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Tara VanDerveer, the NCAA's winningest basketball coach with 1,216 victories across 45 years, is retiring, Stanford announced Tuesday evening. Negotiations are underway for Kate Paye, a former player under VanDerveer and a longtime member of her staff, to become her successor, the school added. VanDerveer, 70, has been one of the most illustrious coaches in the sport, winning three national championships (1990, 1992 and 2021) in her 38 seasons at  Stanford and guiding them to 14 Final Fours. The Naismith and Women's Basketball Hall of Famer previously coached at  Idaho (1978 to 1980) and Ohio State (1980 to 1985). "Basketball is the greatest group project there is and I am so incredibly thankful for every person who has supported me and our teams throughout my coaching career," VanDerveer said in a statement. "I've been spoiled to coach the best and brightest at one of the world's foremost institutions for nearly four decades. Coupled with my time...

MINNEAPOLIS -- ​ Anthony Edwards scored a career-high 51 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame an early 21-point deficit with a dominant second half to beat the Washington Wizards 130-121 on Tuesday night. Edwards had 30 points in the second half, the most in a half in his career.  Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with 23 points and Rudy Gobert had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Wolves, who have won four of five and eight of 10. Edwards credited coach Chris Finch for keeping him focused ahead of the matchup with one of the worst teams in the league. "He put me in the office two-three days ago and said, 'Look man we've got this Washington game, and we need to win it, need to come ready to play and you can't treat it like any other game,'" said Edwards, who also added 6 rebounds and 7 assists to become the first player in Timberwolves history with 50 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a game. Minnesota has clinched a top-three...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Scoring exceptional goals is nothing new for Sophia Smith, but she's making a habit of finishing them against Canada. Smith scored twice Tuesday at Lower.com Field as the United States defeated Canada 5-4 in a penalty shootout to lift the SheBelieves Cup for the seventh time in nine editions of the tournament. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) It was the USWNT's second penalty shootout victory over Canada in 34 days after prevailing in a Gold Cup semifinal, and Smith's individual play was another example of the 23-year-old forward "being a special player in a special moment within our team concept," USWNT interim coach Twila Kilgore said. Smith scored an equalizer from outside the box five minutes after halftime and the go-ahead goal 18 minutes later, when she got on a through ball from second-half substitute Trinity Rodman. "The first goal was just class," Kilgore said....

MILWAUKEE -- The  Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics combined for a record low two free throw attempts Tuesday night. The Celtics also became the first team in NBA history to not shoot one. Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo shot the only two free throws of the game, making one, in the Bucks' 104-91 victory.   "Man, [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver's the happiest," Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. "1:57 game time. My goodness, you can go to a game and still have dinner. Unbelievable." Rivers said he didn't realize there were so few free throws until after the game. "I thought it was a physical game, and then they handed me the stat sheet, and I told them, 'No, I need the full game,'" Rivers said. "I thought it was the halftime stats. I didn't look at the minutes. And then I said, 'Wow, two free throws for a basketball game. That's crazy.'" The Memphis Grizzlies (2014) and Atlanta Hawks (2018) shared the previous record of one attempted free...

Alyssa Naeher made three saves in the penalty shootout, and Emily Fox scored the winner in the seventh round of spot kicks as the United States beat Canada in the final of the SheBelieves Cup on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. Following a 2-2 draw through 90 minutes, the U.S. won the shootout 5-4 with the help of Naeher, who dove to her right to deny Evelyne Viens and set the stage for Fox to win it. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The United States captured the SheBelieves Cup championship for the fifth year in a row and has won the event for seven of the nine years of the competition. Sophia Smith rallied the U.S. from a 1-0 deficit with goals in the 50th and 68th minutes to counter a 40th-minute goal by Adriana Leon. Canada tied it 2-2 in the 86th minute via a penalty kick by Leon after she drew a foul from Crystal Dunn. The U.S. and Canada met in the semifinal of the Concacaf W...

MILWAUKEE -- Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo exited the  Milwaukee Bucks' 104-91 win over the  Boston Celtics in the third quarter Tuesday night because of an injury to his left calf. Antetokounmpo was heading up the court following a made 3-pointer from Celtics guard Derrick White when the Bucks star crumpled to the floor without contact while grabbing at his left leg. He remained down as the Bucks called a timeout, and his teammates helped carry him off the court and toward the locker room. Antetokounmpo was officially ruled out in the fourth quarter due to what the team called a left soleus strain. The soleus is a muscle in the back part of the calf. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after the game that Antetokounmpo was undergoing an MRI exam on his calf and also would have his Achilles tendon tested. Antetokounmpo finished 7-of-11 from the field with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. He left without speaking to reporters.  Rivers was...

