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NHL trade board 7.0: The 4 Nations break is over, and things are about to get real

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NHL trade board 7.0: The 4 Nations break is over, and things are about to get real

Just days remain for any NHL team sitting on the fence to determine which direction it’ll go before the March 7 trade deadline.

There are currently 10 teams on the wrong side of the playoff cut-line that are within six points of the final wild-card spot in their respective conferences, which adds an air of uncertainty to a trade market that remained dormant throughout the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Among that chase pack, who is prepared to buy, sell or stand pat?

As the clock ticks down toward clarity, here’s our latest Big Board. Players are listed by how closely they demand watching, based on their potential impact and the current amount of buzz around them.


Note: Net Ratings and market values are via Dom Luszczyszyn’s model and are projected for the full season based on statistics through Feb. 23. Goals saved above expected (GSAx) are via Evolving-Hockey, also through Feb. 23. Contract info is via PuckPedia.    

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Not only have the Islanders cooled off a bit, they also appear no closer to an extension with the pending UFA. And Nelson arguably has the highest trade value of any “rental” player who might be moved at this deadline. The 33-year-old all-situations forward is a big, sturdy man with a strong track record of scoring goals. He can be slotted as a second-line center or slide into a wing spot on the top line. Basically, he’s exactly the kind of difference-maker that contending teams would be falling over themselves to get their hands on, which is why multiple contenders are monitoring this file closely.

Player type

Big veteran second-liner

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Well on his way to topping 30 goals and 60 points this season, Rakell may be the most productive offensive player available ahead of this deadline. The right-shot winger is an above-average finisher who has a history of holding his own when playing alongside highly skilled linemates. With three years remaining on his contract after this one, the usual caveats apply: The Penguins do not have to move Rakell now, but they’d be willing to do it if the return helped them push along their organizational goal of getting younger. He’s signed to an extremely reasonable contract in a rising cap environment.

Player type

Proven offensive contributor

A big name who comes with a big ticket, Jones is a player of intrigue because of a skill set that is in short supply around the league. The right-shot defenseman can shoulder big minutes in all situations and handle a shutdown role. He’s so anxious for a move to a team closer to contention than the Blackhawks that he recently went public with his desire to be dealt. Moving his contract in-season won’t be easy, but Chicago is believed to be open to retaining some of the remaining money to help facilitate a trade. Jones and the team are working together on trying to find him a new home.

Player type

Major-minutes defenseman

The retooling Flyers are short on rental players to take to market in the lead-up to the deadline, but they could be compelled to part with the big, physical defenseman who has some term remaining. Ristolainen plays a rugged style best suited for third-pairing duty, and he’s taken meaningful steps forward over the past 18 months toward becoming a more reliable defender in his own zone. With a contract that stretches two seasons beyond this one, some salary retention might be needed to make a trade work.

Player type

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Rugged veteran defenseman

A relentless high-motor player who is enjoying a career season in Chicago, Donato is attracting serious attention on the trade market. As a pending unrestricted free agent, he profiles as a rental who can add to a team’s depth while playing basically anywhere in the lineup. Donato appears to have made some strides with his skating this season and has the hands to bury offensive chances when he gets them. He’s one goal away from hitting 20 for the first time in his NHL career.

Player type

High-motor depth player

With the Sabres languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and in need of some kind of shakeup, two-thirds of NHL teams have at least checked in on Cozens’ availability. Even amid a down season, the 6-foot-3 center holds plenty of appeal. He’s got great speed and skill for a player his size and already has a 30-goal NHL campaign under his belt at age 23. Here’s the rub, though: It’s going to take a meaningful offer to pry him out of Buffalo — something built around an established player, not just prospects — and so far that hasn’t materialized.

Player type

Speedy young blue-chip asset

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The Sabres certainly aren’t shopping the 23-year-old defenseman, but he may be the piece they have to put in play in order to make a significant shakeup. Byram is an elite skater who can log big minutes and should still have his best and most productive seasons ahead. He’s also due for a new contract after the season as a pending restricted free agent. The Sabres control his rights, but they’re a team with a lot of money and years already tied up in their blue line, so decisions are looming.

Player type

Blue-chip prospect

With Laughton signed for one season beyond this one and producing at a 40-point pace, the Flyers are under no pressure to trade him. But if a contender is willing to part with a first-round pick, they’ll probably be compelled to pull the trigger. Laughton would be a bottom-six upgrade for a lot of contending teams. He’s a glue guy who kills penalties and plays with an edge to his game.

