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 . Sports content can be found at .
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UPCOMING
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CYC–TOUR DE FRANCE
DESCRIPTION: TOULOUSE, France — The Tour de France resumes after a rest day with the flat Stage 11 around the southwestern city of Toulouse. 400 words. Upcoming. With pictures.
UPCOMING: By 07/16/2025 12:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo
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SOC–EURO 2025
FORMATS: Text
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FBN–TOP 5-SAFETIES
DESCRIPTION: The Associated Press reveals its top five safeties headed into the 2025 NFL season. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. 500 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 07/16/2025 8:08 p.m. EDT, Text
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FBN–TOP 5-TIGHT ENDS
DESCRIPTION: The Associated Press reveals its top five tight ends headed into the 2025 NFL season. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. 500 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 07/16/2025 12:00 p.m. EDT, Text
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ESPYS
DESCRIPTION: LOS ANGELES — Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson is honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPYs, which celebrate the past year’s top athletes and moments in sports at the ceremony hosted by comedian Shane Gillis. By Beth Harris. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Show starts at 8 p.m. EDT.
UPCOMING: By 07/16/2025 11:30 p.m. EDT, Text
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SOC–NIGERIA’S MISSION X
DESCRIPTION: The Nigerian women’s Mission X has an ominous sounding name, but its got a simple meaning. The Super Falcons aim to win a 10th Women’s African Cup of Nations title. The WAFCON tournament comes in a busy summer of major women’s soccer tournaments across the globe, headlined by the European Championship and the Copa America Femenina in South America. By Anne M. Peterson. 600 words and photos by 4 p.m. ET.
UPCOMING: By 07/16/2025 11:31 p.m. EDT, Text
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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BBO–ALL-STAR GAME
Kyle Schwarber’s 3 homers in All-Star Game’s first tiebreaking swing-off lift NL over AL
SUMMARY: Kyle Schwarber went 3 for 3 in the first All-Star Game home run swing-off to put the National League ahead 4-3 following a 6-6 tie in which the American League rallied from a six-run deficit. In baseball’s equivalent of soccer’s penalty-kicks shootout, the game was decided by having three batters from each league take three swings each off coaches. The change was agreed to in 2022 to alleviate the concern of teams running out of pitchers. Schwarber was named All-Star MVP after going 0 for 2 with a walk in the game.
WORDS: 952 – MOVED: 07/16/2025 1:38 a.m. EDT
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BBO–ALL-STAR GAME-AARON TRIBUTE
MLB honors Hank Aaron with recreation of record 715th homer during All-Star Game
SUMMARY: Major League Baseball honored late Hall of Famer Hank Aaron by recreating his record-breaking 715th career home run through the use of projection mapping and custom pyrotechnics. The lights went down at Truist Park and fans stood holding their cell phone lights following the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s All-Star Game. The scene from April 8, 1974 at old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was projected on the infield and also shown on the video board. Aaron’s widow, Billye Aaron, was cheered as she stood and waved following the tribute.
WORDS: 343 – MOVED: 07/16/2025 12:07 a.m. EDT
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BBO–ROBOT UMPIRES
Cal Raleigh successful on first All-Star robot umpire challenge, a day after winning Home Run Derby
SUMMARY: Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh successfully used the robot umpire to gain a strikeout for pitcher Tarik Skubal in the first inning of the All-Star Game. He changed an 0-2 pitch to a strike on San Diego’s Manny Machado. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the system could be considered for next season. The players’ association is unsure whether the Automated Ball-Strike System is accurate enough. A decision for 2026 use likely will be considered by sport’s 11-man competition committee.
WORDS: 884 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 11:34 p.m. EDT
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BKL–CLARK AT THE GARDEN
Caitlin Clark leaves with apparent injury, marring the mood after the Fever beat the Sun in Boston
SUMMARY: Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark left Tuesday night’s game in the final minute holding back tears after grabbing at her leg — an apparent injury that would be her third this season. Clark walked back downcourt holding her right groin after assisting on the Fever’s final basket of an 85-77 victory over the Connecticut Sun in front of a sold-out crowd at the TD Garden in Boston. As teammate Aliyah Boston tried to console her, Clark walked to the basket stanchion and banged her head against it before heading to the bench. During the timeout, she covered her head with a towel and appeared to be holding back tears.
WORDS: 927 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 11:29 p.m. EDT
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BKN–NBA-BOARD OF GOVERNORS
NBA will take a harder look at expansion, Commissioner Adam Silver says
SUMMARY: The NBA may finally be one step closer on the long road to expansion. Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that the league has been tasked by team owners to study the issue more formally, which would be the first official move in a long process toward adding franchises. The decision to take a harder look at expansion wasn’t totally unexpected, since the notion of adding clubs has been a talking point for several years. Cities like Las Vegas and Seattle, the long perceived front-runners should the NBA decide to expand past its current 30-team footprint, will surely continue to push to be the eventual picks.
