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Hundreds of NFL personnel members lined the field Monday for future NFL quarterback Cam Ward’s pro day. The Hurricanes star is the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s NFL draft and today was his chance to show off his abilities with receivers he knows well.

After a long wait, he didn’t disappoint.

Ward took the field just after 5:30 p.m. local time in Coral Gables, loosening up his arm with a few quick passes and quick drops. Five minutes later, Ward was in full form.

He showed off his arm strength and release angles early and often, alternating deep shots and over-the-middle throws on time. His athleticism to extend plays outside the pocket was on display early, too, by rolling out on bootlegs before hitting his receivers in bounds.

Ward repeatedly hit out-breaking routes on the sideline in great time for his wideouts.

Future NFL slot receiver Xavier Restrepo was on the receiving end of Ward’s best throw of the day. Ward drifted to his left before backpedaling into a fadeaway throw that sailed nearly 80 yards in the air and hit Restrepo in stride.

Miami wrapped up Ward’s showcase with some red zone work. They finished the day with a trick play that saw Ward on the receiving end of a pass from Restrepo. Ward even made sure to drag his feet inbounds to ensure he made it for the touchdown.

It was a good showcase from the player widely expected to be the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Ward didn’t hurt his stock at all with his pro day showing and will continue to be the favorite to hear his name called first in Round 1.

USA TODAY Sports provided the latest updates, highlights and more from Cam Ward’s pro day workout below. All times are Eastern.

Cam Ward pro day is complete

Miami ends Cam Ward throws with a trick play

Ward lined up in a new position and faked a block as four different players threw laterals before Restrepo threw it to the far corner of the end zone to Ward. The future NFL QB dragged both feet to stay in bounds and end the pro day on a high. 

Ward drops ball perfectly to Elijah Arroyo

Ward found the future NFL tight end on a corner route and dropped the pass right over his outside shoulder with the space for Arroyo to get both feet in bounds in the end zone. Ward’s connected with his pass catchers on all but a handful of throws on the day.

Ward finds Restrepo again for deep highlight throw

The duo connected on a deep shot down the left side with Ward rolling out and hitting a fadeaway shot to Restrepo. It was one of the better passes on the day for the impressive quarterback.

Ward hits consecutive outside throws

The No. 1 overall pick favorite showed off his timing on consecutive passes, hitting out-breaking routes on back-to-back throws. The first on a post-corner down the right side and the second and out route to the left side. Both were placed in the right spot for the receiver to come down with both feet in bounds.

Ward hits Xavier Restrepo in stride

The Miami duo connected for more than 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns and Ward found him again on a tight shot over the shoulder down the right side. 

Ward shows off mobility

Ward threw in a bootleg pass to his regiment for the day, rolling to his left before hitting his receiver right along the sideline in bounds. Ward’s mobility and arm slots are two of his better traits that NFL personnel will be happy to see in person. 

Ward throwing full speed

The Miami star is now up to speed and hitting future NFL pass-catchers Elijah Arroyo and Xavier Restrepo, among others. Ward’s arm strength is on full display as he’s firing quick passes over the middle and deep shots down the seam as well.

Cam Ward takes the field

The top quarterback prospect in the 2025 NFL draft finally hit the field in Coral Gables and started off with a few quick passes along the numbers and some deep shots to loosen up his arm.

Cam Ward pro day start time 

Date: Monday, March 24, 2025 
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET 

The Miami Hurricanes pro day is kicking off at 4:00 p.m. ET.  

Cam Ward pro day TV channel 

Cable TV: ACC Network 

Cam Ward pro day live stream 

Live stream: Fubo  

Cord-cutters looking for a live stream of Miami’s pro day can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks including the ACC and SEC Networks. 

Watch Cam Ward’s pro day with a Fubo subscription

When is Cam Ward’s pro day?

Ward’s pro day is set for Monday, March 24. 

It will be the quarterback’s first and last chance to make an impression on the field for all 32 teams simultaneously during the pre-draft process.  

