Yaxel Lendeborg delivered a commanding 23-point performance to lead Michigan to a 90-77 victory over Alabama in Chicago on Friday, securing their first NCAA Elite Eight appearance in five years.
The top-seeded Wolverines established a new school record with their 34th victory of a remarkable season.
Big Ten player of the year Lendeborg dominated the second half, adding 12 rebounds and seven assists to his impressive scoring tally.
Crucial contributions also came from the Michigan bench, who outscored their opponents 33-6 largely thanks to Trey McKenney and Roddy Gayle Jr.
Crimson Tide fall short without suspended Holloway
Alabama put up a resilient fight in the high-tempo contest despite missing star guard Aden Holloway.
The sophomore was suspended indefinitely following a March arrest on felony drug charges.
Labaron Philon Jr attempted to shoulder the scoring burden for the fourth seeds, registering 35 points in a losing effort.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr also chipped in with 15 points, but the Crimson Tide could not match their opponents’ second-half intensity.
Historic run continues in Midwest Region
Elliot Cadeau matched McKenney’s output with 17 points to ensure the Michigan offense operated smoothly throughout the regional semifinal.
Defeat ends a streak of two consecutive Elite Eight appearances for the Crimson Tide, who finish their campaign with a 25-10 record.
The Wolverines will now turn their attention to Sunday’s Midwest Region final, where they face the winner of the clash between Tennessee and Iowa State.
Caleb Foster returned from a broken foot to score 11 crucial second-half points as top-seeded Duke rallied from a 10-point deficit in Washington to defeat St. John’s 80-75 and advance to the Elite Eight.
Playing less than three weeks after foot surgery, the resilient guard rescued his team’s national title hopes on Friday night.
Isaiah Evans led the scoring with 25 points, while Cameron Boozer added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Devils.
The victory extends the nation’s longest active winning streak to 14 matches for the heavily fancied outfit.
Sloppy start threatens Duke’s campaign
Despite a relatively controlled first half, the tournament favourites emerged after the interval looking disjointed.
A series of turnovers allowed Zuby Ejiofor to capitalise with back-to-back dunks, propelling the tenacious Red Storm into a 48-44 lead.
When 6-foot-11 Ruben Prey sank his fourth consecutive three-pointer, the New York-based programme suddenly found themselves ahead by nine.
The deficit eventually stretched to 10 points before the Duke coaching staff turned to their recovering star.
Foster sparks dramatic late turnaround
Introduced in place of Cayden Boozer, the returning playmaker immediately settled the offence while his team shifted to a zone defence.
An acrobatic layup from Evans eventually tied the contest, initiating a frantic chase to the final buzzer.
With the game hanging in the balance, a crucial pull-up jumper from the recently injured guard put the Blue Devils ahead 75-69.
He then produced a driving layup in the closing stages to establish a five-point cushion and force their opponents into desperation mode.
Pitino suffers rare Sweet 16 heartbreak
The dramatic finish marks only the second defeat for legendary coach Rick Pitino in 14 career appearances at this stage of the competition.
It also brings a bitter end to an exceptional run for his squad, who had lost just once in their previous 22 fixtures.
A desperate late three-point attempt from Dylan Darling missed the target entirely, allowing Cameron Boozer to seal the result from the free-throw line.
The victorious side will now face either second-seeded UConn or third-seeded Michigan State in Sunday’s East Region final.
Defending national champions UConn have marched into their 30th women’s NCAA tournament Elite Eight after overwhelming North Carolina 63-42 in Fort Worth on Friday.
The top-seeded outfit extended their remarkable overall winning streak to 53 games in a dominant defensive display.
Sophomore forward Sarah Strong spearheaded the victory, registering 21 points and 10 rebounds against her home-state program.
Strong orchestrates decisive second-quarter surge
The Big East Player of the Year took control during a critical stretch, scoring four consecutive field goals within a devastating two-minute window.
Her commanding performance helped the tournament favourites outscore their opponents 17-8 in the second period to establish a 28-20 halftime advantage.
Blanca Quiñonez also proved instrumental for the reigning champions, contributing 16 points and initiating the pivotal scoring run with a timely layup.
As the league’s pre-eminent defender, the 21-point star also suffocated the opposition, finishing the contest with five steals and two blocked shots.
Tar Heels stumble against relentless defence
Emerging from the interval, the Huskies delivered the final blow with an unanswered 12-0 run.
All-American guard Azzi Fudd overcame a sluggish first half to ignite the third-quarter charge, sinking a crucial three-pointer to bury any hopes of a comeback.
