ROME (AP) — Lazio and Atalanta traded four second-half goals in a 2-2 draw in the first leg of th...

ROME (AP) — Lazio and Atalanta traded four second-half goals in a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Italian Cup semifinals Wednesday.Fisayo Dele-Bashiru took advantage of a through pass from former Atalanta midfielder Daniel Maldini to put Lazio ahead two minutes after the break.Mario Pasalic equalized four minutes later for Atalanta by knocking in a rebound.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Boulaye Dia took advantage of a defensive error by Pasalic and quickly found the target from the center of the area in the 87th. Then United States international Yunus Musah equalized again for Atalanta in the 90th.Como and Inter Milan drew 0-0 in the other semifinal on Tuesday.The second legs are scheduled for April 21-22 and the final is May 13.Atalanta has reached the final three times in the last seven seasons but has won the trophy only once — back in 1963. Lazio is a seven-time champion, having beat Atalanta for its most recent title in 2019.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Rome, Italy - March 4: Boulaye Dia of SS Lazio and Honest Ahanor of Atalanta BC battle for the ball during the Coppa Italia semifinal match between SS Lazio and Atalanta BC at Olimpico Stadium on March 4, 2026 in Rome, Italy.

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Lou Holtz never met an opponent that couldn't beat him. Somehow, he squeaked out nearly 250 wins ...

Lou Holtz never met an opponent that couldn't beat him. Somehow, he squeaked out nearly 250 wins and a national title while cementing himself both as one of the most lovable and unlikable characters in college football — a one-of-a-kind iconoclast in a profession brimming with originals.The pint-sized motivator who restored greatness at Notre Dame and demanded it everywhere else he went died in Orlando, Florida, Notre Dame announced Wednesday. He was 89.Spokeswoman Katy Lonergan said the family did not provide a cause of death.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather,” Notre Dame president the Rev. Robert A. Dowd said in a statement.His son, Skip, who followed Holtz into coaching, said in a <a href="https://x.com/CoachSHoltz/status/2029313222537253174?s=20">post on X</a> that his father had passed away and was "resting peacefully at home.”“He was successful, but more important he was Significant," Skip Holtz wrote.Holtz went 249-132-7 over a career that spanned 33 seasons and included stops at Minnesota, Arkansas, South Carolina and, most notably, Notre Dame.It was there that he won his lone national championship, in 1988, capped with a win over West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl but highlighted by a 31-30 victory earlier in the season over Miami — one of the notable meetings in the so-called “Catholics vs. Convicts” rivalry of the '80s.For all the big personalities coarsing through college football during the day, none stood bigger than Holtz. He was only 5-foot-10, but commanded the sideline like someone much bigger. The lead-up to the big games were sometimes his best theatre.Armed with a homespun brand of folksiness that could trickle into corny but always contained a kernel of truth, Holtz lit up bulletin boards and motivational posters with dozens of memorable quotes and pithy observations, virtually all of them constructed to inspire:—“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.”—"When all is said and done, more is said than done."—“You’re never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you’re never as bad as they say when you lose.”He could make any team — from Akron to Army to Alabama — sound like a world beater on any given week. More often than not, his Fighting Irish figured out a way to scratch out the wins.Restoring Notre Dame to greatnessBefore Holtz arrived in South Bend, Notre Dame was wallowing in mediocrity — a mere shell of the program built on a foundation of Knute Rockne, Ara Parseghian, the Golden Dome and Touchdown Jesus. Holtz turned things around quickly and had the Irish in the Cotton Bowl in Year 2 and winning the national title the season after that.His 1988 and 1989 teams won a school-record 23 consecutive games and he beat three teams ranked No. 1 — Miami in 1988, Colorado in 1989 and Florida State in 1993.The Irish finished No. 2 in the AP poll in 1993. Holtz left South Bend after the 1996 season with a record of 100-30-2.“Lou and I shared a very special relationship," said current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman, who led the Irish back to the national title game in 2025 — a contest Holtz attended and spiced up with some trolling of the Ohio State program that beat the Irish that day. "Our relationship meant a lot to me as I admired the values he used to build the foundation of his coaching career: love, trust and commitment.”A fast start, then a detour to the NFLNotre Dame was the highlight of a head-coaching career that began at William &amp; Mary and North Carolina State and also included a one-year stop in the NFL.Like so many who mastered the college game in his profession, he failed up there, resigning with one game left in a 3-10 campaign with the New York Jets in 1976 and proclaiming “God did not put Lou Holtz on this earth to coach in the pros."That opened the door at Arkansas, which was one of the four schools he led into the AP Top 25. His teams made 18 appearances there; eight of those were in the top 10.After Notre Dame, Holtz transitioned into the TV booth with CBS, promising he would never coach again.“I said, ‘You could put it in granite.’ I’ve got the granite stone,” Holtz said. “It wasn’t very good granite.”He took an open job at South Carolina, where he had once served as an assistant coach. Despite posting a career-worst 0-11 mark in his first season with the Gamecocks, Holtz went 17-7 over the next two seasons, beat then No. 9 Georgia in the second game of 2000 and also beat Ohio State twice in the Outback Bowl.He left the sideline for good following the 2004 season and returned to the airwaves, working 11 more seasons with ESPN.Core values of trust and getting the best out of playersOn the field, each program he led reached new heights in part because he never wavered from his core values of trust, a commitment to excellence and caring for others.“I think you have to go in there with a vision of where you want to go and a plan of how you’re going to get there,” Holtz once said. “You have to hold people accountable, and you have to believe it can be done."The results were impressive, even if he sometimes used unconventional methods.He once tackled quarterback Tony Rice following a failed play in practice and was widely critiqued in 1991 when he grabbed a player by the facemask, pulling him to the sideline and yelling at him the entire way after the player committed a personal foul. Holtz later apologized.Holtz suspended his leading rusher, Tony Brooks, and leading receiver, Ricky Watters, in 1988 because they were 40 minutes late to a team meal the night before Notre Dame faced then No. 2 Southern California. The Irish still won 27-10.At Arkansas, he once suspended three starting offensive players for disciplinary reasons before facing then No. 2 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Arkansas, an 18-point underdog, still won 31-6.As demanding as Holtz could be, though, he used his charm and eye for good players to recruit top talent. Notre Dame’s 1990 recruiting class included five future first-round NFL draft picks, and he found unique ways to motivate his team.“The first thing I said at every practice was, ‘Boy, what a great day to work,’” Holtz recounted. “It could be raining. It could be whatever. I’d be, ‘Boy, am I glad to be here. No place I’d rather be than here.’ I used to say to them, ‘I travel all over the world speaking to every major corporation and they’d pay me money. I speak to you for free and you don’t have to take notes.’”Born in West Virginia, dreamed of coaching high schoolLouis Leo Holtz was born Jan. 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, and aspired to be a high school football coach. His future wife broke off their engagement in 1960. That’s when Holtz, a 150-pound linebacker at Kent State, took a graduate-assistant job at Iowa. A year later, he married Beth Barcus, and they were together more than 50 years.She inspired him again in 1966 when, eight months pregnant with their third child, Holtz was jobless. Beth bought him a book about setting goals, and Holtz created a wish-list of what he wanted to do: attend a White House dinner, appear on “The Tonight Show” and see the Pope.Holtz said there were 107 entries on the list: “She said, ‘Gee, that’s nice. Why don’t you add get a job.’ So we made it 108,” he said.In 2008, Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and Notre Dame placed a statue of him outside its home stadium.He said numerous times that his plan to be buried on that campus, as well. He figured it was only fitting because, as he said in 2015: “The alumni buried me here every Saturday,."___AP Sports Writer Michael Marot in Indianapolis contributed to this report. Tom Coyne is a former AP sports writer.___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 football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: ESPN reporter Lou Holtz looks on during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Auburn Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch and a life insurance company have sett...

