General Sports 3 Days

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

NCAA Tournament Showcases Elite Eight Upsets & Coaching Drama

The men's NCAA tournament bracket solidified its regional final matchups across the weekend, seeing Illinois secure their first Final Four appearance in 21 years following Keaton Wagler's 25-point performance in a 71-59 victory over Iowa. That win prompted Champaign officials to implement emergency curbs on alcohol sales anticipating potential campus celebrations, while Iowa coach Ben McCollum confirmed his commitment to remain with the Hawkeyes despite coaching speculation. In the women's bracket, No. 1 seeds dominated, with South Carolina maintaining they are yet to hit their ceiling despite looking dominant through three wins, while No. 2 seed Michigan advanced after Olivia Olson's 19-point outing against Louisville propelled them into the Elite Eight.

The women’s regional finals are set with high-profile clashes, including Notre Dame preparing to face UConn, with ND coach Niele Ivey asserting her team is not the same squad blown out earlier this season, and Hannah Hidalgo leading Notre Dame past Vanderbilt by posting a triple-double and setting a new DI record for steals in the process. Meanwhile, UConn coach Geno Auriemma expressed frustration with current administrative structures, stating that Title IX legislation is now practically "out the window", while also questioning the NCAA's input process for tournament preparation. On the men's side, Arizona overcame the Sweet 16 hurdle as Tommy Lloyd's squad rolled past Arkansas 109-88, and Purdue edged Texas 79-77 on a last-second tip-in by Trey Kaufman-Renn.

Coaching futures and administrative scrutiny dominated other college basketball headlines, as Michigan State coach Tom Izzo scoffed at retirement rumors following the Spartans' Sweet 16 exit, questioning what else he would do, while UCLA's Cori Close lamented the exhausting pace of collegiate success and pleaded for NCAA change. On the sidelines, Boston College officially hired UConn assistant Luke Murray as its new head coach, and Alabama's Nate Oats emphatically stated he has absolutely no reason to leave his post despite being linked to other openings. In a bizarre incident, Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg took responsibility for a late-game personnel blunder that left his team with only four players on the court during a critical late-possession moment against Iowa.

Combat Sports & Figure Skating Wrap

UFC heavyweight Tyrell Fortune experienced a dramatic weekend after cage announcer Bruce Buffer mistakenly declared Marcin Tybura the victor; Fortune needed to return to the Octagon to correct the scorecard, an event that followed Fortune recalling a life-threatening weight cut during his Bellator career. Elsewhere in combat sports, Israel Adesanya confirmed he is far from finished, stating he is motivated to continue his UFC career this weekend against Joe Pyfer following a period away from the sport. In figure skating, Ilia Malinin successfully rebounded from a disappointing Olympics by winning the World Championships in Prague, confirming his status as the world's premier men's skater, while Japan's Kaori Sakamoto concluded her career by securing her fourth world gold medal.

International Rugby & Football Updates

The United Rugby Championship saw several tight contests, with the Lions overpowering the Dragons in Johannesburg, though the Welsh side secured a deserved four-try bonus point, while Edinburgh's play-off aspirations were nearly extinguished after a 33-14 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town. In contrast, Ulster returned to winning ways with a 28-12 victory over Zebre, and Munster suffered a narrow 34-31 defeat against the Bulls in Pretoria. Meanwhile, English Premiership leaders Northampton Saints achieved a dramatic comeback victory over Saracens, clinched by an Archie McParland late try at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a venue Saints treated with a finals-like intensity.

The governance and identity of English rugby faced questioning, as Northampton coach Sam Vesty lodged doubts about England's identity under Steve Borthwick, whose future remains uncertain pending an RFU review due in April. In other rugby news, the WRU chair announced he will step down in July following intense scrutiny, and Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm addressed the "hard read" regarding player struggles during last year's World Cup. In the NRL, Wakefield Trinity announced the significant signing of Kiwi star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who will join the club for the 2027 season from the New Zealand Warriors.

Global Sports & League News

The world of figure skating also saw mixed results for Great Britain, as Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson finished fourth in the ice dance at Worlds following a two-point penalty, although Kirsty Muir achieved historic success by capturing both the slopestyle and overall World Cup titles. In cycling, Tom Pidcock was forced to withdraw from the Volta a Catalunya after suffering a “horror” fall down a ravine, though countryman Ethan Vernon managed to win a shortened stage four sprint finish. Elsewhere, Floyd Mayweather tempered expectations for his upcoming bout with Manny Pacquiao, clarifying that the contest would be an exhibition rather than a full professional rematch, while top Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin is set to join Major League Cricket, signing with the San Francisco Unicorns.

In the WNBA, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement finalized several key changes, representing the biggest strides in the league's landscape, while the Connecticut Sun franchise was reportedly sold to the Fertitta family for a record $300 million with plans to relocate to Houston in 2027. In IPL action, Virat Kohli's unbeaten 69 propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to an impressive opening win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. For track and field, Josh Kerr stated his ambition to secure the world mile record, targeting the July London Diamond League meet, even as the season-opening Doha meet proceeds while organizers explore alternative options amid ongoing conflict.

Motorsports, Cycling & Other Disciplines

Formula 1 star Max Verstappen ejected a journalist from his post-qualifying news conference in Japan following an ongoing dispute dating back to last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton expressed that the new F1 regulation era is "much more fun". Roger Penske's racing empire, long dominant in Indy Car, has now cemented a dynasty in NASCAR, building what is described as the most decorated team in recent NASCAR history. In professional cycling, British teenager Carys Lloyd achieved her first professional victory at the Tour of Brugge after besting former world champion Elisa Balsamo in a sprint finish. Finally, the World Series of Poker confirmed its return to ESPN coverage this July, beginning with the main event coverage on July 2 from Las Vegas.