WrestleMania weekend is set.

WWE’s two-day spectacle is less than two weeks away, and the schedules for night one and night two were announced on ESPN on Tuesday, April 7. While matches have been forming ever since the Royal Rumble, it was unknown whether it would take place on Saturday, April 18 or Sunday, April 19. Now, we know who will be in the ring on which night.

There are 13 matches scheduled to take place at the time of announcement, and while there could be more revealed as we get closer to the biggest night in wrestling, here is the WrestleMania 42 schedule:

WrestleMania 42 match card on night one

There will be seven matches on Saturday, April 18. While the match order isn’t finalized, it was confirmed the first two matches will be Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre, as well as the six-man tag team match involving iShowSpeed and Logan Paul as the first hour of the show will air on ESPN2.

The main event is the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

Here is the full lineup for night one:

• Unsanctioned match: Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre (on ESPN2 first hour)
• iShowSpeed, Logan Paul and Austin Theory vs. LA Knight, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso (on ESPN2 first hour)
• Gunther vs. Seth Rollins
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship fatal four-way match: Nia Jax and Lash Legend (c) vs. The Bella Twins vs. Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair vs. Lyra Valkyria and Bayley
• Women’s Intercontinental Championship match: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch
• Women’s World Championship match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
• Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton

WrestleMania 42 match card on night two

Six matches are schedule for Sunday, April 19. The first two matches will air on ESPN, and it will feature Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi and the Intercontinental Championship ladder match.

The main event of the night is the World Heavyweight Championship match featuring CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns.

Here is the full lineup for night two:

• Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar (on ESPN first hour)
• Intercontinental Championship ladder match: Penta (c) vs. Je’Von Evans vs. JD McDonagh vs. Dragon Lee vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio (on ESPN first hour)
• Demon Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio
• United States Championship match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams
• WWE Women’s Championship match: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
• World Heavyweight Championship match: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns

When is WrestleMania 42?

WrestleMania 42 is on April 18-19 from Las Vegas. Both nights begin at 6 p.m. ET and will stream on ESPN.

• An autopsy report found Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit when he died in a car crash.
• His family has started the Dominiq Ponder 722 Foundation to promote responsible decision-making among young people.
• The foundation aims to provide scholarships, raise community awareness, and support children’s hospitals.

Colorado backup quarterback Dominiq Ponder had double the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he crashed his car and died in single-car accident in Boulder County March 1, according to an autopsy report obtained by USA TODAY Sports April 6.

The report states Ponder’s blood-alcohol content was 0.167 g/100 mL, more than twice the legal limit for driving under the influence in Colorado. His family hopes it can serve as a lesson for young people to make responsible decisions. They have started a foundation in honor of Ponder to promote awareness. Ponder was 23.

“If anything good can come from this loss, it’s the conversations it can start about responsible decision-making, supporting young adults, and making good choices even in ordinary moments,” Ponder’s mother, Catrina Hughes, told USA TODAY Sports. “A big part of his legacy will be to encourage young people to please make responsible choices and to have the courage to step in for their friends when one of them isn’t thinking clearly for themselves. Kids need to know that it’s OK to step in, take keys, call a ride, call a parent, speak up, do anything you can do, one small decision can save a life. Don’t be afraid even if it’s uncomfortable. A difficult conversation is easier than a lifetime of loss.”

The Boulder County Coroner’s report states Ponder’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries in an accident. “The deceased was a restrained driver involved in a single vehicle collision at a high rate of speed,” the report states.

Ponder lost control of his 2023 Tesla while negotiating a right-hand curve, burst through a guardrail, hit an electrical pole and rolled at least once, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The crash happened about 3 a.m. on the day before Ponder’s team opened spring football practice March 2.

The March 2 practice was going to be Ponder’s first wearing jersey No. 7, a number he earned after previously wearing No. 22. That is the name of the foundation being started in his honor – The Dominiq Ponder 722 Foundation. The GoFundMe page for it says funds raised will go directly toward scholarships for student-athletes who demonstrate resilience and character, community awareness initiatives about responsible decision-making and support for children’s hospitals.

Ponder was a popular backup quarterback at Colorado known for his big personality and smile. Colorado coach Deion Sanders delivered a eulogy about him and said he was “full of life, full of respect, hustle and hard work and integrity.”

Colorado plans to honor him with a jersey patch this season. The Buffaloes end the spring football season April 11 with an intrasquad scrimmage in Boulder.

“He was a determined student-athlete, a leader, and someone with a huge heart who fiercely loved his family, his teammates, and the game of football,” his mother said.

She hopes this news about his death will help raise awareness about choices.

“Hopefully someone will learn from this and we can save some lives.”

The Colorado athletic department also issued a statement April 6 and noted that it continues to provide support resources to those impacted by Ponder’s death, including counseling services for his teammates, coaches, and staff.

“CU Athletics remains deeply saddened by the loss of Dominiq Ponder,” the statement said. “Our thoughts continue to be with his family, his friends, and his CU football family as we all continue to process this unimaginable loss.”

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

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The loudest roar of the weekend probably came when Konnor Griffin cracked an RBI double in his first major league at-bat. Yet for the Pittsburgh Pirates, silence has been golden.

Arguably the game’s most downtrodden franchise the past three decades, the Pirates have roared from the gates in 2026, winning six of their first nine games and soaring 12 spots in USA TODAY Sports’ MLB power rankings.

And in sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in their home-opening series, the Pirates got deftly-pitched games from Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft, 4 ⅓ scoreless relief innings in a 10-inning walk-off and a three-run homer from free agent slugger Ryan O’Hearn, his third of the year.

Imagine that: A sweep of a good team, and Paul Skenes had nothing to do with it.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

• Mookie Betts’ oblique strain means lots of run for Miguel Rojas on his farewell tour.

2. New York Yankees (+3)

• This guy is trouble: Cam Schlittler hasn’t allowed a run in his first 11 ⅔ innings.

