Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

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UPCOMING

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FBN--NFL-DRAFT-GUIDE

DESCRIPTION: The NFL draft is rapidly approaching with the three-day event being held April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Here’s how to watch and other details. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/14/2025 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKN--NBA-FRENCH INFLUENCE

Hawks’ Risacher enters play-in as the last man standing from French players to top last 2 NBA drafts

SUMMARY: Atlanta Hawks rookie Zaccharie Risacher is the lone survivor of the influx of French players who have dominated the top of the last two NBA drafts. Risacher and the Hawks will play at Orlando on Tuesday night in the NBA play-in tournament. Risacher was still a teen when he became the second straight French player to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, following San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama in 2023. Another French player, Alex Sarr, was the No. 2 overall pick by the Washington Wizards in last year’s draft. Washington and San Antonio missed the postseason.

WORDS: 786 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 1:34 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6a265ee60701e3c1fafba6a0e01e05c5&mediaType=text

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HKN--NHL PLAYOFFS-ORIGINAL SIX

US-based Original Six Red Wings, Rangers, Bruins, Blackhawks eliminated from playoffs for 1st time

SUMMARY: The Original Six teams based in the United States have a rich history, combining to hoist the Stanley Cup 27 times. And now, they share an unwanted distinction. Detroit, Boston, Chicago and the New York Rangers will all miss the playoffs in the same year for the first time in NHL history. The Red Wings have 11 Stanley Cups, trailing the totals won by the Canadian-based Original Six teams. Montreal has won 23 Cups and Toronto has 13. The Maple Leafs have earned a spot in the playoffs. Montreal can clinch a berth with a win over Chicago on Monday.

WORDS: 401 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 12:43 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:33f832434c65ad48e132a7456106fa1e&mediaType=text

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BKN--SUNS-BUDENHOLZER-FIRED

Phoenix Suns fire coach Mike Budenholzer after one dismal season with high-priced roster

SUMMARY: The Phoenix Suns have parted ways with veteran coach Mike Budenholzer following one dismal season that featured a fast start before a maddening slide for a high-priced roster that included Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The Suns made the unsurprising announcement on Monday, one day after the franchise finished with a 36-46 record which put them 11th in the Western Conference. They lost nine of their last 10 games, failing to qualify for the play-in tournament. The team says “competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season.”

WORDS: 426 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 12:31 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fc94d9b777b04c4447c0a61924b458c8&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-HAMLIN-LARSON RIVALRY

Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin renew rivalry at Bristol with their seventh 1-2 finish

SUMMARY: Kyle Larson fended off several challenges for the lead by Denny Hamlin as they ran in the top two positions for 251 of 500 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway. In the seventh 1-2 finish in NASCAR’s best current rivalry, it was the first time Larson emerged on top of Hamlin, whose two-race win streak was snapped. That was a point Larson gleefully made while celebrating on the frontstretch, saying “we hate to see him win, as I’m sure you guys do, too.” Larson is ranked second and Hamlin third in NASCAR advanced metrics that evaluate drivers on passing, defense, speed, restarts and pit stops.

WORDS: 792 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 12:09 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c88d766c0ea092a831d5ffa60b28c281&mediaType=text

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BKN--PELICANS-GRIFFIN FIRED

Pelicans fire basketball operations chief David Griffin after an injury-plagued 21-61 season

SUMMARY: The New Orleans Pelicans have fired basketball operations chief David Griffin. The move ends a six-year chapter during which the club drafted former Duke star Zion Williamson but still struggled to win consistently with three different coaches. Griffin leaves his post a day after a 115-100 loss to Oklahoma City that extended the club’s season-ending skid to seven games. The Pelicans’ 21-61 record was fourth worst in the NBA this season and was the franchise’s second-worst mark since arriving in New Orleans in 2002. The Pelicans qualified for postseason play the previous three seasons but never won a first-round series.

WORDS: 709 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 11:50 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4baf70903416d9cff30bd4225630c385&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT

Play-in time: Magic-Hawks, Warriors-Grizzlies on Tuesday, Bulls-Heat and Kings-Mavs on Wednesday

SUMMARY: The fifth full season of the NBA’s play-in tournament starts Tuesday. No. 7 Orlando hosts No. 8 Atlanta in the Eastern Conference, and No. 7 Golden State hosts No. 8 Memphis in the Western Conference. The winners of those games make the playoffs. The Magic-Hawks winner earns the chance to play Boston and the Warriors-Grizzlies winner will be off to play Houston. The tournament continues Wednesday with two elimination games. Miami goes to Chicago and Dallas goes to Sacramento. The losers of Wednesday’s games are eliminated.

WORDS: 1148 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 11:02 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:571f8d4ca39df4c9f098bacfc4fadeb8&mediaType=text

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BKW--SOUTH CAROLINA-FULWILEY-PORTAL

South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley enters transfer portal, AP source says

SUMMARY: South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley is officially in the transfer portal, according to a person with access to it. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. Fulwiley has a “do not contact” designation, which most likely means she already has a strong idea where she will transfer to. The 5-foot-10 sophomore guard was the Southeastern Conference Sixth Player of the Year and helped the Gamecocks reach the national championship game, where they lost to UConn. She averaged 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in her two seasons at the school.

WORDS: 234 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 10:32 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c21e967e22c73d786ceff7460e271582&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA DRAFT

Paige Bueckers is ready for her WNBA closeup as she is set to get drafted No. 1 by the Dallas Wings

SUMMARY: Paige Bueckers is ready to move on from college to the WNBA. The versatile UConn star is the odds-on favorite to become the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings when the league holds its annual draft at The Shed in New York on Monday night. Bueckers will have plenty of company, especially with the WNBA having its first expansion team in 17 years in the Golden State Valkyries making their debut draft selection at No. 5 overall. The first round will feature 12 picks with 13 in each of the final two rounds.

