Iran’s national women’s soccer team has returned to the Islamic Republic after several of the players sought asylum in Australia, Iranian media reported Wednesday.

The outlets shared footage of the players entering Iran after landing in Turkey and taking a bus to the border. They were greeted by some officials at the border.

Two Iranian female players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, chose to remain in Australia and have been training with the Brisbane Roar club.

Others who initially sought asylum after the team was knocked out of the Women’s Asian Cup later changed their minds and said they would return to Iran.

Iran’s squad arrived in Australia for the tournament shortly before the Iran war began on Feb. 28. The team initially gained global attention after some players stayed silent during Iran’s national anthem before their first game in the Asian Cup. The silence was cast as an act of resistance or protest by some commentators and a show of mourning by others.

The players didn’t publicly disclose their views or explain their actions and sang the anthem before their next two matches.

When the team was knocked out of the tournament and faced the prospect of returning to a country under bombardment, calls grew for Australia’s government to offer the women asylum. Iranian groups in Australia and U.S. President Donald Trump were among those who expressed fears for the women’s safety.

Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref last week dismissed suggestions the women would be unsafe if they returned home, saying the country “welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security.”

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

McNeese Cowboys (28-5, 21-3 Southland) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (26-8, 13-8 SEC)

Oklahoma City; Thursday, 3:15 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Commodores -11.5; over/under is 150.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 16 Vanderbilt plays in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against McNeese.

The Commodores are 13-8 against SEC opponents and 13-0 in non-conference play. Vanderbilt is 2-2 in one-possession games.

The Cowboys' record in Southland action is 21-3. McNeese is the best team in the Southland scoring 16.0 fast break points per game.

Vanderbilt makes 47.5% of its shots from the field this season, which is 6.8 percentage points higher than McNeese has allowed to its opponents (40.7%). McNeese averages 80.0 points per game, 4.8 more than the 75.2 Vanderbilt gives up to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler is averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals for the Commodores. Duke Miles is averaging 13.1 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 42.6% over the past 10 games.

Larry Johnson is scoring 17.5 points per game and averaging 5.5 rebounds for the Cowboys. Tyshawn Archie is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Commodores: 6-4, averaging 80.8 points, 30.6 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.6 points per game.

Cowboys: 10-0, averaging 77.2 points, 30.1 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 10.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.0 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Pennsylvania Quakers (18-11, 11-5 Ivy League) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (24-8, 15-6 Big Ten)

Greenville, South Carolina; Thursday, 9:25 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Fighting Illini -24.5; over/under is 150.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 13 Illinois squares off against Pennsylvania in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Fighting Illini's record in Big Ten games is 15-6, and their record is 9-2 in non-conference play. Illinois is the Big Ten leader with 37.5 rebounds per game led by David Mirkovic averaging 7.8.

The Quakers are 11-5 in Ivy League play. Pennsylvania is 5-3 in one-possession games.

Illinois is shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points higher than the 45.1% Pennsylvania allows to opponents. Pennsylvania has shot at a 44.1% rate from the field this season, 3.1 percentage points above the 41.0% shooting opponents of Illinois have averaged.

TOP PERFORMERS: Keaton Wagler is scoring 17.9 points per game with 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the Fighting Illini. Mirkovic is averaging 15.6 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 51.8% over the last 10 games.

Ethan Roberts is shooting 40.1% and averaging 16.9 points for the Quakers. TJ Power is averaging 20.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Fighting Illini: 5-5, averaging 83.8 points, 36.1 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 3.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.3 points per game.

Quakers: 9-1, averaging 75.6 points, 32.6 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.5 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup field is set with the final 11 teams getting into the tournament.

The U.S., Belgium, Australia and Nigeria had already secured their spots by winning the Continental Cups last year. Germany also qualified as the host nation.

The final 11 spots went to France, Spain, China, Korea, Italy, Mali, Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary and Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico was one of the host countries for the four qualifying tournaments.

Italy ends a 32-year drought while Hungary qualified for the first time in 28 years.

The tournament will take place in Berlin from Sept 4-12. The Americans have won the last four World Cups.

