The Golden State Warriors got some good news to end the week.

All-Star point guard Stephen Curry returned Friday night from a pelvic contusion, playing 34 minutes in the Warriors’ 111-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Warriors are fortunate that Curry missed just two games with the injury, suffered March 20 in a win over the Toronto Raptors. Golden State’s offense struggled to find rhythm and consistency during Curry’s absence, with the ball often stagnating.

Curry participated Thursday in a scrimmage during practice, and then underwent an individual workout to test the injury. The Warriors officially listed Curry as questionable for Friday’s game and announced about an hour-and-a-half ahead of tipoff that he would start.

Here’s everything you need to know about Curry’s return from a pelvic contusion:

How many points did Stephen Curry score in Golden State Warriors return?

In his first game back, Curry played 33:54 and shot 7 of 21 from the floor, including 5 of 16 from 3-point range. He scored 23 points and added six assists and four rebounds. Although Golden State started the game slowly, finding itself in an early 14-2 hole, Curry was particularly effective in the second quarter, scoring 13 points in the period.

Curry led all Warriors players in scoring, with Jimmy Butler (18) as the next closest player.

Coach Steve Kerr said after the game he thought the Warriors are “clearly trying to get our rhythm back as a group” but complimented Curry’s play.

“I thought he looked great. He was moving really well, took care of the ball. I thought Steph played an excellent game. He probably missed his last five or six 3s so the (shooting) numbers probably don’t look great, but he looked like himself and I think the week off did him a lot of good.”

Curry said after the game that he will “feel (the injury) for a while,” but that he “can’t make it worse” and that he’s able to play through any lingering discomfort.

“I felt good,” he added. “A week off is great in one aspect because you’re resting, but your timing, the endurance of getting your regular minutes, that was a little bit of a challenge. So I was trying to manage the game and not do anything crazy. All in all, it was great night. It was nice to get the win.”

What does Stephen Curry’s return mean for the Warriors?

The victory Friday over the Pelicans came as good news for a Warriors team that had slipped out of the guaranteed playoff picture Wednesday. The Warriors (42-31) have the same record as the Clippers, who also won Friday, though Los Angeles holds a tiebreaker, giving it a very slim edge.

Although it was a small sample size, the Warriors offense stagnated in Curry’s absence. Butler, the star forward the team acquired in a February trade with the Heat, was at times too passive and deferential, and the Warriors struggled to move the ball in half-court sets. Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield also did not step up their game, and Friday night’s win against the Pelicans, who are admittedly a weaker opponent, showed how Curry opens spacing and opportunities for other Golden State players.

The Warriors will continue their road trip Sunday in San Antonio against the Spurs.

The bill is coming due for the Dallas Cowboys’ star edge rusher – the number will only continue to grow as time moves on. It’s a hefty price tag already.

Parsons is eyeing one of the biggest contracts in NFL history, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Per the report, Parsons is said to be seeking a $200 million contract, which would be the largest deal ever for a non-quarterback.

The Cowboys reportedly met with Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, at the NFL combine to have early discussions about the contract, but haven’t held any since. The Dallas Morning News also reported that team owner Jerry Jones has spoken with Parsons about the contract.

It’s a risky game for the Cowboys to play if they delay in getting something done.

This offseason has featured plenty of big-money contract extensions. The Las Vegas Raiders awarded Maxx Crosby with a three-year, $106.5 million deal that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history.

Myles Garrett proceeded to break that record with a four-year, $160 million megadeal that keeps the star with the Cleveland Browns. Then it was Ja’Marr Chase’s turn to break the record. The Cincinnati Bengals finally inked the star receiver to a long-term deal, which is set to cost them $161 million over four years.

It appears the Cowboys would have to break Chase’s record, while getting the deal done before more stars around the league, like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt, jump the line.

From a positional standpoint, Parsons appears to be in a good spot compared to Garrett as it relates to age. Parsons is just 25 while Garrett is 29.

It’s unclear if the edge rusher will hold out in the absence of an extension. Dallas got deals done for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last offseason, but this one also figures to break the bank – and for good reason.

Parsons has registered at least 12 sacks in all four of his seasons, totaling 52.5 in 63 games. That includes 12 in just 13 games last season.

One of the league’s best defenders is set to cash in. The only mystery is when it will be and how much it will cost the Cowboys.

After all, everything’s bigger in Texas. Especially the contracts.

LSU star Flau’jae Johnson injured her eye during Friday’s Sweet 16 win over No. 2 seed NC State.

The injury happened during a collision with Zoe Brooks at 5:04 in the fourth quarter. She was down for a couple of minutes and grimaced when she got back up.

A few minutes later, Johnson was back on the bench, being attended to by medical staff. ESPN reporter Holly Rowe said she had a bad scrape and asked ‘don’t you just have some tape? I can just tape my eye open.’

