General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 28, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

NCAA Tournament Milestones & Upsets

The men's NCAA Tournament Elite Eight picture became clearer as UConn held off Michigan State 67-63 thanks to late free throws from Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban, while the top-seeded Huskies rebounded from a cold first half to dominate North Carolina 63-42, securing their 30th Elite Eight appearance. In the women's bracket, Duke survived a tight contest where Caleb Foster returned from injury to will Duke past St. John's 80-75, setting up a regional final where Ashlon Jackson's buzzer-beating three-pointer lifted LSU past Duke 87-85 in a dramatic Sweet 16 finish. Meanwhile, Tennessee earned its third straight Elite 8 trip by defeating Iowa State 76-62, capitalizing on rebounding dominance, and Notre Dame advanced after Hannah Hidalgo posted a triple-double and set the Division I record for career steals.

Coaching stability appeared strong among tournament participants, as Iowa's Ben McCollum, whose team advanced past a tough draw, confirmed he will return to the Hawkeyes for the 2026-27 season, despite the potential for high-profile openings elsewhere. In contrast, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo dismissed any talk of retirement immediately following the Spartans' Sweet 16 exit, questioning what alternatives he would pursue. The regional finals feature some chalk, but also the unexpected run of 9-seed Iowa, whose coaches Ben McCollum and Bennett Stirtz guided the program from Division II to the Elite Eight in just four years of NCAA tournament wins. Anticipating potential celebrations should the Fighting Illini advance past the Elite Eight on Saturday, Champaign officials limited alcohol sales on campus to curb potential property damage.

Basketball Off-Court Moves & History

In a landmark transaction, the WNBA's Connecticut Sun franchise is being sold for a reported record $300 million to the Fertitta family, with plans to relocate the team to Houston for the 2027 season. Making history on the court, the James father-son duo achieved a unique statistical feat when LeBron James assisted his son for a three-pointer, marking the first time a father and son recorded assists to each other in NBA history. In other sports news, Yaxel Lendeborg delivered an all-around performance of 23 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists to power Michigan past Alabama 90-77 and into the Elite Eight. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss cleared a significant legal barrier allowing him to compete in the 2026 season.

Global Football & Rugby Results

The rugby leagues saw mixed fortunes for UK sides, as Harlequins snapped a six-game Premiership losing streak by edging Bristol 18-14, though Harlequins' women's side saw their PWR top-four ambitions dashed by a separate, narrow loss to Bristol Bears who are contending for a playoff spot. In the United Rugby Championship, the Lions overwhelmed the Dragons in Johannesburg, though the Welsh contingent managed to secure a valuable four-try bonus point, while the Bulls narrowly defeated Munster 34-31 in a high-scoring affair in Pretoria that ended 34-31. In Northern Ireland, Larne extended their lead atop the Irish Premiership to six points after securing a 2-0 victory over Cliftonville while rivals Glentoran drew 1-1 with Linfield.

Super League & Premiership Shakeups

The Super League saw a major upset as bottom side Huddersfield Giants shocked the league leaders with a decisive 34-16 defeat, handing Wigan Warriors their first loss of the season. Reigning champions Hull KR celebrated the Super League's 30th birthday weekend by hammering St Helens to demonstrate their continuing strength. Meanwhile, female officials are making inroads, as Tara Jones, who was recently awarded an MBE, prepares to become the first woman to referee a men's Super League match this Saturday. In Premier League rugby, Leicester secured their fourth consecutive win by overcoming Gloucester after an early four-try burst, and Exeter Chiefs utilized strong finishing to run in six tries and sweep aside Newcastle to claim third place.

Individual Athletics & Combat Sports

Figure skater Ilia Malinin, recovering from a disappointing performance at the Olympics, reclaimed his third world title by delivering a massive technical program that included a backflip. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto also finished her career on a high note, capturing a fourth world gold medal in her final competition. In track and field, Great Britain's Kirsty Muir achieved a historic double, winning both the slopestyle and overall World Cup titles after finishing second in the season finale in Switzerland, while fellow Briton Georgia Hunter Bell was beaten in the 1500m in Melbourne in her first race since winning the world indoor championship. Tragically, British athletics mourned the passing of Mary Rand, the trailblazing Olympic champion who died at the age of 86, remembered as the first British woman to claim Olympic gold in athletics. In boxing, Moses Itauma stated that quick knockouts are insufficient for his development, noting that his upcoming bout against Jermaine Franklin represents his toughest professional test to date.

Cricket & Cycling News

Indian cricket legend Ravichandran Ashwin is slated to join Major League Cricket, signing with the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming season, making him the first former Indian national team player to join the U.S. league. In cycling, Tom Pidcock was forced to withdraw from the Volta a Catalunya after suffering a "horror" fall down a ravine during the fifth stage, forcing him out of the race. Elsewhere, Formula 1 star Max Verstappen and league regulators face decisions following qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, indicating that there are plenty of technical and regulatory issues to address. Finally, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League issued its inaugural 'golden ticket,' which was presented to NiJaree Canady by Kim Ng and Patrick Mahomes.