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 COVERAGE

OLY--SKI-Men's Giant Slalom

BORMIO, Italy — Marco Odermatt of Switzerland tries to defend his Olympic giant slalom title Saturday at the Milan Cortina Games. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is looking to earn the first medal at a Winter Games for Brazil -- and South American. By Pat Graham. First run is at 10 a.m. CET. Second run is at 1:30 p.m.

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OLY--FRE-Women’s Big Air-Qualifying

LIVIGNO, Italy — Freesstyle skier Eileen Gu is back in action after her silver in slopestyle to start her Olympic title defense in big air. By Eddie Pells.

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OLY--HKW--Quarterfinals

With the potential of captain Marie-Philip Poulin’s return, defending Olympic champion Canada plays Germany in a women’s hockey quarterfinal matchup at the Milan Cortina Games on Saturday. And the other quarterfinal features Finland playing Switzerland. Top-seeded United States and Sweden have already advanced to the semifinal round on Monday. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. 800 words, photos.

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OLY--SPD-Speedskating-Men’s 500

American speedskater Jordan Stolz seeks his second gold medal of these Olympics, racing in the 500 meters on Saturday after winning the 1,000. He’s seeking four medals in Milan. Starts at 4 p.m. local time/10 a.m. EST. By Howard Fendrich.

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OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS FEATURES COVERAGE

OLY--Milan-Olympics-Valentine’s Day

At the Milan Cortina Games, winning medals isn’t the only thing making hearts swell. From the ice arenas to the snowy hills, love is in the frozen air. From blown kisses in the kiss-and-cry to surprise proposals and public confessions, Cupid is definitely in attendance. Romance isn’t all about grand gestures and for those at the Winter Olympics it likely won’t be. The day make look a little different for the athletes at the Olympics, but it won’t be any less special.

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OLY--Milan Cortina-Spread-out-Games

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics stretches across northern Italy, and athletes and fans feel the strain and the perks. On Friday, snowboarder Red Gerard says the distance makes the full Olympic feeling harder to find. He drives hours from his mountain venue to Milan for a big family dinner. International Olympic President Kirsty Coventry praises the use of iconic, existing sites. She says the Games still feel magical. Smaller teams face tougher travel, though. Fans like quick medal ceremonies at venues. Wealthier visitors enjoy road trips and hidden towns. Many say this spread-out model is becoming normal.

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OLY--CUR-Curling At Home

Dig out your squidgy mop, a few pots and pans — or a robotic vacuum if you have one — and a pair of slippers. It’s curling time! Social media has been ablaze with regular folk deploying common household wares to mimic what the world’s top curlers are doing at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. By Julia Frankel and Steve Douglas. Text, photos.

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OLY--FIG-Kiss and Cry

MILAN — The kiss-and-cry area has long been a staple of figure skating, providing fans with an unvarnished look at skaters as they learn their scores -- good or bad. But in a sport in which mental health has become increasingly important, it seems odd that figure skating would adhere to such a long-held but voyeuristic practice. By Dave Skretta. 700 words, photos.

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OLY--FRE-Tabanelli’s Trick

Italian freestyle skier Miro Tabanelli will aim to add another medal to the host country’s medal haul at the Milan Cortina Olympics. He is still flying high after he pulled off the never-seen-before at last year’s X Games when Tabanelli nailed the first 2340 jump in competition.

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SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: FA Cup fourth round games include Man City at home to Salford and Liverpool vs. Brighton.

UPCOMING: By 02/14/2026 12:30 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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SOC--GERMAN ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich visits relegation-threatened Werder Bremen, while Bayer Leverkusen hosts St. Pauli and Hoffenheim plays Freiburg. Stuttgart welcomes Cologne for the late game.

UPCOMING: By 02/14/2026 2:30 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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SOC--SPANISH ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Real Madrid hosts Real Sociedad in La Liga, where Sevilla plays Alaves, Villarreal visits Getafe and Espanyol plays Celta Viga.

UPCOMING: By 02/14/2026 5:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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BKN--ALL-STAR-SILVER

DESCRIPTION: Commissioner Adam Silver assesses the state of the game in his annual appearance at the NBA All-Star weekend. The league is facing scrutiny on issues ranging from tanking and expansion to its ever-evolving relationship with gambling. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/14/2026 6:00 p.m. EST, Text

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SOC--FRENCH ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Inconsistent Marseille hosts Strasbourg and title challenger Lens goes to Paris FC in Ligue 1. By Jerome Pugmire.

