Minnesota Teams

Kyler Murray signs with the Vikings — The Arizona Cardinals cut quarterback Kyler Murray earlier this week, and Minnesota wasted no time scooping him up on a one-year deal. Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler who was once the No. 1 overall pick, and he'll join the Vikings' QB room alongside J.J. McCarthy, last year's first-round pick. It's a low-risk, high-upside move that has analysts handing Minnesota an A+ grade for the signing.

Gophers hockey season over — The University of Minnesota hockey team's season came to an end Wednesday night with a 6-2 loss at Penn State in the Big Ten quarterfinals. It was a disappointing finish to what had already been a tough year for the program.

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NFL

Free agency is in full swing — The NFL's offseason shopping period officially opened this week, and teams have been busy. Some notable moves: defensive end Trey Hendrickson landed with the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Daniel Jones got paid, and a blockbuster trade that would have sent pass rusher Maxx Crosby away from the Las Vegas Raiders fell through at the last minute. The Ravens, despite some criticism for their early spending, rebounded with a solid Day 3 haul.

The NFLPA needs a new leader — The NFL Players Association (the union that represents players) is voting soon on a new executive director after their previous leader was forced out under a cloud of misconduct allegations. It's a big deal for players' rights and future contract negotiations.

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NBA

Bam Adebayo scored 83 points — Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo put up one of the most jaw-dropping individual performances in NBA history, scoring 83 points in a single game — the second-highest total ever, behind only Wilt Chamberlain's legendary 100-point game from 1962. To put it in perspective: most players are thrilled to score 25.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander breaks a 63-year-old record — Oklahoma City Thunder star SGA set a new NBA record for most consecutive games with 20 or more points, snapping a mark that had stood since the Wilt Chamberlain era. The Thunder are one of the best teams in the league this season.

Dwight Howard officially retires — Hall of Fame center Dwight Howard, one of the most dominant big men of his generation, officially announced his retirement after 18 NBA seasons. He last played in 2022 and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame last year.

WNBA labor talks stall — The WNBA and its players' union sat down for a 12-hour bargaining session but couldn't reach a new collective bargaining agreement before the deadline. What that means for the 2026 season is still unclear.

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MLB

Spring Training is heating up — Opening Day is just around the corner, and the big storylines heading into 2026 involve several star pitchers returning from injury. Gerrit Cole and Zack Wheeler — two of the best pitchers in baseball — are both coming back after missing time, which is huge news for the Yankees and Phillies respectively.

NL Central preview — In the National League's Central division, the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs are expected to battle for the top spot. The Brewers have pulled off surprising runs before on a modest budget, but the Cubs are hoping this is finally their year to take control of the division.

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NHL

Playoff picture is taking shape — With the regular season winding down, the Stanley Cup playoff bracket is coming into focus. The Edmonton Oilers are one of the teams to watch, and analysts are already wondering if a Dallas Stars vs. Oilers matchup in the Western Conference Finals could be a preview of hockey's biggest stage.

Colorado Avalanche looking dangerous — After a flurry of moves at the trade deadline, there's buzz that the Avalanche may be the team to beat out West. Whether that's a hot take or a legitimate concern for other contenders is up for debate, but Colorado is clearly a threat.

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College Sports

March Madness bubble watch — Conference tournaments are in full swing, and the NCAA Tournament bracket picture is shifting daily. Duke knocked off Florida State, which helped some teams and hurt others on the bubble. UConn is still in the conversation for a No. 1 seed in the tournament.

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Other Sports

Big 12 ditched its flashy glass court — The Big 12 basketball tournament made headlines for the wrong reason this week: they debuted a high-tech LED glass court that looked cool but players hated it. After widespread complaints about feel and safety concerns, commissioner Brett Yormark pulled the plug and switched back to a regular hardwood floor for the rest of the tournament.

UFC 328 is set — Khamzat Chimaev will defend his middleweight title against former champion Sean Strickland in May in New Jersey. Chimaev is the undefeated champion; Strickland is a fan favorite known for his no-frills fighting style.

Champions League second legs coming up — In European soccer, the round of 16 second legs are approaching next week, and several big English clubs — Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea — are in tense situations heading into their matches. If you're not familiar: the Champions League is Europe's biggest club soccer tournament, and the round of 16 is the knockout stage where one bad game can end your season.