General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 23, 2026, 9:30 PM ET

NCAA Women's Basketball Advances to Sweet 16

The second round of the Women’s NCAA tournament concluded with several dramatic finishes, setting the Sweet 16 bracket, which now includes an unprecedented qualifier. UVA ousted Iowa 83-75 in double overtime, making Virginia the first team to advance to the Sweet 16 after starting in the First Four, while top seeds continued to advance with authority. Azzi Fudd poured in 26 first-half points as UConn dominated Syracuse by a 98-45 margin in her final game at Gampel Pavilion, propelling the Huskies into the regional semifinal. Elsewhere, TCU survived Washington 62-59 in overtime, with Olivia Miles contributing 18 points and 10 rebounds to send the Horned Frogs back to the Sweet 16 for the second time in program history. The strong viewership for these contests contributed to the tournament achieving its best start in ratings since 2011 since CBS and TNT began broadcasting all games.

NCAA Men's Tournament Sweet 16 Takes Shape

The men's bracket solidified its Sweet 16 matchups following an exciting weekend of upsets and tight contests, with several major programs looking toward their regional semifinals. St. John’s advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 1999 after Dylan Darling hit a game-winning layup at the buzzer to defeat Kansas 67-65, a result that places the Johnnies in the mix for the next round. Madison Booker delivered a career-high 40 points as No. 1 Texas crushed Oregon 100-58, showcasing the strength of the Big 12 contingent in the bracket. Meanwhile, Minnesota punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 21 years following Amaya Battle’s tiebreaking jump shot, lifting the Gophers past Mississippi 65-63. Analysts are already breaking down the keys to advancing for all sixteen remaining teams, noting the presence of five Big Ten teams in the regional semifinals.

College Coaching Carousel Heats Up

The college basketball coaching market saw significant movement with several high-profile hires being finalized while other established figures contemplate their futures. Cincinnati is expected to hire Jerrod Calhoun from Utah State, who led the Aggies to consecutive NCAA tournaments and has reportedly been the Bearcats' top target since the job became available. Separately, Arizona State is reportedly finalizing a five-year agreement with Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett to take the Sun Devils job, signaling a major shift in the Pac-12/Big 12 landscape. In other news, Creighton coach Greg McDermott announced his intention to retire after the current season, concluding a 16-year tenure where he secured 365 victories with the Bluejays.

NBA & WNBA Off-Court Developments

In the professional leagues, the WNBA closed out a significant stage of its offseason while a historical NBA moment resurfaced. WNBA players voted unanimously to ratify the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, with the union reporting participation from over 90% of its membership, paving the way for a busy period that includes an expansion draft and the college draft. Separately, LeBron James and Austin Reaves discussed the 2022 viral meme where James was seen giving on-court instructions to a seemingly confused Reaves during a game against the Nets. Furthermore, Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking an injunction to play in 2026, hoping for a ruling before the upcoming NFL draft.

Global Cricket Review & Leadership Shifts

English cricket leadership defended its coaching structure following a disappointing Ashes campaign, even as calls for change continue. Former captain Michael Vaughan suggested that England head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key were "very lucky" to survive an internal review following the series loss in Australia. However, ECB chief executive Richard Gould maintained that McCullum is the correct leader, stating that sacking him after the 4-1 defeat would have been "easy." For his part, captain Ben Stokes admitted that the preceding three months represented "the hardest period" of his tenure but expressed confidence in the current setup to take the team forward. In other cricket news, Glamorgan seam bowler James Harris announced his immediate retirement with the new season commencing in under two weeks.

Tennis & Track Updates Amidst Coaching Changes

The Miami Open saw top seeds advance, though one major star parted ways with her coaching team shortly after an early exit. World number one Aryna Sabalenka moved into the last 16 after defeating Zheng Qinwen, continuing her pursuit of the 'Sunshine Double,' though an unusual overhead camera incident briefly interrupted Daniil Medvedev’s match. Following her departure from the tournament, Iga Swiatek split with coach Wim Fissette after the six-time major winner’s exit in Miami. Meanwhile, track and field saw mixed fortunes: Olympic champion Sifan Hassan withdrew from the London Marathon due to an Achilles injury sustained in a treadmill mishap, while Alice Kinsella made British gymnastics history by resuming elite competition after giving birth.

Rugby Union & Football Restructuring

In rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) granted a 30-day extension for the Cardiff Rugby buy-out negotiations concerning the sale to Ospreys owners Y11. England’s women’s team is scheduled to host Canada in a September fixture, serving as a rematch of the 2025 Women's World Cup final as part of the WXV Global Series. England will host Canada in the fixture. On the coaching front in New Zealand, former Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair will reunite with Dave Rennie as an attack coach for the national side. Finally, in the English Premier League fallout, post-match analysis focused on Manchester City's victory over Arsenal, questioning the impact on the title race, while in the Premiership, Leicester Tigers delivered an emphatic performance.

Legislative and Financial Post-Season News

Off the field, a new legislative effort targets the intersection of sports and financial markets. A bipartisan Senate bill introduced Monday aims to prohibit prediction markets from facilitating transactions that mimic traditional sports betting, reflecting growing regulatory scrutiny in this area. In college football, attention is turning toward production returning for the 2026 season, though analysts caution that past returning production metrics offered little guarantee of success in 2025. Separately, in a bizarre incident abroad, a German handball trophy that had been reported stolen was discovered inside the team’s own basement facility.