GOMA, Congo (AP) — Congo erupted in joy overnight after a 100th-minute goal against Jamaica sent the African country back to the World Cup for the first time in more than half a century.

When fans walk into Immaculata's gym they are immediately reminded of the team's glorious past, when the Mighty Macs ruled women's basketball nearly a half-century ago.

Even some of the greatest professional athletes like Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry get nervous with the game on the line. Curry smiles and embraces the moments when he needs to make two free throws in crunch time. Others find their own techniques, such as deep breathing or leaning on their preparation. Many say that by Curry acknowledging his angst it might just help others know they aren't alone coping with stressful situations.

ROME (AP) — The first time was considered a fluke. The second was treated as a crisis. Now, with Italy failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, it has become almost expected for the once-proud soccer nation.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Chang Ung, a former North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee who once led sports exchanges with rival South Korea, including joint marches of their athletes at the Olympics, has died, the IOC announced Wednesday. He was 87.

LONDON (AP) — Defending champion Arsenal has a two-goal advantage to defend when it visits Chelsea on Wednesday in the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarterfinal.

His right arm strapped tight to protect a damaged shoulder, Edin Džeko raised his left hand holding his phone to film Bosnia-Herzegovina’s late-night team celebrations after beating Italy and qualifying for the World Cup.

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Robert Lewandowski signaled he may have played his last game for Poland after narrowly missing out on a World Cup spot.

ATLANTA (AP) — As the World Cup nears, Christian Pulisic's scoreless streak for the United States stretched to a career-high eight games.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The coach of Spain's national soccer team has condemned “xenophobic or racist attitudes" after fans repeatedly made anti-Muslim chants during a game against Egypt.

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Iraq overcame major logistical issues to become the 48th and final team to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup with a 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff Tuesday, ending a wait of four decades to return to soccer's marquee global event.

Shohei Ohtani opened his season on the mound with six scoreless innings and a win for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-way superstar allowed one hit, struck out six and walked three in a rainy 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. At the plate, Ohtani went 1 for 3 with two walks to extend his on-base streak to 36 games, tying the longest of his career. The Dodgers have waited for Ohtani to pitch a full season after elbow surgery kept him off the mound in 2024 and he had limited outings last year. He says he feels looser than last season, even with flaws to fix. His regular-season scoreless streak has reached a career-best 22 2/3 innings.

One of soccer’s historic powers has reached a once-unfathomable low.

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — The 48-team field for FIFA ’s biggest ever World Cup is complete after a qualifying process that spanned more than two and a half years.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Mick Byrne has stepped down as head coach of the Fiji national rugby team after two years in charge, and just months out from the inaugural Nations Championship.

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jose Fernandez strode to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning during his first big league game in a pressure-packed spot against four-time All-Star closer Kenley Jansen.

SEATTLE (AP) — Max Fried bemoaned his first start of the season, when he struggled to throw strikes at times.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 21 points, Jalen Suggs added 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and the Orlando Magic held off the Phoenix Suns 115-111 Tuesday night.

Deni Avdija had 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, Jrue Holiday hit seven 3s and finished with 30 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 114-104 and snap their five-game win streak. The Clippers re eighth in the Western Conference, a half-game in front of the ninth-place Blazers. Los Angeles leads the season series — which wraps up April 10 in Portland — with the Blazers 2-1. Leonard has scored at least 20 points in 52 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak of its kind in the NBA (Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 136).

Shohei Ohtani dominated in his first start on the mound this season as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-1 in drizzly conditions. The two-way superstar tossed six shutout innings, struck out six and walked three. The only hit Ohtani allowed was a two-out double by Rhys Hoskins in the fourth. Andy Pages drove in the first run for the Dodgers with a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth. Max Muncy added his first homer in the sixth. At the plate, Ohtani had a single to go with two walks. Edwin Díaz gave up an RBI single to Brayan Rocchio in the ninth for Cleveland's lone run.

DETROIT (AP) — After nearly two decades, and stretches of futility, the Detroit Pistons have won the Central Division again.

Willy Adames had four hits, including a leadoff homer, and San Francisco ace Logan Webb finished strong in the Giants’ 9-3 victory over the San Diego Padres. Adames sent Germán Márquez’s second pitch for the Padres over the left-field wall to spark a three-run inning with his first home run this season. Adames also doubled and delivered an RBI single that ignited a four-run sixth after San Diego cut it to 4-3. Matt Chapman hit his first homer — a solo shot in the third for a 4-0 lead — before Webb ran into trouble in the bottom half. But he regrouped to retire his final 10 batters while throwing 104 pitches in six innings. San Diego fell to 1-4.

Luka Doncic scored 42 points with 12 assists, Deandre Ayton added 18 points with nine rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to four games with a 127-113 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Austin Reaves scored 19 points, while LeBron James, Jake LaRavia and Rui Hachimura each had 14. Jarrett Allen scored 18 points and James Harden added 17 in his first game in his hometown since he was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 4.

