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McLaughlin: 10 Best College Football Rosters for 2026

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LSU’s transfer portal class sets massive expectations for Lane Kiffin during his 1st season in Baton Rouge.

The Tigers clearly have a Top 10 roster nationally.

Who else is on that list?

Locked on College Football logoToday’s episode of Locked On College Football is a crossover with ‘The Portal’ podcast host Brian Smith of the Locked On Network.

They lay out the top rosters in the sport here in Spring as transfers look to get accustomed to their new teams.

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00:00 Elite Rosters and Key Players
05:34 Miami Football Elite Prospects
10:02 LSU Quarterback Uncertainty Looms
15:04 College Football Portal Insights
17:14 Indiana’s Portal Success Examined
26:19 Oklahoma’s Playoff Doubts
30:50 Alabama’s Quarterback Battle Highlights

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

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3 Vikings Stars Are Due for Extensions

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Brian O’Neill celebrates with Cam Akers after a touchdown against the Chicago Bears.
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (75) celebrates with running back Cam Akers (27) after a touchdown, reacting to the score during fourth-quarter action against Chicago on Dec. 16, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as the Vikings built momentum late in a divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings may not have to be in a rush to lock extensions down, but a handful of players will need new deals before too long: Jordan Addison (WR), Jonathan Greenard (OLB), and Brian O’Neill (RT).

Rob Brzezinski has a few major money decisions to line up.

Now’s the natural time for each man to knock on interim general manager Rob Brzezinski’s door to talk about new money.

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Minnesota’s Next Extension Wave Could Start Soon

The deals can come together as early as now.

Aidan Hutchinson tackles Jordan Addison during Lions vs. Vikings game. Vikings extensions
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) brings down Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) during second-half action, with the play unfolding on November 2, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit, as Hutchinson closes quickly and wraps up Addison following a short gain in a physical NFC North matchup. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-Imagn Images.

1. Jordan Addison | WR

Addison averages 52 receiving yards per game and has banked 22 touchdowns in 46 career games. He basically hits paydirt every other game. The man is electric, with many holding out hope that he’ll bust into a new tier of stardom, assuming the Vikings have competent quarterback play in 2026 and Addison stays out of trouble.

With the May 1 deadline looming for Addison’s fifth-year option, the Vikings face a critical decision. This date carries significant weight, especially given the persistent trade rumors surrounding Addison, whether substantiated or not.

The rumors likely stem from a series of off-the-field incidents that have plagued Addison since he entered the league. In 2023, he was stopped near the Twin Cities for driving 140 mph in a 55-mph zone, citing a dog emergency. Although the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, it generated concern both within and outside the Vikings organization.

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The following year, Addison was found intoxicated and asleep in his car on a Los Angeles freeway. This deed cast a shadow over the team for months and ultimately resulted in probation and a three-game suspension.

In 2025, the issues continued when Addison missed a walkthrough in London, leading Kevin O’Connell to bench him for a quarter the following week. More recently, reports surfaced that he was removed from a casino in Florida and briefly detained for trespassing.

These behaviors, viewed together, suggest a concerning pattern. The Vikings must now determine whether Addison’s talent outweighs the associated risks.

Approximate Price per Year for Next Deal: $26m — $30m

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2. Jonathan Greenard | OLB

After signing Greenard to a four-year contract in the 2024 offseason, the Vikings’ next move appears clear: capitalize on their existing investment. Having already paid his guaranteed money, Minnesota can create cap space and secure Greenard long-term by extending his contract at market value.

While his sack totals in 2025 sparked debate — 3 in 12 games — largely due to a decreased pressure-to-sack conversion rate, his overall performance remained robust, and such fluctuations typically even out over time.

Following ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s suggestion that Greenard was a player to watch in a trade earlier this month, rumors emerged that the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts were interested. However, trading a quality EDGE rusher runs counter to the conventional approach for building a playoff contender, especially when that player is already on the roster.