<div>
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch and a life insurance company have settled an $8.5 million lawsuit in which the driver said he was misled into purchasing policies marketed as safe retirement plans.
Kyle and Samantha Busch reached an out-of-court settlement with Pacific Life Insurance Company, according to a Feb. 26 court filing. Terms were confidential.
“Both sides worked constructively to achieve a confidential result that is mutually acceptable and avoids further legal proceedings," Pacific Life said in a statement.
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
The Busches sued Pacific Life last October, claiming they lost more than $8.5 million after being misled into purchasing life insurance policies. They claim they paid over $10.4 million in premiums based on misleading illustrations and false promises of guaranteed returns.
The lawsuit accused Pacific Life and one of its agents of marketing indexed universal life policies as “tax-free retirement plans” using speculative projections that failed to disclose true risks and costs. The complaint claimed the company prioritized commissions over policyholder interests and violated North Carolina’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. 
Pacific Life filed for dismissal in January, contending the Busches failed to fully fund their policies and signed documents agreeing to the terms. The company also argued the lawsuit exceeds the three-year statute of limitations, noting it was filed seven years after the policies were initiated.
___
AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>
</div>

AVONDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 01: Kyle Busch (#8 Richard Childress Racing Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet) looks on before qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship on November 1, 2025 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.

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WREXHAM, Wales (AP) — Wrexham will play Liverpool in a friendly match at Yankee Stadium as part o...

