TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama guard Aden Holloway was arrested on a felony drug charge Monday, ...

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama guard Aden Holloway was arrested on a felony drug charge Monday, just days before the start of the NCAA Tournament, authorities said.Coach Nate Oats said Holloway has been suspended indefinitely, adding that the Crimson Tide are preparing to play without him this week.“We’ve got standards in our program and ways we’ve held our guys accountable,” Oats said during his weekly radio show. “We found out about what was going on this morning, and we had to suspend him pending the investigation by the (University of Alabama) office of student conduct.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“We’re certainly disappointed in his behavior. That being said, we still love him. He’s still our guy and we’re helping him get the help that he needs and we’re going to help him in any way that we can.”Holloway, 21, was arrested after agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force searched a residence near Alabama’s campus and “recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash,” Tuscaloosa police spokesperson Stephanie Taylor told The Associated Press in an email.It was not immediately clear if Holloway had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.“The University is aware of the allegations and is working to gather more information,” the school said in a statement. “The student has been removed from campus pending further investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct.”Holloway was arrested on a first-degree charge of marijuana possession, not for personal use, which is a Class C felony, and failure to affix a tax stamp. The possession charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000.Holloway was taken to the local jail shortly before 10 a.m. and was released before 11 a.m. on a $5,000 bond, Taylor said.He is in his second season at Alabama. Holloway is second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.8 points a game, and leads the Crimson Tide in 3-point shooting. He is hitting 43.1% from behind the arc. Holloway has started 27 of 28 games that he’s played this season. Without him, Alabama will be down to nine scholarship players in the NCAA Tournament.Alabama has started 13 different starting lineups this season, the most in Oats’ seven seasons — and will have another one to open NCAA play. Likely candidates to replace Holloway are Houston Mallette or Taylor Bol Bowen.“If we’re going to lose a guy, losing him in the backcourt is the place where we got the most depth,” Oats said. “I told the guys that this team, more than any I’ve coached, is equipped to handle a situation like this. We’ve won plenty of games with guys not available, so they’ll be ready.”Alabama (23-9) is a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament and is scheduled to face Hofstra in the opening round Friday in Tampa, Florida.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball">https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball</a>

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 28: Aden Holloway #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the first half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 28, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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ATLANTA (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored a career-high 41 points, Jalen Johnson had his 13t...

ATLANTA (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored a career-high 41 points, Jalen Johnson had his 13th triple-double of the season and the Atlanta Hawks rolled past the Magic 124-112 on Monday night, extending <a href="https://apnews.com/article/atlanta-hawks-winning-streak-d0fa9b89dab1ef4d7dfcf26550fcfde8">their winning streak</a> to 10 games and snapping Orlando’s at seven.The Hawks improved to 38-31 and reclaimed eighth place in the Eastern Conference, bumping Philadelphia back to ninth.Johnson had 24 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists in his second straight triple-double. Dyson Daniels added 15 points and 12 rebounds.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Alexander-Walker scored 24 points in the first half, helping Atlanta to a 67-50 lead at halftime. Alexander-Walker’s previous career high was 38 points against the Spurs earlier this season.The Hawks kept momentum rolling after the intermission, scoring 23 points in the first 5:12 of the third quarter to extend their lead to 29 points. The Hawks totaled 37 points in the period and led 104-83 at the start of the fourth.Orlando cut the deficit to 12 points with 3 1/2 minutes remaining before Atlanta put the game back out of reach.Paolo Banchero had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic. Desmond Bane also added 18 points.The Magic were without Anthony Black (left lateral abdominal strain), Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain), and Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain; injury management).Jonathan Kuminga was available for just his fifth game since joining Atlanta in February while dealing with a bone bruise. Kuminga added seven points and eight rebounds.Up nextMagic: Host the Thunder on Tuesday night.Hawks: Visit Dallas on Wednesday night.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a>

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 16: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 16, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE

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Alexander-Walker's career night lifts Hawks to 10th straight win

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas was suspended for the first 80 games...

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas was suspended for the first 80 games of the season by Major League Baseball on Monday following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone.Rojas' suspension was announced after a grievance filed by the players' association appealing the discipline was denied by independent arbitrator Martin F. Scheinman.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Phillies issued the following statement regarding Johan Rojas: <a href="https://t.co/F00q9CsCSw">pic.twitter.com/F00q9CsCSw</a>— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) <a href="https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/2033673926736241008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Barring rainouts, Rojas would be eligible to play for the Phillies on June 25. He would lose $395,305 in salary from his contract, which pays at a rate of $803,500 while in the major leagues and $321,826 while in the minors. If there are no postponements, the suspension would be over 92 days of the 187-day season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He is ineligible to play in the 2026 postseason.Rojas, 25, hit .224 with one homer, 18 RBIs and 12 stolen bases for the Phillies last season. He was demoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Aug. 1 and didn’t play for Philadelphia during the remainder of the season. Rojas was 3 for 15 with one RBI for the Phillies during spring training this year.He has a .252 career average with six homers, 73 RBIs and 51 stolen bases over 250 games.Rojas was slated to play for the the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic roster but was dropped ahead of the tournament.He is the sixth player disciplined this year for a drug violation, the third under the major league agreement.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/profar-drug-suspension-braves-b60b2da421060606e45623b379db1aec">Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for the entire season</a> on March 3 after testing positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites. The failed test was Profar’s second offense under the drug rules.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/max-kepler-drug-suspension-c2ec72782fe4d8647b132fd5b176d47c">Free agent outfielder Max Kepler was banned for 80 games</a> on Jan. 9 after a positive test for Epitrenbolone.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 28: Johan Rojas #23 of the Philadelphia Phillies bites his nails in the dugout before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on June 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Phillies' Rojas has 80-game ban for failed drug test upheld

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — National coach Carlo Ancelotti says the Brazilian Football Confederation is...

