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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. 13 NC State’s 2OT win over No. 1 Notre Dame gives women’s basketball a showcase thriller

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — No. 13 N.C. State’s double-overtime victory over No. 1 Notre Dame on Sunday provided the latest showcase moment for women’s college basketball. The game featured high-end guard play and 21 lead changes. There were also highlight-reel shots from N.C. State’s Aziaha James and Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron. Wolfpack fans lined up for hours to get in for a game that drew ESPN’s “College GameDay” to Reynolds Coliseum. Afterward, Wolfpack players headed to the campus Memorial Belltower to celebrate with fans. The loss ended the Fighting Irish’s 19-game winning streak and kept them from clinching the ACC outright regular-season title.

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.

They told her women shouldn’t box. Now she’s Ghana’s first female world champion

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — When Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey decided as a teenager to become a professional boxer, her family begged her to stop training. It was an unusual choice for a young woman in a working-class neighborhood of Ghana’s capital of Accra. While boxing is the pride of Jamestown, and the neighborhood is known for being home to many boxing stars, it’s also been seen as a man’s sport with women discouraged from taking part. But Quartey persisted and last year, at age 27, she became Ghana’s first female world boxing champion. What counts the most for Quartey is the impact on young women from her neighborhood. She wants more women to become professional athletes.

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.