General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: March 26, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

NCAA Men's Basketball Coaching Carousel & Personnel Moves

The college basketball coaching ranks saw significant movement, highlighted by Will Wade’s abrupt departure from NC State to return to LSU, a move that left the NC State Athletic Director feeling "lied to" following Wade's statement on X. Simultaneously, the search for a new North Carolina coach intensified after Hubert Davis's tenure ended after five seasons, with potential candidates like Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Alabama’s Nate Oats drawing speculation; however, Oats emphatically stated he has "absolutely no reason to leave" Alabama and has already begun discussions for a contract extension. In other coaching changes, Cincinnati is expected to officially hire Jerrod Calhoun from Utah State, who led the Aggies to consecutive NCAA tournaments, while Arizona State moved to hire Saint Mary's Randy Bennett as their new head coach on Monday. Furthermore, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who is also tasked with resetting expectations for the Hoosiers in 2026, publicly criticized transfer wide receiver Nick Marsh for wearing gold cleats during the first day of spring practice.

NCAA Women's Tournament Action & Player Milestones

The Women’s NCAA Tournament continued to deliver upsets and impressive individual performances as the Sweet 16 matchups were set; Virginia became the first First Four team ever to reach the Sweet 16, upsetting host Iowa in double overtime, 83-75. UCLA star Lauren Betts erupted for a career-high 35 points in a second-round blowout win over Oklahoma State, propelling the Bruins into the regional semifinals where veterans seek to avenge last year's Final Four disappointment. On the national stage, Fever star Caitlin Clark documented the Lakers-Pacers game by serving as a credentialed photographer on Wednesday night, while the new WNBA collective bargaining agreement is set to impact salaries, potentially granting A'ja Wilson a $1.4 million supermax deal and paying Clark over $500,000 on her rookie contract. Meanwhile, Syracuse coach Felisha Legette-Jack blasted the NCAA women's basketball committee after her 9-seed team was again placed in the difficult UConn subregional, which resulted in a 98-45 second-round defeat.

College Basketball Standings and Future Outlooks

Ahead of the men’s regional semifinals, ESPN reporters split their predictions for several Sweet 16 games, while UConn coach Dan Hurley made an unusual plea for rival St. John's fans to unite with UConn supporters for the game. Looking beyond the current tournament, the impact of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) is being analyzed, with some suggesting it has upended the traditional structure for blue blood programs, while others are focused on setting eligibility floors to encourage Cinderella runs. In Texas, point guard Rori Harmon concluded her fifth season under coach Vic Schaefer, a partnership that created "the epitome of Texas basketball", and as teams process early exits, attention turns to the transfer portal and 2026 planning for programs like Florida, Kansas, and Kentucky. Also, Arkansas gymnastics sisters Morgan and Frankie Price are hoping their final season culminates in an NCAA championship berth after following an unexpected path to Fayetteville.

Global Football (Soccer) & Rugby Union Updates

In European rugby, Welsh captain Jac Morgan expressed encouragement regarding his team’s Six Nations performance after securing a much-desired win over Italy. Wales is preparing for the Women's Six Nations under new head coach Sean Lynn, who has named nine uncapped players in his revamped squad, and has also brought in former international Ashley Beck as the attack coach. Separately, the English Premiership clubs have agreed to implement a 'salary floor' starting next season in an effort to maintain competitive balance. Meanwhile, Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm addressed the "hard read" of struggles some players faced during last year's Women's Rugby World Cup, acknowledging the treatment of players "wasn't good enough", and former Wales and Lions full-back Liam Williams has announced his retirement from the sport.

Formula, Figure Skating, and Cycling Competitions

The Formula 1 paddock saw high tension as four-time world champion Max Verstappen ejected a journalist from his press conference in Japan over a lingering dispute dating back to Abu Dhabi last year, while teammate Lewis Hamilton asserted that the current F1 season is "much more fun" than previous iterations. Other F1 news saw Fernando Alonso missing Thursday's media obligations following the birth of his first child, and questions emerging about whether Aston Martin’s strategy regarding Adrian Newey has faltered. In figure skating, Ilia Malinin rebounded strongly from the Olympics to take the lead after the short program at the world championships. On the cycling front, British teenager Carys Lloyd secured her first professional victory in a sprint finish at the Tour of Brugge, holding off former world champion Elisa Balsamo, while in the Volta a Catalunya, Ethan Vernon won a shortened stage four, with fellow Brit Tom Pidcock finishing third.

Combat Sports & Boxing Developments

Veteran UFC middleweight Israel Adesanya confirmed he is far from finished, insisting he remains motivated to continue his career as he prepares for his upcoming bout against Joe Pyfer. In boxing, Steve Bunce cautioned against rushing Moses Itauma into top-tier heavyweight matchups, stating that a fight against Oleksandr Usyk or Frazer Clarke is "a ridiculous conversation" for the young prospect right now, though Itauma's fight against Jermaine Franklin will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live. Separately, Dalton Smith is scheduled to defend his WBC light-welterweight title at home in Sheffield against former champion Alberto Puello, and Jai Opetaia was stripped of his IBF title after electing to proceed with a bout against Brandon Glanton without sanctioning. Furthermore, Michael Chiesa indicated that his upcoming UFC fight will serve as a full-circle retirement moment, honoring his late grandfather.

Golf, Tennis, and Other Sports Briefings

In professional golf, bettors looking toward the Houston Open are advised to examine traits that favor certain players, with Brooks Koepka standing out, alongside consideration for Douglas Ferguson's recent performance. Meanwhile, LIV Golf faces a federal lawsuit from a Long Island distillery alleging that the golf league’s branding for apparel and beverages infringes upon its registered trademark. In tennis, Coco Gauff advanced to her first Miami Open semi-final, becoming the youngest American woman to do so at the event since Serena Williams in 2004, while World Number One Aryna Sabalenka dispatched Zheng Qinwen in straight sets at the same tournament. In non-traditional sports, the World Series of Poker is returning to ESPN coverage for the main event from Las Vegas starting July 2, marking its first broadcast appearance on the network since 2021. Finally, a professional cornhole player who is a quadruple amputee waived his right to an extradition hearing as authorities seek to move him from Virginia to Maryland on serious charges.

US Pro Leagues & Player Contract/Draft News

The NBA's Western Conference playoff race remains tight, with the Timberwolves staging a record 15-0 run to close out a 13-point comeback victory over the Rockets, 110-108, on Wednesday night, while the Knicks and Hornets clash in a key matchup that affects current playoff positioning. The NFL draft focus is shifting toward positional needs, with reporters identifying the top three requirements for all 32 teams and suggesting non-Round 1 fits, alongside an early look at 49 stars who might become available in the 2027 free agency market; one intriguing prospect is Japanese-born kicker Kansei Matsuzawa, who learned his craft via YouTube and is nearing his NFL dream. In the NHL, the Pacific Division playoff race remains highly competitive, described as a "pillow fight," with all eight clubs active on Thursday vying for positioning, while the Capitals look to defenseman Cole Hutson to anchor their next era of hockey.