General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 7:52 AM ET
Golf
Graeme McDowell created LIV Golf history by becoming the first player to hit consecutive hole-in-ones on the tour, following his second ace in as many weeks. Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood spoke of relief after his family safely departed Dubai amid Middle East conflict, describing the experience as "emotionally draining" for his loved ones.
College Basketball
The Big 12 announced a court change after slipping incidents on its new LED glass court forced the conference to revert to traditional hardwood for the remainder of its tournament. Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson suffered a muscle strain during Iowa State's 75-53 victory after losing his footing on the innovative surface. Elsewhere, No. 20 Miami (Ohio) suffered its first defeat with an 87-83 shocker to UMass in the MAC tournament, while Kansas State targeted Belmont's Alexander as its next head coach following his consistent 20-win seasons with the Bruins.
Rugby Union
Ireland's Six Nations campaign took another hit with lock James Ryan ruled out of Saturday's Triple Crown decider against Scotland, forcing head coach Andy Farrell to make four changes. The Irish desperately seek their first Triple Crown since 2022 as Scotland aims to break a 12-match losing streak to their historic rivals. England's nightmare tournament continues with their final game against France approaching, though supporters' complaints about their kicking strategy miss the point according to analysts who note it remains one of their few functioning aspects. Uncapped France flanker Temo Matiu earned his debut for Saturday's clash against England in Paris.
Boxing & Combat Sports
James 'Jazza' Dickens endured a two-day journey from Dubai to Dublin ahead of his world title defense, describing the ordeal as "the longest road to a fight I've ever taken." Super featherweight Ryan Garner set his sights on the winner of Saturday's Dickens-Anthony Cacace world title bout, while Heart Wood claimed victory in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, giving trainer Henry de Bromhead his first winner of the 2026 festival.
Tennis
World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated "future champion" Victoria Mboko at Indian Wells, with the 17-year-old British prospect widely tipped for Grand Slam success. However, Iga Swiatek suffered an early exit from the tournament, continuing her struggles on American hard courts.
Darts
Jonny Clayton overcame severe gout to crush Luke Humphries 6-1 in the Premier League final in Nottingham, describing the victory as "the most painful win of my career" after struggling with the inflammatory condition throughout the tournament.
Winter Sports
Great Britain's Hester Poole vowed redemption after crashing out of the giant slalom on her Winter Paralympic debut, setting her sights on Saturday's slalom event. Meanwhile, cross-country skier Jake Adicoff made history as the first out gay man to win an individual Paralympic gold medal, celebrating his victory as a breakthrough moment for LGBTQ+ representation in winter sports.
Figure Skating
Olympic champion Alysa Liu received a key to her hometown during a San Francisco rally that featured performances from Bay Area artists, marking her triumphant return after her gold medal performance in Beijing.
Motorsports
Lewis Hamilton explored every option to attend Sunday's Oscars ceremony following the Chinese Grand Prix but ultimately determined it was impossible to arrive on time, despite his documentary "F1" receiving multiple nominations. In NASCAR, the complex relationship between competition and empathy came under scrutiny as drivers acknowledged the sport's inherently selfish nature while recognizing moments of sportsmanship amid fierce rivalry.
NFL & American Football
The NFL Players Association prepared for a crucial vote to select a successor to disgraced former leader Lloyd Howell, with player representatives set to determine the union's future direction. Meanwhile, Miami faced its most challenging offseason yet under Mario Cristobal as the program aimed to reclaim its position among college football's elite programs.
Cricket
The Hundred auctioned 89 players in the UK's first professional sporting auction, with Sussex all-rounder James Coles fetching a record £390,000 from London Spirit. The tournament also addressed India-Pakistan concerns by ensuring Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed was selected by Sunrisers Leeds, allaying fears that IPL-affiliated franchises would overlook international talent.
Miscellaneous Sports
Triple gold medalist Tom Dean uprooted his life to move to Stirling last year as he sets his sights on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. In college football, Syracuse's dismissal of Adrian Autry sparked debate after Jim Boeheim defended his former colleague, attributing the firing to poor performances by star players and insufficient NIL funding rather than coaching ability.