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored 4:38 into overtime as the Montreal Canadiens edged the Boston Bruins 3-2 in a rivalry matchup Tuesday night.

Caufield tapped a pass from Nick Suzuki into the back of the net for his 40th of the season, becoming the first Canadien to reach the mark since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94.

Suzuki and Josh Anderson also scored while Jakub Dobes made 26 saves for Montreal, which snapped a two-game losing skid.

Brendan Gallagher picked up an assist in his 900th NHL game, all for Montreal.

Pavel Zacha had both goals for Boston, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 28 shots.

The Canadiens sat third in the Atlantic Division and one point ahead of the Bruins — with one game in hand — heading into Tuesday’s games.

BLUE JACKETS 5, HURRICANES 1

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Charlie Coyle had a goal and three assists, Danton Heinen scored his 100th career goal and Columbus beat Carolina.

Mason Marchment, Denton Mateychuk and Mathieu Olivier also scored for Columbus, which has gotten points in a season-high 10-straight games (6-0-4). Cole Sillinger and Adam Fantilli each added two assist, and Jet Greaves stopped 27 shots.

Andrei Svechnikov scored and Brandon Bussi made 25 saves for the Hurricanes.

Marchment scored on a power play 5:25 into the first period, and the Blue Jackets have scored in the opening 10 minutes in 13 of their last 20 games. Coyle added another power-play goal in the final minute of the first.

Svechnikov scored his 25th goal of the season with 5:55 left in the second period before Heinen and Mateychuk scored 34 seconds apart.

ISLANDERS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 1

TORONTO (AP) — Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist on a pair of first-period power plays as New York beat Toronto.

Brayden Schenn scored his first goal since being acquired from St. Louis ahead of the trade deadline, and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, who have won nine of 12.

Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves for New York, and Mathew Barzal had three assists.

Steven Lorentz scored for Toronto. Joseph Woll stopped 31 shots.

The Leafs fell to 2-1-1 since losing captain Auston Matthews for the season to a knee injury — a run on the heels of an ugly 0-6-2 slide that all but cratered their playoff hopes.

WILD 4, BLACKHAWKS 3, OT

CHICAGO (AP) — Mats Zuccarello scored 3:09 into overtime, and Minnesota stopped a three-game slide by topping Chicago.

Marcus Johansson had a goal and two assists as Minnesota improved to 3-0 against Chicago this season. Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan Hartman also scored, and Brock Faber had three assists.

Filip Gustavsson made 21 saves for the Wild, and Jesper Wallstedt stopped two shots. Gustavsson departed for 3:27 in the third period because of an equipment issue.

The Wild had a long stint in their offensive zone before Johansson found Zuccarello for his 13th goal.

Minnesota forward Nick Foligno received a warm welcome in his first game against Chicago since he was acquired in a March 6 trade with the Blackhawks. Foligno held his stick in the air and waved to the cheering crowd after he was saluted with a tribute video during a timeout in the opening period.

Louis Crevier had a goal and an assist for last-place Chicago, which dropped its second straight game. Frank Nazar and Ryan Greene also scored.

PREDATORS 4, JETS 3

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Ryan O’Reilly scored the lone goal in the shootout to lift Nashville to a victory over Winnipeg.

O’Reilly beat Connor Hellebuyck to the glove side in the first round of the shootout. Predators’ netminder Juuse Saros secured the win by stopping Gabriel Vilardi, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

Matthew Wood, Filip Forsberg and Erik Haula scored in regulation for Nashville. Jonathan Marchessault chipped in with two assists. Saros made 36 saves.

Jonathan Toews forced overtime for Winnipeg, tying the game 3-3 with 1:01 left in the third period.

Josh Morrissey and Vilardi also scored in regulation for the Jets. Connor contributed three assists to extend his point streak to four games, while Scheifele assisted on the game-tying marker. Hellebuyck stopped 20 shots.

The contest was officiated by a single referee, Brandon Schrader, after Chris Lee was unable to attend due to travel issues.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Orlando Magic 113-108 Tuesday night for their 10th straight win.

Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder and Ajay Mitchell had 16 points, five of them during a mid-fourth quarter run that put the Thunder ahead to stay.

Paolo Banchero had 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Orlando. Jalen Suggs added 14 points for the Magic, who lost on a second straight night after a seven-game win streak of their own.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s record 129th game scoring 20 or more points was accomplished on 14 for 27 shooting and 9 of 11 free throws. He hit 3 of 5 3-point shots, the final one giving the Thunder a 102-96 lead with 3:11 remaining.

His streak of 20-plus point road games, also an NBA record, reached 61 games.

PISTONS 130, WIZARDS 117

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jalen Duren had 36 points and 12 rebounds for Eastern Conference-leading Detroit, who lost fellow All-Star Cade Cunningham to back spasms in the first half of a victory over Washington.

Cunningham was hurt early in the first quarter while diving for a loose ball. He played for a few more minutes before being taken out at the 6:40 mark, and the team said during the second quarter he would not return.

Reserve Daniss Jenkins added 15 points for the Pistons, who have won four of five and sent the Wizards to their 13th straight loss. The teams meet again on Thursday; should Detroit prevail, Washington would equal its 14-game skid from early this season that sent it to a 1-15 start.

Bub Carrington scored a season-high 30 points for the injury-depleted Wizards, who had little-used veteran Anthony Gill in the starting lineup. Rookie Will Riley added 21 points and Justin Champagnie scored 18.

KNICKS 136, PACERS 110

NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Hart scored a season-high 33 points on 12-of-13 shooting including 5 of 5 from 3-point range to lead New York over Indiana.

OG Anunoby scored 26 points and Karl Anthony Towns added 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Knicks’ fourth straight win.

Jarace Walker led the Pacers with 16 points as Indiana’s losing streak reached 14 games.

Indiana led 12-11 when Anunoby scored the next eight points and the Knicks went ahead 38-34 after the first quarter.

New York stayed in front until Jalen Slawson’s 3-pointer gave the Pacers a 44-43 lead.

Indiana increased its lead to 57-51, but the Knicks ended the quarter on a 21-7 streak and took a 72-64 halftime advantage.

After the Pacers cut the deficit to six, the Knicks went on a 19-8 run to open a 94-77 lead.

Indiana pulled within 99-89, but New York opened its lead to 105-91 entering the final quarter.

HORNETS 136, HEAT 106

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 30 points and 13 assists, and Charlotte pulled away in a huge fourth quarter to beat short-handed Miami.

Coby White scored 24 points off the bench and rookie Kon Knueppel added 22 as Charlotte (35-34) won for the ninth time in 12 games. Brandon Miller scored 16 for the Hornets, who are 10th in the Eastern Conference.

Tyler Herro had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Heat (38-31), who dropped their second straight following a season-best seven-game winning streak. They played without star forward Bam Adebayo, who sat out with right calf tightness after being listed as questionable before the game.

Adebayo hadn’t missed a game since Dec. 27. He scored 83 points last Tuesday in a 150-129 win over Washington, second-most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962.

Andrew Wiggins missed his sixth consecutive game with a toe injury, and Miami forward Nikola Jovic (back) did not play for the 12th game in a row. He was listed as probable before the game and was expected to return.

Miami remained seventh in the East, a half-game behind Orlando.

TIMBERWOLVES 116, SUNS 104

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Julius Randle scored 32 points and Bones Hyland had 22 points off the bench to help Minnesota offset absence of All-Star Anthony Edwards and beat Phoenix.

Ayo Dosunmu added 19 points and Rudy Gobert had 19 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who are 7-4 without Edwards this season. The NBA ’s third-leading scorer will miss the next week or two with knee inflammation.

Devin Booker scored 34 points despite shooting 1 for 7 from 3-point range for the Suns, who finished a five-game road trip with their third straight loss.

After losing 120-112 in Boston the night before, the Suns played without three of their top five scorers as Grayson Allen (knee soreness) joined the previously sidelined Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams.

