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--POLL AT 50-PIONEER PROGRAMS

DESCRIPTION: There was a time when Immaculata, Queens College, Wayland Baptist and Delta State were among the powerhouse programs of women’s basketball, much like UConn and South Carolina are today. After the NCAA took over the sport in 1982, the game was professionalized and competitive advantages shifted to big schools with seemingly unlimited budgets. Pioneering programs stand in the shadows.

UPCOMING: By 04/01/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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SPORTS--THE NERVE FACTOR

DESCRIPTION: SAN FRANCISCO -- Even some of the greatest professional athletes like Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry get nervous with the game on the line. Here’s how they deal with it. By Janie McCauley. 1200 words, photos by 6 a.m. ET.

UPCOMING: By 04/01/2026 6:17 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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BKN--NBA-PLAYOFF CHASE-GUIDE

DESCRIPTION: A daily look at the NBA’s playoff chase.

UPCOMING: By 04/01/2026 10:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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BKC--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the men’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament: BKC--Inside The Numbers -- When Connecticut makes it past the opening weekend of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the Huskies are almost impossible to stop. UConn has won 18 straight tournament games in the Sweet 16 or later on the way to winning four titles since 2011. That’s the longest winning streak in those rounds since the Sweet 16 started in 1975 after the tournament expanded to 32 teams. By Josh Dubow. Text, photos by 6 a.m.

UPCOMING: By 04/01/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, DigitalPlans, Text, Photo

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BKW--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. BKW--NCAA-Undefeated UConn -- Geno Auriemma is taking an undefeated UConn team into the women’s Final Four for the ninth time. This group, while extremely talented like the rest, is a bit different than those previous ones for the veteran coach. But these Huskies have All-America teammates Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, and are 38-0 going to Phoenix. By Stephen Hawkins. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/01/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, DigitalPlans, Text, Photo

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SOC--US-THE WAIT

DESCRIPTION: Now comes the wait, soccer’s ultimate FOMO. American players across the United States and Europe will count down the eight weeks until coach Mauricio Pochettino picks his 26 World Cup players. By Ronald Blum. 600 words, photos, by 3 p.m.

UPCOMING: By 04/01/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BKC--NC STATE-GAINEY

DESCRIPTION: N.C. State holds a news conference Wednesday to introduce Tennessee assistant and former Wolfpack guard Justin Gainey as its next men’s basketball coach. By Bob Sutton. 500 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/01/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--NFL DRAFT-MENDOZA

DESCRIPTION: Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be the feature attraction when he works out during Indiana’s Pro Day on Wednesday. Mendoza did not work out at the NFL’s annual scouting combine last month, in part because the national championship game and combine were too close together. He is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s draft. By Michael Marot. Players are scheduled to talk at 3:30 p.m. ET.

UPCOMING: By 04/01/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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SOC--WCUP-FIELD COMPLETE

World Cup qualifying marathon ends with Iraq securing the 48th and final spot

SUMMARY: The 48-team field for FIFA’s biggest ever World Cup is complete after a qualifying process that spanned more than two and a half years. Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff in Monterrey, Mexico on Tuesday to secure the 48th spot. Congo took the next-to-last place after a 1-0 extra-time win over Jamaica at Guadalajara. There were six World Cup places on the line on the last day of qualifying: four in Europe and two in the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico. Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced after upsetting Italy on penalties. Sweden, Turkey, and Czechia also qualified.

WORDS: 352 - MOVED: 04/01/2026 1:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:81eab4bf45b1888a6847900356a33d2f&mediaType=text

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BBO--GUARDIANS-DODGERS

Ohtani throws 6 scoreless innings in a drizzly debut on mound as Dodgers beat Guardians 4-1

SUMMARY: Shohei Ohtani dominated in his first start on the mound this season as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-1 in drizzly conditions. The two-way superstar tossed six shutout innings, struck out six and walked three. The only hit Ohtani allowed was a two-out double by Rhys Hoskins in the fourth. Andy Pages drove in the first run for the Dodgers with a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth. Max Muncy added his first homer in the sixth. At the plate, Ohtani had a single to go with two walks. Edwin Díaz gave up an RBI single to Brayan Rocchio in the ninth for Cleveland’s lone run.