3. Milwaukee Brewers (+7)

• Third team’s the charm? Kyle Harrison with 14 punchouts in his first two starts.

4. New York Mets (+3)

• Lindor’s not hitting, Soto’s ailing, Bichette’s adjusting – and they’re 6-4.

5. Philadelphia Phillies (-3)

• As Zack Wheeler builds up in the minor leagues, Taijuan Walker’s giving up rockets in games that count.

6. Houston Astros (+6)

• A great start spurred by red-hot Yordan Alvarez, but ace Hunter Brown’s shoulder ailment very concerning.

7. Seattle Mariners (-4)

• Cal Raleigh is 5-for-38 with a 52.6% strikeout rate.

8. Toronto Blue Jays (-4)

• Just a bummer that Cody Ponce’s return from Korea derailed by ACL tear after seven outs

9. Chicago Cubs (-3)

• OK so maybe Milwaukee will be a problem again.

10. Detroit Tigers (-2)

• Justin Verlander battling a bum hip and the age (43) on his driver’s license.

11. Cincinnati Reds (+5)

• Chase Burns: One earned run in 12 innings pitched.

12. Pittsburgh Pirates (+12)

• The starting rotation has yet to give up a home run.

13. Cleveland Guardians (+6)

• Sure, Chase DeLauter is nice but of course the pitching (3.48 ERA, fourth in AL) has been absurd.

14. Atlanta Braves (+7)

• Drake Baldwin tied for NL lead with four home runs.

15. Miami Marlins (+7)

• Get used to these fellows as they won’t be going away soon.

16. Boston Red Sox (-7)

• 2-7 and Roman Anthony’s defense wedges him at DH. Not a great start.

17. San Diego Padres (-6)

• Jackson Merrill looking more like his rookie self.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

• Zac Gallen outdueled Tarik Skubal and that’s probably a good sign for the rest of the year.

19. Kansas City Royals (-2)

• “I’m going to set a million alarms to make sure I’m up,” says rookie Carter Jensen after oversleeping leads to benching.

20. Texas Rangers (-6)

• Jake Burger hopes seeing red leads to better results.

21. Baltimore Orioles (-6)

• Chris Bassitt rocked for 10 earned runs in first two starts.

22. Tampa Bay Rays (-2)

• The Trop is open for business once again.

23. Los Angeles Angels (+3)

• They’re up three spots this week – one for every one of Jo Adell’s home run robberies.

24. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)

• Other than Dustin May’s struggles, a fine start so far.

25. San Francisco Giants (-12)

• First ejection? Tony Vitello got that out of the way.

26. Athletics (-1)

• Nick Kurtz (4-for-27, no homers) not quite picking up where he left off in Yolo County.

27. Minnesota Twins (-)

• Byron Buxton hits 10 years of major league service.

28. Chicago White Sox (-)

• Just swept the Blue Jays! Convincing? Not quite.

29. Colorado Rockies (+1)

• Mickey Moniak lights up the Phillies for two home runs.

30. Washington Nationals (-1)

• Hard to do: Miles Mikolas gives up Nationals-record 11 earned runs in one start.

The NCAA men’s basketball championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and UConn Huskies will feature several players projected as first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.

While top picks including AJ Dybantsa as well as Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson were eliminated earlier during March Madness, the Final Four saw several star-studded prospects participate. Arizona freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat as well as Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler were one win short of an appearance in the title game, but several other future NBA players will play for a chance to cut down the nets.

In addition for a chance at a championship trophy, the title game between Michigan and UConn is also a wonderful opportunity to put on one more show in front of scouts during the Big Dance.

Note: Some highly-ranked players not included here who could potentially return to college include Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor), Alijah Arenas (USC), Meleek Thomas (Arkansas), Ebuka Okorie (Stanford) and Flory Bidunga (Kansas). But if these players decide to declare and stay in the draft, they could potentially warrant first-round consideration as well.

Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa

• TEAM: BYU
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Massachusetts
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Wizards have the second-worst offense in the NBA and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. 

2. Indiana Pacers: Cameron Boozer 

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the “preferred selection” for the Pacers because of his “potential fit” alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set. More importantly, he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking last-second loss.

3. Brooklyn Nets: Darryn Peterson

• TEAM: Kansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets have the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season. 

4. Utah Jazz: Kingston Flemings 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Texas
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While most project North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson at No. 4 overall, he may not fit in Utah’s crowded frontcourt. Meanwhile, the Jazz currently have the worst defensive rating in the Western Conference and could potentially improve that by selecting Houston freshman Kingston Flemings. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. He helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night.   

5. Sacramento Kings: Caleb Wilson

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Kings need the best player available, and that is North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson, who unfortunately missed the NCAA Tournament with a broken thumb. Wilson, who also suffered a hand fracture earlier in the season, did more than enough to earn this placement, though. According to Bart Torvik, before the injury the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach thresholds of 2.5 percent for both block and steal percentage while also notching a defensive rebound percentage above 20.0 percent.

6. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Darius Acuff Jr. 

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Michigan
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Hawks could use a guard like Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. after trading away Trae Young, using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. He led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but playing alongside Dyson Daniels would help cover that problem. 

7. Dallas Mavericks: Keaton Wagler 

• TEAM: Illinois
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Kansas
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Mavericks have the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference and could benefit from a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role to help the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman. while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who is also averaging 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. 

8. Memphis Grizzlies: Yaxel Lendeborg

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: New Jersey
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 23

The Grizzlies could add to their rebuilding core after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. by selecting Yaxel Lendeborg, who has shown on his way to the men’s collegiate national championship game that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. The Grizzlies have drafted players with similar trajectories like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward.

9. Chicago Bulls: Brayden Burries 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: California
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble. Burries would make a great pick for whatever new executives take over the front office for the Bulls.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr. 

• TEAM: Louisville
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Milwaukee Bucks need to simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness.

