Alabama basketball announced that women's team standouts Karly Weathers and Jessica Timmons earned 2026 SEC awards this week, as Weathers won 2026 Scholar-Athlete of the Year while Timmons earned All-SEC Second Team honors.
Weathers became the first Alabama basketball star to receive the academic award in three seasons — and just the third time any Crimson Tide player has won the prestigious award. The nursing major maintains a 3.99 GPA and is set to graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Starting in all 30 regular-season games this year, Weathers leads Alabama in rebounds (6.1), assists (3.3), and steals (1.6) per game while averaging 9.5 points. The guard additionally scored a career-high 23 points at Missouri on January 12th.
Timmons received her first All-SEC nod in her final regular season, with the senior guard leading the team in scoring at 16.8 points per game entering the 2026 SEC Tournament. She recorded 25 double-digit games this season, including 10 where she tallied more than 20 points.
Timmons scored a career-high 34 points against Florida on February 22nd, tying for the eighth-most single-game points in Alabama basketball history. She currently holds four individual Top 10 SEC rankings, including third in both free throw percentage (85%) and three-point field goal percentage (43%).
Weathers earned SEC Community Service Team honors earlier this year, after logging more than 360 clinical hours over her last two semesters at Alabama.
How to Watch Alabama Basketball at the 2026 SEC Tournament
The Crimson Tide finished the regular season on a 21-9 overall and 7-9 conference record, entering this week's SEC tournament bracket as the No. 11 seed.
Alabama tips off tonight's SEC showdown against No. 14 seed Missouri at 8:30 PM ET, live on SEC Network.
The 2026 Big Ten Basketball Tournament revealed its 15-team bracket this week, with the event tipping off on March 4th inside Indianapolis's Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
In a departure from traditional tournament formats, the Big Ten only admits the Top 15 from the 18-member conference. The bottom three teams miss the postseason, adding pressure as teams fight for qualification.
UCLA secured the No. 1 seed and Iowa earned the No. 2 seed, followed by Michigan at No. 3 and Minnesota at No. 4. The top four seeds receive double-byes, advancing directly to Friday's quarterfinals.
The 15-team tournament rewards regular-season consistency, with teams fighting for NCAA tournament berths facing added importance with each passing game. However, conference coaches opted for this format, after realignment added several teams to the Big Ten lineup.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse serves as home to the WNBA's Indiana Fever, with the venue set to host all tournament games this week.
Where to Watch the 2026 Big Ten Basketball Tournament
First-round action starts Wednesday, March 4th on Peacock, when No. 12 Nebraska faces No. 13 Indiana at 3:30 PM ET. No. 10 Illinois subsequently battles No. 15 Wisconsin, before No. 11 Oregon takes on No. 14 Purdue.
Second-round games shift to Big Ten Network on Thursday, March 5th. Quarterfinals are set for Friday, March 6th, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, March 7th.
The championship game then airs on CBS on Sunday, March 8th at 2:15 PM ET, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Gina Carano is returning to MMA action after a 17-year absence, Most Valuable Promotions confirmed Tuesday, as Carano gears up to face Ronda Rousey live on Netflix on May 16th.
The bout marks Rousey's first MMA appearance since 2016 and Carano's first since 2009. Both fighters date back to the early days of women's MMA, helping to build the sport's mainstream audience. Carano competed from 2006 to 2009 before transitioning to an acting career that included roles in Haywire, Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool, and The Mandalorian.
Rousey became the first woman signed to the UFC in 2012. She went on to hold the women's bantamweight title with six consecutive defenses — still a UFC record. After losses to Holly Holm in 2015 and Amanda Nunes in 2016, Rousey stepped away from the ring, becoming a three-time WWE champion from 2018 to 2022.
"Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for," Carano said. "This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win."
Rousey framed the matchup as a major milestone. "Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women's combat sport history," she said.
How to watch the Gina Carano vs Ronda Rousey MMA fight on Netflix
Using four-ounce gloves inside a hexagon cage, the May 16th bout will subsequently span five five-minute rounds under the Unified Rules of MMA. Most Valuable Promotions — co-founded by Jake Paul — is behind the event, broadcast live on Netflix.
A kickoff press conference is scheduled for March 5th in Los Angeles, with additional fights to be added at a later date.
Laila Edwards made Olympic hockey history on Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman to score a goal for Team USA as the US secured a shutout 5-0 victory over rival Canada.
The Ohio native's tally sealed the group-stage win for Team USA. The historic moment also cemented the 2022 Beijing silver medalists as the tournament's top goalscorers, outscoring Olympic opponents 20-1 en route to clinching first place in Group A.
Edwards called the milestone "an incredible honor" in an interview with CBS Mornings.
"I get to be the first of something and a role model for others," she said.
The University of Wisconsin defender joined USA Women's Hockey in 2023, becoming the squad's first-ever Black player. Now competing in her first Olympic hockey tournament, Edwards continues breaking barriers at the highest level of international competition.