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — National coach Carlo Ancelotti says the Brazilian Football Confederation is set to extend his contract to the 2030 World Cup.The 66-year-old Italian took over Brazil last May to the 2026 World Cup and has noted in interviews he would like to have the job for a four-year World Cup cycle.Ancelotti said on Monday neither he nor the CBF "have any issues to extend the deal."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He replaced Dorival Junior after some lackluster performances and had to scramble quickly to complete South American qualifying for the World Cup. Ancelotti has compiled 14 wins, 10 draws and nine defeats."When a couple wants to carry on I think there's no problem," Ancelotti said at a press conference at CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. "Either before or after the next World Cup we will make this extension official."He was there to announce his latest squad for friendlies against France and Croatia this month.The former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach, a five-time Champions League winner, jokingly said he talked to CBF officials about the benefit of extending his contract sooner rather than later."(Extending) before the World Cup will be cheaper, afterwards it will be more expensive," Ancelotti quipped. "I am very confident."___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts after leaving a meeting with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on January 26, 2026.

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Ancelotti says Brazilian federation prepared to extend deal through 2030

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Emotions were heavy after a decision to take four tires in NASCAR's championship...

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Emotions were heavy after a decision to take four tires in NASCAR's championship-deciding finale in the Arizona desert backfired and cost Denny Hamlin the Cup Series title that has eluded him his entire career.Hamlin had dominated the season finale in November until a late caution forced him to pit road and crew chief Chris Gayle had to make a choice. Gayle called for four tires, Kyle Larson took two tires to beat Hamlin out of the pits.Hamlin didn't have enough time to catch Larson over two laps and Larson won his second Cup Series title as Hamlin was left empty-handed once again.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It was a gutting defeat that might have broken others.Not the No. 11 team.Hamlin and Gayle spent most of the offseason apart with little communication between the two, Hamlin said, because Hamlin found no need to speak to Gayle about the call.In the fifth race of the new season, the duo showed it has recovered from the Phoenix defeat with a Sunday victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-las-vegas-hamlin-toyota-gibbs-aeb04fd9e04f86b2a651f1e40ba4a1df">.</a> To this day, Hamlin said he's never spoken to Gayle about the four-tire call at Phoenix."If I would have thought that it was the absolute wrong call, I would have questioned it. I would have said, 'Are you sure?' I would have said, 'I think track position means the most,'" Hamlin said. "There are ifs and buts. You just can't live in that world. That's why I didn't want to talk about it because you can't change it."Hamlin's offseason heartbreak has been documented. After losing the title that he wanted to win because his father was terminally ill at the time, Hamlin returned home heartbroken.He didn't get much time to recover before he was in court as co-owner of 23XI Racing as part of the winning team in a federal lawsuit against NASCAR last December. Weeks later, his father was killed in a fire that destroyed the home Hamlin purchased to thank his parents for getting him into NASCAR.Gayle, who as crew chief doesn't have the level of public-facing responsibilities as Hamlin, said he needed three days after Phoenix "of kicking yourself hard" and "rethinking everything I could have ever done" before he was able to put it away."That was probably the most dejected I've been in my life. What are you going to do about it?" said Gayle. "You get over it. I could let it bother me forever. That's not going to happen. I can move on, learn from it."His rapid recovery drew praise from team owner Joe Gibbs, who coached Washington's football team to three Super Bowl victories. Like Hamlin, Gibbs said he didn't need to speak to Gayle about the defeat in the desert."He's mentally and physically tough. Stays after it. I think he's really talented," Gibbs said. "When I did talk to him, I said, 'Look, I've been in that situation. I've made calls. Sometimes they're really tough.'"I think that is why we love what we do, though, 'cause it's really hard. It's the best people in the world doing it. I think that's why people like to watch it. You can have some very tough days and tough decisions, for sure."Gayle said he knew how much Hamlin was going through last offseason and it weighed on his own emotions."I felt horrible because Denny is going through all the things he's going through," Gayle said. "I could have delivered that championship to him. I wasn't able to do it. Now he has to go through all this. In hindsight seeing the bigger picture, putting it all on myself. I could have made some decisions different."Despite all of it, Gayle didn't worry about the driver who showed up to go to the Daytona 500 in February. Hamlin wasn't sure if he still found enough joy in racing after Phoenix to get back in the car, but honored his commitment to Joe Gibbs Racing."He said he would get there. I could tell he wasn't locked in," said Gayle, who said he has focused with Hamlin on "'OK, it didn't go the way we wanted. How do we rewrite what's coming in the future?’ There's a lot of things that happened in the past, you don't want to drag them forward, create more problems for yourself."It took five races into his 21st season in the Cup Series for Hamlin to show he's recovered. The Las Vegas victory was the 61st of his career — 10th in NASCAR history — and has Hamlin ready to roll next weekend into Darlington Raceway, the South Carolina track where he won last year.He's going with Gayle, who Hamlin believes can get him another chance at a championship this year."We're going to win and lose together. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Chris Gayle for these seven wins over the course of these 40 races or so," Hamlin said. "He's just a great guy. So underrated in what he does. I'm glad he's getting the wins now that he deserves."___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, and crew chief Chris Gayle talk in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on October 31, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona.

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MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball's experiment of a robot umpire technology system allowing chal...

MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball's experiment of a robot umpire technology system allowing challenges to checked swing calls is moving up from Class A to Triple-A.MLB will also test moving second base slightly to position it entirely within the infield, which would reduce by 9 inches the distance between first and second, and between second and third, according to a memorandum sent to teams last week.It will try out reducing permissible disengagements by pitchers from two to one per plate appearance and stricter limits on batter timeouts and resetting the pitch clock for issues with PitchCom, the electronic signaling device that has been used since 2023.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>There will also be a test allowing starting pitchers to re-enter games in the lowest level of the minor leagues. It's not expected this test will lead to MLB implementation, but it's being considered for the minors to improve development and player health by allowing more flexible workload management.MLB's Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, the so-called robot umpire, launches when the season starts March 25 following tests that started in the minors in 2019. A batter, catcher or pitcher can appeal a ball/strike call by the human umpire under a system in which each team has two challenges and keeps its challenge if successful. Additional challenges become available to teams in extra innings.An experiment began last May 20 in the Class A Florida State League allowing challenges to checked swing calls, and the test was extended to the Arizona Fall League.Starting on May 5, the checked swing test will expand to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in additional to the FSL."The batter, pitcher or catcher may also appeal the umpire's decision regarding whether the batter swung at a pitch," according to the memo from MLB vice president of on-field strategy Joe Martinez to general managers and other club executives. "A swing will be considered to have occurred if the maximum angle between the bat head and the bat handle exceeds 45 degrees."Martinez said the strikeout rate was cut by 3% during last year's testing.In addition, umpires at games in the Triple-A International League will be instructed to apply the 45-degree threshold for determining swings. The Official Baseball Rules do not specify a standard for checked swings, stating only: "A strike is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which is struck at by the batter and is missed."Since the 1970s, catchers have been allowed to ask the plate umpire to appeal non-strike calls on checked swings to the first- and third-base umpires, but no appeals have been permitted when a strike has been called on a checked swing.Starting pitchers will be allowed to re-enter a game after being removed at the Arizona Complex League, Florida Complex League and Dominican Summer League. A removed starting pitcher is eligible to return if he threw at least 25 pitches during the inning he was removed, can return only at the start of an inning and may re-enter only once.MLB enlarged bases 18-inch squares from 15 in 2023, a change that led to more stolen bases because of a decreased distance of 4 1/2 inches between first and second, and second and third.Second base has been centered on the exact spot of second, but the experiment in the International League will place it "entirely within the perimeter of the infield diamond during the second half" of the season.Citing an increase in the average time of a nine-inning game from 2 hours, 36 minutes in 2024 to 2:38 last year and a decrease in stole base attempt success rate from 80.2% in 2023 to 77.8% last year, MLB will experiment with changes to pitch clock rules.Teams at Triple-A will be assessed a mound visit if play is stopped for a PitchCom problem, and if a team is out of visits an automatic ball will be charged.At all levels, the clock will not stop when a catcher leaves the catcher's box to give defensive signals, and players other than the pitcher and coaches must leave the mound before the clock on mound visits runs out. A violation would result in an automatic ball.At High A, batters will not be allowed to request time if the bases are empty and in Class A no timeouts will be allowed. Exceptions will be allowed for brush backs, possible injuries or equipment problems.Allowed disengagements by pitchers from the rubber will be lowered from two to one at Double-A.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 26: Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) checks his swing during the sixth inning of the Major League Baseball Interleague game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians on May 26, 2025, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

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MLB's test of robot umps for checked swings moving to Triple-A

LILLE, France (AP) — Morocco or France? Highly-rated midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has yet to chose. ...

LILLE, France (AP) — Morocco or France? Highly-rated midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has yet to chose.A key player for Lille in the French league, the 18-year-old has established himself as one of the most promising midfield talents in Europe. He has represented France’s Under 21 and other youth squads, but he is also being courted by Morocco ahead of the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.A World Cup semifinalist four years ago, Morocco has recruited several players with dual nationalities of Moroccan descent raised or trained in Europe.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Asked this weekend whether he had made a decision between France and Morocco, Bouaddi left the door open.“Let’s see, I’ve not chosen yet,” he told broadcaster Ligue 1+ after Lille defeated Rennes 2-1 on Sunday to move to fifth place in the French league standings.According to several media reports in Morocco, the country’s soccer federation and its new coach Mohamed Ouahbi have intensified their efforts to secure Bouaddi’s services. Morocco will play World Cup warm-up games against Ecuador and Paraguay on March 27 and 31, respectively, and Bouaddi could be called up for those games.The Atlas Lions have been drawn in World Cup Group C with Brazil, Haiti and Scotland.After joining the Lille academy in 2021, Bouaddi made his senior debut in the UEFA Conference League against Faroese side KI Klaksvík, becoming the youngest player to feature in the competition and to ever represent Lille, just three days after his 16th birthday.A box-to-box midfielder with an excellent technical finesse, he then made his Champions League debut against Real Madrid on the day he turned 17.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer

METZ, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 6: Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille thanks supporters for standing after the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between FC Metz and Lille OSC at Stade Saint-Symphorien on February 6, 2026 in Metz, France.

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Morocco or France? Lille prospect Bouaddi keeps World Cup choice open

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Bayern Munich has lost an appeal against Luis Díaz’s one-game ban for a...

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Bayern Munich has lost an appeal against Luis Díaz’s one-game ban for a sending-off in the Bundesliga, even though the referee admitted his decision wasn’t the right call.Díaz was sent off after a second yellow card for diving in Bayern’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, in which he also scored Bayern’s only goal.As a yellow card offense, it wasn’t subject to video review. After viewing a replay in a postgame TV interview with Sky Sport Germany, Christian Dingert said he had missed contact between Díaz and goalkeeper Janis Blaswich and added: “The second yellow card is very harsh and when I see the images now, I wouldn’t give it that way any more.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>That wasn’t enough for the German soccer association’s sports court to overturn the automatic one-game ban for a sending-off, however.Court chairman Stephan Oberholz ruled Monday that Dingert’s comments weren’t relevant and that it wasn’t a “completely wrong” call because Díaz had been seeking contact with the opposition goalkeeper.“The decisive factor is that the incident constitutes a decision of fact which can only be corrected if it is gravely, clearly and without any doubt objectively incorrect. That is not the case here,” he said in a statement.Díaz is due to serve the ban against Union Berlin on Saturday. Bayern can appeal the ruling.Bayern has other squad concerns after three injuries in its 6-1 win over Atalanta last week in the Champions League.Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala were both out of action Saturday as a result, and a series of injuries to goalkeepers has made 16-year-old Leonard Prescott an option for the return game at home to Atalanta on Wednesday.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer

Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz reacts after been sent off by the referee during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on March 14, 2026. / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO ALTERNATIVE CROP

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Chelsea has been handed fines totaling 10.75 million pounds ($14.3 million) as well as a suspende...

