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March Madness is here: ‘Can’t miss’ sports on TV this weekend

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March Madness is here: ‘Can’t miss’ sports on TV this weekend

Every Friday, the staff of The Athletic recommends the most compelling sports on TV to watch this weekend.

This week, in honor of the early days of perennial March Madness, we lead with the most must-see college basketball games of the weekend, plus a few other games to watch.

📝Selection Sunday Shows

Men’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show
Sunday, 6 p.m. ET on CBS

There are sporting events that feel like national holidays. The Super Bowl is the biggest, where 120 million or so gather around TVs across the nation. Opening Day or night for baseball, basketball and college football are others, for some.

For my money, Selection Sunday may be the best of them all. For college basketball diehards, be it the men’s side or the women’s, it is when you find out where your team is going or not going. The jubilation and the depression are what make sports great. And the three weeks that follow may be the most fun of any event on the American sports calendar. It is not as big as the Super Bowl, but with everyone able to put their best guesses in a pool, it creates a nice cross-section of fans to enjoy. On Sunday, we find out who is dancing. — Andrew Marchand

Women’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show
Sunday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Heading into Selection Sunday, questions remain about how the top of the bracket will look. It’s likely that either Big Ten tournament champ UCLA or SEC tournament champ South Carolina will be the No. 1 overall seed, but uncertainty remains about which teams will get the nod. There are also questions about which team will be the fourth No. 1 seed. Texas or UConn will likely get that spot, with the other being the first No. 2 seed. Either way, after a season full of parity, it’s fitting that key seeding questions remain. — Ben Pickman

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Conference tournaments

Listed in chronological order

America East Championship Game
Saturday, 11 a.m. ET on ESPN2

The heavy hitters play in prime time, but the morning tipoff in the America East title game is one of my favorite March traditions. Brunch-time, high-stakes basketball in a tiny-but-loud gym somewhere in the thawing Northeast? A great way to start your Selection Sunday Eve. Vermont, which won the last three titles, lost in the semifinals, so this year’s game pits No. 3 seed Maine — going for its first NCAA Tournament bid ever — at top-seeded Bryant, a university in Smithfield, R.I., with a gym that seats just 2,600. Watch this to get ready. — Mark Cooper

SEC Semifinals
Saturday, 1 p.m. ET on ESPN

It isn’t hyperbole that the four teams playing in the SEC Tournament semifinals could be a preview of the Final Four itself; the conference is THAT good. While none of the games will impact any of the teams being in or out of the tournament field, it could have a huge impact on whether a team is a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed and what region it is placed in. — Dan Shanoff

Big 12 Championship Game
Saturday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN

It seems crazy that Kansas is an afterthought in the Big 12 Tournament, but the reality is that Houston is the team to watch. A likely 1-seed in the Big Dance, if you haven’t seen Houston play yet this season, this is the moment to check out a team that a lot of people in your bracket pool will be picking to go far, led by star LJ Cryer, the typical ferocious Cougars D and, this year, an offense ranked Top 10 in the country by KenPom. — Dan Shanoff

Big West Championship Game
Saturday, 9:40 p.m. ET on ESPN2

If the seeding holds, this will be an incredible matchup of would-be NCAA Cinderellas — No. 1 seed UC San Diego vs. No. 2 seed UC Irvine. (Click those links for incredible reads on each team.) Both deserve a place in the NCAA Tournament field based on their respective resumes, but a win here lets one of them breathe a lot easier on Selection Sunday. — Dan Shanoff

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SEC Championship Game
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET on ESPN

The culmination of one of the best conference campaigns in college basketball history happens on Sunday afternoon. A quartet of potential No. 1 seeds — Auburn, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee — will all be in contention for the crown, but the league’s incredible depth (likely 11+ Tournament teams) could make for a surprise matchup. Winning this event will be nearly as difficult as winning the NCAA Tournament itself. — Jim Root