LSU coach Kim Mulkey was ready to put Johnson back in the game after the collision, but was told not to by the medics after Johnson was seeing double.

‘It was really hard for us not to have Flau’jae on that floor, but she was seeing double. She got hit in the eye area and they wouldn’t let her go back in,’ Mulkey said.

Mulkey added that Johnson used her time on the sideline to coach her teammates, which she described as a ‘sign of a leader.’

The Tigers had a close game, but shut out the Wolfpack for the remaining two minutes to win 80-73. In the final 4:09, Mikaylah Williams and Sa’Myah Smith scored all 16 of LSU’s points.

Johnson didn’t have her best shooting performance, posting three points on 1 for 8 shooting. She added five rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes.

Mulkey said she hadn’t heard anything concerning about Johnson’s status for Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup and she anticipates that Johnson will be ‘good to go.’

Through three games in the women’s NCAA Tournament, UCLA has looked every bit the part of the No. 1 overall tournament seed.

The Bruins dispatched their first opponent, Southern, with ease before weathering a physical game against Richmond they really took control of in the second half. Lauren Betts and Co. faced what might have been their toughest test yet in No. 5 Ole Miss.

Watch UCLA vs Ole Miss on Fubo (free trial)

The Rebels proved staunch competition for the Bruins — in the first half. The Rebels went on a run to cut their halftime deficit to 30-29 after two quarters, but that lead quickly ballooned for Betts and Co. after they opened the second half on a 12-1 run. Betts was dominant in the outing, pacing all scorers with 31 points on 15-of-16 shooting while adding 10 rebounds and two assists.

Check out all the updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game:

UCLA Bruins women’s basketball score vs Ole Miss

UCLA Bruins women’s basketball vs. Ole Miss Sweet 16 updates

This section will be updated throughout the game.

UCLA vs Ole Miss final score

UCLA defeated Ole Miss 76-62 in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. The Bruins, the No. 1 overall seed, advance to face LSU in the Elite Eight Sunday.

UCLA up 10 on Ole Miss going into fourth quarter

The Bruins have created some much-needed distance with Ole Miss heading into the fourth quarter, with a 55-45 lead over the Rebels at the end of the third quarter. The Bruins outscored Ole Miss 25-15 in the period, nearly matching their first-half scoring output.

UCLA off to hot start in third quarter

If there were any anxiety about the Bruins losing control over the game, coach Cori Close’s team is trying to eliminate that as quickly as possible. UCLA has scored the first eight points of the third quarter, doing so in just 1:50. Bruins out to a 38-29 lead.

Ole Miss gets within one of UCLA at halftime

What an end to the second quarter for coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s squad, which went on an 8-2 run to get within a point, 30-29, going into halftime. KK Deans has a team-high nine points for the Rebels off the bench. Ole Miss has done an excellent job limiting damage beyond Betts from UCLA. Betts has 16 of her team’s 30 points and has made 8 of her 9 shots while the rest of her team is 5 of 17.

UCLA vs Ole Miss halftime score

UCLA is leading Ole Miss 30-29 at halftime of their Sweet 16 matchup.

Ole Miss coming back vs UCLA

After trailing by seven at the end of the first quarter, Ole Miss has started to come alive, particularly on the defensive end, where it has held UCLA to four points in the opening 5:01 of the period. KK Deans has a team-high five points off the bench for the Rebels.

Lauren Betts has a game-high 12 points and is 6 of 6 from the field, but the rest of her team is 4 of 13.

UCLA leading Ole Miss after first quarter

UCLA is largely having its way so far with Ole Miss, leading the Rebels 19-12 after the first quarter. All-American Lauren Betts has been assertive so far for the Bruins, with 10 points, four rebounds and a block while making all five of her shots.

Lauren Betts points today

Betts finished UCLA’s win Friday with 31 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and three blocks while making 15 of her 16 shots.

Who is Lauren Betts?

Lauren Betts height

Betts is listed on UCLA’s official roster at 6-foot-7.

UCLA women’s basketball coach

Cori Close is UCLA’s women’s basketball coach. She’s in her 14th season at the school, where she has amassed a 319-142 record. Her teams are 86-19 the past three seasons.

UCLA women’s basketball roster

You can see UCLA’s full women’s basketball roster here.

UCLA vs Ole Miss prediction

Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: UCLA
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: UCLA
Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: UCLA
Meg L. Hall, For The Win: UCLA
Cora Hall, Knoxville News: Ole Miss

Who won women’s March Madness in 2024?

South Carolina won the women’s NCAA Tournament in 2024, beating Iowa in the championship game to claim their second title in three years.

Women’s March Madness championship odds

UCLA has the third-best odds to win the national championship entering the Sweet 16 on BetMGM. 

