General Sports 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 14, 2026, 6:59 AM ET
SPORTS BRIEFING:WEEKEND & WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
CYCLING & RACING
The Paris-Nice cycling race faced a significant disruption on Saturday as organizers abandoned plans for a summit finish in Auron due to heavy snow, making the penultimate stage "unfeasible" (BBC . This weather-related setback follows a week of challenging conditions, underscoring the vulnerability of high-altitude stages to winter weather. In motorsports, Lewis Hamilton confirmed Ferrari's power unit deficit espn.com, stating the team is "losing a lot of time" to Mercedes, primarily due to inferior power unit performance, as he qualified fourth for the sprint race in China. Meanwhile, the Cheltenham Festival continued its drama, with Envoi Allen and Saint Le Fort dying on the final day bbc.com, adding to the festival's tragic toll this year.
NBA & COLLEGE BASKETBALL
The Los Angeles Clippers secured a win with Kawhi Leonard scoring at least 20 points for the 44th consecutive game bbc.com, tying a 51-year-old franchise record. Leonard's streak, spanning 44 games, places him among the most consistent scorers in NBA history. Concurrently, UCLA overcame No. 8 Michigan State 88-84, advancing to the Big Ten tournament semifinals despite star forward Tyler Bilodeau sustaining a right leg injury espn.com that will likely sideline him for at least one game. The Bruins' resilience highlighted their tournament viability despite Bilodeau's absence.
RUGBY UNION & FOOTBALL
In the Six Nations, England head coach Steve Borthwick faces immense pressure ahead of the France clash, needing a performance that provides "compelling proof" of his team's direction (BBC . Scotland delivered a superb second-half performance bbc.com to earn a bonus-point victory at Edinburgh, denting the hosts' top-eight hopes bbc.com and damaging their play-off prospects. Connacht stayed in the play-off hunt bbc.com with a five-try win over Scarlets, moving within striking distance of the United Rugby Championship standings. Ulster extended their resurgence bbc.com with a bonus-point win in Edinburgh, credited to "belief and clarity" in their gameplay.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL & OTHER SPORTS
The 2026 NFL draft order is finalized, starting with the Raiders at No. 1 and ending with the Broncos at No. 257 (ESPN . In college football, Miami (Ohio) suffered its first defeat espn.com with a shocking 87-83 loss to UMass in the MAC tournament quarterfinals. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops confirmed his departure bbc.com after a 2025-26 campaign that "fell well short" of expectations, though he remains under contract through 2026. The Big 12 transitioned back to hardwood espn.com for its conference tournament after innovative LED glass courts led to slipping issues.
GOLF & TENNIS
The PGA Tour faces significant changes, with CEO Brian Rolapp outlining a bold future that includes relegation, a revamped schedule, and match play in the playoffs espn.com. At The Players Championship, Scottie Scheffler remains the overwhelming favorite to win his third career title, though the field is expected to be significantly different espn.com from previous years. In tennis, Aryna Sabalenka beat Victoria Mboko bbc.com at Indian Wells, but Iga Swiatek was out of the tournament bbc.com, setting up a potential Rybakina-Sabalenka final. The U.S. women's national team debuted Caitlin Clark espn.com with a 110-64 win, highlighting her immediate impact.
BOXING & HORSE RACING
The UFC middleweight title fight was set for May bbc.com, with Sean Strickland challenging Khamzat Chimaev. In horse racing, Il Etait Temps won the Queen Mother Champion Chase bbc.com at Cheltenham, securing trainer Willie Mullins his third win of the day. The Cheltenham Festival saw two more horses die bbc.com, adding to the event's somber atmosphere.
OTHER NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS
Davy Zyw, the first athlete with MND to compete at a Winter Paralympics, cherished the joy from his Milan-Cortina experience bbc.com, calling it a "fortifying" memory. In boxing, Andreas Hale addressed the most intriguing storylines, including potential fights like Haney vs. Garcia 2 and Mayweather vs. Tyson. The Oscars presented betting challenges espn.com, with markets reflecting the unpredictability of the ceremony.