Kai Trump has returned to training ahead of her freshman season at the University of Miami, just months after undergoing wrist surgery to continue her golf career “pain free.”
President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, who verbally committed in 2024 to play for the Hurricanes, shared a video of herself on Instagram in the gym doing box squats.
Kai Trump, a University of Miami commit, plays her tee shot on the second hole during The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on Nov. 13, 2025, at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.(Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“We’re so back,” she captioned the video posted to Instagram Stories, and tagged her coach, Alex Paup.
Trump, 18, announced in January that she underwent surgery. The announcement came after she made her LPGA Tour debut at The Annika in November.
“Today, I underwent left wrist surgery to address injuries to the stabilizing tissues of my ECU tendon and damage to my fibrocartilage complex,” she wrote in a post on social media. “The surgery was successfully performed at the Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute by Dr. Thomas Graham, Chief of Jefferson Orthopedics. I look forward to my rehab in the coming months, I am excited for the ability to play golf pain free.”
Former President Donald Trump walks with Kai Trump and her mom Vanessa Trump during the ProAm ahead of the LIV Golf Team Championship, on Oct. 27, 2022, at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Florida.(Michele Eve Sandberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In the weeks that followed, she was pictured with a bandaged cast on her left wrist.
Trump has spoken about her hopes to pursue a professional golf career, telling Fox News Digital in a July interview that she believes the University of Miami is the place for that to happen.
“The more golf I play, the better I’ll do. Getting experience. Miami gave me a great opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to that,” she said at the time.
Kai Trump and her mother, Vanessa Trump, after a match between Jupiter Links and Boston Common Golf Club at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on March 17, 2026.(James Gilbert/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
Trump finished in last place at The Annika but made a notable improvement in her second day of competition compared to her first day, improving by eight strokes. She finished with a two-round score of 18-over 158, putting her 27 shots behind leader Grace Kim (65-66) and 17 away from the projected cut line at one over par.
Breanna Stewart‘s wife, Marta Xargay, had a proud reaction to the WNBA’s new CBA deal. On Wednesday, Xargay shared a picture of herself and the Liberty star on her Instagram story.
In the picture, the couple was in their bed. Xargay covered her face with her hand while Stewart stared into the camera with a wide grin. She praised Stewart in the story’s caption.
“She freaking did it! I’m so proud of her❤️” Xargay wrote.
Marta Xargay praises Breanna Stewart on her IG story.
The WNBA and the WNBPA were in a stalemate for more than three months. The former CBA was set to expire in October 2025, but the league kept extending the deadline as it had not reached an agreement with the players’ association.
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The WNBPA, led by Nneka Ogwumike as the President and Breanna Stewart as the Vice President, found common ground with the league on Wednesday. The new CBA is a major upgrade for the players from the previous one.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the new salary cap for the players starts at $7 million, which went up from $1.5 million. The league will also share about 20% of revenue with the players. A supermax contract will now start at $1.4 million, while the average salary went up to $600,000.
The league will also add two new teams this season, the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire. The 2026 WNBA season will begin on May 8.
Breanna Stewart shares her thoughts on the new CBA: “Transformational”
Breanna Stewart shared her thoughts on the new CBA while talking to the press after exiting the negotiations on Wednesday. She called the new agreement between the league and the players a transformational move.
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“This deal is going to be transformational,” she said. “It’s going to build and help create a system where everybody is getting exactly what they deserve and more, from on the court and off the court aspects. Just excited that we can tell our fans that we’re going to be back.”
Breanna Stewart is coming off an incredible run with the Mist BC in Unrivaled. The New York Liberty star led the Mist BC to their first Unrivaled championship in the 3×3 league in early March.
She had a good run with the Liberty in the W last season. She averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, helping them finish in fifth place in the standings. However, the Liberty lost (1-2) to the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the playoffs.
Jos Buttler is refusing to accept his England career is over despite admitting he had a “poor tournament” at the recent T20 World Cup. Widely regarded as one of the outstanding white-ball batsmen of his generation, Buttler managed just 87 runs in eight innings at the tournament as England reached the semi-finals before losing to co-hosts and eventual champions India. “Obviously I had a poor tournament, which is disappointing,” Buttler, who remains on an England and Wales central contract, said on his For the Love of Cricket podcast with former England fast bowler Stuart Broad.
“But I have been playing some of the best cricket of my (career) in recent years, so hopefully I can get back to playing my best.
