Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri were targeted with racist a...

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri were targeted with racist abuse online after the teams' 1-1 draw in the Premier League.Both players shared images of racist messages they were sent privately over Instagram following Saturday's game at Stamford Bridge.It came days after UEFA began an investigation into claims by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior that he was racially abused on the field by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League game in Lisbon.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Fofana, who was sent off for receiving two yellow cards against Burnley, posted screenshots of messages he had been sent and wrote on Instagram: "2026, it's still the same thing, nothing changes. These people are never punished."You create big campaigns against racism, but nobody actually does anything."Mejbri wrote on his Instagram story: "It's 2026 and there are still people like that. Educate yourself and your kids, please."Chelsea said in a statement the abuse directed at Fofana was "completely unacceptable and runs counter to the values of the game and everything we stand for as a club.""We stand unequivocally with Wes," the statement read. "He has our full support, as do all our players who are too often forced to endure this hatred simply for doing their job."We will work with the relevant authorities and platforms in identifying the perpetrators and take the strongest possible action."Burnley said in its statement there was "no place for this in our society and we condemn it unreservedly."___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Wesley Fofana of Chelsea is challenged by Hannibal Mejbri of Burnley during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge on February 21, 2026 in London, England.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34583354/related

Fofana, Mejbri targeted with racist abuse after Chelsea-Burnley game

PROVO, Utah (AP) — AJ Dybantsa had 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to help No. 23 BYU bea...

PROVO, Utah (AP) — AJ Dybantsa had 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to help No. 23 BYU beat No. 6 Iowa Iowa State 79-69 on Saturday night for its first victory over a Top 10 opponent this season.Kennard Davis, Jr. added 17 points, and Mihailo Boskovic had 13 for the Cougars (20-7, 8-6 Big 12). They outscored Iowa State 40-22 in the paint and had a 39-28 edge on the glass.Tamin Lipsey led the Cyclones (23-4, 10-4) with 19 points. Jamarion Batemon added 14, and Joshua Jefferson had 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Iowa State was tabbed as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s reveal of the Top 16 teams in the bracket earlier Saturday. The Cyclones were the fifth Top 10 team on the day to suffer a loss.Iowa State whittled a double-digit deficit to a basket, drawing to 57-54 on Lipsey’s 3-pointer with 7:21 left.Dybantsa and Davis scored back-to-back baskets at the rim to quell the rally. It marked the beginning of a 13-3 run that made it 70-57 with 3:33 remaining.Rob Wright III bookended a 13-0 run with a pair of layups that put BYU up 37-25 in the final minute before halftime. The Cougars attacked the rim throughout the first half and outscored Iowa State 22-6 in the paint over the first 20 minutes.Up nextIowa State: At Utah on Tuesday night.BYU: Hosts UCF on Tuesday night.___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 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>

PROVO, UT - FEBRUARY 21: Keba Keita #13 of the Brigham Young Cougars flies to dunk the ball over Jamarion Batemon #1 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half of their game at the Marriott Center on February 21, 2026 in Provo, Utah.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34581509/related

BYU turns away No. 6 Iowa State for first top-10 win

NEW YORK (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points, Jalen Bruson had 20 and the New York Knicks ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points, Jalen Bruson had 20 and the New York Knicks overcame an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Houston Rockets 108-106 on Saturday night.OG Anunoby added 20 points, and Mikal Bridges had 11 for New York. The Knicks bounced back two nights after a disappointing loss to Eastern Conference-leading Detroit.Kevin Durant scored 30 points for Houston. Jabari Smith Jr. had 21, Alperen Sengun added 16, and Amen Thompson had 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Rockets had won five a row.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
KNICKS RALLY BACK FROM 18 IN Q4 TO WIN AT MSG 🚨 It's their largest comeback this season! <a href="https://t.co/1CyvIHXdMS">pic.twitter.com/1CyvIHXdMS</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2025429500868141197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The Knicks, who led by 13 points in the first half, began their comeback with an 8-1 run in the opening minutes of the fourth before Smith hit a 3-pointer in front of the Houston bench.Houston missed eight consecutive shots and turned the ball over two times as the Knicks went on a 14-2 run, capped by Towns’ layup off the glass that cut it to 99-97 with 3:32 left.Bruson’s jumper tied it at 103 with 1:26 left. Durant then lost the ball near the sideline and committed an offensive foul on the following possession as he plowed into Brunson.Brunson answered with a pullup jumper that gave New York the lead for good. Durant had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but missed a 40-footer.Up nextRockets: Host Utah on Monday night.Knicks: At Chicago on Sunday night.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts to shooting a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on February 21, 2026 in New York City.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34581190/related

Knicks erase 18-point deficit in 4th to stun Rockets

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) — NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore, who suffered a season-ending training ca...

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) — NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore, who suffered a season-ending training camp knee injury in each of the last two years after a standout college career at Purdue and a promising start in the league with the Arizona Cardinals, died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound on Saturday in his native Indiana, police said. He was 25.Moore was found dead in the garage of a property in New Albany, police chief Todd Bailey said. The death remained under investigation. Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin also confirmed Moore's death. He said an autopsy would be conducted on Sunday.After being traded to the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, Moore dislocated his right knee during training camp and never played for them. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2025, but he blew out his left knee while returning a punt in their first exhibition game and spent another full season on injured reserve. Moore was so distraught after immediately realizing the seriousness of that injury that he slammed his hand down on a cart so hard the sound was audible throughout the stadium.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Vikings said they had spoken with Moore's family to offer condolences and support.“I am devastated by the news of Rondale’s death. While Rondale had been a member of the Vikings for a short time, he was someone we came to know well and care about deeply," coach Kevin O'Connell said in a statement distributed by the team. “He was a humble, soft-spoken, and respectful young man who was proud of his Indiana roots. As a player, he was disciplined, dedicated and resilient despite facing adversity multiple times as injuries sidelined him throughout his career. We are all heartbroken by the fact he won’t continue to live out his NFL dream and we won’t all have a chance to watch him flourish.”In a statement, the Cardinals said they were “devastated and heartbroken.”“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who loved him and had the privilege of knowing such a special person,” the team said in a social media post.Moore grew up in New Albany, just across the Indiana border from Louisville, Kentucky, and was named a first team All-American as a freshman at Purdue in 2018.“Rondale Moore was a complete joy to coach. The ultimate competitor who wouldn’t back down from any challenge. Rondale had a work ethic unmatched by anyone. A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale; we loved his smile and his competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact," Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said on social media. Brohm was the coach at Purdue when Moore played there.Drafted in the second round by the Cardinals in 2021, Moore had 1,201 receiving yards and three touchdowns plus 249 rushing yards and one score over three seasons. He served as their primary returner for kickoffs and punts as a rookie before injuries pushed him away from that role.“Can’t even begin to fathom or process this," former Cardinals teammate J.J. Watt said on social media. “There’s just no way. Way too soon. Way too special. So much left to give. Rest in peace Rondale.”___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NFL">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>

LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 10: Rondale Moore #4 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball against the Washington Commanders during the second half of the game at FedExField on September 10, 2023 in Landover, Maryland.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34580402/related

NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore found dead at 25

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cameron Boozer scored 18 points and No. 3 Duke handed another neutral-site loss...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cameron Boozer scored 18 points and No. 3 Duke handed another neutral-site loss to fellow blueblood Michigan, knocking off the top-ranked Wolverines 68-63 on Saturday night in a raucous possible Final Four preview in the nation’s capital.The Wolverines had won 11 straight and replaced Arizona atop the AP Top 25 this week. The now-fourth-ranked Wildcats won at No. 2 Houston earlier Saturday, making it the first time since Feb. 8, 2025, that the teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the poll lost on the same day.With his dad, former Duke and NBA star Carlos Boozer, in attendance, Cameron Boozer hit a 3-pointer with 1:55 left to give the Blue Devils a 64-58 lead. Isaiah Evans added 14 points for the Blue Devils (25-2), who could return to Capital One Arena in just over a month for the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In the programs’ first meeting in 12 years, Duke improved to 23-8 against Michigan and 7-0 on neutral courts, a series that includes the 1992 national title game. Michigan hasn’t beaten Duke since Dec. 6, 2009 in Ann Arbor.Yaxel Lendeborg scored 21 points for the Wolverines (25-2), who had not lost since a home defeat by three points to Wisconsin on Jan. 10.While second-year coach Dusty May’s Michigan squad has been hailed for unselfishness, Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils showed more versatility on the offensive end. Caleb Foster scored 12 points and Patrick Ngongba II added 11 as Duke found soft spots in the Wolverines’ top-rated defense.Meanwhile, Duke won the rebounding battle 41-28 as Michigan settled for too many one-and-done perimeter shots, going 6 of 25 from 3-point range.Fans traded chants of “Let’s go Duke!” and “Let’s go Blue!” for the rare must-see matchup in a city starved for meaningful basketball. ESPN’s “College GameDay” was broadcast from inside the arena during the teams’ morning shootaround, and tickets for upper-level seats were selling in the $600 range in the hours before the game, with courtside seats upwards of $6,000.Defense had the upper hand in a spirited, physical first half in which neither team led by more than five points. Ngongba was fouled while fighting for a rebound with 0.8 seconds left and made both free throws to give the Blue Devils a 35-33 lead at the break.Surprisingly, Duke never trailed again.Up nextMichigan: Hosts Minnesota on Tuesday night.Duke: At Notre Dame on Tuesday night.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a>. 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>

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 14: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils works on defense during the game against the Clemson Tigers at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34578016/related

Boozer's double-double helps No. 3 Duke knock off No. 1 Michigan

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint Germain returned to the top of the French league on Saturday thanks to a...

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint Germain returned to the top of the French league on Saturday thanks to a favor from Champions League playoff opponent Monaco.Désiré Doue, Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos scored for PSG to defeat last-place Metz 3-0 and capitalize on Monaco’s earlier 3-2 win over previous leader Lens.PSG moved two points clear of Lens with 11 rounds to play.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Lens had moved top the previous weekend with a 5-0 rout of promoted Paris FC while PSG lost 3-1 at Rennes.But Lens’ hopes of a prolonged stay at the summit were dealt a bitter blow Saturday after it squandered a comfortable two-goal lead and conceded three goals to Metz after the hour-mark.<h3>Lens stunned</h3>Odsonne Édouard scored early with a volley for Lens and Florian Thauvin converted the rebound after Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn could only parry a deflected shot early in the second half.That was as good as it got for the home team.United States forward Folarin Balogun scored against the run of play in the 62nd, Denis Zakaria equalized in the 70th and Ansu Fati pounced on another defensive blunder to make it 3-2 two minutes after that.It was quite the reversal for Monaco, which led PSG 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League playoff on Tuesday after two goals from Balogun, only to lose 3-2.Lens’ evening was summed up when Saud Abdulhamid was booked for diving instead of getting a penalty that he felt he deserved.<h3>PSG respond</h3>Metz must have feared a rout when Doue scored after just two minutes of play after Warren Zaïre-Emery played a long ball in behind the high line of Metz defenders.Ramos played the ball across goal for Barcola to head the second before the break.The home team played it safe after it, when it failed to register a shot on target until Ramos got the third in the 77th.PSG could arguably have scored more but seemed more intent on conserving energy for Wednesday’s rendezvous with Monaco for the second leg of their Champions League playoff in Paris. The winner will go on to face Barcelona or Chelsea in the round of 16.Also Saturday, Argentine teenager Julián Vignolo scored late as a substitute for mid-table Toulouse to draw 1-1 with promoted Paris FC.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola (C-L) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (L), Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #14 Desire Doue (C-R) and Paris Saint-Germain's Ukrainian defender #06 Illia Zabarnyi (R) during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Metz at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 21, 2026.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34574320/related

PSG return to Ligue 1 summit with help from Monaco

HOUSTON (AP) — Anthony Dell’Orso tied a season high with 22 points and No. 4 Arizona toppled seco...