WORDS: 429 - MOVED: 04/01/2026 1:29 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7f81be62c0f70fafdb9d81a4c94a565f&mediaType=text

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BKN--PISTONS-DIVISION

Pistons end long stretch of futility with first division title in 18 years

SUMMARY: After nearly two decades, and stretches of futility, the Detroit Pistons have won the Central Division again. The Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors 127-116 on Tuesday to finish a long climb back up the NBA ladder and clinch their first division title since the 2007-08 season. “You take pride in understanding how hard it is to do these things in this league,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “You take pride in the fact that you have a group of young men who have grown and achieved certain milestones. It’s a part of the process, and we expect more.”

WORDS: 488 - MOVED: 04/01/2026 1:24 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:07eb43087507c032a1179c2e52f1bbfa&mediaType=text

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AS--NORTH KOREA-OBIT-IOC MEMBER

Chang Ung, North Korean ex-IOC member who brokered Olympic joint marches with South, dies

SUMMARY: Chang Ung, a former North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee who once led sports exchanges with rival South Korea including joint marches of their athletes at the Olympics, has died at 87. The IOC said Wednesday that “It is with extreme sadness” that it had learned of Chang’s death on Sunday. In 1996, Chang was elected as an IOC member in 1996. The most notable results of his sports diplomacy with South Korea came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when athletes of the two Koreas marched together during the opening and closing ceremonies, the first such parade since their division in 1945. Sports ties between the two rivals have been suspended for years as political ties frayed.

WORDS: 528 - MOVED: 04/01/2026 12:24 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1fb702fe2c85e8ca2f94649711430028&mediaType=text

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BBO--RED SOX-ASTROS-UMPIRE MISTAKE

Umpire loses track of count, leading to walk instead of strikeout for Astros’ Cam Smith vs. Red Sox

SUMMARY: Plate umpire Mark Wegner acknowledged he lost track of the count during Cam Smith’s nine-pitch walk in the fifth inning of the Houston Astros’ 9-2 win over the Boston Red Sox. In fact, Smith should have been out on strikes after the third pitch. Smith swung and missed at two cutters from Red Sox starter Brayan Bello to begin the plate appearance. After the second pitch, Joey Loperfido stole second base and Christian Walker scored on the play thanks to a throwing error by catcher Connor Wong. After about 40 seconds, Smith swung and missed at a sweeper. That should have been strike three but Wegner, a crew chief working his 29th major league season, flashed 1-2 for the count. Six pitches later, Smith worked a walk.

WORDS: 335 - MOVED: 04/01/2026 12:23 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:81e58d24cf680c8174fde3a0dc871eb6&mediaType=text

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BBO--RAYS-BREWERS-BUCKNOR

Missed call in Brewers’ victory over Rays puts additional spotlight on Bucknor

SUMMARY: Umpire C.B. Bucknor’s tough start to the season continues. Bucknor was working as the first-base umpire for the Milwaukee Brewers’ 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday when he made a call that was so obviously incorrect from a reply that it had both managers smiling afterward. This call came after Bucknor had the poorest results among umpires in Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike System last weekend.

WORDS: 348 - MOVED: 04/01/2026 12:21 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ea9567c661ebe96b3d3c89a0c3efcdc5&mediaType=text

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SOC--US-PULISIC

Christian Pulisic scoreless streak for US extends to 8 games since 2024 as World Cup approaches

SUMMARY: As the World Cup nears, Christian Pulisic’s scoreless streak for the United States stretched to a career-high eight games. He says after a 2-0 defeat to Portugal in a friendly: “It’s frustrating, but I’m just going to stay positive.” Pulisic hasn’t scored an international goal since a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Jamaica on Nov. 18, 2024, and he’s scoreless in 12 games with AC Milan since Dec. 28. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino moved the 27-year-old from a wing to striker for the first time since taking over in October 2024 in an effort to get him more chances closer to goal.

WORDS: 600 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 11:22 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:adcefe195334462f1071ae3ccec6b8a9&mediaType=text

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GLF--TIGER WOODS-CRASH

Tiger Woods says he’ll seek treatment after pleading not guilty to DUI

SUMMARY: Tiger Woods says he’ll step away and seek treatment after his SUV crash in Florida. Woods made his comments Tuesday, four days after the crash that led to his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Woods pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in his driving under the influence case. The plea came hours after a sheriff’s report said he had pain pills in his pocket and showed signs of impairment at the crash scene last week. I’s the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, he announced a leave after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando.