WORDS: 899 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 11:19 p.m. EDT
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HKN–EMERGENCY GOALIES-RULE CHANGES
Hockey’s beloved emergency backup goalies face an uncertain future with new NHL rule
SUMMARY: The beginning of the NHL’s next collective bargaining agreement brings to an end the possibility that a former Zamboni driver or an accountant who plays beer league hockey could enter a game in the league. Emergency backup goaltenders known as EBUGs have brought some of the best feel-good stories to sports in recent years, from David Ayres beating his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs to Scott Foster winning a game for the Chicago Blackhawks. Each team will soon employ a full-time traveling goaltender to fill that role, but the rules for who qualifies leaves the net wide open for more fairytale moments.
WORDS: 1288 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 10:08 p.m. EDT
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ATH–OBIT-OLDEST MARATHON RUNNER
World’s oldest marathon runner, Fauja Singh, dies at 114 after being hit by a car
SUMMARY: Fauja Singh, known as the Turbaned Torpedo and believed to be the world’s oldest marathon runner, has died at 114 after being hit by a car in India. His London-based running club confirmed his death. Singh became the oldest man to run a full marathon in 2011 at age 100, though Guinness World Records did not officially recognize it due to lack of a birth certificate. He began running at 89 to cope with grief after losing his wife and son. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Singh for inspiring youth with his dedication to fitness and determination.
WORDS: 540 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 10:00 p.m. EDT
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BKC–REVENUE SHARING-OPT-OUTS
They pulled off huge March Madness upsets. Now they’re opting out of revenue sharing
SUMMARY: Saint Peter’s, Fairleigh Dickinson and Maryland-Baltimore County. You might remember those three schools from their March Madness upsets in recent years. Now they’ve declined to opt in to college sports’ new revenue sharing model. The newly formed College Sports Commission, which oversees revenue sharing following the House settlement, posted a list of schools that have opted into revenue sharing. All members of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference are participating. Other Division I schools had to opt in or out by June 30.
WORDS: 569 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 7:56 p.m. EDT
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BKL–WNBA ALL-STAR 3-POINT CONTEST
Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Allisha Gray headline WNBA All-Star 3-point contest
SUMMARY: Caitlin Clark will be in a 3-point contest for the first time in her pro career as the Indiana Fever guard will compete Friday night in the WNBA All-Star competition. She’ll be joined by contest record holder Sabrina Ionescu, who is back in the 3-point contest after a one-year hiatus. Ionescu last entered the contest in 2023 and set a record hitting 25 of her 27 shots in the final round, scoring 37 points. It was the most shots made in a 3-point contest in either the WNBA or NBA. The Liberty’s star guard wanted to make sure she was completely healthy before officially entering the contest. She said she’ll be trying to break her own mark.
WORDS: 385 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 7:53 p.m. EDT
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SOC–CWC-RATINGS
Club World Cup final averaged 1.3 million viewers on TBS
SUMMARY: Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain averaged 1.3 million viewers on TBS and the 24 matches televised in the U.S. with English commentary averaged 458,000. Spanish-language coverage of the final in the U.S. on Univision and TUDN averaged 1.43 million viewers and TelevisaUnivision’s 18 games averaged 597,000. The streaming service DAZN bought world rights from FIFA and sublicensed a portion of the 63 matches to TNT, which televised games on TNT, TBS and truTV, and to TelevisaUnivision for U.S. broadcast with Spanish commentary. DAZN has not yet released viewing figures.
WORDS: 156 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 5:50 p.m. EDT
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FBN–COMMANDERS-MCLAURIN
McLaurin casts doubt on attending Commanders training camp given lack of progress on a new contract
SUMMARY: Terry McLaurin says it would be “kind of hard to see” how he steps on the field for Washington Commanders training camp without progressive discussions on a new contract. McLaurin expressed his frustrations about negotiations on Tuesday in a 30-minute session with reporters after taping a local television commercial. The soon-to-be 30-year-old receiver said he does not know what happens next and deemed his future with the organization “up in the air.” McLaurin has strung together five consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving.
WORDS: 679 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 5:48 p.m. EDT
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BBO–LOOMING LOCKOUT
A lockout is looming over MLB in December 2026, with a salary cap fight possibly at the center
SUMMARY: Major League Baseball faces a potential lockout in December 2026. Players and management have long clashed over salary cap proposals, a format that union head Tony Clark criticizes as harmful to competition and player salary guarantees. Commissioner Rob Manfred argues the cap could address payroll disparities as MLB also tries to deal with declining revenue from regional sports networks. Teams like the Dodgers and Mets have pushed payrolls to record levels, highlighting disparity. Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires in December 2026, and past negotiations have led to nine work stoppages.