HOUSTON (AP) — Anthony Dell’Orso tied a season high with 22 points and No. 4 Arizona toppled second-ranked Houston 73-66 on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference.Arizona (25-2, 12-2), which opened the season 23-0, won its second straight game following consecutive losses to then-No. 9 Kansas and then-16th-ranked Texas Tech, that knocked the team out of the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll.The Wildcats were down by two before scoring the next 12 points to make it 60-50 with about five minutes remaining. The Cougars missed eight consecutive shots and had three turnovers in that stretch to allow Arizona to build the lead.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Houston (23-4, 11-3) hadn’t scored in about eight minutes when Emanuel Sharp made two free throws with 4 ½ minutes to go. Kalifa Sakho made two more free throws to cut the lead to 60-54 with less than four minutes remaining.It had been more than 10 minutes since the Cougars made a field goal when a 3-pointer by Kingston Flemings got them within 61-57, but Arizona got four straight points by Jaden Bradley to pad the lead with just over a minute left.Flemings had 17 points and Sharp added 14 for the Cougars, who lost consecutive games for the first time this season after falling 70-67 at No. 6 Iowa State on Monday night to end a six-game winning streak.The Cougars struggled to take care of the ball, committing 12 turnovers that led to 16 points for the Wildcats.Arizona led by as many as 10 in the first half and was up by four early in the second half before the Cougars used an 8-2 run to make it 44-42, giving them their first lead of the game with about 14 minutes left.Up nextArizona visits Baylor Tuesday night.Houston visits No. 8 Kansas Monday night.___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>

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 21: Anthony Dell'orso #3 of the Arizona Wildcats congratulates Ivan Kharchenkov #8 after defeating the Houston Cougars at Fertitta Center on February 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34574235/related

Dell'Orso leads Arizona past Houston in top-5 showdown

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz raced to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Arthur Fils to win the final o...

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz raced to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Arthur Fils to win the final of the Qatar Open in just 50 minutes on Saturday.The 22-year-old Spanish star extended his winning streak to 12 matches in 2026, 20 days after he became the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam at the Australian Open — that’s winning all four of the tennis majors.“It’s been a really strong start to the year,” Alcaraz said.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Winning the title in Doha brought his tally to 26 tour-level titles.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

DOHA, QATAR - FEBRUARY 21: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with the trophy after winning his men's singles final match against Arthur Fils of France at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on February 21, 2026 in Doha, Qatar.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34573360/related

Alcaraz takes down Fils in less than an hour to claim Qatar Open title

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit two homers in his spring debut as he ...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit two homers in his spring debut as he prepares for the World Baseball Classic next month.The three-time Most Valuable Player hit a pair of two-run shots, <a href="https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/2025284736591999080">one in the third inning</a> and another in the fourth against the Detroit Tigers. He finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Welcome to baseball season, Aaron Judge homered AGAIN <a href="https://t.co/42CaZKfHkr">pic.twitter.com/42CaZKfHkr</a>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/2025288712557400547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The 33-year-old has won the MVP in three of the past four seasons, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mvp-ohtani-raleigh-judge-b3075edd1277418edc5f695e0e8b23ea">including last year</a> when he hit .331 with 53 homers and 114 RBIs.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“We've got the WBC coming up, which I'm excited about, and an exciting Yankees season,” <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/2025296711808147818">Judge said after his performance</a>. “We've got a lot of unfinished business from last season, especially the way it ended for us. I'm just trying to put myself in the best position to help this team win a lot of ballgames.”Judge will be part of what looks like a loaded Team USA lineup in the WBC. The position player group also includes Bryce Harper, Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber.The WBC's pool play round runs from March 5-11 at four sites in Tokyo, Houston, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The championship game will be on March 17 in Miami.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/mlb">https://apnews.com/mlb</a>

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a two-run home run in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers during a Grapefruit League spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34571291/related

Judge after 2-HR spring debut: Yankees have 'unfinished business'

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Moustapha Thiam had a career-high 28 points and led Cincinnati to an 84-68 ...

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Moustapha Thiam had a career-high 28 points and led Cincinnati to an 84-68 upset of <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">No. 8</a> Kansas on Saturday.This was the second win of the season for Cincinnati (15-12, 7-7 Big 12) against a ranked team, having taken down <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-state-cincinnati-basketball-score-ec0d2a1a062988a0f4f2707e609fdd92">then-No. 2 Iowa State 79-70</a> on Jan. 17.The 7-footer Thiam made 11 of 17 shots from the field and had eight rebounds. Baba Miller added 18 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Jalen Celeste had 14 points and eight rebounds, shooting 4 of 8 on 3-pointers. Day Day Thomas scored 10.Cincinnati held a 36-34 lead after a tumultuous first half that saw nine ties and 10 lead changes. The Bearcats kept the Jayhawks (20-7, 10-4) at arm’s length with timely shots to kill momentum throughout the second, only allowing Kansas to pull ahead for one possession before retaking the lead.They delivered the final blows with a 20-8 run, surging ahead by double digits for the first time with less than five minutes to go.The Bearcats were particularly effective from behind the 3-point line, where they made 12 of 21 attempts.The Jayhawks were 4 of 18 on 3s.Flory Bidunga led the Jayhawks with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman star Darryn Peterson had 17 points in 32 minutes after leaving <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-oklahoma-st-score-dfb47c76d8ff123cd71b6782fe130097">Kansas’ last game against Oklahoma State</a> early in the second half. Tre White scored 11.Up nextKansas: Hosts No. 2 Houston on Monday.Cincinnati: Visits No. 13 Texas Tech on Tuesday.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apnews.com%2Fnewsletters&amp;data=05%7C02%7Csportsdesk%40ap.org%7C18e1cae00c834926600f08de71845247%7Ce442e1abfd6b4ba3abf3b020eb50df37%7C1%7C0%7C639073010299368907%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=oY6gZHikz6IeNivamEwTYm4Y3wTNKz109yl4rvT%2FZ8o%3D&amp;reserved=0">here</a>. AP college basketball: <a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2Fhub%2Fap-top-25-college-basketball-poll&amp;data=05%7C02%7Csportsdesk%40ap.org%7C18e1cae00c834926600f08de71845247%7Ce442e1abfd6b4ba3abf3b020eb50df37%7C1%7C0%7C639073010299416874%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=zEvt8UdddKuYkv6K5od%2FcwMNaB8OEpyDQrZS15bAyJU%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll</a> and <a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2Fhub%2Fcollege-basketball&amp;data=05%7C02%7Csportsdesk%40ap.org%7C18e1cae00c834926600f08de71845247%7Ce442e1abfd6b4ba3abf3b020eb50df37%7C1%7C0%7C639073010299436979%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=c6c53dHWJIKkezxBtphZrkfSYclNWjWX7wBjwvOX1K4%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball</a>

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - FEBRUARY 21: Guard Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks drives against center Moustapha Thiam #52 of the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half at Allen Fieldhouse on February 21, 2026 in Lawrence, Kansas.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34571247/related

Thiam scores career-high 28 to lead Cincinnati to upset of No. 8 Kansas

After an emotionally draining and physically punishing Daytona 500 finish, Chase Elliott is back ...

