AP Sports Digest

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 EVENTS COVERAGE

ICE HOCKEY:

HKO--Finland-Canada — With or without captain Sidney Crosby, Canada faces Finland in the first semifinal men’s hockey game at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Game starts at 4:40 p.m. CST/10:40 a.m. EST. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. Text, photos.

HKO--Slovakia-US —- The unbeaten U.S. faces upstart Slovakia for the chance to play for the gold medal in men’s hockey at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Game starts at 9:10 p.m. CST/3:10 p.m. EST. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. Text, photos.

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SPEEDSKATING:

OLY--SPD-Speedskating — Medals are awarded in the women’s 1,500 meters speedskating race at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. By Howard Fendrich. Race starts at 4:30 p.m. local/10:30 a.m. EST.

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OLY--SPD-Short Track — The women’s 1,500 meters and the men’s 5,000 meter relay wrap up the short-track speedskating competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics. By Dave Skretta. Races starts 8 p.m. local/1 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 02/20/2026 12:00 p.m. EST

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BIATHLON:

Coverage of 15km mass start.

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BOBSLED:

Coverage of 4-man, 2-woman bobsled on merit.

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CURLING:

OLY--CUR-Curling Roundup — Canada meets Sweden and the United States plays Switzerland in the women’s semifinals before the men’s bronze medal match between Norway and Switzerland.

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OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS FEATURES COVERAGE

OLY-Milan-Churches-Tours — With the Winter Olympics drawing visitors to Milan, volunteers organized by the archdiocese’s youth ministry office are offering free visits to some of the city’s lesser-known churches. The initiative — called “La Via della Bellezza,” or “The Path of Beauty” — runs through March 15 and includes stops at the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore and others.

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OLY-Milan-Cortina-Clean Energy-Explainer — It takes an immense amount of energy to power venues and make snow for the Winter Olympics. For the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, the organizers promised that electricity would be clean. The Games’ electricity premium partner, Enel, is supplying 100% certified renewable electricity. Sustainability is a major focus for these Games, as both the organizers and the International Olympic Committee seek to model how to cut carbon emissions while running a major event. And, burning coal, oil and gas is the largest contributor to global climate change by far.

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OLY--IOC-President — International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry has her final news conference at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

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OLY--HKW-Women’s Wrapup — Hilary Knight heading home with a gold medal in closing her Olympic career. Two thrilling medal finals, both ending in overtime. And a women’s hockey tournament at the Milan Cortino Games that featured fewer and fewer blowouts. Add in the growing influence of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and the sport might finally be seeing a glimpse at a brighter and more competitive future. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. 650 words, photos.

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GLF--LPGA THAILAND

DESCRIPTION: Second-round play Friday in the LPGA Thailand tournament at the Siam Country Club Old Course.

UPCOMING: By 02/20/2026 5:00 a.m. EST, Text, Photo

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CAR--NASCAR-FRONT ROW FUTURE

DESCRIPTION: Front Row Motorsports will try to develop itself into one of NASCAR’s top teams following its victory in last year’s federal antitrust lawsuit against the series.

UPCOMING: By 02/20/2026 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

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SOC--MLS PREVIEW

DESCRIPTION: Major League Soccer opens its 31st season this weekend, kicking off one of the most consequential stretches in the league’s history. There’s the impact of World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer, then in 2027 MLS will switch to a summer to spring schedule to align with its international counterparts. By Anne M. Peterson. 750 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/20/2026 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

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BBO--WHITE SOX-MURAKAMI

DESCRIPTION: Munetaka Murakami is expected to play in his first spring training game when the Chicago White Sox visit the Chicago Cubs for their Cactus League opener. The Japanese infielder signed a $34 million, two-year contract with the White Sox in December. By Baseball Writer Jay Cohen. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/20/2026 8:00 p.m. EST, Text

