AP Sports Summary for February 24th, 2025
Hat trick puts Alex Ovechkin 13 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin had so many chance to score in the Washington Capitals' rout of the Edmonton Oilers that he joked, "I'll take three." His 32nd hat trick of his 20-year NHL career puts him at 882 goals. He is 13 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's record that long seemed unapproachable. Ovechkin, even after missing 16 games with a broken leg earlier this season, is now back on pace to pass Gretzky this spring. The Capitals have 25 left to play for him to make that a reality.
Bell takes only lead in OT to edge Hocevar, Larson in another thrilling NASCAR finish in Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Christopher Bell edged Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson in overtime Sunday in another close NASCAR Cup Series finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bell led only the final lap in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and had a slight edge on the outside when the caution light came on in overtime following a wreck by Josh Berry. The 30-year-old Oklahoma driver has 10 career Cup victories. Austin Cindric led in his Team Penske Ford before he and William Byron, the Daytona 500 winner last week, wrecked with three laps remaining, setting up the overtime. Kyle Busch finished seventh, ending his hopes of snapping a winless streak on the Cup Series. Busch won the Atlanta Truck Series race Saturday.
No. 1 Notre Dame's backcourt is a tough matchup. NC State's Zoe Brooks was ready for it
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — N.C. State guard Zoe Brooks had a huge day in helping the 13th-ranked Wolfpack beat No. 1 Notre Dame in double overtime. The 5-foot-10 sophomore went for a career-high 33 points and 10 rebounds in the 104-95 win. Brooks had never scored more than 21 points in a game before Sunday. But her big performance included making all 14 of her free throws while attacking the paint. Brooks said she was eager for the challenge of playing Notre Dame's All-American backcourt of Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles.
Alex Rodriguez makes half-court shot, wins Bucknell student $10,000
LEWISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez showed his skill on the hardwood, making a half-court shot to win a Bucknell student $10,000. The 14-time All-Star was invited to take the shot Sunday during halftime of Bucknell's basketball game against Army. The 49-year-old tossed a high-arching shot that banked off the backboard and through the hoop, setting off a celebration with students. The three-time MVP was at Bucknell to speak about his company Jump Platforms, which he founded with two other entrepreneurs, Jordy Leiser and Marc Lore. Lore and Leiser graduated from Bucknell.
Arizona apologizes for 'unacceptable chant' from fans at end of basketball loss to BYU
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona has apologized after the school says some fans participated in an "unacceptable chant" following the basketball team's 96-95 loss to BYU on Saturday night. According to online video, fans can be heard yelling a profane phrase directed at Mormons as the teams were leaving the court. BYU is the flagship school for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Richie Saunders scored 23 points, including two free throws with 3.2 seconds left, to give BYU the road victory at No. 19 Arizona. It was the Cougars' fourth win in a row and second consecutive over a ranked opponent.
Mikaela Shiffrin gets historic 100th World Cup race win and ties record for most podiums
SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin has created more history in her storied ski career by winning a World Cup slalom on Sunday. Shiffrin got a record-extending 100th World Cup race win. Her 155th career podium finish in World Cup races also tied the all-time record with Swedish men's great Ingemar Stenmark. Shiffrin was the first-run leader at Sestriere, Italy and protected that to finish 0.61 seconds ahead of Zrinka Ljutic who is a three-time winner this season. Shiffrin's U.S. teammate Paula Moltzan was third.
Brian Campbell cashes in on a big break and wins Mexico Open for first PGA Tour title
VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) — Brian Campbell played well enough to win the Mexico Open for his first PGA Tour victory. He also needed the break of a lifetime. In a playoff with Aldrich Potgieter, Campbell sent his tee shot on the second extra hole well off the property and out-of-bounds. But it hit some trees and bounced back in play. He wound up hitting wedge to 4 feet for the winning birdie when Potgieter failed to make his 6-foot birdie putt. The victory sends Campbell to the Masters and PGA Championship and The Players Championship. He also gets into five $20 million signature events.
It turns out Venus Williams won't play at Indian Wells after the tournament announced she would
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — It turns out 44-year-old Venus Williams will not be playing at the BNP Paribas Open. The tournament in Indian Wells, California, revealed on Sunday that Williams won't play, days after it announced she would be competing there as a wild card. It was an odd backtrack that came several hours after audio made the rounds on social media of Williams saying she would not be competing at the tournament in the Coachella Valley next month. Williams hasn't competed anywhere on tour since a first-round loss at the Miami Open in March 2024. That was less than two weeks after she lost her opening match at Indian Wells.