WORDS: 725 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 5:17 p.m. EDT
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CAR–NASCAR-SUITS OF SUMMER
Fights over charters loom over NASCAR as teams, series await key court rulings
SUMMARY: NASCAR hits midsummer amid legal battles involving team charters, a key part of its business model. Two teams, including Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing, are suing NASCAR over antitrust issues. They claim losing their charters could force them out of business. A federal court ruling is expected soon, with a trial set for December. Separately, Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club is in a dispute with Rick Ware Racing over a charter sale. Johnson hopes to secure the charter, while the legal chaos highlights the skyrocketing value of NASCAR charters.
WORDS: 1020 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 4:27 p.m. EDT
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OLY–BBO-2028
Major League Baseball, union could let big leaguers in 2028 Olympics during extended All-Star break
SUMMARY: Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and players’ union head Tony Clark say plans are moving ahead exploring the possibility of using major leaguers in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a tournament that could be played on an extended All-Star break. MLB met with Los Angeles organizers Monday in Atlanta ahead of the All-Star Game and Manfred said the Olympic officials were meeting with the Major League Baseball Players Association. The World Baseball Softball Confederation said Monday the baseball tournament will be played from July 15-20 at Dodger Stadium. Manfred says “We’ll see whether there’s any movement on that.”
WORDS: 439 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 3:44 p.m. EDT
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FBN–JETS-GARDNER
Jets make Sauce Gardner the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback with a $120.4M extension, AP source says
SUMMARY: The New York Jets are making Sauce Gardner the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. The Jets and Gardner agreed on a four-year, $120.4 million extension through the 2030 season, a person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press. The contract paying the two-time All-Pro more than $30 million a year comes a day after the Jets agreed to another lucrative extension with top wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Gardner is going into his fourth professional season after New York took him fourth in the 2022 draft.
WORDS: 384 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 3:40 p.m. EDT
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FBN–CHIEFS-SMITH
Chiefs beat franchise tag deadline, sign guard Trey Smith to a 4-year, $94M deal, AP source says
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs beat the deadline to sign franchise-tagged guard Trey Smith to a multiyear contract by agreeing to terms on a $94 million deal, according to a person with knowledge of the move. The person tells The Associated Press that the four-year contract includes $70 million guaranteed. His average salary of $23.5 million annually makes Smith the highest-paid player at the position in the NFL. The Chiefs had until 4 p.m. Eastern Tuesday to work out a deal beyond this season after giving Smith the franchise tag in March.
WORDS: 210 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 3:33 p.m. EDT
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FBC–SEC-AUBURN
Hugh Freeze, QB Jackson Arnold are confident Auburn can be a winner in 2025
SUMMARY: Auburn coach Hugh Freeze and incoming transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold are both confident the Tigers can consistently win in 2025. Freeze went just 11-14 across his first two seasons in Auburn, the first time in his collegiate coaching career he has suffered back-to-back losing seasons. Bolstered by a strong returning wide receiver corps and what Freeze called his favorite offensive line he has had at Auburn, the Tigers are trying to close the gap on the rest of the SEC, specifically with losing streaks against rivals Alabama and Georgia.
WORDS: 521 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 3:21 p.m. EDT
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SOC–YAMAL-PARTY
Barcelona star Yamal faces backlash for reportedly hiring people with dwarfism for birthday party
SUMMARY: Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is facing criticism and a potential investigation over his 18th birthday party. Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights has asked prosecutors to probe reports that Yamal hired people with dwarfism as entertainers for the event. A ministry official called such actions offensive. A local disability association has also condemned the alleged hiring, promising legal and social action. A performer who attended the party told Spanish radio they were treated respectfully and criticized the backlash. Yamal’s celebration included celebrities and some of his Barcelona teammates.
WORDS: 212 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 2:05 p.m. EDT
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US–EX-MLB PITCHER-MURDER CONVICTION
Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini is convicted of murder in the 2021 shootings of his wife’s parents
SUMMARY: Retired MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini has been convicted of murder and attempted murder in the shootings of his wife’s parents during a burglary at their home four years ago near Lake Tahoe in California. A Placer County jury on Monday found the 51-year-old guilty of killing his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, and severely wounding his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood. Wood received extensive rehabilitation but died a year after the shooting. Prosecutors said Serafini and his in-laws had a rocky relationship and argued over money. A left-hander, Serafini was drafted in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins. He also played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
WORDS: 342 – MOVED: 07/15/2025 1:45 p.m. EDT
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