1. UConn (+135)
2. South Carolina (+180)
3. UCLA (+700)
4. Texas (+800)
5. Notre Dame (+1300)
T-6. LSU (+3500)
T-6. Duke (+3500)
8. USC (+4000)
T-9. NC State (+5000)
T-9. TCU (+5000)
11. Kansas State (+8000)
12. Oklahoma (+12500)
13. Ole Miss (+15000)
14. Maryland (+17500)

No. 1 UCLA vs No. 5 Ole Miss betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, March 28.

Spread: UCLA (-8.5)
Over/under: 134.5
Moneyline: UCLA -450 | Ole Miss +325

UCLA vs Ole Miss women’s basketball time today

Date: Friday, March 28
Time: 10 p.m. ET

The Bruins and Rebels are scheduled to tip off at 10 p.m. ET on Friday from Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington.

What channel is UCLA vs Ole Miss women’s basketball on today?

Channel: ESPN
Streaming: March Madness Live | Fubo (free trial)

The UCLA-Ole Miss women’s basketball Sweet 16 game will air on ESPN. Streaming options include March Madness Live with a cable login. Another option is Fubo, which carries ESPN and offers a free trial.

Lauren Betts stats

Betts has established herself as one of the best players nationally in women’s college basketball. As a junior at UCLA, she’s averaging 19.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 64.3% from the field.

Is Lauren Betts related to Mookie Betts?

There’s no publicized familial link between the UCLA All-American and the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder.

Betts, however, comes from an accomplished athletic family. Her father, Andy, played college basketball at Long Beach State before being selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft. He played 14 seasons professionally in Europe and represented England and Great Britain on their national teams. Her mother, Michelle, played volleyball at Long Beach State, where she was a part of the school’s 1993 national championship team.

NCAA women’s basketball schedule

Here’s a look at the NCAA women’s basketball tournament schedule for Friday and Saturday’s Sweet 16 games:

All times Eastern.

Friday, March 28

No. 2 Duke 48, No. 3 North Carolina 37
No. 1 South Carolina 71, No. 4 Maryland 67
No. 2 NC State vs. No. 3 LSU, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 5 Ole Miss, 10 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, March 29

No. 2 TCU vs. No. 3 Notre Dame, 1 p.m. (ABC)
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Oklahoma, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)
No. 1 USC vs. No. 5 Kansas State, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

The Auburn Tigers proved to be too much for the Michigan Wolverines in the second half of their men’s March Madness game on Friday.

The Tigers earned the 78-65 victory, pulling away in the second half after a tight opening 20 minutes to reach the Elite Eight in Atlanta. Three players scored more than 18 points apiece for the Tigers, led by SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome. Auburn is the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and the SEC’s regular-season champion.

It was the Tigers’ defense that caused trouble for the Wolverines, who were left scoreless for long stretches of the second half.

‘I just thought we played great defensively with unbelievable effort and energy,’ Auburn coach Bruce Pearl told CBS Sports after the game.

The Wolverines were making their 19th Sweet 16 appearance, having reached the round in each of their last six NCAA appearances. Michigan was led by Danny Wolf, who scored 20 points and shot 50% from the field.

USA TODAY Sports followed the top moments from Friday’s game:

Auburn vs. Michigan men’s basketball score

Auburn beats Michigan 78-65 in the Sweet 16 contest Friday in Atlanta. The Tigers finished the game on a 33-14 scoring run to advance to their third Elite Eight.

Auburn’s Johni Broome led the way with 22 points and 16 rebounds, while Tahaad Pettiford came off the bench to score 20 points and Denver Jones also hit 20. It is the first time in Auburn’s tournament history that it has had three different players score 18 or more points.

Auburn vs. Michigan highlights

No. 1 seed Auburn beat No. 5 seed Michigan 78-65. Watch the video for best action from the game.

Johni Broome stats today

Johni Broome has a double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Tigers. It was Broome’s fourth game with a double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds) in the first half this season.

Danny Wolf stats today

Danny Wolf has a team-high 20 points and six rebounds for Michigan in the second half. With six minutes left in the second half, Wolf was the only double-digit scorer for the Wolverines.

Michigan State will play Auburn

As a result of Auburn winning its Sweet 16 matchup, the Tigers will play the Michigan State Spartans in the Elite Eight.

‘(The Spartans) do it the right way and they will be an honorable opponent,’ Pearl told CBS Sports. ‘We have 24 hours to get ready for them.’

Smith played for the Spartans (1987-91). He now works as a basketball analyst for Turner Sports.

The Spartans are 30-6 and were Big 10 regular-season champions.