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GLF--GENESIS INVITATIONAL

DESCRIPTION: Rory McIlroy was contending and Scottie Scheffler was trying to recover from a rough start going into the second round of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, the first signature event of the year that has a 36-hole cut. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/20/2026 8:30 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKN--MAGIC-KINGS

Magic use 3-point flurry to hand the Kings their franchise-record 15th straight loss

SUMMARY: Paolo Banchero scored 30 points and the Orlando Magic beat Sacramento 131-94 on Thursday night for the Kings’ franchise-record 15th straight loss. Orlando made a team-record 27 3-pointers on 50 attempts. Banchero was 5 of 7 from 3-points range and had six assists and five rebounds in the opener of a four-game trip. The Kings broke the futility record a day after star center Domantas Sabonis and guard Zach LaVine had season-ending surgeries. The franchise had 14-game losing streaks in 1959-60 and 1971-72 while playing as the Cincinnati Royals. The NBA record for consecutive losses is 28, set by Philadelphia over the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons and matched by Detroit in 2023–24. The NBA-worst Kings are 12-45, with a five-game trip up next.

WORDS: 387 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 12:58 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:73045f63ad526f3cfeeb7da773eef3f9&mediaType=text

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BKN--JAYLEN-BROWN-EVENT-DISPUTE

Beverly Hills apologizes to Celtics star Jaylen Brown for claims about his event that was shut down

SUMMARY: The City of Beverly Hills apologized to Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown on Thursday for initially stating that an event he hosted on the eve of the NBA All-Star Game was shut down because the city said it lacked a permit. But Brown posted a statement from Jaylen Brown Enterprises on social media taking issue with another part of the city’s statement that claimed the event was actually shut down because of a perceived code violation. On Sunday, Beverly Hills released a statement to The Boston Globe, saying it rejected a permit. The event promoting Brown’s performance brand, 741, was held at Oakley founder Jim Jannard’s home. Brown has a sponsorship deal with Oakley.

WORDS: 431 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 12:07 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1cc18730fb0337dbf22dfb9951e706c2&mediaType=text

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OLY--FIG-WOMEN’S FREE SKATE

Alysa Liu dazzles to win figure skating gold, ending a 24-year Olympic drought for US women

SUMMARY: Alysa Liu won Olympic gold for the U.S. in women’s figure skating, ending a 24-year drought. Liu delivered a near-flawless free skate at the Milan Cortina Games to beat out Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai of Japan on Thursday night. Liu had returned to the sport after stepping away following the Beijing Games. She posted a career-best 226.79 points, while Sakamoto took silver after a mistake. Nakai earned bronze after a slip as well. American teammate Amber Glenn celebrated in the kiss-and-cry area with Liu after Nakai’s score was read. Glenn rebounded from Tuesday’s short program and finished fifth.

WORDS: 1129 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 9:54 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:437ba97a98c0f43b1317dfc26275b633&mediaType=text

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GLF--GENESIS INVITATIONAL

Rory McIlroy handles the rain and then wind to share clubhouse lead at Riviera

SUMMARY: Rory McIlroy got a little bit of everything in the Genesis Invitational and shares the clubhouse lead with Jacob Bridgeman after a 66. Aaron Rai is one shot ahead but has two holes left to play because of a three-hour rain delay. The surprise is Scottie Scheffler. He’s at 5-over par and tied for last place in the 72-man field. Scheffler still has eight holes to play. The first round was stopped by darkness. The rain was followed by a cold, hard wind. The greens were soft but still fast, causing problems for everyone.

WORDS: 836 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 9:32 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8b530dd52ddd7b73a11feb0f4fd69ad8&mediaType=text

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BKN--WARRIORS-CURRY INJURY

Warriors’ Stephen Curry to be re-evaluated in 10 days after 2nd MRI on knee

SUMMARY: Golden State star Stephen Curry had a second MRI on his troublesome right knee that revealed no structural damage, although the two-time NBA MVP is expected to miss at least another five games before being re-evaluated. The 37-year-old guard last played Jan. 30. He has been diagnosed with patella-femoral pain syndrome/bone bruising, otherwise referred to as runner’s knee. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Curry will be re-evaluated in 10 days.

