General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 2:52 AM ET
College Basketball Turmoil
The Big 12 tournament descended into chaos as Texas Tech's Anderson injured himself slipping on the conference's new LED glass court during Iowa State's 75-53 win over the Red Raiders. Conference officials quickly announced they would swap to traditional hardwood for the remainder of the tournament at T-Mobile Center after multiple players reported traction issues. Meanwhile, Kansas State is poised for a coaching change as sources confirm the Wildcats will hire Belmont's Casey Alexander, a perennial 20-game winner, to lead their program. In the Mid-American Conference, No. 20 Miami (Ohio) suffered its first loss with a stunning 87-83 defeat to UMass in their tournament opener, while Auburn coach Steven Pearl lobbied for his team's NCAA chances after blowing a double-digit second-half lead to Tennessee in the SEC quarterfinals.
Olympic Champions and Records
Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu received a key to her hometown during a rally featuring performances from Bay Area artists, celebrating her return from international competition. In track and field, pole vault superstar Armand Duplantis broke his own world record for the 15th time with a 6.31-meter jump, continuing his dominance of the sport. Swimming's triple gold medalist Tom Dean has his sights set on LA after uprooting his life to train in Stirling, with the 2028 Olympics now his primary focus.
Rugby Union Shakeups
Ireland made four changes for their Six Nations Triple Crown decider against Scotland, ruling out lock James Ryan and handing rare starts to several players as head coach Andy Farrell finalized his lineup. France named uncapped flanker Temo Matiu to make his debut against England in Paris, while Wales named an unchanged starting side for their finale against Italy at the Principality Stadium. Scotland's preparations for Ireland included analyzing their kicking strategy and studying Finn Russell's ability to "pull a rabbit out of a hat" according to teammate Jack Conan, as they seek their first win over Ireland in 12 meetings.
Boxing and Combat Sports
James 'Jazza' Dickens endured a two-day ordeal traveling from Dubai to Dublin for his world title defense, while super featherweight Ryan Garner set his sights on the winner of Saturday's clash between Dickens and Anthony Cacace at St Mary's. In MMA, Harry Hardwick acknowledged the sport's harsh realities, counting himself among the lucky few who succeeded in a career where "most dreams fail."
Tennis and Paralympics
Britain's Sonay Kartal retired from her Indian Wells match against world number three Elena Rybakina due to a back injury, calling it "one match too many" after her tournament run. At the Winter Paralympics, Hester Poole vowed redemption after crashing out on her giant slalom debut, setting her sights on Saturday's slalom event. Cross-country skier Jake Adicoff made history as the first out gay man to win an individual Paralympic gold medal.
Horse Racing and Sports Governance
Cheltenham Festival saw Heart Wood triumph in the Ryanair Chase, giving trainer Henry de Bromhead his first winner of the prestigious meeting. However, controversy erupted when jockey Nico de Boinville was accused of directing "racial slurs" at Declan Queally, though the pair later shook hands to resolve the incident. Trainer Willie Mullins threatened to boycott future festivals after withdrawing Fact To File over concerns about ground conditions, highlighting ongoing tensions about racing surface quality.
NFL and NASCAR
The NFL Players Association prepares for a leadership vote to replace disgraced former leader Lloyd Howell, with representatives set to choose his successor. In NASCAR, discussions about empathy in the sport revealed the complex dynamics between drivers, who are all "out for themselves" once the green flag waves but occasionally show compassion for rivals in certain situations.
Cricket and The Hundred
The Hundred auction made history as the first professional sporting auction in the UK, with 89 players picked up in an emotionally draining process. Sussex all-rounder James Coles commanded a £390,000 fee from London Spirit, the highest in the auction, while Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed was bought by Sunrisers Leeds to allay concerns about IPL-affiliated franchises ignoring international players. Former England bowler Alex Hartley joined Steven Finn and Stephan Shemilt to discuss the historic auctions, analyzing the implications for cricket's future.
Formula One and Entertainment
Lewis Hamilton explored every way to attend Sunday's Oscars ceremony after the Chinese Grand Prix but ultimately decided it was impossible to arrive on time despite "F1" nominations creating buzz around the event. Meanwhile, prediction markets for the Oscars face an uncertain future amid conflicting court rulings and regulatory battles playing out in Congress, statehouses, and before the CFTC.
International Baseball
Miami Marlins pitching prospect Jesus Luzardo dominated in his WBC debut, earning admiration from Dominican Republic teammates and setting himself up for a strong 2026 campaign with the Rays. His performance on the international stage has boosted his prospect status significantly, with scouts praising his command and poise under pressure.