How to watch Cam Ward’s pro day 

Miami’s pro day will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET. Fans looking to watch the draft class’ top quarterback throw can find it on NFL Network, NFL+, ACC Network or Fubo, which comes with a free trial. 

Current NFL draft 2025 order  

Here’s the 2025 NFL draft order for the first round as of March 24, according to Tankathon.com: 

Tennessee Titans: 3-14 record; .522 strength of schedule (SOS) 
Cleveland Browns: 3-14; .536 SOS 
New York Giants: 3-14; .554 SOS 
New England Patriots: 4-13; .471 SOS 
Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-13; .478 SOS 
Las Vegas Raiders: 4-13; .540 SOS 
New York Jets: 5-12; .495 SOS 
Carolina Panthers: 5-12; .498 SOS 
New Orleans Saints: 5-12; .505 SOS 
Chicago Bears: 5-12; .554 SOS 
San Francisco 49ers: 6-11; .564 SOS 
Dallas Cowboys: 7-10; .522 SOS 
Miami Dolphins: 8-9; .419 SOS 
Indianapolis Colts: 8-9; .457 SOS 
Atlanta Falcons: 8-9; .519 SOS 
Arizona Cardinals: 8-9; .536 SOS 
Cincinnati Bengals: 9-8; .478 SOS 
Seattle Seahawks: 10-7; .498 SOS 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-7; .502 SOS 
Denver Broncos: 10-7; .502 SOS 
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7; .502 SOS 
Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6; .467 SOS 
Green Bay Packers: 11-6; .533 SOS 
Minnesota Vikings: 14-3; .474 SOS 
Houston Texans: 10-7; .481 SOS 
Los Angeles Rams: 10-7; .505 SOS 
Baltimore Ravens: 12-5; .529 SOS 
Detroit Lions: 15-2; .516 SOS 
Washington Commanders: 12-5; .436 SOS 
Buffalo Bills: 13-4; .467 SOS 
Kansas City Chiefs: 15-2; .488 SOS 
Philadelphia Eagles: 14-3; .453 SOS 

Cam Ward takes the field before Miami pro day

Cam Ward NFL mock draft roundup projections 

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com):  No. 1 Tennessee Titans 
Mel Kiper Jr (ESPN): No. 1 Tennessee Titans 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: No. 1 Tennessee Titans 
USA Today: No. 1 Tennessee Titans 
CBS Sports: No. 1 Tennessee Titans 
The Athletic: No. 1 Tennessee Titans 

Cam Ward draft profile, scouting report 

Ward offers a mix of elite traits at the NFL level. His outstanding arm talent shows up immediately, as does his control and flexible arm to fire passes out of myriad angles. His mobility isn’t elite but can extend plays and make defenders miss. He played for three different programs in college (Incarnate Word, Washington State, Miami) and made noticeable improvements at every stop. 

What may ultimately determine his effectiveness at the NFL level is reducing his penchant for turnover-worthy plays. He takes risks thanks to his gunslinger attitude on the field but NFL defenses can take advantage of them better than college units. He often relies on pre-snap reads too often as well, something that will need to be coached out of him. 

Other important upcoming pro day’s 

Tuesday, March 25 

Texas 

Wednesday, March 26 

Boise State 
LSU 
Ohio State 

Thursday, March 27 

Florida 
Notre Dame 
Texas A&M 

Friday, March 28 

Ole Miss 
Penn State 

Friday, April 4 

Colorado 

How tall is Cam Ward?

Ward is listed at 6’ 2’’ tall. 

This is how Cam Ward officially measured in at the NFL combine last month: 

Weight: 219 lbs 
Hand length: 9 inches 
Arm length: 30½ inches 
Wingspan 75¾ inches 

Cam Ward age 

Ward is currently 22 years old. His birthday falls on May 25 so he will be 23 at the start of the 2025 NFL season. 