WORDS: 973 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 9:32 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:87c98d8ed519b463997553677db46b87&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-UCONN-MULLINS’ HOMECOMING

Miracle shot has Braylon Mullins’ hometown eager for a Final Four reunion with the UConn star

SUMMARY: UConn guard Braylon Mullins might be this week’s new, shiny college basketball star. He’s still just a small-town Indiana guy at heart. In his hometown of Greenfield, the usually low-key city of 25,000 was thrilled to see Mullins hit the game-winning shot against Duke. The 19-year-old freshman was a star for Greenfield-Central and he has now helped UConn reach its third Final Four in four years. The semifinal against Illinois will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, just 25 miles away.

WORDS: 1207 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 8:41 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d975c2429634636729170ba928fdc1ae&mediaType=text

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FBN--NFL MEETINGS

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has no plans to scrap Rooney Rule, despite Florida AG pressure

SUMMARY: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he has no plans to end the league’s Rooney Rule despite recent objections from Florida’s attorney general, who wrote that the league’s minority hiring guidelines violate Florida state law. Goodell was speaking on Tuesday at the end of the NFL league meetings. He acknowledged the changing political landscape for diversity initiatives in the U.S., but added that he didn’t believe there should be any legal issues with the league’s policy. Also on Tuesday, the NFL’s competition committee approved a one-year rule for the upcoming season that would allow the replay center in New York to correct “clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game” in case of a work stoppage involving the NFL Referees Association.

WORDS: 1017 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 8:17 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1adc6cddb5a173e0b7d76559ae284df9&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-TOURNAMENT RATINGS

Men’s NCAA tournament averaging 10.3 million viewers, its most-watched since 1993

SUMMARY: The men’s NCAA tournament is averaging 10.3 million viewers through the Elite Eight, its best audience since 1993 and a 9% increase over last year. UConn’s last-second 73-72 victory over Duke in the East Region final averaged 13.4 million on CBS. The audience peaked at 18.9 million when Braylon Mullins sank a desperation 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left. Friday’s early window with Duke-St.John’s on CBS and Michigan-Alabama on TBS/truTV averaged 14.2 million, the most-watched Friday regional early window since 1992. The Final Four and title game will be on TBS, TNT and truTV.

WORDS: 185 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 7:55 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dd0cd0dc9bb64d9d8291b2f7ad4fa394&mediaType=text

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BKC--MURRAY-UCONN TO BC

March Madness: UConn assistant Luke Murray juggles Final Four run and new job at Boston College

SUMMARY: Boston College will have to understand if new basketball coach Luke Murray is unable to give the Eagles his full attention for now. The UConn assistant took just a couple of days off to pop by Chestnut Hill this week before rejoining the Huskies for a trip to the Final Four. The plan is to win March Madness on Monday night, get in a little celebration early Tuesday morning, then head back to Boston for the opening of the transfer portal that same day. The Huskies are going for their third NCAA championship in four years.

WORDS: 579 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 7:24 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cb790fb9b59d59d1e82c88c674908179&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP PLAYOFFS-EUROPE

Italy is out again. The 4-time champion misses 3rd straight World Cup with shootout loss in Bosnia

SUMMARY: One of soccer’s historic powers has reached a once-unfathomable low. Four-time champion Italy failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup after getting beat in a penalty shootout with 10 men at 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs. Moise Kean scored early on for Italy but then Azzurri center back Alessandro Bastoni was sent off with a direct red card before the break and Bosnia substitute Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th to send the game into extra time. The defeat added more misery for Italy’s once-proud national team after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia in the playoffs for the last two World Cups.

WORDS: 1083 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 6:31 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:95f7299d0fd2c7a0f223f2d9a15c42d2&mediaType=text

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BBO--MLBPA FINANCES

MLB players increase potential war chest to $415 million ahead of bargaining

SUMMARY: Big league baseball players increased their potential war chest of cash and investments ahead of collective bargaining to $415 million heading into 2026, up from $284 million at the start of 2025, according to the union’s annual federal disclosure form filed. The Major League Baseball Players Association had $222.1 million in U.S. Treasury securities, $155.5 million in other investments and $37.4 million in cash as of Dec. 31. The union executive board has withheld 100% of licensing money due players for 2024 and 2025 to prepare for bargaining to replace the current labor contract, which expires on Dec. 1. That money could be disbursed to players during a work stoppage.

