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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BKN--KNICKS-CHAMPIONSHIP RUN

DESCRIPTION: NEW YORK — The Knicks’ run to their first championship since 1973 won’t just be celebrated in New York. It has a place in NBA history, thanks to the records they set along the way while going 16-3.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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HKN--STANLEY CUP-HURRICANE FORCE

DESCRIPTION: The Carolina Hurricanes’ standout second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake was a big reason they won the Stanley Cup. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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HKN--STANLEY CUP-TORTORELLA

DESCRIPTION: The Vegas Golden Knights hired coach John Tortorella late in the regular season without the promise he would be brought back for next season. But after taking the team to the Stanley Cup Final, he would seem to have a good argument to stay.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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SOC--WCUP-LONG-DISTANCE-TRAVEL

DESCRIPTION: The biggest World Cup ever has brought some logistics challenges to the 48 teams in the tournament being played across three countries and four time zones. Some teams will travel more than 5,000 miles going back-and-forth between training camps and games in the group stage. Canada and the U.S. are also expected to travel a lot despite being hosts. Mexico faces less challenges with shorter trips within the country. England is expected to travel the most among the main title candidates.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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HKW--PWHL-DRAFT-HARVEY

DESCRIPTION: In a PWHL draft class brimming with elite U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning talent, defender Caroline Harvey stands above the rest. Harvey, who capped her career at Wisconsin with college hockey’s MVP honor, won’t say so in leading up to the draft in Detroit on Wednesday. But take it from someone in an ideal position to evaluate the prospects in U.S. coach John Wroblewski. By Hockey Writer John Warwow. 750 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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SOC--WORLD CUP

SOC--WORLD CUP-SPAIN-CAPE VERDE

DESCRIPTION: ATLANTA-European champion Spain opens its World Cup campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 3:42 p.m. EDT

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BBC--COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

BBC--CWS-GEORGIA-OKLAHOMA

DESCRIPTION: OMAHA, Neb. — Georgia and Oklahoma meet at the College World Series, with the winner needing only one more victory to reach the finals. By Eric Olson. 500 words. Game starts 7 p.m. EDT.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT

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BBC--CWS-ALABAMA-TEXAS

DESCRIPTION: OMAHA, Neb. — Texas, which won two of three against Alabama in the regular season, will try to beat the Crimson Tide again in a College World Series elimination game. By Eric Olson. 500 words. Game starts 2 p.m. EDT.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

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CAR--NASCAR-HAMLIN-RETIREMENT DILEMMA

DESCRIPTION: Every NASCAR fan has seen aging drivers stay in the seat far past their prime. Occasionally they struggled to qualify for the race, many times they couldn’t stay on the lead lap, more often than not their finish didn’t reflect the competitiveness they once showed.Denny Hamlin doesn’t want to be that guy. He’s 45, the oldest full-time active driver in the Cup Series, and in the first year of a two-year contract he says will be his last at NASCAR’s top level.But he can’t stop winning and with it comes questions Hamlin must answer about his future as a race car driver. By Jenna Fryer. Text, file photos.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBO--FLAG FOOTBALL-NEXT GENERATION

DESCRIPTION: Akemi Higa, a 17-year-old flag football quarterback from Hawaii and Las Vegas, is trying to earn a spot on the U.S. women’s national team. This season, the women’s national team has seen a youthful infusion, with several players under 21. The men’s side, too, is trending younger. The teams are preparing for the IFAF flag football world championships in Germany. By Pat Graham. 800 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 06/15/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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HKN--STANLEY CUP

Hurricanes use stifling defense to blank Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 and win the Stanley Cup

SUMMARY: The Carolina Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup championship in 20 years on Sunday night, using a suffocating defense in Game 6 to shut down the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 and winning three straight games of a thrilling final filled with momentum swings and spectacular offense. Brandon Bussi, who entrance late into Game 3 helped turn around the series, recorded his first career playoff shutout in stopping 22 shots. Jackson Blake backed him up with a goal and assist, and Taylor Hall scored just 3:47 into the game to set the tone. Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal.