Big Ten Championship Game
Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS

Regardless of who from the conference makes it to the title game, this last game of Championship Week is the best way to whittle away those final few hours waiting for the brackets to be revealed at 6 p.m. ET. Michigan State is the favorite, but watch out for No. 6 seed Purdue, which is doing just fine without two-time player of the year Zach Edey. — Dan Shanoff

Beyond college basketball

⚽NWSL
Portland Thorns at KC Current
Saturday, 12:45 p.m. ET on ABC

Few teams saw as much change as the Portland Thorns — icons Christine Sinclair and Becky Sauerbrunn retired, star striker Sophia Wilson (née Smith) having recently announced her pregnancy and several starters injured in preseason. They’ll have a stern test against the Kansas City Current, whose high-octane attack is led by reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga. Portland’s defense struggled throughout the start of 2024, and could be up against it on Saturday. — Jeff Reuter

🏃Track
NCAA Indoor Track Championships
Saturday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Want to be the fan in 2028 who can say you’ve been following all the Olympic runners for years? Then watch the NCAA Indoor Track Championships this weekend. Remember the name Ethan Strand: He’s the NCAA mile record holder and will be racing the 3,000m Saturday night, less than 24 hours after anchoring UNC’s distance medley relay on Friday. — Mark Puleo

🏎️F1
Australian Grand Prix
Sunday, Midnight ET on ESPN

I mean, I don’t know what to tell you. I get it, it’s on at midnight for the East Coast. That’s tough. I feel for you. But it’s the first race of what should be the most exciting Formula One season in years. It’s Lewis Hamilton’s debut race with Ferrari. Five rookies will make their full-season debuts. It’s supposed to rain, which should cause delicious fun. In 2023, the Australian GP ended with wrecks and drama. In 2024, it was won by a guy who just had an appendectomy. Have I convinced you to take a long Saturday afternoon nap yet? — Patrick Iversen

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🎾Tennis
2025 BNP Paribas Open Tennis
WTA Singles Final
Sunday, 2 p.m. ET on Tennis Channel
ATP Singles Finals
Sunday, 5 p.m. ET on Tennis Channel

Indian Wells has always drawn great fields and who can blame the players, given the gorgeous climate and big crowds? We’ve already seen some upsets on both sides, but as of this writing, a delectable women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka versus Iga Swiatek is still on course. — Richard Deitsch

⚽MLS
Inter Miami at Atlanta United
Sunday, 7 p.m. ET on Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)

Atlanta United has followed an expensive offseason overhaul with a middling start to the MLS season. They’ll hope to notch a statement win against Inter Miami after eliminating Lionel Messi’s club last postseason. We’ll see if Messi plays, though, as Miami has been managing his minutes. — Jeff Reuter

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: George Hitchens, Joe Buglewicz, Alex Slitz / Getty Images)

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Police report details Zachariah Branch’s arrest days before NFL Draft over sidewalk incident

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Police report details Zachariah Branch’s arrest days before NFL Draft over sidewalk incident

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New details have emerged surrounding the arrest of former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who is facing two misdemeanor charges following a run-in with law enforcement just days ahead of the NFL Draft. 

Branch, who is a projected second-round pick, was arrested early Sunday morning in Athens, Georgia, and charged with two counts of obstructing public sidewalks/streets – prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. 

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch celebrates after a touchdown catch against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Nov. 28, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

He was released after more than two hours in jail after posting $39 in bonds. 

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The NFL Network obtained the police report from Branch’s arrest, which described an encounter over an alleged sidewalk incident with law enforcement, in which police alleged that the former Bulldogs star failed “to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands.”

“A male, later identified as Zacharia Branch, continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move. I continued to give Zacharia Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk,” the excerpt from the report read. 

Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch runs during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 28, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

TOP NFL DRAFT PICK ZACHARIAH BRANCH ARRESTED IN GEORGIA ON TWO MISDEMEANOR CHARGES

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“Zacharia Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder, and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business,” the report continued.

