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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BKC--MARCH MADNESS
DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the men’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament's Final Four in Indianapolis (tipoff times Eastern):
BKC--NCAA-Illinois-UConn — South Region champion Illinois squares off against East Region champ UConn for the second time this season in the first of Saturday’s two national semifinals. The winner advances to Monday’s national championship game. By Michael Marot. Text, photos, sidebars on merit. Game starts at 6 p.m. EDT.
BKC--NCAA-Michigan-Arizona — Michigan faces Arizona in a battle of big schools with big talent and all the big expectations, with the winner advancing to the national title game. By Eddie Pells. Text, photos, sidebars on merit. Game starts around 8:45 p.m. EDT.
BKC--NCAA Championship-Lookahead — A look ahead at Monday night’s national championship game. By Michael Marot. Text, photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 11:55 p.m. EDT, DigitalPlans, Text, Photo
BKW--MARCH MADNESS
DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament's Final Four:
BKW--NCAA Championship Preview
PHOENIX — South Carolina will be looking to further solidify its place atop the women’s basketball world with a third title in five seasons while UCLA will be going for its first. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, DigitalPlans, Text, Photo
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SOC--GERMAN ROUNDUP
DESCRIPTION: Bayern Munich can take a big step closer to the Bundesliga title with a win at Freiburg, while second-place Borussia Dortmund faces third-place Stuttgart on a packed day with seven games.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 2:30 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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HKN--AVALANCHE-STARS
DESCRIPTION: The NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche play at the Dallas Stars in a matchup of the top two teams in the Central Division — and Western Conference — two weeks before the start of the playoffs. By Schuyler Dixon. 300 words, photos. Game starts at 3 p.m. EDT.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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GLF--AUGUSTA WOMEN’S AMATEUR
DESCRIPTION: AUGUSTA, Ga. — California teenager Asterisk Talley leads by one shot in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, with the final round Saturday at the home of the Masters. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. 700 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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SOC--FRENCH ROUNDUP
DESCRIPTION: Second-placed Lens travels to northern rival Lille in the French league.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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BKW--POLL AT 50-STATE OF THE GAME
DESCRIPTION: The AP hosted a coaches panel at the Final Four as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Women’s Basketball Poll. By Alanis Thames. 300 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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GLF--TEXAS OPEN
DESCRIPTION: SAN ANTONIO — Robert MacIntyre has the lead going into the third round of the Valero Texas Open. 500 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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RAC--SANTA ANITA DERBY-RDP
DESCRIPTION: Results of the Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial and Blue Grass Stakes, with top finishers earning Kentucky Derby qualifying points. By Beth Harris. 500 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 7:30 p.m. EDT, Text
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GLF--LPGA TOUR
DESCRIPTION: Lauren Coughlin took a five-shot lead into the third round of the LPGA Tour’s Aramco Championship at Shadow Creek.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2026 9:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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BKO--HALL OF FAME
Parker, Delle Donne and 1996 US Olympic women’s basketball team set for Hall of Fame enshrinement
SUMMARY: Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year. Parker, Holdsclaw and members of the 1996 Olympic team were all in attendance, as well as Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni. They will be joined by longtime NBA official Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few.
WORDS: 900 - MOVED: 04/04/2026 12:53 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:17ed84e7cf989136fc22cb40daecb9eb&mediaType=text
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SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP
Haaland hat trick propels Man City to record-setting thrashing of Liverpool in FA Cup quarterfinals
SUMMARY: Erling Haaland’s 18-minute hat trick has powered Manchester City to a 4-0 win over Liverpool and into the FA Cup semifinals for a record eighth straight season. Mohamed Salah’s failure from the penalty spot added to the woes of Liverpool. The Reds’ meltdown at Etihad Stadium will put more heat on under-pressure manager Arne Slot. Haaland converted a penalty in the 39th minute, headed home a cross from Antoine Semenyo in first-half stoppage time, and then swept in a finish off the crossbar in the 57th to score his first hat trick of the season for City. Chelsea hosts third-tier Port Vale before Arsenal visits second-tier Southampton later.
WORDS: 396 - MOVED: 04/04/2026 10:32 a.m. EDT. Will be updated.
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1504924584f7f28da9b620317b8d46ab&mediaType=text
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BKW--NCAA-DAWN AND GENO
Auriemma and Staley clash in tense postgame exchange after South Carolina beats UConn in Final Four
SUMMARY: Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma’s coaching rivalry reached a dramatic peak Friday night. A visibly upset Auriemma went over to Staley in the waning seconds of South Carolina’s 62-48 victory over the UConn in the Final Four and appeared to chastise her before the two shook hands. Staley responded with “don’t do that” while assistant coaches from both teams separated them. Auriemma later said the exchange was about the lack of a traditional pregame handshake between the coaches. Staley said she was confused because she had no idea what happened.
WORDS: 679 - MOVED: 04/04/2026 9:07 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:39846cea06db74f1f83673c17d679852&mediaType=text
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ATH—STAWELL GIFT-US SPRINTERS
US sprinters Richardson and Coleman advance to the Stawell Gift semifinals in Australia
SUMMARY: American sprinters Sha’Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman have won their heats and qualified for Monday’s semifinals of the Stawell Gift, an annual race contested over 120 meters on grass in a small Australian town near Melbourne. Both Richardson and Coleman are racing from “scratch” in the 144th edition of the event, meaning they must run the entire distance and chase down opponents who in some cases may start 25 meters ahead of them. Richardson won her heat in 13.815 seconds Saturday and Coleman his in 12.681.
WORDS: 501 - MOVED: 04/04/2026 3:11 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:68f8619dd5851301bc49d28bacca88f2&mediaType=text
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BBO--METS-SOTO
Mets slugger Juan Soto leaves game against Giants with right calf tightness; MRI set for Saturday
SUMMARY: New York Mets slugger Juan Soto left Friday night’s 10-3 win over the San Francisco Giants in the first inning with right calf tightness. He is scheduled for an MRI on Saturday, and manager Carlos Mendoza says the team is obviously concerned. Soto singled in the first and appeared to slow up while going first to third on Bo Bichette’s run-scoring single. He was forced out at home when Brett Baty grounded into a 1-2-3 double play, and Tyrone Taylor replaced Soto in left field for the bottom of the inning. The 27-year-old Soto is in the second season of a record $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets. He had 43 homers and 105 RBIs while playing in 160 games last season.
WORDS: 298 - MOVED: 04/04/2026 2:24 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c47a6a9e56c8af143aa61fa98cc8e026&mediaType=text
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BKN--MAVERICKS-FLAGG’S 51
Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg scores 51 points to become first teen to reach 50 in an NBA game
SUMMARY: Cooper Flagg has scored 51 points to become the first teenager to reach the 50-point mark in an NBA game. The rookie No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks scored 24 points in the fourth quarter of a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic. Flagg’s fourth-quarter flurry came after coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected over what they thought was a no-call when Flagg was fouled by Desmond Bane. Flagg’s previous career high was 49.
WORDS: 739 - MOVED: 04/04/2026 2:18 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0c6888023bef5635e9a76047f7950240&mediaType=text
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MOVING TOMORROW
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BKW--NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
South Carolina faces UCLA for the national championship in the finale of the women’s NCAA Tournament. Game starts at 3:30 pm. EDT.
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BKC--NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
A preview of the national championship game between the winners of the Illinois-UConn and Michigan-Arizona games, who meet in the finale of the NCAA Tournament.
