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Every March, millions of Americans fill out brackets and tune in to watch the NCAA college basketball tournaments known as March Madness. The men’s and women’s competitions unfold in parallel, each with their own brackets, champions, storylines and fan bases.

The separation reflects one of the most deeply embedded assumptions in sports: that women and men perform differently enough that they must compete apart.

The divide is so normal, it’s rarely explained: On average, men are faster, stronger and have more endurance. As a result, performance differences between men and women are often assumed to follow directly from these physical traits.

This notion shape how sports organizations structure competition, how coaches train athletes and how researchers study performance. Sex becomes a shortcut – a way to predict what athletes can do before they ever step onto the court.

As an exercise scientist who studies the physical demands of Paralympic sports, I wanted to know whether this assumption actually holds up.

My research on elite wheelchair basketball suggests it may not. I found that many of the differences widely attributed to physiological differences between women and men in sports are far less pronounced in wheelchair basketball players – and in most cases absent altogether.

It may seem that wheelchair sports are too different from nondisabled sports to compare. But in my view, they may instead reveal what sports look like when performance is measured by what athletes can do, rather than presumptions tied to their sex.

Although international competitions of wheelchair basketball have separate women’s and men’s teams, athletes at the national level often train together.

Testing different abilities

In most sports, presumptions about physical differences between the sexes appear early, often starting with elementary school physical education classes and youth teams.

Wheelchair basketball works differently. Although international competitions have separate women’s and men’s teams, athletes at the national level often train together, while women sometimes compete in men’s leagues and vice versa.

As part of my Ph.D. research, I examined how elite wheelchair basketball players move during competition by asking athletes from the Australian national men’s and women’s teams to wear movement sensors during five international-level games in 2022.

The sensors recorded how often players accelerated and decelerated, how frequently they changed direction, how fast they moved and how much distance they covered. Accelerations, decelerations and changes of direction are typically the most physically demanding movements in wheelchair basketball. To ensure fair comparisons, I adjusted all measures for playing time.

A consistent difference emerged. Players with less severe impairments – those with greater trunk control and stability – performed more high-intensity actions than players with more severe impairments. Female athletes with less severe impairments accelerated and decelerated more frequently and reached higher peak speeds, and male athletes showed the same pattern.

When I compared performance by sex, however, the differences were much less pronounced. Across most measures – including distance covered, average speed and high-intensity movements – female and male athletes performed similarly over the course of multiple games.

Performance beyond sex

If sex-based performance differences are so common in sports, why didn’t they appear in my research? The answer lies partly in how wheelchair basketball is organized.

To compete, athletes are assigned a classification based on how their impairment affects movement during play. These classifications range from 1.0 to 4.5, with lower numbers indicating more severe impairments. The system is designed to account for athletes with wide variations in physical disabilities, particularly differences in trunk control, balance and the ability to generate force and change direction in their game wheelchairs.

During games, teams must stay under a combined classification limit of 14 points for the five players on court. This means lineups are built around functional movement ability rather than sex, balancing players with different movement capacities within lineups so that no single team gains an unfair advantage.

Shelley Cronau, a player on Australia’s Paralympics wheelchair basketball team, grabs a loose ball in a match against Japan in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Wheelchair basketball uses a system of classifications to balance the wide variations in athletes’ disabilities. Carmen Mandato/Staff via Getty Images Sports

With this in mind, it makes sense that classification, not sex, explained the differences I observed. In other words, wheelchair basketball is designed around physical variation in sports – not just between women and men, but across individuals with very different movement capacities and roles on the court. In this context, sex becomes one variable among many, rather than the primary basis for performance.

This pattern isn’t unique to wheelchair basketball. In wheelchair rugby, where women and men compete together on the same international teams, research has also found that game demands are shaped more by players’ classification and on-court roles than by sex.

Challenging sports science norms

My findings challenge a near-universal assumption in sports: that sex is the primary factor defining physical ability.

To be clear, there are contexts where sex-based comparisons matter. Differences in average muscle mass, body size and hormone profiles can influence performance in many sports, which is one reason competitions are typically separated into women’s and men’s divisions. Safety concerns are also frequently cited as a reason for maintaining separate competitions.

But when sex becomes the primary framework for understanding performance, it can obscure other important factors such as strength, body size, training history and access to coaching.

