General Sports 3 Days

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

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Advances

The Women's NCAA Tournament is heating up as the Elite Eight bracket takes shape following intense Sweet Sixteen action. No. 2 Michigan rolled past Louisville 71-52 on Saturday, powered by Olivia Olson’s 19-point performance, propelling them into the regional final. Meanwhile, No. 1 UConn secured its 30th Elite Eight appearance by overwhelmingly defeating No. 4 North Carolina 63-42 after shaking off a cold first half, setting up a high-stakes clash with rival Notre Dame. Coach Geno Auriemma expressed concerns regarding Title IX legislation, suggesting its practical application is now "pretty much out the window," even as his team advances. Furthermore, Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo delivered a historic triple-double against Vanderbilt, setting the Division I record for most steals in a single tournament game while ensuring the Irish are prepared, as Coach Niele Ivey stated they will not be "starstruck" by UConn as they were earlier in the season.

Other key matchups saw Tennessee secure their third consecutive trip to the Elite Eight by using a dominant rebounding effort and a strong second half to dispatch Iowa State 76-62. On the other side of the bracket, Duke edged out LSU 87-85 thanks to Ashlon Jackson’s buzzer-beating three-pointer, while the Blue Devils’ success was further bolstered by Caleb Foster’s "incredible" return from a broken foot, where he helped rally Duke from a 10-point deficit to defeat St. John's 80-75. The challenges of coaching success were echoed by UCLA’s Cori Close, who pleaded for NCAA changes to combat the exhausting pace required of coaches, even as her program continues to achieve high marks. Elsewhere, Iowa’s deep tournament run, guided by coaches Ben McCollum and Bennett Stirtz stepping up from Division II, was supported by McCollum’s commitment to return to the Hawkeyes for the 2026-27 season despite potential external interest.

NCAA Men's Tournament & Coaching Carousel

The Men's NCAA Tournament produced several dramatic finishes, including Purdue’s advancement after Trey Kaufman-Renn tipped in a game-winning bucket with 0.7 seconds left to beat Texas 79-77 in the Sweet. Illinois also moved forward, relying on a defense that held Houston to a season-low 34% shooting in their 65-55 victory, prompting city officials in Champaign to curb alcohol sales ahead of their Elite Eight contest. Arizona also broke through the Sweet 16 barrier under coach Tommy Lloyd, handing Arkansas an emphatic 109-88 defeat, though Lloyd later dismissed rumors linking him to the open North Carolina job, stating his focus remains solely on the Wildcats. Following Michigan State’s elimination, coach Tom Izzo scoffed at retirement speculation, questioning what he would do otherwise, while Alabama coach Nate Oats confirmed he has "absolutely no reason to leave" his post amid interest from North Carolina.

Rugby Union & League Updates

In English Premiership Rugby, league leaders Northampton Saints edged Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, treating the match like a "finals vibe" according to prop Manny Iyogun, with Archie McParland scoring a dramatic late try to secure the victory. Meanwhile, the Harlequins ended a six-game losing streak by defeating Bristol 18-14, which simultaneously hampered Bristol's top-four aspirations in the Premiership. International attention turned to the coaching stability of the England men’s side, as Northampton head coach Sam Vesty questioned the team's identity under Steve Borthwick, for whom there are no guarantees regarding his future until a review concludes in April. In the United Rugby Championship, the Bulls narrowly defeated Munster 34-31 in Pretoria, while the Lions overpowered the Dragons in Johannesburg, earning a four-try bonus point despite the Welsh side’s defeat.

Super League saw a major upset when bottom side Huddersfield Giants shocked leaders Wigan Warriors 34-16, ending Wigan’s perfect start to the season. As the league marked its 30th anniversary, reigning champions Hull KR celebrated in style by hammering St Helens, and the league’s evolution was discussed by former player Iestyn Harris. Off-field history was made as referee Tara Jones, recently awarded an MBE, became the first woman scheduled to referee a men’s Super League game.

Global Athletics & Figure Skating

British track star Josh Kerr has set his sights on the world mile record, stating that bringing the record home to London in July at the Diamond League meet is a "career goal." This comes as the season-opening Diamond League meet in Doha is slated to proceed despite ongoing regional conflict, though organizers are exploring alternatives. In figure skating, Ilia Malinin rebounded strongly from his Olympic disappointment by winning his third world title, landing multiple huge jumps and even including a backflip in his performance. Separately, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto concluded her career with a world gold medal, saying she could "say goodbye with this performance." A somber note struck the athletics world with the news that Mary Rand, Britain's first female Olympic track gold medalist, passed away at.

Cricket & Cycling Updates

The Indian Premier League saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru begin their title defense with a convincing victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, anchored by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 69-run knock. In American cricket news, Indian legend Ravichandran Ashwin is set to join the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming Major League Cricket season, becoming the first former Indian national team player to join the U.S. league. In cycling, Briton Tom Pidcock was forced to withdraw from the Volta a Catalunya after suffering a "horror" fall down a ravine during the fifth stage, though his compatriot Ethan Vernon managed to win a shortened stage four sprint finish.

NBA & WNBA Developments

The NBA saw the Timberwolves stage a record-setting comeback, erasing a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit with a game-closing 15-0 run to defeat the Rockets 110-108. In historical NBA news, the James father-son duo achieved a unique milestone when the elder LeBron found his son for a made three-pointer, marking the first time a father and son recorded assists to each other in NBA history. Meanwhile, the WNBA franchise in Connecticut is reportedly being sold to the Fertitta family for a record $300 million, with plans to relocate the Sun franchise to Houston in 2027, following the ratification of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that brought about several key player gains.