The Timberwolves (42-27), who entered the evening tied with Denver for fifth place in the Western Conference, used a 16-2 run that started late in the third quarter to take control as Randle posted his second straight 32-point game.

The seventh-place Suns (39-30) were within one game of the Timberwolves just five days ago, trying to move above the cut for avoiding the play-in tournament. Phoenix still won the season series with Minnesota 2-1.

CAVALIERS 123, BUCKS 116

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Evan Mobley had 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, and James Harden also scored 27 as Cleveland opened a three-game trip by beating short-handed Milwaukee.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. This was the career-high 32nd game the two-time MVP has missed this season, and the Bucks fell to 11-21 without him.

The Bucks also didn’t have Myles Turner because of a right calf strain. Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen missed a sixth straight game because of tendinitis in his right knee.

In a game featuring 11 ties and 16 lead changes, Cleveland pulled ahead for good 103-100 on Sam Merrill’s 3-pointer with 6:55 remaining, which started an 8-0 run.

Milwaukee cut the lead to 110-106 on an Ousmane Dieng’s 3-pointer with 3:39 left, but Cleveland responded with seven straight points. The Cavs stayed in front by at least five the rest of the way.

Milwaukee’s Kevin Porter Jr. had 25 points and 10 assists. Dieng, Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins added 19 points each.

All Times EDT

Wednesday, March 18

MLB - Spring Training

Boston vs. N.Y. Yankees, at Tampa, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Houston vs. St. Louis, at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Philadelphia vs. Atlanta, at North Port, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Baltimore vs. Toronto, at Dunedin, Fla., 1:07 p.m.

Colorado vs. Cincinnati (ss), at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

San Francisco vs. L.A Dodgers, at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona, at Scottsdale, Ariz., 4:10 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. L.A. Angels (ss), at Tempe, Ariz., 4:10 p.m.

L.A. Angels vs. Milwaukee (ss), at Phoenix, 4:10 p.m.

Milwaukee vs. Seattle (ss), at Peoria, Ariz., 4:10 p.m.

Detroit vs. Pittsburgh, at Bradenton, Fla., 6:05 p.m.

Miami vs. Washington, at West Palm Beach, Fla., 6:05 p.m.

Kansas City vs. Texas, at Surprise, Ariz., 8:05 p.m.

NBA

Golden State at Boston, 7 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Portland at Indiana, 7:30 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Toronto at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Utah at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Atlanta at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Denver at Memphis, 8:30 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Houston, 9:30 p.m.

NHL

New Jersey at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Dallas at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.

St. Louis at Calgary, 9:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NCAA Tournament - First Four

Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh at Dayton, Ohio, 6:30 p.m.

Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU at Dayton, Ohio, 9 p.m.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NCAA Tournament - First Four

Richmond vs. Nebraska at Durham, N.C., 7 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin vs. Missouri St. at Austin, Texas, 9 p.m.

PWHL

Ottawa at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

New York at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

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Eastern Michigan at Oakland — ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited

Michigan State at Michigan — Big Ten Plus

Oakland at Notre Dame — ACCNX

Oakland at Notre Dame — ACCNX

Oakland at Notre Dame — ACCNX

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

Youngstown State at Pittsburgh — ACCNX, ESPN Unlimited

Lehigh at Pennsylvania — ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited

La Salle at Lafayette — ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited

Saint Joseph's at University of Delaware — ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited

Lehigh vs. Prairie View A&M at UD Arena (Dayton, OH) — truTV, HBO Max, Sling TV

Colorado State vs. Saint Joseph's at Moby Arena (Fort Collins, CO) — ESPNU, ESPN Unlimited

Philadelphia at Atlanta — BravesVision

Pittsburgh at Carolina — FDSN South, SportsNet Pittsburgh, ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

UMass Lowell at Boston College — ACCNX

Boston at New York — MLBN

Golden State at Boston — ESPN

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

VCU at Virginia Tech — ACCNX

Saint Joseph's at University of Delaware — ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited

Wake Forest vs. Navy at LJVM Coliseum (Winston-Salem, NC) — ESPNU

Nebraska vs. Richmond at Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, NC) — ESPN2

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.