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LSU battles Duke in Sweet 16 showdown

March Madness is back, as today’s Sweet 16 tips off a stacked weekend slate set to determine this year’s Final Four — with top seeds already primed to collide.

• No. 2 seed LSU faces No. 3 Duke tonight, with the bounce-back Blue Devils looking to avenge December’s 93-77 loss to the Tigers.

• “We’re not the same team,” said Duke senior Ashlon Jackson. “I would love to see our development over the months that it’s been since we played them.” (See full bracket)

On a roll: Both Duke and LSU have blown through the tournament, as Blue Devils coach Kara Lawson and Tigers boss Kim Mulkey crank up the postseason heat.

• “I’ve gotten to the Elite Eight [every year] since I got to LSU,” said Tigers guard Mikaylah Williams. “It would be lovely for me to get past the Elite Eight and make it to the Final Four. We’re almost there.”

• Despite Duke’s recent surge, Las Vegas is currently leaning toward the SEC titans, favoring LSU by 8.5 points over the ACC underdogs. (See full odds)

Tune in: LSU tips off against Duke tonight at 10 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Star guards step up in Sweet 16 opener

Star guards are stepping up, as Hannah Hidalgo and No. 6 seed Notre Dame opens today’s Sweet 16 lineup against Mikayla Blakes and No. 2 Vanderbilt.

• Naismith Player of the Year finalist and DI leading scorer Blakes anchors the Commodores, as they attempt to hold off Defensive Player of the Year candidate and DI steals leader Hidalgo.

• Blakes averaged 27.5 points per game through the NCAA tournament’s first two rounds, while Hidalgo powered Notre Dame past No. 3 Ohio State with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and eight steals. (See full stats)

Righting the ship: Both teams are pushing for program turnarounds, as Vanderbilt pursues its first Elite Eight since 2002, while Notre Dame hasn’t reached the fourth round since winning it all under legendary coach Muffet McGraw in 2019.

• “You prepare in November, December, January, so you don’t have to get ready,” said Commodores head coach Shea Ralph. “You don’t have to rise to the level of the occasion, because you’re gonna fall to the level of your standard.”

• The sportsbooks are currently giving Vanderbilt a slight edge, tapping the Commodores as a 5.5-point favorite over the Irish. (See full odds)

Tune in: Notre Dame takes on Vanderbilt today at 2:30 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Unbeaten NWSL squads square off

Just two unbeaten teams remain after midweek NWSL action — and they square off tonight, as Angel City welcomes Houston to LA.

• Each club has earned six points across two games, with ACFC currently sitting atop the NWSL table due to goal differential.

• And both rosters should enter the matchup well rested, with neither team featuring in Wednesday’s slate. (See full standings)

Top dogs: The Dash have yet to concede a goal this season after wins against San Diego and Boston, while Angel City tallied six different goal-scorers over their first two games.

• “We’re in a really good state right now — with rhythm, with how we’re training, with the gelling of the team, so [I] feel very good going into this game,” said Houston manager Fabrice Gautrat.

• “It’s about growing,” said Angel City head coach Alexander Straus. “Having a growth mindset, and understanding that it’s never a ceiling, and you can never be happy and comfortable.”

Tune in: The Dash visit Angel City tonight at 10 PM ET, live on Prime.

Your favorite WNBA show is back, as an all-new Between the Lines with Lisa Leslie presented by Intuit TurboTax brings more unfiltered commentary, insider perspective, and cultural critique to basketball fans everywhere.

• In the episode, Lisa talks with WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike about her role in negotiating the new CBA, from the weight of representing all the players in the league to dealing with media perception.

• “We understand what we’re doing — we’re not asking for exact equal treatment as the men, we’re asking for equitable treatment,” Nneka explained. “Being able to display that internally wasn’t necessarily an issue, but externally there was a lot of noise.”

Tune in: Catch Between the Lines with Lisa Leslie on YouTube.

WNBA drops college draft details

The 2026 WNBA Draft is taking shape, with the league inviting the next generation of pros to New York’s The Shed at Hudson Yards on April 13th.

• The draft tips off eight days after the NCAA tournament final, as the WNBA gears up to open preseason play on April 25th.

• Ticketed fans will be able to attend the event for the third consecutive year, with live coverage on ESPN. (See full release)

How it works: Dallas owns the No. 1 pick for the second straight year, looking to pad its roster after taking reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers in 2025.

• Minnesota will select second, before Seattle, Washington, and Chicago close out the lottery and expansion teams Toronto and Portland welcome their first-ever rookies.

Be there: Tickets for the 2026 WNBA Draft are on sale now via Ticketmaster.

2026 MLV All-Star Match kicks off in Orlando

Major League Volleyball is taking over Orlando, as MLV kicks off its star-studded 2026 All-Star Match on Saturday.

• Two 12-player squads spotlight standouts across MLV's eight teams, as Louisville coach Dan Meske’s Team Meske takes on former Utah boss Beth Launiere’s Team Launiere.

• Eight veteran All-Stars are back at it, including 2025 Libero of the Year Morgan Hentz, Outside Hitter of the Year Brooke Nuneviller, and Most Inspirational Player Shara Venegas. (See full rosters)

Gearing up: “In Orlando, fans will see the spirit of our athletes and the fierce competitiveness that defines that this is the major leagues,” said MLV commissioner Jaime Weston.

Tune-in: The 2026 MLV All-Star Match kicks off tomorrow at 12 PM ET, live on CBS. (Get reminder)

Number of the day 

$876,500

WNBA icon Lisa Leslie would have earned $876,500 from individual awards alone under the league’s new CBA.