"It's cliché, but it's my safe space," Edwards said of the sport. "I just feel like I can be myself and do what I love."
The 22-year-old credits her family for helping her make the Olympic hockey team. Her father started her in figure skating at age three, subsequently transitioning her to hockey two years later.
"I definitely felt like I belonged, but there were times when there was a bit of intimidation, just being the only girl on my team," Edwards recalled. "I was such a tomboy... basically one of them."
"There's no rule book that says hockey is for boys," she continued. "There's no reason you shouldn't do it if you love it."
What's next for Team USA at the 2026 Olympic hockey tournament
Team USA now leads the Olympic hockey standings heading into the quarterfinals, delivering a perfect 4-0 group-stage record. They enter the knockout rounds as the gold medal favorite.
The US now takes the ice against host nation Italy on Friday at 3:10 PM ET, live on Peacock.
Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto delivered a commanding performance in this morning's figure skating team event, scoring 78.88 points to lift Japan to second place at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The 25-year-old finished first in the women's short program at Milano Ice Skating Arena, edging out reigning world champion Alysa Liu of Team USA by nearly four points.
Sakamoto skated near-flawlessly despite an edge error on her opening triple Lutz, going on to earn top levels on all her spins and footwork sequences. The two-time Olympic medalist expressed relief after Friday's performance, acknowledging her nerves while maintaining composure.
The Milano-Cortina Games mark Kaori Sakamoto's final Olympic appearance. After narrowly missing a fourth consecutive world championship win in June, she announced plans to retire from competitive figure skating following this season. With three world titles, she's currently tied with Japanese legend Asada Mao for the winningest Japanese women's figure skater.
Sakamoto won bronze in the individual event and silver in the team competition at Beijing 2022, after finisheing sixth at her 2018 Olympic debut in PyeongChang. This year, she aims to complete her medal collection by capturing Olympic gold.
After retirement, Kaori Sakamoto discussed plans to pursue coaching in her hometown of Kobe, hoping to develop the next generation of world-class Japanese figure skaters.
What's next for figure skater Kaori Sakamoto at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Japan currently sits two points behind Team USA heading into the second day of team competition. Five nations remain in contention to advance to the final round, with Italy, Georgia, and Canada also in the running.
Sakamoto will likely return to the ice on Sunday, when the figure skating team event concludes with women's free skate at 2:45 PM ET, live across NBC and Peacock.
Thursday's Iowa vs USC matchup produced a major upset, as Iowa women's basketball suffered its first Big Ten loss of the season, falling 81-69 at Galen Center in Los Angeles.
The No. 8 Hawkeyes entered the highly anticipated NCAA showdown as the Big Ten's only undefeated team. The Hawkeyes have dominated conference opponents all season, making unranked USC's comprehensive victory even more shocking.
Iowa women's basketball ran the 2025/26 Big Ten table until Thursday's setback against the struggling Trojans. USC lost six of their last seven games prior to the Iowa vs USC clash — and making them an unlikely candidates to hand Iowa women's basketball its first Big Ten loss.
The game represented a signature opportunity for USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's squad. The Trojans delivered their most complete performance this year, controlling the contest from start to finish while never allowing foul-afflicted Iowa to establish a rhythm.
Gottlieb praised her team's efforts afterwards, noting that USC has improved considerably and needs to continue demonstrating that consistent growth.
"Obviously a big win for us on so many levels. Iowa was undefeated in conference so far," she said postgame. "I'm so proud of our team. Great performances across the board."
For Iowa women's basketball, the defeat served as a setback to an otherwise dominant campaign. The Hawkeyes will need to regroup quickly, as Big Ten play continues to ramp up ahead of March's conference championship.
While Iowa remains a Top 10 program, the Iowa vs USC outcome will force the Hawkeyes to reassess their approach as they look to pursue a deep postseason run.
A Lindsey Vonn crash during Friday's World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland has cast doubt on the skiing legend's Olympic participation just one week before the opening ceremony in Milan.
The crash occurred when the 41-year-old US skiing legend lost control landing a jump on the upper portion of the course, becoming entangled in safety nets. She was the race's third skier to suffer and injury, as falling snow led to poor visibility.
After receiving approximately five minutes of medical attention on the course, Vonn skied slowly to the finish line, stopping multiple times and clutching her left knee. The crash subsequently canceled the race.
Medical personnel airlifted Vonn off the slopes, with the skier suspended from a hoist cable. International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann confirmed Vonn injured her knee but said the severity remained unclear.
Before entering the medical tent, Vonn shared an embrace with US teammate Jacqueline Wiles, who was leading when officials halted the competition. Vonn appeared visibly distressed during the emotional moment.
The Lindsey Vonn crash comes in the midst of the veteran skier's comeback season. After nearly six years away from competitive skiing, Vonn returned last season at age 40 with a partial titanium implant in her right knee. This season, she has dominated downhill racing with two victories and seven podium finishes in eight World Cup starts across downhill and super-G events.
