Perhaps for the first time in 2026, Alex Vesia felt some normalcy on Friday night.

The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher made his return to the pitcher’s mound in his first Major League outing since his infant daughter died just five days after she was born.

Before the World Series, the left-hander left the team to deal with a “deeply personal matter” and did not pitch in the Fall Classic. 

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Days after the Dodgers won the World Series, he and his wife announced their infant daughter had died.

Vesia returned to the team during spring training and then entered the Dodgers’ game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning of a 4-4 tie.

It was quite the spot for Vesia to return, but given his 2.36 ERA over the last two seasons, it was no sweat. He left a runner stranded on second base and kept the D-Backs scoreless en route to the team’s 5-4 win over their division rival.

Vesia let out a yell and pointed toward the Dodgers’ family section while getting a standing ovation from the crowd.

Vesia was wearing a customized pink glove with his daughter’s name, Sterling Sol, stitched on it, along with her birthday and his wife’s first initial, K for Kayla, embroidered on the glove’s ring finger.

Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

DODGERS PITCHER’S WIFE LIVES THROUGH ‘BITTER SWEET’ OPENING DAY MONTHS AFTER INFANT DAUGHTER’S DEATH

“What I would give to have my Sterling girl here, carrying her in my heart always,” Kayla said in an Instagram post earlier this week to celebrate a “bitter-sweet” opening day.

Sterling passed between Game 2 and Game 3 when the series was tied at one game apiece. During the Fall Classic, relievers from the Toronto Blue Jays wrote Vesia’s jersey number, 51, on their hats.

In his first news conference of the year in spring training, Vesia called his wife “the strongest person that I know” and “a support system for me every bit as much as I am for her.”

“Life can change in an instant. For us, 10 minutes is all it took,” Vesia said in February. “Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world. We got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her and love her. Our time together was far too short. Kay and I will keep those precious moments and memories to ourselves.

“Stepping away from the team, the brothers that I go to war with every day, was difficult, but it was also an easy decision because my family needed me. We still watched every pitch of the World Series, and for us in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness.

Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodgers thanks the crowd during the 2025 Back-to-Back World Champions Ring Ceremony prior to the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles, California.  (Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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“I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we’re carrying her with us every day. It’s been hard, but we’re doing OK.”

The back-to-back reigning World Series champions are 2-0 to start the MLB season.

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Five months into the 2025-26 season, only eight teams remain. Each team has a chance to go to Indianapolis to play in the Final Four, provided it wins one more game.

At the start of the campaign, many would have believed all of these programs had a chance to play in the penultimate weekend of the season — with the exception of 9-seed Iowa. But it might have been difficult to believe the way they all got here.

Duke played through major injuries to advance to the Elite Eight. Arizona is there without a singular star, but a team full of selfless standouts who can all lead the Wildcats in scoring on any night. Michigan has three players who are 6-foot-9 or taller in the starting rotation — a contrast to the small-ball era so many within the game have touted. Illinois is led by a freshman who was overlooked on the recruiting circuit and several European talents.

Then, there are those Hawkeyes — a team that was 3-7 in its last 10 games entering the NCAA tournament but has reached the Elite Eight for the first time in 39 years.

The truth is, however, that there’s a lot of chalk among the last eight teams. A ton of resilience, too. Let’s rank the squads in the Elite Eight.

All times Eastern

How the regional finals were set

1. Arizona Wildcats
Original seed: No. 1 (West)
Tournament results: Def. No. 16 Long Island 92-58 (first round); def. No. 9 Utah State 78-66 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Arkansas 109-88 (Sweet 16)

Arizona has been chasing greatness all season. The Wildcats not only handed John Calipari the worst NCAA tournament loss of his career in Thursday’s lopsided Sweet 16 win over Arkansas, but it was also the first time a team (Arizona) had 60 paint points and 30 free throws in a single NCAA tournament game since 2000, per ESPN Research. But that dominant effort against the SEC tournament champion is only new if you haven’t been watching college basketball. The Wildcats shot 50% from inside the arc in their season-opening win over Florida. They beat Alabama — one of the best offensive teams in America — by 21 points in December, with the Tide recording just 99 points per 100 possessions. There was a 23-point victory over Kansas in February and a 16-point triumph over Iowa State days later. The Wildcats have made a lot of statements to support the case that they’re the team to beat, the team that could be the last one standing because of its ability to play a complete game: Arizona is fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency and third in adjusted defensive efficiency. It’s also difficult for opponents to know who to target because of their depth. Veteran Jaden Bradley? Freshman star Brayden Burries? Freshman star Koa Peat — who, after a strong start to the season, faced a rough patch — is averaging 16.6 points through three NCAA tournament games.