WREXHAM, Wales (AP) — Wrexham will play Liverpool in a friendly match at Yankee Stadium as part of its East Coast tour this summer, and by that time the fast-rising Welsh club will know if it has reached the Premier League.Wrexham has earned an unprecedented three straight promotions and is playing in the second-tier Championship for the first time since the 1980s.Its surge up the English soccer pyramid, documented in the Emmy-winning “Welcome to Wrexham” TV series, began in 2022 with promotion from the non-league fifth division.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Wrexham is currently in sixth place in the Championship with 11 games remaining in the season. The top-two finishers secure automatic promotion to the Premier League and the teams that finish third to sixth will qualify for the end-of-season playoffs for the one extra promotion spot.Wrexham’s three-match tour, announced on Wednesday, begins July 25 against Leeds at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Liverpool game is July 29. The team then faces Sunderland on Aug. 2 at Subaru Park near Philadelphia.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Wrexham's Callum Doyle (left) celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match at the SToK Racecourse, Wrexham. Picture date: Saturday February 21, 2026.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Robert Vilahamn was announced Wednesday as the new coach of the Portland Th...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Robert Vilahamn was announced Wednesday as the new coach of the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League.Vilahamn, 43, most recently served as coach of the Tottenham Hotspur women’s team. Before joining the Women’s Super League club in 2023, Vilahamn was with BK Häcken in his native Sweden.“Robert arrives with managerial experience at the highest levels of the women’s game, possesses a strong track record of helping players grow, and will strengthen our team environment by providing new global perspectives and insights” Thorns general manager Jeff Agoos said in a prepared statement.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Vilahamn replaces Rob Gale, who was dismissed after the Thorns finished 11-8-7 overall last season and fell 2-0 to the Washington Spirit in the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs. Assistant Sarah Lowdon served as the team’s interim coach.The Thorns were one of the NWSL’s founding clubs in 2013 and they’ve made the playoffs in all but one season. Portland won NWSL titles in 2013, 2017 and 2022.“The club has everything I look for, with a clear ambition to win, an incredible fan base and a strong environment for developing talented players,” Vilahamn said. “The NWSL is the most competitive league in the world, and coming to the U.S. to be part of it is a major step in my career.”The Thorns open the new season against the Washington Spirit on March 13.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Robert Vilahamn Manager of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Tottenham Hotspur Women v Manchester United Women at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 2, 2025 in London, England.

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Three giant cranes stand a few meters from the main entrance of Azteca Stadium...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Three giant cranes stand a few meters from the main entrance of Azteca Stadium. Around them, construction vehicles move rubble generated by hundreds of workers racing to get the stadium ready for its reopening ahead of the 2026 World Cup.The iconic venue will become the first to host three World Cup opening matches when Mexico faces South Africa on June 11, but the reopening is scheduled for March 28, when Mexico will play Portugal in a friendly game.The stadium located south of Mexico City will host five World Cup games. Mexico previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 tournaments. Opened in 1966, Azteca has undergone several renovations — the last one to accommodate NFL games in 2016.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It closed its doors in May 2024 to get a much-needed facelift.The project is adding new seats in all sections, more video screens, new lighting and locker rooms, a new entrance to the new hybrid pitch, a new wi-fi system, two new big screens, and a new sound system with 250 speakers.The new locker rooms and the new entrance to the pitch were, according to stadium director Felix Aguirre and stadium owner Emilio Azcarraga Jean, the most difficult parts, delaying the overall renovations.“The contractors say that yes (it will be ready), I’m not a construction expert, they set dates, there’s a meeting every week, I told them I’m not a specialist, but I don’t see their dates going accordingly as the (planned) dates,” Azcarraga said last month. “There was a lot of difficulty at the beginning.”Aerial images taken Tuesday by The Associated Press show that all the new seats, 82,000 of them according to the stadium owners, are in place, as well as the new hybrid pitch, but there are still crews working on hospitality areas and new luxury boxes.A similar hybrid surface was installed in 2018 but poor field conditions forced a last-minute change of venue for an NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams. Natural grass was installed the following year. The new pitch has ventilation and drainage to resist heavy downpours common in Mexico City.Capacity is expected to be 87,000 when the World Cup kicks off June 11.“The stadium has undergone a significant modernization process that will improve the experience for soccer fans in every way,” Aguirre said. “Rest assured, Mexico City’s iconic and emblematic stadium will be fully ready.”One the parking lots at the stadium still has a lot of rubble and the old seats are still lying on the ground.“This first stage, which ends on March 28 with the reopening, is important, and then we’ll continue with the remaining work for the World Cup,” Azcarraga said. “And then there’s a lot more to do; the complexity of the project doesn’t allow you to do everything at once.”The Mexico City government is also improving infrastructure near the venue. A street adjacent to the stadium will have a new asphalt surface, a new draining system and new sidewalks.Also, work continues at the light rail station across from the Azteca. The city is enhancing outdoor lighting and improving a pedestrian bridge.On game days, the Xochimilco Light Rail known as Tren Ligero is one of the fastest ways to reach the stadium. It currently has 20 trains and the city’s government purchased 17 more for the World Cup.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 13: An aerial view shows the new hybrid pitch and newly installed seats at Azteca Stadium, recently renamed Banorte Stadium, during renovation works ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico on February 13, 2026. Renovation works continue inside and around the stadium, which will host the opening match of the tournament, marking the third time the venue will stage a World Cup opener, less than four months before it kicks off with Mexico facing South Africa.

