General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 23, 2026, 10:30 PM ET

NCAA Women's Tournament Advances

The Women's NCAA tournament field for the Sweet 16 became clearer following Monday's intense second-round matchups, with UConn rolling past Syracuse by a dominant 98-45 margin, fueled by Azzi Fudd's 26 first-half points in her final Gampel Pavilion appearance. In a major upset, Virginia became the first First Four entrant to reach the Sweet 16 by defeating host Iowa 83-75 in double overtime, showcasing an unexpected run through the bracket. Elsewhere, TCU punched their ticket after surviving an overtime battle against Washington, with Olivia Miles contributing 18 points and 10 rebounds in the 62-59 victory to send the Horned Frogs back to the regional semifinals for the second time. The overall first weekend of tournament action generated the best viewership ratings since CBS and TNT began airing all games in 2011, indicating heightened fan interest.

Men's NCAA Tournament Previews & Coaching Carousel

As the men's bracket solidifies its Sweet 16 participants, attention turns to the regional semifinals, where matchups like Michigan-Alabama and Purdue-Texas will be decided by key strategic elements detailed in advancing analysis, while early betting markets suggested specific wagers to lock in now based on the first weekend's surprises from the opening rounds. In college basketball personnel news, Cincinnati is reportedly hiring Jerrod Calhoun from Utah State, where he guided the Aggies to consecutive NCAA tournaments, to take the Bearcats job, while a familiar face is heading south as former Cincinnati coach Wes Miller landed the head coaching position at Charlotte following his recent dismissal. Meanwhile, Creighton coach Greg McDermott announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season, capping a successful 16-year tenure during which he amassed 365 victories at the school.

Coaching Changes & NBA Considerations

Arizona State made a significant hire, officially naming Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett as their next head coach on Monday, signaling a major shift for the Sun Devils program. Separately, UConn coach Dan Hurley revealed he recently sought counsel from Michigan State's Tom Izzo regarding the Lakers' reported offer, which included a substantial six-year, $70 million contract structure that Hurley ultimately turned down previously. In another development, Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking an immediate ruling to grant him an additional year of eligibility before the upcoming NFL Draft, filing the suit against the organization to play in 2026.

Tennis & Golf Updates from Miami & Beyond

At the Miami Open, World Number One Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the last 16 after dispatching Caty McNally, continuing her pursuit of the 'Sunshine Double,' though an overhead camera incident briefly interrupted Daniil Medvedev's concurrent match, raising concerns for officials. Following her exit from the tournament, six-time major champion Iga Swiatek has confirmed her decision to part ways with coach Wim Fissette. On the men's PGA Tour front, Matt Fitzpatrick enters the Masters conversation as a top contender, his recent success underscored by impressive statistics in core categories essential for Augusta National performance putting him among the favorites.

Cricket Management Scrutiny & Personnel Moves

England's cricket leadership faced intense scrutiny following the Ashes defeat, with former captain Michael Vaughan suggesting that Head Coach Brendon McCullum and Managing Director Rob Key were "very lucky" to keep their positions after an internal review avoiding immediate termination. Despite this criticism, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould defended McCullum, asserting that the coach remains the correct figurehead to steer the team forward, even as Stokes described the preceding three months as the "hardest period" of his captaincy looking toward the future. In Welsh rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union extended the negotiation deadline by 30 days for the potential sale of Cardiff Rugby to the Ospreys owners, Y11, as they aim to finalize ownership changes.

Global Sports Personnel & Off-Field Matters

In international rugby union, former Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair is reuniting with Dave Rennie, joining the New Zealand setup as the new attack coach, solidifying the coaching staff following recent appointments. Meanwhile, in other news, Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has been forced to withdraw from the London Marathon next month due to an Achilles injury sustained during a recent treadmill mishap. Furthermore, the WNBA players association confirmed that the league's new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has been ratified, with union President stating that over 90% of players participated in the vote which resulted in a unanimous approval of the new labor terms, setting the stage for a busy offseason including an expansion draft and college draft.