WORDS: 197 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 10:22 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a28fac1f8159d889ce385339717ab987&mediaType=text

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OLY--MILAN-CORTINA-TORCH

Organizers unveil sleek metallic torches for Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics

SUMMARY: Organizers for the Milan-Cortina Olympics have unveiled a sleek and minimalistic metallic design for the torches that will be used in the traditional relay ahead of next year’s Winter Games. The torches will be made primarily out of recycled materials, with a design system that lets the fuel canister be refilled up to 10 times — reducing the number of torches that will be needed, organizers said. Made from an aluminum and brass alloy, the Olympic torch features a blue-green hue while the Paralympic version is bronze colored. The Olympic flame will arrive in Rome on Dec. 4 and will begin its journey across Italy two days later. The 2026 Games run Feb. 6-22 and the Paralympics run March 6-15.

WORDS: 212 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 10:21 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f643d988490b8dade5192fca91294c41&mediaType=text

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BBO--OBIT-HELMS

Tommy Helms, a Reds second baseman who later managed in Pete Rose’s place in 1988-89, dies at 83

SUMMARY: Tommy Helms, the slick-fielding infielder for the Cincinnati Reds who was the 1966 NL Rookie of the Year and had two short stints as the team’s manager, has died. He was 83. The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum said Helms’ wife, Cathy, told the organization that her husband died on Sunday in Cincinnati. The cause of death was not provided. Helms was known more for his glove than his bat in 1,435 games over 14 seasons. He was an All-Star in 1967-68 and won Gold Gloves as the National League’s top-fielding second baseman in 1970-71.

WORDS: 495 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 10:18 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:90780de4f75b8d25e8aa3e4b267c9a4d&mediaType=text

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FBN--NFL DRAFT-HIDDEN GEMS

Cam Ward leads talented group of players who went from hidden gems to top NFL draft prospects

SUMMARY: Quarterback Cam Ward might be the first name off this year’s NFL draft board. Five years ago, he was pretty much off everybody’s radar outside of West Columbia, Texas. Ward took the only scholarship offer he had coming out of high school and turned it into a record-breaking college career that has made him the frontrunner to be the No. 1 overall pick April 24. He’s hardly the only hidden gem-turned-top-prospect in the draft. The others include Cam Skattebo of Arizona State and Harold Fannin Jr. of Bowling Green and players such as David Walker of Central Arkansas and Carson Schwesinger of UCLA.

WORDS: 920 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 10:07 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cedc2eb613e47337fb2b690f6eab562a&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA MOCK DRAFT

WNBA mock draft 3.0: Paige Bueckers goes No. 1 to Dallas and Seattle selects French star Malonga 2nd

SUMMARY: There’s no doubt who’s going first in the WNBA draft with Paige Bueckers the consensus top pick. After that it gets interesting with Olivia Miles’ decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal instead of the draft. The Washington Mystics, with a new coach and general manager, control the direction of the draft with the third, fourth and sixth pick. Here’s a look at how the first round could look.

WORDS: 1019 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 9:04 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ff882989028ae869348ef86359839de6&mediaType=text

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Real Madrid needs epic Champions League comeback. Barcelona and PSG are flying post-Messi and Mbappe

WORDS: 786 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 7:47 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:10edad788b1d5901c031307490b1773b&mediaType=text

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GLF--MASTERS-RESILIENT RORY

Rory McIlroy showed he can handle the tough times. It made him a Masters champion

SUMMARY: Rory McIlroy finally has a Masters green jacket after a roller-coaster day at Augusta National. In so many ways, that final round resembled his last 11 years trying to get the one major he didn’t have. He looks brilliant at times. And then he makes a mess. That’s how it was going for McIlroy on one of the wildest final rounds at the Masters. What makes him most proud is the way he kept bouncing back. Just like he kept coming back for more after each major disappointment. McIlroy is one of only six players with the career Grand Slam.

WORDS: 1119 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:babdc406b2a6caabda70d040d846226e&mediaType=text

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BBO--THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL

If baseball’s season were as short as football’s, the conversation about parity would be different

SUMMARY: What would the dominant baseball narratives be if this season were 17 games long? That’s a worthwhile thought experiment, given how much discussion there’s been lately about parity. There’s a conventional wisdom that the NFL is more competitive than baseball, with teams making dramatic rises and falls in the standings from one season to the next. But how much of that is simply a result of how short the football season is? Right now, all but one of baseball’s 30 teams have played between 15 and 17 games. And right now, the Los Angeles Angels are in first place after entering the season as complete afterthoughts. The Atlanta Braves are in last.

WORDS: 629 - MOVED: 04/14/2025 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5f3d12d7ac3f2be2c98049e813468394&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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FBN--NFL DRAFT-ADAPTING SCOUTS

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL’s scouting world has changed dramatically over the past several decades. But the introduction of the transfer portal and NIL deals in college football has forced everyone to adapt. And the only thing that seems certain is that more changes lie ahead for scouting departments. By Michael Marot. UPCOMING: 900 words.

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HKN--PLAYOFFS-WHAT ARE THE ODDS

The Winnipeg Jets and the Washington Capitals have been the top teams in the NHL much of the season. The defending champion Florida Panthers are among the betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup again. Yet some other metrics favor the Carolina Hurricanes? Math, odds and probability collide in the debate of who hoists the trophy in June. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 600 words.

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