Jonathan Greenard parties after a sack during Vikings vs. Falcons game. Vikings extensions
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) celebrates after recording a sack, with the moment occurring on Sept. 14, 2025 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis during second-half action against the Atlanta Falcons, as Greenard energizes the crowd with his pass-rushing impact in a strong defensive showing late in the game. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis noted on the Greenard trade sweepstakes last week, “The Vikings know they have a budding edge rusher in Dallas Turner waiting in the wings. They could also add more depth at the position with their nine picks in late April.”

“Neither makes it likely that the Vikings part with Greenard for anything less than a significant return. Anything other than a Day 2 pick would presumably be a non-starter. But the precise ask depends on a multitude of factors like player availability, pick swaps and the willingness of opposing teams to part with future picks.”

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Approximate Price per Year for Next Deal: $27m — $35m

3. Brian O’Neill | RT

There’s no controversy or trade smoke for O’Neill; he’s not that kind of guy.

But the extension he signed five years ago — can you believe it’s been that long? — is nearing an end, and 2026 is actually the final year of his deal. His cap hit this season is $23.1 million, and Minnesota could extend him, lower that number for 2026 if it needs more cash to spend on newcomers, and connect O’Neill to the franchise for the rest of his career.

Brian O’Neill celebrates after Vikings win over Patriots. Vikings extensions
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (75) celebrates following a victory over the New England Patriots, with the scene taking place on Nov 24, 2022 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, as O’Neill reacts to the win and acknowledges teammates and fans after a hard-fought primetime contest. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

O’Neill has represented a beacon of offensive line consistency, even when OL operations were at a low point during the end of the Mike Zimmer era, when that regime just could not figure out how to find good interior linemen. There was always O’Neill on the right edge, holding down the fort while a revolving door of turnstile guards struggled — mightily.

The longtime Viking will turn 31 this September, and good offensive tackles can play well into their 30s. There’s no reason to believe Minnesota would offload O’Neill or let him depart in 2027 free agency for a younger option.

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Approximate Price per Year for Next Deal: $20m — $25m


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Why Hannah Hidalgo’s quick hands are key to Notre Dame stealing another NCAA Tournament game

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FORT WORTH, Texas — Hannah Hidalgo’s voice was a calming presence in Notre Dame’s huddles.

With less than a minute to play, she gathered her teammates and reiterated the same two words: “One stop.” With Notre Dame holding a one-point lead over Louisville in a March ACC meeting, she went down the line speaking to each teammate, “I need you to get me one stop.”

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But as Hidalgo has done all season, she got the stop herself.

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As Louisville guard Taj Roberts dribbled at the top of the key, hoping to get into the offense and take the game-winning shot, Hidalgo began sizing up the sophomore guard. Everything began moving in slow motion for the Notre Dame All-American, her eyes locked onto the ball and each dribble triggered a thought from her. She picked up the cadence of Roberts’ handle and knew that once Roberts turned around, she was going to go for the steal.

It took 11 dribbles and two trips to the left and right side of the arc before Roberts turned. Hidalgo didn’t hesitate. She swiped at the ball with her right hand, and before Roberts could react, Hidalgo was running down the court with the ball. She was eventually fouled and iced the game with two free throws.

“I told her right after that, I said, ‘You’re player of the year,’” Irish teammate KK Bransford said. “Like, no matter what anybody says, I know she’s player of the year, because of plays like that.”

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Hidalgo scored seven of Notre Dame’s final nine points and tallied 30 points, 10 rebounds and five steals in the victory.

It’s impossible to summarize the season that the ACC Player of the Year has had in one play, but much like she did against Louisville, Hidalgo has done everything for this year’s Irish.

When Notre Dame returned just three players from last year’s Sweet 16 team, Hidalgo knew she’d have to take a step up as a leader, but she also sets the tone on both sides of the ball. She’s the nation’s third-leading scorer with 25.2 points per game. She leads the country in steals with 189. Her 5.5 per game average is the second time she’s averaged over four steals per game. Only two other Power 4 conference players have done that even once in their careers since 2009.

She’s carried the Irish to the Sweet 16 and done it by being one of the best two-way guards in the history of women’s college basketball. Her next test is going head-to-head against the nation’s top scorer, Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line Friday afternoon.