“Due to those actions and Zacharia Branch’s failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest for misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks.”

Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch celebrates with wide receiver Colbie Young after scoring a touchdown against Ole Miss during the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Jan. 1, 2026. (IMAGN)

Branch transferred after two seasons at Southern California and immediately became quarterback Gunner Stockton’s favorite target. He finished the season with a team-high 811 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.

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His status as a projected second-round pick was bolstered after an impressive showing at the combine, where he clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash.

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Quick final pit stop helps Alex Palou win Long Beach Grand Prix

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Quick final pit stop helps Alex Palou win Long Beach Grand Prix

For two-thirds of Sunday’s Long Beach Grand Prix, Alex Palou bided his time … waiting for the one break he needed.

It came in the form of a caution on the 58th lap, allowing him to overtake front-runner Felix Rosenqvist exiting pit lane and hold the lead the rest of the way, taking the checkered flag by 3.96 seconds for his third triumph in five IndyCar Series races this season and his first at Long Beach.

Right after being showered with applause and confetti at victory lane, the 29-year-old Spaniard thanked his crew, whose quick work on the last pit stop proved to be the difference.

“Everyone was coming in on that yellow and they did an incredible job,” he said. “We were either going to win it or not win right there.”

Rosenqvist settled for second and Scott Dixon, Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, was third.

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It was the 11th win over the last 22 races dating to 2024 for the Barcelona native and the 22nd win of his career, tying Tony Bettenhausen and Emerson Fittipaldi. It also vaulted Palou to the top of the series standings as he chases his fourth series championship in a row and fifth overall. Palou won the opener March 1 in St. Petersburg (also a street course) and the fourth race March 29 in Alabama.

Palou led for only 32 of the 90 laps Sunday and acknowledged it would have been difficult to catch Rosenqvist if not for the stoppage.

“I wasn’t giving up but it would’ve been tough to get him today,” Palou acknowledged. “He was already three seconds ahead. I was happy with my car but I was struggling more on the soft tires than the hards so I’d say my chances were low. The feeling was great seeing all the open space coming out of pit lane because when you spend 60 laps behind a car it disturbs you. I tried to match him on soft tires but it wasn’t working.”

Alex Palou speeds through a curve of the track.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

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In six starts at Long Beach, Palou never has finished lower than fifth.

There is little room to maneuver on the 1.968-mile course with 11 tight turns, but after starting in the third position next to defending champion Kyle Kirkwood, Palou managed to sneak past Pato O’Ward into second place heading into the first turn on Lap 2.

“Making that move on the straightaway was big because I knew it was one of our only chances to get a pass on Pato,” Palou said. “I got that good run on that last corner and he didn’t expect it.”

This year marked the 51st edition of the longest-running major street race in North America, which started in 1975 as part of the Formula 5000 Series, switched to the CART/Champ Car World Series in 1984 and joined the IndyCar Series in 2009.

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The top four qualifiers started on softer, high-grip “alternate” tires to establish position while the rest of the grid started on harder, more durable “primaries” to manage degradation on the 110-degree track surface. Of the 25 starters, 24 completed the 177.12 miles.

“We were going to make the two-stop strategy work but didn’t know if it would be doable or not,” Palou added. “As soon as I saw I couldn’t get Felix it was all about patience, fuel and waiting for the right time. I owe this win to my team. Without that pit stop I probably wouldn’t be sitting here now. It only takes one mistake to go from second to seventh, but they’re great under pressure.”

Cars make their way down a straightaway during Long Beach Grand Prix.

Cars make their way down a straightaway during Long Beach Grand Prix.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

Past winners Will Power and Josef Newgarden moved into the top two positions after Rosenqvist pitted, but the Swede regained the lead when Newgarden pitted for the first time on Lap 37 and dropped back to 14th.

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The first 45 laps were caution-free as Rosenqvist, Palou, Kirkwood, David Malukas and O’Ward held the top five spots. Newgarden’s chances declined upon discovering a flat spot on his left front tire, and he dropped back to 14th.