UPCOMING: By 02/14/2026 6:00 p.m. EST, Text

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BKN--NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

DESCRIPTION: Coverage of NBA All-Star Weekend, including the 3-point shooting contest and dunk competition.

UPCOMING: By 02/14/2026 7:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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GLF--PEBBLE BEACH

DESCRIPTION: Ryo Hisatsune and Akshay Bhatia share the lead in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler among those needing a big day to get in range. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/14/2026 8:00 p.m. EST, Text

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BKC--T25-TEXAS TECH-ARIZONA

DESCRIPTION: Top-ranked Arizona tries to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it hosts No. 16 Texas Tech on Saturday. By David Brandt. 300 words, photos. Starts at 6:30 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 02/14/2026 9:00 p.m. EST, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKN--ALL-STAR-RISING STARS

Philly special: V.J. Edgecombe leads Team Vince to victory at NBA All-Star weekend’s Rising Stars

SUMMARY: Philadelphia rookie V.J. Edgecombe led Team Vince to victory at the Rising Stars event at NBA All-Star weekend. He was named the event’s MVP after scoring 17 points in the semifinal and hitting two free throws to end the final. San Antonio guard Dylan Harper ended the first semifinal in memorable fashion by scoring the game-winning bucket over Ron Harper Jr., his older brother. Dylan Harper then scored eight points in the final for Team Melo. Stephon Castle made a putback dunk off Jeremiah Fears’ miss to pull Team Melo within one point, but Edgecombe hit two free throws to end it at 25-24.

WORDS: 751 - MOVED: 02/14/2026 12:25 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:86e8e456db7785fe89b7b091418d2739&mediaType=text

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US--BYU-RAPE CHARGE

BYU says star wide receiver charged with felony rape is no longer a student there

SUMMARY: Brigham Young University says standout wide receiver Parker Kingston is no longer a student there after he was arrested this week on a first-degree felony rape charge. The 21-year-old Kingston made his initial court appearance Friday in St. George. Prosecutors say a woman who was 20 years old at the time told officers that he assaulted her last February. Kingston told St. George Police that all sexual activity with the woman accusing him of rape was consensual. BYU said the administration and coaches were only made aware of the allegations against Kingston after his arrest. They declined to answer whether Kingston was kicked out or left the school voluntarily.

WORDS: 449 - MOVED: 02/14/2026 12:20 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b0259301edc63da16bbaa81fd7b24790&mediaType=text

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OLY--FIG-MEN’S FREE SKATE

‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin falls twice in Olympic disaster, allowing Mikhail Shaidorov to claim gold

SUMMARY: Ilia Malinin crashed out of the Olympic figure skating podium after a disastrous free skate and Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan takes a shocking gold medal. On Friday night in Milan Cortina, Malinin fell twice and dropped from first after the short program to eighth overall. AP reports the arena sat in stunned silence as Malinin fought back tears after one of his worst performances. Shaidorov posted a career-best 291.58 points and gave Kazakhstan its first Winter Games gold medal. Yuma Kagiyama won silver again and Japan’s Shun Sato took bronze. Malinin’s long unbeaten streak was ended.

WORDS: 981 - MOVED: 02/14/2026 12:15 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9701617ebaad752e616f88259e33b6b3&mediaType=text

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BBO--DIAMONDBACKS-GALLEN

Pitcher Zac Gallen agrees to 1-year deal to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks, AP source says

SUMMARY: Right-hander Zac Gallen has agreed to a $22.025 million, one-year contract to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed on Friday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal is pending a physical. The 2023 All-Star — who is a client of agent Scott Boras — was hunting for a multi-year contract, but after nothing acceptable materialized, he’s coming back to the desert where he’s spent the majority of his big league’s career.