11. Golden State Warriors: Labaron Philon 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Alabama
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Warriors could still use more reliable players in the backcourt and could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Hannes Steinbach

• TEAM: Washington
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Germany
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder are projected to add even more lottery-caliber talent in the 2026 NBA Draft. They could use it to potentially replace Isaiah Hartenstein by drafting a younger German big man: Hannes Steinbach. While his team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten post is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, the center is one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He shined during the FIBA U19 World Cup, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads.

13. Portland Trail Blazers: Nate Ament 

• TEAM: Tennessee
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament started to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is almost certainly picking in the lottery.

14. Miami Heat: Koa Peat 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Arizona
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to the organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. Arizona played at a significantly faster pace (3.9 extra possessions) when Peat was on the floor relative to when he was not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miami’s fastest-paced offense in the NBA. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. 

15. Charlotte Hornets: Braylon Mullins 

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Indiana
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald’s All-American, was a breakout star in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament after hitting one of the most improbable 3-pointers in March Madness history. Mullins continued to show a winning mentality, helping the Huskies earn a spot in the national championship game. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level. 

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic): Joshua Jefferson 

• TEAM: Iowa State
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Nevada
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the Iowa State forward was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. The All-Big 12 forward got injured during the first round of the tournament, but Iowa State still earned a spot in the Sweet 16.

17. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz 

• TEAM: Iowa
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Raptors could use another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa. 

18. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns): Jayden Quaintance

• TEAM: Kentucky
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets. But health may cause some concern for evaluators.

19. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Karim López

• TEAM: International (Australia)
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Mexico
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Thunder have drafted multiple players from Australia’s NBL, including Josh Giddey. They could dip into this well again by selecting Karim López with their pick from the Philadelphia 76ers. While the Mexican-born forward still needs some development, he is physically gifted and widely seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30. Even if he is a draft-and-stash player, that is ideal for a team with a rotation as crowded as the Thunder.

20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Aday Mara 

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Spain
• HEIGHT: 7-3
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After leading his team to the NCAA championship game, Michigan center Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.9 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim. Especially in short spurts, Mara would make an excellent backup to Victor Wembanyama. 

21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Christian Anderson 

• TEAM: Texas Tech
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 20

While they are one of the best teams in the league this season, the Pistons are still struggling from the perimeter and could use more talented 3-point shooters on their roster. A simple fix would be drafting Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson, who had the most unassisted 3-pointers (61) among high-major players, per CBB Analytics. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. 

22. New York Knicks: Chris Cenac Jr. 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 19

It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston. While he still remains a candidate to return to college and improve his draft stock for the 2027 NBA Draft, Cenac Jr. got hot at the perfect time. During his first game in the Big Dance, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds, while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. Then in the Round of 32, he showed off more scoring with some impressive cuts to the basket, dropping 17 points against Texas A&M. He was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still managed 10 rebounds. 

23. Denver Nuggets: Thomas Haugh 

• TEAM: Florida
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Pennsylvania
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

After winning a national championship with Florida last season, Thomas Haugh was instantly regarded as one of the most interesting players who elected to return to college. The All-SEC forward had one of the top motors in the NCAA this season before an early elimination from March Madness. While he did not score efficiently in a set offense this year, he does not need the ball in his hands very often to make a difference on the floor for his team. He can serve as a glue guy for a contending team looking to win an NBA title like the Nuggets. 

24. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Patrick Ngongba II

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Many teams could use a big man like Patrick Ngongba II, who is an above-average passer for his position. His assist rate is the highest among underclassmen listed at 6-foot-11 or taller, per Bart Torvik, and he is at the top of his game when passing to a driving perimeter player. The big man, who helped Duke earn a spot in the Elite Eight, is a big-bodied prospect who can carve out space as one of the more prolific cutters in college basketball. He is on an encouraging development track, displaying legitimate year-over-year improvement from his freshman to sophomore campaign.

25. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Allen Graves 

• TEAM: Santa Clara
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

One of the most under-the-radar prospects in all of college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who was nearly a March Madness hero. It was hard not to notice the WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after he scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 years old who currently held a higher box plus-minus, via Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson.

26. Los Angeles Lakers: Morez Johnson Jr.

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Illinois
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to an appearance in the NCAA championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson’s shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.

27. Boston Celtics: Cameron Carr 

• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Minnesota
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 21

One of the players who improved his draft stock the most this season was Baylor junior Cameron Carr. The All-Big 12 wing brings athleticism and shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA. 

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Tyler Tanner 

• TEAM: Vanderbilt
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Tennessee
• HEIGHT: 6-0
• DRAFT AGE: 20

It is unusual to find a 6-foot sophomore projected in the first round of a mock draft, but if there were ever a player who has earned that kind of praise should he decide to turn pro after this season, it’s Tyler Tanner. Despite his size, the All-SEC guard found meaningful ways to contribute on both sides of the floor. He can score efficiently, dunk, block shots, steal the ball, and he is more than serviceable as a floor general capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the Timberwolves. Tanner could also return to school but should earn serious first-round buzz if he turns pro.  

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Dailyn Swain  

• TEAM: Texas
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders. 

30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Amari Allen 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Wisconsin
• HEIGHT: 6-7
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Alabama’s Amari Allen is a 6-foot-7 freshman who averaged 12.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists with 1.7 “stocks” (combined steals and blocks), while shooting 39.5 percent on 3-pointers on 4.8 shots per game for the Crimson Tide during SEC conference play. The SEC All-Freshman wing is a good connective piece who plays hard, cares about winning and knows how to make the right play. Despite a weak showing against Michigan in the Sweet 16, he is still someone who could earn fringe first-round consideration. 

It’s the final week of the NBA regular season, meaning it’s crunch time for teams battling for playoff positioning. And there are big battles across both conferences, with just a handful of games left before the postseason begins with the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14.

