This month, Gen Z–focused basketball media company Overtime (OT) announced a content partnership with UConn women’s basketball — a first-of-its-kind deal for college sports. While embedded content studios aren’t new, head of OT Select and women’s basketball Sascha Malas told us earlier this month that universities haven’t partnered directly with media companies before.

Time flies when you’re dancing — just ask the four teams that have already shimmied their way into the men’s Elite Eight. The second half of the field will be decided today with the Final Four locked in before the end of the weekend.

Turns out New Jersey produces stellar hoopers. Vandy’s Mikayla Blakes, the nation’s leading scorer, and ND’s Hannah Hidalgo, one of the best two-way players in the game, both hail from the Garden State. There must’ve been something in the water.

Texas is on an absolute heater, winning a nail-biter in the First Four, then upsetting No. 6 BYU and No. 3 Gonzaga in the span of five days. But this tournament only gets tougher — enter: the also scorching Boilermakers.

On Monday, Mesirow Capital Markets — an independent, employee-owned financial services firm — arranged a $40M private placement (or private bond financing plan) for Denver Summit FC, the Denver-based NWSL expansion club set to break attendance records at its home opener this weekend.

A season that spans 162 games from March to September provides plenty of opportunity for pondering. The introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS, more on that below) is undoubtedly the biggest shakeup of the season, but first, here are the other major storylines we’re following before first pitch.

This year’s campaign features an intriguing plot twist: The introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, which will allow players — specifically the batter, the pitcher, and the catcher — to challenge an umpire’s ball or strike call. From how it works to the unexpected fallout , here’s everything you need to know.

With March Madness finally here, we spoke with Terése Whitehead and Kim DeCarolis, who lead NIL and commercial strategy at Michigan and Georgia, respectively. Both are embedded on campus through their work with Altius Sports Partners, which launched in 2020 and has quickly become a leading strategic advisor for college athletic departments.

Call up MTV because the men’s (super) Sweet 16 is set following 48 heart-pumping games. Catch up on the second-round drama, then take a moment to regroup before the fun resumes on Thursday.

Over 100 hours of negotiations later, we finally have a new WNBA CBA. The term sheet is still being finalized and the deal needs to be ratified, but reports indicate the league’s sixth CBA is as transformational as hoped. And exhale.

How’s that bracket doing? March is already off to a heart-pounding start, with the signature Madness in full force during yesterday’s men’s first-round matchups.

How’s that bracket doing? March is already off to a heart-pounding start, with the signature Madness in full force during yesterday’s men’s first-round matchups.