Player type

Veteran glue guy

A high-energy player who brings it on the forecheck and recklessly throws himself in front of pucks on the penalty kill, Tanev has a lot of the qualities contenders are looking for. Known for playing a grindy game that wears on opponents, he leads all Seattle forwards in short-handed ice time. He certainly doesn’t back down when faced with a contested piece of ice. As a bonus, he also comes with 46 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience.

Player type

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Grindy penalty-killing forward

Rantanen lands this high on the Big Board because 1) he’s a massive name and 2) he’s embroiled in an uncertain situation leading up to the deadline. The Hurricanes shocked the hockey world by acquiring him in late January and have since put their best foot forward to try to get him signed to an extension. So far, no dice. If Rantanen tells the Hurricanes he’s going to hit the open market on July 1 rather than negotiating with them, do they still want to keep him around as a rental? Keep in mind that Carolina has the ability to get his cap hit under $3 million if they flip him somewhere else with retention.

Market value

$10.4 million

Player type

Superstar scorer

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It has been an up-and-down campaign in St. Louis, with a coaching change and a few notable moves made already made with an eye toward shaking up the group. It also didn’t go without notice recently when general manager Doug Armstrong spoke publicly about the possibility of making changes to his core. Enter Schenn, the Blues captain, who the team is believed to at least be gauging interest on. That doesn’t guarantee a move, especially with Schenn in possession of a full no-trade clause, but it’s enough to land him on the Big Board. The veteran center is having a good season and brings value at both ends of the ice, plus all kinds of playoff experience.

Player type

Two-way vet with Cup experience

The veteran right-shot winger remains a serious scoring threat into his 15th NHL season. He hit 30 goals in 2023-24 and is on pace to comfortably cruise past 20 this season. As a pending unrestricted free agent, Palmieri is an attractive rental option, especially with his willingness to battle his way to the hard areas of the ice. Not unlike the situation with teammate Brock Nelson, the only real question is if general manager Lou Lamoriello will willingly part with a valued member of his team while it’s still hanging around the playoff race.

Player type

Veteran scorer

After acquiring Marcus Pettersson and signing him to a six-year extension, the Canucks have made the 6-foot-5 Soucy available on the trade market. Minutes are going to be tougher for him to come by now. Soucy is a prototypical shutdown defender who has performed well in the playoffs for the Canucks and during his previous stop in Seattle. As a bonus, the left shot is comfortable playing on either side of the ice. Soucy will have a lot of say in where he lands because of a no-trade clause that runs through the end of the season.

Player type

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Shutdown defender

An effective skater for a man of his size, Armia is known for his defensive instincts and consistent 200-foot play. He’s also a solid penalty killer who has chipped in with three short-handed goals for Montreal this season — third most among all NHL players through early February. A pending unrestricted free agent, he’s available as a bottom-six rental.

Player type

Bottom-six defensive help

Evans is a high-end penalty killer in tandem with Joel Armia, who is also featured on the Big Board. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see those players moved as a package deal by the Canadiens. Evans has gone cold offensively after a red-hot start but brings a fair amount of value as a right-shot center who is well above average on faceoffs. He isn’t overly big, but he’s a quick skater who is an affordable rental option playing on an expiring contract.

Player type

Quality fourth-line option

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Mittelstadt’s name started surfacing in trade discussions after the Avalanche dealt away Mikko Rantanen in a late-January blockbuster. Colorado is willing to get creative in an effort to upgrade its top-six forward group. Mittelstadt has good hands and is known as a puck distributor and playmaker rather than a goal scorer. While still young enough at age 26 to carry some upside, his play on the defensive side of the puck can leave something to be desired.

Player type

Playmaker with upside

Nyquist has found a nice home in Nashville and might prefer to stay, but it has been a rough ride for the Predators this season and he is the most marketable rental asset currently in their stable. One year removed from an unexpected 75-point season, Nyquist’s production has dipped significantly. But the 35-year-old remains a strong skater and talented playmaker, and he could be had for a reasonable price.

Player type

Veteran playmaker

While Frederic has seen a decline after posting career bests with an 18-goal, 40-point campaign last season, he still brings intangibles teams appreciate. He’s a big man who skates well and can effectively be deployed as a checker. With senior leadership in Boston acknowledging publicly that the organization is considering becoming a seller ahead of the deadline, Frederic is a hot commodity.

