Azzi Fudd scored 34 points in her final home game as top-ranked UConn thrashed Syracuse 98-45 on Monday to reach the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 for a 32nd consecutive season.

The Huskies produced a devastating 31-0 run in the first half to completely overwhelm their ninth-seeded opponents at Gampel Pavilion.

The sharpshooting senior tied her career highs in both points and three-pointers, adding five assists and four steals in a dominant individual display.

Her total of eight three-pointers fell just one short of the all-time NCAA tournament single-game record.

Ruthless Huskies maintain perfect record

Sarah Strong contributed 18 points and nine rebounds as the undefeated Connecticut outfit secured their 52nd consecutive victory of the season.

Blanca Quiñonez also added 18 points for the overall top seeds, who stormed into an insurmountable 65-12 advantage by half-time.

Syracuse endured a torrid evening on the court, missing 10 consecutive shots and going nearly ten-and-a-half minutes without scoring a single basket during the opening half.

Uche Izoje managed a team-high 12 points for the Orange, who had previously defeated Iowa State in the opening round to reach this stage.

Historic rivalry awaits in Fort Worth

The top-ranked side will now travel to the Fort Worth 1 regional semifinal on Friday to face North Carolina.

It marks only the second NCAA tournament meeting between the two storied basketball programmes.

The Tar Heels emerged victorious in their only previous post-season encounter, winning 81-69 on their way to claiming the 1994 national title.

Meanwhile, Monday’s comprehensive victory extended a remarkable home streak, marking a 52nd straight tournament win at Gampel Pavilion for the unstoppable hosts.

Tenth seeds Virginia have become the first ever First Four team to reach the NCAA women’s Sweet 16 after stunning hosts Iowa 83-75 in double overtime.

The Cavaliers secured their third victory in just five days by overcoming the second-seeded Hawkeyes in front of a capacity crowd of 14,332 in Iowa City.

Kymora Johnson delivered a standout performance for the visitors, scoring 14 of her game-high 28 points during the two additional periods.

It marks the first time the Charlottesville programme has advanced to the second weekend of the tournament since 2000.

Missed opportunities for the hosts

Iowa had multiple chances to seal the game before the second overtime period was required.

Chazadi Wright failed to connect on a turnaround jumper with just one second remaining in regulation time.

The hosts were similarly frustrated at the conclusion of the first overtime when Taylor Stremlow missed a three-pointer and Ava Heiden could not convert the follow-up attempt.

Heiden had otherwise been exceptional for the home side, leading her team with 26 points despite picking up two early fouls.

Gruelling schedule yields historic run

To reach this stage, the resilient 10th seeds had already navigated a narrow 57-55 triumph over Arizona State on Thursday before defeating Georgia in overtime on Saturday.

Paris Clark contributed 20 vital points for the history-making squad, while Romi Levy added 13 to help maintain their remarkable postseason momentum.

The last time a 10-seed reached this stage of the competition was in 2022, when Creighton remarkably also eliminated Iowa in the second round.

Virginia will now travel to the Sacramento Regional 4 semifinals to face third seeds TCU.

Highly-rated forward Karim Lopez has declared for the NBA draft, aiming to become the first Mexican-born player selected in the first round after an impressive stint in the Australian NBL.

The 19-year-old spent the past two seasons developing with the New Zealand Breakers, culminating in an Ignite Cup tournament victory in February.

Standing at 6ft 9in with a towering 7ft 1in wingspan, the teenage prospect is currently ranked 11th on the latest draft boards.

Record-breaking NBL season

Overcoming a summer back injury, the versatile wing enjoyed a breakout campaign during his second year in the Southern Hemisphere.

He averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds across 25.6 minutes per game while shooting an efficient 49% from the field.

The Hermosillo native also established a new single-season points record for draft-eligible NBL Next Stars, accumulating 358 points in 30 starts.

“It’s been my dream and my goal my whole life to play in the NBA.” – Karim Lopez

Inspiring the next generation

Scouts have been heavily drawn to the former Joventut Badalona player’s unique combination of positional size, playmaking ability, and physical toughness.