The Baltimore Orioles are calling up infielder Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 prospect in baseball, after a torrid start at Triple-A this season, a source told ESPN on Tuesday night. The 20-year-old Holliday, who was the top pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft, excelled in spring training but was sent to the minor leagues to begin the season. In 10 games with the Norfolk Tides, Holliday hit .333/.482/.595 with two home runs, nine RBIs, five doubles and 12 walks against eight strikeouts. Holliday is expected to join the Orioles, who are 6-4 after a win against Boston on Tuesday, at Fenway Park on Wednesday. By calling up Holliday within the first two weeks of the season, Baltimore can reap an extra first-round draft pick through the Prospect Promotion Incentive, which awards teams with top prospects who attain a full year of service time and win the Rookie of the Year award. While there are 187 days on the baseball calendar, a full year of service is achieved...

LOS ANGELES -- Anthony Davis was ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers' crucial game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night because of a headache and nausea, the team announced about an hour and 45 minutes before tipoff. LeBron James will play after missing the team's walkthrough at the arena earlier in the day and being considered a game-time decision. Davis missed most of the Lakers' 127-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday after aggravating a left eye injury from an inadvertent strike to the face by the Wolves' Kyle Anderson while scoring on a putback. "Just a super big game, obviously," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said during his pregame remarks Tuesday. "[Davis] showed up to the arena trying to do everything he could to play, but he just couldn't quite overcome the headache and the nausea." James arrived at the arena approximately an hour and five minutes before tipoff with his hooded sweatshirt pulled over his head...

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan said he has not had any contact with the University of Kentucky about its men's basketball coaching vacancy and reiterated his commitment to the Bulls prior to the team's game Tuesday night loss to the  New York Knicks. "I have not been contacted by anybody, I haven't spoken to anybody," Donovan told reporters, adding that his answer would remain the same even if he was contacted. "My total commitment and focus is here to this team and to this group." John Calipari's sudden departure after 15 seasons as coach over the weekend left the Kentucky men's basketball job vacant. Donovan's name has been speculated as one of the Wildcats' top targets.   Donovan, who began his coaching career as an assistant at Kentucky under Rick Pitino from 1989 to 1993, was most successful at the collegiate level, winning back-to-back national championships at Florida. He acknowledged on Tuesday that he had fond memories of his time at Kentucky and...

LOS ANGELES -- Anthony Davis was ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers' crucial game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night because of a headache and nausea, the team announced about an hour and 45 minutes before tipoff. Davis missed most of the Lakers' 127-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday after aggravating a left eye injury from an inadvertent strike to the face by the Wolves' Kyle Anderson while scoring on a putback. "Just a super big game, obviously," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said during his pregame remarks Tuesday. "[Davis] showed up to the arena trying to do everything he could to play, but he just couldn't quite overcome the headache and the nausea." Davis might not be the only star that L.A. is missing. Lakers forward LeBron James did not participate in the team's walkthrough at the arena Tuesday afternoon. Ham said James would be a game-time decision. James missed Sunday's loss to the Timberwolves...

Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark was named the winner of the 2024 Wooden Award on Tuesday, taking home the honor as the most outstanding player in women's college basketball for the second straight season. Clark won the award over UConn's Paige Bueckers, Stanford's Cameron Brink, USC's JuJu Watkins and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, who were all finalists. Clark made history this season and in her career. She finished with more points -- 3,951 -- than any men's or women's player in Division I. She is the only Division I women's player to have more than 3,000 points and 1,000 assists in her career, totaling 1,144 assists. She also had 990 rebounds. Her 28.42 points per game and 548 3-pointers are Division I career records, and this year's 201 3-pointers and 1,234 points were single-season records. Clark is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever this Monday.

New Jersey Devils star center Jack Hughes will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Wednesday, the team announced Tuesday. Hughes, his family, his representatives and the Devils medical staff determined it would be in the best interest of the 22-year-old to proceed with shoulder surgery, the team said in a statement. Hughes' surgery will be performed by Dr. Peter Millett in Vail, Colorado, with the expectation he will make a full recovery prior to the Devils opening training camp next fall. Earlier in the day, Devils interim coach Travis Green said Hughes was going to miss Tuesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with an upper-body injury. Losing Hughes comes as the Devils are trying to reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Last season saw the Devils reach the second round after missing the postseason for four straight campaigns. Hughes, who leads the team with 27 goals while his 74 points rank second on the Devils, had already missed 11 games in...