Fourth-seeded North Carolina endured a miserable offensive outing, committing 24 turnovers and shooting a season-low 28% from the floor.
Despite 20 points from Indya Nivar, the Tar Heels suffered their second consecutive Sweet 16 exit, having fallen to Duke at the same stage last season.
Historic rivalry awaits in regional final
The unbeaten juggernaut will now face sixth-seeded Notre Dame on Sunday for a coveted spot in the Phoenix Final Four.
The Fighting Irish secured their progression earlier on Friday following a sensational 31-point triple-double from Hannah Hidalgo against Vanderbilt.
Sunday’s encounter will mark the ninth March Madness meeting between the storied collegiate programs.
Their previous eight tournament battles all occurred in the Final Four, including back-to-back national championship showdowns which the Connecticut side swept in 2014 and 2015.
Manchester City will look to extend their eight-point lead at the top of the Women’s Super League as they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United during a pivotal weekend of derby fixtures.
The league leaders are relentlessly pursuing their first domestic title in a decade.
The pacesetters will hope to carry momentum from last weekend’s dominant 5-2 thrashing of Tottenham.
United seek derby bragging rights
Manchester United face a tight turnaround after hosting Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
The Red Devils will be determined to delay their city rivals’ title charge and secure vital local bragging rights.
The visiting side have stuttered on the road recently, failing to score in their last two away league matches.
However, City have never failed to find the net in three consecutive away matches in the competition’s history.
Merseyside rivals meet at Goodison Park
Elsewhere, Everton host Liverpool on Saturday afternoon with both sides chasing crucial points.
The Reds have established a five-point cushion above the relegation zone with just five games remaining.
A victory on the blue half of Merseyside would surely guarantee top-flight survival for the Anfield outfit.
Phelan impact revitalises Toffees
Everton have found renewed form under interim boss Scott Phelan, who has secured three victories in his first four league fixtures.
The English coach could become the first manager in the club’s history to win four of his opening five league matches in charge.
The hosts won the reverse fixture 4-1 on the opening day, but suffered a 2-1 defeat to their local rivals in the FA Cup fifth round.
The weekend’s action also sees Arsenal host Tottenham in a crucial North London derby, while Chelsea desperately need a victory against Aston Villa.
Ben White scored and then conceded a stoppage-time penalty on his international return as a heavily rotated England drew with Uruguay in a subdued Wembley friendly.
Thomas Tuchel made wholesale changes to his starting lineup, leaving eleven senior players in the stands to assess his fringe options ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
The sell-out home crowd was treated to a largely disjointed affair that severely lacked attacking rhythm in the final third.
A bizarre sequence of late events surrounding the returning Arsenal defender ultimately defined the experimental match.
White experiences mixed return
The versatile centre-back was greeted by a chorus of boos when he was introduced as a 69th-minute substitute.
Supporters clearly remembered his controversial departure from the national camp during the 2022 World Cup and his subsequent lengthy exile.
Those jeers momentarily turned to cheers when he tapped home from close range following a dangerous Cole Palmer free-kick to give the hosts a late lead.
However, the former Brighton man tripped Federico Vinas inside the penalty area deep into stoppage time to ruin the script.
Following a Video Assistant Referee review, Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde stepped up to ruthlessly dispatch the spot-kick and ensure the spoils were shared.
Debutants impress amid VAR confusion
The officiating also raised eyebrows after Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte was inexplicably allowed to stay on the pitch despite receiving two separate yellow cards.
Despite the confusing team performance, there were quiet positives for the German manager to take from his inexperienced lineup.
Everton midfielder James Garner and Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford both looked composed while making their senior international debuts.
The young shot-stopper, fresh from a recent Carabao Cup triumph, showcased excellent distribution despite being unable to keep out the late penalty.
Elsewhere, an array of hopefuls including Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo and Dominic Solanke failed to seize their fleeting opportunity to stand out from the pack.
Palmer stakes his claim
One player who did successfully manage to leave a lasting impression was the influential Chelsea playmaker.
Having struggled with poorly-timed injuries during the early days of Tuchel’s reign, the former Manchester City academy graduate looked sharp operating in the coveted number 10 role.
His precise set-piece delivery proved crucial in breaking the deadlock and he consistently looked the most likely source of domestic creativity.
With the final 26-man tournament squad yet to be finalized, the talented forward appears perfectly positioned to secure a prominent role in the team.
The Connecticut Sun franchise has been sold to the Fertitta family for a record $300m (£238m) to bring the WNBA back to Houston in 2027.
An official announcement confirming the historic purchase is expected on Monday.
