Last updated: March 20, 2026, 10:30 PM ET
College Basketball Legal & Tournament Action
The NCAA filed suit against DraftKings on Friday, asserting trademark infringement over the sportsbook operator's use of intellectual property, including the term "March Madness." This legal skirmish coincided with intense opening-round action in the men's tournament, where Purdue's Braden Smith set a new NCAA assists record by surpassing Bobby Hurley's career total, reaching 1,077 during their contest against Queens University. On the court, upsets continued as Utah State utilized a second-half surge to dispatch Villanova 86-76, fueled by MJ Collins' 20-point performance capped by a late steal and dunk. Tournament narratives were also shaped by other close calls, such as Otega Oweh’s buzzer-beater forcing overtime that propelled seventh-seeded Kentucky past Santa Clara 89-84.
Further results from the men’s bracket saw Tennessee end Miami (OH)'s run in decisive fashion, with Ja'Kobi Gillespie pouring in 29 points alongside six made three-pointers in a 78-56 victory over the Red Hawks. Elsewhere, the women’s bracket tipped off with UConn entering as the clear title favorite heading into the competition according to pre-tournament odds, while UCLA coach Cori Close publicly commended Lauren Betts for her courageous disclosures regarding her mental health journey following her opening game appearance. Injury news emerged from Ames, where Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson suffered a sprained left ankle during Friday’s 108-74 win, though X-rays later came back negative.
International Rugby & Combat Sports Updates
Action across global pitches provided several tight contests, notably in Premiership Women's Rugby where the Trailfinders secured a narrow 21-17 win over Harlequins after Abi Burton scored the decisive try just three minutes before full time. In the men’s United Rugby Championship, Connacht delivered a powerful second-half display to earn a statement bonus-point victory against Ulster. Meanwhile, Scarlets prevailed in the basement battle of the URC standings, running in six tries to sweep aside Zebre. In Northern Irish football, Larne extended their Premiership lead to five points following a 3-0 victory against Glenavon, capitalizing on their rivals' struggles.
In combat sports, Costello van Steenis successfully defended his PFL middleweight title by stopping Fabian Edwards in the third round, denying the Briton another shot at world championship glory. The boxing world saw Michael Conlan confirm that his recent split decision defeat by Kevin Walsh represented the "end of the road" for his career following the bout in Belfast. Ahead of a major card in London, Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev exchanged a cold staredown before their featherweight contest on Saturday.
Pro & Olympic Sports Notes
The reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder announced they will not make a White House visit during their upcoming D.C. road trip, citing vague concerns over "timing." In golf, Jon Rahm dropped his appeal against DP World Tour sanctions for participating in conflicting LIV Golf events but has refused to pay the accumulated fines levied against him. On the track, Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu finished fourth in the 60m dash at the World Indoor Championships, competing in what was described as "one of the best 60m races of all time" where he narrowly missed a medal. Separately, Australian swimmer Cameron McEvoy shattered the long-standing 50m freestyle world record previously held by Cesar Cielo.
In league action across the UK, Bradford Bulls outmuscled Huddersfield Giants to secure their third consecutive Super League home win, while Wakefield exacted revenge on Leigh by defeating the Leopards, deepening their poor start to the Super League season following last year's play-off elimination. Elsewhere, former stars like Serena Williams and Shaquille O’Neal participated in a viral '90s throwback trend set to the Goo Goo Dolls' song "Iris". Finally, President Trump issued an executive order to shield the Army-Navy game from competing broadcasts, ensuring the annual matchup retains national focus during the college football postseason window.