Player type

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Checker who can score

A rough-and-tumble winger who boasts an impressive fight card, Olivier has caught the attention of at least a couple of teams currently eyeing potential depth forward options. The 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent has even managed to chip in more than his share of expected goals this season. But what makes him most attractive is his size, strength and willingness to embrace an energy role. Olivier is built for playoff hockey.

Player type

Rough-and-tumble energy winger

One of the largest men in the league at 6-foot-7 and nearly 260 pounds, Oleksiak represents the kind of depth contenders crave. While he’s seen a small decline in his minutes this season in Seattle, he’s shown he can handle second-pairing deployment at even strength while logging big minutes on the penalty kill. He can also line up on either side of the ice. The Kraken have a decision here since Oleksiak is signed through next season, but they may be able to maximize his value by trading him now.

Player type

Huge depth defenseman

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Contract talks haven’t produced any traction, which leaves the Canucks facing a decision while trying to hang tough in the playoff race: keep Boeser as an own rental or cash in on him as an asset? The sniper has experienced a decline following a 40-goal campaign — not only in production, but also in the number of shots and shot attempts he’s generating. Still, he’s got good puck skills and a strong history as a power-play contributor.

Marchand says he wants to spend his entire career in Boston, and the Bruins say they’re trying to sign their captain to an extension. But … talk is cheap. Marchand remains a pending UFA. Can a retooling franchise risk walking him to free agency? Fresh off helping Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off, Marchand remains a high-end winger who can contribute offensively, kill penalties and, yes, get under an opponent’s skin. His slow start following multiple offseason surgeries appears to be in the rear-view mirror.

Player type

Veteran leader, scorer and agitator

It’s not clear how deep the Bruins are prepared to cut, but they could certainly attract a nice return of futures by moving Carlo now. He’s still under contract for two more seasons, which could help an acquiring team justify paying a big price to get him. Carlo is a 6-foot-5, right-shot defenseman who is a trusted defender and penalty killer. He’s got plenty of big-game experience, too.

Player type

Defensive defenseman

With Murphy having recently returned to Chicago’s lineup after a recurring groin injury, teams will want some assurances about his medical file before proceeding with a trade. Still, a 6-foot-4 right-shot defenseman is a pretty appealing asset. Murphy has also posted strong defensive results under less-than-favorable conditions with a Blackhawks team on its way to yet another lottery pick.

Player type

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Big defensive stalwart

Gourde isn’t expected to return to the Kraken’s lineup before the trade deadline after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia in January. However, he should be ready to play games again at some point in March. So while his health situation may slightly diminish his trade value, it hasn’t completely submarined it. Gourde is a strong skater and two-way player who owns a couple of Stanley Cup rings from his time in Tampa — which means that he’s exactly the kind of player a team gearing up for the playoffs will be looking at closely.

Player type

Feisty playoff performer

Reliable right-shot centers who can fill a depth role always have currency come deadline time. Bjugstad has shown that before — getting traded in 2022 from Arizona to Edmonton in a deal that brought back a third-round pick and defenseman Michael Kesselring — and he’s trending toward being that kind of asset again for Utah HC. He’s a reliable play-driver who profiles as an ideal bottom-six utility man. Of course, Utah may elect to hang on to him depending on how the next few games go.

Player type

Bottom-six utility man

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A huge winger at 6-foot-6 and 230-plus pounds, Greenway is on the radar for contenders seeking a bottom-six upgrade. As a pending unrestricted free agent, he can be acquired as a rental ahead of the deadline and the cost shouldn’t be too prohibitive given his limited offensive output this season. Consistency is a bit of a question mark here.

Player type

Huge depth winger

The Blue Jackets will have a difficult decision on their hands if someone offers a first-round pick for Provorov. The team has overachieved this season, and the minute-munching defenseman has expressed a desire to sign an extension in Columbus, but the smarter move may be cashing in on his value as a trade asset now. We’ll see. Although there have been some contract talks with the pending unrestricted free agent on an extension, a gap exists between how the two sides see things. Provorov is an all-situations defender who can play either side of the ice and tends to help his team keep the puck moving in the right direction.

Player type

All-situations defender

A minute-munching, shot-blocking defenseman who has drawn trade interest in the past, Ferraro is a valuable commodity. Signed through the end of next season at a $3.25 million cap hit, the 26-year-old is a strong puck mover and penalty killer with a competitive streak to match.

