General Sports 3d Briefing
×Boxing & Combat Sports
Francis Ngannou espn.com is a free agent after his release by the PFL, having competed in both MMA and boxing in recent years. Jai Opetaia espn.com will make his Zuffa Boxing debut against Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas this weekend, chasing undisputed status. Alycia Baumgardner bbc.com will defend her world titles against Bo Mi Re Shin on April 17 as part of MVPW, a newly launched women's boxing league from Most Valuable Promotions.
Cricket
India bbc.com reached the T20 World Cup final after England fell short by seven runs. Jacob Bethell bbc.com brought up a "brilliant" century off 45 balls for England in the semi-final, though his innings wasn't enough to prevent India's victory. England's women's team bbc.com moved their training camp from the UAE to South Africa, with eight uncapped players set to travel.
Football (Soccer)
Lionel Messi bbc.com and members of the Inter Miami team visited the White House to celebrate last year's Major League Soccer Cup victory. England's women's team bbc.com faces disruption as Ellie Kildunne and Sadia Kabeya are stuck in Dubai after taking a short break during the Premiership Women's Rugby's reserve week.
Basketball
Breanna Stewart espn.com and Mist topped Phantom 80-74 in the championship game to become the queens of Unrivaled for 2026, despite a brilliant 40-point performance from Kelsey Plum. UCLA women's basketball stars espn.com surprised fans with a dance performance, with Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker high kicking their way onto the UCLA dance team.
Tennis
Emma Raducanu bbc.com says she wants to "bring my instincts back out" as she prepares for Indian Wells in California, expressing that her natural way of playing has been coached out of her. Novak Djokovic espn.com said he thought Wimbledon would be a great potential site for Serena Williams to officially make her return.
Winter Paralympics
The Winter Paralympics began in Milan-Cortina with Iran bbc.com confirming it will not take part as the nation's solitary athlete scheduled to compete "cannot travel safely to Italy." Great Britain's wheelchair curlers bbc.com lost their opener 10-7 to Estonia in their Winter Paralympics wheelchair curling opener. Nina Sparks bbc.com is competing as Great Britain's first female Paralympic snowboarder, having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021.
NFL & American Football
The Raiders espn.com are set to release quarterback Geno Smith, barring a trade, before the start of the new league year. Dan Graziano espn.com made calls around the NFL to get a sense of how contracts might look for 20 free agents and then made predictions on exact terms. College football coaching great Lou Holtz espn.com has died at the age of, having led Notre Dame to a national championship in 1988.
Motor Racing
Lewis Hamilton bbc.com says "I'm going to be here until that happens" as he pushes for a grand prix in Africa before retiring. Lando Norris bbc.com begins his title defence in the new F1 season, which features the biggest rule change in the sport's history with engines, chassis, tyres and fuel all subject to new regulations. Christina Sullivan bbc.com tells BBC Sport about her unlikely route into F1, going from gaming in her bedroom to working at Williams.
Rugby
Wales bbc.com aims to have the last laugh against Ireland in the Six Nations after being the subject of ridicule. Ireland captain Caelan Doris bbc.com says his side are "nowhere near" reaching their full potential as they prepare to face Wales. Nick Timoney bbc.com is handed his first Six Nations start as Ireland head coach Andy Farrell makes five changes to his XV.
Other Sports
Jack Draper bbc.com says he no longer has "any fear" around the arm injury that plagued him for eight months as he prepares to begin his Indian Wells title defence. Jade Jones bbc.com says her journey from reaching the pinnacle of taekwondo to being at the bottom of boxing has been a "humbling" one as she prepares for her boxing debut. Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan bbc.com speaks about returning to the pommel horse after 18 months out injured.