Olivia Vukosa has been named the 2026 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, becoming the first UConn commit to win it since Paige Bueckers in 2021. The award, which honors “the nation’s best high school athletes for their excellence in sport, academics and community,” has been won by three Hall of Famers, 17 WNBA first-round draft picks, national champions and more. What made it even more special was the award being delivered by Diana Taurasi, who won three national championships with the Huskies before taking over the WNBA as the all-time leading scorer.

“I didn’t even see the trophy,” Vukosa told CBS Sports. “I didn’t see anyone. I saw her through the door and I started crying. It’s definitely a surreal experience and something I’m definitely going to cherish forever… She’s someone I’ve looked up to for a long, long time and it just doesn’t feel real. It feels like a dream.”

The 6-foot-4 New York native is the No. 4 player in the 247Sports class of 2026 rankings. She averaged 19.4 points, 17.9 rebounds, 5.5 blocks and 3.8 assists per game during her junior year at Christ the King, the Queens high school that boasts alumni including Sue Bird and Tina Charles. Vukosa is not a traditional big and the versatility she brings to the table is part of what makes Taurasi excited about her potential.

“I think when you talk about the way Olivia plays basketball, it’s the new generation. It’s the positionless, it’s having all the skills on the court,” Taurasi told CBS Sports. “I don’t think it’s good enough just to be good at one thing anymore, and I think Olivia shows that when she’s on the court.

“Her IQ, her footwork, her great hands. I think when you play with great players, can they make things that are really hard look easy? She does that, and that’s a testament to her work ethic, on and off the court the way she works. I think when she’s on the court, it’s hard to know what she’s going to do next because she’s just as great a passer as she is a scorer… I think those are the type of players that I love to watch and that have the future ahead of them that’s gonna be amazing.”

Up next? Vukosa will play under Geno Auriemma, who has turned UConn into the most successful program in basketball history with 12 NCAA Tournament trophies. Taurasi, who played for him from 2000-04, still credits his brutal honesty in telling her the things she didn’t necessarily want to hear but needed to in order to reach her full potential.

That level of honesty is something Vukosa also valued when making her decision to join the Huskies. However, it was not just Auriemma keeping it real that earned her commitment: she got a strong recommendation from UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey too.

Despite her credentials, Vukosa admitted she was surprised when she realized UConn was interested in her. The first time she saw Auriemma attending one of her games, she incorrectly assumed he was there for somebody else. 

“I think it was the first session of the EYBL season,” she said. “I saw him on our court and my first thought was that he wasn’t there for me at all and that he was there for someone else, and if I played good I got lucky.”

Vukoa didn’t just capture Auriemma’s attention; she also got a very enthusiastic offer.

“That car ride home, him talking to me and saying that you have an offer and you should take it right now, that’s definitely my first impression of him,” she recounted. “But like (Taurasi) said, he is a great guy. A great person on and off the court and he also reminded me the most of the coaches I have at Christ the King.”

Choosing UConn means Vukoa will be on the same roster as Sarah Strong, last year’s national Freshman of the Year and a top POY candidate this season. They could be a very powerful duo, even the idea of which had Taurasi leaning back in her chair. As for Vukoa, she is already visualizing what it will be like to share the court with Strong.

“Everything,” Vukoa answered without hesitation when asked what she liked about Strong’s game. “She’s just an all-around player and I can’t wait to feed her the ball and I hope she is excited to feed me the ball in the post.”

No team has won back-to-back championships since UConn’s four-peat from 2013 to 2016. The Huskies, the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s tournament, are trying to do just that after they beat the South Carolina Gamecocks last year. That journey will begin Saturday afternoon against UTSA.

The Minnesota Vikings parted ways with defensive tackle Jonathan Allen last week, and soon after, Allen landed on his feet with the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, according to him, he’s in a spot where he can actually win a Super Bowl.

The former Viking did not exactly hide his message.

The veteran defender didn’t show utter disdain toward the Vikings, but he did imply that Cincinnati can win a championship, whereas his former team can not.

Allen’s Bengals Comments Will Irritate Some Vikings Fans

Allen is, shall we say, excited about the change of scenery.