WORDS: 346 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 11:38 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ae4efa92d322f037b5027ba277c3a920&mediaType=text

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GLF--PEBBLE BEACH

Bhatia and Hisatsune share Pebble Beach lead. Travis Kelce and amateurs head home

SUMMARY: Akshay Bhatia and Ryo Hisatsune share the lead at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am after two days of low scoring. Bhatia is bogey-free and shot 64 at Spyglass Hill that included a chip-in for eagle. Hisatsune followed his 62 at Pebble Beach with a 67. Rickie Fowler and Sam Burns are one shot behind. They all were at Spyglass Hill and far away from the speculation at Pebble Beach over whether Taylor Swift would show up to watch fiancé Travis Kelce play at Pebble Beach. There was a big buzz and a big crowd. There was no Swift.

WORDS: 818 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 8:11 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f4c193b447512cb623d838a1d0e762dc&mediaType=text

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OLY--HKW--QUARTERFINALS

Coyne Schofield scores 2 goals as US routs Italy 6-0 to advance to Olympic women’s hockey semifinals

SUMMARY: Kendall Coyne Schofield scored twice and top-seeded United States routed Olympic host Italy 6-0 in a lopsided, festive and sometimes chippy women’s hockey quarterfinal at the Milan Cortina Games. Megan Keller, Laila Edwards, Hannah Bilka and Britta Curl-Salemme also scored in an outing the U.S. erupted for five goals in the second period. Gwyneth Philips finished with six saves as the Americans posted their fourth straight shutout. The Americans advanced to the semifinal round on Monday. Italian goalie Gabriella Durante stopped 19 of 20 shots through the opening period and 45 overall.

WORDS: 1053 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 7:36 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7ba864663f75dfa02dc91997ad1e535a&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA 500 PREVIEW

A battered car forces William Byron into a backup for his Daytona 500 three-peat bid

SUMMARY: William Byron chases an unprecedented third straight Daytona 500 win Sunday when he attempts to make NASCAR history. He’ll be trying to win NASCAR’s season opener for the third consecutive year in a backup car after he damaged his primary in a qualifying race. He starts near the back in 39th, but he says that does not scare him. Byron has won here with a backup before. He has also won by staying patient and avoiding trouble, not by leading lots of laps. The field also has big storylines. Kyle Busch starts on the pole while stuck in a long winless skid and Brad Keselowski races while recovering from a broken leg.

WORDS: 1644 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 6:59 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:33d6afed97867c1384306d2d8b7de881&mediaType=text

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BOX--MIKE TYSON

Mike Tyson sounds the alarm on US boxing, launching a Las Vegas amateur invitational

SUMMARY: Mike Tyson said boxing in the United States is fading, and he wants to help revive it by building stronger amateur competition. On Friday, he pointed to shrinking grassroots boxing clubs and fewer places for young fighters to test themselves. He is helping launch the Mike Tyson Invitational in Las Vegas on March 12–14 to bring top amateurs together. Tyson also worries about boxing’s shaky Olympic status, even after the IOC included it in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. He praised the UFC model for tight control and entertainment standards. Tyson said exciting fights and full seats fuel greatness.

WORDS: 727 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 6:48 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d1aa27b37144afce0e31f1a28894767b&mediaType=text

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OLY--CUR-WOMEN’S ROUNDUP

Surprise! US women’s curling team beats Canada for first time at an Olympic Games

SUMMARY: The U.S. women’s curling team was surprised to learn that their defeat of Canada marked an Olympic first. Taylor Anderson-Heide, a curler from Minneapolis, said that if that was true, the team played a really good game. This year’s American curling team is exceedingly approachable yet ambitious and competitive. Alongside Anderson-Heide and Peterson, the team includes skip Tabitha Peterson, who’s Tara’s older sister, as well as cool-as-a-cucumber Cory Thiesse, who has already won the silver medal in the mixed doubles event.

WORDS: 417 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 6:17 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c751d7a848490849736e373b5f803ec4&mediaType=text

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OLY--MILAN CORTINA-ROUNDUP

Mikhail Shaidorov earns gold in men’s figure skating after collapse by ‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin

SUMMARY: Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan pulled off a stunner in men’s figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Shaidorov soared to gold after the free skate, helped in part by a collapse from U.S. star and two-time world champion Ilia Malinin. The 21-year-old nicknamed the “Quad God” fell twice during his program, slipping all the way to eighth. Elsewhere in the Games, Yuto Totsuka held off five-time Olympian Scotty James of Australia for gold in the men’s snowboard halfpipe.

