Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley have tense postgame exchange after South Carolina shock UConn in Final Four

• Gamecocks end Huskies’ winning streak at 54 games

• Auriemma: ‘I said what I had to say. It was nothing’

• Staley: ‘If I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea’

UConn coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley had a heated exchange on the sideline after the Gamecocks beat the undefeated Huskies 62-48 in Friday night’s semi-final of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

South Carolina ended UConn’s winning streak at 54 games and secured a return trip to the national championship game.

Published: April 4, 2026, 1:25 am

‘I still have a lot left’: Rory McIlroy on his Masters defence and staying motivated

Northern Irishman bristles at suggestions he has peaked as he returns to Augusta with the same intensity as always

It was an opening which depicted more than a decade of toil. “I’d like to start this press conference with a question,” said Rory McIlroy. “What are we all going to talk about next year?”

The wait was over. McIlroy had not only won the Masters, not only ended an 11-year wait for a fifth major, and not only become the sixth man in history to complete a grand slam. The ticking of all three boxes at once and in extraordinary circumstances was why the scenes at Augusta National in 2025 are unlikely to be matched as the 90th Masters staging approaches.

Published: April 3, 2026, 6:00 pm

Luka Dončić will miss rest of Lakers’ regular season with hamstring strain

• NBA scoring leader hurt in Thursday’s loss to Thunder

• LA have five games left before postseason begins

• Absence may force Dončić out of individual awards race

Luka Dončić will miss the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers’ regular season with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring, the team announced Friday.

Dončić is the NBA’s top scorer and the driving force behind the Lakers’ surge into the third spot in the Western Conference standings, but he injured his leg during Los Angeles’ blowout 139-96 loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday. An MRI exam revealed the severity of the strain.

Published: April 3, 2026, 10:47 pm

Nyadiew Puoch leads three Australians to earn a shot in WNBA expansion draft

• 21-year-old rising star and Chloe Bibby selected to join Portland Fire

• Opals coach Sandy Brondello’s Toronto Tempo pick Kristy Wallace

Australian rising star Nyadiew Puoch has been rewarded for her stellar season with the WNBL side UC Capitals, gaining selection for Portland Fire in the WNBA’s expansion draft.

Puoch was the breakout star for the Capitals last season, averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals as her team fell just short of the WNBL finals.

Published: April 4, 2026, 3:31 am

Tiger Woods told police he talked to ‘the president’ after arrest, bodycam shows

• Golfer has pled not guilty to DUI charges in Florida

• Footage shows Woods’s shock: ‘I’m being arrested?’

• Hydrocodone pills found in pocket following arrest

Bodycam footage of Tiger Woods’s arrest for DUI shows the golfer looking surprised when he was handcuffed by police officers at the scene of a vehicle crash last week and telling a deputy he had spoken to “the president” on the phone after the incident.

“I do believe your normal faculties are impaired, and you’re under an unknown substance, so at this time you’re under arrest for DUI,” Martin County Sheriff’s deputy Tatiana Levenar told Woods after officers conducted a series of field sobriety exercises on the 50-year-old.

Published: April 3, 2026, 2:08 pm

USMNT World Cup squad predictions: how we see the 26 for 2026

Mauricio Pochettino faces several tough decisions to name a squad for the 2026 World Cup hosts

A full 24 matches into the Mauricio Pochettino era, we have arrived at the moment of truth. The US men’s national team’s 2026 World Cup roster will be named on 26 May, and the team’s two recent friendlies (a 5-2 loss to Belgium and a 2-0 loss to Portgual) have given Pochettino plenty to think about as he makes his selection.

We here at the Guardian have made our picks as well – based a little on our own preference, but still within the realm of what Pochettino may do. Separately, the three of us made our 26-man rosters. Any player who we agreed on got the “on the squad” designation. Anyone we differed on is listed as “up for debate”, with other notable exclusions listed as “out of the picture”.

Published: April 3, 2026, 9:00 am

Unhittable: are the modern era’s weightlifting, analytics-fueled pitchers too good?

A new book explores how technology and a host of maverick innovators have given rise to an exceptional crop of baseball players

In a 1940 publicity stunt, the Cleveland Indians’ flamethrowing pitcher, Bob Feller, tested which was faster: One of his own blazing deliveries, or a motorcycle. Feller’s pitching won, hands down. But today, Feller’s once-remarkable speed has become commonplace, even bettered, as major leaguers routinely pass triple figures on the radar gun. The secret to this arms race? The advances in pitching analytics,often authored by people without any previous baseball pedigree.