Player type

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Minute-munching shot-blocker

The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has two more seasons remaining on his contract and has already indicated a desire to stay in Nashville. However, it might not ultimately be his call. The organization wants to do right by O’Reilly, but general manager Barry Trotz will be forced to make a decision if he gets a strong trade offer amid a disappointing season for the team. O’Reilly is an excellent two-way center who can be counted on to chip in offensively and has the ability to be a true difference-maker for a contender. As an added bonus, he’s a menace in the faceoff circle, too.

Player type

Top two-way center

A mountain of a man at 6-foot-6 and 232 pounds, McCarron may find himself in demand since he’s playing on an affordable cap hit for one more season. He’s a right shot who can kill penalties and win some draws. Even if he’s limited offensively, there’s value to be found in a fourth-liner who plays his style of game.

Player type

Mountainous depth forward

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The writing has been on the wall since Montreal acquired Alexandre Carrier in December. At a minimum, it made the veteran defenseman on an expiring contract much more expendable. Savard should have suitors as a depth option and penalty killer, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he carries the experience of a Stanley Cup win with Tampa Bay in 2021 after being acquired midway through that season. He’s also a right shot who routinely sacrifices his body to block shots, both of which are attributes good teams can always use more of.

Player type

Veteran defensive defenseman

A veteran left-shot defenseman with two Stanley Cup championships on his resume, Dumoulin profiles as a nice depth addition for a contender. Big and mobile, he can be trusted to move the puck effectively while handling a steady workload. He’s not known for being overly physical, but he won’t be pushed around. The 33-year-old is on an expiring contract and should be an easy piece for the Ducks to ship out before the deadline.

Player type

Depth defenseman with Cup rings

Lindgren is poised to potentially walk as a free agent on July 1 and also has had a hand in some of the Rangers’ defensive struggles this season. That’s not a great combination. A frequent partner of former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox, Lindgren has still seen his team take on water during his five-on-five minutes. However, he’s still considered a high-character player who doesn’t shy away from physical play and is at an age where he likely hasn’t yet hit his ceiling.

Player type

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Struggling veteran

A Big Board mainstay, this may finally be the season Gibson finds his way back to a competitive team. He’s lost the No. 1 job in Anaheim to Lukáš Dostál and is inching ever closer to the end of his contract with two years remaining on it after this one. That’s been the biggest impediment to finding him a new home. While Gibson’s numbers in recent seasons don’t jump off the page in a positive way, they should be viewed with the understanding that he’s played behind some horrific defensive teams. He’s also had a major bounce-back performance so far this season. In a trade market with very few goaltending options available, Gibson has the highest ceiling.

Player type

Former ace in need of a fresh start

Injuries have kept Zegras from building any positive momentum the past two seasons. A fresh start could help that along. The Ducks are demanding more attention to detail from the offensive specialist, and getting it, but Zegras is still searching for a way to hang on to the parts of his game that once separated him. Remember that he already has two 60-point campaigns under his belt at age 23. The production has dried up, as has some of the player’s enthusiasm.

Player type

Distressed asset

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Another giant depth forward at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Brazeau traveled the long road to the NHL and has earned a raise on his league-minimum $775,000 contract. He’s already hit the 10-goal mark for the first time in his career this season. Brazeau is a hard-working player who doesn’t hesitate to finish his checks.

Player type

Late-blooming power forward

Robertson has bit his lip since a summer trade request went unfulfilled by the Leafs, but the situation could still come to a head before the deadline. He has at least helped his trade value with some more productive outings since a brief string of scratches in December. However, in the big picture, Robertson hasn’t gained much traction under new head coach Craig Berube, and he may still get his desired fresh start once the Leafs begin looking at other acquisitions.

Player type

Diminutive winger who can score

A bottom-six forward option who plays hard at both ends of the ice, what you see is what you get from Kunin. He can chip in a bit offensively and has plenty of experience as a penalty killer. The right shot has made strides in the faceoff dot this season as well.

A pending unrestricted free agent in Pittsburgh who has contributed some offense this season, Beauvillier could be on the move yet again. He’s bounced from Long Island to Vancouver to Chicago to Nashville to the Penguins in the past three seasons. Still, Beauvillier is a skilled winger with decent puck-handling skills. He’s a pretty good skater, too.

A contract throw-in as part of the Flames-Flyers deal at the end of January, it would not be a surprise to see Kuzmenko flipped. The talented scorer has seen the goals disappear entirely this season and is on an expiring contract. But he remains a threat on the power play and could be due for a bounce-back.

