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--AROUND THE NBA

DESCRIPTION: Atlanta is on a 10-game winning streak, its best stretch in more than 11 years. Orlando and Miami were just on seven-game winning streaks. Charlotte might be playoff-bound for the first time in a decade. The Southeast Division is ... good? Seems so. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds.

UPCOMING: By 03/17/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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BKC--AP ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

DESCRIPTION: The Associated Press announces its men’s college basketball All-America teams. By Dave Skretta. 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/17/2026 12:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BKC--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the men’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (times Eastern):

Games:

Midwest Region: No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard at Dayton, Ohio, 6:40 p.m. Text, photos.

West Region: No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State at Dayton, Ohio, 9:15 p.m. Text, photos.

Previews/Features:

BKC--NCAA-March Madness Gambling -- With the NCAA Tournament tipping off two months after federal prosecutors in Philadelphia announced criminal charges in a college basketball point-shaving scheme, sports wagering is top of mind for NCAA officials. They say they are well-equipped to keep games on the up-and-up, and they are taking steps to keep angry bettors from harassing players. By Eric Olson. 900 words, photos, by 6 a.m.

BKC--NCAA-March Of The Freshmen -- The freshman class has been packed with stars all year like BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. Yet beyond those likely one-and-done NBA prospects, it’s a deep group that could be poised to have a March to remember in the NCAA Tournament. By Aaron Beard. Text, photos by 2 p.m.

BKC--NCAA-NBA Prospects: The cream of the crop in this year’s tournament that you should expect to see in the NBA soon. By Steve Megargee. Text, photos by 6 a.m.

BKC--NCAA-Dusty’s Rebuild: Michigan lost a school-record 24 games just two seasons ago and now has a chance to win a national title for just the second time in school history because new-school coach Dusty May intentionally does what it takes in this era of college athletics. By Larry Lage. Text, photos by 4 p.m.

BKC--NCAA-Arizona Balance -- Freshman Koa Peat opened the season by scoring 30 points against reigning national champion Florida. Since then, six other players have scored at least 20 points, giving the Wildcats one of the most balanced teams in the NCAA Tournament. By John Marshall. Text, photos by 5 p.m.

BKO--NCAA-Vanderbilt’s Time -- It’s been a long time coming for Vanderbilt to have both basketball programs rolling into the NCAA Tournament with high expectations. Credit the winning vibe on campus where football is coming off its best season in program history. Or the hiring of Mark Byington to take over the men less than two years ago and Shea Ralph to completely make over a moribund women’s program. With seeds secured, both Vanderbilt teams have very high expectations. By Teresa M. Walker. Text, photos.

BKC--NCAA-Nebraska-The Curse -- Nebraska is the only school in a power conference that has never won a game in the NCAA Tournament. Is this the year the curse ends? By Eric Olson. 650 words, photos, by 6 a.m.

BKC--NCAA-Virginia Drought -- The last time Virginia won an NCAA Tournament game, Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers were cutting down the nets after defeating Texas Tech 85-77 in an overtime thriller for the national championship. That was seven years ago. They’re back. By Steve Reed. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/17/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Text, DigitalPlans, Photo

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BKW--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament (times Eastern):

Previews/features:

BKW--NCAA-WNBA PROSPECTS: The cream of the crop in this year’s tournament that you should expect to see in the WNBA soon. By Steve Megargee. Text, photos by 6 a.m.

BKW--NCAA-Iowa-Heiden -- Ava Heiden has developed into one of the nation’s most imposing bigs as Iowa goes back to its pound-the-post offense two years after Caitlin Clark’s logo 3s were the Hawkeyes’ identity. 600 words, photos.

BKW--NCAA-Oklahoma-Stars -- Oklahoma’s formidable duo of senior center Raegan Beers and freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez are about as different as could be. Coach Jennie Baranczyk has pulled their styles together and helped the Sooners emerge as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. By Cliff Brunt. 500 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/17/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Text, DigitalPlans, Photo

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Four second-leg matches in the Champions League’s round of 16, including Man City-Real Madrid and Chelsea-Paris Saint-Germain. By Steve Douglas. 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/17/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BBI--WBC-VENEZUELA-ITALY

Venezuela rallies past Italy 4-2 with 3-run 7th and will face US for World Baseball Classic title

SUMMARY: Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez hit run-scoring, two-out singles in a seventh-inning rally that led Venezuela over Italy 4-2 and into its first World Baseball Classic championship game. Venezuela overcame a 2-0, fourth-inning deficit after climbing out of a three-run hole to beat defending champion Japan in a quarterfinal and reached the final for the first time after losing to South Korea in its only previous semifinal appearance in 2009. It meets the United States for the title on Tuesday night and appears likely to start Eduardo Rodríguez against the Americans’ Nolan McLean.

WORDS: 723 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 1:31 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:892a822f7910f7f276d0bc1f8065ae1a&mediaType=text

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BBI--WBC-ITALY ELIMINATED

Italy’s improbable World Baseball Classic run ends, but Azzurri leave lasting impact at home

SUMMARY: Italy’s remarkable 2026 World Baseball Classic run is over after losing to Venezuela in the semifinals. The Azzurri stunned with a 5-0 start to reach their first WBC semifinal, putting a spotlight on a soccer-crazed country where baseball is less popular than in many of the other participating nations in the tournament and providing an exciting foundation to build on for the future. Italy blew a 2-1 seventh-inning lead Monday night when Michael Lorenzen allowed consecutive run-scoring singles with two outs to Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez.