Chelsea has been handed fines totaling 10.75 million pounds ($14.3 million) as well as a suspended one-year ban from signing players for breaking financial rules during its previous ownership under Roman Abramovich, the Premier League said Monday.Sanction agreements were reached after Chelsea self-reported potential breaches to the Football Association that came to light in 2022 when American investors Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital led a consortium to buy out Abramovich for 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion).The rules related to “financial reporting, third party investment and youth development,” the Premier League said.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“It was established that between 2011 and 2018, undisclosed payments by third parties associated with the club were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties,” the league said in a statement.“These payments were not disclosed to the football regulatory authorities at the time, including the Premier League.”According to the sanction agreement, the payments to unregistered agents totaled more than 23 million pounds ($30 million) and were in relation to the signings of players including Eden Hazard, David Luiz, Ramires, Andre Schurrle and Nemanja Matic.The undisclosed payments “were made for the benefit of Chelsea,” the statement said, “and should have been treated as having been made by the club.”They “constituted a breach of the requirement to act in good faith towards the league,” the competition said.Chelsea accepted the fine, which was ratified by an independent commission, and was given an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban and a suspended one-year transfer ban for first-team players.No points deduction was applied, however.The club said it was “pleased” to reach a settlement with the Premier League.“From the outset of this process,” Chelsea said in its own statement, “the club has treated these matters with the utmost seriousness, providing full cooperation to all relevant regulators.”The league noted Chelsea's “proactive self-reporting, admissions of breach and exceptional cooperation throughout the investigation acted as significant mitigating factors" and helped reduce the fine by around 50%.It also said it was satisfied that Chelsea “in no scenario” would have breached the league's profitability and sustainability rules in those periods if the payments made had been properly included in the club’s accounts.There have been other financial sanctions against ChelseaChelsea's new owners have been fined on multiple occasions by UEFA for financial breaches.In 2023, during the first year of new regime, Chelsea paid UEFA a 10 million euros (then $11.8 million) fine to settle irregularities committed while the club was owned by Abramovich, who was forced to sell the club after Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. That was also self-reported by the club.Last year, Chelsea was fined 20 million euros (then $23.6 million) for failing to approach break-even and a further 11 million euros ($13 million) for spending more than an 80% set limit of its revenue on so-called “squad cost” such as transfers and wages.A separate disciplinary process conducted by the Football Association is ongoing and relates to the same breaches for which Chelsea has been punished by the Premier League.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: A general view of Stamford Bridge during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on March 14, 2026 in London, United Kingdom.

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MIAMI (AP) — Paul Skenes pitched with poise through pressure, dispatching a series of stars on a ...

MIAMI (AP) — Paul Skenes pitched with poise through pressure, dispatching a series of stars on a night of great stakes in a sold-out stadium with millions watching on TV.This was the type of game he never sees with the Pittsburgh Pirates and he may not experience on a regular basis until 2030.Skenes dominated the Dominican Republic's lineup of All-Stars for 4 1/3 innings in America's 2-1 semifinal victory Sunday night, allowing his only run when Junior Caminero hit a go-ahead home run in the second on a 1-2 sweeper at the top of the strike zone.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"The D.R. is the toughest lineup I've ever faced, for sure," Skenes said.The NL Cy Young Award winner last year in his first full season at age 23, Skenes mixed six pitches among 71 offerings that included a fastball averaging 97.6 mph. He allowed six hits and finished the tournament 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and a .226 opponents batting average."You can make the argument he's the best pitcher in the game," U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said. "Special presence, special man, wants the moment, wasn't too big for him. Controls his emotions, makes pitches."Skenes retired his first five batters before Caminero homered, then hit Geraldo Perdomo with a pitch and allowed Ketel Marte's single in the third, when right fielder Aaron Judge threw a 95.7-mph strike to third, cutting down Fernandez Tatis Jr. for the inning’s final out."A moment like that where I can throw a guy out and help out Paul Skenes, who is electric as he is. I was excited about that," Judge said.Skenes stranded the bases loaded in the fourth when Austin Wells flied out. He had been given the lead when Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony homered in the top half."He's very smart. He likes playing with the mind of the hitters," said Juan Soto, who went 0-for-2 against Skenes. "We have to think a lot when we face him. That's why I think he's so special."Skenes has a 1.96 ERA in 55 career starts, striking out 386 while walking 74 in 320 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 right-hander has not come close to the playoffs on Pirates teams that finished 76-86 in 2024 and 71-91 last year.Pittsburgh enters this season with seven straight losing records and 27 in 30 years that included a record 20 in a row from 1993 to 2012. The Pirates haven't reached the World Series since winning the 1979 title.Skenes is on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2029 season, having earned extra major league service time by finishing among the top two in voting for the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year award, which he won. That provision was added to the collective bargaining agreement in 2022.If he stays healthy and keeps pitching like the way he has been, he likely would command a record contract for a pitcher. Given the Pirates lack the revenue of large-market teams, they could consider trading him for prospects before he reaches free agency.Skenes tends to not look too far ahead. He marveled at the Dominicans' batting order that included eight All-Stars combining for 27 selections."Before and after," he said, "but can't get too caught up on that."

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 15: Manager Mark DeRosa #9 takes the game ball from Paul Skenes #30 of Team USA during the 2026 World Baseball Classic WBC game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on Sunday, March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

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DeRosa: Skenes is special pitcher that 'wants the moment'

MIAMI (AP) — On a night when All-Stars and future Hall of Famers thrilled fans and each other unt...