Cam Ward stats 

Ward has played three seasons at the college football Division 1 level: Two with Washington State and one with Miami. 

Here are his stats over those three seasons with the two schools: 

38 games 
948 for 1,436 attempts good for a 66% completion percentage 
87 touchdowns 
23 interceptions 
148.8 QBR 

Cam Ward 2024 stats with Miami

Heisman Trophy finalist 
Won ACC Player of the Year 
Consensus First-Team All-American 
Set Miami’s single-season record for passing yards (4,313) and touchdowns (39) on (305-for-454 attempts) a 67.2% completion percentage 
7 interceptions 
204 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns 

Did Cam Ward participate in NFL combine?

Ward did not participate in the workouts during the 2025 NFL combine. Ward opted to skip the throwing drills at the NFL combine, putting more emphasis on his pro day. 

Cam Ward vs. Shedeur Sanders comparisons 

The top two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft are two very different types of passers. Ward is a strong-armed, gunslinging, mobile thrower who will almost always opt to go for the big play. Ward’s upside is impressive and if he finds the right environment, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him become a top 10 quarterback in the NFL. 

Sanders, by contrast, has an average arm at best but relies on his accuracy, timing and poise to hang tough in the pocket and deliver the ball on time. Sanders wins by picking apart defenses and understanding how best to exploit them. He lacks the elite physical tools Ward has but has the discipline and NFL-level traits to be at least a league-average starting quarterback in the league. 

When is the 2025 NFL draft? 

The 2025 NFL draft begins during the last week of April and takes place over three days.

Thursday, April 24: Round 1, 8 p.m. ET 
Friday, April 25: Rounds 2-3, 7 p.m. ET 
Saturday, April 26: Rounds 4-7, Noon ET 

Where is the 2025 NFL draft? 

Green Bay, Wisconsin, is the host of the 2025 NFL draft. Draft events, including the fan experience, will take place at Lambeau Field and the Titletown district of the city. 

NFL draft No. 1 overall pick betting odds 

DraftKings Sportsbook has the latest odds for which player will be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Cam Ward is the heavy favorite to be the first overall pick in the draft: 

Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL): (-700) 
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State: (+380) 
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado: (+1200) 

Cam Ward NFL comparison 

There’s no one-for-one comparison given Ward’s mix of traits and measurables. There are shades of different players, though. Ward’s gunslinging mentality and willingness to take risks is reminiscent of Jameis Winston. His arm talent, size profile and above-average mobility can compare well to Steve McNair. There are also some shades of early-career Ben Roethlisberger, with his mix of arm talent and mentality. 

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey entered the Tigers’ second-round matchup against Florida State in a shimmering outfit.

Mulkey’s look on Monday night consists of white slacks underneath a cerulean blue suit jacket. The jacket is adorned with ombre crystals that fade out around the top of her chest. She’s wearing a simple white blouse underneath and her shoes are shiny silver stilettos. 

Kim Mulkey outfit

Mulkey and the Tigers took care of business in the first round of the tournament, defeating No. 14 San Diego State 103-48 on Saturday night. During that game, she wore a powder blue pantsuit with matching blue heels. The pantsuit had a sash of blue flowers sewn on. 

Fashion has been a popular topic surrounding Mulkey. She often sports bold outfits with a lot of color and sparkles. 

Mulkey started coaching at LSU in 2021. She has taken the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament all four years and led the team to a national championship in 2023. She is the fastest coach in NCAA Division I basketball history to reach both the 600- and 700-win marks. Earlier this season, she won her 750th game and is on track to be the fastest coach to win 800 games.

Should the Tigers win, viewers can expect more eye-catching looks from Mulkey during the tournament.

Tatum Esparza is a student in the University of Georgia’s Sports Media Certificate program.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

March tamed its usual dose of madness throughout the men’s NCAA Tournament’s first week. Cinderella went into hiding. This tournament spoiled us with such a barrage of upsets the past several years, and so a pair of No. 12 seeds winning in the first round felt like a low dose of chaos.