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias has been charged with five misdemeanors in the wake of his September arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence. The charges, filed to Los Angeles Superior Court by the city attorney's office  Monday, include one count of spousal battery, one count of false imprisonment, one count of assault and two counts of domestic battery involving dating relationship, a spokesperson for the city attorney's office confirmed to ESPN. Urias, currently a free agent, is scheduled to be arraigned May 2. The city attorney's ruling comes three months after the L.A. County district attorney's office ruled that it will not file felony charges against Urias, writing in its charge-evaluation worksheet on Jan. 9 that "neither the victim's injuries nor the defendant's criminal history justify a felony filing." Major League Baseball is also investigating the matter and was expected to wait until after the City Attorney's ruling to...

Karl-Anthony Towns has been cleared for full-contact, 5-on-5 basketball activities and is progressing toward his return to play, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced Tuesday. Towns underwent surgery for a meniscus tear in his left knee four weeks ago. He last played on March 4.   He has already been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards. Minnesota next plays the Nuggets in Denver on Wednesday in a game that could decide the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Before going down, Towns was having a resurgent season, averaging 22.1 points and 8.4 rebounds on 50.6% shooting from the field and 42.3% from 3-point range. The Wolves are 11-5 since Towns' injury. 

Real Madrid and Manchester City slugged out a thrilling 3-3 draw in a rip-roaring Champions League quarterfinal clash in the Spanish capital on Tuesday, leaving the tie between the last two holders of the trophy wide open for the second leg next week. The Madrid crowd was left stunned two minutes into the match when City's Bernardo Silva took advantage of a one-man wall to drill a free kick from outside the area just inside Andriy Lunin's right-hand post to give the visitors the lead. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) To make things worse, Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, playing as an emergency centre-back, was shown a yellow card for the foul on Jack Grealish that led to the goal and will miss the return leg in Manchester next Wednesday. But Eduardo Camavinga helped level the scores after 12 minutes when his long-range strike deflected off defender Ruben Dias for an own goal after...

NAIA, a college sports organization with a membership of 241 collegiate teams, is banning transgender athletes from competitions. ESPN writer Katie Barnes breaks down the impact of the decision.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. --  Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh strongly supported the NFL's recent ban of the swivel hip-drop tackle, insisting defensive players won't be put at a disadvantage with the removal of this technique. Harbaugh has been an advocate of getting rid of the hip-drop tackle ever since Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was severely injured on this type of play, which occurs when a defender wraps up a ball carrier and rotates his hips, dropping onto ball carrier's legs during the tackle. On Nov. 16, Andrews was pulled to the ground by Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson on what the Ravens believe was a hip-drop tackle. Andrews suffered a fractured fibula and ligament damage and was sidelined for two months. "When you drop down on the back of his legs, it's a mass ... and it's 25 times more likely to have a serious injury," Harbaugh said Tuesday at the Ravens' pre-draft news conference. "So, it's really a bad play, and it needed to be out....

This story has been clarified. See below. In a win for Ja Morant, a Tennessee judge ruled Monday that the Memphis Grizzlies superstar fairly raised self-defense in a lawsuit filed by a teenager he punched in July 2022, according to a court filing obtained by ESPN. The ruling comes after a December 2023 civil immunity hearing in Memphis, where Morant testified that he "swung first" at Joshua Holloway, then 17, to protect himself during an altercation that led to Holloway filing a September 2022 lawsuit accusing Morant of assault. The altercation came about during a pickup basketball game. Holloway, allegedly frustrated by losing several games, was accused of throwing a one-handed pass at Morant during a check-ball situation. The ball hit Morant in the face, after which Morant said Holloway took a step toward him and that he then stepped forward and punched Holloway. After that blow, Morant's friend, Davonte Pack, punched Holloway -- an act for which Pack was...

Indiana State star Robbie Avila, one of the breakout stars of the 2023-24 college basketball season, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Avila, a 6-foot-10 sophomore center, averaged 17.4 points and 4.1 assists for Indiana State this season, earning first-team All-Missouri Valley honors. Along the way, he became one of the sport's most endearing personalities, as the combination of his trademark goggles and playing at Larry Bird's former school earned him nicknames like "Cream Abdul-Jabbar," "Larry Nerd" and "Steph Blurry." Sources told ESPN that Avila is a strong favorite to follow former ISU coach Josh Schertz to Saint Louis, where Schertz was hired in the wake of ISU's regular-season Missouri Valley title and a run to the NIT Finals. Avila's portal entry is marked by a red exclamation point, which means not to reach out to him, a sign that he's already made up his mind on his destination. Indiana State went 32-7 last season and was widely considered one of the...

