UCLA women win first NCAA hoops title; Islanders change coaches; NBA, World Cup power rankings
Why it matters: Luka Dončić's injury could cost him All-NBA honors due to the 65-game rule, impacting the Lakers' playoff push.
- UCLA women's basketball won their first NCAA Tournament title, defeating South Carolina by 28 points, the third-largest margin in championship history, with Lauren Betts recording a double-double.
- North Carolina's coaching search saw top candidates Tommy Lloyd (Arizona) and Dusty May (Michigan) commit to their current teams, with Lloyd expected to sign a five-year deal making him one of the highest-paid public school coaches, leading UNC to reportedly target Billy Donovan.
- Luka Dončić (Lakers) will miss the rest of the regular season due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain, potentially impacting his All-NBA eligibility due to the 65-game rule, while Austin Reaves (Lakers) could miss the entire first round with a Grade 2 oblique strain.
- The Islanders fired coach Patrick Roy with four games left in the season after a four-game losing streak, replacing him with Peter DeBoer in a move that could be a long-term leadership change.
- Hunter Brown (Astros) was among several MLB stars to land on the injured list, sidelined for at least 15 days with a throwing shoulder strain.
UCLA's women's basketball team secured their first-ever NCAA title with a dominant 28-point victory over South Carolina, while the men's championship is set between Michigan and UConn. In coaching news, North Carolina's top candidates, Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May, are off the board, with Lloyd signing a new deal with Arizona and May staying with Michigan, leading UNC to target Billy Donovan. Meanwhile, the Islanders made a late-season coaching change, firing Patrick Roy and hiring Peter DeBoer, and several NBA stars like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are sidelined with injuries, impacting playoff races and All-NBA eligibility.