No. 10 Arkansas is the lowest-seeded team left standing in the Sweet 16. The Razorbacks hardly qualify as an all-time underdog story, not after hiring John Calipari and investing in a quality roster built with transfers.

As chalk prevails, here are five burning thoughts and predictions, while we wait for the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16:

1985 Big East will maintain its Final Four record

The SEC struggled throughout the first leg of its final exam. After qualiying a record 14 teams for the tournament, six SEC qualifiers departed before the second round. Another bowed out in Saturday’s second round. By comparison, the Big Ten went 8-0 in first-round games.

The good news for the SEC? It retains prime positioning for a Final Four takeover. The SEC’s sheer volume of qualifiers proves difficult to wipe out. Seven SEC members persist into the Sweet 16. No. 1 Auburn, No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Alabama and No. 2 Tennessee remain in the bracket, in four different regions, setting up the possibility for a conference to claim every Final Four spot for the first time ever. No. 3 Kentucky, No. 6 Ole Miss and Arkansas offer reinforcements.

Considering seeding, volume, and bracket layout, the SEC retains a better chance for more Final Four teams than the Big Ten.

But, multiple snares remain to trap the SEC’s top teams. I predict the SEC advances two teams into the Final Four. That would mean the Big East would maintain its 1985 record of three Final Four qualifiers. Dwayne McClain, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin can’t celebrate their record continuing just yet, but put the champagne on ice.

Best of March Madness still to come

In some years, the tournament’s beginning rounds are much more memorable than the ending. Consider the 2023 tournament. In that upset-filled year, No. 15 Princeton reached the Sweet 16 and No. 9 Florida Atlantic crashed the Final Four. It was thrilling – until the finish line, when UConn clubbed San Diego State in the championship.

This year, a Sweet 16 devoid of underdogs creates the opportunity for elite play, competitive matchups and, maybe, if we’re lucky, some buzzer-beating finishes.

This iteration of the tournament won’t be remembered for its first-round entertainment value, but an epic Final Four could be brewing.

Sweet 16 upset special: No. 6 BYU beats No. 2 Alabama

He’s no Jimmer Fredette, but Brigham Young’s Richie Saunders is a headache for opposing defenses. Saunders powered the Cougars into a Sweet 16 date with Alabama.

No. 6 BYU and No. 2 Alabama are two of the nation’s best offensive teams. They’re not so good on defense.

First team to 95 points wins?

Alabama allowed 81 points to Robert Morris in the first round. That defense leaves the Tide vulnerable against a BYU team that drilled 12 3-pointers in a second-round takedown of Wisconsin.

Final Four picks: Good to be a No. 1 seed

Hours after the bracket came out, I picked three No. 1 seeds – Florida, Duke and Houston – plus No. 3 Iowa State to make the Final Four. Ole Miss bounced the Cyclones on Sunday, so my Final Four picks require a vision. I’m sliding in No. 1 Auburn.

Not exactly a bold prediction, I admit. That would mean four No. 1 seeds reaching the Final Four for just the second time. It previously occurred in 2008, when Kansas, North Carolina, Memphis and UCLA made history by turning the Final Four into a party exclusive to 1-seeds. Like that 2008 season, no weak link exists on the 1-seed line.

The South region’s stoutness gave me some initial hesitation with Auburn, but the Tigers survived a tough second-round matchup with No. 9 Creighton. More difficult matchups await, including No. 5 Michigan’s twin towers Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf. They’ll team up to try to corral Johni Broome in the Sweet 16.

Any of the South’s four remaining teams is good enough to reach the Final Four, but Auburn played like the nation’s best team throughout most of the season, and after struggling toward the end of the season, the Tigers earned back some trust by handling Creighton.

As for Houston, Florida and Duke, nobody is playing better right now than those No. 1 seeds.

National championship pick: Houston beats Florida

No alterations here. I’m sticking with my initial pick after the Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight tournament under Kelvin Sampson.