That’s part of the narrative of Unhittable, a new book by one such individual – Rob Friedman, more commonly known to his online followers as PitchingNinja. The book’s subtitle says it all: How Technology, Mavericks and Innovators Engineered Baseball’s New Era of Pitching Dominance.

Published: April 3, 2026, 9:00 am

‘This is what you don’t see in F1’: the university where future race engineers are made

With alumni in every F1 team, Oxford Brookes University’s Formula Student team is the most prestigious in the country

At the Oxford Brookes Headington campus, more than 100 students are busy building the fastest, best designed race car possible for this year’s Formula Student competition.

Oxford Brookes Racing (OBR) is the UK’s most prestigious Formula Student team. They’ve won more design awards than any UK university, and frequently occupy the international race’s top spots.

Published: April 3, 2026, 12:16 pm

Five matches, 16 days, a season to save: Slot’s Liverpool vision faces a defining moment

Starting at Manchester City in the FA Cup, Arne Slot must show doubters his plan for a team in transition can succeed

There were more important reasons for Jürgen Klopp’s return to Liverpool last Saturday, but it was apposite his presence reminded Anfield of the unshakable bond and belief they once shared, the joy his football brought. Those pillars of Klopp’s reign are weakening under Arne Slot and April may determine whether they are left standing at all.

Two cup quarter-finals in succession should signal a season on the right track for Liverpool; showpiece occasions such as Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday whetting the appetite for what May could have in store.

Published: April 3, 2026, 7:00 pm

Chelsea axe Enzo Fernández for two games after ‘crossing a line’ with Madrid comments

• Rosenior: ‘It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way’

• ‘You have to protect this club and culture’

Enzo Fernández has been dropped for Chelsea’s next two games, with Liam Rosenior suggesting the club’s vice-captain had “crossed a line” in recent comments over his future.

Following what he described as the worst 10 days of his career, Rosenior insisted he had to punish Fernández, who first questioned whether he would remain at Stamford Bridge beyond this season and then suggested he would like to live in Madrid – a comment widely viewed as courting a move to Real Madrid, a club with which he has frequently been linked.

Published: April 3, 2026, 9:30 pm

Pep Guardiola will not stand in Rodri’s way if he wants to join Real Madrid

• Manchester City midfielder can leave if ‘not happy’

• ‘My wish is that Rodri could stay as long as possible’

Pep Guardiola will not stand in Rodri’s way if the midfielder wishes to leave Manchester City for Real Madrid, though the manager believes he will stay at the club beyond this summer.

During the international break Rodri, whose contract expires in June 2027, was asked about reports that Real’s president, Florentino Pérez, wished to sign him. When answering, the 29-year-old referenced how being a former Atlético Madrid player would be no obstacle.

Published: April 3, 2026, 9:30 pm

‘Like a ball of poison’: Mikel Arteta admits to pain from Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final loss

• Arteta claims defeat will haunt him for ‘next 30 years’

• Hincapié and Madueke to miss FA Cup sixth round

Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal’s defeat by title rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final last month left him feeling like he had a “ball of poison” in his stomach but has vowed to use that painful experience to ensure his team ends the season with silverware.

Arsenal were totally outplayed in the second half at Wembley a fortnight ago as two goals for Nico O’Reilly enabled Pep Guardiola’s side to land a psychological blow over the Premier League leaders and end their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple. Arteta refused to confirm whether Kepa Arrizabalaga would start against Southampton in the sixth round of the FA Cup at St Mary’s on Saturday evening after the reserve goalkeeper’s mistake led to O’Reilly’s opener.

Published: April 3, 2026, 9:30 pm

Harry Kane, England’s Ballon d’Or hopeful, is finally getting the love he deserves | Barney Ronay

Sublime stint at Bayern Munich has made home audiences appreciate a man who isn’t flash or twinkly but is his country’s best footballer

Everyone has their favourite mental comfort food, the stuff that makes you feel good in troubled times. Maybe you like baking bread and listening to history podcasts about Nazi atrocities. Maybe it’s watching Notting Hill in a Hugh Grant mask.