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“She has had a lot of weight, a lot of pressure, she’s helped take this group, and I had a completely new team, and got us to where we are right now,” Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said. “And that speaks a lot to her game. She’s the best two-way player and one of the best guards I’ve ever coached.”

Ivey, who began as an assistant coach at Notre Dame in 2007, has coached Irish standout guards Skylar Diggins, Jewell Loyd and Arike Ogunbowale.

Charel Allen was an All-American in her own right during her playing time at Notre Dame. She was the first player in program history to surpass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals in her career. Now, as a Notre Dame assistant, her focus is on the guards, which means she spends a lot of time with Hidalgo.

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They’ve played one-on-one often, and Hidalgo’s advice to Allen was always the same: “Don’t dribble.”

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“So guess what? I don’t (dribble) around her anymore,” Allen said with a chuckle. “I try to use my size and shoot over her. I think, until you’re out there and actually going up against her, you don’t realize how quick her hands and feet are.”

Hidalgo is just 5 feet 6 inches, but she’s faster and more agile than most players on the court. She shows that on offense, especially as she attacks the basket with the ball in her hands, but it’s also obvious on defense.

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A quick turn of her hips can be the difference between an opponent’s offense running its set to plan or Hidalgo going the other way with the ball.

Arguably, nobody understands that more in Notre Dame’s program than Vanessa De Jesus. The sixth-year guard played her first five years at Duke and faced Hidalgo often in conference games.

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“It’s definitely better to be on her team,” De Jesus said.

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Hidalgo puts opposing offenses in conflict with the multitude of ways she can steal the ball. She can pick a ballhandler’s pockets, as she did against Louisville, or she can jump passing lanes or even steal inbounds passes. After a missed layup, she can steal the ball from the rebounder within seconds, as she did in the first quarter of Notre Dame’s first-round NCAA Tournament win against Fairfield.

“On the defensive end, it’s a whole other thing that she brings,” De Jesus said. “Just that fieriness, the relentlessness that she brings.”

Her intensity from the beginning of the game to the end makes her hard for opponents to scout.

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“She plays really hard,” Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph said. “You have a player that plays really hard, good things usually happen, and you can tell she’s been playing a lot.”

Hidalgo ranks 10th nationally in usage rate among players who have played at least 20 games. She’s third among all Power 4 conference players in usage rate, and only three Power 4 conference players have played more minutes per game.

For Notre Dame to be successful, that usage rate is about more than just one side of the ball. Notre Dame wouldn’t have 24 wins if Hidalgo were just an offensive-minded player.

“People don’t understand what it takes to be that active defensively, playing 36, 37 minutes a night,” ACC Network analyst Kelly Gramlich said. “There’s a reason why these numbers haven’t been done before, and it’s because most players of her ability, who — by the way, she’s scoring 25 a game — they exert so much effort on the offensive end that they either they don’t have enough left to put that much on the defensive end, or they just have not been as defensive-minded as her.”

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Defense has always been part of Hidalgo’s game, though.

Growing up in New Jersey, she was always the smallest player on the court as a kid, so to stay on the court, she had to lean on her defense.

In many ways, Hidalgo is a natural at reading ballhandlers because her experience as a point guard helps. But she also spends plenty of time studying ballhandlers and understanding their tendencies.

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“I try (to) think a couple steps ahead of the ballhandler,” Hidalgo said.

Her big shots and acrobatic finishes may grab the headlines, but defense has always come first for Hidalgo.

“I had to prioritize something else and bring something else to the floor so that I can get playing time,” Hidalgo said. “It was just poking at the ball, and just making the ballhandler uncomfortable, especially (because) it’s hard bringing up the ball with somebody pressing you like that.”

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With just under five minutes left in the sixth-seeded Irish’s second-round upset over No. 3 seed Ohio State, Hidalgo picked up her fourth foul.

She eventually fouled out with 40 seconds left, but not before risking her in-game eligibility to get two more steals to reach eight total and set a new single-game NCAA Tournament program record, passing Diggins and Ivey’s total of seven from when she was a Notre Dame guard.