For a few days at the 4 Nations Face-Off at least, Karlsson looked like he’d found the fountain of youth. He played extremely well for Team Sweden. Things have been much more up and down this season with the Penguins, and it’s only natural to wonder if he might benefit from a more competitive environment. His contract remains the biggest barrier to a trade since it covers two more years at a $10 million cap hit and the Penguins aren’t believed to be warm to the idea of salary retention.

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic, with photos of Seth Jones, Mikko Rantanen and Brayden Schenn by Patrick Smith, Ellen Schmidt and Jamie Sabau / Getty Images)

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Josh Giddey sinks half-court buzzer-beater to lift Bulls over Lakers in dramatic 119-117 win

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Josh Giddey sinks half-court buzzer-beater to lift Bulls over Lakers in dramatic 119-117 win

Josh Giddey capped a wild game-ending sequence with a half-court shot at the buzzer to give the Chicago Bulls a 119-117 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

The craziness began with the Bulls trailing 115-110. Patrick Williams hit a 3-pointer with 9.8 seconds left to narrow the deficit to two. A sloppy inbound pass from LeBron James was then stolen by Giddey. He got the ball to Coby White, whose 3 gave Chicago a one-point lead with 6.1 seconds left.

Following a timeout, Austin Reaves hit a driving layup to put the Lakers back on top by one with 3.3 seconds remaining. That merely set the stage for Giddey’s heroics.

After inbounding the ball, Giddey quickly got it back and swished a 3-pointer from just beyond the half-court line. He held his shooting hand aloft as the ball went through the net and the United Center crowd roared.

“As soon as it left my fingertips, it looked good,” Giddey said. “And that’s kind of why I held my follow-through the whole time. I had that feeling when it left. It looked straight. It felt good. It was a special night, obviously. A great comeback win. I’ll enjoy this one.”

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Giddey finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his fifth triple-double of the season. Chicago had trailed 91-75 entering the fourth quarter but staged a furious comeback thanks to 11 3-pointers.

 

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“The probability of us winning that game was probably very low,” White said. “But we defied the odds. It was a fun game to be a part of. That’s a game that I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.”

For the Lakers, the loss was a sharp comedown from the previous night, when James tipped in a rebound at the buzzer to secure a 120-119 win over the Indiana Pacers.

As the regular season enters the final stretch, Los Angeles (44-29) now finds itself in a precarious position after failing to capitalize on the Memphis Grizzlies’ (44-29) loss earlier in the night to move into sole possession of fourth in the Western Conference.

The Bulls (33-40) have won 9 of their last 11 games and swept the season series with the Lakers, including a 146-115 victory in Los Angeles on March 22.

“We just kind of kept hanging in there. From Patrick’s 3 to Josh’s steal to Coby’s 3, then Reaves makes a layup and then Josh throws in a half-court shot,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “Like, that all took place in 12 seconds. So, yeah, you’re not going to normally see that very often.”

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(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

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NCAA Women's Tournament 2025 highlights: UCLA cruises; South Carolina, LSU survive

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NCAA Women's Tournament 2025 highlights: UCLA cruises; South Carolina, LSU survive

The 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament continued Friday with the first day of Sweet 16 action.

[Read more: 2025 Women’s March Madness Schedule: Dates, locations, channels, how to watch]

Duke started the day with a vintage defensive performance, as the second-seeded Blue Devils stifled third-seeded North Carolina. After that, No. 1 seed South Carolina continued its title defense as the Gamecocks came back to hold off upset-minded Maryland. 

Third-seeded Louisiana State is also off to its third straight Elite Eight appearance after going through No. 2 seed North Carolina State to get there. 

The top seed in the NCAA women’s tournament, UCLA, looked the part on Friday night. The Bruins had little trouble with No. 5 seed Ole Miss.

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Here are all the biggest moments from Day 1 Sweet 16:

Lauren Betts was so dominant inside that she barely missed, scoring 31 points on 15-of-16 shooting to lead UCLA past Mississippi 76-62 on Friday night and sending the Bruins to the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.

The 6-foot-7 Betts added 10 rebounds and three blocks for the No. 1 overall seed, which will face LSU on Sunday for a chance to advance to the Final Four. 

Kiki Rice added 13 points and seven assists and was the only other player in double figures for the Bruins (32-2).

