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In a stunning turn of events, UConn eliminated No. 1 overall seed Duke from the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, courtesy of Braylon Mullins's three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in their Elite Eight matchup. The Huskies trailed by 15 points at halftime and by two points with 10 seconds remaining, but a crucial turnover gave Mullins the opportunity to nail his three-pointer from beyond the arc, securing a spot in the Final Four.UConn will face Illinois in the national semi-finals. In the other Elite Eight game, Michigan rolled into the Final Four with a convincing 95-62 victory over Tennessee. Yaxel Lendeborg scored 27 points and Elliot Cadeau added 10 assists for the Wolverines, who posted their 11th victory of the season by at least 30 points. Michigan will face Arizona in Saturday's national semi-finals.Michigan's coach Dusty May led the Wolverines to their first Final Four since 2018 and ninth overall. Lendeborg, named the region's Most Outstanding Player, was 10 for 19 from the field and became the first Michigan player to score at least 23 points in three consecutive NCAA Tournament games since Juwan Howard in 1994. Tennessee's coach Rick Barnes acknowledged the team's progress but emphasized the need to improve to reach the next level.

Bath Rugby demonstrated their impressive squad depth with a thrilling comeback victory against Sale Sharks. Despite resting several key players, including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer, Bath conjured up two tries in the final quarter to clinch a bonus-point win.The match, played in difficult, windswept conditions, was an entertaining affair that could have gone either way. However, it was Alfie Barbeary's late try that sealed the win for Bath, putting his side only a point behind the leaders, Northampton.Kepu Tuipulotu, a 20-year-old hooker, was instrumental in the win, breaking on the left touchline and sending a delightful kick downfield for Bernard van der Linde to gather and score in the 62nd minute. This try was converted to level the scores at 26-26.Tuipulotu's performance was praised by Bath's head of rugby, Johann van Graan, who described him as “one of the most explosive players I’ve coached” with “huge potential”.Sale Sharks, missing several key players due to injury, were unable to capitalize on their strong start. Their director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m crestfallen. I’m just gutted for the amount of effort that the lads put in”.The win keeps Bath in contention for a top-four spot, while Sale Sharks' hopes are all but extinguished. Bath will now look ahead to their Champions Cup last-16 home tie against Saracens on Saturday.

Curaçao, a tiny island nation with a population of 155,000, has been on a whirlwind journey since qualifying for their first World Cup last November. Their preparation for the 2026 tournament has been marked by geopolitical challenges, including a complicated flight to Australia for games against China and the Socceroos.The two teams meet in Melbourne on Tuesday, with Curaçao's coach, Fred Rutten, and his assistant, Roel Coumans, bringing a wealth of experience to the encounter. Coumans previously worked with the Socceroos under Bert van Marwijk and has insight into Australia's coaching dynamics.Curaçao's squad, largely comprised of players with Dutch backgrounds, boasts talented individuals like captain Leandro Bacuna and ex-Manchester United midfielder Tahith Chong. Despite being ranked 76th in the world, Coumans is optimistic about Curaçao's chances, citing the team's eager and determined players.The Socceroos, on the other hand, are gearing up for their own World Cup campaign, with a tough opener against Germany on June 14. Curaçao's experience against European giants could prove valuable in their own preparations.As the teams prepare for their respective World Cup campaigns, this FIFA series serves as a crucial test for both Curaçao and the Socceroos. With plenty of goodwill expected from fans, particularly in Holland, Curaçao aims to make a lasting impression on the global stage.

The US Men's National Team (USMNT) faced a daunting challenge as they welcomed Belgium to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for an international friendly, but the match ended in a 5-2 drubbing for the home side.Coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad, still finding its footing under his leadership, struggled to contain Belgium's offense, conceding five consecutive goals after taking an early lead. The loss exposed significant gaps in team chemistry and cohesion, particularly in defensive sequences.Pochettino acknowledged that his team's performance was disjointed and uneven, with players visibly unsure of their responsibilities on the field. He noted that when his team matched Belgium's intensity, they were 'even, in some moment, we were better,' but couldn't sustain that level throughout the 90 minutes.The match saw several US players, including Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic, struggle to adapt to their roles, while Belgium's Jérémy Doku proved particularly troublesome for the US defense. The scoreline flattered Belgium, but Pochettino emphasized that it was a valuable learning experience for his team.With only one friendly remaining against Portugal before naming his squad for the 2026 World Cup cycle, Pochettino faces a challenging task in fine-tuning his team's performance and chemistry. The March window has turned into a 'hell week' for the USMNT, with Tuesday's match against Portugal being the last chance to iron out kinks before the grand stage.

