Last updated: March 21, 2026, 12:30 PM ET
NCAA Men's Tournament Action & Previews
The men’s field has been pared down to 32 teams following a dramatic first round, prompting analysts to rerank the remaining contenders as the bracket takes shape. No. 2 seed UConn barely survived an upset bid, propelled by Tarris Reed Jr.’s historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance in an 82-71 victory over Furman. Elsewhere, the matchup between Michigan and Saint Louis carries extra weight given the familiarity between coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz, who share scouting notes and ideas despite facing off with a Sweet 16 spot at stake. Meanwhile, Purdue’s Braden Smith cemented his place in history by breaking Bobby Hurley’s NCAA assists record, reaching 1,077 career assists during his opening-round contest.
The first round provided numerous standout moments, including Kentucky’s Otega Oweh forcing overtime with a buzzer-beater en route to an 89-84 win against Santa Clara, and UCLA’s Skyy Clark playing through a lost tooth to help the Bruins advance 75-71. While the tournament continues, the NCAA has formally filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against DraftKings concerning the use of terms like "March Madness" by the sports betting operator. analysts are assessing the updated odds, noting that Arizona and Michigan have gained ground after Duke stumbled early in their respective contests.
NCAA Women's Tournament Dominance & Player Focus
Day 1 of the Women's NCAA tournament saw the higher seeds maintain control, with 16 games resulting in 16 wins for chalk, setting the stage for Saturday’s second-round matchups which ESPN is closely tracking with live updates. Top seed Florida opened its title defense with a massive 114-55 rout of Prairie View A&M, marking the second-largest victory margin in tournament history. UConn remains the overwhelming favorite to win the championship, though No. 2 seed UConn escaped a scare Saturday backed by Reed’s Herculean effort. However, not all high seeds advanced, as seventh-seeded NC State handed Tennessee their eighth consecutive season-ending loss.
Team storylines developed quickly, with UCLA coach Cori Close praising Lauren Betts for her courage after the center openly discussed her mental health journey following a first-round victory. In player news, TCU’s Olivia Miles recorded her 12th career triple-double as the third seed cruised past UC San Diego 86-40, while Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson sustained a sprained left ankle in a 108-74 win, though X-rays thankfully came back negative.
Professional Sports & League Updates
The Colorado Avalanche became the first NHL team to secure a playoff berth following their decisive 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks. In the NFL, Kenny Pickett expressed that his move to Carolina was motivated by coach Dave Canales, as he seeks to achieve his ultimate goal of regaining a starting quarterback job. Meanwhile, the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder confirmed they will not visit the White House, citing "timing" concerns during their trip to the nation's capital.
Global Combat Sports & Athletics
In boxing, Olympic champion Lin Yu-ting has been cleared to compete by World Boxing after successfully passing the organization’s new sex verification testing protocols. Referee Phil Edwards provided insight into the pressures of the job, discussing the role of video assistant referee (VAR) in the sport. In mixed martial arts, Costello van Steenis successfully defended his PFL middleweight title by stopping Fabian Edwards in the third round, thereby ending Edwards’ world title aspirations again. On the track, Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu finished fourth in what was described as "one of the best 60m races of all time" at the World Indoor Championships, while snowboarder Mia Brookes captured her fifth career World Cup gold medal in the slopestyle event in Flachnau, Austria.
Rugby, Golf, and Cycling Developments
The world of rugby saw several tight contests, with Trailfinders narrowly edging past Harlequins 21-17 thanks to a late try from Abi Burton in Premiership Women's Rugby. In the United Rugby Championship, Connacht delivered a powerful second half to earn a statement victory over Ulster, and Scarlets used six tries to sweep Zebre in a basement battle. In cycling, Italian rider Debora Silvestri was rushed to the hospital following a serious crash during the women’s Milan-San Remo classic. Meanwhile, in golf, Jon Rahm has elected to drop his appeal against sanctions imposed by the DP World Tour for participating in LIV events, though he continues to refuse payment of his outstanding fines. Separately, the growth of virtual golf in the UK is so pronounced that it is predicted to surpass outdoor rounds played by 2028.
Tennis Technology & Miscellaneous Sports News
Wimbledon officials announced that video review technology will debut at the All England Club this year, marking a procedural change for the grass-court major. In swimming, Cameron McEvoy set a new long-standing world record in the men’s 50m freestyle, eclipsing the previous mark set during the 'supersuit' era. In other news, the sad professional chapter for amateur standout Michael Conlan appears closed, as he confirmed it was the “end of the road” following a split decision loss to Kevin Walsh. Finally, former athletes including Serena Williams and Tony Hawk joined a viral social media trend referencing the 1990s set to the song "Iris."