Last updated: March 21, 2026, 2:30 PM ET
NCAA Basketball Dominance & Upsets
The second round of the Women's March Madness tournament saw powerhouse UConn stave off a scare, as Tarris Reed Jr. delivered a historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance to secure an 82-71 victory over Furman, keeping the No. 2 seed firmly in the mix as the odds-on title favorite heading into Saturday's slate. Elsewhere in the women's bracket, defending champions Florida cruised past Prairie View A&M with a 114-55 margin, marking the second-largest win in tournament history, while UCLA's Lauren Betts received high praise from Coach Cori Close for her "courageous vulnerability" after discussing her mental health journey. In the men's bracket, Purdue's Braden Smith cemented his legacy by breaking Bobby Hurley's NCAA all-time assists record, reaching 1,077 during a first-round win, as the field narrowed to 32 teams requiring a fresh ranking.
Men's Tournament Matchups & Player Milestones
Friday’s opening-round action featured several dramatic finishes, including Otega Oweh’s buzzer-beater that propelled seventh-seeded Kentucky to an 89-84 overtime win against Santa Clara, while UCLA's Skyy Clark played through a lost tooth to help the Bruins dispatch UCF 75-71. The tactical chess match between coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz added intrigue to the Michigan vs. Saint Louis matchup, as the two figures exchanged scouting notes for years before meeting with a Sweet 16 berth at stake. Meanwhile, Utah State rallied to beat Villanova 86-76, aided by MJ Collins’ steal and dunk that sealed the game, though the NCAA has taken legal action, suing DraftKings for trademark infringement over the use of "March Madness."
Rugby Union & League Shakeups
In European rugby, the English Premiership saw significant movement at the top: Northampton Saints scraped past last-place Newcastle Red Bulls 28-27 in a narrow, unconvincing victory that nevertheless propelled them back to the summit of the table. Exeter Chiefs subsequently moved into the play-off places after defeating Sale 26-14 at Sandy Park, contrasting sharply with the struggles in South Africa, where Edinburgh suffered a heavy 40-point loss against the Lions, who ran in eight tries in a completely dominant display. Across the channel in Super League, Warrington Wolves moved into second place after Kelepi Tanginoa scored four tries in a massive victory over a struggling Castleford side while Bradford Bulls outmuscled Huddersfield in an epic encounter at Odsal.
Cycling, Hockey, & Snowboard Glory
The cycling world witnessed a spectacular finish at Milan-San Remo, where Tadej Pogacar secured his first career victory in the Monument classic following a thrilling final sprint against Britain's Tom Pidcock, though the women's race saw a serious incident when Italian rider Debora Silvestri was taken to hospital after a crash. In North American college sports, Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey captured the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizing the top player in women's college hockey, while on the slopes, Great Britain’s Mia Brookes claimed her fifth career World Cup title with a slopestyle victory in Flachnau, Austria, extending her impressive run.
Combat Sports & Premiership Rugby
Professional fighting saw high stakes drama as Costello van Steenis retained his PFL middleweight title by stopping Fabian Edwards in the third round, ending Edwards' world title aspirations for the second time. In boxing, the career of amateur standout Michael Conlan appears concluded after he confirmed it was the "end of the road" following a split decision defeat by Kevin Walsh in Belfast's SSE Arena, while Olympic champion Lin Yu-ting was cleared to return to the ring after passing the sport's new required sex test. Meanwhile, in Premiership Women's Rugby, Trailfinders edged Harlequins 21-17 thanks to an Abi Burton try three minutes from time clinching the tight road victory.
Football & Other Updates
In the NFL, Kenny Pickett indicated that his decision to join the Carolina Panthers was driven by a desire to work under coach Dave Canales, hoping the move will return him to the starting role he seeks for his ultimate career goal. In the Northern Irish Premiership, Larne stretched their lead at the top to five points after a 3-0 Friday night win, even as Glentoran could only manage a 1-1 draw against 10-man Coleraine, which allowed them only to narrow the gap at the summit. Finally, in tennis, Wimbledon officials confirmed that video review technology will be deployed for the first time this year, a modernization move that contrasts with predictions that virtual golf could soon outpace outdoor rounds in the UK by 2028.