“I certainly have ambitions (to play for England again), but no longer being a captain, I am not a selector and whatever, so what will be, will be.”
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Buttler, 35, is set to play for Gujarat Titans in the upcoming Indian Premier League and hopes time away after the World Cup “up the mountains” in France with his family will leave him feeling reinvigorated.
“I couldn’t have been further away from cricket, which for me at the time was just perfect,” said Buttler. “It is exactly what I needed.”
“Obviously the tournament didn’t go personally how I would have liked it to go, and I just felt like I needed some space from cricket and not to think about the game, and I could not have been further away from cricket where I was in that week.”
Buttler, a member of England’s 2019 one-day international World Cup-winning team and also the skipper for their T20 triumph in Australia three years later, added: “It was really refreshing — I really enjoyed it, a complete sort of release, and slowly but surely, I would say at the start of this week, (I am) just starting to reflect a bit and have a few thoughts about what is important to me and my cricket, and why it probably didn’t go quite as I would’ve liked.
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“There’s elements that I actually don’t really know exactly. For all your best intentions and hard work and efforts to perform, it just didn’t work, and sometimes that is OK as well.
“That is something I have had to realise. It wasn’t for a lack of effort, it just didn’t quite happen.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Aug 24, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; General view of a Detroit Lions helmet sitting on the bench during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
In the last week, the Detroit Lions have signed former Minnesota Vikings players Teddy Bridgewater and Tyler Conklin — and they made it a trifecta on Tuesday evening by signing defensive end D.J. Wonnum.
Detroit kept mining former Vikings for roster help.
Wonnum spent the last two seasons in Carolina, and now he’s in line to grab some serious playing time in Detroit.
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Where D.J. Wonnum Fits in the Lions’ Teensy EDGE Rotation
The Lions’ EDGE depth is skinny.
Aug 8, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker D.J. Wonnum (98) celebrates with cornerback Chau Smith-Wade (26) during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium, showing early-game energy as Carolina’s defense set the tone in front of a home crowd during preseason action. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Wonnum to DET
It’s back to the NFC North for Wonnum. ESPN’s David Newton wrote Tuesday, “Free agent defensive end D.J. Wonnum is signing a one-year deal worth up to $6 million with the Detroit Lions, his agents told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Wonnum heads to Detroit after a two-year stint with the Carolina Panthers. He didn’t get on the field with Carolina until midway through the 2024 season due to a quad injury he suffered with the Minnesota Vikings and was limited to four sacks.”
“He had only three sacks this past season despite starting 15 games for the Panthers. Wonnum’s overall lack of production for a team that ranked near the bottom of the NFL in sacks and quarterback pressures made him expendable in Carolina, particularly since the Panthers would have to pay him $825,000 in dead money on top of a new deal.”
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Wonnum created a few notable memories in Minnesota, notably a game-ending sack on Aaron Rodgers during his rookie season when the Vikings took down the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
The Lions’ DEs Right Now
If you happen to be a Lions enthusiast reading this article — unlikely — shield your eyes.
Per the current depth chart, Wonnum would actually be on tap to start in 2026 if the regular season began tonight. Here’s a look at the defensive end depth:
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Aidan Hutchinson
D.J. Wonnum
Ahmed Hassanein
Tyler Lacy
For a team that will claim Super Bowl aspirations, that just isn’t enough EDGE help. General manager Brad Holmes may be forced to select a pass rusher in Round 1 — and maybe multiple throughout the draft.
Pride of Detroit‘s Eric Schlitt on the Wonnum transaction: “While not a flashy signing, Wonnum has plenty of starting experience and can function as a rotational piece on the edge for the Lions in 2026. He’ll likely need to be paired with another veteran free agency pass rusher or a rookie from the 2026 NFL. Draft.”
“At 6-foot-5, 258 pounds, Wonnum has shown the range to line up with his hand in the dirt or standing up on the edge, while also pushing inside on pass-rushing downs. He has a solid, long frame and possesses a variety of pass-rushing moves in his tool bag.”
Wonnum’s Bio
The Vikings drafted Wonnum in the 4th Round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He initially served as a situational pass rusher, most notably disrupting the Chicago Bears while struggling against other teams — a point of humor within the division and among Vikings fans. However, Wonnum has since evolved into a more quasi-consistent threat, applying pressure to quarterbacks on a weekly basis.