WORDS: 620 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 4:42 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:959f447c98db797a2ca1b4541b0e51c1&mediaType=text

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US--NFL FEMALE OFFICIATING-LAWSUIT

Pioneering female NFL official sues league over her treatment and firing

SUMMARY: In a new lawsuit, one of the first three women to officiate an NFL game describes her three years at the pinnacle of her profession as a descent into the grip of a sexist institution unable to treat a woman as an equal. Robin DeLorenzo cited gender-based scrutiny, humiliation and open hostility among the indignities she suffered from 2022 to 2025 as a league official. The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, filed Friday, sought reinstatement along with unspecified damages. An NFL spokesperson said DeLorenzo was terminated following three seasons of underperformance and called the lawsuit baseless. A message seeking comment from the NFL Referees Association was not immediately returned.

WORDS: 614 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 4:40 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:56e1acf11e960a68b760c0186b6a15cf&mediaType=text

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BKW--NCAA-THINGS TO KNOW

March Madness: After so many blowouts, fans should be treated to tighter games in women’s Final Four

SUMMARY: An NCAA women’s basketball tournament marked by blowouts is down to the Final Four. The teams in Phoenix are the ones everybody expected to be there back in November. This year marks the first time since 1996 that the Final Four is made up of the same teams as the previous year and first time since 2018 that all four No. 1 seeds made it this far. The first national semifinal Friday pits South Carolina against UConn in a 2025 championship game rematch. Texas meets UCLA in the second semifinal. The championship game is Sunday.

WORDS: 818 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 4:12 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:467cad2ebdfd62e823ed4aa9917937b7&mediaType=text

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BKL--USA BASKETBALL CAMP

A’ja Wilson returns to USA Basketball camp in Phoenix during Final Four week

SUMMARY: Two-time Olympic gold medalist A’ja Wilson will take part in a USA Basketball training camp in Phoenix during Final Four week. This is the first time that Wilson will take part in a training camp since helping the U.S. win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games. She’ll be joined by Olympic teammate Sabrina Ionescu. There will also be a handful of players who just competed for the U.S. this month at the FIBA World Cup qualifier in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Caitlin Clark, who made her national team debut in that World Cup qualifier event, was not in the camp.

WORDS: 353 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 3:07 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f2d649659ad9b716e3158900f8d43a03&mediaType=text

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HKN--PLAYOFF CAP CALCULATOR

A playoff salary cap is coming to the NHL. GMs get a calculator to help them navigate it

SUMMARY: NHL general managers of teams in the playoffs soon will have to deal with a new rule that has not been used in the league’s history: Their game lineups must fit under the salary cap. The new collective bargaining agreement included the change after years of complaints that teams were using long-term injured reserve to stockpile players whose combined salaries far exceeded the cap ceiling. GMs since before the Olympic break have gotten to experiment with cap-compliant lineups thanks to an update to the SAP-NHL Front Office App that debuted over a year ago for iPads. It’s now also accessible on iPhones.

WORDS: 615 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 2:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:af87805740295c2bdcf64b67306b3582&mediaType=text

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SOC--IRAN-COSTA RICA-PROTEST

Iran soccer players meet FIFA head Infantino before World Cup warmup and honor child victims of war

SUMMARY: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promised to “continue to support” Iran’s preparations for the World Cup. Infantino met Iran’s players and soccer federation officials in Turkey where the team played one of its last warmup games for the tournament, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico. He wrote on Instagram that “FIFA will continue to support the team to ensure the best possible conditions as they prepare for the World Cup.” As the Iranian anthem played before the friendly against Costa Rica, players and officials including coach Amir Ghalenoei and federation vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi posed with pictures of children allegedly killed by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes since Feb. 28.

WORDS: 483 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 2:29 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b388f211a8f4ca93a6a82a108cfe3e7b&mediaType=text

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SOC--TOTTENHAM-DE ZERBI

De Zerbi hired to coach relegation-threatened Tottenham, already facing opposition from fans’ groups

SUMMARY: Roberto De Zerbi has been hired as Tottenham’s third coach of the season in a last-ditch bid by one of England’s top clubs to avoid costly relegation from the Premier League. Tottenham, the reigning Europa League champion and an ever-present in England’s top division since 1978, is one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League with seven games left. The appointment came amid criticism from fans’ groups about the Italian coach’s past support of a player who was charged with — but not convicted of — offenses including attempted rape.

WORDS: 853 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 2:24 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:074c705ab2aad2a9f5fc3abc9f0be42e&mediaType=text

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