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SPORTS
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MARYLAND
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NFL releases dates and details for the 2027 NFL draft to be held on National Mall in Washington
SUMMARY: The NFL has announced dates and details for the 2027 NFL draft to be held in Washington, D.C. The three-day draft will begin on Thursday, April 29, and continue through Saturday, May 1. On May 5, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the 2027 draft will be staged at the nation’s capital on the National Mall. Trump was joined in the Oval Office by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Washington Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser when he announced initial plans for the draft. The NFL says other iconic locations throughout Washington, D.C., also will be utilized.
WORDS: 309 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 2:17 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/NFLreleasesdatesanddetailsfortheNFLdrafttobeheldonNationalMallinWashington/2d28062a374a2828fdd8740a54ff2245/text——————————
Top draft pick AJ Dybantsa arrives in Washington, ready to work on turning the Wizards around
SUMMARY: Two days after taking the 6-foot-9 star out of BYU with the top pick in the NBA draft, the Washington Wizards introduced AJ Dybantsa at a hotel overlooking the Potomac River. One issue of uncertainty was resolved at Thursday's news conference. Dybantsa wore No. 3 in college, but in Washington that belongs to Trae Young. Dybantsa will change to No. 4. That's his previous jersey number and his draft pick number added together. Dybantsa said he intends to graduate college, finishing his studies online. He's also already started a foundation aimed at empowering young people.
WORDS: 630 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 4:15 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/TopdraftpickAJDybantsaarrivesinWashingtonreadytoworkonturningtheWizardsaround/449fb209fe32489b0ecbd3d4ec751ef3/text——————————
Blue Jackets acquire winger Valeri Nichushkin in a trade with the Avalanche
SUMMARY: The Columbus Blue Jackets made a big addition on the eve of the draft by acquiring do-it-all winger Valeri Nichushkin in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets sent the 43rd pick this weekend, a third-rounder next year and a fifth-rounder in 2028 to Colorado. Nichushkin scored nine goals during the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run and played the clinching Game 6 in the final on a broken right foot. He also had off-ice issues that sidelined him in the playoffs in 2023 and '24.
WORDS: 754 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 12:19 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/BlueJacketsacquirewingerValeriNichushkininatradewiththeAvalanche/1576e9df417fcde9983eea7ae066f931/text——————————
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NEW JERSEY
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Ecuador advances to World Cup knockout rounds, beats Germany 2-1 on Plata's 77th-minute goal
SUMMARY: Gonzalo Plata poked the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute and Ecuador advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup by rallying for a 2-1 win over Germany. The Germans, who clinched first place in Group E with victories in their first two games, went ahead on Leroy Sané’s second-minute goal. Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador’s first goal of the tournament in the ninth minute. Plata scored after a corner kick was nodded on by Kevin Rodríguez. Ecuador finished third in the group with four points and advanced past the group stage for the second time.
WORDS: 716 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 5:58 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/EcuadoradvancestoWorldCupknockoutroundsbeatsGermanyonPlatasthminutegoal/a76afaec09bf5ff96e216265c2e18bc1/text——————————
Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece shares an emotional moment with his family at the World Cup
SUMMARY: Sebastián Beccacece went from being criticized for what was veering toward Ecuador's worst World Cup showing to an emotional victory that got his team into the knockout round. His long blonde hair flowing in the wind, Beccacece ran over hug his wife and other loved ones after Gonzalo Plata scored the go-ahead goal late in Ecuador's match against Germany. The 45-year-old Argentine said it was important to indulge in the joy of the win. Beccacece glowed about how much he has fallen in live with the country he is coaching and the players he has gotten to know.
WORDS: 484 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 8:28 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/EcuadorcoachSebastinBeccacecesharesanemotionalmomentwithhisfamilyattheWorldCup/57fa8d98480b9507b95b35a5052de930/text——————————
Durbin homers to break tie in the Red Sox's 6-3 win over the Yankees
SUMMARY: Caleb Durbin broke a tie with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, Connelly Early allowed two runs over six innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 6-3 on Thursday night. Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman bounced back after two losses for his 15th save of the season. Nate Eaton and Ceddanne Rafaela each drove in a run for Boston, which beat the Yankees at Fenway Park for the first time this season. Durbin’s homer came off Yankees starter Cam Schlittler (8-4) and came one day after his left pinkie was dislocated against Colorado. Early (7-5) struck out a season-high nine. He allowed five hits and walked two.