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BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraq’s hopes of World Cup qualification are being impacted by the Iran war b...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraq’s hopes of World Cup qualification are being impacted by the Iran war because players cannot get visas for the playoff tournament in Mexico and the team’s coach is stranded in the United Arab Emirates.“Because of airspace closures, our head coach, Graham Arnold, is unable to leave the United Arab Emirates,” the Iraqi soccer federation said in a statement on Instagram on Wednesday. “In addition, several embassies remain closed at the present time, preventing several professional players, technical and medical staff members from obtaining entry visas to Mexico.”Iraq is scheduled to play Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey, Mexico on March 31 for one of the last two qualification places for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The federation said it is in “constant communication with FIFA regarding the arrangements for our national team’s participation” in the match. It said the Asian Football Confederation is also “fully aware of every development regarding our team’s situation.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

AL RAYYAN, QATAR - DECEMBER 12: Graham Arnold, Head Coach of Iraq, looks on during the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Quarter Final match between Jordan and Iraq at Education City Stadium on December 12, 2025 in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

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The No More Foundation launched an initiative on Tuesday that calls attention to violence against...

The No More Foundation launched an initiative on Tuesday that calls attention to violence against women and girls in Brazil with various initiatives surrounding the 2027 Women’s World Cup.The New York-based No More Foundation, which works to end domestic and sexual violence globally, says about 37% of Brazilian women over the age of 16 have experienced violence in the past year, citing a 2025 study.The campaign around the Women’s World Cup will include public service programming during sporting events, development of educational content for schools and community and sports organizations, as well as production of digital content in the run-up to the tournament.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Brazil was selected in 2024 to host the World Cup, which will be played across eight cities from June 24-July 25, 2027.“By integrating prevention messaging, education, and survivor resources into one of the world’s most watched sporting events, this initiative has the potential to reach millions around the world — women AND men — and create lasting impact far beyond the World Cup,” No More global Global CEO Pamela Zaballa said in a statement.Other partners include the Brazilian tourism board and the broadcaster EBC.“The cycle leading up to the 2027 Women’s World Cup represents a historic opportunity for us to strengthen our image as a country that promotes equality, safety, and respect,” said Marcelo Freixo of Visit Brazil.A public service announcement was released Tuesday as part of the campaign that included Brazilian soccer player Tarciane, former player Formiga, and women’s national team coach Arthur Elias.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

A FIFA Women's World Cup Brasil 2027 Qualifiers banner hangs before the FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifiers European Qualifiers 2027 match between Turkey and Malta at Pendik Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 3, 2026.

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MIAMI (AP) — Inter Miami has signed a deal with Brazilian financial services company Nu, which wi...

MIAMI (AP) — Inter Miami has signed a deal with Brazilian financial services company Nu, which will have the naming rights for the team’s new stadium near Miami International Airport.Nu Stadium, a 26,700-seat facility that remains under construction, is scheduled to play host to its first match on April 4.Terms of the deal that was announced on Wednesday were not revealed, other than it is a multiyear agreement.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nu will have its logo on Inter Miami’s jerseys starting in August, the team said. Inter Miami’s jerseys — fueled by the immense global following that Lionel Messi has — are among the best-selling in the world.Nu, a digital-first bank with 131 million customers across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, is expanding to the U.S. It entered into a partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team in Formula 1 racing earlier this year.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's second goal during the MLS match between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF at Inter&Co Stadium on March 01, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov broke the franchise career goals record with 220, Mats Zuc...

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov broke the franchise career goals record with 220, Mats Zuccarello, Brock Faber and Quinn Hughes each had a goal and assist and the Minnesota Wild beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 Tuesday night.Kaprizov’s empty-netter, a backhander from center ice for his 35th of the season, pushed him past Marian Gaborik for the most in Wild history.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
AND THAT'S HISTORY <a href="https://t.co/9u2gl9D3hu">pic.twitter.com/9u2gl9D3hu</a>— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) <a href="https://twitter.com/mnwild/status/2029064072080097540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Yakov Trenin also scored to help Minnesota end a two-game slide and continue its home dominance of Tampa Bay. The Wild are 16-3-0 at home against the Lightning.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Matt Boldy added a season-high three assists, extending his points streak to a career-high-tying 10 games. Filip Gustavsson stopped 26 shots, improving to 5-1-0 in his past six starts.Opening a four-game road trip, Tampa Bay got a goal from Nikita Kucherov but lost its third straight game after a 20-1-1 stretch. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 17 saves.Hughes also scored in the third period, resulting in a brief “U-S-A! U-S-A-!” chant for the member of the recent gold-medal winning squad.Trenin scored a fluky goal at 17:10 of the second period for a 3-1 Minnesota lead.Losing the puck as he tried to split a pair of defenders in the Lightning zone, Trenin finished his drive to the net and capitalized when Vasilevskiy struggled to cover the slow sliding puck.Just over two minutes earlier, Kucherov completed a pretty passing play with Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel to get Tampa Bay on the board.Faber scored less than four minutes into the game for a 1-0 lead. Zuccarello made it 2-0 with a 4-on-3 power-play goal early in the second period, the eighth straight game Minnesota has scored with the man advantage.Up nextLightning: At Winnipeg on Thursday night.Wild: At Vegas on Friday night.

