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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BKL-RESILIENT FEVER

DESCRIPTION: All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell found her voice during the Indiana Fever’s early season struggles. She challenged teammates to improve defensively, focus on the details and maintain their perspective when the outside world saw a season teetering on the brink after a 4-4 start. Yet amid the circus-like environment, the 30-year-old Mitchell emerged as a steadying influence just as she had during last season’s improbable playoff run, and now the Fever is starting to look like the title contender everyone, including Mitchell, expected when the season began. By Michael Marot. 725 words, with photos by 2 p.m. ET.

UPCOMING: By 07/16/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--TOP 5-TACKLES

DESCRIPTION: A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers votes on the top five off-ball linebackers in the NFL. By Pro Football Josh Dubow. 600 words, photos.

SENT: By 07/16/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BKO--USA BASKETBALL-COACHES

DESCRIPTION: Mark Daigneault, J.B. Bickerstaff and Mark Few are set to become USA Basketball assistant coaches through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, pending nominations on Thursday. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 07/16/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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BKN--HEAT-ANTETOKOUNMPO

DESCRIPTION: Giannis Antetokounmpo gets formally introduced by the Miami Heat on Thursday, with the two-time MVP hoping the deal that ended his time in Milwaukee gets him back into championship contention. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 07/16/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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FBC--ACC MEDIA DAYS

FORMATS: Text

1. WITH: FBC--ACC-VIRGINIA TECH

2. DESCRIPTION: CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Virginia Tech is upping its financial investments in athletics in hopes of finding a spark. That includes the arrival of James Franklin as football coach. By Aaron Beard. Text, photos.

3. UPCOMING: By 07/16/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

4. WITH: FBC--ACC-CLEMSON

5. DESCRIPTION: CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney enters his 18th full season after posting his lowest win total in 15 years and creating a stir with public allegations of tampering against an SEC school. By Steve Reed. Text, photos.

6. UPCOMING: By 07/16/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

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SOC--MLS--NASHVILLE ON TOP

DESCRIPTION: Nashville has enjoyed the World Cup break sitting atop the Major League Soccer standings. Now it’s time to get back to work starting Friday night with a roster featuring a league-high four All-Stars. By Teresa M. Walker.

UPCOMING: By 07/16/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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SOC--WCUP-SPAIN-WILDFIRES SMOKE

DESCRIPTION: Spain’s initial preparations for the World Cup final are taking place in northern New Jersey at a time when air conditions are hazardous because of smoke from Canadian wildfires.

UPCOMING: By 07/16/2026 10:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BBO--ALL-STAR-WALKER’S MISSION

Jordan Walker won the Home Run Derby. He wants to lead the next wave of Black athletes into baseball

SUMMARY: Jordan Walker hopes his star-making turn at the Home Run Derby will inspire more young Black athletes to follow in his footsteps and choose baseball. Walker grew up outside Atlanta and said he was inspired by Jason Heyward, a Gold Glove winner and Black player with the Braves who debuted when Walker was 7 years old. The significance of representation in the Black community was never lost on Walker. After beating Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber in the final round of the Home Run Derby, Walker said he wants to be a role model for young Black players.

WORDS: 1225 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 1:24 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0dab61fa37eacc2cc9fca123a79575de&mediaType=text

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FBN--TOP 5-EDGE RUSHERS

Myles Garrett of the Rams is voted as the top edge rusher in the NFL by an AP panel

SUMMARY: Myles Garrett has been the NFL’s dominant defensive player for years, leading to his record-setting campaign with 23 sacks last season before being traded from Cleveland to the Los Angeles Rams. Garrett’s performance helped him earn the honor of being named the top off-ball linebacker in the NFL by The Associated Press. Garrett got all eight first-place votes from AP Pro Football Writers. Green Bay’s Micah Parsons, Houston’s Will Anderson Jr., Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt and Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson rounded out the top five.

WORDS: 620 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 1:17 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:014faf0310d137df84b0961154436d5e&mediaType=text

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HKN--NHL SCHEDULE

NHL unveils its 2026-27 schedule, the first with 84 games apiece since ’93-94

SUMMARY: The most expansive season in NHL history gets underway Sept. 29 and runs through April 10 before the playoffs begin a couple of days later. It is the league’s first 84-game season since 1993-94 as 32 teams will combine to play a total of 1,344. The Sept. 29 start matches the earliest in NHL history and is the first North American opening night before October. It is part of a shift that began last year with more space between the end of the Cup final and the draft before free agency commences each July 1.

