General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 22, 2026, 7:35 AM ET

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round

The field narrowed in the women's NCAA Tournament as several heavy favorites faced unexpected resistance in the second round, leaving the remaining 32 teams ranked ahead of the Sweet 16 matchups. No. 2 seed UConn escaped an upset bid thanks to Tarris Reed Jr.'s immense 31-point, 27-rebound performance, which propelled them past Furman 82-71. In a far tighter contest, No. 8 seed Nebraska survived Vanderbilt 74-72 after a potential game-winning heave from Tyler Tanner at the half-court line narrowly missed at the buzzer. Meanwhile, No. 1 seed South Carolina demonstrated its dominance early, routing Southern 103-34, led by Joyce Edwards' 27 points and eight boards in the first-round rout, though their coach, Paul Mainieri, was subsequently dismissed midway through the baseball season due to a lack of success compared to his LSU tenure.

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Upsets & Coaching Futures

The men’s bracket saw No. 11 seed Texas achieve a historic feat, advancing to the Sweet 16 after upsetting No. 3 seed Gonzaga 74-68, marking the first time in five years a First Four participant reached that stage capping an improbable run. Coach Sean Miller firmly stated that despite their journey, the Texas Longhorns are not Cinderellas entering the regional semifinals. Elsewhere, Midwest Region top seed Michigan, powered by Yaxel Lendeborg's 25 points, handled Saint Louis 73-69 to secure their Sweet 16 spot, setting up a compelling coaching matchup between Dusty May and Josh Schertz who have long exchanged scouting notes. Conversely, UNC officials are reportedly engaging in discussions with coach Hubert Davis regarding his future following another disappointing first-round exit from the tournament bracket.

UFC London Analysis & Fighter Pay Concerns

The UFC London event brought renewed scrutiny to fighter compensation following several career-defining performances, with the debate over fighter pay laid bare as the evening concluded. Movsar Evloev maintained his undefeated record by securing a majority decision victory over Lerone Murphy, effectively crushing Murphy’s featherweight title aspirations with the gritty win. Mason Jones, earning the fight of the night bonus, achieved redemption at the same arena where he suffered his last professional loss nearly four years prior, setting his sights on a top 15 ranking next. In related news, Paddy Pimblett is reportedly targeting a return to the Octagon in July during the promotion's international fight week, aiming for summer action.

Golf, Cycling, and Track & Field Successes

On the international sports circuit, Australia's Hannah Green captured her third consecutive tournament victory by claiming the Australian WPGA Championship on the Gold Coast securing the three-peat. In demanding cycling action, Tadej Pogacar prevailed in his first Milan-San Remo title defense after a dramatic final confrontation with Tom Pidcock denying the British challenger, though the women's race saw Italian Debora Silvestri endure a severe crash that resulted in breaking five ribs during the classic race. Meanwhile, Josh Kerr completed a remarkable comeback from injury to reclaim his world indoor 3,000m title achieving the global podium.

European Rugby & Football Developments

In European club competitions, Exeter defeated Sale 26-14 at Sandy Park, which propelled them into the Premiership play-off positions climbing the standings, while in Ireland, Glentoran managed only a 1-1 draw against 10-man Coleraine, meaning they only narrowed the gap to league leaders Larne by one point before the league split closing the deficit slightly. On the Rugby League front, Warrington Wolves moved into second place in Super League standings after Kelepi Tanginoa scored four tries in a comprehensive defeat of the Castleford Tigers hammering the opposition. In continental rugby, Edinburgh suffered a heavy defeat in Johannesburg, where the Lions ran in eight tries during a completely dominant showing inflicting a humbling loss.

Soccer & Cricket Milestones

In domestic football, manager Frank Lampard expressed his hope that Matt Grimes’ "very classy" decision not to celebrate his goal against Swansea City will temper the hostility he faces from the home supporters when he faces his former club. Attention also turned to international cricket, where Rwanda's Fanny Utagushimaninde became the youngest woman to score a T20 international century at just 15 years and 223 days old achieving the milestone. Separately, Dragons' Ryan Woodman is expressing eagerness to debut for Wales following his first call-up hoping to earn a cap during the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

College Hockey & America's Cup Dispute

Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey received the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, recognizing her as the top player in college women's hockey earning the top honor. In other major sports news, the Ineos group, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is taking legal action in an effort to reclaim a boat previously utilized by Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team forcing the return of assets.