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Oct 10, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson (88) engages with Minnesota Vikings defensive end D.J. Wonnum (98) during a game at U.S. Bank Stadium, battling at the line of scrimmage in a divisional matchup that featured physical play throughout the afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Over his 86-game career, with 54 starts, Wonnum has recorded 30 sacks. He also scored a crucial touchdown against Carolina in October 2023, shifting the game’s momentum and helping to keep Minnesota’s season alive.
Last season with the Panthers, Wonnum played in 16 games, recording 42 tackles, 3 sacks, 29 pressures, one quarterback hit, and an interception. Starting in 15 of those games, his statistics are more typical of a rotational EDGE rusher than a full-time starter.
The 2025 season confirmed what Vikings fans had long suspected: Wonnum thrives as a depth EDGE rusher, providing energy and pressure in specific situations without the demands of a full-time starting role.
Detroit has been busier in free agency than Minnesota, but generally speaking, that hasn’t been hard. Here’s a look at their newcomer signings and extensions:
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Cade Mays (C) CAR → DET
Christian Izien (S) TB → DET
D.J. Wonnum (DE) CAR → DET
Isiah Pacheco (RB) KC → DET
Larry Borom (RT) CHI → DET
Malcolm Rodríguez (LB) DET → DET
Rock Ya-Sin (CB) BAL → DET
Roger McCreary (CB) TEN → DET
Teddy Bridgewater (QB) TB → DET
Tom Kennedy (WR) DET → DET
Trevor Nowaske (LB) DET → DET
Tyler Conklin (TE) LAC → DET
Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker D.J. Wonnum (98) returns a fumble for a touchdown after stripping Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) in the second half at Bank of America Stadium, delivering a pivotal defensive score that shifted momentum late in the contest. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
And the players who left:
Alex Anzalone (LB) DET → TB
Amik Robertson (CB) DET → WAS
Grant Stuard (LB) DET → LAR
Kalif Raymond (WR) DET → CHI
Kyle Allen (QB) DET → BUF
Roy Lopez (DL) DET → ARI
Tyrus Wheat (ED) DET → DAL
Al-Quadin Muhammad (ED) DET → TB
Wonnum will likely settle in as Detroit’s DE3 or DE4 when the roster is finalized later this summer.
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was left out of the squad for Nigeria’s upcoming friendly matches against Iran national football team and Jordan national football team due to his current club situation.
Head Coach Eric Chelle named a 23-man squad for the games, selecting Maduka Okoye, Adebayo Adeleye and Francis Uzoho as his goalkeepers.
Nwabali, who was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper in recent matches, is currently without a club after ending his contract with Chippa United by mutual agreement last month.
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His status as a free agent is believed to be the main reason for his omission, as the coaching crew prefers players who are actively playing at club level and maintaining match fitness.
Despite concerns over his future, the 29-year-old has remained calm, insisting he is not under pressure to rush into a new deal.
“I’m not worried. Not at all,” he said. “I don’t have a specific country or destination in mind. Anywhere that welcomes me, I’m ready to play.”
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Nwabali added that he is waiting patiently for the right opportunity, even though he currently has no offer on the table.
“There is no contract in front, there is no club in front. And I am not guaranteeing you that a club will come today or tomorrow,” he said.
While his absence is a notable one, the Super Eagles will hope their selected goalkeepers can step up in the friendly matches as preparations continue for future competitions.
Argentina is spearheading a South American bid to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup, a joint effort that would include Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin is visiting Argentina to assess the nation’s feasibility as a host for the tournament, slated to follow Australia 2027 and USA 2031.
Formal applications for hosting rights are expected this autumn.
A preferred host will be identified in May 2027, with World Rugby’s council granting final approval the following November.
“The 2035 bid represents a federal objective and a legacy project that transcends our borders,” said Gabriel Travaglini, president of Argentina’s rugby union.
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“Welcoming Alan Gilpin to advance this technical analysis is a fundamental step in demonstrating that the region is ready.
A preferred host for the tournament will be revealed in May 2027 (AFP via Getty Images)
“We want a World Cup that reflects the passion and development that rugby has achieved in every corner of our territory.”
Argentina would be a popular destination for the 13th edition of the World Cup and worthy hosts given they have reached the semi-finals three times.
They are currently positioned fifth in the global rankings, one place above England.
Japan, Spain, Italy and a combined Middle East bid are shaping up to be their rivals to put on the tournament.
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The World Cup will be staged in Australia next year — when Argentina, Chile and Uruguay will be South America’s representatives — and in the United States in 2031.