Getting the green light to even attempt that steal is trust that has been built over the years among Hidalgo, her teammates and Ivey.

“That’s her superpower, the way that she defends,” Ivey said. “There’s sometimes that she takes chances, and we have to re-take off of the chance that she takes, but the majority of the time she makes great decisions and great plays.”

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Hidalgo’s focus on defense trickles over to her teammates as well. When at its best, Notre Dame causes chaos and forces turnovers in whatever defense it’s using.

That’s because Hidalgo’s competitiveness is contagious.

“She just makes everyone want to compete 10 times harder,” Irish guard Iyana Moore said.

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It’s steals like the one against Louisville that she enjoys more than making a pivotal late-game shot.

“The feeling of getting a defensive stop is just so much more pride and joy because, you know, again, that’s what I pride myself in,” she said.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Women’s College Basketball

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Oilers beat Golden Knights in OT as winning elements begin to arrive

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LAS VEGAS — Slowly, and we’re not yet ready to say surely, all the elements of a good hockey team are beginning to arrive for the Edmonton Oilers.

With six wins and 13 points in their past 10 games — and a couple of losses that you can live with — the game Northern Alberta has waited all season for is emerging like a springtime perennial, a solid nine games and three weeks before the first playoff game.

“It’s been only two games,” cautioned Mattias Ekholm after Edmonton capped a perfect two-game road trip with a 4-3 overtime win at Vegas, “but I think that there’s been a trend in the last 10 that the wins we’ve gotten haven’t been lucky. They’ve been well earned.

“We’re getting solid goaltending. The D pairs are gelling, all three of them. Our lines are coming together and we know more what we’re supposed to do out there. We look more like a machine that is maybe a little bit more well-oiled. A little more well-working.”

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On a steamy Thursday night just off The Strip, Edmonton led by a goal three separate times over Vegas. The Golden Knights have trailed more minutes this season than any other NHL club, and never led for a second Thursday.

In the end, however, there were two key moments that allowed for Evan Bouchard’s eventual overtime winner:

After ten-and-a-half minutes without a shot, Connor Ingram robbed a wide-open Noah Hanifin with a blocker save with 3:00 to play, to get his team to OT. There, with Zach Hyman in the penalty box, the Oilers penalty killing unit of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse and Connor Murphy gutted out the entire two minutes of a four-on-three, keeping the game alive for Bouchard to win it on the ensuing shift.

Bouchard’s bullet wrister went top cheese, his 20th goal of the season. He had a five-point road trip (1-4-5) and went plus-6 in Vegas and Utah, passing Kevin Lowe on the Oilers goal scoring list among D-men while becoming just the fourth Oilers defenceman to post a 20-goal season (Paul Coffey, Sheldon Souray and Charlie Huddy).

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But the penalty kill was what got the biggest raves post-game.

“That’s just three guys getting it done. Nose down, going to work,” marvelled Ingram, who was excellent in this one as well. “These guys were out there for two full minutes and you couldn’t really tell. That’s something you can’t coach, you can’t teach. Just three vets who know how to go to work and get the job done.”

This was Edmonton’s fifth consecutive win at T-Mobile Arena, and eighth in their past 11 regular-season visits. They’ve also won four of the past six playoff games here, and with a Round 1 series between these teams more than likely, you’d think that would be a concern for Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy.

But he’s got bigger fish to fry these days.

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“We’re just trying to… get in. It’s been a battle for us since the Olympic break,” admitted Cassidy, whose team has four wins in its last 15 games.

“If it is Edmonton (in Round 1), I’ll say, ‘Yes.’ But that’s the furthest thing from my mind right now. We’ve got other things to take care of.”

You can’t say Vegas doesn’t have time to turn its season around. Heck, the Oilers waited until about Game 65 before they hunkered down.

“It’s a great road trip. Two massive wins against two potential playoff opponents,” said Zach Hyman, who hit the 30-goal mark for the third time in five seasons as an Oiler. The other two years he had 27 goals, a free agent signing that just keeps on giving in Edmonton.

