Madison Booker scored a career-high 40 points to lead the top-seeded Texas Longhorns to a commanding 100-58 victory over the Oregon Ducks in the second round of the women’s NCAA tournament on Sunday.
The three-time All-American delivered a dazzling display of shot-making, creating scoring opportunities from all over the court right from the opening tip-off.
She had already registered 19 points by the end of the first half, completely dismantling the defensive schemes deployed by the visiting team.
Third-quarter surge seals Sweet 16 spot
A spectacular three-point play early in the third quarter saw the versatile playmaker muscle through three defenders for a layup, sparking a devastating 19-4 run.
This explosive burst transformed a competitive contest into an absolute rout, with the hosts ultimately outscoring their opponents 28-8 during that decisive 10-minute spell.
Oregon initially kept pace through impressive first-quarter shooting, but they simply had no answer to the supreme ball-handling and physicality of the game’s standout performer.
Home dominance continues for top seeds
Katie Fiso managed a respectable 16 points to lead the scoring for the eighth seeds, whose campaign concludes with a 23-13 overall record.
In stark contrast, Sunday’s emphatic triumph extended an extraordinary home winning streak to 44 games for the formidable Texas programme.
Boasting an exceptional 33-3 season record, the Longhorns now advance to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year as they continue their pursuit of back-to-back Final Four appearances.
They will next travel to Fort Worth to face either fourth-seeded West Virginia or number five seeds Kentucky in the subsequent phase of the competition.
Amaya Battle scored a dramatic jump shot with 0.7 seconds remaining to give Minnesota a 65-63 victory over Ole Miss and secure their first women’s NCAA tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 21 years.
The senior point guard drove along the baseline before stepping back to sink the decisive basket in front of a raucous home crowd at Williams Arena.
A desperate final attempt from the visitors fell short, sparking wild celebrations among the 10,763 fans in attendance.
“I think any basketball player, when you shoot on your own, you’re like, ‘OK, three, two, one,’ throw it up there and see what happens. It was real life today.”
Amaya Battle
A fairytale finish for the Gophers
The 22-year-old finished an outstanding individual performance with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
Her pivotal contribution was not limited to the offensive end of the court.
With just over four minutes remaining, she drew a crucial charging foul on Cotie McMahon, eliminating the opposition’s star player from the contest.
“That was our best defense, not having her on the court, very honestly. You can’t make this stuff up.”
Dawn Plitzuweit, Minnesota head coach
Overcoming formidable opposition
Prior to fouling out, McMahon had been dominating the game with 15 points on highly efficient shooting.
The SEC Newcomer of the Year is widely projected to be a first-round selection in next month’s WNBA draft.
However, the top-16 seeded hosts possessed multiple attacking threats of their own to counter the talented forward.
Mara Braun led the scoring for the victorious side, contributing 17 points to ensure her team stayed within striking distance.
“She hits those shots every day in practice over our scout guys. Everyone I think knew that it was in.”
Mara Braun
Heartbreak for the Rebels
The defeat brings a bitter end to the season for the Mississippi-based squad.
Their head coach could only marvel at the dramatic conclusion to the fiercely contested match.
“That’s out of a Disney movie.”
Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss head coach
Tyler Reddick overcame extreme cockpit temperatures and a malfunctioning battery to win the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway on Sunday for his fourth victory of the season.
The 23XI Racing driver started from pole position but immediately faced electrical problems on the opening lap.
An alternator failure caused a dangerous voltage drop, forcing him to disable his cooling fans and water-circulation suit in sweltering South Carolina heat.
Battling extreme heat and ‘The Lady in Black’
Despite sweating heavily in the punishing conditions, the championship contender managed the crisis masterfully over 293 laps.
“The battery wasn’t charging at all,” Reddick said. “All day long just not running fans and sweating my tail off inside the race car.”
The Californian found himself trailing Brad Keselowski by seven seconds after the final round of pit stops.
However, making the most of fresher tyres, he hunted down his rival to make the decisive, race-winning pass on lap 266.
Jordan praises the resilience of his driver
He ultimately crossed the finish line with a commanding 5.8-second advantage over the field.
Ryan Blaney took third place, with Carson Hocevar and Austin Cindric rounding out the top five at the notoriously difficult 1.366-mile oval.