Morocco's national football team has moved on from the controversy surrounding their award of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, despite Senegal's ongoing appeals to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Atlas Lions lost 1-0 to Senegal in the January final but were awarded a 3-0 victory last week due to several Senegalese players leaving the pitch in protest at a penalty. In their first match since the final and the controversial decision, Morocco drew 1-1 against Ecuador in a friendly in Madrid, under the guidance of new coach Mohamed Ouahbi. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emphasized the team's focus on future matches, stating, 'We're focused on what's to come and not getting into that [topic].' The team's supporters also expressed their satisfaction with the decision, with one fan saying, 'If someone says there are regulations, you have to follow them.' With 25 matches unbeaten, Morocco is looking forward to the 2026 World Cup, where they will face record five-time World Cup winners Brazil in their first game. The team's coach, Ouahbi, highlighted the strength of his team, saying, 'I don't talk in terms of weaknesses. We're a top-level team – the Ecuadorian coach reminded us of that.'

Issa Diop's international debut for Morocco has added a new twist to the ongoing dispute between Senegal and Morocco over the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. The Fulham defender, born in France, had his application to switch nationality to Morocco approved by FIFA on Thursday and was immediately drafted into the starting lineup for Morocco's 1-1 draw against Ecuador in Madrid on Friday.Diop's switch is seen as a public relations coup for Morocco, who have been actively courting players with links to the country to improve their national team. The 29-year-old, whose father is Senegalese and mother is Moroccan, had previously rejected overtures from both countries to play for them while holding out hope he might represent France.Diop said he was happy to play in a team with good players and thinks he's made a good choice. He had talks with Morocco's new coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, and Moroccan Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa, who explained their vision to him and welcomed him with open arms.The dispute between Senegal and Morocco centers around the AFCON final, where Senegal walked off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. Senegal was subsequently stripped of the title and Morocco declared winners. Senegal has formally contested the decision and referred the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Senegal continues to assert its claim to the title, with the team holding a news conference before a friendly match against Peru, featuring a banner that read 'Champions of Africa'. They are also expected to display the Cup of Nations trophy to supporters before the match.

Northampton Saints have effectively sealed their place in the Premiership Rugby semi-finals with a 24-15 victory over Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The win sees them open up a six-point lead at the top of the table.The match got off to a dramatic start, with Northampton's Archie McParland scoring two tries, including the decisive one in the 78th minute. Saracens, under the guidance of departing coach Mark McCall, fought back from 14-0 down but ultimately fell short.Tobias Elliott impressed for Saracens, scoring a try and showcasing his skill with some impressive runs. However, it was not enough to secure the win for his team. Charlie Bracken also made a notable appearance, displaying his passing skills inherited from his father, Kyran Bracken.The result means Northampton are well on their way to securing a home semi-final, while Saracens' hopes of making the playoffs are now extremely slim. The focus for Saracens now shifts to their European campaign, as they prepare to face Bath in the last 16.Despite the outcome, McCall was optimistic about his team's performance, stating, “It’s absolutely gutting to lose, but I’m not gutted about the way we lost. We fought back magnificently.”

The US men's national team faced a daunting task against Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, but the outcome was far more severe than expected. The 5-2 defeat was an embarrassing loss, easily among the USMNT's worst under head coach Mauricio Pochettino.The US had been riding a wave of momentum, unbeaten in their past five matches, but struggled mightily against a talented Belgium side. The Belgians' five straight goals after the US opened the scoring left many questions unanswered for Pochettino's team.The match started promisingly for the US, with Weston McKennie's opening strike in the 39th minute. However, that lead was short-lived as Belgium equalized in the 45th minute through Zeno Debast's well-hit goal. The US keeper, Matt Turner, was in part responsible for the goal and faced difficulty throughout the match.The second half was a disaster for the US, with Jérémy Doku at the center of the danger for Belgium. The Manchester City winger muscled away Mark McKenzie and played it across to Saelemaekers, who found Amadou Onana for the equalizing goal. The Belgians took control with Charles De Ketelaere's penalty kick in the 55th minute, making it 3-1.The final goals for Belgium came from Dodi Lukebakio, who scored twice in the 68th and 83rd minutes. The US were allowed a consolation goal two minutes from full-time through Patrick Agyemang.The loss raises concerns for the USMNT ahead of their upcoming match against Portugal on Tuesday evening. The team will need a significant improvement to test themselves against top teams like Belgium in the World Cup.

Arsenal claimed their 11th consecutive win across all competitions with a dominant 5-2 victory over Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium. Alessia Russo was the star of the show, scoring a remarkable hat-trick in just 22 minutes, showcasing her impressive form this season.Russo's three goals took her tally to five in the last eight days, highlighting her exceptional goal-scoring ability. Her performance was praised by Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers, who described Russo as a 'complete footballer' with impressive finishing skills and other aspects of her game.The win moved Arsenal up to second in the Women's Super League table, level on points with Manchester United but with two games in hand. This positions them well in the race for automatic qualification for the Champions League group stage.Tottenham, on the other hand, suffered their third successive defeat and will look to address defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in set-piece situations. Despite a stronger second-half performance, they were unable to recover from Arsenal's strong start.Russo's goals exemplified her aerial ability and technical quality, while her third goal was facilitated by a gift from Tottenham keeper Lize Kop. Arsenal's Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius also made significant contributions with their goals, marking Foord's return from the Women's Asia Cup and Blackstenius's third goal in four games.