Kentucky freshman guard Rob Dillingham will enter the 2024 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility, he announced on ESPN's "NBA Today" on Tuesday. Dillingham has signed a representation agreement with Klutch Sports Group agency. "This was a decision I made with my family," Dillingham told ESPN on Monday. "I felt prepared. Coach Calipari taught me a lot about how to be a better teammate and that it was not all about me." Dillingham, the No. 4 prospect in ESPN's NBA draft projections, was named second-team All-SEC and Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 15.2 points and 3.9 assists in 23 minutes per game this season while shooting 44% from 3-point range.   Kentucky tied for second place in the SEC with a 13-5 record and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. However, they were upset in the round of 64 by No. 14 seed Oakland, which ultimately led to head coach John Calipari departing for Arkansas in one of the surprise moves of the offseason. "It...

John Calipari said Tuesday that  Kentucky's men's basketball program "probably needs to hear another voice" as he inches closer to leaving Lexington to become the next head coach at Arkansas. "It's been a beautiful time for us. This is a dream job. It was my dream job," Calipari said in a video posted to social media. "Anybody in our profession looks at the University of Kentucky in basketball and said, that is the bluest of blue. The last few weeks, we've come to realize that this program probably needs to hear another voice. "And the fans need to hear another voice. We've loved it here but we think it's time for us to step away. And step away completely from the program." Arkansas and Calipari are in the final stages of making a deal, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel, and are expected to formalize the remaining steps before an announcement in the near future. ESPN reported Sunday night that Calipari was finalizing a five-year deal with the Razorbacks. Kentucky...

LOS ANGELES -- Corrections to the Kobe Bryant statue outside of Crypto.com Arena were completed Tuesday morning, just in time for the Los Angeles Lakers' final regular-season home game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. The 19-foot bronze statue, which was unveiled in February, needed several errors on the marble base corrected. The names of Jose Calderon and Von Wafer were initially misspelled on the replica box score from Bryant's 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors. The formatting on the list of career statistical achievements on the front of the base was also adjusted. And Bryant's facsimile signature was recreated to simply read "Kobe," rather than "Kobe 24," since the statue shows Bryant wearing his white, No. 8 Lakers uniform. The monument, which has quickly become a popular destination point for fans before and after Laker games, is the first of three statues planned to honor the Lakers great, according to his widow,...

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a fracture in his shoulder, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told reporters Tuesday. Story, 31, is expected to be sidelined for six months after the surgery to repair a fracture of his glenoid, which is scheduled for Friday, Breslow said. "Difficult to speculate beyond that," Breslow said before Tuesday's home opener against the Baltimore Orioles. "But you can kind of do the math there." The Red Sox placed Story on the injured list late last week after he dislocated his left shoulder while making a diving stop on a hit by the Angels' Mike Trout on Friday night. Before the injury, Story had started each of Boston's first eight games this season, finally getting back to normal after two campaigns filled with injury woes since he left the Colorado Rockies for a six-year, $140 million deal with the Red Sox in March 2022. Story played in just 94 games in 2022 after...

In a win for Ja Morant, a Tennessee judge ruled Monday that the Memphis Grizzlies superstar fairly acted in self-defense when he punched a teenager at Morant's home in July 2022, according to a court filing obtained by ESPN. The ruling comes after a December 2023 civil immunity hearing in Memphis, where Morant testified that he "swung first" at Joshua Holloway, then 17, to protect himself during an altercation that led to Holloway filing a September 2022 lawsuit accusing Morant of assault. The altercation came about during a pickup basketball game. Holloway, allegedly frustrated by losing several games, was accused of throwing a one-handed pass at Morant during a check-ball situation. The ball hit Morant in the face, after which Morant said Holloway took a step toward him and that he then stepped forward and punched Holloway. After that blow, Morant's friend, Davonte Pack, punched Holloway -- an act for which Pack was later arrested for misdemeanor assault. The...

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Despite playing only 24 holes of golf in PGA Tour events this season, five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods believes he can win one more green jacket if "everything comes together" at Augusta National Golf Club this week. Woods, 48, played a second nine-hole practice round with Justin Thomas and Fred Couples on Tuesday. "If everything comes together, I think I can get one more," Woods said. Woods' 26th appearance at the Masters will begin at 1:24 p.m. ET Thursday when he plays with Max Homa and Jason Day in the first round. The trio will tee off in Friday's second round at 10:18 a.m. ET. Woods last played in a PGA Tour event at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club outside Los Angeles on Feb. 16. After carding a 1-over 72 in the first round, Woods had to withdraw after six holes in the second round because of the flu. The 15-time major champion had previously said at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in...