After an emotionally draining and physically punishing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-daytona-500-michael-jordan-lawsuit-d411cae741310396836eb348221a9e98">Daytona 500 finish</a>, Chase Elliott is back in his happy place — for the most part — this weekend at Echo Park Speedway.NASCAR’s eight-time most popular driver lives about 80 miles from the track south of Atlanta, so the Dawsonville native can sleep in his own bed if he pleases.That’s if he chooses to deal with the traffic.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I say it all the time, but I enjoy coming down here,” Elliott said a day ahead of Sunday’s 400-miler in suburban Hampton, the second race of the 2026 Cup Series season. “It’s nice to have the option to go home. I’ve still got to deal with Atlanta traffic, but that’s OK and worth it.”The Hendrick Motorsports star will welcome the respite <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-daytona-500-elliott-6e418689169bff79d41ebd9c79f92b35">after a last-lap heartbreak</a> in the Feb. 15 season opener, the latest of his 11 failed attempts at The Great American Race. Elliott led with the white flag in sight at Daytona International Speedway before his No. 9 Chevrolet <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-daytona-500-elliott-6e418689169bff79d41ebd9c79f92b35">was turned hard into the outside wall</a>.He’s fine physically, but the pain lingered from another miss at winning NASCAR’s biggest race (which his Hall of Fame father, Bill, won in 1985 and ’87).“Just a huge bummer for sure,” Elliott said. “Crashing like that, it’s never fun, but it’s more just processing how close you were to winning. That can be a challenging thing. Fortunately and unfortunately, I have experienced other losses like that. You look back and run through things that you could have done differently, and that I wish I had. Just hope that we get another chance.”The venue formerly called Atlanta Motor Speedway will offer a similar test of split-second skills. The 1.54-mile oval <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-atlanta-preview-byron-busch-403f2223f325d180e8f4c5bcc2758a5f">was transformed four years ago</a> into a high-banked “drafting track” (similar in style to Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway). In eight races since the reconfiguration, Elliott has two wins and a series-best average finish of 9.14 at Atlanta. He has led the fourth-most laps (166) with lead-lap finishes in all of his starts there since 2022.He will begin fourth of 38 cars Sunday after qualifying was rained out. Daytona 500 winner Tyler Reddick will be on the pole, but Elliott will be a favorite. According to Racing Insights analytics, he ranks first in passing and second on restarts at drafting tracks.Last year, Elliott was eighth with 10 laps left but charged to the front with drafting help from teammate Alex Bowman, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-cup-atlanta-rain-39bdba26564eb3902767ace2e4bdc64c">nipping Brad Keselowski on the last lap for the win</a>.“Everything happens a little quicker,” Elliott said of racing at Atlanta. “The straightaways being as short as they are, things happen fast, like in double time.”That often makes for perilous situations. Four of the past eight races at Atlanta ended under caution, and a record 36 of 40 cars were involved in 10 yellow flags last June.Wreck avoidance is a strength for Elliott, who is among NASCAR’s steadiest drivers. Consistent results will earn a greater reward in the Chase, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-playoff-format-chase-3dc9d3b6347ae958784ae64687459263">the 10-race championship run that has been reintroduced this year</a> in place of the elimination playoffs from the past 12 seasons.Elliott would have won his 2020 championship under the old and new title systems. NASCAR analyst Steve Letarte, a former winning crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, believes <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fozGCZ_bVqg&amp;list=PLtc57NTUizP6ZSOBNu5xXWoAZDGWBEXTZ&amp;index=6&amp;t=4111s">Elliott will benefit the most</a> from the return of the Chase.“Chase Elliott races a little like his personality,” Letarte said. “He’s very respectful. He’s levelheaded. He makes a lot of good decisions. He operates at 99% and just chugs along. He’d be the one I’d have circled that the format suits the best.”Having grown up watching the Chase, the 30-year-old Elliott likes the “very genuine, very original” format and his chances at excelling in the title structure, though he believes he can win any week, too.“My confidence in our whole group maintains at a high level,” he said. “Whether we’re coming off a bad or good week, I know we can get ourselves in the right position to succeed.”Unwanted intrusionNASCAR is searching for a fan who <a href="https://x.com/joe_srigley/status/2023487302727856615?s=20">interrupted a postrace interview</a> with Daniel Suarez. The Spire Motorsports driver was on camera and speaking in Spanish to Fox Deportes when a man clad in wraparound sunglasses leaned into the microphone from behind, said “47, 47, baby” and then tapped Suarez twice on the shoulder before walking away.On this week’s <a href="https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2026/02/17/hauler-talk-nascar-addresses-policy-of-waiting-on-the-yellow-after-a-crash/">“Hauler Talk” podcast</a>, managing director of communications Mike Forde said the incident was being taken “seriously” by NASCAR’s operations and security teams. “If we do find out who this person is, it’s certainly not going to end well for this particular person,” Forde said.Suarez finished 13th in his debut last week for Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet. In the past four seasons with Trackhouse Racing, Atlanta was among his best tracks with two runner-up finishes <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-atlanta-daniel-suarez-729f777af289b5d082f7e828167c3a59">and a victory in 2024</a>. “When they changed the track, I’d say 80% of drivers were negative,” Suarez said. “I was part of the 20% I like new challenges, and something new is the sign of an opportunity.”Contentious lawsuitThe former competition director of Joe Gibbs Racing has responded to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-jgr-gabehart-lawsuit-0dc501bec7f345ea374dc6dcbc658167">a lawsuit from the team</a> that he allegedly embarked on <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-jgr-gabehart-lawsuit-0dc501bec7f345ea374dc6dcbc658167">“a brazen scheme to steal JGR’s most sensitive information."</a>Chris Gabehart, who has joined Spire Motorsports in a managerial position, posted on social media that the claims were “frivolous and retaliatory” and said a third-party expert had examined his laptop, cell phone and Google Drive and “found no evidence to support the baseless allegations in JGR’s lawsuit. We even offered JGR the opportunity to do a similar review of Spire’s systems. JGR refused that offer and filed this spiteful lawsuit instead.”As crew chief for Denny Hamlin from 2019-24, Gabehart oversaw two Daytona 500 victories and three appearances in the championship round.__AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Chase Elliott (#9 Hendrick Motorsports Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet) waves to the crowd prior to the running of the 68th NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 15, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34571169/related

