Defending champions the UConn Huskies begin their quest for a 13th national title and a seventh perfect season when they face UTSA in the opening round of the 2026 women’s NCAA tournament.
Geno Auriemma’s side enter March Madness as the number one overall seed on the back of a formidable 50-game winning streak.
The collegiate powerhouse boast an unblemished 34-0 record this campaign.
They currently possess Division I’s most relentless defence, conceding a mere 50.4 points per game while averaging 88.8 points offensively.
Scouting the unbeatable
Rival coaches and analysts face an immense challenge in devising a blueprint to disrupt the tournament favourites.
Led by national player of the year favourite Sarah Strong, the Huskies have dismantled almost every opponent with ease.
Projected 2026 WNBA number one draft pick Azzi Fudd provides devastating firepower for the reigning champions.
The dominant programme has secured victory by double digits in all but one fixture this season.
The path to another crown
The road to glory begins in the Fort Worth 1 Regional on Saturday against 16th seed UTSA.
Karen Aston’s Roadrunners claimed the American Conference championship to secure only their third ever NCAA tournament appearance.
Despite the Texas-based outfit arriving with momentum, history remains heavily stacked against them.
Only one 16th seed has ever eliminated a top seed in the history of the women’s competition.
Overcoming the psychological hurdle
A significant part of defeating the 12-time national champions involves overcoming their towering reputation.
“They win so many games before the tip.”
One anonymous evaluator highlighted the immense mental block teams face before even stepping onto the court.
Should the tournament follow projected seedings, a tantalising rematch of the 2025 NCAA title game against South Carolina awaits in the Final Four.
However, snapping this historic undefeated run will require a flawless performance from any challenger brave enough to take them on.
Arsenal will host Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday amid transfer interest in Kai Havertz and praise for record-breaking teenager Max Dowman.
The Premier League leaders are looking to advance in Europe after extending their advantage at the summit of the domestic table with a weekend victory over Everton.
German international Havertz is vying for a starting spot against his former employers, having scored a crucial late penalty to equalise in the first leg.
Leverkusen leave door open for Havertz
The 25-year-old forward initially made his name at the BayArena, registering 150 appearances as a teenager before sealing a lucrative £72m move to Chelsea in 2020.
Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes has publicly admitted he would make a rare exception to re-sign the versatile attacker.
“I’m generally sceptical about bringing former players back, but with Kai and Florian Wirtz, I would make an exception,” Rolfes told German television.
The Bundesliga club maintain a close relationship with their academy graduate following his departure four years ago.
“He spent 10 years in our youth system, we maintain close contact with Kai and if the situation arises, we would need to have a conversation,” the director added.
However, the Leverkusen chief acknowledged that the in-form forward is currently thriving in North London and remains focused on reaching the pinnacle of world football.
Arteta calls for calm over record-breaker Dowman
While the former Chelsea man drew a blank against the Toffees last weekend, 16-year-old academy product Max Dowman seized the spotlight.
The highly-rated midfielder became the Premier League’s youngest-ever goalscorer to secure a vital three points for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The teenage starlet previously made his European debut as a substitute against Slavia Prague in November.
Despite the growing clamour for the youngster to earn a starting berth, the Gunners boss is determined to manage expectations carefully.
“Let’s come down to earth today and enjoy the moment, because it was intense and it was worth it and we will see tomorrow,” Arteta stated.
The Spanish tactician must now balance his squad effectively as the title challengers continue to compete for silverware across four different competitions.
Duke have been named the top overall seed for the men’s NCAA tournament, joining Arizona, Michigan and defending champions Florida as the four number one seeds for March Madness.
The Blue Devils enter the three-week post-season tournament boasting an impressive 11-game winning streak.
They possess a formidable 32-2 record and feature player-of-the-year favourite Cameron Boozer.
Boozer has been instrumental in guiding the Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse to the summit of collegiate basketball this season.
Heavyweights clash in East Region
The top-seeded squad will face stiff competition in a highly competitive East bracket.
Connecticut have been drawn as the number two seed in the same section.
A storied group of Hall of Fame coaches will also navigate the East region.
Tom Izzo’s Michigan State, Bill Self’s Kansas and Rick Pitino’s St John’s all pose significant threats in the 16-team quadrant.
Wildcats aim to end Final Four drought
Out West, Arizona are targeting their first Final Four appearance since 2001.
The Tucson-based outfit must navigate a challenging path that includes second-seeded Purdue.
