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UPCOMING

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BKC--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the men’s NCAA Tournament. Previews/features: Games (text, photos for each. Tipoff times Eastern. Breakouts on merit):

Buffalo, N.Y.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 9 Saint Louis, 12:10 p.m. By John Wawrow. No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 3 Michigan State, 2:45 p.m. By Jonah Bronstein

Greenville, S.C.: No. 9 TCU vs. No. 1 Duke, 5:15 p.m. No. 11 VCU vs. No. 3 Illinois, 7:50 p.m.

Oklahoma City: No. 10 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Houston, 6:10 p.m. By Tim Willert. No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt, 8:45 p.m. By Cliff Brunt.

Portland, Ore.: No. 11 Texas vs. No. 3 Gonzaga, 7:10 p.m. By Anne M. Peterson. No. 12 High Point vs. No. 4 Arkansas, 9:45 p.m.By Eric Garcia Gundersen.

UPCOMING: By 03/21/2026 8:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo, DigitalPlans

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BKW--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: Previews/features: Previews of Sunday’s eight second-round games.

BKW--NCAA-Washington-TCU Preview FORT WORTH, Texas — While TCU goes as Olivia Miles goes, the playmaking point guard coming off another triple-double isn’t doing it alone in for the Horned Frogs in March Madness. They take a 43-game home winning streak into their game against Washington with a chance to get the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. By Stephen Hawkins. 700 words, photos.

BKW--NCAA-Mississippi-Minnesota Preview MINNEAPOLIS — After sophomore guard Sira Thienou was sidelined by an injury a month ago, Mississippi lost four straight games to finish the regular season. Her return for the NCAA Tournament helped spark a first-round victory over Gonzaga, setting up a matchup with Minnesota on its home court for a spot in the Sweet 16. By Patrick Donnelly. 600 words, photos

UPCOMING: By 03/21/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo, DigitalPlans

SKI--WCUP-MEN’S DOWNHILL

DESCRIPTION: KVITFJELL, Norway — The men’s downhill opens the World Cup Finals, as Swiss star Marco Odermatt has already locked up both the discipline and overall titles for the season. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/21/2026 7:00 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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SOC--WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP

DESCRIPTION: Australia will play Japan for the Women’s Asian Cup title at Sydney’s Stadium Australia. Australia edged defending champion 2-1 on Tuesday and Japan ousted 2022 runnerurunner-upKorea 4-1 on Wednesday in the semifinals. it’s the third time in four Women’s Asia Cup tournaments that Japan and Australia have contested the final. Japan won both previous times, winning back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2018.

UPCOMING: By 03/21/2026 8:30 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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SKI--WCUP-WOMEN’S DOWNHILL

DESCRIPTION: KVITFJELL, Norway — Italian skier Laura Pirovano heads into the last women’s World Cup downhill of the season with a 28-point lead over Emma Aicher of Germany in the discipline standings. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/21/2026 8:30 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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FBN--FLAG FOOTBALL-OLYMPICS

DESCRIPTION: LOS ANGELES — Retired seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady returns to the field along with current NFL stars for the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO Stadium, which will be the home site when flag football makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 LA Games. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/21/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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CAR-NASCAR-DARLINGTON PREVIEW

DESCRIPTION: Anger and frustration often flare at Darlington Raceway, and NASCAR has a feud brewing as the Cup Series heads to one of the toughest tracks on the circuit. Former teammates Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez had a brief but animated confrontation after their cars made contact last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and they’ve continued taking swipes at each other this week. The conditions at “The Track Too Tough To Tame” will be ripe for prolonging that rivalry and possibly igniting fresh squabbles as drivers wrestle with manhandling their cars around the tricky 1.366-mile oval. Because of increased horsepower regulations that are expected to cause heavier tire wear on an already abrasive surface, many Cup drivers are predicting they will be on the edge of out of control for 400 laps at Darlington. “It’s going to be crazy,” Suarez said. “I’m actually looking forward to it.”

UPCOMING: By 03/21/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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GLF--VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

DESCRIPTION: Sungjae Im tries to build on his strong start in the Valspar Championship on the challenging Copperhead course at Innisbrook. 500 words.

UPCOMING: By 03/21/2026 8:30 p.m. EDT, Text

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GLF--LPGA TOUR

DESCRIPTION: Hyo Joo Kim took a four-stroke lead into the third round of the Fortinet Founders Cup at tree-lined Sharon Heights. 400 words.