Vonn holds the record for most World Cup victories in Olympic host location Cortina d'Ampezzo with 12 wins. Her first Olympic race is scheduled for February 8th, with plans to also compete in the super-G and a new combined team event.
The Lindsey Vonn crash occurred seven days before the Opening Ceremony in Milan-Cortina, raising serious questions about her 2026 Winter Olympics participation.
UConn basketball will celebrate one of its most consistent stars Wednesday night, when WNBA standout and UConn alum Aaliyah Edwards becomes the latest Huskies of Honor member before the women's team hosts Xavier at Gampel Pavilion.
Edwards epitomized reliability throughout her career at UConn, missing just three games in four seasons while steadily improving her game. She earned BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year in 2021 and BIG EAST Most Improved Player in 2023. In her final year, she collected 2024 All-BIG EAST, Wooden Award All-American, and WBCA All-American honors.
The Kingston, Ontario native racked up 1,861 points and 1,020 rebounds through her four years, finishing 16th in program history in total career points and eighth in rebounds. The Washington Mystics took Edwards No. 6 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, before a midseason trade saw her join the Connecticut Sun last year.
Legendary UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma praised Edwards's approach, celebrating both her improvement and her drive during a rough run for the now-No. 1 team.
"Sometimes careers go smoothly; sometimes it's rocky," said Auriemma. "[Edwards] managed to make the best out of a very difficult situation."
Her No. 3 jersey will be added to the wall at Gampel Pavilion during tonight's ceremony.
Of course, today's reigning NCAA champions enter the Xavier rematch on a perfect 21-0 record, having won 16 consecutive victories by at least 25 points. The Huskies routed the unranked Musketeers 104-39 in their first meeting back in late November, hitting a season-high 18 three-pointers while forcing 31 turnovers.
Despite their odds, Auriemma emphasized that UConn basketball must avoid complacency going forward. The team already faced challenges against Seton Hall in Saturday's weather-impacted matchup, overcoming an early deficit to win 92-52.
How to watch UConn basketball in this week's NCAA slate
UConn tips off against Xavier on Wednesday at 7 PM ET, live on Peacock.
However, bigger tests are looming as the Huskies prepare to face SEC mainstay No. 15 Tennessee this Sunday at 12 PM ET, live on FOX.
Team USA will be rocking Ralph Lauren next month, as the apparel giant rolled out the team's opening and closing ceremony looks this week ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.
For the opening ceremony, Team USA will sport a white, all-wool toggle coat, a US flag wool sweater, plus a hat, socks, and mittens in a white, navy, and red motif.
Meanwhile, the closing ceremony kit is more relaxed, featuring a bold, color-block puffer jacket and similarly designed wool turtleneck sweater paired with white cargo-style pants and leather boots.
"These uniforms, both timeless and modern, reflect the passion, optimism, and relentless pursuit of excellence that embody the American spirit," Ralph Lauren chief branding and innovation officer David Lauren said in a December release. "With Milan — one of the great fashion capitals — as this year's backdrop, we sought to honor the city's creative spirit while staying true to the enduring style that defines Ralph Lauren."
While several brands including J.Crew, Nike, and Kith are cashing on this year's Olympics, Ralph Lauren has been the official outfitter of Team USA since 2008, with this year's collection marking the 10th straight Olympic Games that the US designer has clothed the team.
"The significance and sheer magnitude of dressing our nation's incredible athletes — on the most dramatic stage in sport as they pursue their lifelong dreams — is an honor that never fades," added Lauren.
How to purchase Team USA 2026 Olympics pieces by Ralph Lauren
The full collection of Team USA opening and closing ceremony looks for the 2026 Winter Olympics is now available in select stores and at RalphLauren.com.
Nike is sending Team USA to Italy in style, with the sportswear giant's ACG (All Conditions Gear) brand releasing the designs for a special 2026 Winter Olympics collection this week.
Branded with Nike ACG badges alongside Team USA patches, this year's collection builds off a traditional red, white, and navy color scheme to outfit the country's Olympic and Paralympic athletes, as well as fans, ahead of the 2026 Games' February 6th opening ceremony in Milan.
The designs include a long-sleeved T-shirt displaying an animated, winter sports-bound bald eagle and a zipped fleece sherpa and Therma-Fit skirt, both emblazoned with a bald eagle soaring over mountains.
Additionally, the collection boasts multiple T-shirts, long-sleeved sweat-wicking shirts, Polartec® jackets, and accessories including a baseball cap and winter beanie.
Nike is just one of many major brands outfitting Team USA for this year's competition, with the athletic corporation joining J.Crew in inviting fans to gear up for the Games after the fashion retailer dropped its own Winter Olympics capsule collection earlier this month.
How to purchase items from the Nike ACG x Team USA collection
The Nike ACG x Team USA line will hit shelves on Friday, January 23rd, with fans able to snag pieces prior to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The collection will be available for purchase via nike.com.