Perhaps you love to unwind by sitting in your walnut-panelled library and reading Catullus, naked, covered in Doritos crumbs, with a plastic bag over your head. Or enjoy nothing better than doomscrolling in a state of late-night brain-death, before accidentally subscribing to a mystery supplement that will rid you of all the horrific writhing parasites inside your body, because the advert had a really convincing animated graphic that made you hate yourself.

Published: April 3, 2026, 7:00 pm

Championship roundup: Coventry edge past Derby to close in on promotion

• Wrexham rally against West Brom to boost playoff push

• Leicester earn precious point against Preston

Jack Rudoni came off the bench to score twice as Championship leaders Coventry moved 11 points clear of second-placed Millwall with a 3-2 victory against Derby.

The midfielder had been out of action since 28 February but returned to devastating effect as Coventry made it eight wins in nine league outings.

Published: April 3, 2026, 9:23 pm

Roy Hodgson rolls back years on Bristol City managerial return with victory at Charlton

The first Championship match of Roy Hodgson’s half-century-long coaching career was not an easy one to watch but, at the end of it, the Bristol City interim head coach was shrugging his shoulders and smiling. A seesaw second half at Charlton, stuffed full of late chances for both teams, was enough to make even the youngest coach’s heart race.

“There were a few five-minute periods where I thought: ‘This is fantastic.’ And there were a few periods where I was saying: ‘What on earth are you doing here?’” the 78-year-old smiled afterwards, victory secured in his first game back, 44 years after his first stint.

Published: April 3, 2026, 5:49 pm

Gennaro Gattuso exits as Italy manager after World Cup qualifying failure

• Italy have missed three consecutive World Cups

• Gattuso: ‘It has been an honour to lead national team’

Italy’s chaotic and miserable week on and off the pitch reached a ­predictable conclusion on Friday with the head coach, Gennaro Gattuso, leaving the role after the Azzurri’s failure to reach the World Cup.

Italy were beaten by Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup ­playoff on Tuesday, the home side winning on penalties in Zenica, meaning the four-time winners have now missed out on the finals for three successive editions.

Published: April 3, 2026, 12:41 pm

Burslem Globetrotters: Port Vale’s travelling stars plot Chelsea shock

Australian manager Jon Brady and New Zealand striker Ben Waine have guided League One strugglers to quarter-finals

The Port Vale manager, Jon Brady, left Australia as a 17-year-old to chase his dream of playing in the United Kingdom. Spells at Brentford, Swansea and Wycombe did not make a first-team debut a reality. The sacrifice would not be wasted as determination to make a career in England grew stronger, becoming a non-league stalwart, but always with an eye on what came next.

Like Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final opponent, Chelsea’s head coach Liam Rosenior, Brady plotted a route to the dugout from early on, earning his B licence at the age of 23. Twenty-eight years later, he has managed more than 500 league games, in charge of Brackley and Northampton before joining League One’s bottom club in January, and embarking on a surprising Cup run.

Published: April 3, 2026, 4:00 pm

Northampton hold off Castres in 49-41 epic to reach Champions Cup quarter-finals

• Hosts make French side pay for yellow cards

• Saints progress to tie against Bath or Saracens

Butterfingered hosts Northampton held off ill-disciplined visitors Castres to win 49-41 on Friday nightto reach the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup.

The French side collected two yellow cards in three minutes in the first half and another with 10 minutes left but they were also undone by their poor tackling and covering in defence and by three missed conversions from six tries. When Northampton did not drop the ball, or pass to their opponents, they threatened a try with every attack. They scored seven times, one a penalty try, and their French fly-half Anthony Belleau kicked the other six conversions.

Published: April 3, 2026, 10:02 pm

Coventry City 3-2 Derby County: Championship – as it happened

Jack Rudoni came on to score twice and edge Coventry a little closer to a Premier League return

2 min: Van Ewijk looks long for Simms. Clarke intercepts. Then Esse hassles Ward down the left and forces the first corner of the match. Coventry have scored 24 goals from set pieces this season, the division’s best … but this one comes to nothing.

Derby get the ball rolling. The CBS Arena roaring.

Published: April 3, 2026, 9:41 pm

Slot has no regrets over treatment of Salah and insists forward solely decided Liverpool exit

• Salah critical of head coach in December after being left out

• Slot: ‘The only one who can talk about it is Mo himself’

Arne Slot has no regrets over his treatment of Mohamed Salah and claimed it was entirely the forward’s decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

The Liverpool head coach declined to divulge why or when Salah decided to leave the club as he faced the media on Friday for the first time since the Egypt international’s announcement. Slot believes it should be left to Salah to explain the reasons for exiting 12 months before his contract is due to expire.

