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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BKW--MARCH MADNESS
DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Previews/features: BKW--NCAA-Fort Worth Preview -- No. 1 seed Texas takes on SEC foe Kentucky in an NCAA Sweet 16 game. The Longhorns won their regular-season matchup on Feb. 9, then lost their next game to Sweet 16 team Vanderbilt before winning their 10 games since. Louisville plays Michigan in the other game at Dickies Arena on Saturday. By Stephen Hawkins. Text, photos. BKW--NCAA-Sacramento Preview -- South Carolina had one blemish on its regular season SEC schedule, an overtime loss to Oklahoma. The two conference opponents will meet again with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line when they tip off in the Sacramento Regional 4 Sweet 16 on Saturday. TCU will face Virginia in the other regional semifinal game. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. Text, photos. Games (tipoff times Eastern, NCAA seeds listed. Text, photos planned for each): Fort Worth, Texas: 6 Notre Dame vs. 2 Vanderbilt, 2:30 p.m. By Schuyler Dixon. 4 North Carolina vs. 1 UConn, 5 p.m. By Stephen Hawkins. Sacramento, Calif: 4 Minnesota vs. 1 UCLA, 7:30 p.m. By Michelle Smith MacDonald. 3 Duke vs. 2 LSU, 10 p.m. By Doug Feinberg.
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo, DigitalPlans
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BKC--MARCH MADNESS
DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the men’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Previews/features: BKC-NCAA-Iowa-Illinois-Preview After dispatching one Big Ten foe by downing Nebraska Thursday night, ninth-seeded Iowa has another conference rival sitting between it and a Final Four berth in Saturday’s matchup with No. 3 seed Illinois. By Kristie Rieken. With sidebar. BKC--NCAA-Purdue-Arizona Preview Purdue has made its run to the Elite Eight thanks to a senior-laden group that includes three key players who are the rare trip to spend four years together in college. All that stands between the Boilermakers and the Final Four is a top-seeded Arizona team that is led by an outstanding trio of freshmen. By Josh Dubow. 750 words, by 5 p.m. PT. With sidebar Games (tipoff times Eastern, NCAA seeds listed. Sidebars on merit): Washington D.C.: 5 St. John’s vs. 1 Duke, 7:10 p.m. By Noah Trister 3 Michigan State vs. 2 UConn, 9:45 p.m. By Noah Trister Chicago: 4 Alabama vs. 1 Michigan, 7:35 p.m. By Jay Cohen 6 Tennessee vs. 2 Iowa State, 10:10 p.m. By Andrew Seligman
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo, DigitalPlans
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FBN--ON FOOTBALL-OLYMPICS FLAG
DESCRIPTION: Team USA doesn’t need NFL players to help them go for the gold when flag football debuts at the Olympics in 2028. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles last Saturday proved the men’s national team can bring it home. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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GLF--MASTERS-NEW DIGS
DESCRIPTION: AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Rory McIlroy finally has entry to the Champions Locker Room at Augusta National, and now there’s a temptation to go somewhere else. The home of the Masters revealed photos of the new Player Services Building, a state-of-the-art facility with 100 lockers, an underground garage, dining for some 300 players and families and fitness and recovery areas. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 650 words.
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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SOC--US-PULISIC
DESCRIPTION: Christian Pulisic knows he’s looked at to carry the U.S. team when it hosts the World Cup for the first time since 1994, saying: “There’s pressure, I feel it. Yes, it’s there but it’s nothing that I can’t handle.” By Ronald Blum. 700 words, photos, by 5 p.m.
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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HKW--PWHL-FRANKEL
DESCRIPTION: Aerin Frankel has a passion for ceasar salad and a knack for stopping pucks, which has led her to win Olympic gold, set a PWHL record for single-season shutouts, and earn the Boston Fleet goalie the nickname Green Monster. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. 650 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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FIG--WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
DESCRIPTION: Amber Glenn and Kaori Sakamoto bid for the women’s world figure skating championship title in the free skate. The ice dance event begins with the rhythm dance.
