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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BKC--T25-TOP 25 THIS WEEK

DESCRIPTION: No. 1 Duke, No. 2 Arizona and No. 3 Michigan each have a test against a top-15 opponent coming up, headlining this week’s AP Top 25 schedule. The Blue Devils host No. 11 Virginia. The Wildcats host No. 14 Kansas. The Wolverines visit No. 10 Illinois. The committee that will select the men’s NCAA Tournament field released its preliminary top 16 seeds Saturday. Committee chairman Keith Gill said the Blue Devils, Wildcats and Wolverines represent a clear top tier. The week’s schedule also includes Round 2 between No. 6 UConn and No. 15 St. John’s. By Basketball Writer Aaron Beard.

UPCOMING: By 02/24/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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BKW--T25-TOP 25 THIS WEEK

DESCRIPTION: It’s been a month to forget for Tennessee as the Lady Vols are in the midst of the worst stretch in program history. Tennessee has dropped four straight and six of eight in February, including the worst loss in program history — a 43-point rout by South Carolina — to fall out of the AP Top 25 Monday. The Lady Vols had appeared in 31 straight polls. It doesn’t get any easier for the Lady Vols (16-10, 8-6 SEC) with games against No. 6 LSU and fifth-ranked Vanderbilt remaining on the regular season schedule. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg.

UPCOMING: By 02/24/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKC--T25-HOUSTON-KANSAS

White scores 23 as No. 14 Kansas rebounds with 69-56 win over No. 5 Houston

SUMMARY: Tre White scored a season-high 23 points and No. 14 Kansas bounced back from a surprising defeat with a 69-56 victory over No. 5 Houston. Freshman star Darryn Peterson added 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting in 30 minutes for the Jayhawks, who fell six spots in this week’s AP Top 25 following an 84-68 loss at home Saturday to unranked Cincinnati. Bryson Tiller had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for Kansas, which handed the scuffling Cougars their third consecutive defeat — all against top-15 opponents. Houston hadn’t dropped three straight games since January 2017.

WORDS: 351 - MOVED: 02/24/2026 12:02 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:bc9e1aabbc4479ff50e8e6f106dadcc0&mediaType=text

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BKN--SPURS-PISTONS TEST

Tempers flare in Spurs-Pistons game in a matchup of 2 of NBA’s top teams

SUMMARY: Tempers flared in the first half of the San Antonio Spurs-Detroit Pistons game, a matchup of two of the NBA’s top teams on Monday night. Pistons star Cade Cunningham was called for an offensive foul after extending his arms and knocking Spurs guard Stephon Castle down on the court. Spurs forward Keldon Johnson responded by pushing Cunningham and Pistons center Jalen Duren pointed his right finger in Johnson’s face. After a review, Johnson and Duren were called for technical fouls in the second quarter of the closely contested game.

WORDS: 584 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 11:35 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:58a423e1110d149638f7a8577857d091&mediaType=text

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BKN--SPURS-PISTONS

Spurs humble Pistons with 114-103 victory in potential NBA Finals preview

SUMMARY: Victor Wembanyama had 21 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks, Devin Vassell scored 28 and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons 114-103 in a potential NBA Finals preview. The Spurs have won a season-high nine games in a row and trail only the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons had won five straight. They will host Oklahoma City on Wednesday night in another test. Detroit star Cade Cunningham struggled, missing 21 of 26 shots and finishing with 16 points and 10 assists.

WORDS: 321 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 10:15 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a09868a113f2b299cd02d0c3895806c9&mediaType=text

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BBO--TIGERS-SKUBAL-WBC

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to make just 1 start for Team USA in World Baseball Classic

SUMMARY: Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to make only one start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, regardless of how far Team USA advances. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner wants to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers. Skubal made his first spring training start Monday, striking out four over two scoreless innings of two-hit ball in Detroit’s 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He is expected to pitch for the Tigers again Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays and then start for the U.S. late next week during WBC pool play in Houston. After that, the rest of his outings this spring will come in a Detroit uniform, he said.

WORDS: 557 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 9:30 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6b150afe8d28242e3b8752ec4d6b7eba&mediaType=text

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BKC-ALABAMA-BEDIAKO

Bediako appeals NCAA eligibility decision to Alabama Supreme Court as season winds down

SUMMARY: Basketball center Charles Bediako is asking the Alabama Supreme Court to let him play the rest of the season for the Crimson Tide. The recent NBA G-League player is appealing a judge’s decision that ended his temporary playing status with the University of Alabama. His lawyers also asked a judge Monday to grant interim relief while the appeal is pending and order the NCAA to reinstate Bediako as a student-athlete. Bediako filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after it denied Alabama’s request to reinstate him and allow him to return to collegiate competition.