Elliott returns to comfort at home track after Daytona disappointment

MUNICH (AP) — Canada captain Alphonso Davies went off with a hamstring injury during Bayern Munic...

MUNICH (AP) — Canada captain Alphonso Davies went off with a hamstring injury during Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.The speedy left back covered his face with his jersey as he left the field early in the second half, raising fears over the extent of the injury just under four months before his country co-hosts the World Cup.The club later said Davies suffered a muscle tear in his right hamstring and that he “will be sidelined for the time being.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Davies had been able to walk off the field without assistance and Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was initially optimistic about the injury.“It doesn’t look too bad,” Kompany said immediately after Bayern’s 3-2 win. “I don’t know whether it will be two weeks or four weeks. But I have the feeling it won’t be too long. These things happen when players are working their way back (from injury). We just have to hope that it’s not too bad so he can really go for it again.”Davies has only made eight appearances in the Bundesliga this season after missing nearly nine months with a serious knee injury sustained when playing for Canada in March. Davies tore a ligament and sustained other damage in his right knee.Canada hosts the World Cup with the United States and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 21: Alphonso Davies of FC Bayern Munich looks dejected as he is substituted off with an injury during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and Eintracht Frankfurt at Allianz Arena on February 21, 2026 in Munich, Germany.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34566754/related

Davies suffers hamstring injury ahead of Canada's World Cup campaign

MILAN (AP) — Jordan Stolz missed out on his chance to become the first man since 1994 to collect ...

MILAN (AP) — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-stolz-speedskating-olympics-04eac3e3fe76d672c0edc5088d1ac230">Jordan Stolz</a> missed out on his chance to become the first man since 1994 to collect three gold medals in long track <a href="https://apnews.com/article/milan-olympics-long-track-speedskating-cd1e85c30705f473e2ebb2ca1e097598">speedskating</a> at one <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Olympics</a>, finishing fourth in the mass start on Saturday behind 40-year-old champion Jorrit Bergsma of the Netherlands.The mullet-wearing Bergsma is the oldest man to win a speedskating gold, and he adds that to his bronze in the 10,000 meters earlier at the Milan Cortina Games. He now has a total of five Olympic medals, including a gold in the 10,000 way back in 2014. Viktor Hald Thorup of Denmark got the silver Saturday. Andrea Giovannini, who mimicked <a href="https://apnews.com/article/andrea-giovannini-night-steph-curry-olympics-speedskating-2172269ba2aed51dcaeebdb25e17c978">Steph Curry’s “Night night”</a> gesture when he helped Italy beat the favored U.S. in the men’s team pursuit, was the bronze medalist.The gold in the women’s mass start, the last speedskating event at these Olympics, also went to a Dutch skater: reigning world champion Marijke Groenewoud, who hadn’t finished better than seventh in her other three races in Milan. Ivanie Blondin of Canada was the silver medalist for the second Games in a row, followed by Mia Manganello of the U.S. with the bronze.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Blondin helped Canada win a second consecutive team pursuit gold earlier at these Olympics. The 36-year-old Manganello, this season’s World Cup champion in the mass start, took a victory lap with a U.S. flag after the final race of her career.Stolz won his first two events in Milan, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-stolz-olympics-speedskating-339ceb92acbc3450ca973e0fa277403f">500 meters and 1,000 meters</a>. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-stolz-milan-olympics-speedskating-5564aacec42158bd4b816229d56dba03">The 21-year-old from Wisconsin</a> also leaves Italy with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-stolz-olympics-speedskating-1500-1af0e27e896d4004871f0de01f9baf61">the silver in the 1,500</a>. After that result on Thursday, Stolz said: “I didn’t have it today. Not sure why.”He didn’t have enough in the mass start, either.There had been a lot of talk about whether Stolz might end up with a quartet of golds: He was asked questions about that at the outset of the news conferences immediately following his two wins. The last male speedskater to get three golds in long track at a single Winter Games was Johann Olav Koss at the Lillehammer Olympics 32 years ago. The Norwegian won the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000.The only two long track athletes with more are <a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolz-heiden-olympics-speedskating-cfe3070d7785a5f2ece6b748a6af8401">Eric Heiden</a>, who went 5-for-5 for the United States at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, and Lidiya Skoblikova, who claimed four titles in women’s speedskating while representing the Soviet Union in 1964.Bergsma and Thorup broke away from the pack midway through the 16-lap mass start. And then Bergsma went out in front alone, with enough of a lead that he could coast home during the final backstretch, pausing to spread his arms wide, pump his fists overhead and blow kisses to the sizable group of Dutch spectators at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.The mass start, added to the Olympics in 2018, is unlike any other individual event in long track.Instead of essentially racing against the clock during two-person heats, all of the entrants line up together and do 16 laps — a total of 6,400 meters — simultaneously. That can lead to jostling and create what some skaters call random outcomes.“The mass start is just kind of a tossup,” Stolz said before the race. “It’s more like a bonus. It’s so hard to say what’s going to happen in that.”___AP Winter Olympics: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics</a>

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Jordan Stolz of Team United States leads the group in the Speed Skating Men's Mass Start final on day fifteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34566782/related

Stolz misses podium in last race, Dutch skaters sweep mass start golds

Less than three months removed from its first MLS Cup championship, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami sh...