Auburn starting lineup

Guard Denver Jones
Guard Miles Kelly
Guard Chad Baker-Mazara
Forward Johni Broome
Center Dylan Cardwell

Michigan starting lineup

Guard Tre Donaldson
Guard Rubin Jones
Guard Nimari Burnett
Forward Daniel Wolf
Center Vladislav Goldin

What time is Auburn vs. Michigan basketball today?

March Madness continues Friday with the Sweet 16 matchup between the No. 1 seeded Auburn Tigers and the No. 5 seeded Michigan Wolverines. The action tips off at 9:39 p.m. ET

Where to watch Auburn vs. Michigan: TV, streaming coverage 

TV channel: CBS
Live stream: Paramount+ and Fubo (Fubo offers a free trial subscription)

Watch March Madness with Fubo

What channel is March Madness on?

Men’s NCAA Tournament games will be broadcast across CBS, TBS, and TruTV channels. You can also watch Sweet 16 action via these streaming options: Max and Sling for games carried on TNT, TBS, TruTV. Games carried on CBS are available on Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription to new users.

Watch March Madness games on CBS with Fubo

Auburn vs. Michigan odds and betting line

The Auburn Tigers are favorites to beat the Michigan Wolverines, according to BetMGM odds as of Friday, March 28.

Spread: Auburn (-8.5)
Moneyline: Auburn (-425); Michigan(+325)
O/U: 155.5

Auburn vs. Michigan predictions and picks

Jeremy Cluff: Michigan 81, Auburn 77
Craig Meyer: Auburn 82, Michigan 70
TaylorJones: Auburn 72 Michigan 63

Two of our three experts are expecting Auburn to take care of business and advance to the Elite Eight. AZ Central’s Jeremy Cluff, however, is calling for Michigan to pull off the upset and for the game to go over the 153.5-point total. USA TODAY’s Craig Meyer and Auburn Wire’s Taylor Jones both have the Tigers covering the 8.5-point spread and are taking the under. — Nick Brinkerhoff

Auburn vs. Michigan all-time head-to-head record, history

The Auburn Tigers and Michigan Wolverines have faced each other twice in their history and have split the series 1-1.

Have the Auburn Tigers ever won a national championship?

The Auburn Tigers have never won a national championship. They have reached as far as the Final Four in 2019. The program also claims two Elite Eight appearances (1986, 2019) and six Sweet 16 appearances.

Michigan Wolverines national Championship, NCAA Tournament history

The Michigan Wolverines boast one national championship, having won it all in 1989. They have appeared in the finals seven times and the Final Four eight times.

March Madness championship odds

Odds to win the men’s NCAA national championship, according to BetMGM odds as of Friday, March 28. Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the men’s tournament:

Duke (+180)
Florida (+275)
Houston (+550)
Auburn (+575)
Alabama (+1200)
Tennessee (+2000)
Texas Tech (+2200)
Michigan State (+2500)
Kentucky (+8000)
Michigan (+9000)
Ole Miss (+10000)
Purdue (+12500)

Predictions: Three No. 1 seeds make Final Four

This feels like the best chance to see the first all-No. 1 seed Final Four since 2008. However, while Duke rolled in its first two games, Auburn was tested by Creighton, Houston fought off a furious comeback by Gonzaga and Florida got all it could handle from Connecticut.

Three of the No. 1 seeds have shown cracks, and one of them ends up missing out in San Antonio: the top overall seed, Auburn. — Jordan Mendoza

March Madness 2025 expert predictions

USA TODAY experts set their picks ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Here is who they picked before the madness.

Jordan Mendoza

Full bracket

Final Four: Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Houston
National champion: Houston

Paul Myerberg

Full bracket

Final Four: Auburn, St. John’s, Duke, Tennessee
Final: Auburn vs. Duke
National champion: Duke

Eddie Timanus

Full bracket

Final Four: Auburn, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Duke
National champion: Florida

Dan Wolken

Full bracket

Final Four: Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Duke
National champion: Duke

2025 Men’s March Madness Printable Bracket

Here is your printable March Madness bracket.

Click for your 2025 NCAA Tournament printable bracket

Men’s March Madness bracket: Dates, times, TV, results and scores

All times Eastern

Tuesday, March 18

First Four games

South region: No. 16 Alabama State def. No. 16 St. Francis, 70-68
South region: No. 11 North Carolina def. No. 11 San Diego State, 95-68

Wednesday, March 19

First Four games

East region: No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s def. No. 16 American, 83-72
Midwest region: No. 11 Xavier def. No. 11 Texas, 86-80

