March Madness: The Round of 64 has arrived

The NCAA men's tournament tips off today with 16 games from noon to midnight

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:38pm

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The NCAA men's basketball tournament has arrived, with the Round of 64 games tipping off today across four different regional sites. Highlights include the debut of several top seeds, a matchup between Hall of Fame coaches Tom Izzo and John Calipari, and a potential first-round upset as VCU takes on North Carolina. The WNBA and players' union also reached a "transformational" new CBA deal, while the Champions League quarterfinals are set with some of the most successful clubs in the competition's history.

Why it matters

The NCAA tournament is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, with millions of fans filling out brackets and tuning in to watch the drama unfold. The new WNBA CBA represents a major milestone for the league, while the Champions League quarterfinals feature a who's who of European soccer powerhouses.

The details

The NCAA men's tournament tips off today with 16 games across four regional sites - Buffalo, Portland, Oklahoma City and Greenville, South Carolina. Highlights include a matchup between 8-seed Ohio State and 9-seed TCU, 4-seed Nebraska looking for their first-ever NCAA tournament win, and a potential first-round upset as 6-seed North Carolina takes on 11-seed VCU. In the WNBA, the league and players' union reached a "transformational" new CBA deal after marathon negotiations, featuring major increases to the salary cap, supermax salaries, and revenue sharing. The Champions League quarterfinals are also set, with 33 of the first 70 titles in the competition's history won by this year's quarterfinalists, including four of the five winningest teams ever.

  • The NCAA men's tournament tips off today, March 19, 2026.
  • The WNBA's new CBA was reached after eight straight days of negotiations totaling more than 100 hours.
  • The Champions League quarterfinals will be played in the first two weeks of April, followed by the semifinals two weeks later, and the final on May 30 in Hungary.

The players

Lionel Messi

Scored his 900th career goal for club and country, joining Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to reach that milestone.

Breanna Stewart

WNBPA vice president and two-time MVP, who called the new CBA "transformational."

Nneka Ogwumike

WNBPA president and 2016 MVP, who noted the new CBA features a "truly meaningful share of league revenue" for players.

Tom Izzo

Hall of Fame basketball coach who will be patrolling the sidelines in the NCAA tournament.

John Calipari

Hall of Fame basketball coach who will be patrolling the sidelines in the NCAA tournament.

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What’s next

Once the WNBA CBA is finalized and ratified, the league will have a busy schedule leading up to the start of the season on May 8, including an expansion draft, free agency, the college draft, training camp, and preseason games.

The takeaway

The NCAA tournament's Round of 64 tips off today, offering basketball fans a thrilling start to March Madness. Meanwhile, the WNBA and its players have reached a groundbreaking new CBA that will significantly boost salaries and revenue sharing, signaling a transformative moment for the league. And the Champions League quarterfinals feature some of the most successful clubs in the competition's history, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the European season.