Houston remains incredibly balanced. It’s dependable on offense and defense. A veteran-filled lineup offers several candidates to reach double figures scoring. The Cougars are lethal from 3-point range, and L.J. Cryer is that linchpin guard championship teams need.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

No. 3 seed Oklahoma surged into the Sweet 16 Monday, cruising to a 96-62 win over No. 6 seed Iowa Monday in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Sooners dominated the second half to make it out of the second round for the first time in 12 years and for the first time under fourth-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk.

Oklahoma had five players reach double figures in scoring against the Hawkeyes and turned an 11-point halftime lead into a 34-point blowout. Senior forward Skylar Vann led the way with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, while shooting 6-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

The Sooners were coming off of a first-round win against No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast. Oklahoma’s 81-58 victory was by a significantly greater margin than their last clash with FGCU: a 73-70 win almost exactly one year ago in the first round of last year’s tournament. Junior center and Oregon State transfer Raegan Beers scored 25 points and tallied 18 rebounds in her first tournament game with the Sooners.

Iowa got off to a hot start in its first-round game as well. The Hawkeyes dropped 92 points and held No. 11 Murray State to 57 in their first NCAA Tournament game in the post-Caitlin Clark era. Senior guard and Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen finished the matchup with a double-double (12 points and 12 assists).

Final: Oklahoma 96, Iowa 62

After a slow start, in which Iowa jumped out to a 10-4 lead, Oklahoma found its groove midway through the first quarter before taking a 20-11 lead into the second. While the Hawkeyes battled valiantly in the second quarter, the Sooners kept control before dominating the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

Beers put together her second consecutive double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds to go along with four blocks and two steals, despite getting hit in the face in the third quarter and getting tended to by Oklahoma’s medical staff. Payton Verhulst tallied 16 points and seven rebounds, Sahara Williams had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Liz Scott came off the bench to add 11 points and seven rebounds.

Olson led Iowa for the second consecutive game, recording 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, while draining four 3-pointers. Kylie Feuerbach added 14 points and six rebounds and made four of her six 3-point attempts.

Oklahoma vs. Iowa highlights

Oklahoma’s Sahara Williams lands awkwardly

Something to monitor: Oklahoma’s Sahara Williams landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter. She limped over to the bench, where team personnel checked out her knee. Williams heads to the bench with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal.

Raegan Beers heads back to locker room after elbow to face

Oklahoma center Reagan Beers checked out of the game in the third quarter and retreated to the locker room after taking an elbow to the face from Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke. The incident happened under the basket as Beers attempted to defend Stuelke’s layup with 8:52 remaining in the third. Beers immediately went down holding her face and was helped to the bench, before heading to the locker room. Beers returned and checked back into the game with 6:40 remaining.

Halftime: Oklahoma 38, Iowa 27

The Sooners have a double-digit lead heading into halftime, thanks to leading scorer Sahara Williams, who is flirting with a double-double with 13 points, eight rebounds, 2 blocks and one steal. Despite scoring 38 first-half points, Oklahoma is only shooting 36.2% from the field and 2-of-18 from three. Iowa is shooting 32.3% from the field and 5-of-11 from three, but are getting outscored 26-8 in the paint. Lucy Olsen has 15 of the Hawkeyes 27 points.

Where to watch Oklahoma vs. Iowa: Time, TV channel

Game Day: Monday, March 24
Game Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: Fubo – Watch Now!

Watch Oklahoma vs. Iowa on Fubo (free trial)

Oklahoma vs. Iowa odds

Odds via BetMGM as of Sunday, March 23.

Spread: Oklahoma -4.5
Moneyline Favorite: Oklahoma -200
Moneyline Underdog: Iowa +165
O/U: 158.5 points

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

It didn’t matter what Caitlin Clark was doing, she always had to be the best.

Even on Halloween.

In a teaser from an upcoming episode of Netflix’s ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman,’ the Indiana Fever star told Letterman that when she was a child she would abandon her dad in her haste to get the most candy.

