Top seeds UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina have reached the Women’s Final Four for the second consecutive year to set up a historic showdown in Phoenix.
The powerhouse quartet arrived at the 2026 NCAA tournament widely regarded as the four best teams in the country.
They have comfortably lived up to those lofty expectations by amassing a remarkable combined record of 143 victories and just seven defeats.
This campaign marks only the second time in women’s NCAA tournament history that all four semi-finalists have repeated their runs from the previous year.
Dominant quartet make history
It is also just the fifth occasion that all four number one seeds have successfully navigated the entire bracket.
The closest contest any of the four teams faced during their latest tournament runs was a 12-point victory for Connecticut over Notre Dame in the Elite Eight.
That hard-fought win extended a staggering 54-game winning streak for Geno Auriemma’s side.
Huskies rely on staunch defence
The defending champions secured their Final Four spot despite their veteran head coach voicing concerns about the offensive setup at the regional venues.
A usually prolific three-point shooting team, the Huskies converted just 10 of their 37 attempts from beyond the arc in Fort Worth.
However, an extraordinary defensive effort compensated for their shooting struggles as they conceded a mere 94 points across two regional fixtures.
Standout forward Sarah Strong recorded 15 combined blocks and steals during those match-ups to cement her status as the top-rated defensive player in the collegiate game.
Strong also contributed 21 crucial points against the Fighting Irish to keep their opponents at arm’s length.
Freshman Blanca Quiñonez provided an unexpected early spark during the regional finals, scoring 12 of her 20 points in the first quarter.
Rematches await in Phoenix
Friday’s highly anticipated semi-final between Connecticut and South Carolina will serve as a direct rematch of the 2025 national championship game.
Meanwhile, the other side of the draw sees the Longhorns face the Bruins in a repeat of their early-season clash in Las Vegas.
Texas previously defeated their Californian rivals in that November encounter, setting the stage for an intriguing battle to reach the title decider.
Victor Wembanyama recorded the fastest double-double in NBA history and scored a season-high 41 points as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Chicago Bulls 129-114 on Monday night.
The French phenom secured 10 points and 10 rebounds in just eight minutes and 31 seconds of court time.
That blistering pace shattered the previous record set by Jim Washington of the St. Louis Hawks in March 1966.
The reigning Rookie of the Year finished the game shooting 17 for 27 from the field, capping his dominant performance with a driving, one-handed dunk in the fourth quarter.
Spurs extend winning streak
San Antonio’s commanding victory marks their ninth consecutive win of a highly impressive campaign.
Stephon Castle provided crucial support for the surging hosts, contributing 21 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
The Texas franchise demonstrated their remarkable depth by having six different players reach double figures in scoring while building a massive 29-point lead in the third quarter.
Jones returns as Bulls struggle
Chicago point guard Tre Jones registered 23 points in his first return to San Antonio since being traded in the deal that brought De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs.
Despite additional scoring contributions from Leonard Miller and Collin Sexton, the struggling visitors suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.
The Bulls arrived for the matchup facing serious off-court turbulence, taking to the floor merely two hours after waiving injured guard Jaden Ivey for conduct detrimental to the team.
A sluggish start briefly saw San Antonio trail early, prompting an angry timeout from head coach Mitch Johnson just 71 seconds into the contest.
However, the towering centre’s historic early barrage quickly sparked a decisive 20-13 run to permanently seize control of the game.
Top seeds Texas have reached the women’s Final Four for a second consecutive year after securing a dominant 77-41 victory over Michigan in Fort Worth on Monday.
The emphatic win extends a 12-game unbeaten streak for Vic Schaefer’s side as they continue their pursuit of a first national championship since 1986.
Junior forward Madison Booker spearheaded the attack with a game-high 19 points, subsequently earning the regional’s most outstanding player award.
Conversely, the second-seeded Wolverines struggled immensely throughout the contest, finishing their season with a dismal 23% shooting performance from the field.
Turning point fuels dominant postseason run
The Longhorns’ current imperious form stems from a pivotal moment in mid-February following a disappointing defeat against SEC rivals Vanderbilt.
In the immediate aftermath of that loss, head coach Schaefer publicly criticised his players’ mentality and labelled them the softest squad he had managed in years.
“We have no heart. We’re not tough. It’s probably the softest team I’ve had in years. It translates from practices … my fault. I’ll wear it. It stops now.”
The public admonishment clearly resonated with the squad, who have not tasted defeat since that dressing down.
UCLA await in Phoenix showdown
Schaefer’s revitalised team have blitzed their way through the NCAA tournament, winning their four matchups by an astonishing average margin of 35.5 points.
This remarkable postseason dominance follows their recent SEC tournament triumph earlier in March.
The reigning SEC champions will now travel to Phoenix this Friday to face fellow top seeds UCLA in a highly anticipated national semifinal.
Having previously defeated the Bruins during the Players Era Championship in November, the Texas outfit will be confident of advancing past the stage where they fell to South Carolina last year.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have sacked general manager Brad Treliving during his third season in charge, with the franchise on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president Keith Pelley announced the abrupt dismissal on Monday night.
The decision was made public shortly before the Canadian outfit took to the ice for their road game against the Anaheim Ducks.
End of a disappointing tenure
Treliving’s departure comes as the historically successful side faces imminent elimination from post-season contention.
The failure to secure a playoff berth marks a significant regression for an organisation that has enjoyed consistent regular-season stability over the past ten years.
Addressing the sudden executive change, Pelley explained that the move followed a period of extensive evaluation.
“This decision was made after deep analysis and it was time to change course under new hockey leadership,” Pelley stated.