MIAMI (AP) — On a night when All-Stars and future Hall of Famers thrilled fans and each other until the final out, Aaron Judge proclaimed the World Baseball Classic had grown into the sport’s biggest event."The World Series I was in, the crowd here, the crowd we had when we played against Mexico, it's bigger and better than the World Series," the U.S. captain said after a 2-1 semifinal win over the Dominican Republic that came down to Sunday night’s final pitch. "The passion that these fans have, representing their country, representing some of their favorite players, there's nothing like it."American tradition emphasizing understatement on a team led by Judge and Bryce Harper was showcased against Latin flair on a side featuring Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. When Junior Caminero homered against Paul Skenes to put the Dominicans ahead in the second inning, he celebrated with an overhand bat flip.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In the sixth tournament of an event that started in 2006, the game featured starting lineups featuring 17 All-Stars totaling 56 selections among the 20 starters. They had won five MVP awards, one Cy Young, five Rookies of the Year and three batting titles.Before a crowd of 36,337 at IoanDepot park, the U.S. overcame the deficit on fourth-inning home runs by Gunnar Henderson off Luis Severino and Roman Anthony against Gregory Soto.Anthony, at 21 the youngest American player, had bought a ticket for the 2023 WBC final in Miami and watched from the seats as Japan beat the U.S. 3-2. "Coming to the WBC here, you dream of representing this country and being here the next time around," Anthony said.American relievers allowed two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings, capped by Mason Miller topping 100 mph with 13 of 22 pitches. Miller's last appeared to be low for ball four to Geraldo Perdomo but plate umpire Cory Blaser emphatically signaled strike three."Just a game we'll remember forever, right?" U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said. "We understood this was going to be a talked-about game, probably one of the most watched games of all time."Dynamic defense was commonplace.With the U.S. trailing by a run in the third, Judge threw a 95.7-mph strike from right field to third base to cut down Fernando Tatis Jr. for the inning's final out. Judge then made a diving backland catch to rob Soto, his former New York Yankees teammate, in the fourth.Julio Rodríguez denied Judge a home run with a leaping catch at the center-field wall in the fifth, 407 feet from the plate."I was like, OK, maybe we got a shot here," Judge recalled. "But hit it to a guy like J-Rod, who's one of the best, if not the best center fielder in the game, he's going make exciting plays like that in big moments."Shortstop Bobby Witt ranged to the right field side of the infield to snag Soto's slow bouncer in the fifth, scrambled to back to touch second base and made an off-balance throw to first for an inning-ending double play. One inning later, Witt threw out Manny Machado at first from the outfield grass.Pitching moments were memorable, too.Dominican starter Severino stranded runners at second and third in the third inning when he struck out Judge and Kyle Schwarber, and Skenes escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth when Austin Wells flied out.Wells doubled with one out in the seventh and the relatively slow-footed catcher was held at third on Perdomo’s single to Crow-Armstrong in center. David Bednar then struck out Tatis Jr. and Ketel Marte on breaking balls below the strike zone.Before Miller got the strike three call in the ninth, Perdomo had fouled off a pair of full-count pitches."The whole world saw in two teams some of the best players in the game," said Dominican manager Albert Pujols, a likely future Hall of Famer.Rosters included 18 of the 41 players who received MVP votes last year.Judge gave a postgame speech to teammates, looking ahead to Tuesday's championship against Venezuela or Italy. He had perceived a special night Sunday from the start."You get chills standing there on the line, hearing them announce all the names," he said. "It was like an All-Star team they got over there."

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 15: Aaron Judge #99 of Team USA looks on during the 2026 World Baseball Classic WBC game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on Sunday, March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

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Judge: WBC 'bigger and better' than World Series

Brittany Ratcliffe's scored a late goal to give the Seattle Reign a 2-1, rain-delayed victory on ...

Brittany Ratcliffe's scored a late goal to give the Seattle Reign a 2-1, rain-delayed victory on the road against the Orlando Pride on Sunday.Angel City also opened the National Women's Soccer League season with a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Stars in Los Angeles.The Reign opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Nérilia Mondésir slipped in a pass to Jess Fishlock who put on a few nifty moves to put the visitors ahead 1-0.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In the 42nd minute, off a corner kick delivery from Jacquie Ovalle, defender Rafaelle appeared to have tied it up, but it was called back due to a foul.After a lengthy weather delay of some three hours, Haley McCutcheon would find Barbra Banda in the 51st minute for the equalizer. Orlando received a major boost when Banda was removed from the season-ending injury list early this week.Five minutes after subbing on, Ratcliffe headed home the winner in the 83rd minute, with Mondésir providing her second assist of the game.Fuller and Borges lead Angel City in season-opening routMidfielders Kennedy Fuller and Ary Borges had a goal and assist apiece in Angel City's dominant win over the Stars.Angel City FC found a breakthrough goal in the 33rd minute from Fuller. Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher went to make the save, but the ball slipped through her outstretched arms.After four successive corners, Evelyn Shores doubled the lead on an open header because of a defensive breakdown by Chicago.In the 66th minute, the Stars tried to play out of the back and paid the price. Ary Borges intercepted the pass and slot it home to make it 3-0.Sveindís Jónsdóttir found an open Maiara Niehues for the final tally.The four goals were the most ACFC has scored since a 4-3 thriller over Washington Spirit on May 2, 2025.Angel City defender Savy King returned to play for the first time since suffering a cardiac event during a game on May 9th, 2025 that led to open heart surgery. She subbed into the match in the 63rd minute.Forward Jordyn Huitema started for Chicago after being acquired in a trade this week from Seattle.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Brittany Ratcliffe #13 of Seattle Reign FC celebrates scoring her team's second goal with teammates during the NWSL match between Orlando Pride and Seattle Reign at Inter&Co Stadium on March 15, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.

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Reign, Angel City open NWSL season with wins

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final 7-6 (6),...

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) on Sunday, winning seven straight points to rally from a 4-0 deficit in the second-set tiebreak and claim the title without dropping a single set.The No. 2-ranked Italian beat Medvedev for the ninth time in their last 10 matches to claim his first title at the California <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">desert tournament</a>. Medvedev handed top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz his first loss of the year in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Sinner congratulated fellow Italian Kimi Antonelli, who won Formula One’s Chinese Grand Prix earlier Sunday.“It hasn’t anything to do with tennis, but it has been a special day for Italy,” Sinner said. “Because I’m a huge Formula One fan and having a very, very young Italian, Kimi, bringing Italy back home at the top, it’s amazing. So, thanks, Kimi, thanks Formula One, and see you next year.”

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Jannik Sinner of Italy hoists the championship trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev during their Men's Singles Finals match on Day 12 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2026 in Indian Wells, California.

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UConn was awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the women's NCAA Tournament on Sunday and enters Marc...