‘When we trick-or-treated in Des Moines growing up, I would be like, so sweaty under my costume because I was in a dead sprint from house to house,” Clark said. “I had to have the most candy. That’s how I operated.”

Clark said her dad had trouble finding her and would sometimes come home without her.

‘My mom would get pissed at my dad because it’s like, ‘Why did you lose our daughter? Why is she running through the neighborhood by herself?” Clark said. ‘But it was just because I was trying to beat everybody.’

The clip also included Clark talking about other instances of her competitive streak, including how her family would be mad at her after card games on Christmas.

‘Then everybody hates me by the end of the night and I’m like, ‘Oh, great. I ruined Christmas!” Clark said.

The episode will air April 8.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

It turns out the saying, ‘Let Paige Bueckers cook,’ has an entirely different meaning this month.

The UConn women’s basketball star has taken a significant responsibility to assist a teammate off the court during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Bueckers cooks breakfast for teammate Jana El Alfy in the mornings while El Alfy, who is from Cairo, Egypt, fasts during the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament.

Muslims observe a fast from sunrise to sundown during Ramadan ― from Feb. 28 to March 29 this year. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

During the fasting hours, Muslims do not eat or drink, even water.

Bueckers has taken on the responsibility of preparing breakfast for her teammate to eat before sunrise, called Suhoor (or Sehri). El Alfy ― who has been fasting since she was 11 ― said Bueckers walked into their apartment with two grocery bags and offered her support through the month.

‘That was really, really sweet of her,’ El Alfy said to the CT Insider. ‘And it meant a lot because obviously, being away from home, that’s tough, and my teammates made it so much easier for me.’

Teammates Caroline Ducharme and Allie Ziebell also join El Alfy for her early morning breakfast before sunrise. KK Arnold has already offered to help El Alfy next season when Bueckers is likely off to the WNBA.

Sometimes, Bueckers has to serve as the cook and the alarm clock for El Alfy to make sure she can have her meal in the morning and has the energy to get through the rest of the day. On Sunday, Bueckers had to bang on El Alfy’s door before UConn’s second-round game vs. South Dakota State.

‘I was like, ‘Jana, wake up! I didn’t make these scrambled eggs for nothing!,” Bueckers said.

‘She makes really good scrambled eggs,’ El Alfy added.

El Alfy, a 6-foot-5 Huskie center, said she used to spend Ramadan with her family. Usually, the breaking of the fast right after sunset ― called iftar ― would be done as large family gatherings. While she cannot be with family during the basketball season and March Madness, El Alfy will FaceTime her family, even with a six-hour time difference.

El Alfy missed all of last season with an Achilles injury. This is the first year the Huskies’ redshirt freshman is fasting while dealing with the demands of playing in March Madness.

‘It’s definitely tough. It’s an important month for me,’ El Alfy said. ‘I try as much as I can to fuel whenever it’s time to eat and manage it with playing. Obviously, it’s hard. It wasn’t easy at all. But my teammates really helped with that, and the staff, they were all supportive.

‘I feel like I’m blessed and grateful to be surrounded with this group. It’s a really, really special group, and they’re always asking questions, and they’re always like, ‘Oh, how are you feeling?’ or ‘I can’t imagine doing that.’ … I think I wouldn’t have done it or made it this far if it wasn’t for my teammates.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

President Donald Trump has named Susan Monarez as his nominee for the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calling the candidate ‘a dedicated public servant.’

Monarez, who is currently acting director of the CDC, replaces Trump’s original nominee for the role, Dr. David Weldon. The Trump administration never gave an official reason why Weldon’s nomination was withdrawn earlier this month, but a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that it would have been a ‘futile effort.’

‘It became clear that the votes weren’t there in the Senate for him to get confirmed,’ the source explained. ‘This would have been a futile effort.’

In a Truth Social post published on Monday, Trump wrote that Monarez ‘brings decades of experience championing Innovation, Transparency, and strong Public Health Systems.’