SAINT PAUL, MN - MARCH 3: Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild defends against Janis Moser #90 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the game at Grand Casino Arena on March 3, 2026 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

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TORONTO (AP) — Marie-Philip Poulin scored in regulation and twice in a shootout and the PWHL-lead...

TORONTO (AP) — Marie-Philip Poulin scored in regulation and twice in a shootout and the PWHL-leading Montreal Victoire beat the Toronto Sceptres 4-3 on Tuesday night for their sixth straight victory.Poulin, the Victoire captain, was playing her second game since returning from a knee injury sustained playing for Canada in the Olympics.After Lina Ljungblom scored early in the third period to give Montreal a 3-2 lead, Jesse Compher tied it with 1:04 left and goalie Raygan Kirk off for an extra frame.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hayley Scamurra also scored for Montreal, and Sandra Abstreiter made 23 saves.Maggie Connors and Blayre Turnbull — on her bobblehead night — added goals for Toronto. Kirk made 31 saves.Up NextVictoire: Host Boston on Sunday, March 15.Sceptres: Host Minnesota on Sunday.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - APRIL 26: Marie-Philip Poulin #29 of the Montreal Victoire skates with the puck against the Ottawa Charge during the third period at The Arena at TD Place on April 26, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario.

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The United States wasted little time showing how potent its roster could...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The United States wasted little time showing how potent its roster could be at the upcoming World Baseball Classic.The Americans needed just three batters to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning of their exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday after Bobby Witt Jr. singled, Bryce Harper doubled and three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge hit a two-run single.The U.S. won 15-1 with a 19-hit performance in the 10-inning contest. Roman Anthony hit a two-run homer, Alex Bregman added a solo shot and Gunnar Henderson had a two-run double.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We've got a great group of guys," Harper said. "Bobby Witt starting it at the top, being a table-setter up there for us. Obviously, one through nine we've got a pretty good dynamic. We've just got to continue to be good."National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes had a solid outing, giving up one run and one hit while striking out four over three innings. The right-hander gave up a leadoff double to Willy Adames, who scored on a groundout.The 23-year-old retired his last nine batters."It's a spring-training game, but it's still surreal,” Skenes said. "It's going to be exciting when we get to Houston and it's the real deal."Left-hander Matthew Boyd followed Skenes, striking out four over 2 2/3 scoreless innings. David Bednar, Mason Miller, Griffin Jax and Gabe Speier each threw a scoreless inning. The Americans are trying to win their second WBC title and first since 2017. Manager Mark DeRosa said he was thrilled that all the starters stayed in the dugout well after being taken out of the game, talking with their temporary teammates."You look down the dugout, you're seeing Bregman talking to Roman Anthony, you're seeing (Tarik) Skubal and Skenes on the top step, you’re seeing Judge and (Cal) Raleigh talking," DeRosa said. "That's what I wanted to create, the coaching staff wanted to create — an environment where these guys didn’t want to leave."Bregman — who lives in the Phoenix area — had several U.S. teammates over for dinner last night. He said 23-time U.S. gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps spoke to the group for motivation."He just shared what it takes," Bregman said. "Controlling the controllables and getting after it."The U.S. will play one more exhibition game in Arizona on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies before traveling to Houston on Thursday to prepare for the the group stage.San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start the opener against Brazil on Friday. Two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is expected to start Saturday against Great Britain, followed by Skenes vs. Mexico on Monday.New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday in the final pool-play game against Italy, even though he's dealing with vertigo-like symptoms and hopes to join the U.S. in Houston. DeRosa said after Tuesday’s exhibition that McLean’s health was improving.Skubal is expected to make just one start for the U.S. before rejoining the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of spring training.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 03: Bryce Harper #24 of Team USA celebrates with teammates in the dugout during the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game presented by Capital One between Team USA and San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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Tickets for the playoffs in Mexico that will determine two of the final World Cup berths are bein...

Tickets for the playoffs in Mexico that will determine two of the final World Cup berths are being sold by FIFA for less than $17, far less than the $4,185 to $8,680 FIFA is charging for this year’s final in New Jersey.FIFA put tickets on sale Tuesday for the games on March 26 and 31 in Guadalajara and Monterrey involving Bolivia, Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname.Tickets are priced at 200 Mexican pesos ($11.30) for the March 26 semifinals and 300 pesos ($16.95) for the March 31 finals.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In Guadalajara, Jamaica plays New Caledonia on March 26 and the winner plays Congo on March 31 for a World Cup berth.In Monterrey, Bolivia faces Suriname on March 26 and the winner goes up against Iraq five days later.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

ZAPOPAN, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 24: An aerial view of the facade of the Guadalajara Stadium, in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, on February 24, 2026.