Gonzaga, Arkansas and Wisconsin also feature in a punishing West bracket.
Miami secure final tournament spot
Further down the seeding, Miami of Ohio successfully claimed the final at-large tournament berth.
The RedHawks recently suffered their first defeat of the campaign against UMass in the Mid-American Conference quarter-finals.
They will now face Southern Methodist University in the preliminary First Four round.
Former heavyweight world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have reportedly agreed terms for a highly anticipated all-British mega-fight.
The historic bout between the iconic fighters has been speculated upon for years but repeatedly failed to materialise.
However, veteran boxing journalist Gareth A Davies has now revealed that a deal is firmly in place for the long-time rivals to finally meet in the ring.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Davies claimed that an agreement has been quietly secured by major financial backers.
“The Fury-Joshua fight is signed. Okay, it is signed in the background. I’ve got that on good authority,” Davies said.
Fury builds towards highly anticipated ring return
‘The Gypsy King’ is currently preparing to end his brief retirement when he faces Arslanbek Makhmudov on 11 April.
The 37-year-old previously stepped away from the sport following consecutive defeats to Ukrainian undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
His upcoming comeback card is being facilitated by Saudi Arabian powerbrokers, which perfectly aligns with the lucrative forces expected to back the Joshua clash.
Addressing the definitive timeline for the domestic showdown, Davies expressed supreme confidence that the historic event is firmly on track.
“Agreed. They are moving towards it, but they both want the fight. It’s on the cards and it’s going to happen.”
Joshua plans comeback following tragic accident
While his rival prepares for April, the Watford-born star remains sidelined following his involvement in a fatal car crash in Nigeria last December.
The tragic accident cast significant doubt over his boxing future, but the Olympic gold medallist is now expected to resume his professional career.
Prior to the incident, the 35-year-old had returned to winning ways with a brutal knockout victory against American crossover star Jake Paul.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has publicly indicated that a July return is the most realistic target for the former unified champion.
Recent reports suggest he could initially face compatriot Dillian Whyte to settle an old rivalry before turning his full attention to the looming mega-fight.
Number 18-ranked Purdue overcame a late-season slump to defeat third-ranked Michigan 80-72 and clinch the Big Ten tournament championship in Chicago on Sunday.
Oscar Cluff led the scoring with 21 points to help the Boilermakers secure their first conference tournament crown since 2023.
Trey Kaufman-Renn also proved instrumental, adding 20 points in a dominant offensive display.
Impressive turnaround
The victory marks a remarkable reversal of fortune for a team that had lost four of their final six regular-season fixtures.
Braden Smith orchestrated the attack masterfully, contributing a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists alongside three steals.
Fletcher Loyer provided crucial spacing from the perimeter by sinking three three-pointers on his way to 14 points.
Wolverines fall short
The top-seeded Wolverines had previously beaten their conference rivals 91-80 during a regular-season meeting in February.
However, they were unable to replicate that success despite a 20-point performance from standout forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
Aday Mara also fought hard for the losing side, tallying 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
The historic triumph serves as sweet revenge for the newly crowned champions, having previously lost to their opponents in the 1998 and 2018 finals.
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics have concluded with a vibrant closing ceremony at the Cortina Curling Centre, marking the end of a record-breaking Games.
The 50th anniversary of the event featured an unprecedented 611 competitors representing 55 nations across six different sports.
Titled ‘Italian Souvenir’, the farewell spectacle combined music, dance and light displays to honour the achievements of those who took to the snow and ice.
The Paralympic flag was subsequently handed over to the organising committee for the French Alps 2030, before the flames in both host cities were finally extinguished.
Parsons praises athlete resilience
International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons used his closing address to commend the Italian public and highlight the legacy left behind.
The Brazilian administrator reserved his highest praise for the competitors themselves.
“You rose above pressure, expectation and global tension to keep the focus where it belongs: on you and your sport,” said Parsons.
“You expanded the imagination of the world. You have shown that excellence is universal and that determination knows no boundaries.”
“The Games have not only celebrated sport – they reminded us that when we focus on human potential, sport can unite and empower us in ways few other things can.”
Russian return sparks podium protests
A major talking point throughout the fortnight was the return of Russian competitors under their national flag for the first time since the Sochi 2014 Games.
The governing body had lifted its suspension in September, ending a ban initially imposed over state-sponsored doping and extended following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Their presence in Alpine and cross-country skiing events triggered widespread controversy, including an opening ceremony boycott by Ukraine and several other nations.