However, evaluators note that his perimeter shooting and explosiveness will need further refinement ahead of the draft combine in Chicago this May.

The son of former national team player Jesús Hiram Lopez, the young star hopes his historic journey will motivate aspiring athletes back home.

“A goal of mine is to hopefully reach young people in Mexico, trying to grow the sport and inspire athletes to follow their dreams.” – Karim Lopez

The highly-anticipated NBA draft selection process is officially scheduled to take place in late June.

WNBA players have overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement that introduces a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model to the league.

The decision was confirmed on Monday by Women’s National Basketball Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike.

A remarkable 90% of the membership participated in the ballot, resulting in a near-unanimous approval of the proposed terms.

The landmark deal must now be officially rubber-stamped by the competition’s governing body before taking full effect.

Revenue sharing and rising salary caps

A tentative term sheet was initially agreed upon between the players’ union and executives last Friday.

At the heart of the approved framework is an innovative revenue-sharing structure, which represents a historic first in major women’s professional sports.

Under this progressive system, the team salary cap will be set at $7m for the 2026 campaign.

This financial ceiling will fluctuate annually based on both overall and franchise-specific revenue growth.

Projections suggest the cap could surpass $10m by the conclusion of the seven-year contract.

Transformational changes to player welfare

Alongside structural financial overhauls, the new agreement establishes several major enhancements to daily working conditions.

League officials have publicly praised the collaborative nature of the swift negotiations.

“This is one of the most transformational labor agreements ever reached in major professional sports.”

Resolution of the collective bargaining process ensures the 2026 regular season will commence exactly as scheduled on 8 May.

The WNBA has confirmed a condensed 46-day offseason schedule featuring an expansion draft, free agency and a college draft before the new campaign begins on 8 May.

The previous collective bargaining agreement officially expired in October, leading to an intense period of marathon negotiations to secure a new deal for the sport.

More than 100 out-of-contract athletes, including former Most Valuable Player award winners A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, must now decide their futures in a severely compressed window.

Commissioner Cathy Englebert stated that despite the lengthy administrative delays, the previously announced opening date remains entirely unaffected.

Expansion franchises prepare for selection

Training camps are scheduled to open on 19 April, leaving teams scrambling to finalise their respective rosters in record time.

A major component of the upcoming frenzy is a two-team expansion draft designed to populate the incoming Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire franchises.

This crucial draft is slated for 6 April, although exact procedural rules have yet to be officially communicated to front office executives.

Existing organisations are expected to be permitted to protect five players, allowing the Canadian and Oregon-based newcomers to select exclusively from the remaining unprotected pool.

Historic free agency period looms

Navigating the expansion process will be heavily complicated by the sheer volume of available talent.

The vast majority of the league’s stars will enter unrestricted free agency this spring, potentially limiting the number of contracted players available for the new franchises to acquire.

Free agency is set to commence immediately following the expansion draft on 7 April.

This rapid succession of events, described by stakeholders as a transformational period, will fundamentally redefine the landscape of North America’s premier women’s basketball competition.

The New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors have secured some of the NBA’s most impactful transactions this season, led by the shrewd acquisitions of Jose Alvarado and De’Anthony Melton.

This evaluation comes as the 2025-26 regular season draws to a close, allowing teams to reflect on their roster decisions.

Hundreds of moves have been assessed based on their analytical impact rather than initial expectations.

Alvarado transforms New York

The Eastern Conference franchise acquired their energetic playmaker at the trade deadline.

He arrived in exchange for Dalen Terry, two second-round draft picks and cash considerations.

Since his arrival, the lightning-fast guard has exceeded all expectations across his first 19 appearances.

The Knicks boast a formidable plus-11.8 net rating when he is deployed on the floor.

Playoff selection headache

Head coach Mike Brown now faces a welcome selection dilemma as the postseason approaches.

The roster is already heavily stocked with guards ahead of Miles McBride’s imminent return from sports hernia surgery.

Alvarado may see his minutes fluctuate, but his vibrant energy ensures he will play a pivotal role in the playoffs.

Melton anchors Golden State revival

On the West Coast, the Warriors have found immense value in defensive specialist Melton.