Alex Bregman hits a 2-run homer and gets 3 hits in his spring debut with the Boston Red Sox
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer as part of a three-hit day in his spring training debut with the Boston Red Sox, launching a drive over the left-field wall in the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. Bregman also had a single in the first inning and a double off the fence in the fourth. The two-time All-Star signed a $120 million, three-year deal with Boston this month after spending the first nine years of his career with the Houston Astros.
Biyendolo and Cooper score as United States beats Australia 2-1 in She Believes Cup
GLENDALE, Ariz (AP) — Lynn Biyendolo scored 42 seconds into the match and the United States beat Australia 2-1 on Sunday in the SheBelieves Cup. Michelle Cooper scored her first international goal in the 68th minute for the U.S., which improved to 2-0 in the four-team round-robin tournament. Biyendolo's goal was the fastest by a U.S. player since Ashley Hatch scored 24 seconds into a match in November 2021, also against Australia. Biyendolo, formerly Lynn Williams, was married in the offseason. It was her 22nd international goal. Michelle Heyman scored in the 80th minute for Australia.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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INTERLEAGUE
Final Pittsburgh 5 Minnesota 1
Final Tampa Bay 4 Atlanta 2
Final Baltimore 7 Philadelphia 3
Final Houston 11 St. Louis 6
Final Athletics 4 Colorado 0
Final Chicago Cubs 6 Texas 5
Final Seattle 11 Arizona 5
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Detroit 4 N.Y. Yankees 0
Final Toronto 8 Boston 7
Final Kansas City 4 Chicago White Sox 3
Final Cleveland 14 L.A. Angels 2
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Washington 11 N.Y. Mets 6
Final San Francisco 5 Cincinnati 2
Final L.A. Dodgers 8 San Diego 3
Final Colorado 6 Milwaukee 1
Final Miami 1 N.Y. Mets 1
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Boston 118 New York 105
Final Golden State 126 Dallas 102
Final Indiana 129 L.A. Clippers 111
Final Toronto 127 Phoenix 109
Final Milwaukee 120 Miami 113
Final Orlando 110 Washington 90
Final Detroit 148 Atlanta 143
Final New Orleans 114 San Antonio 96
Final Cleveland 129 Memphis 123
Final Oklahoma City 130 Minnesota 123
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Washington 7 Edmonton 3
Final N-Y Rangers 5 Pittsburgh 3
Final St. Louis 3 Colorado 1
Final Tampa Bay 4 Seattle 1
Final New Jersey 5 Nashville 0
Final OT Detroit 5 Anaheim 4
Final Toronto 5 Chicago 2
Final Dallas 4 N-Y Islanders 3
Final Utah 2 Vancouver 1
Final Calgary 3 San Jose 2
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (10)St. John's 89 UConn 75
Final Indiana 73 (13)Purdue 58
Final (22)Memphis 84 FAU 65
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Final Vancouver 4 Portland 1
Final San Diego FC 2 LA Galaxy 0
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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INTERLEAGUE
Miami at Houston 1:05 p.m.
Cleveland at Arizona 3:10 p.m.
San Francisco at L-A Angels 3:10 p.m.
Seattle at Milwaukee 3:10 p.m.
Atlanta at Baltimore 4:05 p.m.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Toronto at Detroit 1:05 p.m.
Minnesota at Tampa Bay 1:05 p.m.
Texas at Chi White Sox 3:05 p.m.
Athletics at Kansas City 3:05 p.m.
N-Y Yankees at Boston 4:05 p.m.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia 1:05 p.m.
N-Y Mets at St. Louis 1:05 p.m.
L-A Dodgers at Cincinnati 3:05 p.m.
Colorado at San Francisco 3:05 p.m.
Chi Cubs at San Diego 3:10 p.m.
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Brooklyn at Washington 7 p.m.
Chicago at Philadelphia 7 p.m.
Denver at Indiana 7 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Detroit 7 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Oklahoma City 8 p.m.
Portland at Utah 9 p.m.
Charlotte at Sacramento 10 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
San Jose at Winnipeg 7:30 p.m.
Vegas at Los Angeles 10:30 p.m.
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(5)Houston at (9)Texas Tech 9 p.m.
(12)Michigan at Nebraska 8 p.m.
(23)Kansas at Colorado 11 p.m.
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