The Sportsletter - Minutes to March ⏱️

BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 24, 2025 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Welcome Back 👋

It’s a trifecta for women’s sports on this Monday morning. College hoops, the USWNT and a skiing legend steal the spotlight. We’re mere moments from March, and a spring season of sports variety is only just beginning.

Letter Rip!

NCAA

Minutes to March ⏱️

(NC State Celebrates 2OT Win Over #1 Notre Dame) -- Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

#1 Notre Dame Women Stunned by #13 NC State in 2OT | Men: Top 6 Flex as March Nears Closer

Ah, so close. The month of ‘Madness’ is merely minutes away. Okay, we're getting a bit too excited. March 1 isn’t until Saturday (4 more days), but college basketball seasons are nearing the finish line, and the “bubble” is starting to burst for teams across the country. Conference tournaments are beginning soon with many tipping off as early as March 2 (Sunday). Let's get caught up on the final February weekend in college hoops before the month that reins supreme.

🚨 Unlucky Irish Upset in Raleigh

#13 NC State def. #1 Notre Dame (104-95, 2OT)

A surprising weekend favored most of the top teams (for once) with only one major upset, but it was a big one. Women’s #1 Notre Dame fell to #13 NC State (104-95, 2OT) in Raleigh. The Irish needed a buzzer-beater 3 to force overtime before the Wolfpack pulled away in the second OT. NC State’s Zoe Brooks notched 33 points and 10 boards. That upset changes things in today’s AP Women’s Top 10, but the men’s top 10 should look similar to last week.

🏀 NCAA Women’s Basketball

#3 UCLA def. Iowa (67-65)

#4 USC def. #25 Illinois (76-66)

#5 UConn def. Butler (86-47)

#6 South Carolina def. Vanderbilt (82-54)

#7 LSU def. #14 Kentucky (65-58)

#8 Ohio State def. Purdue (98-46)

#9 North Carolina def. Louisville (79-75)

🏀 NCAA Men’s Basketball

#1 Auburn def. Georgia (82-70)

#2 Florida def. LSU (79-65)

#3 Duke def. Illinois (110-67)

#4 Alabama def. #17 Kentucky (96-83)

#5 Houston def. #8 Iowa State (68-59)

#6 Tennessee def. #7 Texas A&M (77-69)

#10 St. John’s def. UConn (89-75)

Oregon def. #11 Wisconsin (77-73, OT)

Indiana def. #13 Purdue (73-58)

Arkansas def. #15 Missouri (92-85)

SOCCER

America's Soccer Blitz 🇺🇸

Photo: Aryanna Frank / Getty Images

USWNT Aims for 6th SheBelieves Cup, The 2025 MLS Season is Underway & American Soccer Nears Its World Cup Moment

A loaded weekend of soccer — on American soil for once — grabbed the sport's attention stateside. While Europe’s soccer craze runs year-round, the American game has been dormant since November. In the past 48 hours, the U.S. Women’s National Team beat Australia (2-1) in the SheBelieves Cup, and the 30th season of the MLS kicked off. We’re also less than 500 days away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. With record signings in the MLS and a new manager extracting greatness from the USWNT, the future is here.

SheBelieves Cup

🇺🇸 USWNT def. 🇦🇺 Australia (2-1)

The U.S. Women’s National Team is now on the precipice of a sixth straight SheBelieves Cup title after beating Australia Sunday night in Phoenix (2-1). Lynn Biyendolo (1’) and Michelle Cooper (68’) were the goal-scoring culprits after manager Emma Hayes swapped all 11 starters from last week’s win over Colombia. The USWNT will face Japan on Wednesday (10:30 pm ET).

⚽️ MLS Begins Year 30 With 30 Clubs

I remember when the MLS had 18 clubs just a few years ago. How far we’ve come. The league began play for the 2025 season this weekend with all 30 clubs in action for the 30th season anniversary. Key storylines included: Emmanuel Latte Lath’s brace in his Atlanta United debut, more Lionel Messi magic in Inter Miami’s opener, and Kevin Denkey’s game-winner for FC Cincinnati after his record signing this offseason.

Full MLS Scoreboard

*The NWSL season begins in March

SKIING

Shiffrin Slaloms to Special 100th ⛷️

Photo: Stefani Guido / Getty Images

Mikaela Shiffrin Claims 100th World Cup Victory 3 Months After Crash

If there was any doubt about Mikaela Shiffrin’s status as the greatest slalom skier of all time, it’s gone now. The U.S. skiing legend was involved in an ugly crash back in November that disrupted her attempt at a 100th World Cup victory in Vermont. She returned to the slopes this weekend in Italy and found redemption on Sunday.

Shiffrin won the slalom by 0.61 seconds to capture her 100th career World Cup victory. At 29 years old, she’s the most decorated downhill skier on planet earth. No other skier has won more than 86 World Cup races. She’s also tied for the most podiums (top-3 finishes) with 155. Her century milestone includes: 63 in slalom, 22 in giant slalom, 5 in Super-G, 4 in downhill, 1 in Alpine and 5 in parallel races. “Untouchable. Unreachable. Unrepeatable.” -- NBC Broadcast

Shiffrin is officially on the Mount Rushmore of winter sports athletes alongside Swiss, Swedish and Norwegian legends. In American winter sports? She's one of one.

NBC Sports: Mikaela Shiffrin Earns 100th World Cup Win to Join Exclusive Winter Sports Century Club

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

🏀 NBA

Luka & LeBron Combine for 57 in Win

Beat Nuggets (123-100), +20 With Luka on Floor

Celtics Top Knicks to Win 5th Straight

BOS def. NYC (118-105), Tatum (25 pts)

Full NBA Scoreboard

🏒 NHL

Alex Ovechkin Scores Hat Trick in Caps’ Win

Caps def. Oilers (7-3), Ovi 13 From Gretzky’s Record

Sabres Trounce Rangers in NY Battle