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Defending Masters champion Jon Rahm hoped his move to leave the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League in December would expedite the process of bringing the sport back together. "I understood my position, yes. And I understood that it could be a step toward some kind of an agreement," Rahm said Tuesday at Augusta National. "Unfortunately, it's not up to me." While the sport remains split and Rahm returns to the Masters with a "Legion XII" LIV team logo across his chest, the Spaniard has remained steadfast in his belief that he made the right decision in switching tours. "I still did what I thought was best for myself," Rahm said. "I've had a lot of fun playing in those events. It's been fun to be part of a team." Since the advent of LIV in 2021, Rahm had been adamant and vocal about his distaste for the 54-hole format and repeatedly declared his loyalty to the PGA Tour. His departure, which was facilitated by a deal reported to be more than $350...

Helmet manufacturers have more than doubled the number of position-specific models that will be available to NFL players in 2024, according to annual helmet safety rankings released Tuesday by the NFL and NFL Players Association. Eight of the 12 top-ranked helmets are designed for either quarterbacks or offensive/defensive linemen. They include multiple new manufacturers -- including Riddell, whose Axiom 3D model is ranked No. 1 -- and are the result of a push from the league to spur more activity in the space. "It's a fantastic pace of innovation," said Jeff Miller, the NFL's executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy. "The players in those position groups will have a lot of options that they haven't had before." The NFL and NFLPA first approved position-specific helmets for linemen in 2022 and quarterbacks in 2023. Last season, there were a total of three approved models -- two for linemen and one for quarterbacks. They were worn by nine quarterbacks...

European football's governing body, UEFA, has said it is aware of a terror threat made regarding this week's Champions League quarterfinal ties, but it said the matches will still go ahead as planned. A media outlet linked to the terror group has issued multiple social media posts calling for attacks at stadiums hosting Champions League quarterfinal matches. On Tuesday,  Arsenal host Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium in London and Real Madrid play Manchester City at the Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, while on Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain face Barcelona in Parc des Princes in Paris and  Atlético Madrid host Borussia Dortmund at Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.  France's interior ministry has confirmed an increased police presence will be in place in Paris on Wednesday in response to the threat, while Spain's interior ministry said there will be more than 2,000 extra security personnel in line with typical...

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- With  Kentucky's coaching job expected to officially open Tuesday, UConn's Dan Hurley made clear Monday night that he plans to stay with the  Huskies and attempt to win a third straight national title. After UConn beat  Purdue  75-60 to repeat as NCAA tournament champions, Hurley addressed the opening with a few jokes, telling reporters he doesn't "think that's a concern" when asked about Kentucky. He added they should ask his wife, Andrea, who is also a native of New Jersey. "Oh my God, Kentucky or anywhere that's going to take her further from New Jersey," he said when asked about her reaction to a potential move. "I mean, we just went to Rhode Island, which I had to drag her to, and then to Connecticut. I got her closer. And now further? I can't afford a divorce right now, too. I just started making money." Hurley went on to give some insight into what's next for his program: "Now you're thinking in your brain,...

SAN DIEGO -- Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a go-ahead, two-run home run with two outs in the eighth, two innings after the Padres scored seven runs, and San Diego stunned the Chicago Cubs 9-8 Monday night. On the 20th anniversary of the first Padres game at Petco Park, Tatis exuberantly celebrated the moment that fully erased an 8-0 deficit. He held his bat out with his left arm as he watched the ball sail into the left-field seats, flipped it, hollered and pumped his fists as he started his trot. He was wearing custom cleats honoring the late Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. Rookie Jackson Merrill was aboard on a leadoff walk off Adbert Alzolay (1-1). "It was amazing. But all credit to the boys," Tatis said. "We were down 8-0, and we were never out of the game. We kept building, we kept taking good at-bats against tough pitches. The boys started executing. We started moving the line, we kept believing in each other and that was just the...

SAN FRANCISCO -- It all felt pretty strange for Blake Snell. No spring training with his new team to work out the kinks. Finally facing major league hitters for the first time in April. He couldn't wait to get back out there. But  Lane Thomas drove in three runs, and the  Washington Nationals spoiled Snell's San Francisco debut, beating the  Giants  8-1 on Monday night in the opener of the Nats' weeklong stay in the Bay Area. "Honestly, it was just weird. I'm facing big league hitters, I was aware of that," Snell said. "I was being more careful than I usually would. Usually, I would just throw it over the plate. "Then I was really amped up too. I was really excited to pitch. Bad combination I guess." Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who claimed the National League honor last season with the  San Diego Padres, agreed to a two-year, $62 million contract with San Francisco on March 18. He had been throwing at extended spring...

