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South Carolina defeated UConn 62‑48 in the women’s NCAA Final Four on Friday night, snapping the Huskies’ 54‑game winning streak and booking the Gamecocks a spot in the national championship.With just 0.1 seconds left on the clock, the two veteran coaches met at the scorer’s table. Geno Auriemma raised his voice toward Dawn Staley, prompting a sharp retort from the South Carolina coach. Assistant coaches intervened before UConn could inbound the final play.In the post‑game press conference, Staley emphasized her integrity, saying she had shaken hands with every member of Auriemma’s staff before the game and was unaware of any perceived slight. "Sometimes things get heated, we move on," she told ESPN’s Holly Rowe.Auriemma, who later described the exchange as “nothing,” reiterated that he simply said what he felt was necessary, while Staley deflected responsibility, noting that he had initiated the conversation.Earlier in the fourth quarter, Auriemma vented frustration over officiating, alleging a series of fouls called against his team and accusing the opposing coach of “rants and raves” that distracted from the game.The loss exposed offensive struggles for UConn’s All‑America duo. Sarah Strong, the national player of the year, managed only 12 points on 4‑of‑16 shooting, and Azzi Fudd contributed eight points on 3‑of‑15, including a poor three‑point performance (2‑of‑9). In contrast, South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson scored 16 points and Agot Makeer added 14.Defensively, the game was a battle: UConn was called for 17 fouls, while South Carolina drew just eight. The Gamecocks’ interior size limited Strong’s attempts, and the Huskies could not find rhythm, recording their lowest point total since a 49‑point effort in the 2022 championship loss.UConn entered the Final Four with a 38‑1 record, marking their ninth undefeated run to the semifinal and the third consecutive year they fell short of the title. South Carolina (34‑3) will now face UCLA for a chance at their fourth national championship.

UCLA secured a hard-fought 51-44 win over Texas on Friday night, advancing to the national championship game of the women's NCAA Tournament for the first time. The Bruins, with a stellar season record of 36-1, were led by Lauren Betts, who scored 16 points and made a pivotal block in the final minutes to thwart Texas's late surge.The Bruins dominated their way to another national semi-final, boasting the best season in program history. Their path to the title game had to go through Texas, the only team to beat them this season. UCLA turned the tables on Texas, shutting down All-American Madison Booker and building a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.Despite Texas's strong defensive showing, which included a 12-2 run that cut UCLA's lead to 47-44, Betts's crucial block with 20 seconds left halted the Longhorns' momentum. Kiki Rice then hit two free throws, securing the win and sending coach Cori Close's team into the title game.The grinding win earns the Bruins a spot in Sunday's title game against South Carolina, the three-time national champions who ended reigning champion UConn's undefeated season. This sets up an exciting matchup, especially after Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley had a tense postgame exchange following South Carolina's shock win over UConn in the Final Four.For Texas, Madison Booker had a tough finish to an otherwise stellar season, hitting her first shot, missing her next 17, and finishing with six points on 3-of-23 shooting.

Wrexham pulled off a stunning comeback to draw 2-2 against West Brom, significantly boosting their chances of securing a Championship playoff spot. The match saw Isaac Price's deflected free-kick and Josh Maja's penalty give West Brom a strong lead heading into halftime.However, Wrexham mounted an impressive second-half recovery. Josh Windass scored a spectacular goal from 20 yards just two minutes after the restart, and Lewis O'Brien and George Dobson were involved in a controversy that led to an own goal, leveling the score for Wrexham.This draw propels Wrexham into sixth place, just a point above Southampton, who have a game in hand. The two teams are set to face each other in north Wales on Tuesday in a crucial matchup.In other matches, Hull drew 1-1 at Oxford, with Mo Belloumi scoring early in his return from injury. Leicester came from behind to draw 2-2 against Preston, with Patson Daka scoring twice after returning from international duty.Blackburn secured a vital 1-0 win over Birmingham thanks to Todd Cantwell's 69th-minute goal, moving six points clear of the relegation zone. Portsmouth boosted their survival hopes with a 1-1 draw at Norwich, while QPR beat Watford 2-1.In a thrilling match, Swansea came from two goals down to draw 3-3 at Sheffield United. Stoke secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday, extending their unbeaten home run to five matches.

