Last updated: March 21, 2026, 6:30 PM ET
NCAA Women's Basketball Dominance & Upsets
The second day of the women's NCAA Tournament saw the defending champion Florida begin title defense with a resounding 114-55 victory over Prairie View A&M, marking the second-largest margin of victory in tournament history as they look to repeat. In stark contrast, No. 2 South Carolina delivered a crushing 103-34 defeat to Southern in the first round, powered by Joyce Edwards' 27 points and eight rebounds. However, the day was not without shock results, as the No. 10 seed Virginia authored the first major upset of March Madness by defeating No. 7 Georgia 82-73. Meanwhile, UConn managed to survive a scare, as Tarris Reed Jr.'s historic 31 points and 27 rebounds helped the No. 2 Huskies escape with an 82-71 win over Furman.
NCAA Men's Tournament Advances & Coaching Uncertainty
In the men’s bracket, No. 1 seed Michigan punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 after Yaxel Lendeborg scored 25 points in a decisive win over Saint Louis, a matchup that pitted long-time acquaintances and idea-swapping coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz against each other with a regional spot on the line Men's March Madness Saturday takeaways. Elsewhere, the focus turned toward coaching futures in the aftermath of first-round exits, as UNC officials began discussions with Hubert Davis following another early departure from the field. For Utah State, a second-half surge secured their advancement, with MJ Collins sealing the 86-76 win over Villanova after an emphatic steal and dunk contributed to his 20-point total.
College Sports Personnel & Player Milestones
Off the court, significant news emerged from the South Carolina baseball program as coach Paul Mainieri was dismissed midway through his second season, unable to replicate the success he previously achieved at LSU. In women's college hockey, Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey earned the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizing her as the top player in the nation this season. On a remarkable individual note, UCLA guard Skyy Clark played through losing a piece of his front tooth to help secure the Bruins' 75-71 first-round victory against UCF. Furthermore, the NCAA initiated legal action against Draft Kings on Friday, accusing the operator of trademark infringement regarding terms like March Madness.
International Cycling, Track & Field Triumphs
Global athletics saw Tadej Pogacar claim a major victory, as he denied Tom Pidcock to win his first Milan-San Remo title in a dramatic finish to the Italian classic. Tragically, the women's Milan-San Remo race was marred by a serious incident, resulting in Italian rider Debora Silvestri being hospitalized after a crash. Meanwhile, on the track, Josh Kerr completed a stunning comeback from injury, reclaiming his world indoor 3,000m title in a thrilling performance to reach the top of the global podium. In snowboarding, Great Britain’s Mia Brookes secured her fifth career World Cup gold medal following a slopestyle victory in Flachnau, Austria.
Rugby, Combat Sports, and Other Global Results
In European rugby union, Exeter moved into the Premiership play-off positions following a 26-14 victory over Sale at Sandy Park, while in the Premiership Women's Rugby competition, Trailfinders edged Harlequins 21-17 thanks to a late try from Abi Burton. In Super League action, Warrington Wolves moved into second place after Kelepi Tanginoa scored four tries in a dominant win against Castleford Tigers. Combat sports saw a title defense as Costello van Steenis stopped Fabian Edwards in the third round to retain his PFL middleweight championship, ending Edwards’ world title aspirations once more. Separately, Rwanda's Fanny Utagushimaninde made history by becoming the youngest woman to score a T20 international century at just 15 years and 223 days old.
Miscellaneous Sports Updates & Legal Maneuvers
The reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder announced they will not make a White House visit during their current road trip, citing "timing" as the reason for declining the traditional post-championship ceremony. In tennis, the All England Club confirmed that video review technology will be implemented at Wimbledon for the first time this year. In a legal dispute involving sailing, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group is pursuing legal action to reclaim a boat utilized by Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team during the last competition cycle. Finally, in boxing, Michael Conlan confirmed the “end of the road” for his professional career following his split decision loss to Kevin Walsh in Belfast.