Only one thing is certain at this point: the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. But there are a few games on the Monday, April 6 slate that could play a key role in determining who lands where on the playoff bracket.

The night began with a crucial matchup in Atlanta, pitting the New York Knicks, the current No. 3 seed in the East, against the red-hot Hawks, who currently hold the No. 5 seed. The San Antonio Spurs, who still have a chance to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the West, hosted the Philadelphia 76ers, who are trying to hang on to the sixth seed in the East. The night concluded with a Northest division matchup between the Denver Nuggets, seeking to move into a top-three seed, and the Portland Trail Blazers, who sit in the No. 9 seed.

Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the results for games of Monday, April 6:

NBA schedule for Monday, April 6

All time Eastern

• New York Knicks 108, Atlanta Hawks 105
• Orlando Magic 123, Detroit Pistons 107
• Cleveland Cavaliers 142, Memphis Grizzlies 126
• San Antonio Spurs 115, Philadelphia 76ers 102
• Denver Nuggets 137, Portland Trail Blazers 132 (OT)

NBA standings

All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records through games on Monday, April 6, and what each of those teams has clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division; y-clinched conference):

Eastern Conference

• (1) y-Detroit Pistons: 57-22
• (2) x-Boston Celtics: 53-25 (3.5 GB)
• (3) x-New York Knicks: 51-28 (6 GB)
• (4) x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 50-29 (7 GB)
• (5) Atlanta Hawks: 45-34 (12 GB)
• (6) Toronto Raptors: 43-35 (14 GB)
• (6) Philadelphia 76ers: 43-36 (14 GB)
• (8) Charlotte Hornets: 43-36 (14 GB)
• (9) Orlando Magic: 43-36 (14 GB)
• (10) Miami Heat: 41-37 (15.5 GB)

Western Conference

• (1) d-Oklahoma City Thunder: 62-16
• (2) d-San Antonio Spurs: 60-19 (2.5 GB)
• (3) x-Denver Nuggets: 51-28 (11.5 GB)
• (4) d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-28 (12 GB)
• (5) x-Houston Rockets: 49-29 (13 GB)
• (6) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-32 (16 GB)
• (7) Phoenix Suns: 43-35 (19 GB)
• (8) Los Angeles Clippers: 40-38 (22 GB)
• (9) Portland Trail Blazers: 40-39 (22.5 GB)
• (10) Golden State Warriors: 36-42 (26 GB)

NBA playoffs bracket

(Through games on Monday, April 6)

Eastern Conference

• (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
• (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
• (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner

Western Conference

• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
• (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
• (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner

NBA Play-In Tournament

(Through games on Monday, April 6)

Eastern Conference

• (7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
• (9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat

Western Conference

• (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
• (9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

When do the NBA playoffs begin?

• The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
• The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
• Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.

Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?

Eastern Conference

• Brooklyn Nets
• Chicago Bulls
• Indiana Pacers
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Washington Wizards

Western Conference

• Dallas Mavericks
• Memphis Grizzlies
• New Orleans Pelicans
• Sacramento Kings
• Utah Jazz

INDIANAPOLIS — Starting guards Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. were each whistled for two quick fouls in Connecticut’s 69-63 loss to Michigan in the national championship game of the men’s NCAA Tournament, changing the complexion of a matchup the Huskies hoped could be won on the perimeter.

Nursing a foot injury suffered in the national semifinal against Illinois, Ball finished with 11 points in 16 minutes. Demary lasted just 21 minutes, scoring one bucket before being called for his fifth foul with just over a minute to play.

“I just thought that the first-half foul trouble, really, I thought we were positioned if we didn’t have that foul trouble to potentially go into halftime with a lead,” coach Dan Hurley said.

Forward Tarris Reed Jr. had 13 points and 14 rebounds but was bothered by the defense of Michigan’s Aday Mara and made just 4 of 12 attempts from the field, his worst shooting performance since missing all three shots in a regular-season matchup against Illinois late November. Guard Braylon Mullins had 11 points on 4 of 17 shooting and made 3 of 10 attempts from 3-point range.

The main reason UConn stayed close with Michigan was the same reason UConn was here in the first place: Playing in the final game of his college career, senior forward Alex Karaban had a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds while adding two assists and two steals.

“So it hurts right now. It hurts a lot right now,” he said.

Crucially, Karaban played all 40 minutes, continuing to serve as the Huskies’ steadying force in his final March Madness experience.

“For coach to play me 40 minutes, I can’t thank him enough,” Karaban said. “That’s all I wanted. That’s all I wanted, is to give everything I got, leave everything I’ve got out there and try to do everything to help us win.”

LOOKING AHEAD: Our too-early men’s basketball Top 25 for next season

Said Hurley, “Let me play him into the ground one more time, just one more 40-minute game for Alex. Let me just play that guy into the ground one more night like I have throughout his career. He deserved to play 40 minutes.”

The most fitting way for Karaban to end his career would have been as a three-time national champion, joining his part on back-to-back winners in 2023 and 2024 and placing him in elite, UCLA-only territory among college players with three rings.

“Obviously. for us it’s tough,” said Hurley. “Again, we did not come here for watches, we came here for rings.”

But there’s something apt about the way this ended, too. Since his redshirt freshman season, when he played a complementary role on a loaded roster, Karaban has been the glue that held the Huskies together — the key cog that helped the program breathe rarefied air in reaching three championship games in four years.

“I might cry up here just talking about just the impact he’s had, in the locker room, throughout every single practice, every single game,” Ball said. “He’s just always there, and he’s the same person every single day. He doesn’t change. Incredibly smart, great guy off the court. I’m going to miss this guy so much.”

Karaban’s performance in the second half helped UConn shake off multiple double-digit deficits and hang tight with an opponent expected to leave the Huskies in the dust after dismantling Arizona in the national semifinals.