Argentina were narrowly defeated in the final of the Rugby Championships in October, losing to South Africa 29-27 in a thrilling encounter at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
In August, they won a first-ever home Test over New Zealand as they beat the All Blacks 29-23.
South Africa have won the last two editions of the World Cup, beating New Zealand in the 2023 final and England in 2019.
Working at the tournament, I remember a feeling there was an extra edge in the build-up to the final in Rabat, compared to previous editions.
What stood out were the allegations – on social media – that hosts Morocco were getting the rub of the green when it came to refereeing decisions. It was becoming a big part of the managers’ pre-match news conferences.
The conspiracy theories seemed to be linked to a perceived close relationship between Morocco’s football federation and the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
Morocco have become a powerhouse in African football – regularly hosting tournaments like the Women’s Afcon, and helping Caf by hosting many qualifying matches for nations who can’t play at home.
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There was chaos when Senegal arrived in Rabat for the final, and pictures of the players walking through huge crowds – with seemingly minimal security – went viral. Complaints followed from Senegal’s football federation that their original hotel wasn’t good enough – and that they didn’t have enough tickets for their fans.
It felt almost inevitable that a controversial moment during the game would lead to an incident – but no-one could have foreseen a group of players walking off the pitch as Senegal did in that chaotic conclusion to normal time.
Now, the two best teams on the continent are at loggerheads. Even before Tuesday’s decision, Senegal’s prime minister had complained about the prison sentences given to 18 people from the country after being convicted of hooliganism offences during the final. Many of the Senegal players spoke out in support of those fans.
The teams will meet again soon – potentially even in the next Afcon final – and you wonder, with relations at an all-time low, what sort of occasion that will be.
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Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala blew the final whistle of that match in Rabat almost two months ago, but the ramifications of events during the game will impact African football for a long time to come.
Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is ready for the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system to be adopted everywhere.
After the Guerrero and the Dominican Republic had their World Baseball Classic dreams crushed by a strike call that ended the semifinal game against the U.S, the Toronto Blue Jays superstar questioned why ABS wasn’t available.
“It’s baseball. I’ll say this — if we’re going to use (ABS) this year in the regular season, why wouldn’t we use it at the WBC? Everybody knew. (The umpire) thought it was a strike, he’s human. But everybody that saw it knew what really happened,” Guerrero Jr. told Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling.
The controversial at-bat came in the bottom of the ninth with Geraldo Perdomo facing Mason Miller. The short stop had worked himself into a full count and let the eighth pitch of the at-bat fly by, deeming it a ball. However, the umpire called the slider that missed the zone a strike and ended the game. The Dominican Republic had the tying run on third.
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2026 will mark the first time ABS has been used during the MLB regular season. Each team will have two challenges per game, with an additional challenge allocated for each extra inning played if necessary. Extra-inning challenges are not eligible to be carried over between innings.
Paris Saint-Germain snuffed out any chance of a Chelsea comeback with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia among the scorers in a clinical 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday which took the holders through to the Champions League quarter-finals 8-2 on aggregate.
The Georgian’s early opener was soon followed by a brilliant Bradley Barcola strike, quickly ending Chelsea’s hopes of turning around their 5-2 deficit from the first leg of the last 16 tie last week.
Substitute Senny Mayulu then fired in PSG’s third in the second half, as Luis Enrique’s men march on to a last-eight tie next month against either Liverpool or Galatasaray – the Turkish side go to Anfield with a 1-0 first-leg advantage on Wednesday.
PSG’s dream of retaining the Champions League title remains very much alive, a year after winning the trophy for the first time in their history.
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The Qatar-backed side’s comprehensive victory in this tie gives them revenge for their loss to the Blues in last July’s Club World Cup final, and indicates that they might be finding their very best form again at just the right time.
This was their fourth win in a two-legged knockout tie against Premier League opposition since the start of last year, but while that record is impressive, Chelsea looked a long way short of the level required in Europe’s elite club competition.
Liam Rosenior’s team never really appeared to believe they could come back from their collapse six days ago at the Parc des Princes, when they conceded three late goals to go from 2-2 to 5-2 down.
Their attention will now turn back to the fight to qualify for the Champions League again next season, after a miserable week in which two defeats against PSG have come either side of a loss at home to Newcastle United in the Premier League.
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Robert Sanchez started in goal here, as he had done at the weekend, after Filip Jorgensen replaced the Spaniard and was at fault for PSG’s crucial third goal in the first leg.