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- As he left the floor for the last time in his collegiate career after his team's 75-60 loss to UConn in the national title game Monday night, Zach Edey stared ahead, walked down the stairs and disappeared into the tunnel. In the end, Edey couldn't carry Purdue. Not that far. Not past a modern legend. Not over a force of nature that beat every opponent in the NCAA tournament by double digits during its second consecutive national title run, this one even more dominant than the last. Twenty years from now, UConn's historic effort will still overshadow Edey's individual achievements. The 7-foot-4, 290-pound center will soon collect his second Wooden Award, a feat that only former Virginia center Ralph Sampson Jr. has matched. The Huskies? They outscored their opponents by 140 points in the NCAA tournament. Their 23.3 point-per-game margin of victory is the greatest mark of all time, per ESPN Stats & Information research. But...

A heavy betting favorite -- both in the odds and for the public -- throughout March Madness, UConn is the first back-to-back NCAA men's basketball champion since Florida in 2007. But it's uncertain if the Huskies can make it three in a row in a highly volatile college basketball landscape. UConn is the favorite to win the 2025 national championship at ESPN BET and Caesars Sportsbook, opening with +900 and 10-1 odds, respectively. However, DraftKings (10-1) and FanDuel (11-1) have Duke favored to take home the top prize next season, with the Huskies coming in at second (14-1) and sixth (18-1) on those respective odds boards. BetMGM has Kansas and Duke tied at the top (11-1), with UConn right behind (12-1). The long odds at the top speak to the difficulty of winning the tournament, as well as the highly dynamic nature of modern men's college basketball, especially in the era of NIL and unlimited transfers. "It really is tough with the transfer portal...

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- On paper, the plan wasn't working. Zach Edey had 14 points, the reigning Wooden Award winner was talking trash to Dan Hurley and the UConn bench, and Purdue led the  Huskies with 8 minutes left in the first half. UConn had elected to guard Edey one-on-one with Donovan Clingan, essentially allowing him to score at will, while focusing most of their defensive attention on the Boilermakers' other players. Edey was dominating UConn's projected lottery pick center like nobody else had all season. But UConn, as it has done consistently over the past two years, stayed the course and trusted its game plan. Edey couldn't beat the Huskies by himself, and his teammates weren't doing much to help. The floodgates opened for UConn in the second half, and the Huskies ultimately beat Purdue 75-60, winning their second straight men's national championship and becoming the first team to go back-to-back since  Florida in 2006 and 2007. "What...

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- NCAA president Charlie Baker said he's focused on creating a "consumer protection system" for collegiate athletes and their families so they can have a better understanding of name, image and likeness deals that are legitimate -- and those that are fraudulent. Baker, who spoke to reporters prior to the start of the national championship game Monday, said a multitude of athletes are basing NIL decisions on limited information about the legitimacy of the companies and sponsors courting them. "One piece, which we've been working on for a while, is what we call a consumer protection package," Baker said. "For the first time, some semblance of what the market looks like so that student-athletes and their families can have some idea about whether or not what somebody's promising them or telling them is actually legit. The second piece is to create almost like a Yelp or a Trip Advisor that will give student-athletes the ability to talk about third parties that do right...

The NCAA Division I Council could adopt emergency legislation this month for a new transfer rule that would allow all undergraduate athletes to transfer and play immediately if they meet specific academic requirements, a source confirmed to ESPN on Monday. The proposed legislation, which was first reported by The Athletic, would not limit the number of times an athlete can transfer. Athletes would still have two transfer windows and wouldn't be able to transfer midyear and play for a second school in the same season. In December, the NCAA proposed this policy in reaction to a West Virginia judge's ruling that intended to stop the organization from enforcing its bylaw barring athletes from transferring multiple times and playing right way. The NCAA agreed to terms on a preliminary injunction that runs through at least the end of the academic year. Previously, the NCAA's one-time transfer rule allowed athletes to play immediately at the first school they transferred to, but...

The NCAA Division I Council could adopt emergency legislation this month for a new transfer rule that would allow all undergraduate athletes to transfer and play immediately if they meet specific academic requirements, according to a report from The Athletic. The proposed legislation would not limit the number of times an athlete can transfer, according to The Athletic, which first reported the story. Athletes would still have two transfer windows and wouldn't be able to transfer mid-year and play for a second school in the same season. In December, the NCAA proposed this policy in reaction to a West Virginia judge's ruling that intended to stop the organization from enforcing its bylaw barring athletes from transferring multiple times and playing right way. The NCAA agreed to terms on a preliminary injunction that runs through at least the end of the academic year. Previously, the NCAA's one-time transfer rule allowed athletes to play immediately at the first...