WORDS: 128 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 8:55 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b599d9105f43a5acd4ee812b944e51a6&mediaType=text

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BBO--UNION-SHAKEUP

New MLB union head Meyer dismisses salary cap, defends free agency, arbitration as labor clash looms

SUMMARY: Bruce Meyer staunchly defended free agency and salary arbitration on his first full day as head of the baseball players’ association, dismissing any possibility of agreement on a salary cap in another sign of a likely labor confrontation next winter. Meyer was thrust into the MLBPA’s top role, one day after the stunning, forced resignation of Tony Clark. The 64-year-old is set to lead the league’s players in what is expected to be a contentious round of negotiations with owners with baseball’s labor agreement set to expire on Dec. 1. Meyer said Thursday that he’s ready for the task, even if the circumstances are less than ideal.

WORDS: 918 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 7:42 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ffd901e3f617e0ac76b10db70d3116c0&mediaType=text

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OLY--HKW-GOLD MEDAL FINAL

United States wins 3rd Olympic gold in women’s hockey, beating Canada 2-1 on Megan Keller’s OT goal

SUMMARY: The United States has won its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey. Megan Keller backhanded in a shot 4:07 into overtime, and the Americans beat Canada 2-1 at the Milan Cortina Games on Thursday night to close another thrilling chapter of one of sports’ most heated rivalries. American captain Hilary Knight forced overtime by tipping in Laila Edwards’ shot from the blue line with 2:04 remaining. The goal was the 15th of her Olympic career and 33rd point to break the U.S. record in both categories. The U.S. previously won gold at the 1998 Nagano Games, the first to feature women’s hockey, and in 2018 in Pyeongchang.

WORDS: 975 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 7:35 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:141b5904352673676656cbe2a1c253e5&mediaType=text

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OLY--HKW-EDWARDS-KELCE-FUNDRAISER

Hockey star Laila Edwards’ family saw Olympic gold medal win, thanks to Kelce brothers and GoFundMe

SUMMARY: When U.S. hockey defender Laila Edwards skated onto the Olympic ice ahead of Thursday’s gold medal win against Canada, she immediately scanned the stands for the real MVP. It’s her 91-year-old grandmother. Edwards was the first Black female hockey player to represent the U.S. at the Olympics. Ten family members and four friends made the trip to Milan for her Olympic debut thanks to an outpouring of donations as part of a GoFundMe drive. The contributions included a major push from NFL brother tandem of Travis and Jason Kelce, who also grew up in Edwards’ hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

WORDS: 1031 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 6:48 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ba4aa283178583fb51744f4b4723c3fc&mediaType=text

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OLY--MILAN-CORTINA-ROUNDUP

Winter Olympics recap: Alysa Liu wins figure skating gold, US tops Canada in women’s hockey final

SUMMARY: On a night of American comebacks at the Milan Cortina Games, Alysa Liu delivered the U.S. its first women’s figure skating Olympic gold medal in 24 years. The 20-year-old Liu performed a near-flawless free skate to upstage Japanese rivals Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai. She finished with a career-best 226.79 points. Nakai and Sakamoto each made a mistake on a combination sequence. Liu was third after the short program two nights ago. In women’s hockey, the U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal. Hilary Knight’s late goal forced overtime and Megan Keller won it 4:07 into OT.

WORDS: 713 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 6:26 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f3a41eaa38ac197e5f37defba12712c4&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-TANKING

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver talks anti-tanking options with GMs, AP sources say

SUMMARY: The NBA is pushing new rules to cut down on tanking and keep teams trying to win. On Thursday, people familiar with the talks say Commissioner Adam Silver outlines options in a call with general managers. Silver has said he wants every remedy on the table. Sources say the league considers locking in draft lottery odds by a set date. The league has fined teams for sitting healthy players, including Utah and Indiana. The NBA is likely to discuss it further at a Board of Governors meeting next month.