Published: April 3, 2026, 9:30 pm

County cricket: Gay makes hay on opening day to blast season’s first century

Zak Crawley failed to put the Ashes misery behind him but history was made at Southampton where Noah Thain became the first full substitute

• Foakes rescues Surrey as Championship makes earliest start

A smattering/ripple/slurp of applause as the players take the field. Tom Haines and Daniel Hughes in the middle. A windswept Ian Holland with the ball, the umpire in gloves. Here we go…

Ali Martin spoke to Shoaib Bashir. I really hope he finds the pastures welcoming at Derby – must have been a topsy-turvy few years.

Published: April 3, 2026, 7:40 pm

Bill Leyland completes unlikely St Helens comeback to stun leaders Wigan

• St Helens 34-24 Wigan

• On-loan hooker scores twice in last 10 minutes

The derby rarely fails to disappoint, but just when you think this 130-year-old rivalry cannot get any more unbelievable, this happens. The scoreline looks unremarkable, but that tells only a fraction of the story of the 367th meeting between St Helens and Wigan.

The pre-match talk was not who would win, it was how many Wigan, the league leaders going into the Easter programme, would win by. Saints, humiliated 52-10 at Hull KR last week, were without a dozen first-team regulars, many of them starters. They soon lost a 13th when prop Agnatius Paasi limped off after four minutes.

Published: April 3, 2026, 5:23 pm

UCLA hold off Texas in slugfest to set up title game matchup with South Carolina

• Bruins to play for first championship in program history

• As it happened: UCLA 51-44 Texas

Lauren Betts had 16 points and made a huge block in the final minutes, and UCLA withstood a late charge by Texas on Friday night for a 51-44 win to reach the national championship game of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time.

Manhandled by eventual national champion UConn in their first Final Four a year ago, the Bruins (36-1) dominated their way to another national semi-final with the best season in program history.

Published: April 4, 2026, 4:09 am

NCAA women’s Final Four: UCLA 51-44 Texas; South Carolina 62-48 UConn – as it happened

• Bruins reach title game for first time in program history

• Gamecocks end Huskies’ winning streak at 54 games

• Auriemma, Staley have tense postgame exchange

South Carolina 8-13 UConn, 3:55 left, first quarter: And as I type that, Sarah Strong bails out her team with a 3-pointer as the shot clock nears zero. She scores again after another Okot miss, and the Huskies are already running away.

Tessa Johnson responds with a layup and then a jumper.

Published: April 4, 2026, 4:06 am

UConn’s Sarah Strong named AP player of the year after standout sophomore season

• Strong is Huskies’ first winner since Paige Bueckers in 2021

• ‘Low-key superstar’ has led undefeated team to Final Four

Sarah Strong of UConn was named the Associated Press women’s basketball Player of the Year after leading the Huskies to an undefeated season, setting the stage for a run to the Final Four.

Strong became just the fifth player to win the award in her sophomore year, joining Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris (2007), UConn stars Maya Moore (2009) and Breanna Stewart (2014) and USC’s JuJu Watkins, who won it last year. The AP started giving out the award in 1995.

Published: April 3, 2026, 8:38 pm

Duke’s Cameron Boozer joins Cooper Flagg on list of freshmen to win player of the year

• Son of NBA star Carlos Boozer led Blue Devils to 35 wins

• Other freshmen winners went No 1 or No 2 in NBA draft

Cameron Boozer was at the center of everything for Duke this season.

The 6ft 9in forward proved tough enough to score through physical play. Rangy enough to space the floor and shoot from outside. Deft enough as a passer to find teammates, whether against constant double teams coming for him as the top name on every scouting report or while running the entire offense from up top.

“You just want to affect winning in whatever way you can,” Boozer said.

The high-end NBA prospect did that all season for a team who won 35 games, reached No 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, claimed the top overall seed for March Madness and reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight. Now he’s the AP’s men’s college basketball national player of the year, only the fifth freshman to earn the honor and the second in a row for a Duke program that keeps adding to the longest list of winners in the country. Sarah Strong of UConn was named the women’s player of the year.

Published: April 3, 2026, 8:26 pm