Thursday, March 20

Round of 64 games

South region: No. 9 Creighton def. No. 8 Louisville, 89-75
Midwest region: No. 4 Purdue def. No. 13 High Point, 75-63
East region: No. 3 Wisconsin def. No. 14 Montana, 86-66
Midwest region: No. 1 Houston def. No. 16 SIU-Edwardsville, 78-40
South region: No. 1 Auburn def. No. 16 Alabama State, 83-63
Midwest region: No. 12 McNeese State def. No. 5 Clemson, 69-67
East region: No. 6 BYU def. No. 11 VCU, 80-71
Midwest region: No. 8 Gonzaga def. No. 9 Georgia, 89-68
Midwest region: No. 2 Tennessee def. No. 15 Wofford, 77-62
West region: No. 10 Arkansas def. No. 7 Kansas, 79-72
South region: No. 4 Texas A&M def. No. 13 Yale, 80-71
West region: No. 11 Drake def. No. 6 Missouri, 67-57
Midwest region: No. 7 UCLA def. No. 10 Utah State, 72-47
West region: No. 2 St. John’s def. No. 15 Omaha, 83-53
South region: No. 5 Michigan def. No. 12 UC San Diego, 68-65
West region: No. 3 Texas Tech def. No. 14 UNC-Wilmington, 82-72

Friday March 21

Round of 64 games

East region: No. 9 Baylor def. No. 8 Mississippi State, 75-72
East region: No. 2 Alabama def. No. 15 Robert Morris, 90-81
South region: No. 3 Iowa State def. No. 14 Lipscomb, 82-55
West region: No. 12 Colorado State def. No. 5 Memphis, 78-70
East region: No. 1 Duke def. No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s, 93-49
East region: No. 7 Saint Mary’s def. No. 10 Vanderbilt, 59-56
South region: No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 11 North Carolina, 71-64
West region: No. 4 Maryland def. No. 13 Grand Canyon, 81-49
West region: No. 1 Florida def. No. 16 Norfolk State, 95-69
Midwest region: No. 3 Kentucky def. No. 14 Troy, 76-57
South region: No. 10 New Mexico def. No. 7 Marquette, 75-66
East region: No. 4 Arizona def. No. 13 Akron, 93-65
West region: No. 8 UConn def. No. 9 Oklahoma, 67-59
Midwest region: No. 6 Illinois def. No. 11 Xavier, 86-73
South region: No. 2 Michigan State def. No. 15 Bryant, 87-62
East region: No. 5 Oregon def. No. 12 Liberty, 81-52

Saturday, March 22

No. 4 Purdue def. No. 12 McNeese, 76-62
No. 10 Arkansas def. No. 2 St. John’s, 75-66
No. 5 Michigan def. No 4 Texas A&M, 91-79
No. 3 Texas Tech def. No. 11 Drake, 77-64
No. 1 Auburn def. No. 9 Creighton, 82-70
No. 6 BYU def. No. 3 Wisconsin, 91-89
No. 1 Houston def. No. 8 Gonzaga, 81-76
No. 2 Tennessee def. No. 7 UCLA, 67-58

Sunday, March 23

No. 1 Florida def. No. 8 UConn, 77-75
No. 1 Duke def. No. 9 Baylor, 89-66
No. 3 Kentucky def. No. 6 Illinois, 84-75
No. 2 Alabama def. No. 7 Saint Mary’s, 80-66
No. 4 Maryland def. No. 12 Colorado State, 72-71
No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 3 Iowa State, 91-78
No. 2 Michigan State def. No. 10 New Mexico, 71-63
No. 4 Arizona def. No. 5 Oregon, 87-83

Thursday, March 27

East and West region Sweet 16 games, Time and TV channel TBD

No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU | 7:07 p.m. | CBS
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Maryland | 7:39 p.m. | TBS
No. Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona | 9:39 p.m. | CBS
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Arkansas | 10:09 p.m. |TBS

Friday, March 28

Midwest and South region Sweet 16 games, Time and TV channel TBD

No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 2 Michigan State | 7:09 p.m. | CBS
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Kentucky | 7:39 p.m. | TBS
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 5 Michigan | 9:39 p.m. | CBS
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Purdue | 10:09 p.m. | TBS

Saturday, March 29

East and West region finals, Time and TV channel TBD

Sunday, March 30

Midwest and South region finals, Time and TV channel TBD

Saturday, April 5

Final Four

Game 1: 6:09 p.m. on CBS
Game 2: 8:49 p.m. on CBS

Monday, April 7

National championship game: 8:50 p.m. on CBS

When does the Final Four start?

On the men’s side, the Final Four is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The NCAA championship game will take place two days later on Monday, April 7. All games will played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

For the women, the Final Four will be played on Friday, April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The championship game will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at the same venue.

Women’s March Madness schedule

Here is the women’s schedule: 

First Four: March 19-20
First round: March 21-22
Second round: March 23-24
Sweet 16: March 28-29
Elite Eight: March 30-March 31
Final Four: Friday, April 4, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, hosted at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Second game starts 30 minutes after first game ends.
NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, hosted at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

Women’s March Madness printable bracket

Click here to print your 2025 NCAA women’s tournament printable bracket

Tennessee’s strong defense stifled Kentucky’s offense, preventing the Wildcats from making open shots.
Despite losing twice to Kentucky in the regular season, Tennessee dominated the game and maintained a comfortable lead.