Research supports this idea. One study comparing athletes by both sex and strength found that many differences often attributed to sex were better explained by strength. Another review found little consistent evidence for sex-specific movement patterns in jumping and landing tasks, concluding that many reported differences are better explained by training exposure, motor skill or sociocultural factors than by sex alone.

Put simply, what is often labeled a sex difference may instead reflect unequal opportunities to develop physical capacity – much of which is trainable – rather than fixed, innate ability.

This perspective does not mean sex differences disappear, but it suggests that they may not always be the most informative way to understand performance. In some cases, focusing primarily on sex-based categories may even risk underselling what some young athletes are capable of.

Looking more closely at individual factors such as strength, agility, sport-specific skills and training exposure may give coaches a clearer picture of how athletes actually perform, rather than relying on long-standing presumptions about what girls and boys are capable of.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has revealed he is a “big fan” of Tottenham captain Cristian Romero ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg in London.

Romero was heavily linked with a transfer to Atletico last summer to join up with fellow Argentinian Simeone, but no move materialised and he subsequently signed a new contract at Spurs until the end of the 2028-29 campaign.

Tottenham’s disastrous season along with Romero’s own mixed form of two reds cards sandwiched between six goals has meant speculation about his future rumbles on, which led to Simeone being asked about his compatriot in Tuesday’s press conference.

“I speak from a point of view as an Argentina fan. I admire his personality, his character, his defensive work and his football ability on the ball,” Simeone explained.

“As a fan of Argentina, I have seen him play more games for the national team than I have for Spurs, but I’m a big fan of him, for sure.”

Romero’s expected availability is a boost for Tottenham at a time where they are set to be without at least 11 players for this second leg.

Atletico were already favourites to go through before a ball was kicked but last Tuesday’s 5-2 thrashing of Spurs has them odds-on to progress, but Simeone struck a cautious tone at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Simeone added: “We want to take the game in the direction we want to tomorrow. We will have our usual intensity that we had at home, we want to start on the front foot but Tottenham will want to start on the front foot and put on a show for their fans as well.”

First-choice goalkeeper Jan Oblak is absent, which means Juan Musso will deputise for Atletico, but Simeone said: “Juan is performing well and I am happy with his work.”

“The mile is a really cool event and it’s nice to do something different.

“I’m just really excited to learn and to move in. I’m not moving up full time, I’m going to go back to the 800m outdoors.

“I’m enjoying it so far. I think in the future I might be a great 1500m runner. So, I’m kind of dipping my toes in to see how it goes. I’m enjoying it, the training’s really good.”

With her recent indoor success, the two-time Olympian is pleased with her form heading to Torun, but insists her enjoyment remains the priority before the outdoor season.

Reekie spoke candidly about how failing to make the 2024 Olympic 800m final pushed her to prioritise her mental health.

The 1500m heats in Torun are on Friday, with the final taking place on Sunday.

“It’s definitely getting there,” she said. “We’ll see how I go this weekend over that distance. I’m definitely having a lot of fun, and that’s the main aim.

“I’ve got no pressure this weekend at all, other than myself. So, I’m just going to go out there and have fun and see what I can do.

“The past two outdoor seasons I’ve missed out on finals, so that’ll definitely be the first step forward to get into that final.”

Reekie, alongside fellow Team GB star Laura Muir, started working with coach Jon Bigg in March 2023, but has brought other people, including psychologists, into her set-up to extract small advantages.

“I’ve been with Jon for a while now, and we’ve been working on lots and I’ve got stronger and stronger as the years have gone by,” she said.

“It’s just adding in those one per cent gains and new people to your team, which I’m really enjoying. I think athletes always can work on something.”

The Indianapolis Colts bolstered their tight end room with an unconventional signing on Tuesday.

The Colts announced they signed Notre Dame basketball forward Carson Towt to their roster with the idea of converting him to a tight end.

Towt, 24, did not play football in either high school or college and recently played forward for Notre Dame basketball in 2025. Towt spent six seasons with Northern Arizona before transferring to Notre Dame for his final season.

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Carson Towt (33) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish dribbles during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana, on Jan. 27, 2026. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Towt, 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, set the Big Sky Conference single-season record with 423 rebounds during the 2024 season, which led the country. He also recorded 20 double-doubles that season.

