MIAMI (AP) — Aaron Judge says the World Baseball Classic has become baseball’s biggest stage. Speaking after the U.S. beat the Dominican Republic 2-1 in semifinal, Judge said: “It’s bigger and better than the World Series.” Junior Caminero's second-inning homer off winner Paul Skenes put the Dominicans ahead but the U.S. rebounded on fourth-inning drives by Gunnar Henderson off Luis Severino and Roman Anthony against loser Gregory Soto. U.S. relievers pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a game that ended with a controversial called third strike to Geraldo Perdomo from Mason Miller on a slider that appeared to be low.
Duke is the top overall seed in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, with Arizona, Michigan, and Florida also landing on the No. 1 line. Miami (Ohio), which opened the season 31-0 before a loss early its conference tournament, got in as an 11 seed despite a weak schedule. They play a First Four game on Wednesday against SMU. The tournament begins Tuesday with other play-in games, including Texas versus North Carolina State.
UConn is the No. 1 overall seed in the women’s NCAA Tournament and enters March Madness needing six more victories to complete the seventh undefeated season in school history. The Huskies (34-0) are looking for their 13th national title and becoming the first team to repeat as champions since the Huskies won four in a row from 2013-16. They are joined by UCLA, Texas and South Carolina as the other No. 1 seeds.
There's nothing quite like March Madness to remind people of what college sports is all about. Yes, the 2025-26 season contained its share of headlines about money, pro players returning to college and coaches behaving badly. But now, the payoff. A three-week, 68-team hoops celebration where anything from a Miami (Ohio) miracle to a dominating Duke performance could happen. At its best, the NCAA Tournament is a needed reminder about what's right in a rapidly changing landscape.
MIAMI (AP) — A work stoppage that leads to canceled games during the 2027 Major League Baseball season could disrupt plans under discussion to have big league players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Major League Baseball Players Association is negotiating on the six-nation baseball event, scheduled for Dodger Stadium from July 15-20 during what could be an extended All-Star break. MLB and the union also are preparing for the start of bargaining in April or May for a labor contract to replaced the current five-year agreement that expires Dec. 1. A management lockout is expected to start Dec. 2.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Denny Hamlin showed he and crew chief Chris Gayle have moved on from a crushing title loss. Hamlin raced to his first victory of the season Sunday at Las Vegas. It was the 61st of his career, and came five races after Hamlin and Gayle lost the Cup Series title last November at Phoenix — a defeat the pair still has not talked through. Hamlin says he supported Gayle's strategy decision in the moment. Gayle says he spent days replaying the decision but the duo have moved on.
The Professional Women's Hockey League is enjoying a major post-Olympic boost that's no better reflected than with the New York Sirens. A team that's struggled attracting attention over its first two-plus seasons broke a home attendance record with a turnout of 8,264 to its recent game against Ottawa. The signs of a women's hockey surge are every where since Team USA's 2-1 overtime win over Canada at the Milan Cortina Games. The PWHL is seeing an uptick in fans and ticket sales in each of its eight markets. And the league also landed a deal with Scripps Sports to broadcast its first game to a national U.S. TV audience.
NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert says progress is being made towards getting a new collective bargaining agreement done. The two sides met for another marathon negotiating session that started Sunday afternoon and ended around 3 a.m. Monday morning. The two sides will get together again later Monday for a seventh consecutive day of talks. It’s been a long week of discussions with the WNBA and union meeting face-to-face for more than 72 hours since the first in-person bargaining session Tuesday.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Iran’s women’s soccer team is set to leave Malaysia after several players reversed asylum bids that sparked a diplomatic storm. The Asian Football Confederation general secretary said the team plans to fly out from Kuala Lumpur Monday night, after days of uncertainty. The squad left Australia on March 10, but six players and one staff member stayed behind on protection visas. Four players and the staffer have since rejoined the team in Malaysia. Two players still remain in Australia in a safe location. Australian authorities describe the choices personal and complex, while an Iranian diaspora groups cites pressure from Tehran.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Cameron Young finally has a big title to go with his major talent. In a thriller at The Players Championship he made a 10-foot birdie on the island green at the TPC Sawgrass to tie Matt Fitzpatrick. Young crushed a drive that set up an easy par and won when Fitzpatrick failed to make an 8-foot par putt to force a playoff. Young shot 68 and won $4.5 million. Ludvig Aberg had control of the tournament until hitting into the water on consecutive holes on the back nine. He shot a 40 on the back nine for a 76.
Finals
INTERLEAGUE
Final N.Y. Mets 8 Toronto 1
Final Houston 1 Miami 0
Final Tampa Bay 6 Pittsburgh 1
Final L.A. Dodgers 5 Texas 3
Final L.A. Angels 6 Colorado 5
Final Seattle 6 Cincinnati 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Boston 7 Minnesota 2
Final Detroit 12 N.Y. Yankees 1
Final Kansas City 10 Chicago White Sox 4
Final Cleveland 12 Athletics
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Atlanta 1 Philadelphia 0
Final St. Louis 6 Washington 3
Final San Francisco 7 Milwaukee 1
Final L.A. Dodgers 14 Chicago Cubs 8
Final San Diego 4 Arizona 4
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Winnipeg 3 St. Louis 2
Final Ottawa 7 San Jose 4
Final Anaheim 4 Montreal 3
Final Toronto 4 Minnesota 2
Final Seattle 6 Florida 2
Final Edmonton 3 Nashville 1
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (18)Purdue 80 (3)Michigan 72
Final (17)Arkansas 86 (22)Vanderbilt 75