Tennessee lost twice to archrival Kentucky this season in men’s basketball. But they could sum up those setbacks with two words Friday night in Indianapolis.

So what?

So what if Kentucky beat the Volunteers at Food City Center and Rupp Arena during the regular season. So what if it beat them in January and February.

Tennessee reduced those regular-season defeats to a footnote in a 30-win season when it advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA men’s tournament with a 78-65 victory over the Wildcats at Lucas Oil Stadium.

After making the Elite Eight in consecutive seasons, the Volunteers are just one victory from reaching the Final Four for the first time.

Despite No. 3 seed Kentucky’s illustrious basketball history — which includes eight national championships — or its regular-season wins against Tennessee, this wasn’t an upset. The second-seeded Vols were a 4½-point favorite, and they wasted little time establishing their superiority.

Tennessee tightened up its defense after those regular-season mishaps, dominated the rebounding and left Kentucky playing catchup after taking a 29-17 lead.

The defense of the Volunteers stood out above all else.

Kentucky defeated Tennessee by 16 points combined during the regular season by piercing the elite defense with perimeter shooting. Coach Mark Pope’s team made 12 of 24 3-pointers in each game against a defense renowned for shutting down perimeter shooters.

But the Wildcats came up one great shooting night short when Tennessee played up to its defensive reputation in Game 3. Their offensive struggles became apparent even before the score mounted in UT’s favor.

Kentucky’s offense flowed beautifully in the previous matchups, repeatedly resulting in open shots. Tennessee slammed the openings shut this time while leading by as many as 19 points in the first half.

Shooters looked uncomfortable from the outset in the face of a more locked-in Tennessee defense. Their uneasiness was reflected in the stats (16 misses in their first 23 field-goal attempts).

Even when a Kentucky possession appeared promising, the outcome was pro-Tennessee. Andrew Carr could vouch for that late in the first half. He was headed for a breakaway basket when Volunteers guard Darlinstone Dubar chased him down and blocked his shot.

Tennessee’s victory wasn’t achieved on defense alone, though. Unlike in the January loss to Kentucky — when they took 45 3-point shots and made only 11 — they often succeeded in working for shorter-range attempts, and the approach paid off.

Senior point guard Zakai Zeigler led the way, as he has for much of the season. He scored 18 points, had 10 assists and committed only two turnovers while navigating his way past Kentucky’s larger guards.

Combine his efficiency with Tennessee’s 14-7 advantage in offensive rebounding, and it was too much for the Wildcats to overcome.

The NCAA Tournament has taught us that advantages can come and go in a flash, and seemingly safe leads can vanish in a flurry of baskets. For example, on Thursday night, Texas Tech overcame a 16-point, second-half deficit and beat Arkansas in overtime.

But Kentucky couldn’t make any headway against a Tennessee team that has demonstrated toughness as well as talent in its three consecutive NCAA Tournament wins. The Vols quickly seized a double-figure lead and didn’t loosen their grip on a one-sided game.

And never did anything to remind you how they lost two regular-season games to Kentucky.

Aneesah Morrow and the No. 3 LSU women’s basketball team knocked off No. 2 NC State, 80-73, to advance to the Elite Eight in March Madness.

Morrow poured in 30 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to record her 30th double-double of the season. Sa’Myah Smith finished with 21 points, and Mikaylah Williams added 19. Flau’jae Johnson had just 3 points and collided with NC State’s Zoe Brooks in the fourth quarter, scraping her eye in the process.

USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Check it out.

Aneesah Morrow stats

LSU’s Aneesah Morrow recorded her 30th double-double of the season on Friday, putting up 30 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. She joins Angel Reese as the only SEC players since 2000 with 30-point, 15-rebound performances during March Madness. And just for good measure, Morrow added 3 steals and 2 blocks to her stat line.

Flau’jae Johnson injury

LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson collided with NC State’s Zoe Brooks in the fourth quarter and was down for a couple of minutes, clearly in some pain. ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported it was a scrape to her eye. Johnson was grimacing when she got back up and went to the LSU bench. She was rubbing her right eye with a towel, getting eye drops and asking to go back in the game. — Nancy Armour

Zoe Brooks stats

NC State guard Zoe Brooks led the Wolfpack with 21 points on 9-of-21 shooting.

Kim Mulkey LSU coach outfit

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey brought the heat with her Sweet 16 outfit for today’s game.