Allen on His New Employer

Allen spoke with Bengals reporters last Friday and opined, “This is one of the few places I can compete for a Super Bowl and have a chance to showcase my talent. When you see what they have on the offensive side of the ball, that’s a dream for a defensive lineman.”

“I think people would be lining up to play with a guy like Joe Burrow and the offense they have. Then the young guys you have on defense and the pieces you’re adding, I really think this team is going somewhere.”

Allen also said about the Bengals’ defensive scheme: “That’s one of the things that excited me the most about coming here. They’re talking about moving me around, getting some one-on-ones and really being able to get after the passer and shut down the run, the things I love to do.”

The Implication

While it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Bengals’ defense suddenly becomes fierce — it ranked 29th in the NFL last year per EPA/Play, also known as fourth-worst — and the offensive line improves, Allen’s insinuation that he can win a Super Bowl implies that the Vikings could not or can not.

Of course, Minnesota did not win the chip last year, but it finished 9-8 with the NFL’s fifth-worst quarterback efficiency by the numbers. The team believes it’s a quarterback away from contending, and that’s why the Vikings signed Kyler Murray last week.

But per Allen, the Bengals can win a Super Bowl, and the Vikings probably won’t.

Allen’s 2025 Performance

Allen’s 2025 season was statistically mixed. While he ranked sixth among defensive tackles in total tackles, 10th in stops, and 11th in quarterback hits, his production declined to 25th in sacks and 27th in pressures, a performance that arguably didn’t justify his salary.

His Pro Football Focus grades reflect this assessment, with an overall score of 53.2. His run defense grade of 45.4 is particularly concerning, given his expected role as an anchor in the middle of the defensive line. However, his pass-rushing grade was a more respectable 64.9.

The potential impact of Brian Flores‘ defensive scheme has been debated, with some suggesting it may not be ideal for defensive tackles. However, the performance of DTs in Minnesota under the same scheme complicates this explanation. See: Jalen Redmond.

Regardless, Allen’s departure creates opportunities for other players. Levi Drake Rodriguez has shown potential as a run defender and could see increased playing time. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins gained experience as a rookie. Additionally, undrafted free agent Elijah Williams impressed during training camp, and Jaylon Hutchings arrives from the UFL, further expanding the team’s options.

The Bengals’ Super Bowl Odds

Do sportsbooks’ odds agree with Allen? They do not — not by a long shot. The Bengals have a +3000 moneyline to win the Super Bowl next February, the 17th-best odds in the NFL. Vegas basically believes that Cincinnati is a middle-of-the-road team in 2026 — probably because the defense won’t be good enough, nor is the offensive line to die for.

In fairness to Allen, however, the Vikings have +4500 odds to win it all, two spots down from Cincinnati. Allen may indeed have a better chance of hoisting a Lombardi Trophy in Cincinnati, but that doesn’t make the franchise a surefire Super Bowl contender, per oddsmakers.

Letting the Vikings Off the Hook

Vikings fans should rejoice that Cincinnati signed Allen. Doing so released the 2026 cap burden, freeing up the salary cap for the 2027 offseason.

ESPN’s Seth Walker explained last week, explaining why he thought the signing was a head-scratcher, “The Bengals signing defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. The aforementioned Chubb signing and Kwity Paye’s deal with the Raiders are also great contenders for this superlative.”

“But Allen getting as much as he did — two years, $26 million — as a 31-year-old coming off two straight years of declined performance (resulting in his release from the Commanders and Vikings) was really surprising. It also was a break for the Vikings. Allen had $8 million guaranteed from when they cut him — and they could get all of that money back depending on how the contract is structured.”

As of March 19th, the Vikings are scheduled to have $67 million in cap space next offseason.

Terence Crawford hung up the gloves late last year as a five-weight world champion and future Hall of Famer.

Crawford’s retirement announcement came following his victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez at super-middleweight – a fight many deemed a step too far for the American. He proved the doubters wrong one last time.

In his 42 professional bouts, ‘Bud’ rarely looked troubled. In fact, the question was rarely if he would win, but how he would do it. In 257 rounds, the switch-hitter from Omaha claims to have been truly hurt just once.

