Minnesota Teams

Nothing major to report on the local sports front today — the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild, Lynx, United, and Gophers weren't featured in today's top stories. Check back soon for updates as the seasons progress.

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NFL

Free agency is in full swing, and the Denver Broncos made the biggest splash by trading for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins appear to be entering a rebuild, while Denver is betting big on a Super Bowl run. Meanwhile, the NFL is considering a rule change — proposed by the Cleveland Browns — that would let teams trade draft picks up to five years in the future instead of the current three-year limit.

The NFL Players Association also has a new leader: JC Tretter, a former offensive lineman who played nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, was elected as the union's next executive director. The players' union negotiates things like salaries, safety rules, and working conditions on behalf of all NFL players.

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NBA

The NBA playoffs are right around the corner, and the league's biggest stars — including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum — are gearing up for a postseason push. If you haven't been following, Giannis plays for Milwaukee and Tatum plays for Boston, and both teams are expected to be major contenders in the Eastern Conference.

On the WNBA side, there's genuinely big news: the league and its players' union have reached a verbal agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement (basically the rulebook for player contracts and pay). The projected salary cap is expected to top $10 million by the end of the deal — a significant increase that signals the league is growing fast. Stars like Caitlin Clark also looked sharp in the FIBA World Cup, returning from injury in strong form.

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MLB

Baseball season is approaching, and the New York Yankees got a nervous-but-encouraging update: ace pitcher Gerrit Cole made his first spring training start after undergoing Tommy John surgery (a major elbow procedure) about a year ago. He came through it, which is a big deal for a team counting on him. Spring training is the preseason tune-up period before the regular season starts.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred also hinted at possible scheduling changes for the next World Baseball Classic — an international tournament featuring players from dozens of countries. The next one isn't until 2030, but there's talk of MLB players potentially competing in the 2028 Olympics in the meantime.

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NHL

The hockey playoff picture is getting interesting. The Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights face off Thursday in what could be a preview of a first-round playoff series — meaning these two teams might face each other again in April when it really counts. In the East, the Pittsburgh Penguins are chasing the Carolina Hurricanes for a playoff spot, keeping that race tight.

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College Sports

It's March Madness time — the NCAA men's basketball tournament tips off TODAY (Thursday, March 19), and bracket fever is real. The First Four games (a mini-round to whittle down the field) are already underway, though SMU is dealing with bad news: star player B.J. Edwards won't play after the school had said he was expected to return from injury. Duke, Arizona, and Florida are among the top favorites, though history suggests being a heavy favorite doesn't guarantee anything in this tournament.

Keep an eye on injury updates: Duke is dealing with a couple of hurt players (Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster), Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. is being monitored, and Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson's status is also worth watching. In March Madness, one injured star can completely change a team's chances.

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Other Sports

In soccer, the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal matchups are set — the two biggest draws are Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid. All four are European giants, so expect must-watch games. English Premier League clubs had a rough go of it in the round of 16, with only two of six English teams advancing — a bad look for the Premier League's reputation in Europe.

In a feel-good story from the UFC, British fighter Lerone Murphy — nicknamed "The Miracle" — is heading into UFC London with an incredible backstory: he was shot three times at age 21 and used that experience as motivation to reach the top of the sport. And in a quirky Olympics footnote, hockey star Jack Hughes wants to keep the puck from the gold-medal-winning goal at the 2026 Olympics, but the Hockey Hall of Fame says it belongs to them. The debate continues.