WORDS: 1051 - MOVED: 06/15/2026 1:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3877d81383e8dfa19c7f118bd7751962&mediaType=text

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MMA--UFC-FREEDOM 250

UFC brings its trademark mayhem to the White House as President Trump celebrates 80th birthday

SUMMARY: Donald Trump hosted a UFC event on the White House Lawn for his 80th birthday. Fighters from around the world joined the celebration, marking a unique moment for the sport. The event, called Freedom 250, featured seven fights and celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. UFC President Dana White and Trump enjoyed chants of “USA! USA!” as they watched the action. Bo Nickal won his match and thanked Trump for the opportunity. The event highlighted the close relationship between Trump and White, with thousands of fans attending, including notable figures like Mark Zuckerberg.

WORDS: 1147 - MOVED: 06/15/2026 1:26 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:724c875d7a7cbfed087e179e8f689ec0&mediaType=text

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HKN--STANLEY CUP-BUSSI

Once a journeyman, Brandon Bussi backstops the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup championship

SUMMARY: Rod Brind’Amour praised Brandon Bussi before the Stanley Cup Final, relieved the Carolina Hurricanes hadn’t needed their backup goalie. But Bussi ended up backstopping the team to the franchise’s secnd championship. Frederik Andersen played the first three rounds, but Bussi came in during Game 3 and finished the series. Bussi, 27, was crucial in the clincher, making key saves in Game 6. Once a journeyman, he played nearly half the season’s games, helping Carolina earn the top seed. Now, he’s a Stanley Cup champion.

WORDS: 746 - MOVED: 06/15/2026 1:18 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:12fed14d117d3963bda18d52b051a234&mediaType=text

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HKN--STANLEY CUP-HOW THE HURRICANES WON

A big trade swing, then a bold reset that powered the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup

SUMMARY: Adding talent in the right places got the Carolina Hurricanes over the hump to win the Stanley Cup. Trading for Taylor Hall, pivoting to acquiring Logan Stankoven when Mikko Rantanen didn’t work out, signing Nikolaj Ehlers and claiming Brandon Bussi on waivers turned out to be the difference. Even general manager Eric Tulsky using one of the first-round picks received for Rantanen to get K’Andre Miller shored up depth on the blue line to make this dominant playoff run possible. Carolina won 16 of 19 games including four of six against Vegas in the final.

WORDS: 976 - MOVED: 06/15/2026 1:15 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:08c589854d1cd24d60828e94db379909&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-SWEDEN-TUNISIA

Sweden gets 2 goals from Yasin Ayari and pounds Tunisia 5-1 to move atop World Cup Group F

SUMMARY: Yasin Ayari scored twice and Sweden showed it belonged at the 2026 World Cup, pounding Tunisia 5-1 to move atop Group F. Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres each had a goal and an assist, and Mattias Svanberg also scored for Sweden, which entered ranked 39th in the world and missed the 2022 World Cup after reaching the quarterfinals eight years ago in Russia. Omar Rekik scored for 45th-ranked Tunisia, which is playing in its seventh World Cup but has never advanced beyond the group stage. Ayari bookended the scoring for the Swedes at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, with long-range goals in the seventh minute and in second-half stoppage time.

WORDS: 332 - MOVED: 06/15/2026 12:29 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f251d0427b271fbbc662ca8607481f68&mediaType=text

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HKN--STANLEY CUP-MVP

Carolina’s Jordan Staal wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, oldest on record at age 37

SUMMARY: Jordan Staal has won the Conn Smythe Trophy for leading the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup. Staal was their top goal-scorer in the final against Vegas and for the entire playoff run was a shutdown center and an ace in the faceoff circle. The longest-tenured player in the organization after joining in a trade from Pittsburgh in 2012, Staal has been captain for the past seven years. He is the oldest Stanely Cup MVP at the age of 37.

WORDS: 771 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 11:43 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:263d1093403412772818b06ab6d510d6&mediaType=text

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MMA--UFC-FREEDOM 250-SCENE

Logan Paul, Tkachuk brothers part of pre-fight festivities before a watch party on the Ellipse

SUMMARY: Hockey stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk were part of pre-fight festivities for UFC Freedom 250, the mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn of the White House on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. While the crowd around the Octagon was full of VIPs, the Ellipse hosted a viewing party for the more common fan. The weather was a significant concern for a while. There were dark clouds hanging over the area around the time the fighting started. But the area avoided any storms.