Less than three months removed from its first MLS Cup championship, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami shows no signs of a letdown.The Herons have assembled one of the strongest rosters in Major League Soccer history heading into a season that begins this weekend and bookends around the biggest event of them all, the World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.The ageless Messi — he turns 39 in June — is coming off his second straight MVP award, the first player in MLS history to accomplish that feat. He just keeps adding to a legacy that already ensures he'll be remembered as one of the greatest ever to play the beautiful game.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"He's a quiet guy, but on the pitch he transforms into an animal," teammate Yannick Bright told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "After all he's won, he never wants to lose, not even in training."Messi is hardly going it alone in Miami, which pulled off an impressive reload after bringing a title to South Florida.MLS goalkeeper of the year Dayne St. Clair was lured away from Minnesota United, addressing the club's biggest area of concern. German Berterame arrived from Liga MX's Monterrey to fill a designated player spot, giving the Herons another dynamic threat up front. Newcomers Micael, Sergio Reguilon and David Ayala should help the club cope with the departures of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.Miami begins its title defense Saturday night with a prime-time matchup against Los Angeles FC at the iconic Coliseum, which is expected to draw a crowd of more than 60,000.Messi dealt with a muscle issue during the preseason, which put his availability for the opener in question. But he returned to full training this week and is expected to play.Adding to the excitement in Miami, the Herons will hold the first game at their new Freedom Park stadium on April 4. The 25,000-seat facility completes a more than decade-long quest to build a soccer-specific stadium within the city.<h3>Miami's possible challengers</h3>The Vancouver Whitecaps, who were bolstered by the summer signing of longtime German star Thomas Muller, reached the final of both the MLS Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2025.They came up short in both games, losing 3-1 to Messi's squad for the league title and 5-0 to Mexico's Cruz Azul for the continental championship. With Muller set for his first full season in MLS, the Whitecaps are eager to bring home a trophy.Los Angeles FC could be the strongest club this side of South Florida, with Son Heung-Min also set for full campaign after his midseason arrival from Tottenham Hotspur provided a dynamic pairing with Denis Bouanga."I let Messi win this year," Son joked during a December visit to Tottenham, "but next year … we'll be at the top."Also keep an eye on the Philadelphia Union, which claimed the Supporters' Shield for the league's best record during the regular season, and Minnesota United FC with its newest addition, Colombian icon James Rodriguez on a short-term deal.<h3>World Cup break</h3>The league's 30 clubs will have to navigate a seven-week shutdown while the expanded World Cup is held in North America.MLS stadiums in Atlanta, New England, Seattle, Vancouver and Toronto will host World Cup matches, and many of the league's training facilities will be utilized by nations from around the globe.The unique schedule has led to some strange quirks in the schedule, such as Atlanta United going more than three months between home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.When MLS resumes play in mid-July, it will be interesting to see which teams do the best job of handling the long layoff.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

TOPSHOT - Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi (C-L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the friendly football match between Ecuador's Barcelona and the US' Inter Miami at the Banco Pichincha Stadium in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on February 7, 2026.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34564176/related

Can Inter Miami be stopped after latest recruitment drive?

TESERO, Italy (AP) — Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo completed his historic gold medal sweep of...

TESERO, Italy (AP) — Norway’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/klaebo-norway-milan-cortina-olympics-6ca56dbf201cd6bfbd287b01e4f21b66">Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo</a> completed his historic gold medal sweep of the men’s cross-country skiing events on Saturday by winning his sixth race and set the record for the most golds by one athlete in a single <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Winter Olympics</a>.Klaebo’s victory in the 50-kilometer mass start race shattered the nearly 50-year record set by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolz-heiden-olympics-speedskating-cfe3070d7785a5f2ece6b748a6af8401">American speed skater Eric Heiden</a>, who won five golds in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.All of Heiden’s wins were in individual races and two of Klaebo’s have come in team events, so Heiden’s record for individual wins still stands.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“It feels amazing,” Klaebo said. “To crown everything here with a 50K, it’s unbelievable. In Norway, we say that if you’re gonna become a man, you need to win the 50K and today we did, so it’s a perfect way to end two perfect weeks.”Klaebo’s teammates, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, took silver, and Emil Iversen, won bronze in a Norwegian sweep.The three Norwegians broke out to an early lead and then continued to build the gap on their chasers.In the final lap, Nyenget and Klaebo pushed uphill and dropped Iversen. Klaebo stayed in second waiting to launch his textbook charge uphill.As the two reached the final hill, Klaebo literally ran away from Nyenget and was bound for glory.As he glided toward the finish, he pointed his fingers toward the sky, took one stride across the line, toppled over on his right hip and rolled onto his back.The win extends Klaebo's record for most career Winter Olympic gold medals to 11 over three Games. The previous record had been eight, which Klaebo broke Feb. 15.Klaebo has the second-most Olympic golds overall. U.S. swimming great Michael Phelps has 23.The win gave Norway a record 18th gold medal and further increased their lead in the total medal count in these games to 40 overall.The country set the record Friday for the most gold medals won by a nation at a single Winter Olympics when biathlete Johannes Dale-Skjevdal <a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-norway-gold-record-biathlon-8d64eaeceeaf2d94e36df59d8d204639">won the 15-kilometer mass start</a> race.___AP Winter Olympics: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics</a>

VAL DI FIEMME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Team Norway celebrates in the finish during the Men's 50km Mass Start Classic on day fifteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34563224/related

Klaebo becomes 1st athlete to win 6 golds at single Winter Games

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — The U.S. Olympic team won its record-breaking 11th gold medal of the Winter...

