AP – Sports
October 22, 2026
With Jalen Hurts recovering from blood clots, Eagles must try and find path to playoffs without him
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts has been around the Eagles’ facility and could still be a resource for new No. 1 quarterback Tanner McKee or any other teammate who wants to talk to him. He’s just not taking any more snaps this season. The Eagles face a perilous road to the playoffs without him. Philadelphia can at least move on to Monday night’s game against Dallas without Hurts’ playing status serving as a lingering question mark. Hurts is on injured reserve and expected to miss the rest of the season after a blood clot in his left calf traveled to his lungs. McKee starts Monday night at home against Dallas.
World Series preview: Surprising Brewers-Rays showdown will open Jacob Misiorowski’s record heat
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays are set to face off in a unique World Series. Jacob Misiorowski, known for his record-breaking fastball, will pitch for the Brewers on Friday night. Both teams are seeking their first championship, with the Brewers returning to the Series after 44 years. The Rays and Brewers have relied on a throwback style of play, focusing less on home runs. This is the first World Series with robot umpires, adding a new twist to the game. Both teams have modest payrolls, marking a shift from big-spending franchises.
UConn’s Sarah Strong and USC’s JuJu Watkins headline preseason AP All-America women’s team
UConn’s Sarah Strong and USC’s JuJu Watkins headline the preseason AP All-America women’s college basketball team. The team, released Thursday, also includes Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes, Texas forward Madison Booker, and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo. Strong, the reigning AP Player of the Year, earned 30 votes from the 31-member national media panel. Hidalgo and Booker each received 28 votes, Blakes had 27, and Watkins 26. Watkins is returning after an ACL tear in 2025. Strong averaged 18.4 points and 7.7 rebounds last season. Booker and Hidalgo have been honored as preseason picks for three consecutive years.
March Madness is bigger for 2027. It’s unclear exactly how that will look in terms of who gets bids
March Madness has grown to 76 teams for the men’s and women’s tournaments. Both events had been at 68 teams. It’s unclear whether football-playing power conferences will gobble up the added spots or if it will give more chances for mid-majors to claim bids that can lead to magic March moments. The men’s tournament had reached its modern era by growing to 64 teams in 1985, then made small gains to reach 68 by 2011. The women’s tournament began in 1982 and reached 64 teams in 1994, but it was unchanged until going to 68 teams in 2022.
Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 for a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals
ATLANTA (AP) — Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night and take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals. Rhyne Howard added 16 points and Naz Hillmon had 15 for the Dream, who host Game 4 on Saturday. It was the second straight strong game for Reese, who had 30 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2, which the Dream also won. With the game tied at 49 in the third quarter, Atlanta scored eight straight, including four by Reese. Atlanta closed the quarter scoring 12 of the final 14 points.
Through pioneers and slow progress, America’s relationship to women’s sports continues to evolve
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Women’s sports are gaining momentum across the U.S., with athletes and fans celebrating historic TV ratings and wins for equal opportunities and pay. Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, who recently won the WNBA MVP for a record fifth time, says this is just the beginning. Despite past stereotypes and barriers, girls’ sports participation is hitting record highs. However, challenges remain, including intensified attacks on Title IX. While interest grows, some wonder if it’s a lasting change. Women’s sports are projected to generate $3 billion globally this year, showing significant growth and potential.
Fashion forward: Eyes on tunnel ‘fits’ when Saints and Steelers dress to impress for Paris game
PARIS (AP) — Fashion-conscious Steelers and Saints players will dress for the tunnel before they put on pads and uniforms for Sunday’s game in Paris. Fashion-conscious players arrive to stadiums dressed to impress. It’s another way to express their personality, plus brands and the NFL benefit by gaining visibility and a wider fan base. And where better than Paris to put your best fashion foot forward? Saints safety Justin Reid says he had a custom outfit made months ago for Sunday. The NFL has certainly ramped up its interest in fashion. It hired its first-ever fashion editor a couple of years ago.
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg calls out Luka Doncic, both on court and after huge loss to Lakers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg has only played one NBA game, and he’s already started a feisty feud with Luka Doncic. The Golden State Warriors rookie began his career by refusing to back down from the reigning NBA scoring champion, who punctuated their prolonged on-court exchange of trash talk by making a spectacular half-court shot in Lendeborg’s face at the halftime buzzer. Even after the Warriors were blown out by the Los Angeles Lakers, Lendeborg called out the six-time All-Star as a complainer and a free-throw merchant during his postgame news conference.
JJ Watt signs a multi-year deal to stay as CBS’ lead NFL analyst
JJ Watt will continue to be the analyst on CBS Sports’ lead NFL team after signing a new multi-year agreement with the network. Watt joined play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson after Tony Romo went on leave following his July 23 arrest in Wisconsin. CBS announced on Oct. 2 that Romo would not return after the two sides “agreed to part ways.” Romo had been the lead game analyst for CBS’ NFL coverage since 2017. Watt joined CBS Sports in 2023 as a studio analyst on “The NFL Today” studio show following a 12-year career with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals.
