Notre Dame is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll, ascending to the top spot for the first time since 2019.

The Fighting Irish replaced UCLA, which lost its first game of the season last week, falling to rival USC, 71-60.

The Irish, who received 16 first-place votes from a 30-member national media panel, faced No. 11 Duke on Monday night.

Texas moved up to second for its best ranking since 2017. The Longhorns, who garnered eight first-place ballots, became the first team to beat three straight top 10 teams since 2004-05, topping South Carolina, Kentucky and LSU.

The Bruins had been No. 1 for 12 straight weeks after beating South Carolina in late November.

Men’s basketball

Auburn stays No. 1 in AP poll >> Auburn’s win at Alabama assured the Tigers would keep the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a sixth consecutive week.

The Tigers (23-2) received 59 of 60 first-place votes reclaiming nearly all the support lost when they fell at home to Florida on Feb. 8. Auburn had been the unanimous No. 1 for three straight weeks before that loss, but remained at the top last week despite seeing nearly half of those first-place votes go primarily to Alabama, with a few to Florida and Tennessee.

Hockey

Canada defeats Finland in 4 nations face-off >> Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist apiece as Canada surged to a four-goal lead and held on to beat Finland 5-3 to earn a rematch against the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off finals.

On the same ice where he clinched the 2019 Stanley Cup for the St. Louis Blues, Jordan Binnington stopped 23 shots to give Canada a chance to avenge its 3-1 round-robin loss to the Americans.

Baseball

Hall of famer Winfield retires from MLBPA >> Dave Winfield, who was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2001, retired from the Major League Baseball Players Association.

“This decision, made after careful reflection and in consultation with his family, marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in baseball history — one defined by passion, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment both to the game and our union,” union executive director Tony Clark said in a lengthy statement.

Winfield played 22 years, batting .283 with 465 home runs and 1,833 RBIs.

Padres sign Pivetta >> Right-hander Nick Pivetta and the San Diego Padres finalized a $55 million, four-year contract, a backloaded deal that allows him to opt out after the 2026 and ‘27 seasons.

Pivetta gets a $3 million signing bonus and salaries of $1 million this year, $19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027 and $18 million in 2028.

Pivetta is 56-71 with a 4.76 ERA in eight major league seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (2017-20) and Red Sox, who acquired him in an August 2020 trade.

Tennis

Alcaraz advances in Qatar Open >> Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz overcame Croatian veteran Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4 to reach the round of 16 at the Qatar Open.

The 36-year-old Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champion who has fallen to No. 192 in the rankings, was playing his first match of the season after recovering from a long-term knee injury.

Azarenka advances in Dubai Championships >> Former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka rallied from a set and a break down to beat Anhelina Kalinina 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 and reach the second round of the Dubai Championships.

The 35-year-old Azarenka trailed 5-2 in the second set and was down 4-2 in the tiebreaker before winning the next five points.

She will face second-seeded Iga Swiatek, who had a bye into the second round.

Cycling

Tour de France winner to retire at end of season >> Geraint Thomas, the former Tour de France champion who also won gold medals in track cycling for Great Britain at the Olympic Games in 2008 and ‘12, announced that this will be his final year as a professional.

Thomas, a loyal teammate with a tremendous appetite for victory who transformed into a leader in his own right over his almost two-decade career, said he will focus on the Tour this summer with Ineos Grenadiers.

Aged 38, Thomas told the BBC that he will ride in support of the team’s ambitions and “maybe try to win a stage but just enjoy the race” that he won in 2018.