General Sports 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 17, 2026, 11:30 AM ET
College Basketball: March Madness Field Set
With the conference tournament espn.com slate concluding, attention shifts entirely to the NCAA Tournament as bracketology masters finalize their predictions and oddsmakers establish clear favorites across both the men's and women's fields. In the men's draw, oddsmakers have designated Duke, Michigan, and Arizona36 as the primary contenders to win the championship, with Duke also securing the No. 1 overall seed62 alongside Arizona, Michigan, and Florida, while one-loss Miami (Ohio) earned a surprising at-large berth. ESPN's bracketologist Joe Lunardi offered his comprehensive guide3 detailing every team's prospects, while analysts are already pointing out potential upsets, noting that the Baylor Simulation Index (BPI) favors certain double-digit seeds5 to navigate the first round successfully. Furthermore, teams that secured automatic bids late—such as Arkansas winning its first SEC tournament since 2000 behind a 30-point explosion from Darius Acuff Jr. 63, or Cal Baptist clinching the final WAC title after a missed alley-oop 77—now join the main event.
In the women's espn.com bracket, the final regular-season Associated Press Top 25 poll confirmed the top four seeds, with UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina32 all earning top-line spots, setting the stage for a highly anticipated tournament where analysts debate if UCLA has already leapfrogged UConn for the overall No. 1 position. Betting markets reflect this parity, naming UConn as the odds-on favorite2, closely followed by UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina, while analysts examine the top underclass guards, comparing one to the scoring prowess of Kelsey Plum and another to the composure of Chelsea Gray. Amidst the NCAA preparations, coaching news surfaced as Butler’s Thad Matta, who amassed 502 career wins and 13 tournament appearances, announced his retirement from coaching31, and Memphis confirmed that Penny Hardaway will return next season41. Meanwhile, Alabama is preparing for the men's tournament without star Aden Holloway following his arrest on a felony drug charge.
Men's Conference Tournament Recaps & Player News
Conference tournament action provided espn.com significant movement and high-stakes finishes leading into Selection Sunday. Purdue, despite losing four of its last six regular-season games, managed to topple No. 3 Michigan61 in the Big Ten final, thanks in part to No. 3 Michigan advancing there by surviving a late, tiebreaking three-pointer from Yaxel Lendeborg against Wisconsin. Penn claimed the Ivy League championship after TJ Power delivered an Ivy Madness-record 44 points in an 88-84 victory over Yale, while No. John’s emphatically defended its Big East title, routing No. 6 UConn by 20 points, 72-52 93. In the Big, Arizona exacted revenge on Houston from last year's final, winning 79-74 to secure a nine-game winning streak entering the national tournament. Off-court stories included Oregon quarterback Dante Moore revealing his struggle with mental health pressures23, and Texas Tech confirming star Christian Anderson will be available for the tournament90 despite an apparent groin injury suffered in the Big 12 loss.
Rugby Union & League Updates
The international rugby scene bbc.com saw complex outcomes in the Six Nations, culminating in France retaining the championship via a last-gasp victory over England, leaving Ireland without the title despite a convincing Triple Crown-clinching 43-21 win over Scotland. While England’s overall campaign was deemed dismal, their near-win against France added intrigue despite the final result, leading former player Matt Dawson to argue that labeling the effort England's worst Six Nations showing is unfair. Elsewhere, Northampton second row JJ van der Mescht is reportedly under consideration for a senior Springboks call-up10 after receiving an invitation to a virtual alignment camp. In domestic rugby, Leicester Tigers secured the Prem Rugby Cup by crushing Exeter Chiefs 66-1471, scoring 10 tries in the decisive victory, and France’s U20 side clinched their first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2014 after defeating England.
International & Domestic Football/Soccer
In women’s football, Portland espn.com claimed the top spot in the inaugural NWSL Power Rankings for 2026 after the first matchday, setting the pecking order for the league's 16 clubs. Meanwhile, Chelsea is reportedly considering moving their controversial pre-match huddle away from the center circle after a referee became entangled during the action on Saturday. On the administrative front, the Welsh Rugby Union faces a critical Extraordinary General Meeting in April that will decide the fate of the WRU chairman and potential cuts to professional teams. Internationally, Scotland Women’s hockey team achieved a major milestone, qualifying for the Hockey World Cup for the first time in 24 years after defeating Italy in a tense play-off.
Motorsports, Golf, and Cycling
The world of motorsports witnessed several key events, including IndyCar’s espn.com Grand Prix of Arlington, which organizers hailed as the signature event the sport needed after successfully racing around the Cowboys' and Rangers' stadiums25, although the practice session was briefly halted by a red flag due to workers on the hot track. In Formula, Kimi Antonelli achieved his first victory for Mercedes, leading a one-two finish in the Chinese Grand Prix, while debate rages over the new regulations, with some calling the racing the "best ever" and others deeming it "a joke" 78. In golf, a moment of tragedy occurred near TPC Sawgrass when a fatal shooting delayed spectator entry108 on the third day of the Players Championship, which saw Ludvig Aberg maintain a three-shot lead into the final round. The tournament's status as a major remains questionable, despite compelling play, as some argue golf already has too many marquee events concentrated in the US.
Other Sports & Athlete Updates
In other individual sports news, six-time World Superbike bbc.com champion Jonathan Rea is set to make a competitive comeback seven months13 after initially announcing his retirement. Track and field saw Great Britain’s Niall Treacy secure a 1,000m bronze medal at the Short Track World Championships in Canada, while Mikaela Shiffrin tied an all-time record by winning her eighth World Cup slalom of the season. In combat sports, former UFC fighter Nate Diaz, aged, is scheduled to return to MMA competition30 against Mike Perry on May 16. Netball saw a major coaching departure as Jess Thirlby announced her immediate resignation as England head coach, stating the decision was "best for me and my family" 6. Finally, The Golf League (TGL) season concluded its regular schedule with only two holes-in-one recorded in history, courtesy of Neal Shipley and Tom Kim.