General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 22, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

The men's March Madness field narrowed through Saturday's action as teams battled for Sweet 16 berths, with the Texas Longhorns completing an improbable run from the First Four by upsetting No. 3 seed Gonzaga 74-68. Coach Sean Miller asserted that Texas is no Cinderella despite their ascent to the Sweet, while Midwest Region top seed Michigan powered past Saint Louis behind a 25-point performance from Yaxel Lendeborg to secure their spot. Adding intrigue to the next round, Michigan coach Dusty May and Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz, who have a history of exchanging scouting notes, will now meet with a Sweet 16 berth on the line after their respective wins. Elsewhere, Nebraska narrowly survived Vanderbilt 74-72 after a desperation heave from Tyler Tanner at the half-court line narrowly missed at the buzzer.

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament

The women’s bracket saw significant movement on Saturday as the field winnowed down, prompting ESPN to release updated rankings for the remaining 32 contenders. No. 10 seed Virginia authored the first major upset of the tournament, toppling No. 7 Georgia 82-73 in the first round, a result that followed a tense overtime victory for No. 2 seed USC over Clemson 71-67 after a late Clemson buzzer-beater was nullified by review advancing the Trojans. Meanwhile, South Carolina continued its dominant form, with Joyce Edwards dropping 27 points and eight rebounds to crush Southern 103-34 in the first round, demonstrating the immense strength of the top seeds, a stark contrast to the early exit of No. 7 seed UGA. In other developments, Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey claimed the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Award as the top player in college women's hockey, though her team's performance is separate from the basketball action.

NFL Personnel & Future Outlook

The New York Jets are making substantial future commitments, reportedly committing a combined $48 million in salary cap space to move on from both Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields as their expected 2026 quarterback, utilizing approximately 16% of their cap space in that maneuver. On the coaching front, UNC officials are reportedly entering discussions with coach Hubert Davis regarding his future following another disappointing first-round exit from the NCAA tournament after their recent loss. In college baseball, Paul Mainieri has been dismissed as South Carolina's baseball coach midway through his second season, unable to replicate the high level of success he previously achieved at LSU, prompting the change.

UFC & Combat Sports

The recent UFC London event reignited the contentious debate surrounding fighter compensation, which was laid bare amid several key performances on the undercard. Headlining the card, Movsar Evloev dealt a significant blow to Lerone Murphy's featherweight title aspirations, securing a majority decision victory that crushed Murphy’s top-15 hopes after the gritty contest. Mason Jones, earning the fight of the night bonus for his performance, stated he is now aiming for a top-15 ranking following his redemption win in the same arena where he suffered a previous professional defeat nearly four years prior earning his bonus. Separately, Paddy Pimblett confirmed he is targeting a return to the Octagon in July during the UFC's international fight week schedule aiming for a summer return.

Global Golf & Cycling

Australian golfer Hannah Green secured her third consecutive title, claiming the Australian WPGA Championship on the Gold Coast and extending her winning streak. In professional cycling, Tadej Pogacar triumphed at Milan-San Remo, besting Britain's Tom Pidcock in a dramatic finish to capture his first career title at the classic one-day race winning the grueling event. Unfortunately, the women's edition saw drama as Italian rider Debora Silvestri confirmed she sustained five broken ribs during a severe crash during the race suffering the injury.

Rugby, Football, & Other Sports

In Super League action, Warrington Wolves moved into second place after Kelepi Tanginoa scored four tries in a massive victory over Castleford Tigers hammering the opposition. Meanwhile, Exeter claimed a crucial 26-14 win over Sale at Sandy Park, which propelled them into the Premiership play-off positions securing the victory. On the international rugby stage, Ryan Woodman is eager to make an impact for the Dragons after receiving his first call-up for the Six Nations tournament aiming for his cap, while Frank Lampard expressed hope that Swansea fans would cease booing Matt Grimes after the midfielder displayed class by refraining from celebrating his goal against his former club showing respect. In athletics, Josh Kerr achieved a spectacular comeback, reclaiming his world indoor 3,000m title after recovering from injury to take the gold medal completing his recovery. Furthermore, 15-year-old Rwandan cricketer Fanny Utagushimaninde achieved a historic milestone, becoming the youngest woman to score a T20 international century setting the record.

Miscellaneous Developments

Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance has been using manga comics as a method to pass time and aid his recovery from injury during the team's March Madness run, describing it as a "nice hobby to have" while sidelined fueling his healing. In sailing news, the Ineos group is initiating legal action to reclaim a boat used by Sir Ben Ainslie's America's Cup team in the previous competition. In European rugby, Edinburgh suffered another heavy defeat in Johannesburg, conceding eight tries in a performance completely dominated by the Lions suffering the loss.