Tameiya Sadler scored 14 points for the fifth-seeded Rebels (22-10), who had reached the Elite Eight five times, but not since 2007.

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Betts had a similar line — 30 points and 14 rebounds — in the Bruins’ second-round 84-67 victory over Richmond.

Betts’ layup put the Bruins ahead 19-10 in the opening quarter, but Ole Miss closed within 21-19 on KK Deans’ jumper.

Deans’ fast-break layup at the end of the first half got the Rebels within 30-29 at the break.

The Bruins opened the second half with an 8-0 run and went up 45-33 on Londynn Jones’ 3-pointer.

Gabriela Jaquez was all alone on a fast-break layup that put UCLA up 63-46 in the final quarter, and Ole Miss never threatened after that.

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UCLA’s only two losses this season came against JuJu Watkins and Southern California before the Bruins got their revenge in the Big Ten Tournament final, beating USC 72-67.

Betts scored 16 of UCLA’s 30 first-half points, the second time this season that she’s scored more than half of the Bruins’ points in a half.

She has 93 blocks this season, averaging nearly three a game, and was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year.

LSU comes back to top NC State in thriller, moves on to another Elite Eight

Aneesah Morrow had 30 points and 19 rebounds, Kailyn Gilbert had a critical block that set up Mikaylah Williams’ go-ahead layup with 1:07 remaining, and No. 3 seed LSU rallied past second-seeded NC State 80-73 in a tense women’s NCAA Tournament regional semifinal on Friday.

The Wolfpack led 69-64 with 4:29 left before LSU began to surge, led by Williams, who scored 10 points in the fourth quarter. After Gilbert blocked a layup attempt by NC State’s Zoe Brooks, Williams converted on the other end to make it 74-73 — part of a game-closing 10-0 run for the Tigers (31-5).

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LSU, which won the national title two years ago for coach Kim Mulkey, reached the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season and will face top-seeded UCLA.

Sa’Myah Smith had 21 points and 11 rebounds for LSU, and Williams finished with 17 points and eight boards.

Brooks led NC State (28-7) with 21 points. Coach Wes Moore’s Wolfpack fell short in their bid to reach a second straight Final Four.

The game featured seven lead changes and four ties, and LSU’s 21-10 advantage in the first quarter was the biggest lead for either team. Morrow had 10 points in the first period.

NC State surged back ahead to take a 40-36 halftime lead, and Morrow again dominated in the third quarter, scoring 11 of her team’s 21 points in the period to put LSU ahead 57-53.

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NC State opened the fourth quarter with an 8-1 run. The Wolfpack held LSU without a field goal until Morrow made a layup with just over seven minutes to play.

Morrow, the nation’s top rebounder, had her 30th double-double of the season. Her effort on the boards helped the Tigers outrebound the Wolfpack 52-36, including an 18-10 advantage on the offensive glass.

The 6-foot-1 forward is one of two women in NCAA history with more than 100 double-doubles. She’s also the only player in the country with more than 600 points and 450 rebounds this season.

South Carolina survives scare from Maryland to advance to fifth straight Elite Eight

MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 23 points, including a go-ahead layup with 2:22 left, and Chloe Kitts added 15 points and 11 rebounds to help No. 1 seed South Carolina beat fourth-seeded Maryland 71-67 on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The defending national champion Gamecocks went back-and-forth with the Terrapins all game before finally doing enough in the final few minutes to put it away.

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South Carolina will face Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday. The Blue Devils beat Atlantic Coast Conference rival North Carolina 47-38 earlier Friday.

Dawn Staley’s team trailed 60-59 with 3:25 left before holding Maryland without a point over the next three minutes. Fulwiley’s layup began the 7-0 run that gave the Gamecocks (33-3) just enough of a cushion.

Kitts added three free throws during the spurt and Fulwiley scored on a coast-to-coast drive.

The Gamecocks were up 66-60 with 25 seconds left when Saylor Poffenbarger ended Maryland’s scoring drought with a 3-pointer.

But the Terps couldn’t get closer as the Gamecocks made five of six free throws down the stretch, including two by Fulwiley with 10.9 seconds left that made it 71-65.

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Kaylene Smikle scored 17 points to lead Maryland (25-8) before fouling out.

Neither team could get into an offensive flow in the first three quarters. South Carolina trailed 43-39 late in the third before closing out the period with a 13-7 run that was capped by a spectacular transition basket by Fulwiley, who went behind her back and then hit a pull-up shot.

