Put ‘em on speed dial.

Tennessee fights for March Madness survival

Let the Madness begin, as the 2026 NCAA basketball tournament tips off today — with one first-round matchup set to bust brackets from the jump.

• No. 10 Tennessee takes on No. 7 NC State tonight, with both programs looking to conjure past tournament success after up and down seasons.

• “I would love to get back to being the hardest playing team on the floor,” Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell said. “That means 50/50 balls, we’re getting on them, we're taking charges, we’re diving on loose balls, we have great energy, we’re playing as a team.” (See full bracket)

Stiff competition: After a promising start to SEC play, Tennessee hit the skids in recent weeks, finishing the season 8-8 in conference play and 16-13 overall — while also dealing with some headline-making friction on the bench.

• “Tennessee is super quick, athletic,” said NC State head coach Wes Moore, after the Wolfpack topped the Lady Vols 80-77 in the pairs’ only 2025/26 meeting. “They’ve got a lot of people that are long and athletic and make it a challenge.” (See full recap)

Tune in: Tennessee takes on NC State tonight at 8 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Can these No. 3 seeds pull off Cinderella runs?

In the women’s NCAA tournament’s 44-year history, just three No. 3 seeds have won a national title — and this year’s crop of third-seeded challengers is aiming to add their names to that list.

• Duke, Louisville, TCU, and Ohio State have all earned first-round hosting duties after strong conference tournament runs, looking to turn late-season momentum into deep March Madness campaigns.

• “We don’t get to control the length of our adversity… You get to control who you are in it,” Duke head coach Kara Lawson said ahead of her team’s ACC title win.

Taking stock: Mirroring history’s No. 3 champions — UNC (1994), Tennessee (1997), and LSU (2023) — this year’s batch has its own dangerous qualities.

• Duke showcases a strong commitment to defense, Louisville has honed its ability to stretch the floor, and TCU and Ohio State have exhibited stellar guard play from the point of attack all season long.

Tune in: Duke tips off the first round’s third-seeded lineup against No. 14 Charleston today at 11:30 AM ET, live on ESPN2.

Cascadia Rivalry headlines NWSL weekend

The 2026 NWSL season is coming in hot, firing up one of the league’s most historic rivalries as Portland and Seattle prepare for tonight’s Cascadia Clash.

• Both teams enter the game on a high, after the Thorns topped the Spirit 1-0 while the Reign dispatched the Pride 2-1 in last weekend’s openers.

• “They look pretty similar to what they were last year,” Seattle head coach Laura Harvey said of her Pacific Northwest foe. “Young, hungry, work really hard for each other.”

Big picture: The Reign could have an additional disadvantage tonight, after travel headaches and a rain-delayed season kickoff cut into expected recovery time.

• “We’ve just got to go with what we think and how people are feeling,” said Harvey. “There’s no one that you can look at and go, ‘They’re fresh and ready.’ Everybody’s sort of in the same boat.”

• “It’s about balancing preparing for them while also focusing on ourselves and our principles,” said Portland midfielder Sam Hiatt. “No matter what shape or style they come out in, we want to be ready to read it and react accordingly.”

Tune in: The Thorns host the Reign 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, Ole Miss star Cotie McMahon sits down with Lisa as the Rebels gear up for their March Madness run (Hotty Toddy!).

• Cotie reflects on her transfer from Ohio State to Ole Miss, why Coach Yo’s offer was so easy to accept, and how she’s grown into a more versatile, confident player — one Lisa says is ready for the WNBA.

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

Denver adds new faces ahead of home opener

2026 NWSL newcomer Denver is building steam, making three aggressive signings this week that point to the first-year Summit’s postseason ambitions.

• The team brought on Houston Dash duo and 2023 NWSL champions Delanie Sheehan and Yazmeen Ryan this week for a reported $800,000 in total transfer fees plus $200,000 in allocation funds, while also signing Japan international Yuzuki Yamamoto from Tokyo Verdy Beleza.

• “We are thrilled to add both Yazmeen and Delanie to our group,” said Denver Summit FC GM Curt Johnson. “Both players have won trophies and had tremendous NWSL careers. They will immediately help us both on and off the field.” (See full statement)

Out the gate: The Summit will lean on its new talent tonight against Orlando, after falling to Bay FC 2-1 in last weekend’s inaugural match. (See full recap)

Tune in: Denver visits Orlando tonight at 8 PM ET, live on Victory+.

NCAA Frozen Four drops the puck

The 2026 Frozen Four drops the puck today, as three of college hockey’s top teams chase reigning champion Wisconsin for Sunday’s national title.

• No. 5 Northeastern opens the competition against No. 1 seed Ohio State after upsetting No. 4 Minnesota, before No. 3 Penn State hunts its own upset against the No. 2 Badgers. (See full bracket)

Big picture: OSU locked in one piece of its future this week, signing title-winning head coach Nadine Muzerall to a five-year contract extension.

• “There is one person to lead @OhioStateWHKY,” tweeted Buckeyes athletic director Ross Bjork. “[Muzerall] hasn’t just coached a team; she’s built a powerhouse on & off the ice.” (See full report)

Tune in: The Frozen Four takes the ice today at 4 PM ET, live on ESPN+.

FIFA sets women’s soccer coaching quota

FIFA codified its equity push this week, passing legislation requiring that every women’s team participating in a FIFA-sanctioned event must feature a woman head coach or assistant coach going forward.

• The new ruling comes ahead of this year’s U17 and U20 Women’s World Cups, with all of FIFA's national team tournaments and club competitions also subject to the new mandate.

Big picture: “There are simply not enough women in coaching today,” FIFA chief football officer Jill Ellis said. “We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing the visibility for women on our sidelines.” (See full statement)

Number of the day

20

It’s been 20 years since women’s basketball icon Candace Parker dunked at the 2006 NCAA tournament — the first-ever woman to pull off the feat during March Madness.