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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SOC--EUROPEAN ROUNDUP
DESCRIPTION: International friendlies including Spain-Serbia, England-Uruguay, Netherlands-Norway and Switzerland-Germany. 500 words, photos
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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HKN--OILERS-GOLDEN KNIGHTS RIVALRY
DESCRIPTION: It felt like a playoff game when the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in overtime Thursday night. The teams very well could meet again in the postseason, but the Golden Knights need to snap out of a slump to be sure of getting there.
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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GLF--HOUSTON OPEN
DESCRIPTION: HOUSTON -- Paul Waring of England had a one-shot lead over Gary Woodland going into the second round of the Houston Open. Upcoming: 600 words, photos
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 8:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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GLF--LPGA TOUR
DESCRIPTION: PHOENIX -- Lydia Ko opened with a 60 and has a one-shot lead over defending champion Hyo Joo Kim in the second round of the Ford Championship. Upcoming: 500 words,photos.
UPCOMING: By 03/27/2026 10:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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BKC--NCAA-ALABAMA-HOLLOWAY-ARRESTED
Alabama’s Aden Holloway is approved to travel out of state ahead of Sweet 16 game vs. Michigan
SUMMARY: Alabama guard Aden Holloway, who was arrested on felony drug charges, has been granted permission by a judge to leave the state as his team prepares to face Michigan in the Sweet 16 in Chicago. It’s unclear whether the travel permission opens the door for Holloway to play in the NCAA Tournament game that is scheduled to tip off at 7:35 p.m. Eastern on Friday. Alabama listed Holloway as out on the availability report given to the NCAA on Thursday. That report is allowed to be amended up to two hours before the game.
WORDS: 351 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 1:05 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2f7c5da42cdbc4c30693b35852657d0a&mediaType=text
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FIG--WORLDS
Olympic champs Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron lead ice dance at the figure skating worlds
SUMMARY: Olympic champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron have a commanding six-point lead in ice dance at the figure skating world championships in Prague. They thrilled the crowd with a rhythm dance set to music by Madonna and achieved a personal best score. Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier were second. Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are third. Americans Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik are fourth. U.S. stars and Olympic silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates have skipped the worlds.
WORDS: 434 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 12:53 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:33f53f05a77f57bcbf3062f6e87d1761&mediaType=text
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FBN--BILLS-HAMLIN
Safety Damar Hamlin returns to Buffalo for 6th season after signing a 1-year contract with the Bills
SUMMARY: Safety Damar Hamlin is returning to Buffalo for a sixth season after signing a one-year contract with the team. Hamlin was a free agent after his one-year contract expired. And he’s staying in Buffalo where the 28-year-old has served as an inspiration for perseverance following his remarkable comeback after a near-death experience three years ago. Hamlin has shown no signs of a setback since he went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati in January 2023. Hamlin was a backup last season and limited to just five games after landing on injured reserve.
WORDS: 249 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 12:13 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:84bcf2399d2c5bedea915867dec4ccfb&mediaType=text
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BKC--NCAA-DRAFTKINGS LAWSUIT
Federal judge denies NCAA’s restraining order request to make DraftKings stop using ‘March Madness’
SUMMARY: A federal judge on Thursday denied the NCAA’s motion for a temporary restraining order to stop DraftKings from 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 last week. The NCAA requested that DraftKings stop using March Madness, Final Four, Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen and variations of those terms to promote its business. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt ruled the NCAA did not show how the online sports wagering platform’s use of the terms would cause irreparable harm.