The team will play their final season at their current home in Uncasville during the 2026 campaign before making the transition to Texas.
Reviving an iconic basketball brand
Sources indicate the newly relocated franchise is expected to adopt the Comets name.
This decision harkens back to the original Houston Comets, an iconic founding member of the league.
The legendary Texas side dominated the early years of the competition, securing four consecutive championships between 1997 and 2000.
Returning to the city has been a clearly stated priority for the WNBA over recent years.
During an expansion announcement last June, the league made its geographical intentions clear.
Houston and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta are up next and the one we have our eye on.
Cathy Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner
Expanding the NBA ownership model
This landmark agreement marks a further shift towards aligning women’s basketball teams with existing NBA ownership groups.
The Mohegan tribe had previously owned the Sun since 2003.
They originally purchased and relocated the franchise from Florida, where the side was known as the Orlando Miracle.
The tribal ownership group launched a process to explore investment options in the autumn of 2024 to help fund infrastructure projects.
They initially reached a $325m (£258m) agreement with former Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca.
However, the WNBA governing body effectively blocked that transaction from progressing any further.
The league held firm that relocation decisions rest strictly with the Board of Governors.
This ensured that cities completing the formal expansion process maintained priority over a potential move to Boston.
Barcelona forward Raphinha faces five weeks out with a hamstring injury sustained on international duty, ruling him out of crucial upcoming fixtures against Atletico Madrid.
The 29-year-old suffered the knock during the first half of Brazil’s 2-1 friendly defeat to France in Massachusetts on Thursday.
Tests conducted by the national team’s medical staff on Friday confirmed damage to his right hamstring.
He will now return to Catalonia for treatment and is not expected to feature again until May.
Crucial Champions League absence
The recovery timeline means the prolific attacker will miss a demanding run of domestic and European fixtures.
Hansi Flick’s side face domestic rivals Atletico Madrid three times over the coming weeks.
They travel to the Metropolitano next Saturday looking to protect their four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
The Spanish giants will then clash again over two legs in the Champions League quarter-finals on 8 and 14 April.
Recurring fitness issues
Should the Blaugrana progress, their key forward would likely also miss the semi-final first leg against either Arsenal or Sporting CP.
This latest setback represents the third time this season the South American has injured his right hamstring.
He previously missed 13 matches between September and November, followed by a further three-game absence across January and February.
His injury deals a significant blow to Barcelona, having contributed an impressive 19 goals in 31 appearances this term.
Flick’s attacking alternatives
Marcus Rashford is the most likely candidate to benefit from the vacancy on the left side of the attack.
However, the German manager possesses several other versatile options to fill the void.
Dani Olmo, Fermín López, and Ferran Torres all boast experience operating in wide areas.
João Cancelo and Roony Bardghji could also be deployed in advanced roles if required.
Right-hander Shane Baz has agreed a five-year contract extension worth $68m with the Baltimore Orioles to secure his long-term future in Major League Baseball.
The lucrative agreement fortifies the Maryland team’s starting rotation following the pitcher’s acquisition in a major winter trade.
He is expected to slot into the middle of a heavily revamped pitching staff for the upcoming campaign.
The long-term deal will begin this year, covering three arbitration seasons and buying out two free-agent years.
Overcoming a history of injuries
Once regarded as one of baseball’s premier pitching prospects, the 26-year-old has been restricted to just 286 major league innings because of severe fitness issues.
He underwent a pair of elbow surgeries in 2022, including an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.
Those extensive operations forced the former first-round draft pick to miss the entirety of 2023 and half of the 2024 season.
However, he managed a significant workload last year for Tampa Bay, throwing 166.1 innings and registering an impressive 176 strikeouts.
Baltimore bets on premium velocity
The franchise paid a high price for the former Pittsburgh draftee over the winter, trading four prospects and a 2026 draft pick to secure his services.
That significant investment reflects immense confidence in a devastating five-pitch arsenal.
The right-hander boasts a fastball that routinely reaches 99 mph, complemented by a wicked knuckle curve.
Although his 4.87 ERA last season was above the league average, his elite strikeout numbers suggest a return to top form.
A transformed starting rotation
Starting pitching proved to be a critical weakness for Baltimore last year as they finished with a 75-87 record and missed the postseason.
Management aggressively addressed those deficiencies over the winter with several veteran additions.
Free agents Chris Bassitt and Zach Eflin were signed to bring vital experience to the clubhouse.
They join an increasingly formidable group that features opening-day starter Trevor Rogers and the returning Kyle Bradish.