WORDS: 328 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 10:22 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/DurbinhomerstobreaktieintheRedSoxswinovertheYankees/54ec746dc01c412bedea52cc02c4f30b/text——————————
Crow-Armstrong haunts Mets as Cubs complete season sweep with 4-3 win
SUMMARY: Pete Crow-Armstrong laced an RBI double in the 10th inning, powering the Chicago Cubs to a 4-3 victory Thursday night over the sinking New York Mets and a sweep of the four-game series. The Cubs went 7-0 against the Mets, outscoring them 51-24. The Mets suffered their sixth straight loss to fall a season-high 13 games under .500 — the furthest below .500 they’ve been since 2023. Crow-Armstrong, a former first-round pick of the Mets who was sent to the Cubs in the Javier Baez deal in 2021, delivered the tiebreaking hit off Brooks Raley (2-3). Jacob Webb (2-2) worked around a walk in the ninth and Trent Thornton retired all three batters he faced in the 10th for his second career save.
WORDS: 326 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 10:41 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/CrowArmstronghauntsMetsasCubscompleteseasonsweepwithwin/cbd0c9ac5e9e78a0e12132765e25d2e3/text——————————
Seattle Storm snap 11-game losing streak with a 99-88 victory over the New York Liberty
SUMMARY: Flau’jae Johnson scored a career-high 28 points, Dominique Malonga became the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 500 career points, and the Seattle Storm snapped an 11-game skid with a 99-88 victory over the New York Liberty on Thursday night. Johnson, a 22-year-old rookie, led all scorers on 11-for-23 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Malonga had 20 points and 10 rebounds for her second straight double-double. She also became the youngest in league history to reach 200 career defensive rebounds.
WORDS: 225 - MOVED: 06/26/2026 12:12 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/SeattleStormsnapgamelosingstreakwithavictoryovertheNewYorkLiberty/55d66d05567cadc6bb8e0e1ed890543a/text——————————
Who is Marina Mabrey? The feisty Tempo guard who tied the WNBA scoring record with 53 points
SUMMARY: Marina Mabrey had one of the best shooting nights in WNBA history, matching the league record of 53 points. She was 17 of 28 from the field, including matching her own WNBA record of nine 3-pointers. Mabrey matched A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage as the only players to score 3 points in a game. Mabrey is a journeywoman playing on her fifth WNBA team since getting drafted in the second round in 2019 by the Los Angeles Sparks.
WORDS: 696 - MOVED: 06/26/2026 11:43 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/WhoisMarinaMabreyThefeistyTempoguardwhotiedtheWNBAscoringrecordwithpoints/2a0db8a45cdc0a61ec7374f160172e37/text——————————
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PENNSYLVANIA
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Stokes, Holt, Smith headline early list of lottery candidates for 2027 NBA draft
SUMMARY: Incoming recruits Tyran Stokes at Kansas, Caleb Holt at Arizona and Jordan Smith Jr. headline the list of potential lottery candidates when looking ahead at the 2027 NBA draft. Stokes is the nation's top-ranked recruit as a 6-foot-7 forward. The list of possible lottery candidates includes multiple college players like USC's Alijah Arenas, UConn's Braylon Mullins and Florida's Thomas Haugh. ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi says the 2027 class ended up being “very good” and will be unfairly compared to the past two classes that rank among the deepest in years.
WORDS: 1172 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 1:49 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/StokesHoltSmithheadlineearlylistoflotterycandidatesforNBAdraft/21516e1f667315b334309fe8893526ab/text——————————
Brandon Lowe, Henry Davis each homer to lead Pirates over Mariners 5-1
SUMMARY: Brandon Lowe hit his team-leading 19th home run of the season and Henry Davis had a two-run blast as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Seattle Mariners 5-1. Lowe’s homer was a solo shot off Bryce Miller with one out in the bottom of the first inning to open the scoring. He added an RBI single in a two-run eighth. Lowe also leads the Pirates with 51 runs batted in after being acquired from Tampa Bay in an offseason trade. Rookie Bubba Chandler pitched 5 1/3 innings for the win. Miller tied his career high with 11 strikeouts in just 5 2/3 innings.