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — The U.S. Olympic team won its record-breaking 11th gold medal of the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Winter Games</a> on Saturday when the trio of Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran and Chris Lillis took the title in mixed aerials.The 11th gold breaks a record set at the last Olympics on U.S. soil — in Salt Lake City in 2002, which has long stood out as a turning point for a Winter-sports program that had struggled over previous decades.For viewers in USA only:<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CHRIS LILLIS STOMPS THE FINAL JUMP TO SECURE AERIALS GOLD FOR THE UNITED STATES. 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/Fb8Yb1BT8M">pic.twitter.com/Fb8Yb1BT8M</a>— NBC Olympics &amp; Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/2025176719930568882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The medal lifted the U.S. to <a href="https://apnews.com/winter-olympics-medal-tracker">30 overall for the Olympics.</a> That’s second to Norway, which a day earlier <a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-norway-gold-record-biathlon-8d64eaeceeaf2d94e36df59d8d204639">won its 17th gold medal</a> to set a Winter Games record.There are 38 more medal events this year than there were in 2002.This marks a repeat for Lillis, who teamed with Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld four years ago to win at the Beijing Games.___<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics</a>

LIVIGNO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Gold medalists Christopher Lillis of Team United States, Connor Curran of Team United States and Kaila Kuhn of Team United States pose for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Mixed Team Aerials Final on day fifteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Air Park on February 21, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34563192/related

U.S. wins record 11th gold at Winter Olympics with mixed aerials title

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marco Penge and Jacob Bridgeman had superb finishes at Riviera on Friday, each...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marco Penge and Jacob Bridgeman had superb finishes at Riviera on Friday, each with a 7-under 64 that left them tied for the lead at the Genesis Invitational with Rory McIlroy right on their heels.For Scottie Scheffler, the objective was just getting to the weekend. He accomplished that by the <a href="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/2024979967122038795">smallest of margins, a 7-foot par putt that caught just enough of the lip to swirl in</a>.Penge, the leading player from the European tour to secure a PGA Tour card for this year, pulled away with five birdies over his final seven holes and was the first to post at 12-under 130. More remarkable than his score was keeping his mind on golf — his wife is moving into their new home in Florida and expecting their second child next week.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“It’s been quite tough, to be fair, the last four weeks for me and my family,” Penge said. “She’s been in the U.S. on her own, heavily pregnant, looking after a 1 1/2-year old at the same time with no family or friends around.“It’s been like a bit of a gamble of me just kind of going to compete and leaving her on her own.”Bridgeman only played Riviera for the first time Wednesday because of rain. He birdied his last three holes, finishing with a 5-iron into a cool breeze to 8 feet to join Penge.The former Clemson star has discovered a fondness for poa annua, the strain of grass that get bumpy with spikes and footprints and late afternoon growth, and can be downright terrifying on short par putts when the greens are this fast.Joe Greiner, a caddie in his group, even asked him, “Are you sure you’re not from the West coast?”“It’s shocking how soft they are and how fast they are,” Bridgeman said. “I think two or three times today I hit it 6 feet by the hole and was just like, ‘Wow, I don’t know how they’re that fast,’ because you can hit a 5-iron and it will back up. This is probably the most pure poa annua I’ve ever seen.”McIlroy has opened 66-65 and he has only one bogey on his card through 36 holes, quite a change from last week at Pebble Beach when he had three double bogeys and a triple bogey that ruined his chances to contend.He played the three par 5s with two birdies <a href="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/2024989900102135919">and an eagle</a> on the 11th, and he birdied the par-3 fourth for the second straight day. The hole was lengthened to 273 yards, which McIlroy called a “horrible change” at the start of the year. The PGA Tour has yet to use that tee.The biggest change was keeping mistakes out of his round.“There’s no Pacific Ocean to hit it into around this golf course, so that helps,” McIlroy said. “I still hit some loose shots, but the course setup is in a way that you can get away with it a little bit more. But I’ve hit it well, I’ve controlled my distance well for the most part, and I’ve holed some nice putts from inside 8 feet for pars when I’ve needed to.”Xander Schauffele showed more strides toward sharpness with a 65 that left him three shots behind, along with two-time Riviera winner Adam Scott, who had the low round of the day at 63. Scott was 9 under through 13 until spending the final hour scrambling for par and only failing to do that on the last hole.This is one of three signature events that has a 36-hole cut to top 50 and ties, and anyone within 10 shots of the lead. Scheffler, who had to rally Friday morning for a 74 to complete the rain-delayed first round, was well aware where he stood. He was on the ropes, 4-over par for the tournament, 10 holes to play, figuring he needed to get to even par.The world’s No. 1 player promptly made three straight birdies around the turn, the last two the product of his exquisite short game, and picked up another on the par-5 17th. But he got steep on a simple chip at the 18th and lightly pumped his fist when the 7-footer for par curled into the cup.It was the third straight week he failed to break par in the opening round — something he hasn’t done since his rookie season in 2020 — and he rallied in Phoenix and Pebble Beach to give himself a chance to win. This was about giving himself a chance to play, and he was delighted.“I started the day not where I wanted to,” Scheffler said. “But yeah, battled and it looks like I get another couple rounds to see what I can do.”___AP golf: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/golf">https://apnews.com/hub/golf</a>

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Marco Penge of England plays a shot on the 18th hole during the second round of The Genesis Invitational 2026 at Riviera Country Club on February 20, 2026 in Pacific Palisades, California.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34560969/related

Penge, Bridgeman share lead at Genesis with McIlroy on their heels

SASSUOLO, Italy (AP) — Sassuolo scored twice in the five minutes before halftime to pave the way ...

SASSUOLO, Italy (AP) — Sassuolo scored twice in the five minutes before halftime to pave the way to a 3-0 victory that deepened Verona's already considerable relegation woes in Serie A on Friday.Verona was without a win in 11 league games and in last place, equal on points with Pisa.Both clubs were nine points from safety, and Pisa faces a crunch match on Monday against Fiorentina, the team six points above them both in the third relegation spot.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Andrea Pinamonti got Sassuolo's opener with a deflected strike then four minutes later Domenico Berardi added a second. Although the Verona goalkeeper stopped his penalty kick, Berardi was quickest to the follow up and buried the rebound.Berardi completed the scoring 17 minutes into the second half when he finished off a rapid counterattack.Completing Verona’s misery, Al Musrati was sent off for a second bookable offense five minutes from time.The result extended Sassuolo’s recent good run; it has taken 12 points from its last 15. It jumped two places to eighth.

