General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 15, 2026, 10:56 AM ET
Alpine Skiing
American skier Mikaela Shiffrin tied a record by winning her eighth World Cup slalom of the season on Sunday, further cementing her status as one of the sport's all-time greats. The Olympic champion's consistent dominance in the slalom discipline has set new benchmarks for excellence in alpine skiing.
College Basketball Conference Tournaments
In a thrilling conclusion to the WAC tournament, Dominique Daniels Jr. hit three 3-pointers in the final two minutes and finished with 23 points to lead No. 2 seed Cal Baptist to a 63-61 victory over top-seeded Utah Valley. Meanwhile, No. 1 Duke defeated No. 10 Virginia to claim its second straight ACC tournament championship under coach Jon Scheyer, marking the team's third title in the past four years. In the Big East, No. 13 St. John's routed sixth-ranked UConn 72-52 in a defensive masterclass to defend its tournament championship at Madison Square Garden. Arizona avenged its loss to Houston by holding off the Cougars 79-74 to win the Big 12 tournament title and secure a nine-game winning streak heading into the NCAA tournament. In the Big Ten, Yaxel Lendeborg's tiebreaking 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds lifted No. 3 Michigan to a 68-65 victory over No. 23 Wisconsin, sending the Wolverines to the conference championship game.
NCAA Tournament Preview
As Selection Sunday approaches, UCLA has leapfrogged UConn for the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament, according to bracketologists, while questions remain about the top eight seeds and their potential regional placements. The men's selection committee faces 12 key questions regarding bubble teams like the Red Hawks and Tigers as they finalize the 68-team bracket. On the women's side, North Carolina and West Virginia secured top-16 seeds and will host tournament games, adding another layer of home-court advantage in March Madness.
Player Availability Updates
Several key players are set to return for the NCAA tournament after recent injuries. Texas Tech star guard Christian Anderson will be available after leaving the Red Raiders' Big 12 tournament loss due to an apparent groin injury. Similarly, UCLA leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau has been diagnosed with a mild right knee strain but is expected to be ready for the tournament, providing a boost to the Bruins' championship aspirations.
NFL Free Agency
The New England Patriots utilized Drake Maye as a selling point during free agency, with the rookie quarterback's potential helping to attract talent to the roster. In Chicago, the Bears face significant challenges in the secondary and at edge rusher following a wave of free agent departures, forcing general manager Ryan Poles to quickly rebuild key positions on defense.
Formula 1
Kimi Antonelli claimed his first Formula 1 victory in the Chinese Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes one-two finish as team-mate George Russell followed him across the line. The young Italian's triumph came amid McLaren's technical difficulties, with both cars failing to start the race, opening the door for Antonelli's surprise breakthrough.
Golf
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg extended his lead to three shots heading into Sunday's final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. However, play was briefly disrupted when a fatal shooting near the venue delayed spectator entry, underscoring the challenges major tournaments sometimes face with external incidents.
Rugby Six Nations
Ireland secured its fourth Triple Crown in five years with a dominant 43-21 victory over Scotland, with head coach Andy Farrell praising his team's "ruthless edge" in the crucial Six Nations match. Despite the defeat, Scotland fell agonizingly short of their title ambitions as Ireland pulled away in what was described as a "pulsating Triple Crown decider." In Paris, France defeated England in the final moments, with England World Cup winner Matt Dawson suggesting the defeat doesn't reflect the team's overall performance in what has been dubbed "England's worst Six Nations." Meanwhile, Wales celebrated a rare victory in the tournament, ending a long wait for success while contemplating future developments both on and off the field.
Other Sports
LeBron James praised team-mate Luka Doncic as a "generational talent" after the Slovenian hit an overtime winner for the Los Angeles Lakers, showcasing the growing chemistry between the two stars. In boxing, Belfast's Anthony Cacace claimed his second world title with a unanimous decision victory over James 'Jazza' Dickens to become the new WBA super-featherweight champion. Scotland women's hockey team secured qualification for the World Cup for the first time since 2002 after beating Italy in a tense play-off, bringing joy to Scottish fans. Elsewhere, in rugby union, Moloney-MacDonald's hat-trick helped Exeter Chiefs thrash Trailfinders Women 47-14, keeping them third in the Premiership Women's Rugby table. In track and field, Tennessee landed a commitment from Kevin Hart's son Hendrix, whose personal bests include 10.68 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.35 in the 200-meter dash.