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“We have to string more wins together before we start pump ourselves up,” Hyman said, “but every year everybody doubts what we can do. We have the team that, when we commit to playing the right way, it’s hard to score against us.

“It’s hard to play against a team that defends and on the other side we have guys who can break a game open.”

A power play that has not scored in four games is now 1-for-11 since Leon Draisaitl was injured.

With Draisaitl’s stature as an annual 50-goal centreman, and the power play good for one a night when he’s on it, it’s fair to say that losing Draisaitl costs Edmonton a goal per game. But rather than just trying to score their way out of that problem, Draisaitl’s absence has been a catalyst to play a stingier defensive game.

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“Sometimes, when you lose one of your top players, it just allows everyone to step up to their game and play a little differently,” Knoblauch said. “Obviously we miss Leon, and we can’t wait to have him back. But our team’s done a pretty good job of rising to the occasion.”

A head coach who has been asking his team for some focus for most of 60-some games can finally see a product he can win with. If the Oilers have finally found their traction, after about 10 false starts this season — and when Draisaitl returns — teams won’t be lining up to face them in Round 1.

“We’re looking more like we’re playing a playoff game. Like things matter,” Knoblauch said. “Attention to detail — we’re simplifying our game. Yeah, it’s nice to see. Everyone seems like they’re dialled in.”

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Nearly locked into play-in, Warriors try to improve seeding vs. Wizards

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NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Golden State WarriorsMar 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) and forward Gui Santos (15) and forward Draymond Green (23) celebrate after their team defeated the Brooklyn Nets at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images

With a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament almost a certainty, the Golden State Warriors will look to improve their positioning down the stretch, beginning with a Friday date against the Washington Wizards in San Francisco.

Golden State (35-38) pulled out of a recent tailspin in which it dropped eight out of nine by winning its past two games, including a 109-106 home victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. That contest opened a stretch in which the Warriors will play seven out of eight games at home, including the contest against Washington (17-55).

The Warriors can’t finish worse than their current position, 10th place in the Western Conference, the final play-in spot. They are 8 1/2 games behind the sixth-place Houston Rockets, who hold the last guaranteed playoff spot, with nine games to go.

With Golden State missing several key contributors, including two-time Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, who has been sidelined by a knee injury since late January, coach Steve Kerr has relied on a rotating group of players to step up.

Among them is Gui Santos, who netted a career-high 31 points in the Wednesday win.

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“He’s played a lot of minutes here the last month with all the injuries, and he continues to get better,” Kerr said of Santos, who is averaging 8.6 points per game but has scored 13 or more in 11 of the past 12 contests. “He’s really crafty. He’s finding ways to get to the rim.”

Golden State also continues to look to Brandin Podziemski as a leader of the perimeter attack, a unit that sustained another significant blow with wing Moses Moody rupturing his left patellar tendon in an overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

The Warriors also are getting more help from midseason acquisition Kristaps Porzingis. The big man started four of the past five games, and he posted 22 points and seven rebounds against Dallas, then 17 points and five boards vs. Brooklyn.

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Porzingis went for 30 points, five rebounds, four assists and three blocks the last time the Warriors met the Wizards — a 125-117 Golden State win in Washington on March 16.

That defeat was part of the Wizards’ franchise-record-tying 16-game losing streak, which the Wizards ended on Wednesday with a 133-110 victory over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Jaden Hardy came off the bench to score 21 points for Washington, following a 25-point performance in the Wizards’ Sunday loss at New York. Meanwhile, rookie Julian Reese delivered another notable showing in his limited appearances with the Wizards this season, posting a career-high 26 points and pulling down 17 rebounds against the Jazz.

Reese, the brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, spent much of the season in the G League. In six games with Washington, he has averaged a double-double at 12 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

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Reese joined Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan as the only rookies in the past 40 years to grab 20 rebounds in one of their first five career games. He pulled down 20 against Utah on March 5.

“He’s just got an instinct to go get the ball, and he’s really good at it,” Washington coach Brian Keefe said of Reese.