WORDS: 751 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 1:25 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b14bbddf79721e413d07aebffd997234&mediaType=text

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SOC--AUSTRALIA-IRAN WOMEN

Iranian women soccer players granted asylum in Australia are pictured training in Brisbane

SUMMARY: Two Iranian women soccer players have been seen training with the Brisbane Roar after Australia granted them asylum, and they stayed behind as teammates headed home. On Monday the club posted photos of Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh at a session with its women’s squad. Brisbane Roar’s chief executive says the club is offering a supportive place as they navigate what comes next. The team’s asylum saga started after Iran exited the Women’s Asian Cup and the players faced a return to a country under bombardment. Australian officials offered humanitarian visas to most of the squad. Seven accepted but five have since their minds and have left Australia.

WORDS: 738 - MOVED: 03/16/2026 11:37 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4dcc9bcc835e5520288f1a9ab7b49a24&mediaType=text

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BBI--WBC CHAMPIONSHIP

Criticized for their cool, American players head into the WBC final appreciating opponents’ flair

SUMMARY: Criticized for their cool, American players head into the World Baseball Classic championship also appreciating opponents’ flamboyant flair. U.S. captain Aaron Judge’s controlled composure has filtered through the clubhouse ahead of Tuesday night’s final against Venezuela. That’s not to say the Americans don’t appreciate the theatrics of Latin American players such as Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Nolan McLean, a 24-year-old rookie right-hander with eight games of major league experience, will start for the U.S.

WORDS: 817 - MOVED: 03/16/2026 10:59 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:222e5c56647104adddb8a5aef940e37c&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-FIRST FOUR-PREVIEW

March Madness tips off with First Four in Dayton, with Miami (Ohio) in the field and close to home

SUMMARY: March Madness tips off with the First Four, featuring one of this season’s best stories in Miami (Ohio) and a matchup of formerly embattled head coaches in Texas’ Sean Miller and NC State’s Will Wade. Coming off their only loss of the season, the RedHawks have a chance to silence some skeptics against fellow No. 11 seed SMU (20-13) on Wednesday night. The RedHawks, who are back in the tournament for the first time since 2007, were rewarded with a game in Dayton, roughly 43 miles from campus. There are two games Tuesday night to open the tournament.

WORDS: 851 - MOVED: 03/16/2026 8:43 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f548df567aaf684b0e95aa87c742a7f7&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-ALABAMA-HOLLOWAY ARRESTED

Alabama’s Aden Holloway, the Tide’s No. 2 scorer, is arrested on a felony drug charge

SUMMARY: Alabama guard Aden Holloway has been arrested on a felony drug charge just days before the start of the NCAA Tournament. A Tuscaloosa County police spokesperson says the 21-year-old Holloway was arrested Monday after agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force searched a residence near Alabama’s campus and recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash. The Crimson Tide’s No. 2 scorer, Holloway was arrested on a first-degree charge of marijuana possession. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000. The university says it’s aware of the allegations and Holloway has been removed from campus pending further investigation.

WORDS: 543 - MOVED: 03/16/2026 8:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:89f891e293e02a7a57dfc28dbee3bf84&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-READY FOR MARCH

League tournaments can be a long grind. That could impact which teams advance in March Madness

SUMMARY: Teams coming off long runs in their league tournaments have a short window to regroup ahead of March Madness. Bigger conferences after waves of expansion have led to longer runs through league tournaments on the eve of the NCAA Tournament. Now it’s common to see teams having to play four games in four days in conference tournaments. Then they have a few days for players to recover and recharge ahead of the NCAAs. Big Ten champion Purdue faces that challenge after playing four games in four days to win that title.

WORDS: 1139 - MOVED: 03/16/2026 3:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:97708eedd0134d11d671a78ebfcc1b0c&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA-CBA

WNBA and players’ union report progress in CBA talks as key issues remain

SUMMARY: Both the WNBA and players’ union feel progress is being made toward a new collective bargaining agreement, but they both say there’s still work to be done to get a deal to the finish line. In-person talks entered a seventh consecutive day Monday afternoon after the previous session ended around 3 a.m. in the morning. It’s been a long week of discussions with the WNBA and union meeting face-to-face for more than 75 hours since the first in-person bargaining session on Tuesday. None of the sessions have ended before midnight.

WORDS: 842 - MOVED: 03/16/2026 2:52 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cec75d071499221196687748fda4e1dd&mediaType=text

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BKN--OSCARS-KERR

Warriors coach Steve Kerr part of Oscar documentary short win with ‘All the Empty Rooms’

SUMMARY: Golden State coach Steve Kerr is now an Oscar winner. Kerr was one of the executive producers for “All the Empty Rooms,” which won the Oscar for documentary short. The 35-minute film chronicles how broadcast journalist Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp told the stories of how families have memorialized the bedrooms of children killed in mass shootings. Kerr — whose father, then the president of American University in Beirut, was shot and killed in 1984 — has long spoken out about a need for common-sense gun regulation.

WORDS: 539 - MOVED: 03/16/2026 2:20 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:78b71735b13f4f54dfc06b23ddda83d1&mediaType=text

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BBO--FREE AGENTS TO WATCH

MLB Free Agency: 2-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal could set more contract records next offseason

SUMMARY: Tarik Skubal could set more contract records for a pitcher in free agency next offseason. Detroit’s ace, who has won back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards, will make $32 million this season after winning a record salary arbitration case. Skubal could become a free agent for the first time after the World Series next fall, along with two-time All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and 31-year-old slugger Randy Arozarena. But that offseason will be amid the backdrop of another potential lockout, and it’s uncertain how that will affect the next free agency class.

WORDS: 1156 - MOVED: 03/16/2026 1:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:87470970ea5313010ddde88314eda064&mediaType=text