation, Italy.
WORDS: 190 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 5:48 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cda982415bf683d709455c9d086077a8&mediaType=text
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US--SUPER BOWL-SUPER FANS
They will have been to all 60 Super Bowls. This year is possibly their last
SUMMARY: Three fans who have attended every Super Bowl since 1967 are going again this year. But two of them say it might be their last time. Don Crisman of Maine, Gregory Eaton of Michigan and Tom Henschel of Florida are the last remaining members of the exclusive club of people who have never missed the big game. But this year’s Super Bowl is a little bittersweet: Crisman and Henschel say advancing age and mobility issues mean this is probably their final trip. Eaton, however, plans to keep going as long as he can.
WORDS: 850 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 5:43 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f290334469146305909f07fcec9096bd&mediaType=text
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OLY--SKI-WOMEN’S DOWNHILL
Lindsey Vonn tests injured left knee in Olympic downhill training, pumps fist after successful run
SUMMARY: A week after rupturing the ACL in her left knee, Lindsey Vonn opened her chase for Olympic gold at the age of 41 with an aggressive and successful training run down the Olympia delle Tofane downhill course. The American got tight with her line midway down and only narrowly cleared a gate but she led at the final checkpoints, then stood up out of her tuck before the finish. She traded fist pumps and a hug with teammate Breezy Johnson. Vonn tore the ACL a week ago but she plans to race with a large brace on her injured knee. The downhill is Sunday.
WORDS: 734 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 3:56 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:822361a38964e20cacc944e562464844&mediaType=text
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OLY--JUM-SUIT MANIPULATION
Skiing’s regulatory body rejects ‘wild rumor’ ski jumpers are enhancing anatomy to gain distance
SUMMARY: The regulatory body for skiing has dismissed as “wild rumor” reports that ski jumpers are enhancing their groin area to gain distance in Winter Olympics contests. A report last month in the German tabloid Bild said the manipulation would justify wearing a larger ski jump suit that could provide more lift and a longer flight. The report was given new life Thursday when the World Anti-Doping Agency said it was unaware of the reports but would investigate anything involving doping. The sport’s governing body on Friday dismissed the claims as a “wild rumor.” New equipment controls have been introduced after the Norwegian team was caught manipulating the crotch area of two skiers’ suits.
WORDS: 471 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 2:35 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:96edd87f2ec60043ca1d57cccc6a3d18&mediaType=text
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FBN--SUPER BOWL 49 REVISITED
The stunning play that secured the Patriots’ win over the Seahawks in Super Bowl 49
SUMMARY: The Seattle Seahawks had a chance to win Super Bowl 49 against the New England Patriots with Marshawn Lynch in their backfield. Trailing 28-24, they were at the Patriots’ 1-yard line with a timeout and three plays left. Instead of running, coach Pete Carroll called for a pass. Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson’s throw, securing New England’s victory. Carroll took responsibility, saying he thought Lynch wouldn’t score against the Patriots’ defense. Wilson also blamed himself for the loss.
WORDS: 1097 - MOVED: 02/06/2026 1:48 p.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:32a14b61c0d0a43fca5a0d2a477cf06c&mediaType=text
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