Tensions spilled onto the podium when German cross-country skier Linn Kazmaier and guide Florian Baumann turned their backs on Anastasiia Bagiian after the Russian pair claimed gold in the vision-impaired sprint.
Despite the friction, the six-strong Russian delegation finished third in the overall medal table with 12 podium finishes, including eight golds.
Masters cements legendary status
Away from the political disputes, American Oksana Masters further established her status as one of the greatest adaptive athletes in history.
The 36-year-old secured four golds and a bronze in Italy, elevating her astonishing career medal tally to 24.
Dominating both cross-country skiing and biathlon, the United States’ most decorated Winter Paralympian recorded her highest single-Games gold medal haul.
Born with physical defects linked to the Chernobyl radiation disaster, the multi-sport star continues to rewrite the record books on the global stage.
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has heavily criticised Liverpool’s faltering Premier League title defence, branding Arne Slot’s side “bad champions” after falling 21 points behind leaders Arsenal.
The Merseyside club cruised to domestic glory last season but have struggled to maintain their dominance during the current campaign.
Hopes of retaining their hard-won crown were effectively extinguished following a disappointing weekend draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Missing the required standard
The outspoken pundit, who secured seven league titles during his time at Old Trafford, was scathing in his assessment of the Anfield outfit.
“Considering they were league champions last year and I have said it before, Liverpool are bad champions,” Keane told Sky Sports.
“They’ve been bad champions, they were bad champions a few years ago.”
That latest result leaves the reigning titleholders with a massive deficit to make up in their remaining eight fixtures.
Chemistry and consistency questioned
“To be 21 points behind Arsenal, what a drop off that is,” Keane added.
The former midfielder suggested that deeper issues are currently plaguing the club’s dressing room.
“I think there is stuff going on, I don’t think they are on the same page, there doesn’t seem to be the same chemistry with the players.”
A stark warning for the leaders
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal currently sit in pole position to claim their first top-flight crown in over two decades.
The North Londoners require just 16 points from their final seven matches after closest rivals Manchester City dropped points against West Ham.
However, the Irish football legend cautioned the prospective champions against resting on their laurels next year.
“When I see these teams winning trophies and then disappear for ten to 15 years,” Keane noted.
“You do not want Arsenal to disappear for the next three, four, five years.
“You’ve got to back it up, don’t be 20, 30 points behind the top team next year, you have got to compete, that is your challenge.”
Darius Acuff Jr scored 30 points as 17th-ranked Arkansas beat Vanderbilt 86-75 to claim their first SEC tournament title since 2000 and secure an automatic NCAA tournament berth.
The freshman point guard also provided 11 assists during a dominant performance in Nashville, Tennessee.
Victory for the Razorbacks secured a monumental milestone for their veteran head coach.
John Calipari became the first head coach in SEC history to lift the tournament trophy with two different programmes.
Calipari achieves historic conference double
He previously guided Kentucky to six SEC tournament crowns, with his last triumph coming in 2018.
His latest success brings his phenomenal career tally to 16 conference tournament championships.
The showpiece event developed into a fascinating battle between two highly rated guards.
Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner was tasked with containing the SEC player of the year, but struggled to restrict the dynamic teenager.
The mesmerising playmaker dazzled the crowd with a combination of fadeaway jumpers, deep three-pointers and intricate passing.
Razorbacks pull away in tense finale
Despite leading 41-39 at the interval, Arkansas found themselves trailing early in the second half.
A crucial three-pointer from AK Okereke sparked a 9-4 run that gave the Commodores their largest advantage of the contest at 55-49.
However, the 22nd-ranked outfit subsequently suffered a disastrous shooting slump.
They missed 12 of their next 13 attempts, allowing their opponents to mount a ferocious comeback.
With the match delicately poised at 66-66, the Razorbacks executed a flawless 12-0 scoring burst to emphatically seal the championship.
Supporting cast delivers on the big stage
Billy Richmond III contributed a vital 18 points to support the scoring masterclass from his backcourt partner.
Trevon Brazile added 16 points, while D.J. Wagner chipped in with 11 to ensure a comfortable winning margin.
Duke Miles and Tyler Nickel paced the scoring for Vanderbilt with 19 points apiece in a valiant losing effort.
The defeat denied the Commodores their first tournament title since 2012, when they famously defeated Calipari’s Kentucky side.