SASSUOLO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 20: Domenico Berardi of US Sassuolo celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Hellas Verona FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on February 20, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34557697/related

Berardi bags brace as Sassuolo deepen Verona's relegation woes

Major League Soccer opens its 31st season this weekend, kicking off one of the most consequential...

Major League Soccer opens its 31st season this weekend, kicking off one of the most consequential two-year stretches in the league's history.There's the impact of the World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer, then, in 2027, MLS will switch to a summer to spring schedule to align more closely with its international counterparts.MLS will take a seven-week break for the World Cup from May 25 to July 16. Many of the league's stars, including Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and LAFC’s Son Heung-min, are expected to play in the tournament.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>MLS is hoping after that to see the so-called "World Cup Bump," or a surge in interest that both men's and women's leagues often experience around soccer’s premier tournament."The World Cup will accelerate the growth of the sport across North America in ways we've never seen before. Major League Soccer is uniquely positioned at the center of that moment, with all 13 host cities in the U.S. and Canada home to MLS clubs," Commissioner Don Garber said. "We expect to have a record number of players in the tournament, and our facilities and communities will play a role in delivering the tournament."The schedule shift next year aims to put MLS in a more competitive position in the transfer market, while also freeing up players for national team duty for major international tournaments during the summer.Under the new calendar, league play will begin in mid- to late July 2027, with the final day of the regular season in April 2028. The playoffs and championship will take place in May.The league would go on an extended break during the winter, with just a few games played in early December and none in January before resuming in early to mid-February."Our new format makes sense for our players, our fans, and our clubs, aligning us with the global transfer market, reducing national team conflicts, and strengthening the timing of our playoffs," Garber said. "It reflects exactly where we see MLS going, not just aligning with the best leagues in the world but competing with them."Garber has described this next phase as MLS 3.0. Other issues currently being considered by MLS are changes to the playoff format and conference alignment.The MLS season kicks off this weekend with a marquee match on Saturday night between Son's LAFC and Messi's Miami at the Los Angeles Coliseum before an anticipated crowd of some 70,000 fans.<h3>Miami's might</h3>How did Inter Miami build on last year's championship season in MLS? They got better, of course.In addition to two-time league MVP Messi and his 29 goals in conference play, and fellow former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, Miami added Mexican international Germán Berterame and Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.The Herons also made the transfer of Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid permanent.Berterame, who was born in Argentina but is a naturalized Mexican and plays for Mexico's national team, comes from Liga MX's Monterrey, where he has scored 68 goals in 153 appearances since 2022.The additions should help make up for the departures of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who retired after Miami defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the MLS Cup title game last season.<h3>Incoming notables</h3>In addition to Berterame in Miami, there are a few other notable names joining MLS this season.Among them is Colombian international James Rodriguez, who is with Minnesota United on a short-term contract. Rodriguez's deal runs through June with a club option for the remainder of the season following the World Cup.The signing is as consequential for the midfielder as it is for the Loons. Rodriguez needs to get some quality playing time to earn a spot on Colombia’s World Cup squad."Yes, it's true I've played for big clubs, good clubs, but I wanted this league. I wanted to play here," Rodriguez said. "That's why I am here to help and hopefully win things. That's what I want because I always want to win."Other key offseason acquisitions include forward Timo Werner, who joined the San Jose Earthquakes from RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga; Romanian forward Louis Munteanu, acquired by D.C. United; and Brazilian winger Guilherme, who joined the Houston Dynamo from Santos.<h3>Coaching carousel</h3>Nearly one-third of the league's teams have new coaches this season. Probably the highest profile of the new hires is former U.S. team captain Michael Bradley, who takes over as head coach of the New York Red Bulls, a job his father once held."We are going to, from day one, set out to create an environment that challenges the players, that brings out the best in them, that develops them individually, and to create a team that when we step on the field, people watching, they see a team that is different, they see a team that when they leave the stadium they want to come back," Bradley said.Tata Martino returns to Atlanta United, the club he led to an MLS Cup title in 2018 before stints with the Mexican national team and Inter Miami.Other new coaches this season include: Henrik Rydström at the Columbus Crew, Matt Wells at the Colorado Rapids, Marc Dos Santos at LAFC, Cameron Knowles at Minnesota United, Marko Mitrović at the New England Revolution, Raphaël Wicky at Sporting Kansas City and Yoann Damet at St. Louis City.

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL - DECEMBER 06: Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) and the rest of the Inter Miami team celebrate with the MLS cup following the 2025 MLS Cup Finals between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami CF on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34554694/related

MLS season preview: Mighty Miami, noteworthy newcomers, key storylines

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York and New Jersey World Cup host committee has canceled its fan festiva...

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York and New Jersey World Cup host committee has canceled its fan festiva<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2026-world-cup-new-york-jersey-2f15e8d97a781dc5d9a853fee9eb92b0">l</a> that had been planned to be held at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.The committee scrapped plans for the weekslong festival that would have been held about 15 miles (24 kilometers) from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, where the final will be played on July 19.The FanFest was announced in February 2025 by Tammy Murphy, wife of then-New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and chair of the New York/New Jersey host committee’s directors, who said it would be open for all 104 matches of the tournament, which starts June 11.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The committee said in a statement Friday an “expanded network of fan zones and community celebrations across 21 counties in New Jersey will serve as a cornerstone of the region’s official fan engagement program.”Mikie Sherrill, Murphy’s successor as governor, announced a $5 million initiative Thursday to fund community World Cup initiatives.Tickets for the FanFest had been put on sale in December.Plans for a FanFest in New York City’s Corona Park in Queens did not move forward. One is now planned for the U.S. Tennis Association’s Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens from June 17-28 and a fan village is scheduled for Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center from July 4-19.Fan fests with large video screens have been a part of each World Cup’s organization since 2006.FIFA is running the World Cup itself unlike in the past, when a local organizing committee was in charge of logistics. The host committees are limited to sponsorship agreements in categories not reserved by FIFA.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy C speaks at a launch ceremony of 2026 FIFA World Cup official brand and logo in New York City, the United States, on May 18, 2023. The official brand and logo for 2026 FIFA World Cup were launched in Times Square of New York City on Thursday morning.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34554347/related

Planned World Cup fan festival near Statue of Liberty canceled

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/the-associated-press/content_cards