WORDS: 1053 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 6:04 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dcad429a5c8b612cc9bec027d357735a&mediaType=text

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BBO--WBC-CORREA-BAD BUNNY

Bad Bunny offered to pay for Puerto Rican star Carlos Correa’s WBC insurance

SUMMARY: Bad Bunny really wanted to see Carlos Correa play for Puerto Rico at home in the World Baseball Classic. Correa, the infielder for the Houston Astros, was left off the WBC roster over insurance coverage. He told reporters that the music superstar and fellow native of Puerto Rico offered to pay for a policy. Correa has a $200 million contract through 2028. Correa says the insurer provider proposed by Bad Bunny wasn’t approved by Major League Baseball, the Astros or Correa’s agent, Scott Boras. Puerto Rico is hosting pool play games in the WBC next month.

WORDS: 461 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 4:44 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6ae83c9df9459ff9b7874bc55fe2175b&mediaType=text

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BKN—ALL-STAR-LEBRON’S RETURN

LeBron James returns for his record 21st All-Star Game, still in the NBA’s midseason spotlight at 41

SUMMARY: For two solid decades, LeBron James was a main attraction at every NBA All-Star weekend. He was a 20-year-old starter in his All-Star debut back in 2005, and he became the youngest MVP of the game just one year later. Never begging off due to injury or exhaustion while his less-accomplished teammates enjoyed their breaks from the season’s grind, James dutifully appeared in every midseason showcase until 2025. Now 41, James will be back this weekend for the All-Star Game at Intuit Dome south of central Los Angeles, spending another Sunday in February under the spotlight while extending his records for the most All-Star selections and All-Star appearances.

WORDS: 961 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 4:08 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:929cd6a87e6e4332ad4a08b9da8f7424&mediaType=text

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BBO--DODGERS-REPORT

A healthy Shohei Ohtani eyes the one major award he hasn’t won — a Cy Young Award

SUMMARY: Shohei Ohtani is a five-time All-Star, a four-time Most Valuable Player, a two-time World Series winner and a World Baseball Classic champion, giving him a sparkling baseball resume that no current player can touch. The only major honor he hasn’t won is a Cy Young Award. Given his track record, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the two-way Japanese star add that trophy to his collection in 2026. Ohtani is expecting to be a full-time, two-way player for the first time since 2023. An elbow injury kept him off the mound for the 2024 season and he returned to pitching midway though last year, going 3-0 with a 4.43 ERA in the postseason to help the Dodgers capture their second straight World Series title.

WORDS: 759 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 3:39 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6e7bdd01fbf16e04b57d225cd40247a6&mediaType=text

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BKN--PAUL RETIRES

Chris Paul, the ‘Point God,’ retires as All-Star weekend begins, ending a 21-season NBA run

SUMMARY: Chris Paul has announced he is retiring from the NBA after a 21-season career that stacks up as Hall of Fame worthy. He shared the news Friday during All-Star weekend at the Clippers’ arena in Inglewood. Paul finished the year in a strange way. The Clippers sent him home in December. They traded him to Toronto earlier this month, even though he never planned to play there. Paul said he wants to “show up for others.” He leaves as a 12-time All-Star and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He also ranks near the top in assists and steals.

WORDS: 736 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 3:36 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f28d0406b033ce6b8809a706c6f14170&mediaType=text

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OLY--MILAN CORTINA OLYMPICS DAILY LIFE-PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of scenes of everyday life surrounding the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

WORDS: 40 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 3:11 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cc126477bab0ac3d78054b2fa5770ffa&mediaType=text

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BBO--PHILLIES-CASTELLANOS

Thomson proud Castellanos admitted bringing beer to dugout, which contributed to release

SUMMARY: The Philadelphia Phillies say their relationship with outfielder Nick Castellanos ruptured when he angrily brought a beer into the dugout after being pulled from a game last season. The Phillies released Castellanos on Thursday even though he’s owed $20 million for the final year of a $100 million, five-year contract. Castellanos admitted in a social media post Thursday that he broke team rules by bringing the beer into the dugout during a game at Miami. Manager Rob Thomson said Friday he was proud of Castellanos for admitting publicly what he did.

WORDS: 774 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 2:37 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:62fb397835636549bbae8caf4b39054e&mediaType=text