Sports

Lindsey Vonn’s father tells AP her Olympic crash marks ‘the end of her career’ if he has any say

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn’s father says she will no longer race if he has any say. The American skiing superstar broke her leg in the Olympics downhill over the weekend. Alan Kildow, Vonn’s father, spoke to The Associated Press on Monday. He said Vonn, who is 41, will not return to the Olympics. Vonn is recovering in a Treviso hospital after her fall and helicopter evacuation on Sunday. Kildow declined to discuss her injuries but praised her strength. The hospital stated Vonn had surgery on her left leg and is in stable condition. Her family remains by her side.

US snowboard star Chloe Kim calls for unity after Trump bashes teammate over immigrant crackdown

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Chloe Kim and other American snowboarders preparing to compete at the Winter Olympics in Italy have not been daunted by Donald Trump’s bashing of a teammate for saying he didn’t back the president’s crackdown on immigrants. Trump called American freestyle skier Hunter Hess a “loser” on social media over the weekend after the athlete had said he didn’t feel represented by what was happening back home. Kim says it important stand up for one another. Chinese freeski star Eileen Gu also backed Hess, saying that she hopes the controversy doesn’t overshadow the Games.

NBA All-Star 2026: Times, details, how to watch the weekend’s events

NBA All-Star weekend is back in California for the second straight year. Among the on-court events are the celebrity game and Rising Stars competition on Friday, 3-point and slam-dunk contests on Saturday and a new game format on Sunday that features the USA vs. the World. The U.S. vs. the World concept was talked about for years before finally becoming a reality this season. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association unveiled the long-awaited plan earlier this season, after trying yet again to figure out the latest way to spark renewed interest in the game. Here’s some of what to know for All-Star weekend.

Attorney says Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. maintains his innocence while facing 5 felony charges

ATLANTA (AP) — The attorney for Atlanta Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. says Pearce “maintains his innocence” as he faces five felony charges following his arrest near Miami on Saturday night. Pearce’s charges include fleeing police after what Doral police said was a domestic dispute with WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Pearce was arrested after crashing his car. His charges include two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated stalking. Pearce posted bond of $20,500 on Sunday. The charges could threaten Pearce’s future with the Falcons. Attorney Jacob Nunez says he is confident Pearce will continue “contributing positively” to the Falcons.

Arizona holds No. 1 spot for 9th week in AP Top 25; Houston rises to No. 3, Kentucky returns at 25th

Arizona remained firmly atop The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a ninth consecutive week. The Wildcats claimed all 59 first-place votes to be the unanimous choice for a fourth straight week. Michigan remained No. 2. Houston was next at No. 3 after jumping five spots. Duke, Iowa State, UConn, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas and Michigan State rounded out the top 10. Kentucky cracked the poll at No. 25 for the first time since early December. The Wildcats are coming off a win against Tennessee that knocked the Volunteers from the poll.

Duke surges to No. 11 in AP Top 25 women’s poll with 15-game win streak; UConn-UCLA still 1-2

Duke jumped up to No. 11 in The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 poll. The Blue Devils are riding a 15-game winning streak. The Blue Devils took over sole possession of first-place in the ACC last week with a one-point victory over then-No. 6 Louisville. UConn remained the unanimous No. 1 in the poll. The Huskies continue to steamroll through the regular season. UCLA, South Carolina and Texas followed the Huskies.

Spring training initial focus on robot umpires and World Baseball Classic

Spring training starts Tuesday as pitchers and catchers return to the field just 102 days after the World Series. Players are gearing up for the Automated Ball-Strike system, which allows teams to challenge pitch calls with “robot umps.” The system was tested in spring training last year, and teams won over half of the challenges. The World Baseball Classic is also returning, with Japan aiming for another title. Meanwhile, MLB sees a significant managerial shake-up with eight new managers. A labor confrontation looms as the current collective bargaining agreement nears expiration. A management lockout is anticipated, echoing the 2021 standoff.

Backed by NFL and Olympics, flag football gains momentum in NCAA emerging sports program

Thousands gathered in San Francisco in the days leading up to the most anticipated game on the NFL calendar. But before the Seahawks and Patriots took center stage in Super Bowl LX, it was the contactless version of the game that repeatedly found itself in the spotlight. Whether it was the NFL’s top players going head-to-head in the Pro Bowl, the 2026 NFL Flag International Championship, or a number of showcases highlighting the talents of athletes across the globe, the rapid rise of flag football was represented accordingly in San Francisco.

Serena Williams is eligible to return to tennis later this month. It’s not clear if she will

Serena Williams has passed another stage on the path to a possible comeback to professional tennis. She was listed Monday by the sport’s drug-testing organization as eligible to return to competition on Feb. 22. That is six months after the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion initially registered with the International Tennis Integrity Agency. Williams, who is 44, was listed on the ITIA website’s reinstatement page Monday, a development first reported by Bounces. What was not immediately known was when or where — or, truly, whether — Williams actually will play again. She last competed at the 2022 U.S. Open.

From Darnold’s big day to Bad Bunny and MVP Matthew Stafford returning, an eventful Super Bowl week

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Sam Darnold and that stingy Seattle Seahawks defense captured the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship on the familiar field of their rival, the San Francisco 49ers. General manager John Schneider considered that an advantage in his team’s 29-13 victory against the New England Patriots after Seattle won 13-3 at Levi’s Stadium just last month. The week leading up to Super Bowl 60 was filled with memorable moments, including AP NFL MVP Matthew Stafford announcing he’s returning next season for the Los Angeles Rams and Bad Bunny performing at halftime.