WORDS: 358 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 11:29 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:10947b1ecd1accc2bcb9d6a89809cae1&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-IVORY COAST-ECUADOR

Amad Diallo scores in the 90th minute to lift Ivory Coast past Ecuador 1-0 in the World Cup

SUMMARY: Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to lift Ivory Coast to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in its first World Cup appearance in a dozen years. The teams combined to hit the crossbar three times before the Manchester United winger broke through with a left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area that beat diving goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez. Ivory Coast is making its fourth appearance in the World Cup and first since 2014 and took a step toward reaching the knockout stage for the first time. Ecuador saw its 19-game unbeaten streak end with its first loss since a 1-0 decision against Brazil on Sept. 6, 2024.

WORDS: 542 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 11:04 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4cb0ee82aef5784d169a5cf857a0b0a9&mediaType=text

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BBO--ROCKIES-VEGAS JACKPOT

Rockies hit jackpot with 23 runs in steamy Vegas as A’s finish wild stretch in future home

SUMMARY: All those home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field, and the Colorado Rockies never rang up the scoreboard the way they did Sunday in steamy Las Vegas. If this is what big league baseball looks like in Sin City, pitchers might run for cover in a couple of years under every craps table in town. Willi Castro had seven RBIs, Hunter Goodman got a career-high five hits and the Rockies set a franchise record for runs with a 23-9 victory over the Athletics on a 101-degree afternoon at Las Vegas Ballpark. Scheduled to move to Las Vegas full time in 2028, the A’s got a taste of the city this week with a wild six-game homestand at the site of their top minor league affiliate.

WORDS: 617 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 9:58 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e1af5f75fe4da2bf7efbcceaa12d0d98&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-IRAN ARRIVES

Iran’s World Cup experience is less joyful amid war with host US, team captain says before debut

SUMMARY: Iran captain Mehdi Taremi says his team is having a challenging World Cup experience amid the multifold disruptions caused by the tensions created by their nation’s war with the co-host U.S. The Iranians arrived in the Los Angeles area on Sunday from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico. Tijuana is just over the U.S. border and about 140 miles from the stadium where they will open group-stage play against New Zealand. Taremi says he has felt the tension from the first moment Iran arrived, and he says this experience is not as joyful as his two previous World Cups.

WORDS: 874 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 9:26 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ebddd27c7508e07f3291f8994105924e&mediaType=text

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GLF--CANADIAN OPEN

Bud Cauley wins the Canadian Open to cap long comeback from 2018 car accident

SUMMARY: Bud Cauley took the lead with a birdie chip on the par-4 12th and won the RBC Canadian Open in rain and wind Sunday for his first PGA Tour title, eight years after his career nearly ended in a car accident at the Memorial. The 36-year-old Cauley won in his 239th tour start — just over two years after he returned to the PGA Tour following the accident. He was a passenger in a car when he sustained six broken ribs, a collapsed right lung and fractured left leg. On Sunday at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, Cauley closed with a 5-under 65 to get to 17-under 263. Matt Fitzpatrick was second, two strokes back. He eagled the 18th in a 64.

WORDS: 482 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 8:42 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:126a016800f82095e1691e63e214f53e&mediaType=text

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BBO--ROCKIES-ATHLETICS

Rockies set club record for runs with 23-9 victory over A’s in Las Vegas heat

SUMMARY: Willi Castro had seven RBIs, Hunter Goodman got five hits and the Colorado Rockies set a franchise record for runs in a 23-9 victory over the Athletics on a 101-degree afternoon at Las Vegas Ballpark. Goodman and Castro each hit two of Colorado’s six homers. Troy Johnston and TJ Rumfield also went deep for the last-place Rockies, who ended a three-game losing streak. Castro finished with four hits, including a grand slam in the eighth inning. Goodman drove in four runs and Kyle Karros also had four hits as the Rockies piled up 24 in all — one shy of the team mark. The Athletics ended their Las Vegas homestand with a 4-2 record at the home of their Triple-A affiliate.

