SPORTS

OSAKA, Japan — Sekiwake Kirishima captured his third career makuuchi championship with a 12-3 record at the 2026 Haru Basho, clinching the Emperor's Cup on Day 14 after a series of upsets cleared his path. The Mongolian-born wrestler, whose full name is Byambachuluun Lkhagvasuren, sealed the title despite falling on the final day, earning a likely promotion back to ozeki in one of the most unpredictable Grand Sumo tournaments in recent memory.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani delivered a jaw-dropping performance in his final spring training outing Tuesday, striking out 11 Los Angeles Angels batters in just four innings as the Dodgers wrapped up Cactus League play with a 3-0 loss that mattered little compared to the electric display on the mound.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo launched his second home run of spring training Wednesday, delivering a three-run shot in an exhibition game that further boosted expectations for the 27-year-old South Korean star heading into the 2026 regular season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized their starting rotation plans for the beginning of the 2026 season, naming Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the Opening Day starter and confirming that Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki will open the year in the rotation despite a rocky spring training.

A 27-year-old quadruple amputee who rose from a life-threatening childhood infection to become a professional cornhole champion and an ESPN-profiled inspiration is now facing first- and second-degree murder charges in the fatal shooting of a man during an argument in his vehicle Sunday night.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have never met in a World Cup match during their two-decade rivalry. With the 2026 tournament just months away, the bracket has aligned perfectly for what could be their final showdown — and analysts now put the odds of an Argentina-Portugal quarterfinal at roughly 65 percent if both stars deliver as expected.

Cristiano Ronaldo has repeatedly confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set for June-July across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be his final appearance in the tournament.

SYDNEY — Isaiah Iongi, the explosive fullback for the Parramatta Eels in Australia's National Rugby League, has emerged as one of the competition's most promising young talents.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Los Angeles Lakers sharpshooter Luke Kennard delivered one of the most dramatic moments of the 2025-26 NBA season on March 21, 2026, sinking a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining to lift his team to a thrilling 105-104 victory over the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center.

HOUSTON — Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant paid homage to Michael Jordan's unparalleled legacy on March 22, 2026, declaring that "MJ is just bigger than the game" even as he surpassed the Chicago Bulls icon on the NBA's all-time scoring list the night before.

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry continues to show encouraging signs in his recovery from right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and bone bruising, with the team announcing March 21, 2026, that he has intensified on-court workouts and will soon join live action and team practices.

SYDNEY, Australia — Australian soccer has produced a remarkable array of talent over the decades, from trailblazers who put the sport on the map Down Under to modern stars who excelled in Europe's top leagues and led the Socceroos to historic World Cup moments.

SYDNEY, Australia — The Australian men's national soccer team, the Socceroos, has already punched their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finishing second in their Asian Football Confederation third-round qualifying group behind Japan to claim direct entry into the expanded 48-team finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament has delivered early drama, upsets and dominant performances as it moves toward the Sweet 16. With the second round wrapping up Sunday, March 23, several top seeds remain alive while Cinderella stories and buzzer-beaters have kept fans glued to screens.

Everton delivered a commanding performance at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, thrashing Chelsea 3-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, March 21, 2026, with a brace from Beto and a stunning strike from Iliman Ndiaye sealing a result that boosted the Toffees' European ambitions while intensifying scrutiny on Blues manager Liam Rosenior.

Sunderland delivered a dramatic comeback victory in the 144th Tyne-Wear derby, defeating Newcastle United 2-1 on Sunday at St James' Park in the first Premier League meeting between the fierce North East rivals at the venue in over a decade.

Bryan Hodgson, the fast-rising American college basketball coach, is finalizing a move to become the head coach at Providence College, sources confirmed Sunday, capping a whirlwind year that saw him lead South Florida to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 14 years before drawing interest from multiple programs.

Australia's influence on the NBA has grown steadily since Luc Longley became the first Aussie to play in the league in 1991, paving the way for a wave of talent that includes championship winners,

In the world of basketball, height has always been a defining trait, but few matchups spark as much intrigue as the one between Florida Gators redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux and San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama.

Valentine Holmes stands as one of the most accomplished and versatile figures in modern rugby league, blending explosive athleticism with a remarkable international pedigree. The 30-year-old centre for the St George Illawarra Dragons has navigated a career full of highs, including premiership glory, record-breaking performances, and a bold but brief detour into American football.

The Duke Blue Devils remain firmly in the national championship conversation for the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament, but a narrow escape in their opening-round matchup has tempered some of the preseason hype surrounding Jon Scheyer's squad.

The **West Coast Eagles vs. North Melbourne** clash in Round 2 of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season is underway at Optus Stadium in Perth, delivering an early-season showdown between two clubs looking to build momentum after their respective Round 1 outings.

LOS ANGELES — Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion now retired, assembled a formidable squad for the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic, drafting longtime teammate Rob Gronkowski, rising star Ashton Jeanty and veteran playmaker Stefon Diggs among others in a star-studded draft held March 19, 2026, at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9 Canadian center for the Florida Gators, continues to captivate college basketball fans in March 2026 as the tallest player ever to compete in NCAA men's hoops. Now a redshirt freshman in his first active season after preserving eligibility in 2024-25, Rioux has appeared in limited minutes but already etched his name in record books with historic dunks and crowd-roaring entrances.

SYDNEY — Japan edged hosts Australia 1-0 in the AFC Women's Asian Cup final on Saturday, March 21, 2026, securing their third continental crown and denying the Matildas a home triumph in front of a record crowd at Stadium Australia.

SYDNEY — The stage is set for a blockbuster showdown as hosts Australia face arch-rivals Japan in the final of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026™ at Stadium Australia on Saturday

LOS ANGELES — Austin Reaves, the Los Angeles Lakers' breakout guard, recently called LeBron James the "real leader" of the team, emphasizing the four-time NBA champion's selfless play, basketball IQ and example-setting presence even as Luka Doncic has taken on the primary scoring and playmaking role.

Lionel Messi, the architect of Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign, remains a central figure in discussions about the 2026 tournament, with signs pointing to his participation in what could be his final shot at back-to-back titles — a feat unachieved since Brazil in 1958-1962.

ADELAIDE, Australia — The Western Bulldogs held off a fast-finishing Adelaide Crows side to claim a hard-fought six-point victory, 14.10 (94) to 13.10 (88), in Round 2 of the 2026 AFL premiership season on Friday night at Adelaide Oval.