Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 2 p.m. GMT/ 10 a.m. ET. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect.

TOP STORIES

BASKETBALL-NBA

PREVIEW-Playoffs begin after chaotic season of shock player, personnel moves

NEW YORK, April 17 (Reuters) - The NBA Playoffs tip off on Saturday after a dramatic 2024-25 season of twists and turns, with shock firings, a record team sale and the Luka Doncic trade heard around the world.

SOCCER-ENGLAND-LIV/VANDIJK

'Adopted Scouser' Van Dijk extends Liverpool contract until 2027

April 17 (Reuters) - Liverpool skipper Virgil Van Dijk has extended his contract, with the Dutch centre back signing to remain at Anfield until 2027, the Premier League club said on Thursday, ending a protracted saga that had dragged on for several months.

ICEHOCKEY-NHL

PREVIEW-With Ovechkin's 'Gr8 Chase' over, Capitals seek ultimate prize

NEW YORK, April 17 (Reuters) - With the Washington Capitals record goalscorer Alex Ovechkin's name underlined in the history books, they are among the favorites to claim the National Hockey League's ultimate prize this year as the Stanley Cup playoffs start off on Saturday.

UPCOMING

CYCLING

CYCLING-EVENEPOEL/ $(TV)$

Evenpoel press conference ahead of comeback race

Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel holds a press conference ahead of the Brabantse Pijl race in Flanders which will be his comeback after recovering from injuries sustained in a horror crash in December. The 25-year-old Belgian suffered multiple injuries in the accident, including fractures to his rib, shoulder blade and hand, contusions to his lungs, and a dislocation of his right clavicle that left the surrounding ligaments torn.

17 Apr 10:30 ET / 14:30 GMT

OLYMPICS

OLYMPICS-USOPC/

Olympics-USOPC leadership meet with members of the media after board meeting

17 Apr 10:30 ET / 14:30 GMT

BASEBALL

BASEBALL-MLB-MIA-ARI/ (PIX)

MLB - Miami Marlins v Arizona Diamondbacks

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - loanDepot park, Miami, Florida

17 Apr 12:10 ET / 16:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-PIT-WAS/ (PIX)

MLB - Pittsburgh Pirates v Washington Nationals

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

17 Apr 12:35 ET / 16:35 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-CIN-SEA/ (PIX)

MLB - Cincinnati Reds v Seattle Mariners

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

17 Apr 12:40 ET / 16:40 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-CHW-OAK/ (PIX)

MLB - Chicago White Sox v Athletics

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois

17 Apr 14:10 ET / 18:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-PHI-SF/ (PIX)

MLB - Philadelphia Phillies v San Francisco Giants

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

17 Apr 16:05 ET / 20:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-BAL-CLE/ (PIX)

MLB - Baltimore Orioles v Cleveland Guardians

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

17 Apr 18:35 ET / 22:35 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-DET-KC/ (PIX)

MLB - Detroit Tigers v Kansas City Royals

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan

17 Apr 18:40 ET / 22:40 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-TB-NYY/ (PIX)

MLB - Tampa Bay Rays v New York Yankees

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida

17 Apr 19:05 ET / 23:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-NYM-STL/ (PIX)

MLB - New York Mets v St. Louis Cardinals

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Citi Field, Flushing, New York

17 Apr 19:10 ET / 23:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-TEX-LAA/ (PIX)

MLB - Texas Rangers v Los Angeles Angels

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas

18 Apr 20:05 ET / 00:05 GMT

SOCCER

SOCCER-EUROPA-SGE-TOT/REPORT (PIX) (TV)

Europe - UEFA Europa League - Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham Hotspur

Eintracht Frankfurt play Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final.

17 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-EUROPA-ATH-RAN/REPORT (PIX)

Europe - UEFA Europa League - Athletic Bilbao v Rangers

Athletic Bilbao play Rangers in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final.

17 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-EUROPA-MUN-OL/REPORT (PIX) (TV)

Europe - UEFA Europa League - Manchester United v Olympique Lyonnais

Manchester United play Olympique Lyonnais in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final.

17 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-EUROPA-LAZ-BOD/REPORT (PIX)

Europe - UEFA Europa League - Lazio v Bodo/Glimt

Lazio play Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

17 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-BUF-PHI/ (PIX)

NHL - Buffalo Sabres v Philadelphia Flyers

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York

17 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-PIT-WSH/ (PIX)

NHL - Pittsburgh Penguins v Washington Capitals

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

17 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-TOR-DET/ (PIX)

NHL - Toronto Maple Leafs v Detroit Red Wings

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario

17 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-OTT-CAR/ (PIX)

NHL - Ottawa Senators v Carolina Hurricanes

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, Ontario

17 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-NYR-TBL/ (PIX)

NHL - New York Rangers v Tampa Bay Lightning

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

17 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-CBJ-NYI/ (PIX)

NHL - Columbus Blue Jackets v New York Islanders

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio

17 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-LAK-CGY/ (PIX)

NHL - Los Angeles Kings v Calgary Flames

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

18 Apr 21:30 ET / 01:30 GMT

MOTOR RACING

MOTOR-F1-SAUDI/ (PIX)

Motor racing - Formula One - Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Practice

Jeddah hosts the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - practice ahead of the fifth race of the 2025 Formula One world championship.

18 Apr

GOLF

GOLF-LPGA-LACHAMP/

LPGA Tour - JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro

Day two of the JM Eagle LA Championship at El Caballero Country Club in Los Angeles. Coverage provided by Field Level Media.

18 Apr

TENNIS

TENNIS-BARCELONA/ (TV)

ATP 500 - Barcelona Open

The quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open - an ATP 500 tournament.

18 Apr 05:00 ET / 09:00 GMT

TENNIS-MUNICH/ (PIX) (TV)

ATP 500 - Munich Open

The quarter-finals of the Munich Open - an ATP 500 tournament.

18 Apr 05:00 ET / 09:00 GMT