UPCOMING: By 03/21/2026 10:30 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKC--NCAA-BRACKETS

Number of perfect March Madness brackets dwindles into the hundreds after the first round

SUMMARY: The dreams of a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket have already gone bust for the vast majority of those hoping to go an improbable 63-0. The number of unblemished entries in ESPN’s bracket challenge dropped to 195 after the completion of the first round, even with all the high-seeded favorites winning — and defending national champion Florida doing it by 59 points against Prairie View A&M. Over 99.999% of the 26 million-plus brackets entered at ESPN have already been busted. It was much the same over at the NCAA’s bracket challenge, where only 234 error-free entries remained.

WORDS: 628 - MOVED: 03/21/2026 1:35 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:85ace9f64e9df4c659c8c4c2f04bc6cc&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-PRAIRIE VIEW A&M-FLORIDA

Florida begins title defense with 59-point rout of Prairie View, 2nd-biggest margin in NCAA tourney

SUMMARY: Florida began its national title defense with the second-largest victory margin in NCAA Tournament history, pounding Prairie View A&M 114-55. Boogie Fland scored 16 points to lead seven players in double figures for the top-seeded Gators, whose 59-point margin fell short of only Loyola Chicago’s 111-42 win over Tennessee Tech in 1963. Florida advanced to face No. 9 seed Iowa in the South Region’s second round on Sunday. Florida went on runs of 18-0 and 17-0 in the first half to turn a 15-all tie into a 60-21 lead at the break. The Gators shot 75% before halftime and 64.3% for the game.

WORDS: 630 - MOVED: 03/21/2026 1:01 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:07580d916834e4a498b2ea94fe423093&mediaType=text

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BKW--NCAA-NC STATE-TENNESSEE

No. 7 NC State tops No. 10 Tennessee 76-61, Lady Vols lose 8 in a row for 1st time in NCAA era

SUMMARY: Zamareya Jones scored 15 of her career-high 30 points in the first half to help build a double-digit lead and seventh-seeded North Carolina State went on to beat the slumping, 10th-seeded Tennessee 76-61 in the first round of March Madness. The Wolfpack will play second-seeded Michigan on its home court in the second round on Sunday. They might be without All-ACC guard Zoe Brooks, who had a right leg injury in the quarter and didn’t return. The Lady Vols have lost eight straight for the first time in the NCAA women’s basketball era.

WORDS: 686 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 11:13 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:43a04cc34bc7dff22b9468296eea15af&mediaType=text

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BBC--ALABAMA-NO-HITTER

Alabama’s Tyler Fay pitches no-hitter against Florida for Tide’s first in a complete game since 1942

SUMMARY: Tyler Fay pitched Alabama’s first nine-inning, complete-game no-hitter in 84 years, striking out 13 in a 6-0 victory over Florida. Fay retired the last 10 batters. Brendan Lawson flew out to left to end the game. Fay had never pitched more than seven innings in college. He threw a career-high 132 pitches, 85 for strikes. The redshirt junior from Doniphan, Nebraska, issued a walk in the second inning and another in the sixth. Fay came into the season as Alabama’s No. 1 starter and entered the game with a 3-2 record and 5.43 ERA.

WORDS: 191 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 11:08 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c8de290563190703dd87d3b84ee10cac&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-PURDUE-SMITH-ASSISTS RECORD

Purdue’s Braden Smith breaks Bobby Hurley’s Division I career assist record in NCAA tourney opener

SUMMARY: Purdue guard Braden Smith broke former Duke star Bobby Hurley’s Division I assist record with 12:11 to go in the first half of the Boilermakers’ NCAA Tournament game against Queens on Friday night. Smith picked up his second of the game and the 1,077th of his career with a feed to Trey Kaufman-Renn. The All-American already was the only player in NCAA history with at least 1,500 points, 1,000 assists and 500 career rebounds, and Smith is one of two players along with Southern’s Avery Johnson to have had at least 300 assists in two different seasons. He was a second-team AP All-American this season.