UConn was awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the women's NCAA Tournament on Sunday and enters March Madness needing six more victories to complete the seventh undefeated season in school history.The Huskies (34-0) are looking for their 13th national title and becoming the first team to repeat as champions since the Huskies won four in a row from 2013-16. They are joined by UCLA, Texas and South Carolina as the other No. 1 seeds.UConn, which is led by stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, opens the tournament at home against 16th-seeded UTSA and will play in the Fort Worth Regional. If seeds hold, the Huskies could face No. 2 Vanderbilt, which is coached by former UConn great Shea Ralph.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>UCLA (31-1) was just behind the Huskies as the second overall seed in the tournament. The Bruins have won 25 straight games in dominant fashion with the lone loss this season coming against Texas on a neutral court.UCLA reached the Final Four last year before losing to UConn. Cori Close's team ran through the Big Ten and has an experienced group led by center Lauren Betts looking to win the school’s first NCAA championship.The Bruins will try to win the first women's national championship for the Big Ten Conference since 1999. The Bruins are one of 12 Big Ten teams in the field. That matches the record they set last season for most teams in the tournament. The SEC has 10, the ACC nine and Big 12 eight.Other tops teams in UCLA's region are No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Duke and No. 4 Minnesota.The Longhorns (31-3) earned the third No. 1 seed after winning the SEC Tournament title. They beat South Carolina in two of the three meetings this season. Texas will play in Fort Worth Regional 3. Other top teams in Texas’ region are No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Louisville and No. 4 West Virginia.The Gamecocks (31-3) are the No. 1 seed in Sacramento Regional 4 and have been a No. 1 seed for six consecutive seasons now. They will be joined by No. 2 Iowa, No. 3 TCU and No, 4 Oklahoma.The College of Charleston won the Colonial Athletic Association to make the tournament field for the first time in school history. The Cougars are a 14-seed and are the lone first time entry in the field. Last season, there were six newcomers.Financial compensationFor the second consecutive year, teams in the women's tournament will be financially compensated, in a similar fashion to the men's field, for each round they play. "Units" are what the NCAA calls its tally of wins, automatic qualifiers and at-large bids that determine how much conferences are paid. A unit is money paid to conferences when one of its teams appears in the NCAA Tournament.This year, the NCAA is giving teams that reach the championship game and the one that wins the title extra units. That extra compensation was added to the overall pool and doesn’t decrease the overall value of the units.Tournament sitesThe top 16 seeds in the 68-team field will host first- and second-round games, with the regional rounds being played at two neutral sites for the fourth straight year. Fort Worth, Texas, will host half of the Sweet 16 and Sacramento, California, will host the other eight teams.The Final Four will be played in Phoenix on April 3 and the championship game is two days later.For the first time the NCAA revealed the 16 host schools a day early. It gave schools an extra day to sell tickets, broadcast partner ESPN a head start to move its equipment to the locations and the NCAA more time to get its marketing materials to sites.Tennessee streakingTennessee kept its streak alive of reaching every NCAA Tournament since the first one in 1982. The 10th-seeded Lady Vols, who have lost seven consecutive games, only had 16 wins this season, the fewest for an at-large team since Oklahoma also had 16 in 2018. The seed is the lowest for the storied program since Tennessee was an 11-seed in 2019.

UNCASVILLE, CT - MARCH 07: KK Arnold #2 of the UConn Huskies, Azzi Fudd #35 of the UConn Huskies, and Sarah Strong #21 of the UConn Huskies react on the bench during the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal game between the UConn Huskies and the Georgetown Hoyas on March 7, 2026 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

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MIAMI (AP) — A work stoppage that leads to canceled games during the 2027 Major League Baseball s...

MIAMI (AP) — A work stoppage that leads to canceled games during the 2027 Major League Baseball season could disrupt plans under discussion to have big league players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.The Major League Baseball Players Association is negotiating with Major League Baseball, the IOC, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the World Baseball Softball Confederation on the six-nation baseball event, scheduled for Dodger Stadium from July 13-19 during what could be an extended All-Star break.MLB and the union also are preparing for the start of bargaining in April or May for a labor contract to replaced the current five-year agreement that expires Dec. 1. A management lockout is expected to start Dec. 2.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"It can be on a separate track, but I'm sure it will come up in the course of negotiations," new acting union head Bruce Meyer said Sunday night at the World Baseball Classic. "If we're in a situation where games are being missed in '27, that could have an impact on playing the Olympics after that."Meyer said a lost 2027 season would eliminate big leaguers from the 2028 Olympics."If we don't have a season, we're not going to play in the Olympics," he said.MLB has not lost regular-season games due to a labor dispute since 1995.Insurance and player accommodations remain issues that must be resolved for MLB players to appear at the Olympics. At the WBC, costs are split proportionally among the shareholders — MLB and the union have equal stakes that are the most, and the WBSC, Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization also own minority shares."The federations involved, the IOC, we still have a lot of issues to work out with the league," Meyer said. "I don't have any reason to believe that that’s going to be a significant impediment in any way, but we still do have a lot of issues to be worked out, pretty much everything other than the qualifying — issues like insurance, transportation, and a whole variety of issues. ... Housing, lodging, security is all still under discussion."Players during the regular season are entitled to "first-class jet air and hotel accommodations," according to their labor contract, and they likely would not want to stay in dormitory-type rooms commonly used at Olympics.For players not in the Olympics, discussions are exploring the possibility of having teams play exhibition games against each other or minor-league affiliates.Meyer spoke on the field at the Miami Marlins' loanDepot park before the U.S. played the Dominican Republic for a berth in Tuesday's WBC final against Venezuela or Italy.A crowd of 34,548 attended Venezuela's 8-5 upset win over Japan in a quarterfinal Saturday night. The Marlins drew 1.16 million at home last year, 28th among the 30 teams, and drew 29 crowds of less than 10,000."In this market, in Miami, you can see the the fan interest in baseball, which unfortunately is perhaps not maximized by the franchise here," Meyer said.MLB and the union are discussing the possibility of having exhibition games during an extended 2028 break for those players not at the Olympics.The Dominican Republic and Venezuela have qualified along with the host U.S. and one team from Asia and one team from Europe/Oceania can qualify from this November's WBSC Premier 12 tournament.A final qualifying tournament will be played no later than March 2028 that includes the top two non-yet-qualified teams from the latest Asia Championship, the top two non-yet-qualified teams from the latest European Championship, the highest-placed non-yet-qualified team from the latest Africa Championship and the highest-placed non-yet-qualified team from the latest Oceania Championship.Meyer was promoted to acting union head last month following the forced resignation of Tony Clark, a former All-Star first baseman who had led players since 2013. An investigation by the union’s outside counsel discovered evidence that Clark had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, a union employee since 2023.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: A "Welcome to Dodger Stadium" sign is displayed before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

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MLBPA: Work stoppage could disrupt big leaguers at Olympics

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Denny Hamlin returned to victory lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday for ...