Uncertainty surrounds Berube
The sweeping changes in the front office have immediately sparked questions regarding the future of head coach Craig Berube.
The veteran coach was tasked with guiding the high-profile roster, but an underperforming campaign has now destabilised the entire sporting structure.
It remains to be seen whether the incoming hockey leadership will opt to retain the current coaching staff or initiate a complete rebuild in Toronto.
Italy have been embroiled in a spying controversy ahead of their crucial World Cup play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina after a soldier was allegedly spotted filming their opponents’ training session.
The European rivals are preparing to face off on Tuesday evening at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica for a highly anticipated spot at this summer’s tournament.
Tensions escalated when local media claimed a scout sought an unfair advantage during Bosnia’s final tactical preparations in Butmir on Sunday.
Military presence sparks controversy
A soldier from the European Union Force (EUFOR), believed to be of Italian nationality, was observed recording the training session involving veteran striker Edin Dzeko.
While cameras were permitted for a standard 15-minute public window, the individual wearing a camouflage jacket reportedly remained to film the intensified, closed-door tactical work.
The EUFOR base, which houses the Multinational Battalion and includes Italian Carabinieri military police, sits adjacent to the Bosnian training pitch.
However, there is currently no concrete evidence linking the figure directly to Gennaro Gattuso’s squad, with some claims suggesting the soldier was merely watching as a fan.
Desperation to end World Cup exile
The Azzurri arrived in Zenica facing immense pressure, having shockingly failed to qualify for the previous two editions of the global tournament.
That frustrating absence has loomed large over the national side, even overshadowing their celebrated continental success at Euro 2020.
Star goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma acknowledged the sheer magnitude of the impending fixture during a tense pre-match press conference.
“It’s one of the most important matches, one of the most emotional.”
“We’re human beings; we feel the matches too, and we need to know how to manage it, saving our energy solely for tomorrow.”
The imposing shot-stopper emphasised the need for total focus on their own performance rather than any external distractions.
“We must focus solely on ourselves; if you think only about what you have to do, don’t waste energy on other situations.”
With their World Cup destiny hanging in the balance, the four-time winners know they must overcome both a hostile atmosphere and the swirling controversy to secure qualification.
The Chicago Bulls have waived guard Jaden Ivey after the 24-year-old made a series of anti-gay comments on social media.
The decision follows several recent videos posted online by the player, which included extensive rants regarding religion and other topics.
In one specific post, he criticised the NBA for celebrating Pride Month, describing the inclusive initiative as “unrighteousness.”
Injury struggles and recent trade
The former Detroit Pistons star arrived in Chicago last month via a trade but only managed to make four appearances for his new franchise.
A severe left knee injury subsequently ruled the playmaker out for the remainder of the basketball season.
Prior to these recent controversies, the American had spoken publicly about his personal battles with depression.
Draft pedigree and free agency
Selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the athletic prospect initially showed significant promise while featuring for a rebuilding Detroit roster.
However, persistent knee problems restricted him to just 30 games during the 2024-25 campaign and continued to hamper his progress following the recent transfer.
Having failed to agree a contract extension with his former employers last summer, the released guard now enters the upcoming offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
England manager Sarina Wiegman faces a nervous wait over the fitness of captain Leah Williamson ahead of her upcoming squad announcement.
The influential defender represents one of two major injury concerns currently occupying the thoughts of the Lionesses coaching staff.
Reports indicate that the national team medical department is closely evaluating the situation alongside club staff.
Injury setbacks for the skipper
Williamson has endured a deeply frustrating period with physical setbacks over the past 18 months.
The Arsenal centre-back famously missed the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
Since returning to domestic action, the 27-year-old has had to carefully manage her playing minutes to avoid aggravating any underlying issues.
Wiegman forced to consider alternatives
The Dutch coach must now weigh up whether to risk including her captain or allow further recovery time in north London.
An absence from the international setup would be a significant blow for the European champions as they build towards their Euro 2025 title defence.
Should the versatile defender be formally ruled out, Wiegman has several capable deputies waiting in the wings to fill the void.
The final squad list is expected to reflect a highly cautious approach to player welfare during an incredibly congested domestic calendar.
Former striker Gabby Agbonlahor has urged the Premier League to suspend players who withdraw from international duty after 10 Arsenal squad members returned to their club this week.
The Gunners are currently chasing their first top-flight title since the 2003-04 season and appear to be prioritising domestic fitness over international fixtures.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Aston Villa frontman suggested immediate domestic suspensions for those avoiding national team representation.
Agbonlahor proposes new suspension rules
If I was part of the Premier League and I was making a decision, I would bring in a new rule, you miss the next Premier League game available if you pull out of international duty.
I tell you something, players will stop pulling out.
A host of high-profile names, including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard, pulled out of their respective national camps ahead of the current break.
The 37-year-old pundit believes international football is being severely undervalued in favour of club ambitions.
Playing for your country is an honour. It doesn’t sit right with me.
Arteta prioritising domestic success
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is under immense pressure to finally deliver major silverware to the Emirates Stadium this season.
The north London side will face Southampton in the FA Cup immediately following the conclusion of the international window.
I get it, Arteta is doing everything possible to win these trophies.
Recent arrivals and established starters alike have been caught up in the withdrawal controversy, with winger Noni Madueke leaving the England camp following a 1-1 draw with Uruguay.
Injury concerns mount at the Emirates
The 22-year-old attacker was spotted wearing a knee brace after departing Wembley Stadium.
Medical analysts suggest the former Chelsea forward could face several weeks on the sidelines if scans confirm ligament damage.
He joins a growing list of fitness doubts, with William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber also returning early from their international commitments.