With Notre Dame, Towt averaged 5.9 points, nine rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 31 games.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carson Towt (33) dunks against the NC State Wolfpack during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center in South Bend, Indiana, on Feb. 28, 2026. (Michael Caterina/Imagn Images)

The Colts have had success in the past with converting college basketball players into tight ends. Mo Alie-Cox played college basketball at VCU and signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

In Cox’s eight-season career, he has caught 127 passes for 1,550 yards and 16 touchdowns while being an effective blocker. The Colts re-signed Cox to a one-year deal on Monday.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carson Towt (33) drives to the basket as Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Akai Fleming (0) defends during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center in South Bend, Indiana, on Feb. 14, 2026. (Michael Caterina/Imagn Images)

Towt will slot in behind Cox and Tyler Warren on the depth chart. Warren, a first-round selection of the Colts in the 2025 NFL Draft, had a strong rookie season. The former Penn State star caught 76 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns.

The Colts brought back quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce in free agency but traded away wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., potentially leaving more targets for tight ends.

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Selection Sunday is in the books, and the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket has been unveiled. After Florida won it all last year, the SEC will again be well represented in the 2026 March Madness bracket, with 10 of the conference’s 16 teams earning a spot in the Big Dance. Florida is again a No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA bracket despite falling to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament semifinals. The three other No. 1 seeds are Duke, Michigan and Arizona.

The No. 2 seeds in the 2026 March Madness field are Houston, UConn and Iowa State. Should any of the No. 1 or No. 2 seeds be on upset alert when the first round of the NCAA Tournament 2026 gets underway on Thursday, and which teams are primed for a 2026 March Madness Cinderella run? Before you make your 2026 NCAA Tournament predictions, see the 2026 March Madness bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Two years ago, SportsLine’s computer simulation nailed massive upsets, including huge wins by No. 11 Oregon over No. 6 South Carolina, No. 11 NC State over No. 6 Texas Tech, No. 10 Colorado over No. 7 Florida. Last year, SportsLine’s computer simulation nailed massive upsets, including calling both 9-seeds that advanced in the first round, No. 12 Colorado State over No. 5 Memphis, and No. 6 BYU advancing to the Sweet 16. The model has beaten over 91 percent of all CBS Sports bracket players in four of the past seven tournaments.

This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016 and nailed UConn’s championship run in 2024. It nailed 12 teams in the Sweet 16 and correctly predicted all four Final Four teams a year ago.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered conference tournament week on a sizzling 14-2 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-21 run on top-rated CBB side picks. You shouldn’t even think about making a pick without seeing what their model has to say.

Top 2026 March Madness bracket upset picks

One South Region surprise the model has identified: No. 11 VCU upsets six-time national champion and No. 6-seeded North Carolina. This is a familiar spot for VCU fans, as the Rams were one of those rare double-digit seeds to make the Final Four in 2011. Long-time Saint Joseph’s head coach Phil Martelli took over the program this season and he led the Hawks on legendary runs to the Sweet 16 in 1997 and Elite Eight in 2004.

Meanwhile, North Carolina limps into the 2026 NCAA Tournament coming off a loss to Duke to close out the regular season and then suffering a loss to Clemson in its only game of the ACC Tournament. The Tar Heels will unfortunately be without superstar freshman Caleb Wilson, who suffered a season-ending thumb injury on Feb. 10. Wilson’s absence is a big reason why the model considers VCU one of its best upset candidates.

Another South Region surprise the model has identified: No. 10 Texas A&M knocks off No. 7 Saint Mary’s. Aggies head coach Bucky McMillan got his start as a high school coach in Alabama while Gaels head coach Randy Bennett has been in charge of the Gaels since 2001. However, this game will likely be decided by which team dictates the tempo, with Texas A&M ranking 29th in adjusted possessions per 40 minutes and Saint Mary’s ranking 297th.

In their only matchup against an SEC opponent this season, the Gaels gave up 96 points to Vanderbilt in a loss and the Commodores also play fast an efficiently offensively. Saint Mary’s was also only 1-4 in Quad 1 games this season and the Aggies constitute an extremely tough first-round matchup after a great season in the WCC. See which other 2026 March Madness upsets and matchups to target here.