Sacramento Kings G League coach Lindsey Harding will interview for the Charlotte Hornets' head-coaching job, sources told ESPN on Monday. In her first season as coach of the Stockton Kings, Harding was voted the 2024 G League Coach of the Year and advanced her team to the Western Conference finals. Charlotte was granted permission on Monday to interview her for the job, sources said. Harding, 39, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft and played nine seasons in the league before joining the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings as a development coach. In addition,  LA Clippers assistant Jay Larranaga will also interview for the Hornets' vacancy, sources told ESPN. Larranaga has spent three seasons on Ty Lue's staff after nine years under Brad Stevens and Doc Rivers with the Boston Celtics. Hornets coach Steve Clifford will be moving into a front office role at the end of the season, which allowed new executive vice president...

Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off late on as his side lost 2-1 to city rivals Al Hilal in their Saudi Super Cup semifinal after a heated clash in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Portugal's record scorer was shown a straight red card four minutes from time for elbowing an opponent when his side was down 2-0 before they scored a late consolation. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) After receiving his red card, Ronaldo appeared on video to raise his fist in a punching gesture toward the official, who had already turned his back on the 39-year-old. The Super Cup exit makes it more likely that Ronaldo will remain without a trophy since making his big-money move to Saudi Arabia at the beginning of 2023. Al Nassr are out of the domestic cup and the Asian Champions League and sit 12 points behind leaders Al Hilal with seven games left in the season. Jorge Jesus' Al Hilal opened the scoring in the 62nd minute when ...

The panel discusses South Carolina's women's basketball tournament championship win over Caitlyn Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes. They also give their picks on the NCAA men's basketball final.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Houston Astros scratched All-Star left-hander Framber Valdez from his scheduled start Monday night against the Texas Rangers because of left elbow soreness. Manager Joe Espada said Valdez played catch Sunday and reported soreness in the elbow. The 30-year-old was sent back to Houston for further evaluation, though Espada added, in his pregame media availability, that not placing the veteran on the injured list is a sign the club doesn't believe the injury is serious. "We just want to see what the doctor says," Espada said. "And we'll go from there,"  General manager Dana Brown, who made the call to return Valdez to Houston, also spoke with reporters Monday, after he first consulted with the Valdez, who responded "a little below the medium side" when asked to rate the pain low to high. The pain was the same Monday as it was Sunday. "Not really concerned at all," Brown said. "At the end of the day, I think he's going to be fine." The...

NEW YORK -- Gerrit Cole threw a baseball for the first time in four weeks Monday. He threw it 25 times from 60 feet. He noted 22 of the 25 tosses hit his target. The catch session, the first of three scheduled this week, represented an important checkpoint in Cole's recovery from nerve inflammation in his right elbow that will sideline him at least until late May. That's a better outlook than a few of his peers across the majors. Cole is one of several prominent pitchers to sustain a major arm injury since teams reported for spring training in February. The recent surge was unnerving enough for Tony Clark, the Major League Baseball Players Association executive director, to release a statement Saturday blaming the increase in elbow injuries on the pitch clock. Major League Baseball responded with its own statement, without attribution, dismissing Clark's thesis that day, pointing to the rise of pitcher injuries in recent decades, long before the pitch clock was...

A judge ordered the  Kansas City Chiefs superfan who committed a series of bank robberies to pay $10.8 million to a Bixby, Oklahoma, teller he threatened with a gun in December 2022. Last Wednesday, Tulsa County District Judge Tracy L. Priddy ordered Xaviar Babudar, widely known as Chiefsaholic, to pay Payton Garcia, the former teller, $3.6 million for inflicting physical harm and emotional distress and $7.2 million in punitive damages. Babudar's attorney, Matthew Merryman, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Garcia's attorney, Frank Frasier, acknowledged Monday that it will be a challenge to collect the money. Babudar was unemployed and living in cars at the time of his crimes. He reached a federal plea agreement in February, admitting to stealing more than $800,000 in 11 robberies across seven states and laundering the proceeds through casinos. The plea deal requires him to pay at least $532,675 in restitution to the financial institutions he...

The roster fallout from coach John Calipari's decision to leave Kentucky for Arkansas began Monday, as Kentucky freshman Aaron Bradshaw entered the transfer portal and top-25 recruit  Karter Knox decommitted from the Wildcats and reopened his recruitment. Bradshaw had considered transferring out of the program before news of Calipari's expected departure, sources told ESPN, after an up-and-down first season in Lexington. Knox will still consider Kentucky once it hires Calipari's replacement, his father told ESPN, and Arkansas will also be under consideration. A McDonald's All American in the 2023 class, Bradshaw was ranked No. 6 in the ESPN 100 coming out of high school. However, a foot injury last spring forced him to miss the entire offseason and delayed his Kentucky debut until early December. Bradshaw showed flashes of his potential early on, putting up 17 points and 11 rebounds against Penn in the second game of his career. He also had 12...