After the Wolverines took their largest lead of the game at 43-35 six minutes into the second half, Karaban corralled an offensive rebound and put back the layup to stem Michigan’s momentum. With Michigan ahead 58-48 at the five-minute mark, Karaban found Mullins for a 3-pointer that set up a frantic final stretch.

Later, with 2:30 remaining, Karaban hit a 3-pointer of his own to cut Michigan’s advantage to 62-56. While his effort would come up short — and wasn’t perfect, with a pair of missed free throws with just over six minutes to go and a missed 3-pointer with 17 seconds left — Karaban nearly willed UConn across the finish line.

“Yeah, you know, blessed that I’ve been able to wear this jersey for the longest amount of time possible, the max amount, the max amount of minutes, the max amount of games this season. I came back ultimately to win, fell short,” he said.

Win or lose on Monday night, Karaban’s place in program history is secure. He is already the first active player to be inducted into the program’s hall of fame. He holds career marks for wins (126), games played (150), games started (149) and minutes played (4,909). He finished his career with a blistering 18-2 mark in the NCAA tournament, including a 5-1 mark in the Final Four.

This is a place that has put out a lengthy list of college basketball’s best individual players in the past three decades. While not the program’s best overall player and not the Huskies’ best NBA prospect, Karaban leaves with an even more important title: the most important player in UConn history.

“He’s put UConn in that rarefied place in college basketball,” Hurley said. This guy changed my life, the staff’s lives, the joy he’s brought to the university, the fan base.

“His decision to come to UConn has made us … Florida won the national championship last year. I’ll probably get in trouble for this. Michigan won the national championship this year. But he’s helped to make UConn, I think, right now, we’re probably the premier program in college basketball right now, having been to three out of four national championship games, having won two of them.”

That’s a small comfort after coming so close to a third ring. But Karaban took solace in the legacy he leaves behind: Already a blueblood, UConn has become something much more — a potential dynasty, if Hurley can keep this up — thanks to the senior’s four years as the program’s irreplaceable piece.

“I’m just reminding myself right now that when I came into UConn how much I’ve grown, and I’m ultimately leaving UConn in a better place right now from where I started,” he said. “I gave it everything I got. I gave it my heart. I gave everything. All I thought about was UConn basketball every single day.

“Now that I’m leaving, and for UConn to be one of the best brands in college basketball and to be at the top, I left it better than when it started. I’m most proud of that.”

The Buffalo Sabres are back in the NHL playoffs, ending a league-record postseason drought of 14 seasons.

All they had to do was change the messenger.

The Sabres clinched their first playoff berth since 2010-11 with the Detroit Red Wings’ loss in the afternoon on Saturday, April 4.

It was looking like the streak could hit 15 when Buffalo sat in last place in the Eastern Conference on Dec. 8. The Sabres won three in a row to get back to .500, then fired general manager Kevyn Adams on Dec. 15 and promoted Jarmo Kekalainen to the position.

The team took off, extending its winning streak to 10 games. Entering Saturday, Buffalo has gone 32-8-4 under the former Columbus Blue Jackets GM. The Sabres have their first 100-point season since 2009-10 and are looking for their first division title since that season.

Kevyn Adams’ tenure

Adams, the general manager since 2020-21, brought in some of the players on this team, such as Alex Tuch, Josh Norris, Jason Zucker, Bowen Byram, Ryan McLeod and Josh Doan. He also traded away Jack Eichel (after a dispute over what type of neck surgery he should have), Sam Reinhart, Dylan Cozens and J.J. Peterka. Eichel and Reinhart won Stanley Cup titles after their trades.

Adams drew some criticism last season when he explained the difficulty of drawing free agents to Buffalo and why players often include the city on their no-trade lists.

“We don’t have palm trees,” he told reporters. “We have taxes in New York.”

Adams last season brought back coach Lindy Ruff, who had been coach of the 2010-11 playoff team. But the Sabres continued their pattern of early-season swoons — 0-10-3 this time — and finished 12 points out of a playoff spot.

Buffalo traded No. 2 scorer Peterka to Utah in the offseason and opened the season 0-3. Fans began chanting for Adams’ firing and it finally happened in December.

Jarmo Kekalainen’s tenure

Teams often get a bump from a coaching change, but a front office change can also have an impact because a general manager can decide a player’s future.

Kekalainen noted that his focus was going to be on work ethic, saying the team had lost some games by being outworked.

“You’ve got to work, you’ve got to compete and you’ve got to be relentless,” he said after being named general manager. “That’s what I want the identity of the Buffalo Sabres to be.”

He added that he “firmly” believed that Sabres could be a playoff team.

Kekalainen had been hired as a senior adviser in May. He had been aggressive in Columbus, hanging on to pending free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin and adding to a team that shockingly swept the No. 1 overall Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round in 2019.

After he was promoted in Buffalo, he revamped the front office and held on to Ruff. He gave a contract extension to Doan, who was acquired in the Peterka trade. But with the team surging, there was little need to change the players.

The general manager made moves at the deadline to beef up the team’s depth. He traded for Colton Parayko, but it fell through when the defenseman declined to waive his no-trade clause. He pivoted to add big, rugged defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn. He also added Sam Carrick, who’s strong on faceoffs, and depth forward Tanner Pearson.

A sign that the Sabres were for real was when they defeated the Lightning 8-7 in a game that featured tons of goals and penalty minutes.

What’s next for the Sabres?

They will try to win the Atlantic Division title and still have a chance to be the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

There isn’t a lot of playoff experience in this core because of the long drought. However, Schenn and Pearson are former Stanley Cup winners and McLeod has been to the Final. Tuch has played 66 postseason games and Zucker has played 52.

And Ruff has coached 101 playoff games, winning 57. He took the Sabres to the 1999 Final.

Who has the longest playoff drought?

The Detroit Red Wings are at nine seasons, the Anaheim Ducks are at seven and the San Jose Sharks are at six. But heading into Saturday’s game, the Ducks are second in the Pacific Division, the Sharks hold the second wild-card spot in the West and the Red Wings sit one spot below the playoff line in the East.