No chance
PSG, meanwhile, gave a start to Kvaratskhelia after he came off the bench to score a late double in Paris which swung the tie decisively his team’s way.
The Parisians also made the trip undoubtedly feeling fresher after their scheduled weekend Ligue 1 game against Nantes was called off to aid their preparations.
Within six minutes here they were ahead as Mamadou Sarr – making his Champions League debut – misjudged a long kick downfield from PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov and Kvaratskhelia outmuscled the young Chelsea defender before beating Sanchez.
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The second goal came on the quarter-hour, with Warren Zaire-Emery supplying Achraf Hakimi on the right and the Moroccan finding Barcola who controlled on the edge of the box before sending a superb strike into the top-left corner.
The tie was as good as over at that point, and home fans began flooding for the exits when the third goal arrived just after the hour mark.
Kvaratskhelia did the spadework this time down the left before his ball into the middle fell to Mayulu – the 19-year-old, who replaced Joao Neves at half-time, gave Sanchez no chance with a lethal first-time strike.
A miserable evening for Chelsea was then compounded when Trevoh Chalobah was stretchered off late on, leaving the hosts to finish the game with 10 men as they had used all their substitutes.
March Madness brackets are consuming households across America, but with the expanded legalization of sports gambling, more and more wagers are being placed on the tournament games.
The tournament is the only thing that could compete with the Super Bowl in terms of gambling, with 32 games being played on the court and each of them being watched by millions all over the country.
Picking upsets in brackets is stressful enough — you know they will happen, but you just don’t know which ones. But picking all of them on a sportsbook might actually be beneficial.
General view of the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament tipoff between New Mexico Lobos and Michigan State Spartans at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 23, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.(Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
Since 2008, 12-seeds are 28-40 against No. 5 seeds — that .410 winning percentage certainly is not bad for teams that are normally underdogs of nearly double digits. Combine that with No. 11 seeds going nearly .500 (37-39) in the first round since 2006, and bettors may have cashed in, even if their brackets were busted.
“That’s where you take shots and that’s where, you know, the upsets have occurred,” Johnny Avello, an oddsmaker at DraftKings, told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
Since 2019, 10-seeds are also 10-13 against 7-seeds, with one 7-seed advancing because of COVID-19 in 2021. In the last nine tournaments dating back to 2016, No. 9 seeds are 22-14 against No. 8 seeds, with the No. 8 team winning the majority of the games just twice in that span.
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Five players have been suspended this offseason for gambling, with a sixth on the way.(Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Because of these trends, Avello has seen several lower seeds shrink their point spreads, including No. 11 South Florida against No. 6 Louisville (7- to 5-point underdogs) and No. 12 High Point against No. 5 Wisconsin (12.5 to 9.5). No. 12 Akron has also gone from 9.5-point underdogs to 7.5 against No. 5 Texas Tech.
Now, while some may want to go big or go home with some Nos. 13-16 seeds (kudos to those who bet on UMBC in 2018 and Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023), it may not be wise. In fact, Avello said lots of bettors go heavy on the favorites in those matchups.
Avello opened No. 2 Purdue (who lost to the aforementioned FDU) as 23-point favorites against Queens, but that spread is now up to 25. No. 2 Iowa State went from 23.5- to 25.5-point favorites against No. 15 Tennessee State, while No. 3 Gonzaga also saw its spread against Kennesaw State go from 18.5 to 20.5.
Texas Tech remains the smallest five-seed favorite, but Vanderbilt and St. John’s stand at -11.5 against McNeese State and Northern Iowa, respectively. For context, the largest spread in a 5-12 matchup last year was Clemson at 7.5 against McNeese, who pulled off the upset. Two other five-seeds sat at -2.5.
The March Madness logo at center court of the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.(Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)
With three teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the conference can make a big splash with some big wins.
Gonzaga shouldn’t have much trouble with Kennesaw State, but Saint Mary’s could have its hands full with Texas A&M, despite being the lower seed.
If Santa Clara can make it three First-Round wins with an upset against Kentucky on Friday, the spotlight will truly be on the WCC.
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Here are my previews of the three matchups.
No. 10 Texas A&M vs No. 7 Saint Mary’s
Thursday, March 19 4:35 pm PT, truTV Oklahoma City, OK
A lot of pundits believe this contest will be a clash of styles, and they’ew sorta right.
Saint Mary’s methodical style is very different from Texas A&M’s “Bucky Ball.”
