Sports Digest.

March Madness Kicks Off Thursday — Here's Everything You Need to Know

Nothing major to report on the local sports front today — no scores or roster moves specific to the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild, Lynx, United, or Gophers came through. Check back as March Madness gets underway ...

Minnesota Teams

Nothing major to report on the local sports front today — no scores or roster moves specific to the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild, Lynx, United, or Gophers came through. Check back as March Madness gets underway and the NBA regular season heads toward the playoffs.

---

NFL

Free agency is in full swing, and the biggest splash so far is the Denver Broncos trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins. The Broncos are clearly going all-in on winning now, while Miami appears to be pivoting toward a rebuild. Meanwhile, the Dolphins look like they're moving on from their win-now window.

Elsewhere, six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay has officially retired after 13 seasons. He won a Super Bowl in 2025 and played for Detroit, Philadelphia, and one other team during his career. Several quarterbacks — including Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers — are still looking for new teams.

---

NBA

The NBA playoffs are less than a month away, and the Western Conference is getting tight. The Lakers and Rockets are jostling for position, so every game matters from here on out. Big names like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum are the ones to watch as contenders sort themselves out.

In off-court news, the WNBA and its players' union reached a verbal agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement — ending a prolonged labor standoff. That's big for the league's future stability. Also: Caitlin Clark looked sharp returning from injury in FIBA World Cup play for Team USA.

---

MLB

The 2026 World Baseball Classic just wrapped up — it was apparently a thriller. The bad news for fans who loved it: the next one isn't until 2030, though MLB stars could appear in the 2028 Olympics as a bridge. Spring training is underway and teams are finalizing rosters ahead of the regular season.

---

NHL

The Colorado Avalanche are the team to beat right now, but the Dallas Stars are right on their heels heading into Week 22 of the season. In the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins are chasing the Carolina Hurricanes for a playoff spot — they played each other Wednesday, so that race is heating up. The San Jose Sharks, a surprise story this season, are still in the mix for a playoff berth or wild card spot.

---

College Sports

March Madness is here. The First Four games (the play-in round before the main bracket) are happening Wednesday and Thursday, with the full 64-team bracket tipping off Thursday, March 19. Experts are already picking upsets and Cinderella teams — so now's your last chance to fill out that bracket.

A notable off-court story: Alabama's Aden Holloway, the team's second-leading scorer, was arrested on a felony drug charge right before the tournament and is temporarily off the team. That's a significant blow for the Crimson Tide heading into the dance.

On the transfer portal front, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg — the Big Ten Player of the Year — turned down a reported $7–9 million offer from Kentucky to stay with the Wolverines. He said he chose player development over the money, which is a rare and notable decision in today's college sports landscape.

In women's basketball, UConn is the odds-on favorite to win the national championship, with UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina right behind them.

---

Other Sports

Tiger Woods' golf team, Jupiter Golf Links, is on a roll in the TGL (a tech-driven indoor golf league). They dominated the Boston team and are heading to the finals — impressive for a squad that won nothing in its inaugural season. Woods himself didn't play, but his team is carrying the flag.

In soccer, Arsenal cruised into the Champions League quarterfinals, with midfielder Eberechi Eze being the standout performer — he's scored five goals since February. On the other end, Norway's Bodo/Glimt got knocked out by Sporting CP (5–0), ending a feel-good Champions League run for a small-market club that punched well above its weight.

Sources

Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
Jaylen Waddle traded to Broncos: Denver gains a WR1, Miami's offense takes a hit
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
PSG show Chelsea what it takes to be truly part of Europe's elite
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Real Madrid deal latest blow to Guardiola's Champions League legacy
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
USMNT roster takeaways: Gio Reyna's inclusion a signal that the door is still open for World Cup squad
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
Gotham FC to play Washington Spirit at Citi Field, marking first NWSL game inside New York City
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
TGL Finals set as Jupiter dominates Boston in stunner, Los Angeles erases 4-1 deficit to beat Atlanta
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
Liverpool vs. Galatasaray live stream, how to watch, odds: Can Reds mount UCL comeback at Anfield?
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
2026 Valspar Championship preview: Expert picks and predictions for final event of PGA Tour's Florida Swing
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
'I salute every boxer out there' -- Lamar Jackson boxes in offseason workout
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Barack Obama, Anthony Edwards shoot hoops, talk trash in Presidential Center opening tease
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
Thunder's Alex Caruso is a hero for blocking a shot with his shoe, even if he didn't get away with it
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
Maikel Garcia named World Baseball Classic MVP for helping lead Venezuela to first ever title
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
When is next World Baseball Classic? WBC has four-year break, but MLB stars could play in 2028 Olympics
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
World Baseball Classic champions: Full list of winners as Venezuela captures 2026 title
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
FIBA World Cup: Caitlin Clark thrives in injury return; Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese push for roster spots
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
Venezuela brought the electricity -- and the talent -- to beat Team USA in World Baseball Classic championship
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Men's tournament: Best bets for the round of 64, plus Eliminator picks
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Women's tournament odds: UConn odds-on favorite; UCLA, Texas, South Carolina next
Rss Cbssports · 2026-03-18
Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh odds, prediction, time: 2026 First Four picks from proven model
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
15 Beers, booming NIL sales, not a sip of alcohol: The irony of Raegan Beers' viral jersey
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Broncos are all-in, and Dolphins are all-out, but does either strategy make sense?
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
20 contenders, 20 lingering weaknesses: Barnwell fixes roster holes as free agency slows down
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
We reviewed the first week of NFL free agency: Additions, subtractions and questions for all 32 teams
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Ranking the 25 best players in women's March Madness
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Ranking the top 50 men's college basketball players who could define March Madness
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
2026 men's NCAA tournament guide: How far will every team go?
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Coaches predict the men's NCAA tournament champion, potential Cinderellas, more
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
60 ESPN personalities pick their men's Final Four, national champions
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Biggest questions, projections and more: Storylines to watch ahead of NBA playoffs
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
In final window before World Cup, Pochettino's USMNT roster shows softened stance on club form
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Will Ferrell named as a Los Angeles World Cup host ambassador
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Big 12's top newcomers and what their coaches think
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Transfer rumors, news: Liverpool, Man United want Wolves' João Gomes
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
NHL playoff watch: Will the Penguins catch the Hurricanes?
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
WNBA, union reach verbal agreement on new CBA
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Mark saves day, sends Texas to NCAA first round
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
U.S. laments another WBC loss as star offense lags
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Venezuela outduels USA to capture first WBC title
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Trucks driver parked for mocking IndyCar racer
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Howard checks last box with first tourney win
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Ex-reality TV star Holmes repeats Iditarod win
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Crosby: I was 'livid' when Ravens nixed trade
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
🏀 Giant Killers: Identifying men's tourney upsets
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
Jackson Chourio, Roman Anthony among must-draft players in fantasy baseball
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
ESPN's final points-league mock draft for 2026
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
'I'm a sucker for a challenge': Why Moneyball pioneer chose to take on Coors Field
Rss Espn · 2026-03-18
USWNT transfer grades: Every American move, including Rodman and Macario