WORDS: 504 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 1:09 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c8fad72c8c8e17e937c95772ede211ca&mediaType=text

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GLF--BRITISH OPEN

DeChambeau finds a strategy to get in the mix at the British Open and trail by a shot

SUMMARY: So much for Nick Faldo’s criticism that Bryson DeChambeau has no strategy for links golf in the British Open. DeChambeau used his power on some holes to set up birdies and played it safe on others. It leads to a 67 that leaves him one shot behind Dan Brown and Sungjae Im among the early starters at Royal Birkdale. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is another shot behind after a 68. Scheffler had four birdies in six holes but didn’t make another the rest of the way. He says anything under par on a course like Royal Birkdale is pleasing.

WORDS: 991 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 12:56 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e86ca543d83bb9418c6811da464336d2&mediaType=text

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GLF--BRITISH OPEN-CELEBRATING ARGENTINE

Argentine golfer at British Open makes ear-cup gesture to mimic Enzo’s World Cup goal celebration

SUMMARY: The only Argentine golfer in the British Open field was playfully jeered by some spectators on the first tee the morning after his national soccer team’s epic comeback win over England at the World Cup. Mateo Pulcini delivered an amusing response a few hours later. The 25-year-old amateur holed a 40-foot putt for birdie on the 18th green and cupped both of his ears in a gesture to spectators. It mimicked the celebration his countryman, Enzo Fernandez, produced after scoring Argentina’s 85th-minute equalizing goal on Wednesday. Argentina went on to win 2-1 in the semifinals. Pulcini says “I was pretty excited and that came to my mind and I did it.”

WORDS: 222 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 12:43 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6db1028bd7096c07c7885dd9e90b39c0&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA OFFICIATING

More whistles, more points: How the WNBA’s new officiating focus is reshaping games

SUMMARY: Cheryl Reeve has seen a lot of improvements in officiating this season and it’s helped the WNBA have record offensive numbers so far through the first half of the season. There’s still areas that need to be worked on, but it will take more than 20 games for everything to be cleaned up. The league put together a task force, which Reeve is on, in the offseason to help clean up some of the physicality in the game. The main point of emphasis was to help players’ freedom of movement. Despite some hiccups early on, it has led to more offense as teams are averaging 86.4 points a game — the highest ever. They are shooting 45% from the field — also the best in league history.

WORDS: 632 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 12:40 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b576f756a011b2d54bedba097084d0af&mediaType=text

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CYC--TOUR DE FRANCE

Merlier wins crash-marred 12th stage of the Tour de France, Pogacar retains overall lead

SUMMARY: Belgian rider Tim Merlier maintained his strong form with a victory on the 12th stage of the Tour de France while several riders fell as they sprinted to the line. Defending champion Tadej Pogacar comfortably avoided the crash and kept his significant overall lead over second-place Jonas Vinegaard. It was Merlier’s third stage win on this year’s Tour and sixth of his career. Olav Kooij finished second and Jasper Philipsen was third. With riders fighting for position on the home straight Colombian Fernando Gaviria went down and took several others with him. Gaviria appeared to hurt his left arm.

WORDS: 459 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 12:24 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:82bc2c83eb3c888f273e649f4af08a09&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP-UFC-FBI ARRESTS

2 of 8 men charged in alleged plot to attack the White House UFC event plead not guilty

SUMMARY: Two of the eight men indicted in an alleged drone and sniper plot to attack President Donald Trump’s UFC cage-fighting event on the White House lawn have pleaded not guilty to federal conspiracy charges. Nineteen-year-old Tycen Proper, of Danville, Ohio, and 21-year-old Chandler Scaggs, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, entered their pleas Thursday in federal court in Columbus, Ohio. Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. scheduled their trial to begin Sept. 14. Proper, Scaggs and six others are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and of a federal government official. The UFC Freedom 250 event was held in June to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

WORDS: 446 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 12:01 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ef44975bff65810dd1077bb3535a43cf&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-ENGLAND-ARGENTINA-FALKLANDS

UK urges FIFA to investigate Argentina over Falklands banner at World Cup

SUMMARY: The British government has urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s soccer team after players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. The incident happened Wednesday after Argentina beat England 2-1 in a World Cup semifinal in Atlanta. The banner read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” which means “The Falkland Islands are Argentine.” FIFA rules ban political messaging on the pitch and the team could face disciplinary action. U.K. Business Secretary Peter Kyle called the behavior “entirely inappropriate.” The rivalry between the countries is heightened by political tensions over the South Atlantic archipelago. Britain and Argentina fought a 10-week war over the islands in 1982.