Up next: vs. Purdue (Saturday, 8:49 p.m., TBS/truTV)

2. Michigan Wolverines
Original seed: No. 1 (Midwest)
Tournament results: Def. No. 16 Howard 101-80 (first round); def. No. 9 Saint Louis 95-72 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Alabama 90-77 (Sweet 16)

Three years ago, Dusty May didn’t want to leave Florida Atlantic because life was good in Boca Raton. He lived a few miles from campus and rode his bike to work every day. But the opportunity to lead a Big Ten powerhouse was too much to pass up, and he accepted the Michigan job in 2024. Even then, he didn’t leave it all behind. There’s a tie between the 2022-23 Owls, who made a run to the Final Four, and this year’s Wolverines, who are a win away from the school’s first run to the Final Four since 2018: interior defense. May’s FAU squad held opponents to a 46.6% clip in the paint, one of the top marks in America that season, per Synergy Sports. His Michigan team this season is clocking in at 48.9% in that metric. In Friday’s Sweet 16 win, it held Alabama — which entered the game ranked top three in offensive efficiency — to just 31 shots, 23 of which were 3-pointers. That’s a by-product of May’s suffocating interior defense, a staple of his best teams. And it’s proof the Wolverines aren’t just tough around the rim on defense; they make opponents think twice about trying to score in the post in the first place.

Up next: vs. Tennessee (Sunday, 2:15 p.m., CBS)

3. Illinois Fighting Illini
Original seed: No. 3 (South)
Tournament results: Def. No. 14 Penn 105-70 (first round); def. No. 11 VCU 76-55 (round of 32); def. No. 2 Houston 65-55 (Sweet 16)

Illinois proved with Thursday’s Sweet 16 win against Houston that it can reach a level on offense even the best defenses in America can’t stop. A 17-0 run early in the second half created separation between the two teams, with the Cougars spending the rest of the game trying to close the gap. David Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler became the first freshman teammates to record double-doubles in the NCAA tournament since freshmen became eligible for to play in the postseason in the 1972-73 season, per ESPN Research. But while Illinois’ offensive strength has been its most appealing quality, Brad Underwood’s team is a true national title contender because of its ability to stall opposing teams. Since the start of the Big Ten tournament, the Illini have been a top-25 defensive team nationally, per BartTorvik. They’re also eighth in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency and seventh in adjusted offensive efficiency since the start of the NCAA tournament. Those are important metrics to consider. Eight of the past 10 national champions were ranked top 11 in both categories. If balance is the ticket to a title, Illinois is in a good spot.

Up next: vs. Iowa (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV)

4. Duke Blue Devils
Original seed: No. 1 overall (East)
Tournament results: Def. No. 16 Siena 71-65 (first round); def. No. 9 TCU 81-58 (round of 32); def. No. 5 St. John’s 80-75 (Sweet 16)

The close call against St. John’s wasn’t anything the Blue Devils hadn’t experienced: Remember the clutch effort late in a one-point win over Florida? Being tied with Michigan State near the two-minute mark not long after that? They had two tougher than expected games against Florida State in the regular season and in the ACC tournament. There was the battle with Michigan in Washington, D.C, too. Free throws sealed a win over Virginia in the ACC tournament title game. A first-round tussle with 16-seed Siena and a slow start against TCU in the second. The one constant through all of these tough games has been Cameron Boozer. He dominated at the high school, AAU and now the collegiate level. He provides his team with confidence in the most desperate situations and has the Blue Devils equipped to get through tough times — even if it’s someone else stepping up. Against the St. John’s in Friday’s Sweet 16 game, Caleb Foster somehow thrived (11 points on 5-for-7 shooting after halftime), despite having suffered a broken foot 20 days ago. Isaiah Evans (25 points) was brilliant. Maliq Brown (four blocks) did more to disrupt this game defensively than he’ll get credit for. And Cameron Boozer (22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists) was just Cameron Boozer. Nobody gets afraid on this team when adversity hits.