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Denny Hamlin returned to victory lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday for his first win since he lost the NASCAR championship four months ago, and first since the death of his father in a December house fire.“I knew it took a few weeks to feel like driving,” Hamlin said after his 61st career victory. “Over the last couple weeks, I definitely regained my love of it, got refocused. These are great opportunities for us.”Hamlin's 60th career victory was at Las Vegas last October, a win he dedicated to his father as it locked Hamlin into NASCAR's championship-deciding finale. His father was in poor health and Hamlin went into the race knowing it was probably his final chance to win a championship while Dennis Hamlin was still alive.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Then Hamlin dominated last year's title-decider at Phoenix Raceway but the wrong call on the final pit stop cost him the Cup championship that has eluded the three-time Daytona 500 winner.What followed was an emotional rollercoaster: Hamlin, as co-owner of 23XI Racing, was part of the winning team in a federal lawsuit against NASCAR last December. Weeks later, his father was killed in a fire that destroyed the home Hamlin purchased to thank his parents for getting him into NASCAR.He returned for the start of his 21st season and went to victory lane as an owner with Tyler Reddick when the 23XI Racing driver won the Daytona 500 and then set a NASCAR record by winning the first three races of the year.Most of the attention went to 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan as Reddick won Daytona, Atlanta and Circuit of the Americas.Hamlin did his part at Las Vegas to put himself back in the spotlight.“It is just so satisfying, so gratifying. You just never know what can happen year over year if you still have it or not," said Hamlin. “I wasn’t totally locked in for the first few weeks. We’ve just been hitting our stride now. This is our bread and butter, these are the tracks that we know we can go win, and we executed. This is a team win. The team did it.”The 45-year-old Virginia driver overcome an early speeding penalty and drove from 31st through the field in a fairly dominating win for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. He led a race-high 134 laps.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No stopping that No. 11 today! <a href="https://twitter.com/dennyhamlin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dennyhamlin</a> is heading to Victory Lane in Las Vegas! <a href="https://t.co/UCiO0ErV80">pic.twitter.com/UCiO0ErV80</a>— NASCAR (@NASCAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/2033319290196083048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Hamlin was joined by his fiancee and their three children as he collected the checkered flag, and he was sure his father was smiling somewhere.“This is a family sport. My family obviously had so much sacrifice to help me get here,” said Hamlin. “Now that I’ve grown, generations of Hamlins following me, it’s great Mom gets to see this. I know Dad’s still saying, ‘That’s my boy.’ Hell of a day.”Team owner Joe Gibbs' praised Hamlin's resilience.“He’s been through a lot. Denny seems to have the ability to continue to work through things,” said Gibbs. “Has a way of just really still being very competitive. I appreciate him so much. We’re riding Denny for about 20 years. It’s been an awful good trip for us.”Toyota has won four of the first five races.Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and William Byron finished second and third in Chevrolets; JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs were fourth and fifth to give JGR three cars in the top-five."It makes my job really easy when I can drive Toyotas that fast,” Hamlin said.Gibbs on a rollIt was the third consecutive top-five finish for Gibbs, who is a central figure in a federal lawsuit filed by JGR against former competition director Chris Gabehart. The two sides are back in court in North Carolina on Monday as JGR seeks a restraining order to stop Gabehart for working for rival Spire Motorsports.“Just don't want to be in court,” said team owner Gibbs. “But we're going to be there. I think it's important for us to follow through with this.”Gabehart has said his time at JGR became untenable in part because of preferential treatment toward Gibbs, who is the grandson of the team owner.JGR alleges Gabehart stole proprietary information before he left the team, and had a non-compete clause that prevents him from joining another team. Gabehart claims JGR stopped paying him in November and the role he now has with Spire is completely different from what he did for Gibbs.Gabehart was at the track Sunday with Spire, which at Las Vegas had its trucks parked next to the JGR trucks.Up nextThe Cup Series races Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. Joe Gibbs Racing dominated at the track last year — Hamlin won in April and Chase Briscoe in August.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Hamlin storms back to win at Las Vegas after early penalty

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brian White scored two goals for the second consecutive game, ...

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brian White scored two goals for the second consecutive game, Sebastian Berhalter opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the eighth minute and added two assists, and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat Minnesota United 6-0 on Sunday.Mathias Laborda added a goal in the 22nd minute, Emmanuel Sabbi scored in the 43rd gave the Whitecaps a 4-0 lead at halftime and Cheikh Sabaly’s first MLS goal in his second career appearance capped the scoring in the 74th. Yohei Takaoka finished with four saves and had his third shutout of the season.Minnesota (1-2-1) tied the club's single-game mark for goals conceded and set the record for largest margin of defeat.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>White scored a goal in his third consecutive game in the 13th minute that made it 2-0 and converted from the penalty spot in the 54th to give Vancouver (4-0-0) a five-goal lead. White has 84 goals and 16 assists for the Whitecaps across all competitions, the first player in the club’s MLS era with at least 100 goal contributions.Sebastian Schonlau made his MLS debut when he subbed on for Edier Ocampo in the 65th minute.Drake Callender stopped two shots for Minnesota.

