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--WNBA PLAYOFFS

FORMATS: Text, Photo

1. WITH: BKL--LIBERTY MOVING ON

2. DESCRIPTION: Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty are moving on from Game 2 and the confusion of whether they had a timeout in the waning seconds of overtime. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg.

3. SENT: By 10/09/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

4. WITH: BKL--VALKYRIES-ACES

5. DESCRIPTION: The Golden State Valkyries visit the Las Vegas Aces in Game 3 of their best-of-five WNBA playoffs semifinal series. Breakout on merit.

6. UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 9:30 p.m. EDT

7. WITH: BKL--DREAM-LIBERTY

8. DESCRIPTION: The New York Liberty host the Atlanta Dream in Game 3 of their WNBA playoff semifinal series.

9. UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 10:00 p.m. EDT

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SOC--US WOMEN-HAYES’ VISION

DESCRIPTION: As much as U.S. coach Emma Hayes loves winning, she has even loftier ambitions for the national team – and women’s soccer overall. Hayes wants to fundamentally reframe the entire women’s soccer ecosystem, which she laments is just the men’s game applied to women. Instead, she suggests a holistic approach through a female lens. By Anne M. Peterson

UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BBO--POSTSEASON

FORMATS: Text

10. WITH: BBO--RAYS WAIT

11. DESCRIPTION: ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After sweeping the Yankees, the Rays wait for the White Sox-Guardians winner for the upcoming ALCS. By Rob Maaddi.

12. UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

13. WITH: BBO--DODGERS

14. DESCRIPTION: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and shortstop Mookie Betts will speak to reporters Friday.

15. UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

16. WITH: BBO--ALDS-WHITE SOX-GUARDIANS

17. DESCRIPTION: CLEVELAND -- White Sox manager Will Venable and Guardians manager Stephen Vogt don’t have many options when it comes to naming their starting pitchers for Saturday’s Game 5 decider. By Joe Reedy. 650 words, photos.

18. UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT

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FBC--T25-IOWA-WASHINGTON

DESCRIPTION: Iowa plays Washington at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. 150 words, more on merit.

UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 9:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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CAR--NASCAR-CHARLOTTE-BUSCH REMEMBERED

DESCRIPTION: Samantha Busch, the widow of late NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, is expected to speak at a celebration of life ceremony at Charlotte Motor Speedway after the Truscks Series race. By Steve Reed. 500 words.

UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 9:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBC--T25-IOWA STATE-BYU

DESCRIPTION: No. 8 BYU faces a stiff home test against Iowa State after moving into the top 20 of the AP Top 25 this week. By John Coon. Text, photos. Starts at 7:15 p.m. MT.

UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 10:15 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN-BUCCANEERS-ANALYSIS

DESCRIPTION: TAMPA, Fla. — Undrafted rookoe Jalon Daniels led the Buccaneers to their first win of the season with an impressive performance at Dallas. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi.

UPCOMING: By 10/09/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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FBN--OBIT-DITKA

Mike Ditka, the quintessential Chicago Bear and a Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at 86

SUMMARY: Mike Ditka, who personified the toughness and grit of Chicago in a Hall of Fame career as a player and coach of the Bears and the leader of arguably the most dominant team in NFL history, has died. He was 86. Nicknamed “Iron Mike” as a player, Ditka helped revolutionize the tight end position, then moved to the sidelines and took over as Chicago’s coach. His 1985 team featured one of the game’s most dominant defenses ever. After retiring as a coach, Ditka became a restaurateur and TV personality, as well as a forceful advocate for improved medical and retirement benefits for former players.

WORDS: 1487 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 1:11 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:74ce49079f324ca0a9fa8e61857783fb&mediaType=text

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SOC--MAN CITY CHARGES-MARESCA

Manager Maresca says he has complete trust in Man City despite bombshell verdict

SUMMARY: Enzo Maresca has come out in defense of Manchester City’s ownership despite the club being found guilty of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules in the biggest scandal in the competition’s history. The manager Maresca says he has complete trust in City’s hierarchy and dismisses suggestions the club’s unprecedented dominance of English soccer has not been tainted by the bombshell verdict that it had artificially inflated its revenue by more than $1 billion to help sign some of soccer’s biggest stars. City has always denied the charges and has lodged an appeal.

WORDS: 838 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 12:32 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:24585acc5c33ee96413d2495465b8856&mediaType=text

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FBN--COWBOYS ANALYSIS

Jerry Jones says Cowboys are back to square one with a moribund defense after woeful home loss

SUMMARY: Owner and general manager Jerry Jones says the Dallas Cowboys are right back where they started with a moribund defense after a woeful home loss to previously winless Tampa Bay. The 24-16 victory by the Buccaneers left the Cowboys as just the second team in NFL history to allow each of the first opponents at least a 70% completion rate without an interception. Dallas overhauled the defensive roster and hired 34-year-old Christian Parker to bring some renewed energy. All the same problems are there with the Cowboys headed into a mini-break before a trip to Green Bay.

