Sports
Real Madrid say they can overcome Bayern Munich after poor first leg. Are they right?
MADRID — Sometimes that famous Bernabéu magic isn’t quite enough.
Real Madrid have had so many great UEFA Champions League nights at this stadium, beating often superior teams in frequently inexplicable circumstances. But in Tuesday’s 1-2 loss to Bayern Munich, reality caught up with them, the comeback just out of reach.
Playing against a talented, confident, fluid Bayern team, Madrid spent the first hour looking quite ordinary. The visitors were superior, more than the game’s scoreline suggested. But as the second half went on, the dynamic slowly but surely changed. Madrid began to create a steady stream of chances, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé getting ever closer.
When Mbappé did, eventually, pull a goal back in the 74th minute, the Bernabéu crowd, cautiously hopeful, found their voices, as Madrid pushed for more. But the equalizer never materialized, thanks largely to Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and his outstanding nine saves.
By the final whistle, both teams had had 20 shots, creating similar numbers of chances (15-14 in Madrid’s favor, with three of Madrid’s classed by Opta as “big chances” compared with Bayern’s two), although Bayern’s xG (expected goals) of 2.99 comfortably outstripped Madrid’s 1.97.
A one-goal margin means the tie is open as the teams head to Munich for next week’s return leg. “We’re alive,” coach Álvaro Arbeloa repeated several times postmatch.
“We could have scored more,” Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin said afterward. “The team reacted well. Neuer was the MVP.”
Antonio Rüdiger agreed: “The best player was Neuer.”
Still, the feeling for much of this game was that Arbeloa’s team had found its level, its few strengths, and more weaknesses, exposed in the Champions League spotlight, against elite opposition.
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern dominated from the start, with two great chances to score: one from Dayot Upamecano, whose miss-hit, close-range shot was cleared off the line by Álvaro Carreras, and another from Serge Gnabry, who couldn’t take advantage of Thiago Pitarch‘s misplaced pass, which left him in on goal facing Lunin. Eventually, they went ahead through Luis Díaz, finishing off a cleverly worked move involving Harry Kane and Gnabry, in the 41st minute.
1:24
Will Bayern Munich pay for missed chances against Real Madrid?
Frank Leboeuf believes Bayern Munich’s “sloppiness” allowed Real Madrid back into the game.
Kane’s goal to make it 0-2, just 20 seconds into the second half, made the comeback feel even more distant. Arbeloa’s halftime team talk must surely have involved Madrid starting aggressively, with intensity, taking the game to Bayern.
Instead, they were alarmingly passive: Vinícius played a poor pass to Carreras, under pressure, who gave away possession cheaply. As Vinícius and Mbappé jogged back toward their own goal, Bayern worked the ball up to Kane, totally unattended outside the box, to stroke the ball past Lunin.
“We made two mistakes [for the goals],” Arbeloa said. “We lost the ball twice. We have to avoid that. Against these teams if you make mistakes, you pay for it.”
It was in the last half-hour that Madrid were at their most dangerous, Bayern tiring in their press, as the home side enjoyed more space to run into.
Three good chances came in seven minutes, just after the hour. First, Vinícius, played in by Upamecano’s weak header, tried to round Neuer, was forced wide and was unable to get his shot back on target. Then Mbappé went close twice, denied once by Neuer, before shooting across the face of goal shortly afterward. Mbappé kept going.
“That’s the Mbappé we want to see,” Arbeloa said. “He was a constant threat.”
More threat came when Trent Alexander-Arnold got on the ball. His deliveries from the right had looked like one of Madrid’s most promising routes toward goal all night, and now he crossed for Mbappé, whose far-post shot crept over the line after being initially saved by Neuer.
As Madrid pushed for a second goal, there was danger, too, at the other end. Three times in the last minutes of the game, Bayern could have finished off the tie. Substitute Éder Militão — who improved Madrid significantly when he was introduced — blocked a cross bound for the six-yard box, before Bayern went close twice more, in the 89th and 91st minutes, wasting one three-on-one break.
Madrid’s task for the second leg in Munich next week will be made harder by the absence of their most consistent player this season, Aurélien Tchouaméni, who will be suspended and has no natural replacement in midfield.
They will have to be bold, and play on the front foot, an approach alien to a team that has been more comfortable with a more conservative, deep block style.
“If any team can win in Munich, it’s Real Madrid,” Arbeloa insisted in his postmatch news conference. They might.
Madrid could still produce something extraordinary and unexpected in Germany, as they have before. In Vinicius, Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, they have the players who make it possible.
But even with a much-improved last half-hour here, what they did at the Bernabéu wasn’t sufficient. They’ll need to do more in Munich, and in reaching for that, will also be more vulnerable.
Sports
Women’s NCAA basketball transfer rankings for 2026-27 season
The women’s college basketball transfer portal officially opened Monday, and by day’s end more than 1,000 players had entered.
In past years the portal opened during the NCAA tournament. New regulations this year prevented any official activity until after the season concluded Sunday with UCLA beating South Carolina for the championship. The transfer portal window is also shorter this year, closing on April 20.
Iowa State‘s Audi Crooks, the nation’s second-leading scorer, is the biggest impact player in the portal to date. The Cyclones’ roster was decimated, with 10 players entering the portal. Georgia lost nine players after letting go of coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, but no program was hit harder, or more publicly, than Tennessee.
Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell is now tasked with replacing her entire roster. She also lost the No. 2 recruit in the country, Oliviyah Edwards, who had committed to the Lady Vols but has requested a release from her national letter of intent. Every player from Caldwell’s No. 2-rated recruiting class from a year ago is gone.
Few players have announced where their next destinations will be, but that process will play out over the next few weeks. As players find their new teams, and as more players enter the portal over the next 14 days, this list will evolve and change. And we’ll continue to update the rankings.