VANCOUVER, CANADA - MARCH 15: Brian White #24 of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC celebrates with teammates Edier Ocampo #18, Mihail Gherasimencov #29 and Emmanuel Sabbi #11 after scoring a goal against the Minnesota United during the second half of MLS action at BC Place on March 15, 2026 in Vancouver, Canada.

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Whitecaps hand Minnesota worst regular-season loss in club history

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the women’s final Sunday for...

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the women’s final Sunday for her first Indian Wells title. Sabalenka, a runner-up in 2023 and ’25, finished off the win with a big serve that Rybakina hit long.It was a sweltering afternoon on the court as the temperatures soared into the 90s. The 27-year-old Sabalenka had a chance to close out the third set but was broken at 5-4. Rybakina found herself with a championship point in the tiebreaker, only to have Sabalenka hit a backhand winner.“I think the whole idea going into this match was to be mentally strong, to stay strong, no matter what, to show with the body language that I’m here, I’m fighting,” Sabalenka said in a post-match interview on the Tennis Channel. “You have to get a win with incredible tennis and that was the whole idea going into this one. I’m happy that it really worked.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It’s been quite a stretch for Sabalenka. First, a puppy and then <a href="https://apnews.com/article/aryna-sabalenka-engagement-indian-wells-e4017ab740806d86902cfcb014120093">an engagement ring</a> from Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis.Now, a title in the desert.“I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” she said.This marked the 16th time the two players have met, with Sabalenka now holding a 9-7 advantage. Rybakina of Kazakhstan beat Sabalenka at the 2025 WTA Finals championship and the Australian Open two months ago. She also edged Sabalenka in the finals at Indian Wells in 2023.“It was a very difficult match,” Rybakina said after the match as she congratulated Sabalenka.There’s not much time to celebrate for Sabalenka, who was set to leave Sunday night for the Miami Open, where she’s the defending champion.“Probably will have a couple drinks on the plane and that’s it,” Sabalenka said. “I’m defending champion there, so I have to bring my best tennis there. But with these vibes that I’m taking from here, I think I’ll be able to be there and to fight and to do my very best to defend that beautiful trophy.”___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Aryna Sabalenka poses with the championship trophy after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women's Singles Finals match on Day 12 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2026 in Indian Wells, California.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Wes Enis scored 19 points on Sunday to help top-seeded South Florida beat...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Wes Enis scored 19 points on Sunday to help top-seeded South Florida beat No. 2 seed Wichita State 70-55 to win the American Athletic Conference Tournament and clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.South Florida (25-8) has won 11 in a row and secured its first AAC Tournament crown. The Bulls have won back-to-back conference regular-season titles.Izaiyah Nelson had 13 points, six rebound, three steals and two blocks for USF and Josh Omojafo scored 10.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>CJ Brown threw an alley-oop to Nelson for a dunk that made it 10-8 a little more than six minutes into the game and the Bulls led the rest of the way.Wichita State (22-11) twice in the second half trimmed its deficit to a point before Isaiah Jones and Enis hit back-to-back 3s to spark a 14-4 spurt that gave South Florida a 59-45 lead with 6 1/2 minutes to play.Dillon Battie led the Shockers with 15 points and Will Berg added 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Kenyon Giles, the team’s leading scorer this season (19.7 per game), finished with five points on 2-of-11 shooting, 1 of 7 from 3-point range.Wichita State had its seven-game win streak — which dated to a 66-58 home loss to the Bulls on Feb. 11 — snapped.Up nextWichita State: Awaits a potential postseason invitation.South Florida: Will be a No. 11 seed and plays Thursday against sixth-seeded Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball">https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball</a>

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MARCH 05: Josh Omojafo #8 of the South Florida Bulls reacts during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum on March 05, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee.

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USF wins American title to reach 1st Big Dance in 14 years

CHICAGO (AP) — Oscar Cluff scored 21 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn had 20 and No. 18 Purdue topped No...

CHICAGO (AP) — Oscar Cluff scored 21 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn had 20 and No. 18 Purdue topped No. 3 Michigan 80-72 on Sunday for the Big Ten Tournament championship.Braden Smith had 14 points, 11 assists and three steals as Purdue (27-8) added to an impressive turnaround after closing the regular season with four losses in six games. Fletcher Loyer made three 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.The Boilermakers won the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2023 and third time overall. They lost to the Wolverines in the final in 1998 and 2018.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Yaxel Lendeborg scored 20 points for top-seeded Michigan (31-3), which beat Purdue <a href="https://apnews.com/article/boilermakers-wolverines-score-18adad7af8021c8caa0984765034939a">91-80</a> in their regular-season meeting on Feb. 17. Aday Mara had 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.Wearing No. 41 after his No. 3 jersey ripped early in the game, Smith helped the Boilermakers seize control by deftly running the pick and roll with Kaufman-Renn in the second half. The senior point guard has 1,075 career assists, just one shy of Bobby Hurley’s NCAA record.Two jumpers by Kaufman-Renn off passes from Smith powered Purdue to a 55-44 lead with 12:55 left. After Elliot Cadeau scored for Michigan, the 6-foot Smith drove inside, drew a foul on the 7-3 Mara and scored, drawing a big cheer from the Purdue fans in the crowd at the United Center.Smith celebrated by pounding his chest as he walked toward a rollicking Purdue bench. He made the ensuing free throw for a 58-46 lead with 12:06 to go.The Boilermakers made nine of their first 11 shots in the second half. They shot 15 for 26 in the second half overall.Cadeau finished with 10 points and 10 assists for Michigan, which won the Big Ten tourney in 2025. Playing in his hometown, Nimari Burnett scored 12 points.Purdue used a 12-2 run to take a 38-34 lead late in the first half. But Cadeau found Mara for an alley-oop dunk and converted a tying layup in the final seconds.Up nextMichigan is likely headed for a No. 1 seed when the bracket for the NCAA Tournament is announced later Sunday.Purdue is in the mix for a No. 2 seed after its impressive performance at the United Center.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball">https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball</a>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: The Purdue Boilermakers celebrate after defeating the Michigan Wolverines in the 2026 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Championship game at the United Center on March 15, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Purdue upsets Michigan in Big Ten title game

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