Reuters Sports News Summary

Sharks After playing through injuries to lead the Florida Panthers to their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship and undergoing offseason surgery, star forward Matthew Tkachuk will make his season debut Monday night when the Panthers host the San Jose Sharks in Sunrise, Fla. Tkachuk missed the final 25 games of the 2024-25 regular season after sustaining a torn adductor and sports hernia while competing for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off last February.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Women's Top 25 roundup: No. 5 Vandy holds off No. 8 Michigan

Aubrey Galvan scored 20 points and helped No. 5 Vanderbilt remain perfect by staving off No. 8 Michigan 72-69 on Monday at the Coretta Scott King Classic in Newark, N.J. Mikayla Blakes and Justine Pissott each ‌added 14 points and Pissott added team highs of eight rebounds and five assists for the Commodores (19-0), who assisted on 20 of their 25 made baskets.

Patriots, Seahawks rate as favorites to reach Super Bowl

The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are the favorites to reach Super Bowl LX at Santa Clara, Calif. The Patriots are 5.5-point ⁠road favorites over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday. Denver's chances took a big hit when standout quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle in Saturday's 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.

NBA-James snubbed as NBA All-Star starter for first time since 2004

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not be in the opening lineup when the NBA All-Star Game tips off next month, ending a record 21-year run in which he was selected as ​a starter. The NBA announced on Monday the 10 players voted as starters for the mid-season showcase, and James was notably absent from the starting lineup for the first time since his rookie campaign.

Panthers star F Matthew Tkachuk set ‍for season debut vs. Sharks

After playing through injuries to lead the Florida Panthers to their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship and undergoing offseason surgery, star forward Matthew Tkachuk will make his season debut Monday night when the Panthers host the San Jose Sharks in Sunrise, Fla. Tkachuk missed the final 25 games of the 2024-25 regular season after sustaining a torn adductor and sports hernia while competing for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off last February. Still, he managed to play in all 23 of the Panthers' playoff games, tallying 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists), before undergoing ⁠surgery in August.

Reports: ‌Dolphins choose Jeff Hafley as new head coach

The Miami Dolphins ⁠reportedly decided to hire Jeff Hafley as their new head coach on Monday, the same day he had a second interview with the club. Hafley spent the past two seasons as defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.

Soccer-Morocco achieve record FIFA ranking, Senegal rise to 12th

Morocco have ‍achieved their highest FIFA men's world ranking, rising to eighth, despite losing the Africa Cup of Nations final to Senegal, who climbed to 12th on Monday. Morocco were beaten 1-0 after extra time by Senegal in the decider in Rabat on Sunday, but the hosts ​had a chance to win the trophy with a last-gasp penalty at the end of regulation time.

Golf-Thitikul, Hull and Ko among those to join women's indoor golf league

World number one Jeeno Thitikul from Thailand, England's Charley ⁠Hull, and three-times major winner Lydia Ko are among the first group of committed LPGA Tour players for the new women's tech-infused indoor team golf league. The other confirmed players for WTGL, which is the women's version of the league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, are world number 25 Brooke ⁠Henderson and Lexi Thompson, a seven-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup team.

Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet set for season-ending knee surgery

Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet is set for season-ending knee surgery, Seattle coach Mike Macdonald told 710 Seattle Sports on Monday. Charbonnet, 25, was injured during Saturday's 41-6 divisional playoff win against the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN reported he suffered a torn ACL.

NBA roundup: Defensive-minded Lakers collect win over Raptors

Deandre Ayton scored 25 points with 13 rebounds and ⁠Luka Doncic also had 25 points as the host Los Angeles Lakers turned improved defense into a much-needed 110-93 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. LeBron James scored 24 points as the Lakers won for just the ⁠second time in their past seven games, and are 6-9 since ‌Dec. 20, after a 19-7 start to the season. Doncic and Ayton returned after sitting out Saturday's loss at Portland with injuries.

Sharks acquire F Kiefer Sherwood from Canucks

The playoff-contending San Jose Sharks traded for Vancouver Canucks leading goal scorer Kiefer Sherwood on Monday, in a move that cost defenseman Cole Clayton and second-round draft picks in 2026 and ⁠2027. Sherwood, 30, has 23 points (17 goals, six assists) in 44 games this season. He is in the final year of a two-year, $3 million contract and ‍is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

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