Flau’jae Johnson stats tonight

LSU star Flau’jae Johnson scored her first points of game with 6:32 left in the third quarter, a layup assisted by Shayeann Day-Wilson. She finished with 3 points on 1-of-8 shooting to go along with 5 boards, 4 assists, a steal and a block.

Aziaha James stats

NC State star Aziaha James scored 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting. She also recorded 4 boards, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block.

Score of LSU vs. NC State game after 3Q

Aneesah Morrow helped give LSU a 57-53 lead through three quarters. Flau’jae Johnson finally got on the board, with her first points coming on a layup with 6:32 left in the third.

Flau’jae Johnson’s rap career

LSU star Flau’jae Johnson is everywhere this NCAA women’s tournament, and not just for her skills on the court. The junior’s career as a rapper is taking centerstage. Johnson’s new commercial for March Madness features a catchy song that people can’t get out of their heads. Here is what to know about Johnson’s budding rap career.

LSU vs NC State score at halftime

Freshman guard Zamareya Jones turned it up for NC State in the second quarter, draining 11 points to help the Wolfpack take a 40-36 lead into halftime.

Zamareya Jones points tonight

Freshman guard Zamareya Jones came off the bench in the second quarter for NC State and drained three straight 3s, giving the Wolfpack a much-needed jolt. She finished with 13 points.

‘I’m built for this,’ Jones said going into halftime. ‘I’m a dog. So when a dog’s name is called, a dog comes out. I’m just ready to play.’

How old is LSU women’s basketball coach?

Kim Mulkey is 62 years old. She has been head coach at LSU since 2021.

Kim Mulkey on LSU’s play

LSU women’s basketball coach said the Tigers are playing with ‘a lot of confidence’ against NC State.

LSU women’s basketball results vs. NC State after 1Q

LSU held a 23-15 lead after the first quarter.

Aneesah Morrow led the Tigers in the frame with 9 points, including two 3s. Sa’Myah Smith recorded 8 points, and Mikaylah Williams added 6. Flau’jae Johnson was scoreless in the first, but grabbed 2 boards and dished out 2 assists.

For NC State, Aziaha James scored 7 points, Madison Hayes recorded 6 points, and Saniya Rivers chipped in 2.

Who is NC State women’s basketball coach?

Wes Moore has been head coach for the NC State women’s basketball team since 2013. He is aiming to get the Wolfpack to the Elite Eight for the second straight year after a Final Four run last season.

LSU women’s basketball roster

The LSU women’s basketball team is led by two stars in Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow. Johnson averages 18.8 points per game to Morrow’s 18.5 points per game. But don’t sleep on Mikaylah Williams, who dropped 28 points in the Tigers’ second-round win over Florida State. Here’s the full LSU roster.

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward is likely to land a four-year contract worth more than $40 million if he’s selected as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft April 24. But he still hasn’t made a final decision on whether he needs a certified agent to represent him in contract negotiations with the NFL team that picks him.

Ward instead might go without a traditional agent, just like quarterback Caleb Williams did last year when he was picked No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears.

“He’s still evaluating,” Ward’s father, Calvin, told USA TODAY Sports March 25.

Another top quarterback prospect, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, doesn’t have a certified agent, either, according to the NFL Players Association. Neither does his brother Shilo, an NFL safety prospect. Their father, “Coach Prime” Deion Sanders, provides plenty of pre-draft advice instead.

“They asked me if I have an agent,” Shilo Sanders said before the East-West Shrine Bowl in January. “I don’t even know if I have an agent or not. I just tell them it’s Coach Prime.”

Out of more than 2,000 players in the NFL, only 29 don’t have a certified agent to represent them in contract negotiations with NFL teams, not including draft prospects, according to the NFLPA.

That’s quite a rarity – less than 1.5% − but it might not be for long, at least among some elite NFL draft prospects. Last year, two top-five NFL draft picks also elected not to hire certified agents: Williams and Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who was instead guided in the pre-draft process by his father.

So does this mean that traditional player agents are a dying breed?

No, but times are changing, according to legendary player agent Leigh Steinberg. Not all players need an agent to “show them the money” or provide pre-draft advice anymore, like they did when Steinberg served as the inspiration for “Jerry Maguire,” the 1996 movie about a fictional sports agent.

“I’m glad I’ve already represented 64 first-round draft picks − and the first pick in the first round eight different years − if this is a trend,” Steinberg told USA TODAY Sports.

The pros and cons of not having an agent

Agents can charge up to 3% of an NFL player’s contract for their services. That could save some players millions of dollars if they go it alone, but there are risks to the tradeoff, too, especially for players who aren’t elite prospects or don’t have Pro Football Hall of Fame fathers to guide them before the draft like the Sanders brothers or Harrison Jr.