Rosenqvist’s three-second lead was erased when debris on the track exiting the Aquarium Fountain drew the only yellow flag all afternoon and narrowed the gap. Capitalizing on favorable pit position, Palou emerged from the lane just ahead of Rosenqvist.

Rosenqvist. who won the pole position with a lap time of 1 minute 7.4625 seconds in qualifying, had mixed emotions as the runner-up after leading for 51 laps with no win to show for it.

“You want to win when you have an opportunity, but I’m proud of today,” Rosenqvist said.

“We weren’t as good as Alex on the blacks … the last pit cycle was the defining moment. We had to come around 14, he had more of an opening, and his crew nailed it. That happens.”

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Kirkwood, who was vying for his third win in four years, finished right where he started in fourth.

“I had a good cushion and figured even with a bad stop I’d probably stay ahead but I knew there’d probably be a yellow at some point and there it came,” Rosenqvist lamented. “Considering Alex had primary [tires], also I think we would’ve been able to hold him off. It’s definitely disappointing when you can’t wrap it up.”

Dixon, who started in the sixth position, was third and earned his first podium this season and the 136th of his career.

Fans watch with two laps left in the race.

Fans watch with two laps left in the race.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

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“The race itself was a bit blah — I sat in the same position for most of it,” Dixon said. “Luckily for us we had it easy out of that last stop.”

Al Unser Jr. holds the record for most wins at Long Beach, chalking up six in eight years, including an unmatched four in a row from 1988 to 1991.

Tom Sargent is becoming a fan of street circuits after two wins this weekend. Driving the Porsche 911 Cup for GMG Racing in the Mobil Pro Class, the 22-year-old Australian led from start to finish in Race 1 of the Carrera Cup North America on Saturday. In Race 2 on Sunday morning, he again started from the pole and claimed a 0.965-second victory over Aaron Jeansonne to complete the double.

In his last bid at Long Beach three years ago, he hit the wall on Lap 2 but still finished second.

“Momentum in sports is critical and the past few weeks have been really cool for me,” Sargent said. “I didn’t do any street circuit racing before I came to the States. Maybe it fits my driving style.”

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‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42

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‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42

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Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio were once brothers in arms in the Judgment Day. The two helped the faction run “Monday Night Raw” for several years.

As championships and opportunities came and went, the rift between Balor and Mysterio grew. It came to a head when Balor caused Mysterio to lose the Intercontinental Championship to Penta. Balor leaving the Judgment Day left Mysterio and Liv Morgan as the leaders with JD McDonagh, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez sticking around.

Finn Balor is introduced before his match against Dominik Mysterio during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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The latter four chose to ride with Mysterio and attacked Balor on one episode of Raw.

The bitter war led to a match Sunday night at WrestleMania 42. To make matters more interesting, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce made the match a street fight hours before the show was set to begin.

Balor had vowed to bring the “Demon” out and he certainly did.

JACOB FATU PUTS DREW MCINTYRE IN THE ‘REAR VIEW’ IN UNSANCTIONED MATCH AT WRESTLEMANIA 42

Finn Balor is introduced before his match against Dominik Mysterio during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Balor made his way to the ring in his “Demon” gear, dripping with red and black paint. Mysterio was in a mask with other Mysterio supporters.

The two then proceeded to beat the crud out of each other.

Mysterio wrapped Balor’s head in between a chair and hit a 619 on him. He tried to pin Balor, but to no avail. At another point, Mysterio tossed Balor through a table set up in the corner.

As many have learned, it’s hard to keep your demons down. Mysterio learned the hard way.

Balor would not give up. Balor clotheslined Mysterio, hit him with a chair multiple times before wrapping his head in between the chair and drop-kicking him into the corner. Balor put Mysterio onto a table and hit the Coup de Grâce for the win.

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Dominik Mysterio is introduced before his match against Finn Balor during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Balor excised his own demons, while Mysterio is still haunted.

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