General Sports 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 10:55 PM ET
Basketball Developments
The WNBA negotiations continued into Day 4 with WNBPA chief Terri Carmichael Jackson expressing optimism that both sides are "chipping away at what the concerns are" despite no immediate breakthrough. In college basketball, Jaden Bradley hit a buzzer-beating jumper to send No. 2 Arizona to the Big 12 tournament finals with an 82-80 victory over Iowa State. Meanwhile, Cincinnati has fired men's basketball coach Wes Miller after five seasons, sources confirmed, while Jeff Capel will return for a ninth season at Pitt despite the team falling "well short" of expectations in 2025-26. The complete 2026 NFL draft order has been set, with the Raiders holding the No. 1 pick and the Broncos selecting last at No. 257 across all seven rounds.
Rugby Tournament Action
MAC commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher remains confident his conference will secure two NCAA tournament bids for the first time in 27 years despite Miami (Ohio)'s quarterfinal loss to UMass. In rugby action, Wakefield Trinity fought back to defeat Leeds Rhinos 24-14 in the Challenge Cup, while Wigan Warriors overpowered Bradford Bulls 30-6 in the same competition. Ulster damaged Edinburgh's play-off hopes with a bonus-point victory in the URC, improving their standing in the table. Connacht moved closer to the United Rugby Championship play-offs with a five-try victory over Scarlets in Galway.
Sports Updates & Resurgences
England bowler Mark Wood admits his injured knee is improving but has started contemplating life after cricket for the first time due to the persistent injury. Ulster's rugby resurgence continues to gain momentum with a second-half surge that has propelled them to second place in their league. In women's rugby, Loughborough Lightning defeated Harlequins 43-33 with England internationals Ellie Kildunne and Sadia Kabeya returning to the lineup. The Netball Super League saw AO Manchester Thunder triumph over Lexis Nexis Dragons, extending the Dragons' winless streak in the competition. Conference USA and the Sun Belt both scheduled Louisiana Tech for 2026 football amid a standoff over the Bulldogs' potential league switch. The 2026 Cheltenham Festival marked a year of the outsider as the average starting price of winners hit a 10-year high, making it a difficult festival for punters.