“My rebounding has a lot to do with heart,” Reese said. “I’m not the tallest guy out there. I just try to find the angle and go get it … It just comes with a lot of consistent effort.”

The Friday visit to Golden State marks the third game in Washington’s five-game road trip. The Wizards are in the midst of playing seven out of eight away from home.

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–Field Level Media

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Top Man United target to rule himself out of replacing Michael Carrick as agreement nears

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Paris Saint‑Germain boss Luis Enrique has been among the names linked with the Manchester United job

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Manchester United have suffered a major setback in their search for a new manager, with shortlisted candidate Luis Enrique now expected to sign a new contract at Paris Saint‑Germain. According to the i paper, club president Nasser Al‑Khelaifi is eager to extend Enrique’s deal beyond 2027 – a development that leaves Michael Carrick ‘closing in’ on the full‑time job.

It’s also reported that the signing of Spanish wonderkid Dro Fernandez, secured ahead of several top European clubs, was used as a ‘sweetener’ to reassure Enrique that PSG are fully committed to his long‑term project. United are thought to have shortlisted Enrique, with interest said to come from chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.

Last week, Enrique was asked about his future during a brief interaction with a fan. The video, which went viral online, suggests the 55‑year‑old wants to stay put.

In the video, Enrique stopped his car to sign autographs for fans when one stated: “I hope you stay with PSG for a long time.”

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The Spanish manager’s reply was telling as he said: “Me too.”

The same fan then brought up United, asking: “Not at United though?” Enrique simply laughed off the suggestion.

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The report also claims that Carrick is now ‘closing in’ on becoming the next permanent manager as a result, with Ineos understood to be leaning towards offering him the full‑time role at Old Trafford – albeit initially on a ‘short‑term basis.’

The former midfielder has impressed since taking over in January, losing just once and guiding United up to third in the table.

Champions League football is becoming an increasingly realistic prospect for next season, and if United do secure qualification, it would be difficult to overlook Carrick.

While no decision is expected before the end of the season, it’s clear that if the club choose to go in a different direction, Enrique could already be off the table.

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Elsewhere, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has emerged as another contender for the Old Trafford job. His contract is due to expire this summer after nearly three years in charge on the south coast.

Iraola has built an impressive reputation, guiding Bournemouth to 12th and ninth in his first two Premier League seasons.

Despite losing several influential players in the summer, he has the Cherries on course for another strong finish – currently sitting 13th and unbeaten in 11 matches.

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What time is LSU vs. Duke today? Channel, live stream, TV schedule to watch women’s NCAA Sweet 16 game

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What time is LSU vs. Duke today? Channel, live stream, TV schedule to watch women’s NCAA Sweet 16 game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A highly anticipated matchup is coming to Sacramento Friday night as No. 2 LSU and No. 3 Duke go head-to-head in the Sweet 16.

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LSU’s powerhouse offense will face a worthy opponent as they prepare for the Blue Devils in the regional semifinal. The Tigers are playing some of their best basketball right now, though, and Kim Mulkey’s squad already defeated Duke by a margin of nearly 20 points back in December.

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Duke enters the Sweet 16 on the heels of a dominant 69-46 win over Baylor in the second round. Delaney Thomas led the squad in that matchup with 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks on the night. The Blue Devils’ defense is rock-solid — can they use it to their advantage for a win in Sacramento?

Who will secure their bid in the Elite Eight?

Here’s everything you need to know about LSU vs. Duke women’s basketball, including TV channel and streaming options for the Sweet 16 matchup.

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What channel is LSU vs. Duke on today?

LSU vs. Duke will be available to watch on ESPN.

Fans looking to stream LSU vs. Duke can watch live on the ESPN app, which will carry every NCAA women’s basketball tournament game in 2026.

Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.

Fans can also stream the game via Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers so you can try before you buy.

LSU vs. Duke start time

  • Time: 10 p.m. ET | 9 p.m. CT | 7 p.m. PT

The NCAA women’s tournament game between LSU and Duke is set to tip off at 10 p.m. ET from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Under head coach Kim Mulkey, LSU has reached four consecutive Sweet 16 rounds. This year will mark the program’s 18th time in the regional final.