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World Cup playoff tickets go on sale for less than $17 for games in Mexico

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, his clu...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, his club Al Nassr said Tuesday.The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was injured during Saturday’s 3-1 win over Al-Fayha.Al Nassr did not say how long the 41-year-old Portugal star would be out.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“He started a rehabilitation program and will be under evaluation day by day,” the Saudi Pro League team said in a statement.The extent of Ronaldo’s injury was not publicly known. Al Nassr did not specify if it was a strain or tear, and coach Jorge Jesus suggested after the Al-Fayha game that it was “muscle fatigue.”In photos published Tuesday on Al Nassr’s social media channels, Ronaldo was seen training with weights in the team gym.The five-time Champions League winner is preparing to take part in his sixth World Cup when the United States, Mexico and Canada co-host the tournament this summer.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

BURAYDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 25: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr reacts during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Najmah and Al Nassr at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.

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Ronaldo 'under evaluation' after suffering hamstring injury with Al-Nassr

SAO PAULO (AP) — Defending South American and Brazilian champion Flamengo fired coach Filipe Luís...

SAO PAULO (AP) — Defending South American and Brazilian champion Flamengo fired coach Filipe Luís on Tuesday, just hours after his team won 8-0 in a Rio de Janeiro league semifinal.Only two month ago, Luís extended his contract at Flamengo to the end of 2027. This year his team lost the trophies of the Brazilian Supercup to local rival Corinthians and the South American Recopa to Argentina’s Lanus, but the squad was getting set to bid for major titles again.Despite thrashing tiny Madureira 8-0 late Monday and 11-0 on aggregate, fans booed Flamengo team throughout the game. Many have urged for Luis’ sacking since the beginning of the year.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 40-year-old former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea player joined Flamengo as a player in 2019 and retired in 2023. He won 12 titles for the Rio de Janeiro club as a footballer and five as a coach.“Flamengo thanks Filipe Luís for all his dedication and his achievements during his journey as our coach. We wish him success in his career,” the club said in its social media channels.Brazilian media reported former Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim was Luís’ most likely replacement. The 51-year-old Portuguese led Brazil’s Cruzeiro to a third-place finish in the latest Brazilian league.Flamengo recently signed midfielder Lucas Paquetá for a reported fee of 35 million euros ($40.5 million) in a show of its financial strength in the region.Flamengo midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta said in his Instagram profile that Luís “will always be one of us.”“Infinite gratitude. Sometimes you only know how much you’re worth when you become a memory,” the Uruguayan player said.Luís had 101 matches as Flamengo’s coach with 63 victories, 23 draws and 15 defeats. Five of those losses took place this year.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LIMA, PERU - NOVEMBER 29: Filipe Luis, Head Coach of Flamengo, celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2025 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores Final match between Palmeiras and Flamengo at Estadio Monumental on November 29, 2025 in Lima, Peru.

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Filipe Luis sacked as Flamengo coach after 8-0 win

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Fallon made fun of Jack Hughes for getting a tooth knocked out before scori...