The information comes via two-weight world champion Regis Prograis, who recently sought advice from Crawford about moving up in weight as he prepares to face Conor Benn at a catchweight of 150lbs.

Speaking to Daily Mail Boxing, Prograis relayed Crawford’s words about being in trouble against former Olympian Yuriorkis Gamboa, believing he was susceptible to the Cuban’s shots due to cutting weight.

“Terence Crawford went up two divisions and he still took shots from Canelo. He said ‘the only time I’ve been hurt was by [Yuriorkis] Gamboa and that was when I was at 135, I was too small. I’ve been in the gym, sparring these big guys and the punches don’t do nothing.’ So, really the extra weight is a benefit.”

Crawford clashed with Gamboa in 2014 as the first defence of his WBO lightweight world title – a tricky test for any new champion given the Cuban’s skillset and impressive amateur pedigree.

Though the champion scored four knockdowns in total on his way to a ninth round stoppage, in that final round he was caught and wobbled himself. Gamboa then went for the kill but was ultimately punished for it when Crawford survived the storm.

Crawford, who stayed on his feet despite the big right hand, would not hit the canvas in his entire campaign, although many feel a knee touching down against Egidijus ‘Mean Machine’ Kavaliauskas was incorrectly ruled a slip.

As for Gamboa, his pro career never quite lived up its considerable hype. Alongside issues outside of the ropes, the Cuban lost his last three to Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz. In 2026, he plans a combat comeback, recently announcing his sighing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Do you think the Minnesota Vikings are currently the NFL’s eighth-worst team? NFL.com does.

Minnesota’s offseason carries risk, though No. 25 feels wildly aggressive.

That’s the word from Eric Edholm this week, who published leaguewide power rankings after the first wave of free agency, and per him, the Vikings are downright bad and on pace for a season in the range of 6-11 or 7-10.

The National Outlook on Minnesota Has Swung Too Far … the Wrong Way

The odds are evidently stacked against Minnesota already this season.

NFL.com: Vikings Rank 25th in Power Rankings

Minnesota lost four main players in free agency: Jalen Nailor (WR, Las Vegas Raiders), Jonathan Allen (DT, Cincinnati Bengals), Javon Hargrave (DT, Green Bay Packers), and Ryan Wright (P, New Orleans Saints).

For Edholm, that’s just too much. He ranked Minnesota at No. 25 and explained, “The Vikings have had an odd and uncomfortable March so far, getting noticeably weaker up the middle on both sides of the ball. Losing linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave hurts the defensive front, and Ryan Kelly’s retirement leaves a hole at center.”

“Receiver Jalen Nailor’s exit was quietly a big one for a team that needs all the non-Justin Jefferson targets it can hold on to. Fullback C.J. Ham retired, and longtime stalwart Harrison Smith could do the same, potentially creating a major void at safety.”

Most fans thought the team improved with the addition of Kyler Murray, but NFL.com defiantly disagreed.

Edholm concluded, “Even signing Kyler Murray to a league-minimum deal, cheap as it was, delivered a certain awkwardness, thanks to the presence of former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. Murray’s no-tag clause tells me he’s more likely to start than not, which would make McCarthy’s future even more muddled.”

Worse than the Saints and Falcons?

To add insult to injury, Edholm claimed a club like the New Orleans Saints is better than Minnesota. Even the Falcons outpaced the purple team.

Edholm on the Saints at No. 23, two spots ahead of Minnesota: “The Saints haven’t gone hog wild in free agency, which isn’t shocking for a rebuilding squad light on cap space, but they’ve added a few pieces on offense to bolster their young QB.”

“Running back Travis Etienne was the headline name, but I think it was just as important to beef up the offensive line with guard David Edwards. The defense took a few hits, but nothing terribly concerning.”

New Orleans finished 6-11 last year, while Minnesota fired up a 9-8 record. Most Vikings fans would be wholly insulted to hear about the Falcons and Saints ranked higher than Kevin O’Connell’s team.

A Top 3 Defense with Kyler Murray at Quarterback

Why should Minnesota be ranked higher? Simple — the club has produced a Top 3 defense in back-to-back seasons per EPA/Play, and since Brian Flores arrived in the Twin Cities three years ago, the Vikings have the NFL’s best defense.