A big change to the draft scene in recent years is that college players have been allowed to make money from their names, images and likenesses (NIL) before turning pro in the NFL. Elite draft prospects like Shedeur Sanders and Ward therefore already have made a lot of money in college before the draft and don’t need pre-draft per diems and training resources from their agents, as they often did before the NCAA allowed players to get NIL money for the first time in 2021.

“That’s the first distinction that we’re in a new era, where we have players who have made a considerable amount of money while they’re still in college, who can take care of the financial responsibilities of the draft,” said Steinberg, whose clients have included star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Troy Aikman and Steve Young.

Steinberg said an agent’s investment in a player before the draft could be around $35,000, including per diem and other services such as training provisions. “Obviously, Caleb Williams didn’t need that,” Steinberg said of last year’s No. 1 overall pick.

Some, like the Sanders brothers, also already have had managers to represent them with NIL deals in college. But that’s still different from having a certified NFL agent to advise them and represent them in contract negotiations. Not having one can mean not having the vast network of connections and negotiating expertise that a certified agent can bring.

And this can mean a lot more to fringe draft prospects than quarterbacks projected to be selected in the top five.

Rookie contracts are largely slotted

Players are not required to have traditional agents. But if they don’t want to negotiate an NFL contract by themselves and instead hire somebody to do that for them, those hired agents must be certified by the NFLPA – a designation that requires an undergraduate and postgraduate degree or proof of at least seven years of “sufficient negotiating experience,” among other requirements.

That doesn’t prevent a player from taking advice from their dads or others. It just covers contract negotiations. And there’s not that much to negotiate in an NFL player’s rookie contract, anyway.

That’s because the compensation amounts for rookies are essentially slotted by where a player is selected in the seven-round draft. Last year, the Bears gave Williams a four-year contract worth $39.5 million as the No. 1 overall pick. This year, the No. 1 overall pick will make a little more than that. Same for the No. 2 pick compared to last year and so on.

But it gets much more complicated and negotiable with a player’s next contract down the road. Ask Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who didn’t have an agent when he was drafted in 2018 and also went without an agent before his last contract in 2023.

He described the latter negotiating process as “nail-biting” with “a lot of head-scratching going on” before he ultimately landed a five-year, $260-million deal that made him the highest-paid player on average at the time.

Was it worth the 3% he saved by not having an agent?

It’s easy to think so after getting a contract like that. On the other hand, the vast majority of NFL players aren’t huge stars out of college and don’t become NFL MVPs like Jackson did. Many still hire traditional agents for a reason – often because those agents offer more “holistic” services besides NFL contract negotiations.

For example, Colorado Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter hired the Young Money APAA Sports agency, headed by certified agent Adie von Gontard. That firm, co-founded by rapper Lil Wayne, said it offers a “comprehensive suite of services,” including contract negotiations, legal support and career guidance.

Hunter is expected to be a top-five draft pick. On the other end of the rookie spectrum, players who aren’t drafted also benefit from having an agent who can help them find the best place to sign as an undrafted free agent when multiple teams are interested.

“For a lot of NFL (rookies), it’s a non-issue and it’s actually leaning toward smart” to not have an agent, said former Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley.

The stakes are different for undrafted free agents and veteran NFL players pursuing their next contract.

“That’s when you really need an agent,” said Whaley, now working in player personnel with the United Football League.

‘Trust factor’ and relationships

Shilo Sanders is an example of a prospect who might not get drafted but could be in high demand as an undrafted free agent. If he’s not drafted, who will field those calls from teams and help him determine which team is best for him after the draft?

That’s normally the job of a traditional agent. In his case, his father could help him navigate that to an extent if he doesn’t hire a certified agent.

Steinberg cited one of his clients as another example: NFL running back Jeff Wilson. After Wilson went undrafted in 2018, Steinberg discussed him with San Francisco 49ers executive John Lynch, another one of Steinberg’s former clients. Wilson ended up signing with the 49ers and playing parts of five seasons with the team before moving on to play with the Miami Dolphins.

“There’s a trust factor there,” Steinberg said.

It’s based on relationships and advocacy for clients. For example, Steinberg represented Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon during his entire pro career. Same with Aikman and Young.

“Being able to negotiate a veteran contract does take a fair amount of expertise, as distinguished from a rookie negotiation,” Steinberg said. “Most players would rather have a mentor and partner at their side from the beginning who will be with them for their whole career.”

Not about the money

The Sanders family couldn’t be reached for comment about their decision. In Ward’s case, his father has a business background and said he once was an agent himself.

The agent issue also is nothing new to the Ward family because Cam Ward previously considered turning pro before now.

“We’ve been talking about it for years,” Calvin Ward said.

And it’s not about money, he said.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with that,” Calvin Ward said. “Both (choices) have their advantages, and there’s some disadvantages. He’s so laser-focused on football, but he knows my business background at the same time, too. It’s not something he’s concerned with that he might miss out on.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com