General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: March 28, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NCAA Men’s Tournament: Elite Eight Set

The Men’s NCAA tournament secured half of its Elite Eight participants following Friday's intense Sweet Sixteen action, with upsets and nail-biters defining the evening. Second-seeded UConn held off third-seeded Michigan State 67-63, relying on late, pressure-packed free throws from Tarris Reed Jr. (20 and Alex Karaban (17 to survive. Elsewhere, Tennessee utilized a dominant rebounding effort and a strong second half to dispatch second-seeded Iowa State 76-62, marking the Volunteers’ third consecutive trip to the regional final. The regional matchups remain somewhat chalky, though the presence of a 9-seed Iowa team among the remaining eight squads adds intrigue to the upcoming slate.

Thursday's results also established key Elite Eight matchups, featuring strong defensive performances and last-second heroics. Arizona punched its ticket by overwhelming Arkansas 109-88, with Brayden Burries scoring 23 points in a victory that finally saw coach Tommy Lloyd overcome the Sweet 16 hurdle. Similarly, Illinois stifled Houston, holding the Cougars to a season-low 34% shooting in a 65-55 grind to advance. Purdue clinched its regional spot via a dramatic finish, as Trey Kaufman-Renn tipped in the game-winner with 0.7 seconds left for a 79-77 victory over Texas.

NCAA Women’s Tournament: Finalists Emerge

The Women's NCAA tournament bracket finalized its Elite Eight field on Friday night, showcasing dramatic finishes and historic individual achievements. Top-seeded UConn advanced for the 30th time by overwhelming North Carolina 63-42, recovering from a cold first half to secure the win. Notre Dame's progression was fueled by Hannah Hidalgo, who recorded a triple-double and set the Division I record for career steals in their victory over Vanderbilt.

In one of the round's biggest stunners, third-seeded Duke required Ashlon Jackson's 3-pointer at the buzzer to edge No. 2 seed LSU 87-85. This win followed a resilient performance by Duke where Caleb Foster, returning from a broken foot, helped the Blue Devils rally from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat St. John's 80-75. Meanwhile, UCLA veterans are preparing for a final title run after defeating Vanderbilt, with coach Kelly Inouye-Perez continuing to set records as the winningest coach at the winningest softball program.

Coaching Carousel & Program Stability

College basketball coaching movements continued over the past few days, though some major figures publicly committed to staying put. Iowa's head coach, Ben McCollum, confirmed his return to the Hawkeyes for the 2026-27 season, stating he has no incentive to leave despite other high-profile jobs potentially opening. Similarly, Alabama coach Nate Oats indicated he has "absolutely no reason to leave" Tuscaloosa and has already begun discussions regarding a contract extension. In contrast, Boston College successfully lured away a key assistant, hiring UConn's Luke Murray as their new head coach on Thursday.

The demanding nature of the sport drew criticism from veteran coaches, with UCLA's Cori Close expressing concern over the constantly escalating pace of collegiate success. She pleaded for the NCAA to implement changes, echoing sentiments about coaching burdens that have seen other figures, like Geno Auriemma, suggest that Title IX legislation is now "pretty much out the window" in practice. Elsewhere, the departure of Will Wade from NC State back to LSU was announced Thursday, a move that left the NC State Athletic Director feeling "lied to".

Rugby & Football Updates

In international and domestic rugby news, attention focused on coaching futures and player movements across the Atlantic. England coach Steve Borthwick faces uncertainty as the RFU review into the Six Nations continues, with no guarantees offered regarding his tenure until the review concludes in April. Northampton coach Sam Vesty openly questioned whether the England squad has lost its fundamental identity under Borthwick's leadership. On the player front, former Wales and Lions full-back Liam Williams announced his retirement from rugby union, while Wakefield Trinity secured a major signing, agreeing to bring NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck over for the 2027 season.

In the NFL landscape, draft preparation intensified, with analysts releasing their positional priorities for all 32 teams ahead of April's selection process. Experts are weighing the ceiling of running back Jeremiyah Love as a potential pick for the Titans at No. 4, based on new intel from team sources. Furthermore, attention is turning toward future free agency, with an early look identifying 50 stars who could potentially hit the market in March 2027.

Global Sports & Athlete Milestones

In combat sports, heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma addressed his career trajectory, acknowledging that while quick knockouts define his 13-fight professional start, his next opponent, Jermaine Franklin, represents his toughest challenge yet. However, former champion Steve Bunce cautioned that talks of Itauma facing elite names like Usyk or Wardley are premature. Meanwhile, UFC veteran Israel Adesanya confirmed he is not finished, stating that trading Octagon action for DJ decks last year was merely a pause, as he prepares for his return fight this weekend.

In European motorsports, Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen removed a journalist from his press conference at the Japanese Grand Prix, stemming from a disagreement rooted in the Abu Dhabi race last year, while Lewis Hamilton declared the current F1 configuration is "much more fun" than any prior iteration of the series. In athletics, the sport mourned the loss of Mary Rand, the first British woman to secure an Olympic gold medal in athletics, who passed away at age 86.

Softball & WNBA Business

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) presented its inaugural 'golden ticket,' awarded by league executives Kim Ng and Patrick Mahomes. This development occurs as the WNBA finalized its new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which is set to profoundly alter player compensation. Under the new CBA, superstars like A'ja Wilson are projected to receive the $1.4 million supermax, while high-profile rookies such as Caitlin Clark are slated to earn over $500,000 on their initial contracts in 2026. Furthermore, the Connecticut Sun franchise is reportedly in the process of being sold to the Fertitta family for a record $300 million, with plans to relocate the team to Houston in 2027.