Almost no matter what, Minnesota’s defense will be formidable. If it doesn’t pull down a Top 3 statistical ranking, a fall would still likely keep the club in the Top 10.

Then, it added Murray at quarterback, who will cost Minnesota just $1.3 million in 2026. Spanned to 17 games, Murray averages about 4,000 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns, and around 600 rushing yards in a season. If he stays healthy, the Vikings should very much contend for the NFC North.

In 2025, the Vikings’ overall quarterback efficiency ranked fifth-worst in the NFL. Even average play from J.J. McCarthy, Max Brosmer, and Carson Wentz would’ve propelled Minnesota to the postseason, and that’s not a hot take.

With Flores’s defense, Murray’s production, and playmakers like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the Vikings should be interpreted much higher than the NFL’s eighth-worst team.

Ever-Important Draft Ahead

This upcoming draft is absolutely crucial for the Vikings. In the past four years, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft picks have yielded successful players only 15% to 20% of the time. This low success rate has depleted the roster and created significant challenges for the coaching staff. It’s why the Vikings’ owners fired Adofo-Mensah at the end of January.

With Minnesota’s limited spending in free agency beyond the addition of Murray and cornerback James Pierre, the focus now shifts to the April draft. The team possesses nine picks, and a significant portion of them must develop into reliable contributors.

Specifically, the players selected within the first four rounds need to be immediately impactful; depth players will not suffice. Not after four poor drafts.

Recent changes in the front office further amplify the importance of this draft. Another unproductive draft, similar to the previous few under Adofo-Mensah, could force the team into a complete rebuild. The margin for error is slim, making a successful draft class essential.

A No. 25 ranking is about the lowest you will see for the Vikings at any time in 2026. It’s comically low.

Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice addressed the Daniel Dye situation, days after the young driver was indefinitely suspended by both the team and NASCAR. Following Dye’s controversial comments, Rice urged him to learn from the mistake and move forward.

The situation stemmed from a Whatnot livestream in which Dye spoke about Team Penske IndyCar driver David Malukas, while opening card packs. During the stream, the RAM Truck Series driver used an inappropriate tone to mock Malukas, prompting disciplinary action.

NASCAR penalized him under Section 4.3.C, while Kaulig Racing immediately followed suit. The incident triggered mandatory sensitivity training for Daniel Dye before any potential return. Chris Rice publicly acknowledged both the personal and professional dimensions of the situation.

“First and foremost, Randy (his father, Randy Dye), Daniel, those guys are family to us. And very unfortunate situation that arose this week that we got aware of. There’re protocols and different things that has to happen in NASCAR. We’re in a sport today that we’ve a lot of people that watch us. We’ve a lot of partners that are involved and when that happens, it’s a lot of people you’ve to talk to and figure out what we need to do to move forward.”

Chris Rice pointed to a broader responsibility tied to the sport’s visibility and commercial structure, where teams must balance internal relationships with external expectations. However, he wanted to look ahead.

“One thing about this is that we always learn from our mistakes, including me. I made many, many mistakes over my life, and I probably have not done making mistakes. And we just (get) stronger when we get to the other side of it. So that is the main thing that we have to look at… You look at the NASCAR community and everybody else that we just not, there’s a lot of eyes and ears on us now. A lot of TV cameras, a lot of cameras all around us and we have to really pay attention to what’s going on.”

Daniel Dye, 22, started the 2026 NASCAR Truck Series season with three mid-pack finishes and was 13th in the standings. He made a few starts in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series before the incident halted his campaign.

Kaulig Racing names AJ Allmendinger as replacement for Daniel Dye at Darlington

Kaulig Racing has already confirmed its short-term solution for the No. 10 RAM Truck. They announced earlier in the week:

“AJ Allmendinger will drive the Kaulig Racing No. 10 Truck Friday at Darlington Raceway.”

AJ Allmendinger competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Kaulig Racing and now steps into the Truck Series role. He has prior experience across all three national divisions, with his most recent Truck outing coming in 2021. He now pulls double duty at the 1.366-mile track.