‘She has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, and PostDoctoral training in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine,’ the president wrote. ‘Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, our communities, and our future.’

Trump also claimed that Americans have ‘lost confidence’ in the CDC, citing ‘political bias and disastrous mismanagement,’ as reasons why.

‘Dr. Monarez will work closely with our GREAT Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr,’ the president continued. ‘Together, they will prioritize Accountability, High Standards, and Disease Prevention to finally address the Chronic Disease Epidemic and, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!’

According to Monarez’s CDC biography, she previously worked at the White House in the Office of Science and Technology Policy and on the National Security Council.

‘[She led] efforts to enhance the nation’s biomedical innovation capabilities, including combating antimicrobial resistance, expanding the use of wearables to promote patient health, ensuring personal health data privacy, and improving pandemic preparedness,’ the biography states. ‘She has also held leadership positions at the Department of Homeland Security and has led numerous international cooperative initiatives to promote bilateral and multilateral health innovation research and development.’

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Julia Johnson contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Geno Auriemma, Paige Bueckers and the No. 2 UConn women’s basketball team host No. 10 South Dakota State in the second round of Women’s March Madness tonight with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line. 

Auriemma and UConn are looking to get back to the Sweet 16 for the fifth consecutive season and 32nd time overall. Bueckers, who is averaging 18.7 points per game, has powered the Huskies to the Final Four three times: 2021, 2022, 2024.  

Meanwhile, Jackrabbits head coach Aaron Johnston is vying to get the program back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019 and the second time ever. South Dakota State is riding the longest active winning streak in the country at 20 games, led by Brooklyn Meyer (17.4 ppg) and Paige Meyer (12.2 ppg). 

USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Follow along. 

Watch UConn vs. South Dakota State on Fubo (free trial)

What time is UConn women’s basketball game today? 

Time: 8 p.m. ET 

Where to watch UConn women’s basketball

TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app, Fubo 

Jana El Alfy is fasting during Ramadan, and Paige Bueckers is cooking her breakfast

It turns out the saying, ‘Let Paige Bueckers cook,’ has an entirely different meaning during March Madness. The UConn women’s basketball star has taken a significant responsibility to assist a teammate off the court during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Bueckers cooks breakfast for teammate Jana El Alfy in the mornings while El Alfy, who is from Cairo, Egypt, fasts during the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament. — Ehsan Kassim

UConn women’s basketball stats

The Huskies are the ninth-highest scoring offense in the country at 81.5 points per game. They shoot 51.09% from the floor, best in the country, and 38% from 3, fifth-best in the country.

Paige Bueckers stats 

Bueckers, one of the top candidates for national player of the year this season, is averaging a team-leading 18.7 points with 4.8 assists per game this season. She is shooting 53.6% from the floor and 40.4% from 3. She wasn’t needed much in the Huskies’ 103-34 win over Arkansas State in the first round, scoring 11 points. Instead, it was Azzi Fudd who dropped 27 points for UConn in the blowout win. Bueckers will look to have a bigger impact against the Jackrabbits in this women’s NCAA Tournament game. — Austin Curtright 

UConn women’s basketball score prediction

South Dakota State hasn’t lost a game in three months, but that changes when it faces the Huskies, who take care of business and head to the Sweet 16. UConn 80, South Dakota State 56. — Austin Curtright 

South Dakota State women’s basketball roster

The Jackrabbits are led by head coach Aaron Johnston, junior forward Brooklyn Meyer and senior point guard Paige Meyer. Johnston has been at the helm since 1999. Here is the full Jackrabbits’ roster.

UConn vs South Dakota State odds 

Odds from BetMGM as of Sunday, March 23 

Spread: UConn (-26.5)
Over/under: 136.5 

When does Paige Bueckers play next? 

Paige Bueckers and UConn women’s basketball look to reach the Sweet 16 with a second-round matchup against South Dakota State in the women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday. 

