Start each day with the Chicago Tribune's top sports stories, delivered to your inbox
Sports Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | | |
| | | | |
Good morning, Chicago. The season is over for the Illinois women's basketball team. The No. 7 seed Illini lost to No. 2 Vanderbilt 75-57 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Illinois (22-12) came in with the youngest team in this tournament after having to replace four starters. The Illini go home still looking to end a Sweet 16 drought extending back to their last berth in 1998.
Berry Wallace led the team with 18 points, and Cearah Parchment and Jasmine Bown-Hagger each added 12. Up next for Vanderbilt (29-4) is No. 6 seed Notre Dame, a winner over Ohio State earlier Monday, in the Fort Worth 1 Region on Friday in their 15th regional semifinal all-time. Hannah Hidalgo put together another dominant performance with 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight steals. It is the second time in the second-team AP All-American’s career she has had at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals in a game. Hidalgo, a junior, had her eighth double-double of the season and the 16th of her career. Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History | | | | Seiya Suzuki’s PCL sprain in his right knee will force the Chicago Cubs right fielder to begin the season on the injured list. | | | | | The Chicago White Sox wrapped up spring training on Monday. Here are three takeaways from camp, including Munetaka Murakami’s ability to make adjustments. | | | | | The Big Ten walked the walk on the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, which bodes well for the possibility of its first national championship since 2000. | | | | | Kalif Raymond plans to bring an “aggressive” approach to Chicago Bears special teams: “There’s just so much history here.” | | | | | It’s the busiest week on the NFL’s offseason calendar. Here’s the latest Chicago Bears news in free agency. | | | | | Yaxel Lendeborg was a force in leading the Midwest Region’s top-seeded team in overwhelming its first two opponents and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. Michigan will play fourth-seeded Alabama in Chicago on Friday. | | | |