How to make 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions

Who wins every tournament-defining matchup? And which teams will make surprising runs through the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it’s calling this year before locking in any 2026 NCAA bracket picks.

So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2026 bracket? And which NCAA Tournament Cinderella teams will shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which region features two mammoth upsets in the first round, including one by a No. 14 seed, and see which 6-seed makes the Sweet 16, all from the model that’s nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds.

At Rosehill to start his day, Bryce Heys was absent for the reappearance of his 100th success story as Flying For Fun secured her breakthrough Group placing in the Maurice McCarten Stakes.

Heys had saddled Mailata to fourth in Sydney’s curtain-raiser before dashing via the freeway to Gosford provincials, where Banjora featured in the finale.

“He was here and then we tagged in and out,” Heys’ stable representative, Tammy Blair, said.

“He’s gone to Gosford to saddle up Banjora. So he’s there, and I’m here.”

Returning from Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) glory at Rosehill in November, Flying For Fun at $5 proved too strong for persistent Mal Coupe ($9) by a long neck, King’s Secret ($4 fav) third and 1-1/4 lengths adrift.

Blair mentioned Heys’ history with Flying For Fun’s sire Spieth and dam Vol Prive amplified the victory’s appeal.

“We’re very happy. We had mum and dad, so this makes it that little bit special,” she said.

For his sixth mount on the four-year-old through 12 starts, jockey Zac Lloyd applauded her dominance over decent rivals and her development beyond her prior spell.

“She’s come back super,” Lloyd said.

“Much more mature and stronger. For her to do that first-up, that was a pretty strong Maurice McCarten Stakes, and she’s done it really nice.”

Connections lack a fixed autumn itinerary, yet Lloyd believes her settling ability now creates more paths forward.

“I’m sure Bryce will find a good option for her, but she’s so tractable now,” he said.

“She can come from right up on the speed, or just off the speed. It definitely opens a lot of doors.”

Visit leading racing betting markets ahead of the Maurice McCarten Stakes.

England’s Ollie Pope bats on day two of the first Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Perth. (AP)

England batter Ollie Pope has responded to criticism following his side’s Ashes defeat in Australia, saying the perception that the team “weren’t fussed” is not accurate, while accepting why that view took hold among fans and experts.England, led by Ben Stokes, lost the 2025/26 Ashes series 4-1 to Australia cricket team. The tour is still under review by the England and Wales Cricket Board.Apart from results on the field, the tour also drew attention due to reports around team culture. During a break in Noosa, there were claims of players drinking heavily. There were also reports that vice-captain Harry Brook had an altercation with a nightclub bouncer during a pre-series visit to New Zealand.

Pope said the team remained focused on winning the Ashes and pointed to the first Test in Perth as a key moment.“Going into that series, there was a lot spoken about the preparation of it,” Pope told reporters. “As a team, the misconception might be that we weren’t as fussed as it came across.”Speaking at Surrey’s media day, the 28-year-old said the outcome of the opening Test shaped the narrative.“The tough thing for everyone in that first game (Test) was the nature of it. Had we won that, and we’d done slightly better on day two, the idea is different.“Of course we want to be a well-liked team, on and off the pitch, and unfortunately our performance didn’t allow that to happen in Australia.”“I can understand why people felt that way, but at the same time the perception that we weren’t fussed was probably the hard thing. All we wanted to do was go and win the Ashes…All anyone wanted to do was to win,” Pope said.“And for us at times it was just trying to, in our minds, take the pressure off the actual Test match.”Even before the series began, questions were raised about England’s preparation in Australian conditions. Their build-up included a three-day match against England Lions at Lilac Hill in Perth.“As we’ve done over the previous years, we tried to treat it like a normal series to get the best out of ourselves,” Pope said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t quite go to plan.”He added: “I know what I need to be as ready as I can be. From a personal point, I felt as ready as I could have been for that first Test.”Pope was dropped after the third Test, having averaged 20.83 across the first three matches. Jacob Bethell replaced him and scored a century in the fifth Test in Sydney.Despite the setback, Pope said he is focused on returning to the side.“I still feel like my best batting years are to come.”He was speaking after the ECB reversed a plan to restrict Ashes players from speaking to the media ahead of the county season while the review of the tour continues.