General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: March 28, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Shakes Out Elite Eight Field

The Women's NCAA Tournament solidified the remainder of its Elite Eight bracket on Friday, featuring several high-stakes matchups that saw top seeds advance and others fall. Tennessee secured its third consecutive Elite Eight appearance by overpowering second-seeded Iowa State 76-62, dominating the glass in the second half. In a dramatic finish, Duke narrowly defeated LSU 87-85 thanks to an Ashlon Jackson buzzer-beating three-pointer in the Sweet 16. Meanwhile, No. 1 UConn recovered from a cold first half to overwhelm North Carolina 63-42, punching their ticket to the Elite Eight for the 30th time, while Notre Dame advanced after Hannah Hidalgo posted a triple-double and set a Division I record for steals against Vanderbilt.

The weekend's action also saw coaching shakeups and program assessments following the elimination of several teams. Following their Sweet 16 loss, the priorities for the Tigers, Gophers, Tar Heels, and Commodores are now focused on the transfer portal. In unrelated coaching news, UCLA's Cori Close expressed concern over the unsustainable pace of collegiate success, pleading for the NCAA to institute changes, while UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma stated that Title IX legislation is "pretty much out the window" in practice.

NCAA Men's Tournament Reaches Regional Finals

The Men’s NCAA Tournament saw massive upsets and close calls as the field narrowed to the regional finals, leading ESPN analysts to re-rank the remaining eight teams. On Thursday, Illinois used a stifling defense to hold Houston to just 34% shooting in a 65-55 victory, securing their Elite Eight spot, while Arizona rolled past Arkansas 109-88, with Brayden Burries leading the charge with 23 points. Purdue edged Texas 79-77 after Trey Kaufman-Renn tipped in the deciding bucket with only.7 seconds remaining, and Michigan advanced behind Yaxel Lendeborg's all-around 23 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists against Alabama.

Coaches involved in the bracket drama addressed speculation and team performance heading into the weekend. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd brushed off rumors linking him to the North Carolina vacancy, insisting his focus remains with his team, while Iowa State coach Ben McCollum confirmed he will return to the Hawkeyes for the 2026-27 season despite their deep tournament run. In a related development, Champaign officials instituted an emergency order limiting alcohol sales on Saturday in anticipation of potential unrest if the Illini advance.

Men's College Hoops Coaching Carousel and Commentary

Coaching changes continue to ripple through the college basketball sphere, with major hires and commentary dominating the news cycle. Boston College announced the hiring of UConn assistant Luke Murray as their new head coach on Thursday, while Butler named former Bulldogs player Ronald Nored to succeed Thad Matta. Meanwhile, Alabama coach Nate Oats stated he has "absolutely no reason to leave" his post, despite being connected to other openings, confirming initial extension talks with the school. Commentators weighed in on the structure of the tournament, with one analyst suggesting that establishing an NCAA eligibility floor could help bring back the "Cinderella" teams.

Formula 1 Drama and Cycling Accidents

The atmosphere surrounding Formula 1 remains tense following the Japanese Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen confronted and ejected a journalist from his media session over a lingering dispute dating back to last year’s Abu Dhabi race. Verstappen and F1 rule-makers have much to consider this season amid a wave of complaints from the reigning champion regarding regulations, though teammate Lewis Hamilton noted that the new F1 configuration is "much more fun" than previous iterations of the sport. In cycling, Briton Tom Pidcock was forced to withdraw from the Volta a Catalunya after suffering a "horror" fall down a ravine during stage five, though his teammate Ethan Vernon managed to [claim victory on a shortened] stage four finish.

Rugby Union & League Updates

Professional rugby saw significant results across both codes, coupled with administrative shifts in the Welsh game. In the United Rugby Championship, the Bulls narrowly edged Munster 34-31 in a thriller in Pretoria, while Cardiff suffered a 21-15 defeat against the Sharks, which resulted in an injury to Welsh international Taulupe Faletau. Premiership clubs agreed to impose a 'salary floor' requiring a minimum £5.4 million spend on player wages starting next season in an effort to maintain competitiveness. Administratively, the under-fire Welsh Rugby Union chair, Martyn Phillips, announced he will not seek a second term when his tenure concludes in July, and Wales coach Warren Gatland's future remains uncertain pending a review of the Six Nations campaign.

Global Athletics Mourns Trailblazer & Track News

The athletics world paused to remember a trailblazing figure while observing current competitive results. Mary Rand, the first British woman to win an Olympic track and field gold medal, passed away at the age of, remembered by some as "Marilyn Monroe on spikes". In current competition, Great Britain's Georgia Hunter Bell faced defeat in the 1500m in Melbourne in her first race since securing the world indoor championship title. Separately, four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson confirmed he will refund an alleged "secret" payment of $500,000 he made to himself before his Grand Slam Track league dissolved.

European Rugby and Premiership Action

The English Premiership featured high-profile returns and strong performances as clubs look toward the season split. Maro Itoje, Tommy Freeman, and Louis Rees-Zammit were among the internationals rejoining their Premiership clubs for the weekend's fixtures, while Northampton Saints prop Manny Iyogun stated the team would treat their match against Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a "finals vibe". In the Women's Premiership, reigning champions Hull KR overcame St Helens decisively to celebrate the Super League's 30th anniversary, and Exeter Chiefs powered past Newcastle with six tries to climb into third place in The Prem standings.

Cricket and Combat Sports Developments

International cricket saw Indian legend Ravichandran Ashwin commit to the U.S. Major League Cricket, signing with the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming season as the first former Indian national team player to join the league. In combat sports, heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma, who holds a 13-fight professional record, acknowledged that facing Jermaine Franklin represents his toughest challenge yet, according to promoter Steve Bunce. Elsewhere, UFC star Israel Adesanya confirmed he remains motivated to continue his fighting career, starting with his upcoming bout this weekend against Joe Pyfer.

Figure Skating & WNBA Business

Figure skating world championships concluded with a final triumph for Japan's Kaori Sakamoto, who claimed her fourth world gold, stating she could "say goodbye with this performance" in her final competition. In the U.S. sports business sector, sources confirmed the Connecticut Sun franchise is being sold to the Fertitta family for a record $300 million, with plans to relocate the WNBA team to Houston for the 2027 season, while the WNBA's new CBA secured significant gains for players across the league.

Football and Horse Racing Notes

In soccer news, England coach Steve Borthwick's future remains uncertain pending the RFU's review of the team's Six Nations performance, with no guarantees offered by CEO Bill Sweeney, while Northampton coach Sam Vesty questioned whether the team has lost its identity under Borthwick's leadership. In horse racing, Constitution Hill achieved a second Flat victory after switching from National Hunt racing. Meanwhile, Indianapolis Colts General Manager Mike Tannenbaum released his must-draft board for the 2026 NFL Draft, prioritizing prospects like Dillon Thieneman on Day 1.