Up next: vs. UConn (Sunday, 5:05 p.m., CBS)

5. Purdue Boilermakers
Original seed: No. 2 (West)
Tournament results: Def. No. 15 Queens University 104-71 (first round); def. No. 7 Miami 79-69 (round of 32); def. No. 11 Texas 79-77 (Sweet 16)

Few coaches in college basketball have suffered the amount of basketball heartbreak as Matt Painter. In 2009-10, star Robbie Hummel suffered a season-ending injury late in the season that cost the Boilermakers a chance to compete for a national title. In 2019, former Purdue star Carsen Edwards scored 42 points and still couldn’t beat eventual champion Virginia in overtime. Painter once again reached the national title game in 2024 with Wooden Award winner Zach Edey — but ran into the bulldozer known as UConn on its way to its second straight national title. None of those Purdue squads, however, were as hot as this current crew. During the Boilermakers’ seven-game winning streak, Braden Smith is averaging 9.5 assists and Trey Kaufman-Renn looks like an All-American again while averaging 17.8 points. The group is second in adjusted offensive efficiency (60% from inside the arc, 38% from the 3-point line) during this stretch. And now Painter will have another shot at getting over the hump.

Up next: vs. Arizona (Saturday, 8:49 p.m., TBS/truTV)

6. UConn Huskies
Original seed: No. 2 (East)
Tournament results: Def. No. 15 Furman 82-71 (first round); def. No. 7 UCLA 73-57 (round of 32); def. No. 3 Michigan State 67-63 (Sweet 16)

Men’s college basketball has had a multitude of legendary coaches over the 60-plus years since John Wooden led UCLA in the 1960s and ’70s. Mike Krzyzewski won five national titles. Roy Williams retired with three. Rick Pitino has two rings with two different teams. Bill Self and Billy Donovan have a pair of championships. Hurley has a real chance to win his third national championship in four years, which would be an unprecedented feat in the modern history of the sport and a greater challenge than anything Wooden ever faced during his time. Because Hurley’s chasing this third title with a third different roster. The team that held off Michigan State on Friday night in the Sweet 16 does not resemble the teams he had in 2023 or 2024. Alex Karaban is the only holdover from those back-to-back title teams. There’s still a significant similarity between all three groups: They were all better when they played a free-flowing style, executed great defense and pushed the pace. It’s how the 2026 Huskies achieved an early double-digit lead over the Spartans and overcame a sloppy stretch in the second half. They also proved that, even with their recent lack of efficiency (they entered Friday ranked 74th in adjusted offensive efficiency since March 1), they can outlast and attack any opponent to advance.

Up next: vs. Duke (Sunday, 5:05 p.m., CBS)

7. Tennessee Volunteers
Original seed: No. 6 (Midwest)
Tournament results: Def. No. 11 Miami (Ohio) 78-56 (first round); def. No. 3 Virginia 79-72 (round of 32); def. No. 2 Iowa State 76-62 (Sweet 16)

It’s no secret that Texas decided Rick Barnes hadn’t kept up with the times and that the game had left him behind when the school fired him in 2015. His dismissal came after a string of first-weekend exits and a seven-year gap between his Elite Eight appearances. But when he accepted the Tennessee job that same year, Barnes — who has been a head coach since 1987 — didn’t change his philosophy. He has always believed smart shots, suffocating defense at every spot on the floor and a bruising approach to rebounding were the keys to victory and long-term success. He has coupled that attitude with a recognition that playmakers win games at the highest level. He found Dalton Knecht and Chaz Lanier in the transfer portal in back-to-back years. This year, his Vols are the top offensive rebounding team in America. Nate Ament is a projected lottery pick. Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie has been Barnes’ most reliable addition. The formula has resulted in Tennessee’s third consecutive Elite Eight appearance.

Up next: vs. Michigan (Sunday, 2:15 p.m., CBS)

8. Iowa Hawkeyes
Original seed: No. 9 (South)
Tournament results: Def. No. 8 Clemson 67-61 (first round); def. No. 1 Florida 73-72 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Nebraska 77-71 (Sweet 16)

The 3-point line was introduced in Division I men’s basketball in the 1986-87 season by the NCAA’s rules committee. It was a wild idea at the time, from Ed Steitz, a member of the committee, whose research suggested it could revolutionize the game. That season, the Hawkeyes attempted 382 3-pointers — and made 39% of them. They went 5 for 11 from beyond the arc in their 93-91 Sweet 16 victory against Oklahoma that season. They’re now back in the Elite Eight for the first time in 39 years because they rediscovered the power of the 3. Ben McCollum’s group has already taken 818 shots from beyond the arc this season. Since March 11, nearly 50% of its field goal attempts have been 3s. It has made 37.4%, a top-40 mark nationally. Yes, the Sweet 16 win over Nebraska on Thursday was the result of the Hawkeyes’ resilience and second-half defense. But really, the only way they stayed close in the game was because of those 3s (13-for-30, 43%) — the same way the last Iowa team won this round.