Arizona star center Oumar Ballo entered the transfer portal Monday, becoming arguably the most sought-after big man in the portal. Ballo released a statement via social media announcing his decision. "I would like to thank my coaches, teammates, friends and family for their ongoing support to make me the best player and person I can be," Ballo wrote. "I especially would like to thank coach Lloyd for the impact he has had on my life -- Arizona is in great hands. "With that being said, I have decided to enter the transfer portal as a graduate student for my final year of eligibility." A 7-foot center from Mali, Ballo has been one of the most dominant big men in the country over the past two seasons. He began his career at Gonzaga, then followed Tommy Lloyd from Spokane to Arizona when Lloyd became the head coach of the Wildcats. In 2022-23, Ballo had a breakout campaign, averaging 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds, shooting nearly 65% from the field. This past season, he was a...

Women's college basketball became a sports mainstay this season, attracting enormous viewership and mainstream cultural relevance -- which led to new heights for the sport in the betting market. Sunday's NCAA championship game between Iowa and South Carolina was the most-bet women's college basketball game of all time at multiple major sportsbooks, including ESPN BET, Caesars, BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel -- with the latter three confirming that it was also their most-bet women's sporting event of all time. The game, which saw the Gamecocks avenge their 2023 Final Four loss to the Hawkeyes, takes over the record mantle from the UConn-Iowa matchup in this year's Final Four, which itself broke the record set by LSU-Iowa in the Elite Eight. ESPN BET told ESPN that Sunday's contest took 20% more bets than Friday's game, while FanDuel said it took 22% more money, and Caesars VP of trading Craig Mucklow says the book took "double" the handle of the...

Kentucky freshman Aaron Bradshaw entered the transfer portal Monday, the first domino to fall since the news of John Calipari finalizing a deal to become Arkansas' next head coach. Bradshaw had considered transferring out of the program before news of Calipari's expected departure, sources told ESPN, following an up-and-down first season in Lexington. A McDonald's All American in the 2023 class, Bradshaw was ranked No. 6 in the ESPN 100 coming out of high school. However, a foot injury last spring forced him to miss the entire offseason and delayed his Kentucky debut until early December. Bradshaw showed flashes of his potential early on, putting up 17 points and 11 rebounds against Penn in the second game of his career. He also had 12 points in a win over North Carolina and hit double figures in scoring five times in his first nine games. He also was inserted into the starting lineup almost immediately, coming off the bench for two games and then starting the...

Kentucky freshman Aaron Bradshaw entered the transfer portal on Monday, the first domino to fall since the news of John Calipari finalizing a deal to become Arkansas' next head coach. Bradshaw had considered transferring out of the program prior to Calipari's departure, sources told ESPN, following an up-and-down first season in Lexington. A McDonald's All American in the 2023 class, Bradshaw was ranked No. 6 in the ESPN 100 coming out of high school. However, a foot injury last spring forced him to miss the entire offseason and delayed his Kentucky debut until early December. Bradshaw showed flashes of his potential early on, putting up 17 points and 11 rebounds in the second game of his career against Penn. He also had 12 points in a win over North Carolina and hit double-figures in scoring five times in his first nine games. He also was inserted into the starting lineup almost immediately, coming off the bench for two games and then starting the next 10. Over...

Kentucky freshman Aaron Bradshaw entered the transfer portal on Monday, the first domino to fall since the news of John Calipari finalizing a deal to become Arkansas' next head coach. Bradshaw had considered transferring out of the program prior to Calipari's departure, sources told ESPN, following an up-and-down first season in Lexington. A McDonald's All American in the 2023 class, Bradshaw was ranked No. 6 in the ESPN 100 coming out of high school. However, a foot injury last spring forced him to miss the entire offseason and delayed his Kentucky debut until early December. Bradshaw showed flashes of his potential early on, putting up 17 points and 11 rebounds in the second game of his career against Penn. He also had 12 points in a win over North Carolina and hit double-figures in scoring five times in his first nine games. He also was inserted into the starting lineup almost immediately, coming off the bench for two games and then starting the next 10. Over...

An independent panel has handed  Everton a two-point deduction on Monday for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR), the second time the club has faced a points deduction this season. Premier League regulations stipulate that a club can lose no more than £105 million ($132.54m) over a three-year period. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "Over a three-day hearing last month, the independent Commission heard evidence and arguments from the club in respect of a range of potential mitigating factors for its admitted breach of £16.6 million, including the impact of its two successive PSR charges," the Premier League said in a statement. "Having done so, the Commission determined the appropriate sanction to be a two-point deduction, taking effect immediately." The points deduction means Everton have dropped one place in the Premier League table to 16th, two points above the relegation...