Last updated: March 21, 2026, 7:30 PM ET
NCAA Women's Tournament: Upsets & Dominance
The second day of the Women's NCAA Tournament provided immediate drama as No. 10 seed Virginia authored the first upset of March Madness, dispatching No. 7 Georgia 82-73 in a statement victory. Meanwhile, the No. 2 seed UConn escaped a scare thanks to a historic performance from Tarris Reed Jr., who posted 31 points and 27 rebounds in an 82-71 defeat of Furman. The top seed in the region, South Carolina cruised past Southern by a margin of 103-34, powered by Joyce Edwards' 27 points and eight boards, demonstrating the gulf between the top contenders and lower seeds early in the bracket.
Other high seeds advanced with varying degrees of difficulty, including No. 2 seed USC surviving overtime after a controversial review nullified a Clemson buzzer-beater at the end of regulation, allowing them to ultimately win 71-67. In contrast, No. 7 seed Tennessee ended Tennessee's season in the first round, handing the Lady Vols their eighth consecutive losing finish, while No. 6 seed Tennessee rolled over Miami (Ohio) 78-56, fueled by Ja'Kobi Gillespie's 29 points.
NCAA Men's Tournament: Sweet 16 Bound
The men's bracket saw top seeds punching tickets to the Sweet, with No. 1 seed Michigan powering past Saint Louis behind Yaxel Lendeborg's 25-point effort on Saturday. The matchup featured a compelling subplot as Michigan coach Dusty May faced his mentor Josh Schertz with a regional spot on the line, a contest discussed in broader takeaways tracking all the winners advancing in the 2026 tournament. In other action, Florida began its title defense with an overwhelming 114-55 victory over Prairie View A&M, marking the second-largest margin of victory in tournament history.
The first round also generated significant statistical milestones, as Purdue's Braden Smith surpassed Bobby Hurley for the NCAA's all-time assists record, reaching 1,077 career dimes during a game against Queens University. Elsewhere, Utah State rallied in the second half to defeat Villanova 86-76, with MJ Collins sealing the victory with a steal and dunk while scoring 20 points. UCLA's Skyy Clark managed to shake off losing a chunk of his front tooth in Friday's win over UCF, helping the Bruins secure a 75-71 opening-round result.
College Coaching & League News
In an unexpected development in collegiate athletics, South Carolina baseball coach Paul Mainieri is out midway through his second season, unable to replicate the sustained success he achieved during his tenure at LSU. Meanwhile, the future of the UNC basketball program remains uncertain as officials enter discussions with coach Hubert Davis following yet another first-round exit from the NCAA tournament. On the individual award front, Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey secured the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the top player in college women's hockey.
Global Sports & Individual Achievements
International competition saw several notable victories, including Tadej Pogacar claiming his first Milan-San Remo title after a tense final battle with Britain's Tom Pidcock, though the women's race was marred by a serious crash that hospitalized Italian rider Debora Silvestri after a fall in the classic. In athletics, the remarkable comeback of Josh Kerr saw him reclaim the world indoor 3,000m title following a lengthy injury layoff. In cricket, Rwanda's Fanny Utagushimaninde achieved an historic feat, becoming the youngest woman to score a T20 international century at just 15 years and 223 days old.
Professional Sports & Legal Matters
The NHL saw the Avalanche become the first team to clinch a playoff berth following their 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks. In MMA, Costello van Steenis stopped Fabian Edwards in the third round to successfully defend his PFL middleweight title, denying Edwards another shot at the world crown. In a legal matter, the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder confirmed they won't visit the White House during their current road trip, citing timing concerns. Furthermore, the NCAA has initiated a lawsuit against DraftKings, alleging trademark infringement over the use of terms associated with March Madness.
Rugby & Combat Sports Updates
The European rugby circuits saw varied results, with Exeter defeating Sale 26-14 to move into the Premiership play-off positions, while Edinburgh suffered a heavy loss away at the Lions, who ran in eight tries during a dominant showing. In Super League action, Kelepi Tanginoa's four-try performance propelled Warrington Wolves into second place in the standings after crushing Castleford Tigers. In boxing, Chinese Taipei's Olympic champion Lin Yu-ting was cleared to return to competition after successfully completing the new sex testing protocols implemented by World Boxing.