MLB Opening Day Is Almost Here — Plus March Madness Heats Up With the Sweet 16
The Wild are in the thick of the NHL playoff race with the regular season winding down — they're fighting for a spot in the postseason, and Tuesday's game is one to watch as the whole playoff picture shifts. On a somb...
Minnesota Teams
The Wild are in the thick of the NHL playoff race with the regular season winding down — they're fighting for a spot in the postseason, and Tuesday's game is one to watch as the whole playoff picture shifts. On a somber note, the hockey world is mourning the loss of Jessi Pierce, the Wild's beat reporter for NHL.com, who died alongside her three children in a house fire in Minnesota on Saturday. It's a heartbreaking loss for the Wild community and the broader hockey world.
The Timberwolves are keeping an eye on the NBA playoff picture as the Western Conference race tightens. No Gophers or Vikings news in today's cycle, but check back as the NFL offseason heats up.
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NFL
Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs' star tight end and one of the most famous athletes in America right now, signed a new three-year deal to stay in Kansas City. He had been set to become a free agent for the first time in his career, so this puts any uncertainty to rest — he'll be a Chief through at least his 16th season. Meanwhile, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still mulling whether to play a 22nd NFL season, this time potentially with the Pittsburgh Steelers — no decision yet.
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NBA
Kevin Durant passed Michael Jordan to become the fifth-highest scorer in NBA history. The 37-year-old Phoenix Suns forward now sits behind only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and Kobe Bryant on the all-time list — remarkable company. On a rougher note, the NBA handed out suspensions after a scuffle between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards spilled into the courtside seats over the weekend.
In the playoff race, the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns are facing off in a key Western Conference battle as both teams jockey for playoff positioning with the season winding down.
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MLB
Baseball is basically back — Opening Day is right around the corner, and there's a big new rule to know about: MLB is introducing an automated ball-and-strike challenge system in 2026. Think of it like instant replay, but for pitch calls — batters and pitchers can challenge whether a pitch was really a ball or strike. It's the sport's biggest rule change in years.
The offseason was a wild one: the Los Angeles Dodgers landed Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster deal, and Pete Alonso (the Mets' power-hitting first baseman) left New York for a new team. The New York Mets are already moving on, with top prospect Carson Benge making the Opening Day roster as their starting right fielder. And in a fun side note, a jersey Shohei Ohtani wore during the World Baseball Classic sold at auction for $1.5 million — a record for baseball memorabilia.
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NHL
The NHL playoff race is intense with about a month left in the regular season — Tuesday features 15 games with playoff implications across the board. The Ottawa Senators are one of the teams on the bubble, fighting for a wild card spot. Keep an eye on how things shake out over the next few weeks as the bracket takes shape.
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College Sports
March Madness is rolling into the Sweet 16 this week, and UConn is once again the team to beat in the men's tournament. Michigan State's legendary coach Tom Izzo and UConn's Dan Hurley — who famously turned down the LA Lakers' head coaching job two years ago — will face off in the Sweet 16, which is a fun storyline for casual fans. On the women's side, Iowa suffered a stunning upset loss to No. 10 seed Virginia in double overtime, ending the Hawkeyes' tournament run early.
In coaching news, Syracuse is finalizing the hire of Gerry McNamara — a former Orange player who helped the team win its 2003 national championship — as their new men's basketball head coach.
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Other Sports
Tiger Woods is back. The five-time Masters champion competed in the TGL Finals (a tech-driven indoor golf league he co-founded) and has his sights set on playing in the Masters at Augusta in April. Whether he'll be healthy enough to compete remains the big question, but the mere possibility of Woods at the Masters is must-watch TV.
In soccer, the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals are set after the international break, with Arsenal still ranked behind Bayern Munich in the power rankings. On the women's side, Arsenal face Chelsea and Barcelona face Real Madrid in the Women's Champions League quarters — two massive crosstown-rival matchups.
