AP Sports SummaryBrief at 12:02 a.m. EDT

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 12:02 a.m. EDT

March 18, 2026Updated: March 18, 2026
AP nullBy AP null

Venezuela beats US 3-2 on Suárez’s 9th-inning double to win first World Baseball Classic title

MIAMI (AP) — Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, rebounding from a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the United States 3-2 on Eugenio Suárez’s tiebreaking double in the ninth. Maikel Garcia’s third-inning sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu’s fifth-inning homer off rookie Nolan McLean built a 2-0 lead before a roaring pro-Latin America crowd in Miami. Eduardo Rodríguez and lights-out relievers limited the Americans to two hits before Bryce Harper's two-out, two-run homer in the eighth tied it. Daniel Palencia retired the side in order in the ninth, finishing a three-hitter.

U.S. falls short again in WBC final as Venezuela stuns star-studded roster

MIAMI (AP) — Aaron Judge walked slowly back and forth in the United States’ dugout on Tuesday night while Venezuelan players shed tears and fell to their knees to celebrate the country’s first World Baseball Classic title. Other players from the Americans’ $320 million roster stood frozen for several minutes before finally leaving the field. Team USA brought its most loaded roster ever to baseball’s premier international event, but the Americans lost their second straight WBC final after winning the championship in 2017.

Broncos get star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from Dolphins in a blockbuster trade, AP sources say

The Denver Broncos have acquired standout wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in a blockbuster deal that sends three draft picks to the Miami Dolphins, including a first-rounder, according to two people with knowledge of the trade. Both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced. The Dolphins will receive the 30th-overall pick in next month’s NFL draft along with picks in the third and fourth rounds. Denver will get Miami’s fourth-rounder along with Waddle. Waddle gives Bo Nix another main playmaker along with Courtland Sutton, boosting a passing offense that finished 11th in the NFL last season.

In Miami for the WBC final, Venezuelan fans had plenty to celebrate as their team won the title

MIAMI (AP) — Venezuelan and American fans packed Miami for the U.S.-Venezuela World Baseball Classic final. Venezuela won the game 3-2 on Tuesday night. The crowd turned the Marlins’ ballpark into a sea of flags, face paint and mixed identities. Some fans wore a Venezuela jersey and a U.S. flag at the same time. The tense politics between the countries has stayed mostly outside the stadium. Venezuela’s manager insisted the team was there to play baseball, not talk politics. Fans and players described the game as bigger than sports. They say it united a whole country.

WADA delays decision over potential ban of Trump from major sporting events until after World Cup

The World Anti-Doping Agency has put off a decision about barring government officials from major sporting events if their countries voluntarily withhold dues. Tuesday's move pushes a potential showdown with President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials until at least after this summer’s World Cup. The WADA executive committee met and said it would consider the new rule in September, two months after the end of the World Cup, which the U.S. is hosting along with Canada and Mexico. If such a rule is adopted later this year, it would presumably go into effect before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Iran wants to move its World Cup matches from US to Mexico. FIFA is sticking to its schedule

GENEVA (AP) — Iran’s Embassy in Mexico has suggested the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico after President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns. FIFA says it is in regular contact with the Iran soccer federation and it is not changing the match schedule announced last December. Iranian officials have previously said it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was asked about it Tuesday. She said "We’ll see what FIFA decides.”

Freshman stars Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Darius Acuff Jr. picked for AP All-America first team

Duke forward Cameron Boozer is a unanimous first-team All-American in college basketball in voting released by The Associated Press. He was joined on the first team by fellow freshmen AJ Dybantsa of BYU and Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg and JT Toppin of Texas Tech. Braden Smith of Purdue headlined the second team after he was a first-team choice last season and an honorable mention pick in 2023-24. Graham Ike of Gonzaga was a third-team pick after he was honorable mention two years ago. Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries gave Arizona two honorable mention picks this season.

Howard gets its first March Madness win, holding off UMBC 86-83 in the First Four

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Bryce Harris had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and he sank a turnaround jumper with 13 seconds remaining that sent Howard to its first NCAA Tournament victory in program history, 86-83 over UMBC in the First Four. Ose Okojie scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Bison, who entered with an 0-4 record in March Madness and had to hold off a late rally by the Retrievers. Howard heads to Buffalo, New York, to play top-seeded Michigan as the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region. Jah’Likah King scored 19 points and DJ Armstrong Jr. had 17 for UMBC.

Aden Holloway, Alabama's No. 2 scorer, had 2.1 pounds of marijuana when arrested, authorities say

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Authorities found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway’s apartment when they arrested him Monday on a felony drug charge. That's according to court records released Tuesday. The Crimson Tide’s No. 2 scorer has been suspended indefinitely and is away from the team as it prepares to face Hofstra on Friday in the NCAA Tournament. Holloway’s attorney, Jason Neff, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. But Neff told ESPN that it could take 18 months for the case to make its way through the Alabama courts. That would jeopardize Holloway’s college and possible NBA career.

Wisconsin lawmakers take a shot at joining the ranks of states allowing online sports betting

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin lawmakers are taking a shot at expanding sports betting in the state. The state legislature gave final approval Tuesday to a measure that could allow tribes to offer online sports betting available to people anywhere in Wisconsin. The move comes just at the NCAA basketball tournaments get underway — one of the most popular betting times in the U.S. But the Wisconsin measure still needs the signature of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. And it would not take effect immediately. Wisconsin would become the 32nd state to allow online sports betting. A total of 39 states already allow at least some type of sports betting.