AP Sports Summary for February 14th, 2025:
JuJu Watkins lifts sixth-ranked USC to program-defining win over No. 1 UCLA
LOS ANGELES (AP) — JuJu Watkins broke out of a scoring slump with 38 points, helping sixth-ranked USC topple No. 1 UCLA 71-60 and further delivering on her goal of restoring the program to its earlier glory. Some of those Trojans stars from the early 1980s — including Hall of Famers Cheryl Miller and Tina Thompson — joined a raucous crowd on its feet as USC rallied for the program's first win over a top-ranked team since 1983 on Thursday night. Watkins made six 3-pointers, 8-of-10 free throws, and 11 rebounds, eight blocks and five assists in 39 minutes.
Jets announce they've told Aaron Rodgers they're moving forward without him
The New York Jets announced they told quarterback Aaron Rodgers they are moving on without him next season. While Rodgers hasn't said whether he intends to continue playing for a 21st NFL season, the Jets with new general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn in charge have officially ruled out a return to New York. In a statement issued by the team, the Jets said they met with the 41-year-old quarterback last week and informed him of their plans. The four-time MVP is the fifth player in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes in the regular season. He has one year of non-guaranteed money left on his contract.
Philadelphia fans set to celebrate their beloved Eagles with Super Bowl parade on Valentine's Day
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles fans will be swooning on Valentine's Day as they swarm the city for a Super Bowl parade. There'll be a lot of love to go around. The underdog Eagles possess the Lombardi trophy after an easy 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is the game's MVP and running back Saquon Barkley the league's offensive player of the year. The parade starts at 11 a.m. in South Philadelphia, while the team ceremony kicks off at 2 p.m. on the art museum's "Rocky" steps. City leaders hope the famously exuberant Eagles fans will stay safe and keep the mood festive.
Castroneves to use "world-class driver" provisional to race in Daytona 500 after qualifying crash
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves will race in the Daytona 500 as a special 41st driver under a new rule that allows for a "world-class driver" to receive a provisional spot. The Brazilian did not want to use the provisional and hoped to race his way into the field in the first of two 150-mile qualifying races. But he was involved in an early eight-car accident. With 41 drivers, it will be the largest Daytona 500 field since 43 cars was the standard in 2015. Bubba Wallace won the first qualifying race and Justin Allgaier raced his way into the Daytona 500 to help JR Motorsports make its Cup debut Sunday. Austin Cindric won the second qualifying race and Corey LaJoie earned the final spot in the field.
Oh, baby! Bubba Wallace celebrates his 1st win at Daytona with his newborn son and a new outlook
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bubba Wallace won the first of two qualifying races for the Daytona 500. He showed enough speed to make him one of the favorites heading into "The Great American Race." Wallace will start third in the Daytona 500 behind pole-sitter Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric. Wallace continued Toyota's early dominance at Daytona International Speedway, where Briscoe won the pole in his new Joe Gibbs Racing ride. The 31-year-old Wallace celebrated his first victory at Daytona by spraying a Coke at his crew, hugging car co-owner Denny Hamlin and then lifting his newborn high into the air a la "The Lion King." The baby was wearing noise-protective headphones and a checkered-flag bib while sucking on a pacifier.
McCarthy's big finish gives him the lead in the cold rain and brutal test of Torrey Pines
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Denny McCarthy is leading the Genesis Invitational thanks to two holes to close out an otherwise tough and miserable day of weather. McCarthy finished birdie-eagle for a 68. That gives him a one-shot lead over Seamus Power and Patrick Rodgers. Scottie Scheffler was another shot back after missing a short birdie attempt on his final hole. Torrey Pines was brutal as ever because of a cold rain and enough wind. Two of the par 5s played over par. The fifth hole didn't yield a single birdie. Torrey Pines is filling in for Riviera this year because of the LA wildfires.
Steph vs. Sabrina, the big hit of All-Star weekend last year, won't happen this year
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — There will be no Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu rematch at All-Star weekend. The NBA announced Thursday that the 3-point shooting event bringing together two of the biggest stars in the NBA and WNBA is not going to be part of the lineup in San Francisco. It was the hit of All-Star weekend last year. Talks went on for weeks to try to make the rematch happen, even stretching into All-Star week itself. It seemed more than logical that a rematch would occur; All-Star weekend is on Curry's home floor this weekend and Ionescu is a Bay Area native who grew up watching Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
Marcus Stroman a no-show for New York Yankees' first two workouts
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Marcus Stroman has been a no-show on the field for the New York Yankees' first two spring training workouts. Stroman isn't required to participate in spring training until Feb. 22, the mandatory reporting date under the collective bargaining agreement. But most players arrive on the voluntary reporting date. Yankees manager Aaron Boon says he had talked to Stroman and knew he might be out the first couple of days. Boone wouldn't disclose Stroman's reasoning for being absent after the team's second day of practice Thursday.
Norway's Ingebrigtsen sets world record in the indoor mile days after Nuguse's mark
LIEVIN, France (AP) — Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen has set a world record in the indoor mile, beating Yared Nuguse's mark set just five days earlier at the Millrose Games. The two-time Olympic champion also set the world indoor 1,500 meter record at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF in northern France. Ingebrigtsen crossed the finish line in a time of 3 minutes, 45.14 seconds, improving on Nuguse's 3:46.63 in New York. Along the way, he hit 1,500 meters in 3:29.63, taking almost a second off the mark he set on the same track in 2022.
Goodyear Blimp at 100: From Ronald Reagan to Ice Cube, 'floating piece of Americana' still thriving
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — At 100 years old, the Goodyear Blimp is an ageless star in the sky. The 246-foot-long airship will be in the background of the Daytona 500 — flying roughly 1,500 feet above Daytona International Speedway, actually — to celebrate its greatest anniversary tour. Even though remote camera technologies are improving regularly and changing the landscape of aerial footage, the blimp continues to carve out a niche. At Daytona, with the usual 40-car field racing around a 2½-mile superspeedway, views from the blimp aptly provide the scope of the event.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Golden State 105 Houston 98
Final OT New Orleans 140 Sacramento 133
Final Dallas 118 Miami 113
Final Minnesota 116 Oklahoma City 101
Final OT L.A. Clippers 120 Utah 116
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final USA 6 Finland 1
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (14)Memphis 80 South Florida 65
Final (25)Maryland 83 Nebraska 75
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Team C at Team T 9:15 p.m.
Team G League at Team M 9:55 p.m.
Team TBD at Team TBD 10:35 p.m.
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