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Who’s booking a ticket to the Sweet 16?

That’s what’s on the line for No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 6 Iowa as the two programs square off in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Sooners are favored in the matchup coming off of their first-round win against No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast. Oklahoma’s 81-58 victory was by a significantly greater margin than their last clash with FGCU: a 73-70 win almost exactly one year ago in the first round of last year’s tournament.

Junior center and Oregon State transfer Raegan Beers scored 25 points and tallied 18 rebounds in her first tournament game with the Sooners.

Iowa got off to a hot start in its first-round game as well. The Hawkeyes dropped 92 points and held No. 11 Murray State to 57 in their first NCAA Tournament game in the post-Caitlin Clark era. Senior guard and Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen finished the matchup with a double-double (12 points and 12 assists).

Here’s everything to know about Oklahoma vs. Iowa:

Oklahoma’s Sahara Williams lands awkwardly

Something to monitor: Oklahoma’s Sahara Williams landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter. She limped over to the bench, where team personnel checked out her knee. Williams heads to the bench with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal.

Raegan Beers heads back to locker room after elbow to face

Oklahoma center Reagan Beers checked out of the game in the third quarter and retreated to the locker room after taking an elbow to the face from Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke. The incident happened under the basket as Beers attempted to defend Stuelke’s layup with 8:52 remaining in the third. Beers immediately went down holding her face and was helped to the bench, before heading to the locker room. Beers returned and checked back into the game with 6:40 remaining.

Halftime: Oklahoma 38, Iowa 27

The Sooners have a double-digit lead heading into halftime, thanks to leading scorer Sahara Williams, who is flirting with a double-double with 13 points, eight rebounds, 2 blocks and one steal. Despite scoring 38 first-half points, Oklahoma is only shooting 36.2% from the field and 2-of-18 from three. Iowa is shooting 32.3% from the field and 5-of-11 from three, but are getting outscored 26-8 in the paint. Lucy Olsen has 15 of the Hawkeyes 27 points.

Where to watch Oklahoma vs. Iowa: Time, TV channel

Game Day: Monday, March 24
Game Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: Fubo – Watch Now!

Watch Oklahoma vs. Iowa on Fubo (free trial)

Oklahoma vs. Iowa odds

Odds via BetMGM as of Sunday, March 23.

Spread: Oklahoma -4.5
Moneyline Favorite: Oklahoma -200
Moneyline Underdog: Iowa +165
O/U: 158.5 points

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March appears to be more tame this year.

The first weekend of the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament is in the books and the madness was few and far between as we knocked the field down from 68 to 16. It’s not all bad news, though.

While Cinderella opted to skip this year’s festivities, it opens the door for the cream to rise to the top. The Sweet 16 features some of the best teams in college basketball this season, with future NBA lottery picks and more on full display.

In a perfect world, each team comes into the round with a 6.25% chance of cutting down the nets.

However, the world is not perfect and the betting odds is how we’ll make up for that. There are the favorites like the Duke Blue Devils and Florida Gators. There are the long shots like the Arkansas Razorbacks and Ole Miss Rebels. Then there are the teams in between like the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Each team’s price of admission comes with a varying prize, but only one team will climb the ladder to cut down the nets as the confetti falls.

With plenty of quality squads left, it makes for an exciting ride to the finish. Here’s a look at the betting odds, courtesy of BetMGM, for this year’s men’s NCAA Tournament national championship.

2025 March Madness power rankings by NCAA championship odds

BetMGM odds as of Monday, March 24

Dark horse teams

Arkansas (+10000)
Ole Miss (+8000)
Michigan (+6600)
BYU (+6600)
Purdue (+6600)
Kentucky (+5500)
Arizona (+4000)
Maryland (+3300)

The top contenders

Texas Tech (+2000)
Michigan State (+2000)
Alabama (+1800)
Tennessee (+1600)
Auburn (+525)
Houston (+500)

The favorites

Florida (+350)
Duke (+225)

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