Last updated: March 19, 2026, 11:30 PM ET
NCAA Men's Tournament Shocks
The opening rounds of the NCAA Men's Tournament delivered immediate drama as multiple lower seeds delivered upsets, highlighted by 11th seed VCU erasing a 19-point deficit to defeat sixth-seed North Carolina 82-78 in overtime, secured by a decisive stepback three-pointer from Terrence Hill Jr. with 15 seconds remaining in the extra period. The upsets continued as No. 11 seed Texas knocked off BYU 79-71, successfully containing a massive 35-point performance from Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa. Furthermore, No. 12 seed High Point stunned fifth-seeded Wisconsin 83-82 when Chase Johnston sank his first two-point basket of the entire season as time expired. Even the top overall seed experienced turbulence; Duke had to rally from 13 points down before finally putting away 16th-seeded Siena in the final five minutes of play.
Midwest & Big Ten Tournament Action
The parity extended into other regional matchups where several favorites were pushed to the brink, yet some established programs managed to survive the initial scares. No. 4 seed Nebraska secured its first-ever NCAA tournament victory in resounding fashion, crushing No. 13 seed Troy by a score of 76-47 on Thursday night. Meanwhile, No. 9 seed TCU backed up its pre-game confidence by holding off Ohio State 66-64, with Xavier Edmonds hitting a crucial layup just 4.3 seconds before the final buzzer to seal the tight contest against the eighth seed. In related news, No. 4 seed Iowa State’s Pryce Sandfort received an unexpected visit from his brother, Payton Sandfort, who appeared courtside less than 12 hours after making his professional NBA debut to cheer on the Cornhuskers.
WNBA Financial Developments
Off the court, the WNBA is positioning itself for significant financial growth following the ratification of its new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Sources confirm that a new CBA provision will expedite max deals for players currently on rookie-scale contracts, allowing them quicker access to maximum and supermax salary levels. This structural change is expected to be transformational for player earnings and retention, offering immediate financial incentives to top young talent entering the league. Analysts are currently breaking down the full implications of the 2026 WNBA CBA, suggesting it fundamentally alters the league’s salary trajectory for the next several years.
Global Sports Results & Futures
Outside of the major North American basketball action, European sports saw high drama in darts and rugby league. In darts, Luke Littler staged an incredible comeback in Dublin, fighting back from a 5-0 deficit to stun Gerwyn Price 6-5 in the Premier League final, a match that featured two maximum 170 checkouts in a single leg. Separately, in Super League rugby, the Wigan Warriors continued their perfect start to the season, overcoming a 14-0 deficit to defeat the York Knights. Meanwhile, Great Britain’s freestyle skier Kirsty Muir claimed her second consecutive World Cup slopestyle win, putting her atop the overall season standings ahead of the final event. In boxing news, IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker stated that a successful defense against Liam Paro in his upcoming bout should unlock further title opportunities for the Belfast fighter.