MILAN (AP) — Vice President JD Vance is in Milan leading President Donald Trump’s delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics. He told a group of U.S. athletes that the games are “one of the few things that unites the entire country.” Vance, who said the trip is a highlight of his time as vice president, plans to watch the U.S. women’s hockey team take on Czechia in a preliminary game on Thursday. After spending the weekend at the games, Vance plans stops in Armenia and Azerbaijan. It's a show of support for an agreement the two nations signed at the White House last year aimed at ending decades of conflict between them.
MILAN (AP) — Finland women’s hockey team’s preliminary round-opening game against Canada on Thursday has been postponed due to a stomach virus depleting Finland’s roster. The game was rescheduled to Feb. 12. The decision to postpone the game was announced shortly after Finland completed its early afternoon practice with just eight skaters and two goalies. The remaining 13 players are either in quarantine or isolation due to a norovirus that began affecting the team on Tuesday night.
DALLAS (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal says the Washington Wizards are acquiring Anthony Davis in an eight-player trade with the Mavericks that includes draft picks for Dallas. The move is a signal the Mavericks are moving on from the widely criticized trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package headlined by Davis last year. The Wizards are sending Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham and Marvin Bagley III to the Mavericks along with two first-round draft picks and three second-rounders. Washington gets Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have found their dependable big man by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from Atlanta and have granted forward Jonathan Kuminga his wish to be traded. The Warriors also agreed to deal guard Buddy Hield to the Hawks, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet been approved by the league. Kuminga sat out his fifth straight game in Tuesday’s 113-94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers because of a bone bruise in his left knee. He had recently fallen out of the Warriors' rotation.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — When it comes to being an offensive coordinator in the NFL, few coaches have fared better than New England’s Josh McDaniels. As a head coach, it’s been a completely different story. The six-time Super Bowl champion is back in the title game after taking a one-year break from coaching following his second firing as a head coach with no thoughts now on whether he will ever get a third chance.
MILAN, Italy (AP) — U.S. Nordic combined athlete Annika Malacinski is leading the fight for gender equality at the Winter Olympics after women were excluded from the sport at the upcoming Milan Cortina Games. Despite record female participation levels reaching 47%, Nordic combined remains the only Winter Olympic event closed to women. The International Olympic Committee cites limited global participation and broadcast appeal. Malacinski, a top competitor, continues advocating for inclusion by the 2030 Winter Olympics. Her campaign highlights the long history of women’s Olympic exclusion and ongoing efforts to achieve full gender parity across winter sports, including recent milestones like equal cross-country skiing race distances.
Members of the gold-medal-winning 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team get recognized around the towns they now call home. They’re never the ones to bring up beating the Soviet Union in a game now known as the “Miracle on Ice.” But they are always willing to talk about the victory that still resonates beyond sports 46 years later. With the U.S. now among the favorites to win gold, captain Mike Eruzione and his teammates know they will be the subject of beloved remembrances across the country, even if the young men on the ice know more about the achievement from a movie than real life.
TEL AVIV (AP) — Israel's first bobsled team is set to compete in the Milan Cortina Winter Games. The team includes a diverse group of athletes, such as a pole-vaulter, sprinter, and former Olympian in skeleton. AJ Edelman, the team leader, is believed to be the first Orthodox Jew to compete in a Winter Games. Ward Farwaseh may be the first Druze Olympian. It’s an odyssey they liken to the hit Disney classic “Cool Runnings," or, as they put it “Shul Runnings.” Their participation comes amid international backlash over Israel's actions in Gaza.
MILAN (AP) — Spanish skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate says he has received approval for most of the music needed for his Minions-themed Olympic program. He still awaits clearance for Pharrell Williams' "Freedom." Sabate said Williams is open to it, but label restrictions are causing delays. Sabate had been practicing his program, believing he had the necessary permissions, but Universal Studios requested more details. Support from fans helped, and he secured rights to two pieces. Copyright issues are new in figure skating, with the ISU working on solutions. Other skaters, like Loena Hendrickx, have faced similar challenges.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bad Bunny is expected to perform solely in Spanish during the Super Bowl halftime show, highlighting Latin identity at America’s most-watched event. On Thursday, the Grammy winner might reveal more details during an interview in San Francisco. The interview will be broadcast on Apple Music and social media. Bad Bunny recently won Album of the Year at the Grammys, marking the first time an all Spanish-language album took the top prize. The Super Bowl will be held Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The Seattle Seahawks will face the New England Patriots.
Finals
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Columbus 4 Chicago 0
Final Montreal 5 Winnipeg 1
Final SO Florida 5 Boston 4
Final OT Minnesota 6 Nashville 5
Final Utah 4 Detroit 1
Final Colorado 4 San Jose 2
Final Dallas 5 St. Louis 4
Final Calgary 4 Edmonton 3
Final Vegas 5 Vancouver 2
Final Seattle 4 Los Angeles 2
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (5)Illinois 84 Northwestern 44
Final Portland 87 (6)Gonzaga 80
Final (8)Houston 79 UCF 55
Final Minnesota 76 (10)Michigan State 73
Final Oklahoma State 99 (16)BYU 92
Final (20)Clemson 66 Stanford 64
Final (24)Louisville 76 Notre Dame 65