The Chicago Blackhawks have been eliminated, and their playoff drought is at six seasons.

INDIANAPOLIS – Rodney Tention couldn’t help but notice the similarities.

The former Arizona assistant returned to Tucson in February to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the program’s last Final Four team, and during the trip, coach Tommy Lloyd invited the group to practice.

“It reminded us of the group that we had,” Tention told USA TODAY Sports.

That sentiment continued to resonate the more they were around the 2025-26 team. The alumni watched them play, talked to them and importantly, got to see how they interact in a locker room. Everything was so similar to the 2000-01 team, they couldn’t help but let Lloyd know.

“We all said it,” Tention said. “I think this is the group that can break through.”

How right they were. This year’s group was, in fact, the one to break through. 

Arizona is back to the Final Four for the first time since that 2001 team. It ended decades of heartbreak for a program that had proven its relevancy, but couldn’t punctuate it with the most sought destination in the sport. 

It felt like there was a hex over the Wildcats. Despite having loaded teams capable of reaching the Final Four, they just didn’t. NBA All-Stars and champions like Andre Iguodala, Aaron Gordon and Channing Frye. High draft picks like Deandre Ayton and Derrick Williams to name a few. They all contributed to Arizona having the sixth-most wins since 2003.

So, what was wrong? Those that have witnessed all those teams try to get back to the Final Four said they just got unlucky.

“It’s hard,” Tention said. “At some point you’ve got to have a little bit of luck on your way. That’s all to it. Balls just got to bounce your way on that one certain day.”

The Wildcats surely had some things go wrong. A 15-point blown lead against Illinois in 2005, running into scorching Kemba Walker in 2011 and tough battles against Wisconsin in 2014 and 2015 are just some of those moments.

All of those games are some March Madness classics, just on the wrong side of history.

“You have shots and moments that happened that you’re just a part of basketball history,” said 2001 starter Richard Jefferson. “There was never any, ‘Oh, there’s some sort of issue.’ It was just like, ‘Yo, we just had a stretch where certain things haven’t gone our way.’”

When asked how the 2001 team made the Final Four, members all had the same message: It was a deep rotation that didn’t try to play hero ball, but emphasized defense. A well-rounded, oiled machine.

It’s easy to forget how stacked that 2001 team was. Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Gardner, Michael Wright and Loren Woods were starters while Luke Walton came off the bench. A loaded team that very much resembles the current iteration. 

Both teams were in the top 15 in scoring, defensive field goal percentage and rebound margin. Being high percentage shooters helped each unit be in the top five in scoring margin.

The similarities don’t end there. That team had six players who averaged 20 minutes per game, this one has seven. Five guys who averaged double figure scoring, so does this season’s. 

“I don’t really think they really care who gets the points in the game,” Tention said. “That’s what makes them so dangerous. You don’t know who you gameplan against.”

No one may know that better than Jason Gardner, a sophomore guard on the 2001 team and now director of player relations for the Wildcats. He said the mixture of upperclassman leadership and talented freshmen create the special sauce, and they brought the intensity that was needed.

“I definitely think we’re a little bit more physical than maybe we have been in the past and I think it’s kind of really helped us kind of carry over this year,” Gardner said.

Jefferson notices comparisons in some of the guys he played with, notably with Jaden Bradley, who reminds him of standout Jason Terry from the 1997 national title team.

He also loves Koa Peat, an Arizona kid that knows what the program means to the state and decided to stay home.

It’s not lost on this year’s team the road was paved by those successful squads in the late 20th century, built on the legacy of Lute Olson. Former players and coaches said Lloyd has made an effort to involve them in the program, allowing them to watch and interact with the team so they can truly understand what it means to “Bear Down.”

“It’s really important that we include those guys in everything and they feel like owners of our program because they are owners. They’re 100% owners and they’re great dudes,” Lloyd said. “It’s been one of the coolest things for me to experience: developing relationships with them and having them tell me their stories because their stories are Arizona basketball stories.”

That’s why after Arizona defeated Purdue in the Elite Eight to punch their ticket to Indianapolis, Lloyd shouted out Olson to the large fan presence in San Jose, and why he mentioned postgame how his job was set up to succeed because of those building blocks.

“It’s really pretty gratifying, to be honest,” said Jim Rosborough, Olson’s right-hand man who spent 27 seasons with him, including 18 at Arizona. “(Lloyd’s) been one to recognize what went on before him, that he’s not the inventor of the wheel, but he’s kind of kept the wheel turning.”

All of it makes for one of the most highly anticipated weekends in recent memory. For as large of a brand as Arizona is, Tucson prides itself on a small-town vibe that rallies around its program.

“People live and die with Wildcat sports,” Tention said. Look at how the reception when the team arrived back home in the wee hours after winning the West Region, taking over the local airport. It actually goes beyond Pima County, as Rosborough mentioned, “it’s hard to be in the state of Arizona and not know about this team,” and it doesn’t get much bigger than this.

“To bring this back to the city of something that we were so close numerous times, I think is awesome,” Gardner added.

However, Jefferson sees the 2026 Final Four as more than just for the community and state. Not only did Arizona break the 25-year drought and is going for its second national championship in program history, but it’s also trying to break a drought out West. The 1997 title team is the last from the West Coast to win it all.

“We are in a position where we’re carrying an entire Mid-West-West Coast,” Jefferson said. “They really have half of the country that wants to prove that UCLA, Arizona, Oregon, all of these schools that have been dominant over years, can still win a national championship.”

You’d be a fool to think Arizona is satisfied with just making the Final Four again. This team has its eyes set on cutting down those nets inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

“It’s not like where it feels like we’re back on the mountaintop. It just feels like we have performed up to our standard in the biggest moment,” Jefferson said. “Arizona is not one of those schools that’s like, ‘Hey, we made it to the Final Four. We’re lucky. We’re happy.’ No, we’re one of those schools that say, ‘Hey, we’re proud of you, we’re proud of ourselves, we’re proud of what you guys have done. Now go finish the job.’”