The veteran signed a $3.1m contract following a complex midseason trade shuffle involving Dennis Schroder and Jimmy Butler III.

He has quietly become one of the most effective role players in the league since returning to action in December.

The Bay Area side hold a plus-6.0 net rating during his minutes, a mark bettered only by Butler.

Curry injury concerns

Golden State’s ultimate playoff aspirations now heavily rely on the fitness of Stephen Curry.

The two-time MVP has been sidelined with a lingering knee issue since late January.

If the legendary shooter returns in time for the playoffs, Melton will provide the ideal two-way backcourt partner.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs have also bolstered their frontcourt depth by successfully integrating veteran centre Luke Kornet into their rotation.

Alvaro Folgueiras hit a decisive three-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining as Iowa stunned defending national champions Florida to secure a 73-72 victory in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Tampa.

The dramatic triumph sends the top-seeded Gators out of March Madness, making them the first number one seed to be eliminated this year.

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Ben McCollum, the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes have reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015.

Hawkeyes recover from blown lead

Iowa had initially squandered a 12-point advantage in the second half but displayed immense resilience to rally in the closing stages.

Florida appeared poised for victory when Xaivian Lee executed a driving layup to put his side 71-68 ahead with under two minutes on the clock.

However, Bennett Stirtz quickly responded with a crucial floater, slicing the deficit to a single point heading into the final minute.

A frantic sequence followed as Thomas Haugh missed from beyond the arc for the Gators, before Isaiah Brown secured a vital rebound after Stirtz failed to convert a running layup.

Brown subsequently extended Florida’s lead to 72-70 by converting his second free-throw attempt with just 8.9 seconds remaining.

Folgueiras delivers the decisive blow

Faced with full-court pressure, the resilient Hawkeyes seamlessly broke through the defensive press to find Folgueiras completely unmarked in the corner.

The forward made no mistake, sinking the three-pointer to instantly silence the predominantly orange and blue crowd inside the Benchmark International Arena.

Florida failed to even register a shot before the final buzzer sounded, with a desperate drive from Lee ending in a mishandled pass by Haugh.

Tempers flare in physical encounter

The tension of the high-stakes encounter was evident midway through the first half when a skirmish erupted over a loose ball.

Alex Condon and Folgueiras tangled on the floor, prompting Florida coach Todd Golden to sprint onto the court to restore order before both players received technical fouls.

Tavion Banks spearheaded the scoring for the victorious outfit with 20 points, while Folgueiras contributed 14 and Stirtz added 13 despite a challenging shooting night.

Condon led the scoring for the vanquished title holders with 21 points, but it was not enough to prevent a stunning early exit for the reigning champions.

Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self will evaluate his long-term future based entirely on his health following a dramatic second-round NCAA tournament exit against St John’s in San Diego on Sunday.

The 63-year-old tactician stated he has not yet made a definitive choice about returning to the sideline next season.

His comments followed a heartbreaking 67-65 defeat to the Red Storm, courtesy of a buzzer-beating layup from Dylan Darling.

“I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on,” Self explained.
“I love what I do, I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well.”

Recent medical scares

The two-time national champion has battled several serious medical episodes over recent seasons.

He missed the 2023 postseason after undergoing a heart catheterisation for chest tightness.

In July 2024, the seasoned manager required the insertion of two heart stents, followed by another precautionary hospital visit this past January.

Despite these setbacks, the veteran coach insisted he currently feels “as good as I’ve felt in a long time”.

Tournament struggles and future plans

The Jayhawks’ latest elimination marks the fourth consecutive year they have failed to advance past the NCAA tournament’s opening weekend.

The decorated programme had previously erased a 14-point deficit against St John’s before suffering last-second heartbreak.

“One of the things that makes the tournament so great is that it can be great, but it can also be cruel,” Self admitted.

Addressing his overall tenure, the experienced mentor acknowledged a shift in how he views his career longevity.

“When you get to be doing it as long as I’ve done it, I look at it in five-year increments. Now I’m probably looking at it in more two-year increments, so to speak,” he added.

He dismissed suggestions that the historic programme needs a complete identity overhaul, instead emphasising the importance of upcoming recruitment evaluations.