The two teams had met once previously in the NCAA Tournament, an 86-75 win for South Carolina in the Elite Eight in 2023.

South Carolina avoided becoming the first defending champion to lose this early in the tournament since Louisville knocked off Brittney Griner and Baylor in 2013 in the Sweet 16.

Duke takes down rival UNC for a trip to the Elite Eight

Oluchi Okananwa recorded her third double-double of the season to lead ACC Tournament champion Duke past North Carolina 47-38 Friday and into the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

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The Blue Devils will make their 12th Elite Eight appearance in program history and will play either No. 1 seed and defending champion South Carolina or fourth-seeded Maryland, who were scheduled to play later Friday in Birmingham.

Okananwa scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half along with 10 rebounds off the bench for Duke, which got 26 points from its bench compared to North Carolina’s six. Ashlon Jackson finished with 10 points, and Toby Fournier, Duke’s leading scorer this season who missed the second round with an illness, was held to three points.

Fifth-year senior Alyssa Ustby had nine points on 3 of 10 shooting for the Tar Heels, who fell short in their attempt to advance to their first Elite 8 since 2014.

Neither team shot the ball well. Duke shot 31% after missing its first nine field goals. North Carolina went 28% from the field.

Part of it could have been because of familiarity. The teams played each other for the second time this season less than a month ago. North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said this week that there’s an added level of comfort going against a team they just played.

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But this was also two of the top defenses in the country going at it, forcing turnovers, errant shots and desperate heaves late in the shot clock at the start of the game.

It was the first ever meeting in the NCAA tournament between the two teams, who have played each other 111 times. North Carolina still holds a slight 56-55 edge.

Reporting by The Associated Press

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Mookie Betts hits walk-off for second homer of the game as Dodgers rally in 10th to win

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Mookie Betts hits walk-off for second homer of the game as Dodgers rally in 10th to win

Another night that began with a ceremony for the Dodgers’ World Series championship culminated in a win.

And this time, not even one of the most important players from last year’s title-winning squad could crash the party.

Over a nearly 30-minute pregame ceremony Friday — one with so many Hollywood touches, it was emceed by actor Anthony Anderson and the voice of the Academy Awards, Randy Thomas — almost every member of the 2024 Dodgers was called to a makeshift infield stage to be presented with their intricately designed, 14-karat, diamond-bedazzled World Series rings.

Everyone, that is, except for Jack Flaherty.

Five months ago the L.A. native and childhood Dodgers fan played a key role on the championship team. He started Game 1 of both the National League Championship Series and the Fall Classic. He was one of the most emotional players during the downtown parade and Chavez Ravine celebration. And as he entered free agency, he made his hopes of staying with the organization abundantly clear.

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“I love this city!” he yelled from a parade bus on the first day of November. “I never want to leave! I never want to leave!”

Leaving, however, was Flaherty’s only choice. He was squeezed out of the Dodgers’ winter plans following their signings of Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki. He ultimately re-signed in the same place he started last year, returning to the Detroit Tigers team that dealt him in a crucial deadline deal last summer.

And, in a serendipitous twist of scheduling coincidence, he returned to Dodger Stadium on Friday as the opposing starting pitcher, left to watch his old team’s ring ceremony while warming up in right field.

“He was the right person at the right time for our club,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game, cracking a sly grin. “Now, we can go beat him up today, and give him his ring tomorrow.”

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In an 8-5 win over the Tigers, however, Flaherty became more of a backstory.

Despite holding the Dodgers hitless over four innings, and keeping them off the scoreboard until Freddie Freeman’s tying two-run homer in the sixth, Flaherty could only watch as his former team celebrated a walk-off win, a back-and-forth affair that ended on Mookie Betts’ three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning.

In the final three innings, the lead changed multiple times.

Betts initially broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run in the eighth. Detroit’s Manuel Margot, also briefly a member of last year’s Dodgers team, then knotted the score again with an RBI single off Tanner Scott in the ninth.

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In the top of the 10th, the Tigers appeared to take control when Dillon Dingler lined a two-run triple just beyond a diving effort from Michael Conforto in left.

But the Dodgers answered back once more. Conforto hit an RBI double. Will Smith came off the bench for a tying, pinch-hit single. Then, after Shohei Ohtani kept the rally going with a base hit to right, Betts went deep for the second time in as many at-bats, launching a blast deep to left to keep the Dodgers’ perfect start intact at 4-0.

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