General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 24, 2026, 12:30 AM ET

NCAA Women’s Tournament Action

The women's NCAA tournament Sweet 16 bracket solidified with several dramatic results, highlighted by Virginia upsetting host Iowa 83-75 in double overtime, making them the first First Four team ever to reach the regional semifinals. Meanwhile, UConn dominated Syracuse with a 98-45 rout, fueled by Azzi Fudd who dropped 26 of her 34 points in the first half during her final game at Gampel Pavilion, as the Huskies advanced easily. Adding to the excitement, TCU narrowly defeated Washington 62-59 in overtime, powered by Olivia Miles' 18 points and 10 rebounds, securing their second trip to the Sweet. The overall tournament is enjoying massive viewership, posting its best start since 2011 since CBS and TNT began airing all games.

NCAA Coaching Carousel & Legal Moves

College basketball saw significant administrative shifts as Arizona State appointed Randy Bennett from Saint Mary's as their new head coach, while Cincinnati targeted Utah State's Jerrod Calhoun, who has led the Aggies to two straight NCAA tournaments. In related news, Charlotte officially hired Wes Miller, marking his return after his recent dismissal from Cincinnati just earlier this month. On the player front, Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking an injunction for an extra year of eligibility before the upcoming NFL draft next month. Furthermore, UConn coach Dan Hurley reportedly consulted with Tom Izzo regarding the Lakers' reported six-year, $70 million contract offer, though Izzo himself has previously declined multiple NBA opportunities including with the Hawks and Cavaliers.

Tennis Tour Updates & Player Splits

At the Miami Open, World Number One Aryna Sabalenka made quick work of Zheng Qinwen to advance to the last, continuing her bid for the 'Sunshine Double' after also sweeping past Caty McNally in an earlier round. However, Iga Swiatek experienced an early exit from the tournament and subsequently parted ways with her coach, Wim Fissette. Elsewhere on the tour, an unusual technical issue involving an overhead camera briefly interrupted Daniil Medvedev's match during play.

English Cricket Review & Leadership

Following the Ashes defeat, England head coach Brendon McCullum and Managing Director Rob Key were deemed "very lucky" to keep their jobs after a post-series review, though ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould asserted that McCullum is the appropriate leader to guide the team forward despite the 4-1 loss in Australia during the "hardest period" of his captaincy. Captain Ben Stokes acknowledged the recent months as the most challenging of his tenure but expressed confidence in the current structure to build for the future as analysts assessed the state of English men's cricket. Separately, Glamorgan seam bowler James Harris announced his immediate retirement, with the new season starting in under two weeks, with the club praising him as a "superb role model."

Global Rugby & Football Coaching

In international rugby preparations, England is scheduled to host Canada in September as part of the WXV Global Series, recreating the 2025 Women's World Cup final matchup. Meanwhile, the Welsh Rugby Union extended the negotiation deadline by 30 days for the sale of Cardiff Rugby to the Ospreys owners, Y11. On the coaching front for the All Blacks, former Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair reunites with Dave Rennie as part of the new New Zealand attack coaching setup. In domestic football, the return of the English Premiership saw Leicester City run effectively from deep positions while Finn Russell delivered a standout performance for his side, contrasting with Harlequins' continued struggles.

Off-Court Developments & League Business

The WNBA is heading into a busy period, with union President reporting that over 90% of players participated in the CBA vote, resulting in a unanimous ratification of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, setting the stage for an expansion draft, a college draft, and a significant free agency period over the next six weeks. On the betting front, a bipartisan Senate bill was introduced that specifically seeks to ban prediction markets from facilitating transactions that closely mimic traditional sports wagering. In a bizarre incident involving German handball, a trophy that had been reported stolen was recovered after being found inside the team's own basement.