MONTERREY, México (AP) — Iraq secures the 48th and final place at the World Cup with an intercontinental playoff win over Bolivia.

TORONTO (AP) — Max Scherzer gave up four hits in six solid innings to win his first start of the season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base four times, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Colorado Rockies 5-1 on Tuesday night.

SEATTLE (AP) — Max Fried permitted only three singles in seven sparkling innings, Giancarlo Stanton drove in two runs and the New York Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 5-0 on Tuesday night.

PHOENIX (AP) — Jose Fernandez hit two home runs, including the go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning, in his MLB debut and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Detroit Tigers 7-5 on Tuesday night.

SEATTLE (AP) — Colt Emerson and the Seattle Mariners agreed Tuesday to a $95 million, eight-year contract, the largest amount for a minor league prospect yet to make his major league debut.

HOUSTON (AP) — Plate umpire Mark Wegner acknowledged he lost track of the count during Cam Smith’s nine-pitch walk Tuesday night in the fifth inning of the Houston Astros’ 9-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan understands he needs time to build his stamina back up as the two-time All-Star pitches again for the first time in nearly three years.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Umpire C.B. Bucknor's tough start to the season continues.

BOSTON (AP) — Viktor Arvidsson had three goals including two empty-netters, Elias Lindholm scored a tiebreaking, power-play goal 13 seconds into the third period and the Boston Bruins helped their playoff push with a 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor Ingram celebrated his 29th birthday Tuesday by making 27 saves for his second shutout of the season as the Edmonton Oilers extended their winning streak to four games by beating the Seattle Kraken 3-0.

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Connor scored 33 seconds into overtime to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Danny Jansen had three hits, including a three-run homer in the seventh inning that helped the Texas Rangers to an 8-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.

HOUSTON (AP) — Hunter Brown pitched six smooth innings, Yordan Alvarez homered and drove in two runs, and the Houston Astros routed the Boston Red Sox 9-2 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.

Cleveland Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter has left the game after fouling a ball off his back foot. The pitch came from Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning. A trainer checked on DeLauter at the plate. He took a few practice swings and stayed in to finish the at-bat. DeLauter then tried to run out a grounder to third base. He got thrown out and hobbled toward the tunnel. The team says DeLauter has a left foot contusion and X-rays were negative. The Guardians replaced him with CJ Kayfus in right field in the bottom half of the inning. DeLauter was named the American League rookie of the week after hitting four home runs in his first three games.

Shea Langeliers powers the Athletics to their first win, 5-2 over the Atlanta Braves. On Tuesday, the A’s snap a four-game skid. Starter Aaron Civale allows two runs over five innings in his first start. Justin Wilson and Andy Ibañez each drive in two runs. Max Muncy scores twice after a double and a walk. Mark Leiter Jr. earns the save in his A’s debut. For Atlanta, Drake Baldwin homers after a pregame Rookie of the Year ceremony. Ronald Acuña Jr. adds a sacrifice fly.

NEW YORK (AP) — Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin and his New Jersey Devils counterpart Jacob Markstrom had a lengthy fight midway through the third period of the Rangers' 4-1 win Tuesday night.

TORONTO (AP) — Colorado Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner left Tuesday’s start against the Toronto Blue Jays two batters after he was struck by a 106 mph line drive.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Bowen Byram flipped a long shot into an empty net with 1:43 remaining to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Rollins had 24 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, Kyle Kuzma added 20 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Dallas Mavericks 123-99 on Tuesday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

DETROIT (AP) — Jalen Duren had 31 points and nine rebounds as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors 127-116 to clinch the Central Division title on Tuesday night.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Sabres center Sam Carrick left Tuesday night's 4-3 win over the New York Islanders with a left arm injury.

BOSTON (AP) — Viktor Arvidsson had three goals including two empty-netters, Elias Lindholm scored a tiebreaking, power-play goal 13 seconds into the third period and the Boston Bruins helped their playoff push with a 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.

José Soriano pitched two-hit ball over six scoreless innings for the second time in two starts, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0. Logan O’Hoppe hit a two-run single with two outs in the sixth against reliever Phil Maton, and that was all Soriano needed on a cold and windy night at Wrigley Field. The 27-year-old right-hander threw 90 pitches, striking out four and walking two. He was coming off a terrific performance in the Angels’ 3-0 win at Houston on opening day. Los Angeles snapped a three-game skid.

All Times EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Nikolaj Ehlers scored the go-ahead goal with 7:18 remaining and the Carolina Hurricanes reached the 100-point mark for the fifth time in franchise history, defeating the reeling Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Tuesday night.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ramón Urías launched his first home run with St. Louis and Andre Pallante combined with four relievers on a three-hitter as the Cardinals defeated the New York Mets 3-0 on Tuesday night.

HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant had 27 points and the Houston Rockets took a huge lead early and rolled to a 111-94 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.