Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey offered her congratulations to the new Miss America, Abbie Stockard, in social media posts this week. Stockard, who competed for the national title as Miss Alabama, won the national crown on Sunday, Jan. 5, in Orlando, Florida.

“Our very own Miss Alabama, Abbie Stockard, has won the title of Miss America!” Ivey said in a Sunday night post on X (formerly Twitter). “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Abbie, and I know firsthand what an outstanding young woman she is. She is incredibly deserving of this honor. Congratulations, Abbie!”

Ivey also trumpeted Stockard’s win with the same message in an Instagram reel and Facebook story.

Stockard, who grew up in Vestavia Hills, is the fourth Miss Alabama to become Miss America and the first Miss America from Alabama in 20 years. She’s following in the footsteps of previous winners Deidre Downs, Miss America 2005; Heather Whitestone, Miss America 1995; and Yolande Betbeze, Miss America 1951.

READ: Who is Abbie Stockard? Miss America 2025 is the fourth winner from Alabama

Ivey and Stockard share a kinship as sorority sisters, through Auburn University and Alpha Gamma Delta. Stockard, 22, is a nursing student at Auburn University and a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. Ivey, 80, an Auburn alum, pledged the sorority in the 1960s.

Stockard traveled to Montgomery to meet Alabama’s governor in October 2024, about four months after her win as Miss Alabama. “What an honor it was to meet with Alabama’s Governor, Kay Ivey!” Stockard said in an Instagram post. “We had a wonderful time discussing my work for Cystic Fibrosis advocacy across the state and giving a glimpse into the next few months as I prepare for Miss America!”

Stockard’s philanthropic platform as Miss Alabama, and now as Miss America, is Be the Change: Find a Cure — Cystic Fibrosis Awareness.

Another Miss Alabama winner with Auburn ties, Lauren Bradford, met Ivey in Montgomery after her win in the state pageant. Bradford, Miss Alabama 2021, is an Auburn University alum and a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She was named first runner-up at Miss America 2022.

“I had a great visit with Miss Alabama 2021 Lauren Bradford today discussing her historic win as the 100th Miss Alabama, our @auburnalphagam sisterhood, our beloved @auburnu & most importantly #COVID19 vaccinations,” Ivey said in an Instagram post on Aug. 5, 2021. She and Bradford can be seen in a video clip saying, “Get vaccinated, Alabama!”

The Miss Alabama organization posted about Bradford’s meeting with Ivey on Facebook, saying “Thank you, Governor Ivey, for your hospitality.”

Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — CJ Hines scored on a layup at the buzzer and finished with 23 points as Alabama State rallied to beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 93-91 on Monday night.

Hines also contributed six rebounds for the Hornets (6-9, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference). Amarr Knox added 20 points and Micah Octave scored 13.

The Golden Lions (3-12, 0-2) were led by Doctor Bradley, who scored a career-high 35 in his second game of the season. Bradley, a junior who had a career-best 30 points in his first game, added seven rebounds and seven assists. Christian Moore had 19 points and Caleb Jones scored 15.

Alabama State rallied after trailing 50-41 at halftime.

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

The Houston Texans have signed cornerback Anthony Averett to their practice squad, the NFL team announced on Monday.

The former Alabama defensive back joins the Texans as they prepare to play the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the AFC playoffs at 3:30 p.m. CST Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Averett fills the roster spot opened when the Texans signed cornerback D’Angelo Ross from their practice squad for their 53-man active roster on Saturday, and he played 48 defensive snaps in Sunday’s 23-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Each NFL team can elevate two players from its practice squad to active status for each game, and that rule includes playoff contests.

Averett was in training camp and played in the preseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers in August and spent the first eight weeks of the season on the team’s practice squad before being released with an injury settlement on Oct. 28.

Averett hasn’t played in an NFL regular-season game since Nov. 20, 2022, when his injury-affected, lone season with the Las Vegas Raiders ended early. He spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions in 2023.

A senior starter for the Crimson Tide’s CFP national-championship team for the 2017 season, Averett entered the NFL as a fourth-round selection of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2018 draft.

Averett spent his first three seasons largely as a reserve with the Ravens before moving into a starting role when Marcus Peters got hurt in the second game of the 2021 season. Averett’s performance across 14 starts in Baltimore’s defensive backfield included his three NFL interceptions and earned him a one-year, $4 million contract from the Raiders in free agency.

Averett sustained a broken thumb and broken toe with Las Vegas in 2022.

Averett has played in 51 NFL regular-season games and three playoff contests.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.