WORDS: 880 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 11:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9102a449bdc0d18b73bc0a7cb68bce89&mediaType=text

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BKN--KNICKS-CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

Knicks say they are pausing contract negotiations and will focus solely on preparing for the season

SUMMARY: The New York Knicks are focused on their NBA title defense now and will worry about contract negotiations later. That means Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart will have to wait on extensions they hoped would get done before the season. The Knicks said Friday that won’t happen, perhaps setting up an uncomfortable situation with some of their most important players. A Knicks spokesman says the team “will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season.”

WORDS: 396 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 10:41 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1054d815f5b3a64feb5f3625a27b2267&mediaType=text

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CAR--F1-MERCEDES-WOLFF

Mercedes boss Wolff slams ‘brainless’ claims team would favor Antonelli over Russell

SUMMARY: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says any claims the team would favor Kimi Antonelli over George Russell in the Formula 1 title race are “brainless”. Wolff was responding after another engine failure for Russell at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia last week took his teammate Antonelli a big step closer to becoming F1’s youngest-ever champion. Wolff says any conspiracy theories are “completely nonsensical” and that it would make no sense to disadvantage one driver when the team is fighting for the constructors’ title.

WORDS: 418 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 8:41 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:70e7a78e1a21a79ef654a3d4a5209de0&mediaType=text

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SOC--GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER-ATLETICO MADRID

NBA star Gilgeous-Alexander takes stake in Spanish soccer giant Atletico Madrid

SUMMARY: Atletico Madrid says NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined the Spanish top-flight club’s ownership group. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard has become the latest North American sports star to take an interest in soccer. He follows the likes of LeBron James and Tom Brady. Atletico says the partnership is “grounded in shared values: ambition, excellence and the belief that every result must be earned.”

WORDS: 198 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 7:37 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0c804d9f94e24d724485d2f639cf2888&mediaType=text

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FBN--ON FOOTBALL-EAGLES’ WOES

Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts are facing their toughest test with the Eagles

SUMMARY: Injuries are piling up for the Philadelphia Eagles. Key starters are gone. A new offensive coordinator is off to a rough start. The head coach is hearing more criticism. It’s a familiar story the Eagles hope has a similar ending. It was at this point of the NFL season two years ago that the notoriously tough Philly fans were chanting “Fire Nick” at coach Nick Sirianni during a lackluster win over the Browns that improved Philadelphia’s record to 3-2. Sirianni screamed and gestured at them toward the end of the game and was mocked nationally by television analysts and hot-take artists who said he deserved to lose his job.

WORDS: 992 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1f493b9f8d390385621387eebbe31e85&mediaType=text

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BKN--BUCKS-AFTER ANTETOKOUNMPO

Bucks entering uncertain new era as they adjust to life without Giannis Antetokounmpo

SUMMARY: The Milwaukee Bucks are beginning a new chapter as they adjust following the offseason trade of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Most preseason projections have the Bucks finishing at or near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. New Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins doesn’t talk about potential win totals when he discusses his expectations. He instead focuses on competing together and getting better so that the Bucks build an identity that can guide them for years to come.

WORDS: 843 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:86cab6c89ca773adebd81a9a01ea786e&mediaType=text

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FIG--SOCIAL MEDIA ABUSE

Teenage figure skaters increasingly targeted by social media abuse as campaign launches

SUMMARY: Olympic gold medalist Evan Bates has warned teenage figure skaters as young as 13 are being increasingly targeted by abusive comments on social media. In a sport which has seen revived popularity since the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Bates says some users are creating “toxic environments” around livestreamed events like Junior Grand Prix figure skating. That’s a key event for skaters aged 13 and older with dreams of becoming Olympians in the future. Bates was speaking ahead of the International Skating Union signing up to a campaign against online abuse. It’s also pledged to extend a program giving skaters access to AI-powered software which can hide abusive comments on their social media accounts.

WORDS: 479 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 4:48 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2a803b78a1d2d697171ef9689816e1ef&mediaType=text

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BBO--ALDS-STAGGERING WHITE SOX

White Sox look to bounce back after 2 straight losses to Guardians at home in ALDS

SUMMARY: The Chicago White Sox had two chances to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time in more than a century. Now they have one chance to avoid a frustrating end to a surprising season. The White Sox are going to a winner-take-all finale in their AL Division Series against Cleveland after a pair of disappointing defeats. Their bullpen is staggering after a 9-5 loss in Game 4, and their hitters struck out 31 times over the last two games. Game 5 is back in Cleveland on Saturday night, with the winner advancing to the American League Championship Series against Tampa Bay.

WORDS: 609 - MOVED: 10/09/2026 2:32 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8eb2512b250afc7c39071171521ba25c&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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FBC--T25-GEORGIA-ALABAMA

Georgia plays Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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BBO--POSTSEASON

Coverage of Major League Baseball’s postseason.

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BKL--WNBA PLAYOFFS

Coverage of the first round of the WNBA playoffs.

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