General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 22, 2026, 4:40 AM ET

NCAA Women’s Basketball Second Round

The second round of the women’s NCAA tournament delivered dramatic finishes, with No. 2 seed UConn escaping an upset thanks to Tarris Reed Jr.'s historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance in an 82-71 victory over Furman. Elsewhere, No. 1 seed Michigan powering past Saint Louis was fueled by Yaxel Lendeborg’s 25 points, securing their spot in the Sweet. The field is now narrowed to 32 teams, prompting ESPN analysts to re-rank the remaining contenders heading into the next stage. In a tightly contested contest, USC advanced after a video review nullified Clemson's buzzer-beater in regulation, allowing the Trojans to capture a 71-67 overtime win.

Further action saw No. 10 seed Virginia achieving the first upset of the women’s bracket by defeating No. 7 Georgia 82-73 in the first round, while South Carolina dominated Southern, with Joyce Edwards dropping 27 points and eight boards in a 103-34 blowout leading the Gamecocks' charge. Meanwhile, Texas authored a stunning run, becoming the first First Four team in five years to reach the Sweet 16 after upsetting No. 3 seed Gonzaga 74-68, though coach Sean Miller insisted his squad should not be viewed as a Cinderella despite the improbable run reaching the regional semifinal.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Second Round

The men’s bracket saw Nebraska survive a scare when Vanderbilt’s half-court attempt at the buzzer, taken by Tyler Tanner, rimmed out in a 74-72 finish, allowing the Huskers to advance. The matchup between Michigan and Saint Louis carried added intrigue as it pitted coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz against one another after years of exchanging scouting notes and ideas. Elsewhere, Darius Acuff Jr.’s 36-point effort lifting Arkansas past High Point was one of the standout offensive displays as reporters tracked all the second-round action across the country. Following UNC’s first-round exit, officials are reportedly discussing Hubert Davis’s future with the program after another early tournament departure.

UFC & Combat Sports

UFC London saw a renewed discussion surrounding fighter compensation after several career-defining performances on the undercard, with the issue of fighter pay laid bare. Movsar Evloev dealt a major blow to Lerone Murphy’s featherweight title aspirations by securing a majority decision victory, which crushed Murphy’s championship hopes in the main event. Mason Jones, however, earned the Fight of the Night bonus in a redemption performance nearly four years after his initial professional loss in the same arena, stating his goal is now to break into the UFC top 15 rankings. Separately, rising star Paddy Pimblett confirmed he is targeting a return to the Octagon in July during the promotion’s International Fight Week schedule aiming for a summer comeback.

International & Other Sports

In rugby league, Kelepi Tanginoa scored four tries as Warrington Wolves hammered Castleford 46-10 to move into second place in the Super League standings. On the pitch, Exeter secured a crucial 26-14 victory over Sale, which propelled them directly into the Premiership play-off bracket. Meanwhile, in cycling, Tadej Pogacar claimed his first Milan-San Remo title following a grueling duel with Tom Pidcock, though the race was marred by a serious crash that left Italian rider Debora Silvestri confirming she suffered five broken ribs. In track and field, Josh Kerr completed a remarkable comeback from injury, reclaiming his world indoor 3,000m title to win global gold after his recovery.

Global Developments & Personnel Moves

Welsh rugby prospect Ryan Woodman expressed ambition to shine for the Dragons, stating he is hungry for an opportunity to earn his maiden call-up for Wales. Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey received the sport’s highest individual honor, being voted the winner of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the top player in college women's hockey. In baseball coaching changes, Paul Mainieri was dismissed midway through his second season as South Carolina’s coach, unable to replicate the success he previously achieved at LSU, leading to his departure. On the tennis front, Wimbledon officials announced that video review technology will debut this year for the first time in the tournament’s history. Finally, Rwanda’s Fanny Utagushimaninde achieved a historic milestone, becoming the youngest woman to score a T20 international century at just 15 years and 223 days old setting a new global record.