General Sports 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 3:48 PM ET
NCAA Basketball & Coaching Changes
The college basketball coaching carousel spun rapidly espn.com as Syracuse fired Adrian Autry after three seasons without an NCAA tournament appearance, while Arizona State parted ways with Bobby Hurley espn.com following an 11-season tenure that ended with a historic 91-42 Big 12 tournament blowout loss to Iowa State. Kansas State finalized its coaching search espn.com, expected to hire Belmont's Casey Alexander, a perennial 20-game winner, as the Wildcats seek stability after firing Jerome Tang. Meanwhile, Hofstra returned to the NCAA tournament espn.com for the first time in 25 years, defeating Monmouth 75-69 in the Coastal Athletic Association championship behind Aaron Estrada's 24 points.
Women's College Basketball Honors
UConn's Sarah Strong dominated postseason awards espn.com, leading the way in women's college basketball honors as Mikayla Blakes ensured the Player of the Year race wasn't a one-player contest. Aliyah Chavez and Jazzy Davidson maintained their top-two freshman rankings espn.com, with five freshmen cracking the final top-10 list but none able to unseat the established leaders. The awards season also highlighted Aaliyah Chavez's freshman of the year candidacy, though she faced stiff competition from a talented freshman class that reshaped the women's game.
Six Nations Rugby Drama
Scotland's Six Nations campaign reached a critical juncture bbc.com as they prepared for a potential Triple Crown decider against Ireland in Dublin, with captain Sione Tuipulotu describing their journey as "to hell and back" to become title contenders. Ireland made four changes bbc.com for the decisive match, ruling out lock James Ryan and bringing in uncapped France flanker Temo Matiu to start against England in Paris. Wales named an unchanged side bbc.com for their finale against Italy, with Louis Rees-Zammit expressing confidence that the team would give fans something to cheer about after three years without a Six Nations victory.
Cheltenham Festival Highlights
The Cheltenham Festival delivered dramatic finishes bbc.com, with Gaelic Warrior winning the Gold Cup bbc.com in supreme fashion while Harry Redknapp-owned Jukebox Man finished eighth bbc.com in the prestigious race. Heart Wood triumphed in the Ryanair Chase bbc.com, giving trainer Willie Mullins his third win of day two, as Il Etait Temps powered to victory bbc.com in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Tragedy struck when Envoi Allen, due to retire after the festival, collapsed on the walk back to stables bbc.com, marking the third horse death at Cheltenham. Trainer Paul Nicholls threatened to boycott future festivals bbc.com over concerns about ground conditions after Fact To File was withdrawn.
Winter Paralympics & Swimming
Haiti's Ralf Etienne made history bbc.com as his nation's first Winter Paralympian, sixteen years after losing his leg in the devastating 2010 earthquake. Great Britain's Hester Poole vowed redemption bbc.com after crashing out of her giant slalom debut, while Neil Simpson and guide Rob Poth failed to finish bbc.com their opening run in the men's visually impaired giant slalom. Cross-country skier Jake Adicoff became the first out gay man bbc.com to win an individual Paralympic gold medal, and Austrian siblings Veronika and Johannes Aigner continued their dominance bbc.com, earning comparisons to the Von Trapp family for their skiing success and entertainment value in the athletes' village.
NFL & NBA Developments
The Atlanta Falcons created quarterback controversy espn.com by bringing in Tua Tagovailoa to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job, while the NFL Players Association prepared for leadership elections espn.com to replace disgraced former leader Lloyd Howell. In the NBA, Miami responded to social media trolling espn.com after Milwaukee referenced Bam Adebayo's historic 83-point performance, with the Heat star's scoring outburst sparking debate espn.com about whether fans should celebrate or audit the achievement. The Ravens pivoted from Maxx Crosby espn.com to land four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, answering questions about their defensive strategy.
International Soccer & Tennis
Team USA showcased its depth espn.com in FIBA World Cup qualifiers, with Caitlin Clark recording a double-double (17 points, 12 in her national team debut during a 110-64 victory. Olympic champion Alysa Liu received a key to her hometown espn.com during a rally featuring Bay Area artists, celebrating her figure skating achievements. In tennis, world number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated "future champion" Victoria Mboko bbc.com at Indian Indian Wells, though Iga Swiatek exited early, while Britain's Sonay Kartal retired with injury bbc.com in the fourth round against Elena Rybakina.
Combat Sports & Golf
Khamzat Chimaev defended his UFC middleweight title bbc.com against Sean Strickland in May, while Henry Cejudo announced his return bbc.com to face former opponent in a highly anticipated matchup. Former UFC star Ronda Rousey revealed plans to return bbc.com to MMA after a decade away, targeting a May 16 bout against Gina Carano to "rewrite her ending." In golf, Graeme McDowell made history bbc.com by becoming the first player to hit consecutive hole-in-ones on the LIV Golf tour, while Scottie Scheffler entered The Players Championship espn.com as an overwhelming betting favorite to capture his third career title at TPC Sawgrass.
College Football Scheduling
Conference USA and the Sun Belt both scheduled Louisiana Tech espn.com for 2026, creating a scheduling conflict as the Bulldogs navigate their league transition. The Big 12 announced plans to revert espn.com to traditional hardwood courts after its innovative LED glass court led to slipping incidents, including Texas Tech's Christian Anderson straining a muscle during Iowa State's 75-53 win. These scheduling and equipment changes reflect broader trends in college athletics as conferences adapt to competitive and safety considerations.
Miscellaneous Sports News
Saint Louis rewarded coach Josh Schertz espn.com with a contract extension after he led the Billikens to an Atlantic 10 regular-season title, while Tennessee expected to reinstate star freshman Nate Ament espn.com for the SEC quarterfinals against Auburn following a leg injury absence. Utah Valley settled its WAC dispute espn.com over a $1 million exit fee that threatened to exclude the Wolverines from league tournaments. In cricket, the historic Hundred auction streamed live across the UK bbc.com, with 89 players selected in the emotionally charged event, though concerns about Pakistan players being overlooked proved unfounded bbc.com as coaches denied receiving directives to avoid signing them.