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Meanwhile, Duke is tallying their 19th Sweet 16 appearance in Sacramento, and their third under head coach Kara Lawson.

LSU vs. Duke radio coverage

Listen to LSU vs. Duke in the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament live on the SiriusXM app.

New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.

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Women’s March Madness bracket 2026

Check the Sporting News women’s NCAA Tournament live bracket for the latest final scores and next-round matchups.

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When is the Women’s Final Four in 2026?

  • Location: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix

The 2026 Women’s Final Four is set for April 3 and 5 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The semifinals will be played Friday night and the national championship game is set for Sunday afternoon.

Women’s March Madness tournament schedule 2026

Here is the round-by-round schedule for the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament:

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Round

Date

First Four

March 18-19

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First round

March 20-21

Second round

March 22-23

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Sweet 16

March 27-28

Elite Eight

March 29-30

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Final Four

April 3

National championship

April 5

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Human rights experts raise concerns over IOC gender eligibility ruling

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A collection of over 100 human rights groups have raised concerns over the ethics and “fairness” of the International Olympics Committee’s decision to use mandatory genetic sex testing to determine eligibility for future women’s events.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry announced on Thursday that eligibility for the women’s category at future Olympic events will be determined by a one-time gene-screening test, starting from the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

The committee said any athletes found to posses the sex-determining SRY gene – a gene located on the Y chromosome – would be ineligible for the women’s category, ruling out transgender athletes and the majority of those with differences in sexual development (DSD).

The IOC said the one-time gene-screening test would be conducted via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample, and would be “unintrusive compared to other possible methods”.

But experts have warned that universal sex testing for the SRY gene could cause “considerable harm to affected athletes” and is an “inaccurate test of both sex and athletic advantage”.

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The IOC’s ruling followed an 18-month consultation, with the policy “based on science” and “led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart”. Coventry said: “The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power or endurance.”

The ​French Olympic Committee said on Thursday that it had “major ethical and scientific concerns for all those affected” ‌and that the SRY tests would be illegal ⁠in France under the nation’s strict bioethics law on genetic testing.

“A sex testing and blanket ban policy would be a catastrophic erosion of women’s rights and safety,” said Andrea Florence, the executive director of the Sport & Rights Alliance.

“Gender policing and exclusion harms all women and girls, and undermines the very dignity and fairness the IOC claims to uphold. Our concerns are compounded by the fact that the IOC also seems to be, at the same time, divesting from the safe sport infrastructure that actually provides protection for women and girls.”

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The Sport & Rights Alliance, along with over 100 other allied organisations, called on the IOC to abandon its plans to mandate genetic sex testing and warned the policy “would constitute an astounding rollback on gender equality and set women’s sport back 30 years”.

Payoshni Mitra, executive director of Humans of Sport, said: “Requiring women and girls to undergo mandatory genetic screening just to participate in sport would revive a practice that – even if it’s a ‘one-time test’ – violates women’s and girls’ privacy, exposes them to extreme public scrutiny, humiliation, and opens a pathway to medically unnecessary interventions.

“People often forget that child athletes compete at the Olympics and international competitions – this policy would cause massive safeguarding risks by requiring young women and children’s bodies to be investigated and their intimate health information disclosed, potentially leading to permanent harm to their dignity, mental health, and safety.”

The IOC ‌did not foresee a major problem ​with the legality issue. “Based on (International Federation) experience, genetic screening for ‌sex does not create significant problems in practice,” the ​policy document read. It is legal in most countries, and athletes from the countries where it is not permitted can lawfully be tested elsewhere.”

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The new rules have no retroactive power and have no impact on grassroots or amateur sports.

Includes reporting from Reuters

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Caviar Heights to sample Rosehill in 2026 Neville Sellwood Stakes against top local

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Assistant to William Haggas, Isabella Paul, who has brought Caviar Heights on a long haul from the UK, struggles to fathom that Rosehill’s toughest rival for the horse is a premier homegrown speedster.