The 2026 County Championship kicked off on Good Friday, 3 April – the earliest start in the tournament’s 140‑year history. Surrey’s captain Rory Burns was run out just ten minutes into the day’s play at Edgbaston, setting a new record for the competition’s earliest dismissal. Despite a modest crowd of around 800 spectators and roughly 4,000 viewers on YouTube, the match featured a heavyweight lineup: nine current England Test players were named in the Division One clash, underscoring the Championship’s status as the premier development arena for the national side. Surrey’s top six have all earned England caps, fueling expectations that the club could secure a fourth title in five seasons. Yet the opening session was anything but smooth. Burns fell early, followed by Jamie Smith, who managed only nine runs before being dismissed. A sharp edge from Ethan Bamber and an lbw to Ollie Pope (20) further rattled the home side. Dom Sibley provided a glimmer of resistance with an unbeaten 21 off 81 balls, but the team slumped to a precarious 65 for six. The turning point arrived when Ben Foakes and fast‑bowling all‑rounder Tom Lawes combined for a 155‑run partnership – a Surrey club record for the seventh wicket. Foakes, a seasoned England fringe player, smashed a commanding 128 runs, while Lawes contributed a career‑best 83 off 121 balls, stabilising the innings and shifting momentum. Chris Woakes and medium‑fast seamer Ethan Bamber added valuable overs, but it was the Foakes‑Lawes stand that propelled Surrey to a total of 328 all out, setting a competitive target for Warwickshire. While the season’s early start may raise logistical questions, the match demonstrated why the County Championship remains the crucible for England’s future stars, blending veteran internationals with emerging talent in a fiercely contested opening day.

Millwall secured a vital win over Middlesbrough in the Championship, with Josh Coburn scoring twice to propel his team into second place in the promotion race. The victory, marked by a 2-1 scoreline, sees Millwall just one point ahead of Middlesbrough, with Coventry currently leading the table. The match was characterized by Middlesbrough's possession dominance, but their inability to convert chances into goals. Dael Fry's 26th-minute header gave Boro an early lead, but Millwall equalized in the 58th minute when Coburn's powerful volley found the net after a corner was poorly defended. Coburn, a 23-year-old striker and former Middlesbrough academy graduate, doubled Millwall's lead in the 86th minute with a beautifully angled shot, securing the win. This performance underscores Coburn's impressive form, having scored five goals in his last five games. Alex Neil's Millwall demonstrated resilience and composure, particularly in the second half, to outmaneuver Kim Hellberg's Middlesbrough. Neil praised his team's performance, highlighting their defensive solidity and clinical finishing. In contrast, Hellberg expressed disappointment, noting that his team's possession-heavy approach failed to yield results in critical areas. This win boosts Millwall's prospects for Premier League promotion, although fourth-placed Ipswich still has two games in hand and remains a strong contender. The result marks a significant setback for Middlesbrough, who are now under pressure to regain their position in the promotion race.

Shoaib Bashir, a 22-year-old off-spinner, has joined Derbyshire Cricket Club on a two-year deal, marking a fresh start in his cricket career. Bashir, who was overlooked by England for the Ashes despite two years of investment, aims to secure regular game time and work with renowned coach Mickey Arthur.Bashir's goals remain unchanged, with his sights set on winning back his Test spot with England. He believes working with Arthur, who has coached Pakistan, South Africa, and Australia, will be instrumental in his development. Arthur, 57, is known for his enthusiasm for the game and his ability to nurture young talent.“Every time you wear an England shirt it’s the most special thing,” Bashir said. “I was more than happy just observing, watching, learning so much in Australia. I’m only 22 so I’ve still got to take in a lot of information.”Arthur praised Bashir, calling him an “exciting talent” with a bright future ahead. “I think he’s such an exciting talent. For a guy that challenges both edges of the bat, and being only 22, it’s a fantastic package,” Arthur said.Bashir has played 19 Test matches, taking 68 wickets at 39, but has only played 18 games in the County Championship. He is eager to make an impact with Derbyshire and prove himself as a valuable asset to the England team.