If that happens, you can bet all of Tucson will be shut down, all the way from Flowing Wells to Saguaro National Park, with fans crazed like the javelinas that roam the desert. If it doesn’t happen, it will still be a celebrated squad that will live in Wildcat lore as the ones that finally got Arizona back where it belongs.

Like the teams before them laid the blueprint, the Wildcats hope this one remodels for another reign in the Sonoran Desert.

“Arizona is one of the strongest brands in all of collegiate sports,” Jefferson said. “At the same point in time, they’re awake right now.”

PHOENIX — USC guard JuJu Watkins said she’s “getting closer to the finish line” in her recovery.

Watkins tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during the second round of the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament last March, cutting short her National Player of the Year season and sidelining her for the entire 2025-26 season. Watkins didn’t provide an exact timeline for her return, but 20-year-old said she’s only “couple more months” removed from returning to full on-court activities.

“I’ll be ready for next season, so that’s all I matters,” Watkins said Friday at Team USA basketball camp in Phoenix, where she’s one of two college players on the camp roster, alongside Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes.

Watkins was limited to shooting drills during Team USA’s training camp. She put up some shots with Blakes and observed from the sidelines as players practiced plays and rotations. Although she would “love to be out there participating with everyone else to the best of (her) ability,” Watkins said she’s just thankful to be included.

“I’m really fortunate because this is a big goal of mine, so to still be able to be in the conversation, be in the rooms with so many great players… it’s very rewarding,” Watkins said. “To be here and be in this space … reminded me to continue to stick with it.”

Sue Bird, who serves as the Managing Director of the USA Women’s National Team, said Watkins has looked “great” from what she’s seen during camp. Bird said the end of the recovery process is normally the hardest for a player because “you’re ready but you still have to kind of take your time with it.”

“Obviously tearing your ACL as a young player is not fun, but I can speak firsthand,” said Bird, who suffered an ACL tear eight games into her freshman season at UConn in 1998. “You do learn a lot from the (recovery) experience and just in talking to her you can see she’s in a really settled place, a really calm place. I think (she’s) ready to get back on the court. I’m sure she’s itching to do that … I know she’ll have a great summer and then hopefully we see back on the court next year.”

Watkins said the recovery process has been filled with “many ups and downs,” but she said she’s walked away with a new perspective and greater patience, which will only benefit her game eons he returns to the court.

“So many things I want to do, so many games I’m excited for, so I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to come back and play,” Watkins said. “I learned a lot of things, a lot of ways we can improve, a lot of things (USC) does well. … Just being able to see things from a different perspective has definitely helped.”

Watkins also attended Team USA’s training camp in December in Durham, North Carolina.  

“Everybody’s been really great. They’ve made me feel very welcome and I’m very grateful for that,” Watkins said. “And yeah, I’m just really having fun, enjoying my time here.”

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.

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Dawn Staley will coach South Carolina this Friday in its sixth consecutive Final Four appearance when the Gamecocks take on No. 1 overall seed UConn in the national semifinals.

It’s been nearly two decades since Staley left Temple to take the reins at South Carolina, a program that had no history of sustained success in women’s basketball prior to her arrival in 2008. Over her tenure, Staley has transformed the Gamecocks into one of the iconic brands in the sport and put herself in the conversation on a hypothetical Mount Rushmore of women’s basketball coaches.

Under the direction of Staley, South Carolina has won three national championships, appeared in eight Final Fours and has captured 10 SEC titles. WNBA stars like A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston have come through her program and she’s made Columbia, South Carolina, a destination for the top high school recruits, transfer portal talent and women’s basketball fans.

“I was here when Dawn got the job. One concession stand, no line for the restroom. Certainly nobody lined up outside the building to come in, right? No parking jams,” ESPN’s Debbie Antonelli told USA TODAY Sports. “Now, it’s unbelievable. I wish I could take a lot of pictures while driving, because people are outside lined up to come in. Dawn is the perfect example. She cares about the product. She built this.”

But there’s an alternate universe in which Staley never gets the South Carolina job. After Susan Walvius resigned in 2008 when her 11-year tenure fizzled out, Eric Hyman – then the director of athletics for the Gamecocks – initially had his sights set on a different candidate: North Carolina’s Sylvia Hatchell.

“I was offered the job,” Hatchell said in 2024 during an interview with this reporter for a book project. “But I just stayed (at North Carolina). Dawn has done a great job. I was offered the (South Carolina) job twice.”

Entering the 2007-08 season, UNC was considered one of the top programs in women’s basketball. Between 2004 and 2008, the Tar Heels were ranked as high as No. 1 in the AP poll, and never lower than No. 12. Ivory Latta and Erlana Larkins powered the Tar Heels to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, UNC won its fourth consecutive ACC Tournament crown – Hatchell’s eighth.

And that success made Hatchell a hot commodity for schools aiming to push their women’s basketball program to the next level.

Surprisingly, she was attainable.

At that time, salaries for women’s college basketball coaches paled in comparison to what coaches in the men’s game were being paid, even for ones that had a long history of winning like Hatchell, who was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 and led the Tar Heels to a national championship in 1994.

Hatchell began to think she was a bit undervalued. She was making a base salary of $260,000 per year, which was lower than Maryland’s Brenda Frese and Duke’s Joanne P. McCallie. And, it lagged far behind the reported $1.3 million that her close friend Pat Summitt was making annually at Tennessee. Hatchell wasn’t among the 20 highest paid coaches in the sport.

So, when South Carolina called, she listened.

As the 2007-08 season ended, the SEC was a women’s basketball league dominated by Summitt’s Lady Vols. Behind the play of Candace Parker, Tennessee won its eighth national title in Tampa, Florida. But other SEC programs had strong programs too.