WORDS: 726 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 10:24 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9b41eca0b3ee71356baecd58d5973323&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-HIGH POINT-PERKS

From a campus steakhouse to a mock airplane cabin for students, High Point is no ordinary Cinderella

SUMMARY: High Point’s bracket-busting NCAA Tournament upset has put the spotlight on the private school in North Carolina that offers some unusual perks for its student body. The campus, home to some 6,300 students, has a steakhouse that’s part of the meal plan where reservations are required. There’s also a mock airplane cabin on campus where students can rehearse talking up executives during a flight. In other words, Cinderella’s slipper might not fit for this school. High Point describes itself as a “life skills university” that teaches students the know-how to be successful.

WORDS: 357 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 9:54 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:96b12023ab9e32db37fbd1f9fa6f341d&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-DRAFTKINGS LAWSUIT

NCAA asks court to stop DraftKings from using trademarked terms such as ‘March Madness’

SUMMARY: The NCAA has filed a complaint in federal court seeking an emergency restraining order against online sportsbook DraftKings. The NCAA wants DraftKings to stop using registered trademarks associated with its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The complaint for trademark infringement was filed in the Southern District of Indiana and requests that DraftKings refrain from using terms such as “March Madness,” “Final Four,” “Elite Eight” and “Sweet Sixteen” or variations of them in sports wagering products, promotional campaigns and marketing. A message seeking comment was sent to DraftKings’ general media relations address Friday night.

WORDS: 358 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 9:24 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ba0c51842efd910d3812c451b40be3b9&mediaType=text

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BKW--NCAA-HIGH-POINT-FAMILY-AFFAIR

March Madness crosses paths with family time for High Point coaches with mom off to work

SUMMARY: Family matters at High Point, enough that coach Chelsea Banbury has no problem with assistant Katie Clayman missing the Panthers’ last practice before their NCAA Tournament opener. It’s March Madness. Clayman got to watch her husband win his tournament debut Thursday as the High Point men upset No. 5 seed Wisconsin in Portland, Oregon. Clayman spent Friday traveling back across the country to Nashville for the 15th-seeded Panthers’ first-round game Saturday night against No. 2 seed Vanderbilt. Banbury said there’s no direct flights and she’s been in touch with Clayman who knows what film she needs broken down before shootaround Saturday.

WORDS: 394 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 8:19 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f10d357592ba8db73b0675b4ba3ca1d0&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA-CBA

A landmark 7-year WNBA labor deal moves forward with a signed term sheet

SUMMARY: The WNBA and its players union have reached the next step in their new collective bargaining agreement, signing a term sheet. Now they wait for ratification by the players and approval from the league’s Board of Governors. The new seven-year CBA, which will begin this season and run through 2032, represents a transformational landmark labor deal.

WORDS: 791 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 7:08 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4d48f3d0e31e99d443079a953ab5b397&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-KENTUCKY-SANTA CLARA-BUZZER-BEATER

After Santa Clara and Kentucky trade 3s in thrilling finish, ‘a tough one to swallow’ for Broncos

SUMMARY: Santa Clara may have lost to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, but few will forget the way everything unfolded at the end of regulation. The two teams each hit a 3-pointer in the last 2.4 seconds, forcing them to play another five minutes in a game that the seventh-seeded Wildcats won, 89-84. The Broncos hit the first of them to take a 73-70 lead, only for Kentucky’s Otega Oweh to answer at the buzzer from right in front of his own bench to tie the game. It was a crushing loss for Santa Clara, which was making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since Steve Nash was playing there 30 years ago.

WORDS: 735 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 6:15 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3309eaaf56e0bc5bf9818b73bfb4932e&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-SANTA CLARA-KENTUCKY

Otega Oweh’s buzzer-beater saves Kentucky in 89-84 overtime win over Santa Clara in March Madness

SUMMARY: Otega Oweh rescued Kentucky with a buzzer-beater from just inside half court to force overtime, then hit the tiebreaking free throws in the extra period as the seventh-seeded Wildcats beat No. 10 seed Santa Clara 89-84 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Santa Clara’s Allen Graves drained a 3 from the right wing with 2.4 seconds left to put the Broncos ahead 73-70. Oweh took the inbound pass and got his shot off just in time, and it banked in for the tie. Oweh scored a career-high 35 points for the Wildcats, who will face No. 2 seed Iowa State, a 108-74 winner over 15th-seeded Tennessee State, in the second round in the Midwest Region.