WORDS: 308 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 3:24 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/BrandonLoweHenryDaviseachhomertoleadPiratesoverMariners/e0ec6cba587ec0df1dda65779eef6f6d/text——————————
Ivory Coast into World Cup knockout round for 1st time as Pépé scores twice in 2-0 win over Curaçao
SUMMARY: Ivory Coast advances to the World Cup knockout round for the first time in its history with a 2-0 victory over Curaçao. Nicolas Pépé scored in each half, securing the win for Les Éléphants. The team previously beat Ecuador and lost to Germany in Group E. The game took place in Philadelphia, where Ivory Coast has been training. Curaçao needed to win and instead failed to become the smallest nation to qualify for the knockout stages. Ivory Coast will play June 30 against either France or Norway — whichever is the runner-up in Group I.
WORDS: 932 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 5:58 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/IvoryCoastintoWorldCupknockoutroundforsttimeasPpscorestwiceinwinoverCuraao/fe585d89af63af74c85392b352ecc878/text——————————
Blue Jackets acquire winger Valeri Nichushkin in a trade with the Avalanche
SUMMARY: The Columbus Blue Jackets made a big addition on the eve of the draft by acquiring do-it-all winger Valeri Nichushkin in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets sent the 43rd pick this weekend, a third-rounder next year and a fifth-rounder in 2028 to Colorado. Nichushkin scored nine goals during the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run and played the clinching Game 6 in the final on a broken right foot. He also had off-ice issues that sidelined him in the playoffs in 2023 and '24.
WORDS: 754 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 12:19 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/BlueJacketsacquirewingerValeriNichushkininatradewiththeAvalanche/1576e9df417fcde9983eea7ae066f931/text——————————
Ivory Coast coach slams 'racist' comments made by former Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger
SUMMARY: Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé has slammed what he considered were racist comments made about his team by Bastian Schweinsteiger. The former Germany player described the Ivory Coast team as "a bit unorthodox" and "wild" before Germany played them last weekend. Faé who led his team to the World Cup knockout round for the first time with a win over Curaçao on Thursday expressed disappointment in Schweinsteiger's remarks. Critics, including sports commentator Patrick Schnitzler and journalist Philipp Awounou, say the comments play into racist stereotypes. Faé emphasized that his team uses strategy and intelligence to succeed.
WORDS: 289 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 8:20 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/IvoryCoastcoachslamsracistcommentsmadebyformerGermanystarBastianSchweinsteiger/12404b5c23508538b5fdd75cf4df8044/text——————————
Harper and Hill homers in the 9th help rally Phillies to a 10-5 victory over the Nationals
SUMMARY: Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning, Derek Hill followed with a three-run shot as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied from an early five-run deficit and beat the Washington Nationals 10-5 on Thursday night. The Phillies came from behind for a third straight game, winning the series by scoring 15 runs in the ninth inning against the majors’ worst bullpen after dropping opener of the four-game series 4-1. Washington's Curtis Mead homered for the third time in the series and 14th overall — a one-out solo shot off Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez to highlight the four-run first. Jacob Young’s two-out RBI single made it 5-0 in the third.
WORDS: 429 - MOVED: 06/25/2026 10:30 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/HarperandHillhomersinthethhelprallyPhilliestoavictoryovertheNationals/06a92e0cac6e6011c7cfd7fc3db6b2fd/text——————————
Maple Leafs on the clock with No. 1 pick in the NHL draft, with McKenna considered top prospect
SUMMARY: General manager John Chayka and the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the clock in having the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Friday night, and with Penn State forward Gavin McKenna regarded as the top prospect. The selection provides the newly hired Chayka the next opportunity to help reshape one of the NHL’s marquee franchises. Chayka already has hired a new coach in Jim Hiller and last week acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade deal with Tampa Bay. Now it’s a matter of restocking the Maple Leafs' youth in the same Buffalo arena where Toronto selected star Auston Matthews with the first pick in the 2016 draft.
WORDS: 216 - MOVED: 06/26/2026 12:07 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/MapleLeafsontheclockwithNopickintheNHLdraftwithMcKennaconsideredtopprospect/46e79bd265cfa06331c6dc08941970dc/text——————————
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