WORDS: 459 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 6:13 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:59d357f8f4c00b666b16d0b3c892c425&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-JGR-GABEHART LAWSUIT

Joe Gibbs Racing sues ex-director Chris Gabehart, alleging a ‘brazen’ trade secrets theft

SUMMARY: Joe Gibbs Racing has sued former competition director Chris Gabehart. The team claims he stole sensitive data to help rival Spire Motorsports. JGR filed the case in federal court in North Carolina. JGR claims a dispute over Gabehart’s power ended with his planned exit. The team says it discovered he was moving to Spire and a laptop review showed searches, folders, and images of confidential setups. JGR says Gabehart misled them about a Spire role. JGR says the alleged actions caused more than $8 million in damages.

WORDS: 621 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 5:57 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0dc501bec7f345ea374dc6dcbc658167&mediaType=text

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FBN--BEARS-STADIUM

Bears’ potential move to Indiana takes step forward as effort to build stadium in Illinois lingers

SUMMARY: The Chicago Bears’ potential move to Indiana took another step forward when a key committee approved a plan to create an agency that would help get a stadium built. The Indiana House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee passed a bill establishing a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to finance, construct and lease a stadium by a 24-0 margin. The Bears are looking at a tract of land near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Ind. The team calls it “the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date” in a statement. Republican Gov. Mike Braun and lawmakers in Indiana have been aggressive in trying to lure the Bears amid a yearslong effort to build an enclosed stadium in Illinois. The Bears did not mention Illinois in their statement.

WORDS: 736 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 5:44 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:99caf1abbb8bdf2e74680d68e519c0c7&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA TOURNAMENT EXPANSION

NCAA official says March Madness expansion will not be discussed until after this year’s tournaments

SUMMARY: The NCAA won’t discuss expanding the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments until after this year’s version of March Madness finishes. That’s what NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt told a group of reporters attending an NCAA event Thursday in Indianapolis. There has been talk for the past few months that the NCAA could expand the tournament field to 72 or 76 starting in 2027. NCAA President Charlie Baker said last year that adding teams could add value to the tournament, and he said the NCAA already has had “good conversations” with TV partners CBS and Warner Bros., whose deal runs through 2032 at the cost of around $1.1 billion a year.

WORDS: 456 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 3:41 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0b213726cfcb99ad5a9fd4c3aa6eb62c&mediaType=text

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OLY--CUR-NEVERENDING CURLING

If you’ve gotten tired of watching curling, imagine how the athletes feel

SUMMARY: If you’ve gotten tired of watching curling, imagine how the athletes feel. By the end of the Milan Cortina Olympic Games, there will have been a total of 147 curling matches crammed into 18 days. In Cortina, curling began on Feb. 4, a full two days before the Opening Ceremonies. It ends Feb. 22, the last day of competition at the Games. Athletes coming off the ice say that this Olympics has left them worn out, physically and mentally. That reflects the near-constant competition schedule that has led to curling’s popular reputation as the Olympic sport that’s always on.

WORDS: 868 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 3:27 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3754a4f00b4ea5415b2fb9a6422f4bcf&mediaType=text

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OLY--SPD-SPEEDSKATING-MEN’S 1500

Jordan Stolz’s Olympic gold streak ends with loss to China’s Ning Zhongyan in the 1,500

SUMMARY: American speedskater Jordan Stolz’s bid for a third gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics has come up short with a loss to China’s Ning Zhongyan in the 1,500 meters. Ning won Thursday in an Olympic-record time of 1 minute, 41.98 seconds. Stolz, skating in the day’s last heat, finished 0.77 off the pace, and adds a silver to the golds he claimed earlier at these Winter Games in the 500 and 1,000. The 21-year-old from Wisconsin will participate in his last race, the mass start, on Saturday. Two-time 1,500 defending Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands got the bronze on Thursday.

WORDS: 807 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 2:20 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1af0e27e896d4004871f0de01f9baf61&mediaType=text