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Fallon made fun of Jack Hughes for <a href="https://apnews.com/article/teeth-jack-hughes-olympics-hockey-c919611c8fbb3d34075ae4c867a58296">getting a tooth knocked out</a> before scoring his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jack-hughes-golden-goal-olympics-7ef7eedbeec4f6e4eb5bba969f70504f">Olympic-final overtime goal</a> and praised Hilary Knight <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-canada-womens-hockey-olympic-final-141b5904352673676656cbe2a1c253e5">for winning</a> at her fifth Games as the U.S. gold medal-winning hockey players made another late-night television appearance after returning from Milan.Knight, Jack Hughes, and brother Quinn Hughes shared the stage on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Monday night, 48 hours after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympic-hockey-knight-hughes-snl-55581da304e9b969eca54c4a309ab571">their memorable cameo</a> alongside <a href="https://apnews.com/article/megan-keller-winning-goal-olympics-0822cf92fedd664403680c2b2931f2a9">women’s golden goal scorer Megan Keller</a> on “Saturday Night Live.”Asked what was more nerve-wracking, playing in the Olympics or going on “SNL,” Knight responded without hesitation: “SNL.” Fallon brought up how Knight told her mother at age 5 she wanted to take part in Olympic hockey one day.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I’m just dialed like that,” Knight said. “We didn’t even have women’s hockey in the Olympics at the time. I just must have seen it on TV and was like: ‘That’s what I’m doing. I want to play hockey.’”Fallon read a letter Jack Hughes wrote to himself before being selected with the first pick in the 2019 NHL draft that included the lines: “Maybe we all represented the United States at the Olympics. Maybe we won a gold medal or gold medals together. What an honor that would be.”The three players then fist-bumped as the studio audience, including youngest brother Luke Hughes, applauded.The Hughes brothers joked about being roommates in the athletes’ village — and their interaction after Jack got high-sticked in the mouth by Canada’s Sam Bennett in the third period of the gold-medal game.“Quinn, he was the first guy closest to me, and I remember him coming up to me at the TV timeout, and he was like: ‘It’s not that bad. it’s only chipped,’” Jack Hughes said. “That was like four minutes left in the game, like when we were serious trying to win this thing, and he came up and said that.”Jack Hughes promised Fallon the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jack-hughes-olympics-devils-nhl-return-e624d6ab2b896971fec9869329c8ed7c">gap-toothed smile</a> “won’t be my thing,” even after the hockey storybook finish of losing a tooth and scoring an Olympic-winning goal.“That is the most hockey thing I could even think of ever happening in the world,” Fallon said.Fallon also brought up Knight’s storybook time in Milan that included <a href="https://apnews.com/article/hilary-knight-brittany-bowe-engaged-olympics-8e45c326d6bc6ecb58b14824d5f7dd18">getting engaged</a> to U.S. speedskater Brittany Bowe, who was in attendance. He wondered aloud why she chose to propose on a grate instead of the nearby grass and asked Knight if she worried about dropping the ring.“Almost,” Knight said. “I like high-pressure situations, I guess.”<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/HilaryKnight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HilaryKnight</a> proposed to her girlfriend over a grate before winning gold at the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCOlympics</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FallonTonight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FallonTonight</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinterOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinterOlympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/le5JPnlhRb">pic.twitter.com/le5JPnlhRb</a>— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) <a href="https://twitter.com/FallonTonight/status/2028711277074301156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Knight won her second Olympic gold medal at age 36 in what she has said will be her final time on the biggest international stage in sports. She did so playing with a torn medial collateral ligament in one of her knees, something she revealed earlier Monday on “CBS Mornings.”“I’m not walking around the best, and I’m missing a few games for the (PWHL’s) Seattle Torrent,” <a href="https://x.com/cbsmornings/status/2028504353028354372?s=46&amp;t=k9ViX1I2UGQuWELjkV-5Dw">Knight said</a> on CBS. “To be able to play through injury was definitely a mental sort of gymnastic challenge for myself and also physical, but we’ve got some amazing support staff that did their best to get me out there and perform at my best — as best as I could.”Knight <a href="https://apnews.com/article/hilary-knight-last-olympics-3d7b73a94ebfb64683a6612e415973fb">tied the final against Canada</a> with just over two minutes left in regulation. Knight, teammate Kendall Coye Schofield, and Canada’s Erin Ambrose were <a href="https://apnews.com/article/knight-coyne-schofield-ambrose-olympics-injuries-ffaeb38e048ce0a17f48bccbcc4ced9a">all put on long-term injured reserve</a> by their respective PWHL teams upon returning for the resumption of the season.___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 22: Quinn Hughes #43 and Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrate following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. The United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime.

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Gold medalists Knight, Hughes brothers appear on 'Tonight Show'

MACCLESFIELD, England (AP) — English sixth-tier club Macclesfield claimed someone tried to burn d...

MACCLESFIELD, England (AP) — English sixth-tier club Macclesfield claimed someone tried to burn down its stadium on Tuesday, two months after it pulled off the biggest upset in FA Cup history by knocking out titleholder Crystal Palace.The “suspected arson attempt” on Leasing.com Stadium took place overnight and there were no casualties, the club said.“Emergency services have responded immediately and are on site tackling the blaze in the affected areas,” Macclesfield said in a statement.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It still urged “anyone nearby to keep windows shut and not to approach the stadium.”Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire and the club said it was not commenting further for now. The stadium dates to 1891. It has a capacity of 6,355 spectators.Led by the younger brother of England and Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney, the tiny club from England’s northwest stunned Premier League ‘s Palace 2-1 on Jan. 11 in Macclesfield and created one of the most iconic moments in soccer’s oldest knockout competition.With 117 places separating National League North team Macclesfield and Palace when they played, it was the biggest upset in the FA Cup’s 155-year history. Macclesfield was knocked out in the next round — the fourth — by the Premier League’s Brentford.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

MACCLESFIELD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Josh Kay of Macclesfield challenges Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace for the ball during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Macclesfield and Crystal Palace on January 10, 2026 in Macclesfield, England.

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Suspected arson attempt at stadium of FA Cup upstarts Macclesfield

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Jaden Bradley scored 17 points, Motiejus Krivas added 13 and No. 2 Arizona c...