Despite a revolving door of head coaches, LSU was excelling, making five straight Final Fours. Vanderbilt, coached by Jim Foster and then Melanie Balcomb, had a solid program, winning five SEC Tournament titles from 1995 to 2009 and making three trips to the Elite Eight. And Andy Landers’ Georgia Bulldogs had a losing record in SEC play just once between 1994 and 2013, and went to the Final Four three times.

And then, there were the South Carolina Gamecocks, which at that point had zero SEC championships and had made the Sweet 16 three times. The peak of Walvius’ tenure was an Elite Eight appearance in 2002, in which the Gamecocks lost to Duke by nine points. After a second-round NCAA Tournament exit the next season, things went south quickly for Walvius’ Gamecocks.

Over the next five seasons, South Carolina went a combined 20-50 in SEC play. Three weeks after a second-round WNIT loss to N.C. State, Walvius resigned. Ron Morris, a columnist at the State newspaper in Columbia, wrote that the program was “on life support,” then added, “Now, perhaps more than ever, the opportunity exists for USC to build a national power in women’s basketball.”

South Carolina aimed to get real about this growing sport. The Gamecocks were ready to invest in women’s basketball and they were going to take a big swing at finding their next head coach. A search got underway, and within about 10 days, candidates began to emerge.

Hyman ultimately narrowed his search to four candidates: Chattanooga head coach Wes Moore, longtime Tennessee assistant Holly Warlick, Staley and Hatchell. On April 25, 2008, the Durham Herald-Sun reported that Hatchell had met with South Carolina’s brass at her vacation home in Myrtle Beach. While Hatchell was the oldest among the candidates, she was also the most proven as the only one to win a national championship as a head coach. She was also beloved and respected in the South Carolina basketball community from her long and successful tenure at Division II Francis Marion, where she won national titles at the AIAW and NAIA levels in the 1980s. And she had won in Chapel Hill by recruiting players from the Carolinas, from Charlotte Smith to Latta.

In the days after the report about the meeting between Hatchell and the Gamecocks in Myrtle Beach, UNC athletic director Dick Baddour put on the full-court press to keep his national championship-winning coach. A contingency of UNC leadership visited Hatchell at her vacation home across the state border, and by May 2 she had publicly withdrawn her name from consideration to lead the Gamecocks.

Years later, Hyman said Hatchell used South Carolina to leverage a contract extension from UNC. According to the State, she later sent him $50 worth of McDonald’s gift cards as a thank you. On May 2, 2008, the State ran a story with the headline: “With UNC deal in works for Hatchell, focus shifts to Staley.”

Hatchell indeed got her raise, signing a four-year extension with a base annual salary of $330,000. Sure, it was a pay bump, but it still lagged far behind what other top-level coaches were making and was just about half of the cash South Carolina ultimately gave to Staley – signing her to a five-year deal making $650,000 annually.

“We talked to some high-caliber people,” Hyman said at Staley’s introductory news conference. “But when it was all said and done, (Staley) was the best person. There’s a price for excellence.”

Staley – who was a star at the University of Virginia, won three gold medals leading the U.S. national team, and made six WNBA All-Star appearances – had built Temple into a solid mid-major program, going to the NCAA Tournament six times, but wanted to coach at a high level where she could get better players. She wasn’t initially on Hyman’s radar until Staley’s agent called shortly after Walvius resigned.

“I really wanted to advance further in the NCAA Tournament. I just didn’t think we could do it. I thought we got Temple to a place where we topped off, and it comes down to who you’re able to recruit,” Staley told the State years later. “And I just really got tired of losing in the first and second round.”

This event, Hatchell turning down an offer from South Carolina and then Staley grabbing it with both hands, should be regarded as one of the seismic and crucial sliding-doors moments in the history of women’s college basketball. Because over the next decade, Staley built the Gamecocks into one of the sport’s Death Stars – a powerful force of inevitable – while Hatchell’s Tar Heels began a slow spiral downward, never recapturing the highs it experienced in previous eras.

As Staley and the Gamecocks rose, the best players in the Carolinas – like Tiffany Mitchell, Alaina Coates and A’ja Wilson – wanted to play for her in Columbia, not for Hatchell in Chapel Hill. Wilson even admitted on a podcast recently she considered signing with the Tar Heels, but ultimately chose the Gamecocks. Now, there’s a statue of the four-time WNBA MVP outside of Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.

As Staley built a championship caliber program, the Tar Heels relevance faded. As Staley began to make a significant impact in recruiting the mid-Atlantic and South, and as strong programs like Notre Dame and Louisville later entered the ACC, Hatchell never won another conference championship after 2008 and advanced past the Sweet 16 just one more time.

“When I had John Swofford and Dick Baddour as my athletic directors, they were really, really good,” Hatchell said. “I could go to them and say, ‘Look, I need this,’ and most of the time they would come through for me… I had a really good situation with John Swofford and Dick Baddour. It was a little bit different after that. We struggled.”

In 2019, Hatchell’s career at UNC came to a shocking halt. She had endured the academic fraud scandal at UNC that had engulfed the athletic department in the 2010s, but Hatchell was forced to resign after an investigation of the program by the Charlotte-based law firm Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein confirmed that she had made “racially insensitive” remarks and pressured her players to play through injuries.

UNC lured Courtney Banghart away from Princeton to restore the Tar Heels’ image as a women’s basketball. This season, Banghart’s seventh, UNC made the Sweet 16 for the third time under her direction and hosted NCAA Tournament games during the opening weekend of March Madness in Chapel Hill for the second consecutive season.

Staley’s Gamecocks are 5-4 against the Tar Heels since she took over in Columbia. South Carolina has won four straight meetings against UNC, and took a 47-point victory in their last matchup in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, en route to Staley’s third championship.

This weekend, she’ll try to guide South Carolina to a fourth.