Giddyup, cowboy.

No. 1 seeds Texas & South Carolina complete the Elite Eight sweep

The No. 1 seeds have done it again, as South Carolina and Texas cruised through Monday’s Elite Eight closers to book just the second full-slate Final Four repeat in women’s NCAA tournament history.

• Texas dominated No. 2 Michigan from the jump, ousting the Wolverines 77-41 in a team effort that saw four Longhorns score in the double-digits. (Watch full highlights)

• Afterwards, South Carolina flew past No. 3 TCU, securing the 78-52 win behind sophomore Joyce Edwards’s 24-point, 12-rebound double-double. (Watch full highlights)

Setting the field: The SEC giants will now meet fellow No. 1 seeds UConn and UCLA in Phoenix — though the bracket looks a little different this year.

• UConn faces 2025 runner-up South Carolina in Friday’s quarterfinal, while UCLA squares off against Texas after the Longhorns handed the Bruins their only 2025/26 loss last November.

• “The feeling of losing was not good last year,” said Gamecocks guard Tessa Johnson. “But this is a whole new year, whole new team.”

Up next: The Final Four tips off on Friday at 7 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Houston Rockets confirm Connecticut Sun sale

The Comets are officially slated for a comeback, as the WNBA and Fertitta family confirmed the Houston Rockets owners’ plan to buy the Connecticut Sun and relocate the franchise to Texas.

• The Sun will to spend the 2026 season Uncasville, with the team already staffing up ahead of next year’s big move.

• “I would have loved to remain in the region for our fan base,” Sun president Jen Rizzotti told The AP. “I’m at a point now where my focus turns to making this the best season we can have... It’s an opportunity to say thank you to them.” (See full report)

Legacy revival: The Comets won the WNBA’s first four championships from 1997 to 2000, fueled by stars Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson.

• The team then suspended operations in 2009, hanging onto the brand rights for potential future investment.

• “Houston has a proud championship history in the WNBA,” said Rockets Alternate Governor Patrick Fertitta. “We believe the time is right to begin the next great era of Comets basketball.” (See full statement)

WTA rankings shift as clay-court season begins

After wrapping up March’s hard-court swing, the WTA released its new rankings on Monday, with tennis stars rising and falling as the sport turns to clay.

• Clay-court specialist Iga Świątek skidded to No. 4 after last week’s Miami Open upset, ceding No. 3 to runner-up Coco Gauff.

• Sunshine Double winner Aryna Sabalenka held strong on top, passing Świątek to claim the WTA’s third-longest No. 1 streak this century behind retired icons Serena Williams and Ash Barty.

• Filipina fan favorite Alexandra Eala saw the biggest drop, falling 16 spots to No. 45 after losing steam in the States this month. (See full rankings)

Shifting landscape: The tennis world saw another big report on Monday, as the WTA plans to move its Finals tournament out of Saudi Arabia after 2026 — unexpectedly cutting short the controversial partnership.

• The Finals have taken place in Riyadh since 2024, as officials start the search for the November tournament’s new host.

NCAA volleyball heads to Wrigley Field

The NCAA is taking fans out to the ballgame, as Big Ten and SEC volleyball announced plans to close out the inaugural Big Ten/SEC Challenge Week at Chicago’s historic Wrigley Field.

• Nebraska will take on Missouri while Penn State battles Kentucky in the September 6th doubleheader, capping the weeklong event’s final matchday.

Big picture: This isn’t Wrigley’s first foray into women’s sports, as the stadium hosted a record-breaking NWSL game in 2024 before welcoming Big Ten women’s hockey to the Frozen Confines in early 2025.

• “Bringing the SEC and Big Ten together for a championship-caliber volleyball showcase, culminating at an iconic venue like Wrigley Field, reflects the extraordinary momentum of the sport,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. (See full release)

Seattle’s Hilary Knight makes PWHL return

Team USA hero Hilary Knight is back, taking the ice for the first time since January 28th on Sunday after Seattle removed the Olympic gold medalist from its long-term injured reserve list.

• After suffering a torn MCL in Milan, Knight enters the final stretch of the PWHL season with three goals and seven assists for the Torrent. (See full stats)

Big picture: While Seattle will be happy to have its captain back, the last-place Torrent is likely more focused on the draft than the playoffs, racking up just 22 points through 23 games played this season. (See full standings)

Number of the day 

142

Texas has outscored NCAA tournament opponents by a total of 142 points so far, with Monday’s 36-point margin tied for the third-largest in Elite Eight history.