Up next: vs. Illinois (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV)

Mohamed Salah is considering a return to Roma when he leaves Liverpool in the summer, while Manchester United are on alert as midfielder Adam Wharton expects to leave Crystal Palace when the window opens. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades

TRENDING RUMORS

– Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah is considering a return to Roma when he moves on in the summer, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport. Salah scored 34 goals in 83 games during a two-year stint but it will be difficult to complete a deal now as the 33-year-old earns a net €12 million-per-season, while Roma have set their cap at a net €4 million, but he could look to spend a year back in the Italian capital before deciding where to go next. Meanwhile, sources told ESPN that Al Ittihad have resumed work on a deal for the Egypt international and Al Qadsiah is the only other Saudi Pro League club capable of competing with them.

– Adam Wharton expects to leave Crystal Palace this summer amid interest from Manchester United, according to The Sun. The 22-year-old midfielder feels he is ready to make the next step in his career and wants to join a club playing in the Champions League. The Red Devils have also tracked Nottingham Forest‘s Elliot Anderson, Newcastle United‘s Sandro Tonali, Brighton & Hove Albion‘s Carlos Baleba and AFC Bournemouth‘s Alex Scott. In another report from The Sun, it is suggested that Brighton are softening their stance regarding Baleba after demanding £100 million for the 22-year-old’s transfer last summer.

– Liverpool want to bring in Bayern Munich‘s Michael Olise to replace Salah, amid interest from Real Madrid, reports Christian Falk. However, Bayern aren’t willing to let the 24-year-old leave even if an offer worth €200 million comes in, and he doesn’t have a release clause. The Bundesliga leaders also want to offer the France international a new contract even though his current deal runs until 2029.

– Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva is doing everything possible to join Barcelona when his contract expires in the summer, as reported by Sport. Barcelona have previously tried to sign the Portugal international during various transfer windows, but they now have doubts about the 31-year-old’s age and whether they need someone in the positions he operates best in. Barcelona sporting director Deco has asked for more time to make his decision, while Silva and his agent Jorge Mendes have indicated that they will be patient.

– Juventus are ready to make a move for Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport. Juve have made enquiries to the 37-year-old’s entourage in recent weeks, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, and they travelled to Warsaw this week to watch Lewandowski score Poland‘s equalizer as his side came from behind to beat Albania 2-1. Juventus are evaluating him while also discussing a deal to extend Dusan Vlahovic‘s contract and try to sign Randal Kolo Muani, who is currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur from Paris Saint-Germain.

EXPERT TAKE

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OTHER RUMORS

– Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is likely to join Manchester United if Michael Carrick stays on as manager. (Football Insider)

– Liverpool could table an offer worth around €80 million to sign Nottingham Forest center back Murillo. (TEAMtalk)

– Manchester United are intrigued by the opportunity to sign Barcelona forward Ferran Torres. (TEAMtalk)

– Marcus Rashford is fully committed to making his loan from Manchester United to Barcelona permanent despite interest from Saudi Arabia and Aston Villa. (TEAMtalk)

– Manchester United have asked for updated information on Atalanta midfielder Ederson, although they haven’t taken any concrete steps towards a deal yet. (Rudy Galetti)

– Barcelona, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs tracking Roma center back Evan Ndicka. (Caught Offside)

– AC Milan want Genk attacking midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas, who has also received interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United. (Tuttosport)

– AC Milan want to sign Fiorentina striker Moise Kean but will try to negotiate a formula for the deal rather than paying his €62 million release clause at one time. (Calciomercato)

– Having failed to sign Al Ittihad winger Moussa Diaby in January, Internazionale could find a deal easier to complete in the summer if the Saudi Pro League club signs Salah from Liverpool. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– A decision on the future of Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been postponed, with a discussion expected to take place after the Bavarians have faced Real Madrid in the Champions League. (Christian Falk)

– Romelu Lukaku seems ready to leave Napoli after the World Cup. The striker has been approached by Saudi and Turkish clubs, while Anderlecht are also looking at a return. (Nicolo Schira)

– Internazionale’s search for a center back has resulted in them looking at Udinese’s Oumar Solet, Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic and River Plate’s Lautaro Rivero. (Corriere dello Sport)

– Inter could offload Luis Henrique to free up the space and resources for them to sign Atalanta wing back Marco Palestra, who is currently on loan at Cagliari. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Real Betis are strong contenders to sign Dani Ceballos after the midfielder decided that he will leave Real Madrid. (Marca)

– Real Madrid and backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin don’t plan to part ways, despite plenty of offers to sign him being expected in the summer. (AS)