WORDS: 966 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 11:57 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:240a5fcd72446efd674fd6d9eb52572a&mediaType=text

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GLF--BRITISH OPEN-BROWN

‘Sorry, Mum’: Cigarette smoker Dan Brown lights up British Open with another strong first round

SUMMARY: Dan Brown is lighting it up again at the British Open. The 31-year-old Englishman is one of the few smokers in golf and went through “seven or eight” cigarettes during his 4-under 66 that gave him the clubhouse lead midway through the first round at Royal Birkdale. The fairways are baked and parched after recent heatwaves and it makes them a potential fire hazard from discarded cigarettes. So Brown says reassuringly “I’ve been making sure that they’re out.” Brown first came into widespread consciousness in golf in 2024 when he shot a 6-under 65 for the outright first-round lead in his British Open debut at Royal Troon.

WORDS: 405 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 10:45 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7aa3452a5c08544ea8f0a151b866fd69&mediaType=text

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CAR--F1-RED BULL-VERSTAPPEN

Max Verstappen leaves his F1 future open but says things are ‘really good’ with Red Bull team boss

SUMMARY: Max Verstappen has left his future in Formula 1 open again ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix and praised his “really good” relationship with Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies. Verstappen has yet to commit to staying with Red Bull for next year. He has been linked to McLaren and suggested he’d consider leaving F1. Mekies is marking a year in charge of the team after replacing longtime boss Christian Horner midway through 2025. Verstappen has warm words for him.

WORDS: 503 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 9:56 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:78c6ce83dbd152f34cb78fe48a573396&mediaType=text

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GLF--BRITISH OPEN-EARLY STARTER

British Open: Baldwin hits ‘terrifying’ opening shot after missing World Cup semi due to early start

SUMMARY: Matthew Baldwin has had the honor of hitting the opening tee shot of the British Open at a Royal Birkdale course where the locally born Englishman has been a member for 23 years. It meant needing a 3:30 a.m. alarm and it also meant missing one of his country’s biggest ever soccer matches. Baldwin says he didn’t watch England’s agonizing 2-1 loss to Argentina in the men’s World Cup semifinals that started at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. He was dozing until waking up 55 minutes into the game and discovering England was leading 1-0. He fell asleep and woke up again around midnight to be informed by his wife that England lost.

WORDS: 210 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 9:48 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:bd07e68665bedb1d1872ef6e706aa5a5&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-JAMES’ FUTURE

LeBron James scheduled to speak Thursday at Fanatics Fest in NYC, as NBA waits to hear his plans

SUMMARY: LeBron James is set to speak publicly Thursday, sparking speculation about his future plans. The NBA’s career scoring leader and free agent will record an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast in New York. This appearance is part of the opening day of Fanatics Fest, a four-day event featuring athletes and celebrities. James, the NBA’s oldest active player at 41, has been the subject of rumors since May when the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs. He announced in June that he would play this season but leave the Lakers. Fans are eager to hear what comes next.

WORDS: 530 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4830424fd75efcf80d4462f4d6b1f829&mediaType=text

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TRI--REVAMPING TRIATHLON

Triathlon unites to increase its popularity closer to the level of tennis and golf

SUMMARY: Triathlon is taking action to try to boost its popularity in hopes of bringing it closer to the level of tennis and golf. A new global circuit will debut in 2027 following an alliance between the international federation and private organizers in an attempt to unify the sport that has been historically fragmented and difficult to follow because of the large number of events worldwide. Officials are hoping the new tour will promote mass-participation events, attract new audiences and enhance the broadcast and digital storytelling of triathlon.

WORDS: 662 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 5:27 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d3ced0b8ddad2e1f0016bcbba79231f2&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-TROPHY

How an Italian sculptor created the World Cup trophy that became an icon

WORDS: 695 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 3:31 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d273ec1065e2aca911fb3df34d594f4f&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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SOC--WORLD CUP COVERAGE

Preview coverage of the 2026 World Cup consolation/final matches.

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GLF--BRITISH OPEN

Coverage of the second round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale.