General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 15, 2026, 8:43 AM ET
College Basketball
Arizona avenged last season's loss to Houston with a 79-74 Big 12 tournament final victory, securing their ninth consecutive win heading into the NCAA tournament. Meanwhile, No. 1 Duke claimed its third ACC title in four years with a win over No. 10 Virginia, while No. 13 St. John's defended its Big East crown in a dominant 72-52 rout of sixth-ranked UConn. In the Big Ten, No. 3 Michigan advanced to the championship on Yaxel Lendeborg's 0.4-second 3-pointer, and North Carolina earned a top-16 seed to host NCAA tournament games. Texas Tech received positive news as star guard Christian Anderson will be available for the tournament after an apparent groin injury.
International Sports
Ireland secured its fourth Triple Crown in five years with a 43-21 Six Nations win over Scotland, though the championship slipped away after France's last-gasp victory over England. Scotland's women's hockey team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 24 years with a tense playoff win over Italy. In boxing, Belfast's Anthony Cacace claimed the WBA super-featherweight title with a unanimous decision over James "Jazza" Dickens at Dublin's 3 Arena. Ireland's Triple Crown victory came as England showed promise despite defeat to France, adding intrigue to their disappointing Six Nations campaign.
Golf
Bryson DeChambeau claimed his fourth LIV Golf title in a "brutal" playoff victory over wildcard Richard T. Lee at the Singapore event. At TPC Sawgrass, Sweden's Ludvig Aberg built a three-shot lead heading into the Players Championship final round, though play was delayed when a fatal shooting near the course prevented spectators from entering for several hours. In Formula, Kimi Antonelli earned his first victory leading Mercedes to a one-two finish in the Chinese Grand Prix after both McLarens failed to start.
NFL Free Agency
The New England Patriots successfully marketed Drake Maye to free agents during their week of acquisitions, while the Chicago Bears face critical questions at edge rusher and in the secondary after a significant player exodus. Oklahoma basketball secured its coaching future as Porter Moser will return for the 2026-27 season with enhanced player NIL opportunities.
Winter Sports
The Winter Paralympics faced mounting criticism after more sunshine than snow characterized the Games, intensifying calls to move the event to a different calendar slot. British skier Menna Fitzpatrick focused on future competitions after finishing fifth in the visually impaired slalom, ending her Milan-Cortina program. Meanwhile, Rally Kenya lost its championship leader when Elfyn Evans retired after suspension damage.
Track and Field
Tennessee track added a notable commitment with Hendrix Hart, son of comedian Kevin Hart, joining the program. The freshman boasts personal bests of 10.68 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.35 in the 200-meter dash, expressing his desire to "earn it" at the collegiate level.
Rugby
Welsh rugby celebrated its first win in what seemed like an agonizing wait, with the victory bringing both relief and questions about the sport's future in Wales. Exeter Chiefs Women remained third in the Premiership after Cliodhna Moloney-Mac Donald's first-half hat-trick powered a 47-14 thrashing of Trailfinders Women.
Miscellaneous
In cricket, Pakistan's Salman Agha received a reprimand for his angry reaction to a controversial run-out against Bangladesh in an ODI match. The Indy Car series faced an unusual delay when a red flag was thrown during practice after three caterers were spotted on the hot track. In horse racing, Sam Twiston-Davies and trainer Paul Nicholls combined for victory in the Midlands Grand National with Isaac Des Obeaux at Uttoxeter. Finally, UMBC reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since its historic 2018 upset of Virginia, defeating Vermont 74-59 in the America East championship behind DJ Armstrong Jr.'s career-high 33 points.