Michigan Wins Men's Title, UNC Hires New Coach

Plus, a major WNBA trade and a look ahead to the Masters

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:36pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college basketball game, with players and the court fragmented into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the dynamic action and emotion of the championship moment.The vibrant celebration of Michigan's national championship victory showcases the raw energy and passion of college basketball's biggest stage.Today in Pittsburgh

Michigan completed its dream season by winning the men's basketball national championship, defeating UConn 69-63. The Wolverines became the first school to win a title with an all-transfer starting lineup. In other news, the Chicago Sky traded star player Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream, and North Carolina hired Michael Malone as its new head basketball coach.

Why it matters

Michigan's title victory caps off an impressive season for the Wolverines, who rode at or near the top of the rankings all year. The all-transfer starting lineup is a notable achievement, showcasing the growing importance of the transfer portal in college basketball. The Reese trade shakes up the WNBA landscape, while UNC's hiring of Malone represents a new era for the storied Tar Heels program.

The details

Michigan's win over UConn wasn't pretty, but Dusty May's squad did just enough to hold off the relentless Huskies. Elliot Cadeau, a North Carolina transfer, was named the Most Outstanding Player. In the WNBA, the Chicago Sky traded star player Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream after Reese made harsh comments about the team, management, and coaching staff. North Carolina hired Michael Malone as its new head basketball coach, marking his return to the college game after spending the majority of his career in the NBA.

  • The 2026 men's basketball national championship game took place on April 7, 2026.
  • The WNBA trade sending Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream occurred in April 2026.
  • North Carolina hired Michael Malone as its new head basketball coach in April 2026.

The players

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team.

Elliot Cadeau

The North Carolina transfer who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 men's basketball national championship game.

Angel Reese

A star player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA who was traded to the Atlanta Dream in April 2026.

Michael Malone

The new head basketball coach hired by the University of North Carolina in April 2026.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Michigan's national championship victory with an all-transfer starting lineup highlights the growing importance of the transfer portal in college basketball. The Reese trade and UNC's coaching change also represent significant shifts in the WNBA and college basketball landscapes.