The five-year-old travelled down under with stablemate and seasoned international Dubai Honour, positioning himself for Saturday’s Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m), which also launches the Australian career of $10 million star and latest Group 1 conqueror Barnavara.

“That’s going to be tough for us,” Paul said.

“She is a top class filly. But I’m very happy, I don’t think we could have him in a better place.

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“It always helps having Dubai Honour down here because he is such a pro.

“The other horse has followed his lead. I’m really happy with where they’re at. They look fantastic in their coats, they are maintaining their weight well, and I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”

In contrast to Tancred Stakes aspirant Dubai Honour’s extensive Australian background—this his third Sydney sojourn—Caviar Heights is relatively unproven here.

His stakes achievements largely involve Listed contests in Europe, highlighted by a couple of podium finishes for Haggas amid the English winter.

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Paul explains he has required patience owing to a proneness “to be a little bit free” on the course and in workouts, but improvement is evident.

“He led on both those occasions, and – we haven’t talked tactics with the boss yet – but I wonder whether we might just try to drop him in,” she said.

“He probably wants to be fairly handy, but he just has that tendency to slightly over-race. We saw it in his last run last season. He led and he was pestered, and it didn’t suit him at all, and he finished fifth of six.

“Hopefully, if we can just get him to do it the right way, he’s got a big future ahead of him.”

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Uncommon among Euro imports, Caviar Heights boasts mainly good-track form, complemented by an early career soft placing.

Tom Marquand will ride both Haggas challengers again.

Visit online bookmakers for competitive betting markets for the race in the Neville Sellwood Stakes.

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NFL news: Tom Brady says he inquired about return to play as a Raiders owner

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Even though Tom Brady had become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, the legendary quarterback still inquired about a potential return to the field.

Brady, 48, said the NFL was not a fan of the possibility of Brady coming out of retirement as an owner and playing again.

“I actually have inquired, and they don’t like that idea very much,” Brady told CNBC. “We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired. Let me just say that, too.”

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Tom Brady looks on

Founders FFC quarterback Tom Brady during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles March 21, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

Brady impressed in last week’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic, throwing for 85 yards and two touchdowns on the smaller field over two games. Brady said he loved being back on the field but said the game confirmed his retirement decision.

“I loved being out there, playing in the flag game. I loved not getting hit. I got a lot of really fun things I’m involved in, and it’s never going to get old throwing passes to incredible athletes on the football field. But, if anything, that game reconfirmed to me that I’m very happy in retirement,” Brady said.

KYLIE KELCE REVEALS HER ‘DOS AND DON’TS’ OF TALKING TO POSTPARTUM WOMEN: ‘OH, I’M SO SERIOUS’

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Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt

Fox Sports announcer Kevin Burkhardt, left, with Tom Brady on the field before the Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome Feb. 9, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

The NFL is also happy that Brady wants to stay in retirement because if the future Pro Football Hall of Famer returned to play, it would cause a headache for the league.

An NFL spokesperson told CNBC that if Brady were to return to the field, he would have to divest his ownership stake in the Raiders after a policy was created in 2023 that prohibits players or team employees from taking equity in a club.

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Tom Brady argues with a ref

Founders FFC’s Tom Brady reacts to a call made by the referee against the U.S. National Flag team during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic March 21, 2026, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

The spokesperson told CNBC that there would also be salary cap issues for a player-owner.

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Brady purchased a 5% share of the Raiders in 2024.

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🗞️ Front pages, World Cup Friday and friendlies in football

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Today’s front pages offer plenty of variety. With friendlies taking center stage, in Spain the headlines focus on someone who broke barriers in the world of sport: Carolina Marín’s retirement makes her the main story.

However, looking abroad, the aftermath of the European playoffs is the front-page topic in Italy, as is the friendly between France and Brazil in the neighboring country.

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Plenty of stories on Friday’s agenda.

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MARCA

AS

MUNDO DEPORTIVO

SPORT

SUPERDEPORTE

LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT

CORRIERE DELLO SPORT

TUTTOSPORT

L’EQUIPE

DAILY EXPRESS SPORT

STAR SPORT

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

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