WORDS: 378 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 8:07 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:16c3a29ed3e9d6e217ae6c710ac03d17&mediaType=text

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OLY--NBC-RATINGS

Milan Cortina Olympics were most-watched Winter Games since 2014 with 96% more viewers than Beijing

SUMMARY: The Milan Cortina Olympics averaged 23.5 million viewers in the United States, making it the most-watched Winter Games since 2014 with a 96% larger audience than the Beijing Games four years ago. NBCUniversal said the average includes combined audiences on NBC, Peacock, CNBC, USA Network and other digital platforms during the live afternoon and prime-time windows. Viewership numbers for the United States’ 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in men’s hockey on Sunday morning were not expected until Tuesday.

WORDS: 491 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 7:58 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:02f7dd1a3710e4508a397f34169ee44c&mediaType=text

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OLY--HKW-TRUMP-INVITATION

US women’s gold medal-winning team declines invitation from Trump to attend State of Union address

SUMMARY: The U.S. women’s hockey gold medal-winning team has politely declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend his State of the Union address on Tuesday. In a statement, the U.S. women’s team said it was “sincerely grateful for the invitation” but would be unable to attend “due to the timing.” Trump also invited the U.S. men’s gold medal-winning team. Scheduling will be a challenge as the NHL schedule resumes with five games on Wednesday and the PWHL resumes on Thursday. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of both teams.

WORDS: 514 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 7:51 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2311fcc12756a72d8733f0f8c12116f8&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA-CBA

WNBA says March 10 deadline needed for new CBA to avoid delaying May 8 season start, AP source says

SUMMARY: The WNBA told the players’ union that it needs to get a deal in place by March 10 start the season on time. That’s according to a person familiar with the discussions who told The Associated Press about the Monday meeting on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations. It was the first meeting between the sides that involved players and the league since they met at the WNBA offices on Feb. 2. Because of the winter storm that hit New York, it was decided to hold the meeting virtually.

WORDS: 636 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 7:00 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3a4b8b02d5a63eec34762af143c5ef71&mediaType=text

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BOX--MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao agree to a rematch in September at The Sphere in Las Vegas

SUMMARY: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have agreed to a rematch of their landmark 2015 bout. Their second fight will be held Sept. 19 in Las Vegas. The fight will be streamed on Netflix, and it will be the first boxing match to be held at The Sphere, the immersive event venue east of the Strip. Mayweather turns 49 years old on Tuesday. He announced his intention last week to end his nine-year retirement from competitive boxing. The 47-year-old Pacquiao ended his own retirement last year, and he is scheduled to meet Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 in the second bout of his comeback.

WORDS: 625 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 6:23 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:eae88ac107ef74b6a675844154cee1e9&mediaType=text

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OLY--SKI-VONN-INJURY

Lindsey Vonn says surgery saved her from having her left leg amputated following Olympic crash

SUMMARY: Lindsey Vonn says she nearly lost her left leg following a crash at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Vonn detailed the extent her injuries in an Instagram post. The 41-year-old Vonn says the crash on Feb. 8 caused compartment syndrome in her left leg after the crash. The condition traps swelling and blood in the muscle. It cuts off blood flow and can cause permanent damage. Vonn says surgeon Tom Hackett performed an emergency fasciotomy, saving her leg. Vonn added she also broke her right ankle in the crash and is currently in a wheelchair.

WORDS: 620 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 3:08 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6d6ffee2e52293ba59dae83b6c0cc79b&mediaType=text

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BKL--OBIT-KARA BRAXTON

2-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton dies at 43 after being in a car crash

SUMMARY: Two-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton has died after being in a car crash in Atlanta. She was 43. The athletic department at Georgia, where Braxton played in college, texted The Associated Press confirmation of Braxton’s death and posted on social media. Her son, Jelani Thurman, posted a photo of his younger self in his mother’s jersey on social media and wrote that he we will miss his “queen.” Braxton died on Saturday. She last played in the WNBA in 2014 while finishing up a four-year stint with New York. She won two titles with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008.

WORDS: 346 - MOVED: 02/23/2026 1:52 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:82f3f4a771c41c5ec93d8e1c302c14cb&mediaType=text

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