Last updated: March 22, 2026, 1:30 AM ET
NCAA Women's Basketball Second Round Drama
The field in women’s March Madness has narrowed to 32 teams, setting the stage for intense second-round matchups across the country. The University of South Carolina showed overwhelming dominance in the first round, routing Southern 103-34, powered by Joyce Edwards’ 27 points and eight rebounds, making them a clear favorite as the bracket progresses. In a much tighter contest, USC survived a scare against Clemson, needing a crucial buzzer-beater review to nullify the Tigers' regulation shot before ultimately prevailing 71-67 in overtime to secure their spot. Meanwhile, No. 10 seed Virginia authored the tournament's first major upset, dispatching No. 7 seed Georgia 82-73 in a first-round battle.
Men's Tournament Surprises & Top Seeds Advance
The men’s bracket delivered thrilling finishes as well, with the University of Texas achieving a historic Sweet 16 berth by defeating No. 3 seed Gonzaga 74-68, becoming the first First Four entrant in five years to reach the regional semifinals. Despite this remarkable run, Texas coach Sean Miller insisted his team is not a Cinderella heading into that round. On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 seed UConn narrowly avoided an upset, relying on a historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance from Tarris Reed Jr. to defeat Furman 82-71. Elsewhere, Midwest Region top seed Michigan powered past Saint Louis behind Yaxel Lendeborg’s 25 points, setting up a highly anticipated Sweet 16 matchup between coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz, who have a long history of exchanging scouting notes adding intrigue to the pairing.
NCAA Upsets & Coaching Futures
The second round on the men’s side saw No. 12 seed Nebraska survive a scare when Vanderbilt’s desperation heave from beyond half court tragically rimmed out at the buzzer, ending the game 74-72. The early action on Saturday saw Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. drop 36 points to lift the Razorbacks past High Point in a thriller. In the women’s bracket, the action included a dominant start for the defending champions as Florida began their title defense with a 59-point margin of victory, crushing Prairie View A&M 114-55, the second-largest win margin in tournament history. Following UNC’s first-round exit, officials are reportedly discussing coach Hubert Davis’s future with the program.
International Sports Milestones & Combat Sports
In combat sports, Mason Jones secured a victory at UFC London, earning the fight of the night bonus nearly four years after suffering his previous professional defeat in the same arena. However, the main event saw Movsar Evloev deliver a gritty majority decision win that effectively crushed Lerone Murphy's featherweight title aspirations. Internationally, Rwandan cricketer Fanny Utagushimaninde made history by becoming the youngest woman to score a T20 international century at just 15 years and 223 days old, describing the achievement as "like a dream." Elsewhere in cycling, Tadej Pogacar clinched his first Milan-San Remo title following a dramatic sprint against Tom Pidcock, though the women's race saw Italian rider Debora Silvestri rushed to the hospital following a serious crash.
Global Athletics, Hockey, & Rugby Updates
In track and field, Josh Kerr reclaimed his world indoor 3,000m title, completing a successful return to the global podium following an injury layoff. GB snowboarder Mia Brookes claimed her fifth World Cup gold medal in the slopestyle event in Flachnau, Austria. Stateside, Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey received high praise after winning the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the top player in college women's hockey. Professional rugby saw Warrington Wolves surge to second in Super League after Kelepi Tanginoa scored four tries in a commanding defeat of Castleford, while in Premiership Rugby, Exeter secured a vital 26-14 win over Sale to move into the play-off positions.
Miscellaneous Updates Across Sports
The Colorado Avalanche earned the first NHL playoff berth of the season following a decisive 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks. In college baseball, Paul Mainieri is reportedly out as South Carolina's coach midway through his second season, unable to replicate the success he enjoyed previously at LSU. In golf news, the rise of simulated play is staggering, with predictions suggesting that by the end of 2028, the number of virtual golf rounds played in the UK will surpass outdoor rounds. Finally, on the administrative side of tennis, Wimbledon officials confirmed the introduction of video review technology for this year's championships, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group initiated legal action to recover a boat previously used by Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team.