Basketball legend Michael Jordan, who co-owns the winning team alongside Denny Hamlin, praised his driver’s remarkable mental fortitude.
“I think the key to him winning was just keeping his head,” Jordan stated. “I just wanted everything to be good, because once he gets back out there, then I feel like his competitive juices are going to carry him all the way to the end.”
Keselowski concedes defeat to ‘rocket’ car
Keselowski led a race-high 142 laps but admitted he was powerless to hold off the charging Toyota Camry in the closing stages.
“We didn’t have the best car today, not compared to Tyler,” Keselowski conceded. “Tyler drove a hell of a race, and he’s driving a rocket.”
The triumph marks a long-awaited breakthrough at Darlington for the former dirt racer, who had previously finished as runner-up at the circuit on three separate occasions.
Dylan Darling scored a driving layup as time expired to give St. John’s a dramatic 67-65 victory over Kansas in San Diego on Sunday, sending the programme to its first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 since 1999.
The tenacious point guard coolly secured the win after the Jayhawks had erased a 13-point deficit in the final eight minutes.
Darryn Peterson hit two crucial free throws to level the score at 65-65 with just 13.1 seconds remaining on the clock.
Utilising their remaining fouls, the opposition wound the clock down to 3.9 seconds to set the stage for the final play.
Pitino’s side survive late scare
Receiving the ball at the top of the key, the Idaho State transfer drove through the lane to bank in his only basket of the game.
The buzzer-beater sparked wild celebrations, with teammates tackling the match-winner in front of the travelling band.
Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins had earlier laid the foundation for the fifth-seeded Red Storm, scoring 18 points apiece.
Under the guidance of 73-year-old head coach Rick Pitino, the Big East champions have now won 21 of their last 22 fixtures.
Duke await in regional semi-finals
The historic victory sets up a monumental clash against overall top seed Duke in the East Region semi-finals in Washington.
This encounter also marked a rare meeting between two Hall of Fame managers, with Pitino overcoming 63-year-old Bill Self.
Despite 21 points from Peterson and a 15-point haul from Melvin Council Jr, the fourth-seeded side fell short of the next round.
Having ended Arizona’s unbeaten season in early February, the former national champions subsequently suffered a significant dip in form, losing six of their final 11 games.
NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children have died in a house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, the league has announced.
The 37-year-old spent the past decade covering the Minnesota Wild as a dedicated correspondent for NHL.com.
Firefighters responded to emergency calls on Saturday morning after neighbours reported seeing flames breaking through the roof of the property.
Crews from the White Bear Lake Fire Department located an adult, three children and a family dog deceased inside the home.
Devastating loss for the hockey community
The cause of the fatal blaze remains under active investigation by local authorities.
Tributes have poured in from across the sport for the highly respected journalist.
“The entire NHL.com team is devastated and heartbroken by the loss of Jessi and her children.”
That was the sentiment of Bill Price, vice president and editor-in-chief of NHL.com, who praised her undeniable passion.
“Jessi’s love of her family and hockey was evident in the energy and passion she brought to her work for us. She will be deeply missed.”
Wild pay their respects
The Minnesota Wild also expressed their deep sorrow over the tragedy in a statement released on social media.
They described the long-serving writer as a kind and compassionate person who served as a true ambassador for the game.
The league issued its own official message to offer prayers and deepest condolences to the grieving relatives.
“Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly.”
Profound community impact
Fire chief Greg Peterson acknowledged the significant emotional toll of the incident on the local area.
“Our hearts ache for those involved in this tragedy. We ask for the opportunity to allow our community to come together and support one another during this difficult time.”
Minnesota is widely recognised as the traditional “State of Hockey” within the United States.
The Wild franchise has boasted one of the competition’s most passionate fanbases since its inception in 2000.
Two unnamed Brentford footballers suffered minor injuries after stepping in to stop an alleged racially motivated attack in Richmond during the early hours of Sunday.
The Premier League duo intervened to assist a man who was being targeted at approximately 02:00 GMT on Queen’s Road.
Witnesses reported that the pair successfully de-escalated the confrontation before emergency services arrived at the scene.
Neither individual sustained serious harm during the altercation and both were confirmed to be in good health later that day.
Police launch investigation
The incident took place just miles from the club’s headquarters as the squad returned to the capital from Yorkshire.