The FA Cup quarter-finals are set to take center stage this weekend, with Manchester City hosting Liverpool in a highly anticipated match. Meanwhile, Southampton and Port Vale are the remaining hopes for a giant killing.Elsewhere, Chelsea's accounts have made for interesting reading, revealing a complex financial situation. Additionally, Marc Cucurella's comments on international duty have shed light on the state of affairs at Chelsea.The panel also discusses a big weekend ahead in the Championship, with Nick Ames' recent trip to Kosovo and Women's Champions League drama. The episode also features answers to listener questions.

Kara Lawson watched her Duke Blue Devils fall 70‑58 to the No. 1 UCLA Bruins in the Elite Eight, ending a 20‑year wait for a Final Four appearance. The loss followed a stunning buzzer‑beater upset of No. 2 seed LSU in the Sweet 16, but the Blue Devils couldn’t replicate that performance against UCLA.After the game, Lawson told reporters, "What a great season it’s been for us, and this group has been a joy to coach every day." She highlighted the team’s resilience after a rocky start that saw six defeats between early November and late December.Notre Dame’s season ended similarly, with a 70‑52 defeat to the defending champion UConn Huskies in the Elite Eight. Head coach Niele Ivey reflected on the journey, noting that the roster’s revival after a difficult 2025 season "gave me a lot of joy" and that coaching with joy makes her a better leader.Vanderbilt’s Commodores, coached by Shea Ralph, also saw their tournament run halted, losing 67‑64 to Notre Dame. Ralph, who inherited a program with strong support but limited recent success, deliberately built a culture of joy. Star guard Mikayla Blakes praised Ralph for restoring her love for the game, saying, "She found joy in my life and helped me enjoy basketball again."Looking ahead, the semifinals will feature two marquee matchups: South Carolina vs. UConn and UCLA vs. Texas. Both games promise high‑stakes basketball as the remaining teams vie for the championship.The tournament also underscores broader trends in women’s basketball. A decade ago, the NCAA reported that only 4.5% of high‑school players advance to college, and just 1.4% reach Division I. The WNBA’s expansion to 15 teams this season creates more professional slots, yet demand still outpaces supply, making the focus on joy and development all the more vital.Texas coach Vic Schaefer echoed the sentiment, describing the season as "the most fun" he’s had in over thirty years of coaching. With senior guard Rori Harmon preparing to graduate, Schaefer emphasized the team’s mission‑driven mindset and the pure enjoyment they find on the court.In a sport where the pipeline narrows at every level, the prevailing message from coaches and players alike is clear: joy remains the driving force that sustains teams through triumphs and setbacks alike.

Professional golfer Phil Mickelson has announced that he will not compete in next week's Masters Tournament due to an ongoing 'family health matter.'The 55-year-old, a six-time major winner, expressed his respect for Augusta National Golf Club and wished everyone the best of luck, stating he will be watching.Mickelson has had a notable career, winning the Masters in 2004, 2006, and 2010. He has also secured victories in two PGA Championships (2005 and 2021) and the Open Championship in 2013.This year's Masters would have marked Mickelson's 33rd start at Augusta. Only seven other players have achieved the feat of winning the tournament three times.Mickelson has been dealing with health issues and previously missed the first four LIV Golf events of the year. He returned to action last month at LIV Golf South Africa, finishing in a tie for 48th place.