WORDS: 366 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 7:35 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:877e58d66c78400ad61544507d9cc9cf&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-GERMANY-CURACAO

Havertz sparks Germany’s 7-1 rout of Curaçao after underdogs’ historic 1st goal in World Cup

SUMMARY: Kai Havertz scored two goals as Germany pulled away from World Cup first-timer Curaçao late in the opening half and piled on after that in a 7-1 win in a group match. Livano Comenencia tied it at 1-1 with his left-footed shot through traffic from the center of the box in the 21st minute to give Curaçao its first goal in the tournament and send fans of the tiny Caribbean nation into a frenzy. It was all Germany after that with the four-time champions regaining the lead on Nico Schlotterbeck’s header off Nathaniel Brown’s corner kick in the 38th minute.

WORDS: 686 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 7:26 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c6e9fff3fc605a39fe99837d1aef2419&mediaType=text

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GLF--LPGA TOUR

Gina Kim and Yana Wilson team to win the Dow Championship for their first LPGA Tour titles

SUMMARY: Gina Kim and Yana Wilson teamed to win the Dow Championship on Sunday for their first LPGA Tour titles, closing with an 8-under 62 in best-ball play for a two-stroke victory over Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi. Gina Kim and Wilson finished at 17-under 263 at Midland Country Club. Gina Kim holed out from the fairway for eagle on the par-4 fifth. The 26-year-old won in her 64th start on the LPGA Tour, while the 19-year-old Wilson was making the ninth start of her rookie season. Last year, Wilson — the 2022 USGA Girls’ Junior winner — was second and Gina Kim third on the Epson Tour money list to earn LPGA cards. Hyo Joo Kim and Choi finished with a 65.

WORDS: 437 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 6:16 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:23fac63801b0c07cede6125a71fbace7&mediaType=text

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BOX--HALL OF FAME

Golovkin and Tarver lead the class of 2026 into the International Boxing Hall of Fame

SUMMARY: Gennadiy Golovkin was always more about big punches than big words. Talking was for fighters like Antonio Tarver. But on Hall of Fame induction day, even guys like Tarver can have trouble getting the words out. He and Golovkin both got through their speeches near the end of the ceremony for the class of 2026 that is being enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. Golovkin went 42-2-1 with 37 KOs and made a middleweight record-tying 20 consecutive title defenses. Tarver memorably knocked out Roy Jones Jr., and his charisma helped him become known for far more than his success inside the ring.

WORDS: 703 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 6:11 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:186d2a3a938bfe5e4dc264675bfdaab1&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-POCONO

Denny Hamlin wins the NASCAR Cup race at Pocono for his third straight victory

SUMMARY: Denny Hamlin is still planning to retire at the end of next season but won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway for his third consecutive victory. That moves him past the late Kyle Busch for ninth on the all-time wins list. Hamlin is the oldest full-time driver in NASCAR’s Cup Series at 45. He now has 64 career victories. Despite his success, including four wins this season, he remains firm on retiring when his deal with Joe Gibbs expires in 2027. Tyler Reddick finished second, and William Byron was third. NASCAR’s next event is a street race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.

WORDS: 1180 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 5:41 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6beb8a0c533fe4fe5cd66f70d637f467&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-PHOTO-GLIMPSE-SHADOWS

One Extraordinary Photo: Raphinha, Hakimi and their shadows

SUMMARY: Matt Slocum, a staff photographer for The Associated Press in Philadelphia, has been with the AP for over 20 years. He started as a summer intern in Dallas and has covered major events like the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Slocum captured a unique photo from a stadium catwalk, where the evening sun created long shadows of players on the field. He used a handheld Sony A1 Mark II with a 600mm lens. The elevated position allowed him to capture a different perspective. The photo stands out due to the players’ body language and the dramatic shadows.

WORDS: 310 - MOVED: 06/14/2026 5:36 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3240080b441f1a4216102e5607f326f2&mediaType=text