Following their final fixture before the international break, the players had been granted permission to make their own travel arrangements.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers attended the scene and have since engaged with the victim of the assault.
“The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time.”
Metropolitan Police Spokesperson
Chasing European qualification
Prior to the incident, the west Londoners had secured a hard-fought goalless draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.
The point ensures the Bees remain firmly in the hunt for European football despite defying pre-season relegation fears.
Following the departure of their former manager and two top scorers in the summer, the club currently sits seventh in the top flight.
They are now just three points adrift of fifth place, a position that could secure Champions League qualification next season.
Andrews praises squad resilience
Current head coach Keith Andrews highlighted his immense pride in the squad after navigating a heavily disrupted week of preparation.
The manager commended his defensive unit for adapting swiftly to late tactical changes against a challenging opponent.
“A clean sheet was huge and how we defended the box was sensational.”
Keith Andrews
Andrews added that his pride in the team and staff remains constant regardless of the final whistle outcome.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has confirmed he will not rest Lionel Messi in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, describing the forward as essential to the club’s success.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner played the full 90 minutes and scored as the Florida franchise defeated New York City FC 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters via Zoom while serving a touchline ban, Mascherano stressed the absolute importance of his captain.
Managing the workload
“Clearly, he is a vital player for us if we are to achieve our objectives; quite frankly, without him, it would be impossible for us to reach the goals we have set for ourselves.”
The former Barcelona midfielder acknowledged the physical demands on the veteran attacker as the international tournament in North America approaches.
However, the Miami boss insisted the global superstar prefers to remain active on the pitch rather than watching from the sidelines.
“We try to look after him as much as possible, but we know that he is the kind of player who feels most comfortable when he is out on the pitch playing.”
International commitments
The legendary playmaker will now travel to join the Argentina squad for their March international fixtures against Mauritania and Zambia.
The reigning world champions were originally scheduled to face Spain in the Finalissima, but the fixture was cancelled after UEFA and CONMEBOL failed to agree on a new venue.
Following his national team duties, the World Cup-winning captain will return to a significantly streamlined domestic schedule.
Inter Miami were recently eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup by Nashville SC, leaving them solely focused on Major League Soccer.
Monitoring physical condition
“There are only two or three weeks where we won’t have a game during the week; otherwise, it will be a schedule of one match per week.”
With fewer midweek fixtures on the horizon, the coaching staff plan to assess the talismanic forward on a daily basis.
The prolific goalscorer has yet to officially confirm his participation in the 2026 World Cup, stating his decision will depend entirely on his fitness levels.
“We have to keep the lines of communication open, constantly checking in on his physical sensations and how he is feeling.”
Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was dropped from the squad for Sunday’s Madrid derby against Atletico after reportedly arriving late to training.
The former Liverpool full-back was a surprise omission from the starting line-up as Dani Carvajal took his place on the right flank.
Manager Alvaro Arbeloa made the decision to exclude the 27-year-old to maintain dressing room discipline.
Arbeloa enforces strict standards
Spanish outlet Marca reported that the defender failed to arrive on time for one of the final sessions of the week.
The decision was described as a clear message focused on respecting the team’s code of conduct.
Prior to this incident, the English international had started all of Real’s last four Champions League fixtures.
He had also appeared in five consecutive La Liga matches before last week’s victory over Elche.
Double blow follows England omission
It has been a challenging week for the academy graduate, who was also excluded from Thomas Tuchel’s expanded 35-man England squad.
“I know it’s a tough decision for Trent as it is for Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw. These tough decisions come from the job.”
Thomas Tuchel
The national team boss explained that his choice was purely sporting, opting to retain Tino Livramento, Djed Spence, and Jarell Quansah.
“It’s a tough one, it’s a big name, a huge talent and a big career, but I know what Trent can give us and have decided to stick with the players we have.”
Thomas Tuchel
A mixed debut season in Spain
Since departing Anfield last summer, the right-back has endured a varied first season at the Bernabeu.
His campaign has been interrupted by two separate injury spells, though he has still managed 25 appearances across all competitions.
He recently drew praise for his performances in the Champions League double-header against Manchester City.
There is also the potential for a reunion with his childhood club later in the season.
If Real overcome Bayern Munich and Liverpool defeat Paris Saint-Germain, the two sides will meet in the Champions League semi-finals.