The Aggies are toward the top of the country in tempo, while the Gaels rank near the bottom.
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Adding to the contrasting styles is SMC’s domination on the boards; Saint Mary’s is 11th nationally in rebounding differential, while Texas A&M ranks 227th.
If the Aggies can keep the Gaels off the glass, it’ll give them a good chance to win the game. SMC lacks one-on-one playmakers.
But here’s the truth of what’s really going down in this game: Paulius Murauskas is going to have to play.
Murauskas might be the best player on the court, but he hasn’t proven it against elite competition. He struggled against Gonzaga all three times, including the WCC regular season finale.
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Paulius Murauskas vs Santa Clara | West Coast Conference
Saint Mary’s also got boatraced by Vanderbilt earlier in the season.
But the troubling part is, he looked scared against the Zags. When things went wrong, he looked awkward and lethargic. He’s gotta play better in the tournament.
Mikey Lewis and Joshua Dent are sick, but they’re not enough to beat A&M by themselves.
Texas A&M features six players who average ten points or more, which make them difficult to game plan against.
Their fast-paced style will overwhelm the Gaels and send them back to Moraga.
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No. 14 Kennesaw State vs No. 3 Gonzaga
Thursday, March 19 7:00 pm PT, TBS Portland, OR
This matchup is probably a best-case scenario for Gonzaga.
Kennesaw State is only in the dance because they won the Conference USA Tournament. The Owls entered the tourney as the No. 6 seed.
This is the type of game the Bulldogs better win. An upset against KSU would prove humiliating.
Luckily for GU, they have six-foot-nine, 250-pound Graham Ike to enforce the paint. If Ike can hit a few shots early, it should allow the Zags to gain confidence and let their talent win from there.
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The Owls will likely try to stop him with Perry Smith Jr., who is comparable to Ike from a size standpoint, but not as capable. Ike has seen it all at the collegiate level.
KSU ranks 239th nationally in points allowed per game against weak competition. Gonzaga should be able to eat them alive.
Jalen Warley vs Saint Mary’s | Myk Crawford Photography via SI
The Bulldogs also return guard Jalen Warley from injury. Warley’s an elite defender, solid slasher, and a phenomenal hustle player. It feels like he’s the team’s glue at times.
The combination of Tyon Grant-Foster and Warley should cause fits for Kennesaw State guard Simeon Cottle. Cottle’s a good all-around scorer, but he’ll likely have to hit a number of difficult shots to keep the game close.
Cottle leads the team averaging 20.2 points per contest.
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Three other players average double digits for the Owls. RJ Johnson is second on the team, averaging 14.5 points per game.
Even without Braden Huff the Zags are too much for KSU. GU’s gonna force a bunch of turnovers and Spike Scrappy.
No. 10 Santa Clara vs No. 7 Kentucky
Friday, March 20 9:15 am PT, CBS St. Louis, MO
This matchup could end up being one of the better First-Round games.
Santa Clara is back in the tournament, and rightfully so, but this contest could alter the perception of the WCC in the future.
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If the Broncos play Kentucky close, it will give the WCC a national spotlight. Even though the Wildcats are having a down year, they’re still Kentucky.
CBS didn’t randomly choose this game.
The key to this matchup should be whether SCU can hang with the athleticism of UK.
Santa Clara’s offense is potent, but they may struggle to get easy looks against the Cats, especially in the paint. The Broncos have a lot of shooters but don’t have a true post scorer.
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Christian Hammond vs Gonzaga | Young Kwak/AP
Bukky Oboye is a great defender, but he isn’t a reliable threat on offense. Oboye gets most of his points off of offensive rebounds and alley-oops.
If SCU’s going to come out of St. Louis with a victory, they’ll need at least two of their three leading scorers to go off.
Christian Hammond, Allen Graves, and Elijah Mahi are gonna have to step up because the rest of their team will likely be overwhelmed.
UK’s best player is Otega Oweh, an athletic guard who’s extremely difficult to stop when driving downhill. He’s also a tough defender, which could prove dangerous for SCU.
The Wildcats paid a lot more than the Broncos for their roster and are loaded at every position. This wasn’t the matchup Santa Clara wanted.
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Kentucky’s tradition survives.
Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Show” for SuperWest Sports.
With three teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the conference can make a big splash with some big wins.
No. 10 Texas A&M vs No. 7 Saint Mary’s
No. 14 Kennesaw State vs No. 3 Gonzaga
No. 10 Santa Clara vs No. 7 Kentucky
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