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Jaden Bradley scored 17 points, Motiejus Krivas added 13 and No. 2 Arizona clinched the outright Big 12 regular-season title with a 73-57 win over No. 6 Iowa State on Monday night.The Wildcats (28-2, 15-2) secured at least a share of the conference crown by using big runs in each half to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-kansas-score-f66be68827ffa5fddaed9212175add72">beat No. 14 Kansas 84-61</a> on Saturday.Arizona earned it outright by smothering Iowa State defensively to give Tommy Lloyd his 140th victory, most in NCAA history in a coach’s first five seasons.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Coming off <a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-tech-iowa-state-score-d7de1733612ed11cd5bea045ca4eb5a2">their first home loss</a> of the season, the Cyclones (24-6, 11-6) labored against Arizona’s physical defense, shooting 29% from the floor, including 7 of 30 from 3-point range.Tamin Lipsey led Iowa State with 17 points, but leading scorer Milan Momcilovic was held to five on 2-of-8 shooting. The nation’s best 3-point shooter at 51%, he went 1 for 5 from the beyond the arc.Neither team could make much of anything, due to good defense and missing open shots.Iowa State shot 9 of 33 from the floor and 4 of 20 from 3 in the first half.Arizona labored most of the half as the Cyclones collapsed in the paint before the Wildcats closed on a 15-3 run to lead 37-25 at halftime.It only got worse for Iowa State to start the second half. The Cyclones missed their first eight shots as Arizona stretched the lead to 16.Iowa State briefly found an offensive rhythm, using a 10-1 run to pull to 44-37, but didn’t hit a field goal for more than five minutes as Arizona stretched the lead back to 15.Up nextIowa State plays at Arizona State on Saturday.Arizona plays at Colorado on Saturday.___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-</a>

TUCSON, ARIZONA - MARCH 02: Jaden Bradley #0 of the Arizona Wildcats handles the ball against Milan Momcilovic #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half of the NCAAB game at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena on March 02, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona.

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SEATTLE (AP) — Former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter, who was banned for life from the NBA ...

SEATTLE (AP) — Former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter, who was banned for life from the NBA in 2024 after a league probe found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, even betting on the Raptors to lose, is planning to play professional basketball again.Porter has signed with the Seattle Superhawks, a member of the independent United States Basketball League. The USBL was originally formed in 1985, ceased operations in 2008 and announced its return in November.Porter, who was denied a request to be allowed to resume his basketball career in Greece in 2024 while awaiting sentencing for his role in the betting scandal that got him banned from the league, will have the chance to play again when the Superhawks begin their season at home on Saturday. In a statement shared with The Associated Press, the USBL said it believes in second chances, and that the Superhawks are confident in Porter's sincerity.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"While Jontay fully acknowledges the consequences of his actions, he has demonstrated genuine remorse and a strong commitment to personal growth," the statement said. "The USBL and the Superhawks are united in offering him the chance to continue his basketball journey, both as an athlete and as an example of how redemption can take shape through accountability and hard work."Porter pleaded guilty in July 2024 in federal court in Brooklyn to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison. He acknowledged that he agreed to withdraw early from games so that co-conspirators could win bets on his performance. Porter was on a two-way contract at the time of his violations, which meant he could bounce back and forth between the Raptors and their G League affiliate. His salary was $410,000, and a standard NBA contract would have been more than $2 million. In pleading guilty, Porter acknowledged wrongdoing, saying he did it "to get out from under large gambling debts.""I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry," Porter said at the time.Prosecutors estimated his sentence at a range from just under three and a half years in prison to a little over four years.Porter averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26 games in the 2023-24 season for Toronto. He also played in 11 games for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2020-21 season.

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 09: Jontay Porter #34 of the Toronto Raptors warms up before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on March 09, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.

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PISA, Italy (AP) — Fiorentina went down to Udinese 3-0 and Pisa lost to Bologna 1-0 on an unhappy...

PISA, Italy (AP) — Fiorentina went down to Udinese 3-0 and Pisa lost to Bologna 1-0 on an unhappy night for the relegation-threatened sides in Serie A on Monday.In Udine, the home side went ahead after 10 minutes when Christian Kabasele nodded in a Nicolo Zaniolo corner.Udinese’s leading goal-scorer Kelman Davis made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the second half.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>And Adam Buksa added a third in stoppage time to decisively halt Fiorentina’s recent revival and torpedo its hopes of winning three games in a row for the first time this season.It remained fifth from bottom of the league, but equal on points with Cremonese and Lecce, the club occupying the third relegation spot.One of the two teams below it, Pisa, lost at home to Bologna and remained joint last with Verona.Pisa had three shots on target while Bologna had only one, but it was that 90th-minute strike from Jens Odgaard that decided the match.The Danish forward hit the net from around 25 meters out to break the home fans’ hearts and ensure Pisa was still looking for a second win in the league.The result leaves it on the same points as bottom club Verona. Both are nine points from safety with 11 league matches remaining.The win was Bologna’s third in a row and lifted it above Sassuolo into ninth place. It has not lost a league game at home to Pisa since February 1985.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

UDINE, ITALY - MARCH 02: Christian Kabasele of Udinese celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Friuli on March 02, 2026 in Udine, Italy.

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