WORDS: 225 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 8:02 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:67de4b696fc146f674c6664e5296d289&mediaType=text
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FBN--BRADY-RETIREMENT
Tom Brady says he’s weighed coming out of retirement, but the NFL doesn’t like the idea
SUMMARY: Tom Brady says he has thought about returning to the NFL, but the league isn’t a fan of the idea. In an interview released on Thursday, Brady told CNBC he has asked about the eligibility rules for a minority owner. He says the NFL wasn’t too receptive and he’s also very happily retired. Brady owns a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. Brady first retired in the 2022 offseason, then returned after 40 days. He retired again in February 2023. He recently turned heads in a Fanatics flag football event.
WORDS: 220 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 8:01 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dbcfe1a41cb548154280735593288c0a&mediaType=text
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SOC--WCUP-ENGLAND SUPERFAN
England superfan hoping to sell a house to fund his World Cup holiday
SUMMARY: One hardcore England fan hopes to sell a house to fund his World Cup trip this summer. Retired teacher Andy Milne has told British tabloid The Mirror that he is ready to cash in on a second residency so he can afford to follow the soccer tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Milne lives in Thailand and has been renting out the house in northern England that he is selling for 350,000 pounds ($465,000). In addition to high travel costs to move between venues, fans have criticized FIFA’s ticket pricing strategy for the tournament.
WORDS: 300 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 7:58 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ac6b6f4597feda5c68487299dd544c62&mediaType=text
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SOC--WCUP PLAYOFFS-OLD GEEZERS
Goal-getters Lewandowski and Džeko aim to join stellar group of old geezers at World Cup
SUMMARY: Robert Lewandowski and Edin Džeko had a combined 160 goals in 309 national team games going into the World Cup qualifying playoffs. So it was no surprise they delivered yet again for Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday. Even at a combined age of 77. Their goals leveled the score in playoff semifinals their teams went on to win. Lewandowski and Džeko will captain their countries in playoff finals on Tuesday. Poland goes to Sweden and Bosnia hosts Italy. A stellar group of old geezers is going to the World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo is 41, Luka Modrić 40 and Lionel Messi turns 39 in June.
WORDS: 588 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 7:19 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ebe7e8fdeea3c2651703c1b38046d84b&mediaType=text
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HKN--PREDATORS-REVIVAL
From the NHL basement on Dec. 8 to a wild-card spot: The Predators’ long climb back
SUMMARY: The Nashville Predators never doubted they could be a playoff team. Proving it took far longer than anyone expected. A franchise that ranked dead last in the NHL standings as late as Dec. 8 goes into the final 10 games sitting in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Nashville is just three points back of Utah for the first wild-card berth with a game in hand on Utah. Forward Filip Forsberg says everyone in the locker room thought they’d be here and that’s all that matters. Nashville used a five-game winning streak to move into playoff position.
WORDS: 818 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:96f4527d89fea222f678d989fe21b309&mediaType=text
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CAR--F1-JAPANESE GP PREVIEW
F1 hiatus upcoming: Japanese GP will be the last race for 5 weeks due to the Iran war
WORDS: 804 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 5:43 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2ffe706dc3f4ccc0cd683bf9e93e31a0&mediaType=text
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BKC--NCAA-ILLINOIS-HOUSTON
Illinois clamps down on Houston for a 65-55 March Madness win to reach Elite Eight
SUMMARY: David Mirkovic had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and third-seeded Illinois flexed its defensive muscles to eliminate last year’s national runner-up from the NCAA Tournament, beating Houston 65-55 in the South Region semifinals. Next up is a meeting Saturday with ninth-seeded Iowa to see which Big Ten team will advance to the Final Four. It will be the 11th Elite Eight appearance for Illinois and its second in three seasons under Brad Underwood. The second-seeded Cougars were thrilled to be playing a game just over two miles from their campus. But their poor shooting gave Houston fans little to cheer about.
WORDS: 729 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 1:46 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1f98b156ea4040ff359eb760b5ced678&mediaType=text
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MOVING TOMORROW ___
—March Madness, men’s and women’s
—SOC--Belgium-US
—FIG--World Championships
