General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 3:47 PM ET
College Basketball
The women's college basketball season concluded with five freshmen cracking the final rankings, though none could unseat Jazzy Davidson or Aliyah Chavez from the top two spots. In coaching moves, Kim English was fired by Providence after a loss to St. John's, ending his three-year tenure, while Casey Alexander is set to become Kansas State's new coach after a successful run at Belmont. Auburn's Steven Pearl lobbied for his team's NCAA tournament chances after blowing a double-digit second-half lead to Tennessee in the SEC tournament. The Big 12 tournament faced controversy when Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle slipping on the new glass floor, prompting the conference to switch back to traditional hardwood for the remainder of the tournament.
Football
The NFL quarterback carousel continues as Falcons GM Ian Cunningham confirmed Tua Tagovailoa will compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job. In college football, Louisiana Tech found itself in scheduling limbo as both Conference USA and the Sun Belt included the Bulldogs on their 2026 schedules amid uncertainty about the program's league affiliation. Saint Louis rewarded coach Josh Schertz with a contract extension after he led the Billikens to an Atlantic 10 regular-season title.
Rugby Union
Scotland's Six Nations campaign reached a critical juncture as they prepared to face Ireland in Dublin with a title potentially on the line. Captain Sione Tuipulotu described the team's journey as going "to hell and back" to become title contenders, while Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada emphasized that Wales "must win" their final match against his side. England's campaign has been plagued by errors and ill-discipline, with Fin Smith's on-pitch disagreement with captain Maro Itoje revealing the depth of their relationship rather than team disunity. France will wear a special edition pale blue shirt against England to mark 120 years of rivalry.
Horse Racing
Cheltenham Festival was marred by tragedy as a third horse died when Envoi Allen collapsed on the walk back to stables after the Gold Cup race. The festival's marquee event was won by Gaelic Warrior in supreme fashion, with Harry Redknapp-owned Jukebox Man finishing eighth.
Formula One
Lewis Hamilton suggested Ferrari's gap to Mercedes is primarily due to power unit performance deficits after qualifying fourth for Saturday's Chinese Grand Prix sprint race. The sprint format adds another layer of competition to the Shanghai weekend.
Combat Sports
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will defend his title against Sean Strickland in May, while former champion Dustin Poirier returns to action. In boxing, Andreas Hale addressed key questions about potential matchups including Haney vs. Garcia 2 and the status of Mayweather vs. Tyson.
Golf
Graeme McDowell made LIV Golf history by becoming the first player to hit a second hole-in-one on the tour in consecutive weeks. The achievement underscores the unique nature of the Saudi-backed circuit's events.
Winter Sports
Haiti's Ralf Etienne is set to become his nation's first Winter Paralympian, sixteen years after losing his leg in an earthquake that devastated the country. Meanwhile, Britain's Neil Simpson and guide Rob Poth failed to finish their opening giant slalom run at the Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, leaving Simpson bitterly disappointed.
Tennis
World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated "future Grand Slam champion" Victoria Mboko at Indian Wells, though Iga Swiatek was eliminated from the tournament. The BNP Paribas Open continues to showcase rising stars alongside established champions.
Darts
Jonny Clayton overcame a bout of gout to crush Luke Humphries 6-1 in the final of night six of the Premier League in Nottingham. The victory demonstrated Clayton's resilience despite physical discomfort.
Other Sports
Ireland wing Rob Baloucoune has experienced a rapid ascent to becoming a key player for his country following a breakthrough Six Nations campaign. Wales flanker Alex Mann will finish a strong Six Nations campaign against Italy in Cardiff. Georgia rugby faced sanctions for six players and a team official involved in anti-doping violations described as "an orchestrated scheme". The NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments are expected to generate approximately $3.3 billion in bets with U.S. sportsbooks, representing a slight year-over-year increase.