WORDS: 919 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 5:55 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f2641e61103b8710e393795732dde0e2&mediaType=text

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BBO-YANKEES-GARDNER’S SON

Lawsuit claims negligence in death of former Yankees baseball player’s son at Costa Rican resort

SUMMARY: A new lawsuit blames a Costa Rica resort’s owners and operators for the carbon monoxide death of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner’s teenage son. Gardner family members filed a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit Friday in federal court in Philadelphia. The March 2025 death of 14-year-old Miller Gardner at the Arenas Del Mar resort has been attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Messages seeking comment were left Friday for the defendants.

WORDS: 260 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 5:55 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c28b1acacb5d2d1f0bb0972db9f92353&mediaType=text

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BBO--SEASON PREVIEW

MLB season preview: Robot umpires, Dodgers try for 3 in row, Rays return to Trop as lockout looms

SUMMARY: Baseball is changing at a dizzying speed in 2026 with the arrival of robot umpires, the return home of the Tampa Bay Rays and an alphabet soup of networks televising the games in perhaps the last season before a labor shutdown. So much has transpired in the 4 1/2 months since the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied in World Series Game 7 to become the first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. Kyle Tucker wound up with the Dodgers, Bo Bichette with the New York Mets, Alex Bregman with the Chicago Cubs and Pete Alonso with the Baltimore Orioles.

WORDS: 898 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 5:27 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f59f700a4deacff1516cae2b2ab95524&mediaType=text

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BBO--GUARDIANS-CLASE-ORTIZ

Guardians won’t have to pay Clase, Ortiz while MLB continues gambling investigation and trial looms

SUMMARY: The Cleveland Guardians won’t have to pay indicted pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz while Major League Baseball’s investigation continues into allegations of pitch-rigging for gamblers. Ortiz was placed on paid leave last July 3 and Clase on July 28, and they received their salaries while they didn’t pitch for the remainder of the season. They were indicted on federal charges on Nov. 9 and a trial is scheduled for May 4 but could be delayed. Clase has a $6 million salary in 2026, the final guaranteed season of a $20 million, five-year contract. Ortiz does not have enough service time for arbitration and makes around the minimum salary of $780,000.

WORDS: 418 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 5:09 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:eb3885742f6b98712bab64e6487ded24&mediaType=text

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ENT--OBIT-CHUCK NORRIS

Chuck Norris, martial arts master and actor whose toughness became internet lore, dies at 86

SUMMARY: The martial arts grandmaster and action star Chuck Norris has died. His roles in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy, sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents. He was 86. Norris died Thursday, in what his family described as a “sudden passing.” They didn’t release details about his death. Before he would become a star in movies and on TV, Norris was wildly successful in competitive martial arts. His toughman image became the stuff of legend, sparking “Chuck Norris Facts” memes. He was also outspoken about his Christian beliefs and his support for gun rights, and backed political candidates for years.

WORDS: 1052 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 4:39 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b92804d43c6eee0d9e3fb31583d7f877&mediaType=text

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SOC--PORTUGAL SQUAD

Hamstring injury keeps Ronaldo out of Portugal friendlies against US and Mexico

SUMMARY: A hamstring injury will keep Cristiano Ronaldo out of Portugal’s friendlies against the United States and Mexico. The 41-year-old Ronaldo hasn’t played since Feb. 28 when he limped off the field while playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has not included the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in his squad. Portugal plays Mexico in Mexico City on March 28 and the U.S. in Atlanta on April 1.

WORDS: 259 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 3:45 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a2aacfbbfe2e7103fccd1427ae2ff04f&mediaType=text

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FBC--TRUMP-ARMY-NAVY GAME

Trump issues executive order requiring CFP to avoid broadcasting conflicts with Army-Navy game

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has issued an executive order barring College Football Playoff and other postseason games from airing during the annual Army-Navy matchup in December. Trump directed the commerce secretary and the FCC chairman to coordinate with the playoff committee, the NCAA and media rights partners to ensure an exclusive broadcasting window for the storied rivalry traditionally played the second Saturday each December. Trump’s order makes reference to potential expansion of the CFP that likely would require an earlier start for the playoff. In the first two years of the 12-team format, the first-round games were the weekend after Army-Navy.

WORDS: 350 - MOVED: 03/20/2026 2:39 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:05a8a6888b21f1f6bac3feee8f34cef6&mediaType=text

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