1. Audi Crooks, 6-3, C, Jr., Iowa State
Crooks is the best of the available transfers and also the most intriguing. While she’s a nearly unstoppable post presence and ranked second in the nation in scoring (25.8 PPG), Crooks doesn’t fit every system and has limitations. Incorporating her could require coaches to alter their approach. Crooks could be the big scorer that a contender needs to take that next step, but a program’s willingness to make big philosophical changes for just the one season she has left might shrink Crooks’ market.

2. Kymora Johnson, 5-7, G, Jr., Virginia
In the wake of the firing of coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, Virginia has lost multiple players to the transfer portal, but none more impactful than Johnson. One of the best players in the ACC, who broke into the national spotlight with her sparkling NCAA tournament performance, Johnson helped the Cavaliers reach the Sweet 16. She ranked second in the ACC in scoring (19.5 PPG) and first in assists (6.3 APG).

3. Liv McGill, 5-9, G, So., Florida
The only player in the country to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and six assists, McGill was the cornerstone of the Gators for two seasons but will not be sticking around for new coach Tammi Reiss. McGill, who is from Minnesota and played at the same high school as Paige Bueckers, can score in a variety of ways and would have the potential to be a game changer for a top-tier program that needs to replace a top offensive player or two.

4. Talaysia Cooper, 6-0, G, Jr., Tennessee
Cooper is eligible for the WNBA draft but has decided to play one more college season — but at a third school after stops at South Carolina and Tennessee. One of the few Lady Vols that consistently produced in Kim Caldwell’s unorthodox system in Knoxville, Cooper might still benefit from more consistent minutes. She averaged 16.0 points per game and shot an improved 34.3% from 3-point range. Her length is an asset both as a perimeter defender and a finisher at the rim.

5. Dani Carnegie, 5-9, G, So., Georgia
One of the best under-the-radar portal acquisitions a year ago (from Georgia Tech), Carnegie was named first-team all-SEC, averaging 17.8 points per game, and helped the Lady Dogs to their best season in eight years. An even better scorer than she was with the Yellow Jackets, Carnegie is a shot creator, for herself or teammates, and can handle the responsibility of being a No. 1 option.

6. Zamareya Jones, 5-7, G, So., NC State
Doubling her minutes, point production and assists in her second season, Jones appeared on the verge of becoming one of the ACC’s top guards. She and Zoe Brooks might have been the conference’s best backcourt next year had Jones elected to stay in Raleigh. She was second on the team to Brooks with 14.9 points and 3.8 assists per game. Jones was also the Wolfpack’s best 3-point shooter and excels in transition.

7. Addy Brown, 6-2, F, Jr., Iowa State
The 11 games Brown missed this season derailed the Cyclones’ season. Her versatility was the perfect complement to Crooks, but now they are both leaving Ames, Iowa. She was all-Big 12 honorable mention as a freshman and second-team all-conference last season, averaging 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists over her career. Brown has proved she can be impactful playing off the ball and should fit nearly any system.

8. Taryn Barbot, 5-10, G, Jr., Charleston
The best mid-major player in the portal, Barbot is a two-time CAA player of the year who averaged 20.1 points per game, good for 17th nationally. She showcased her ability for the Power 4 conferences by scoring 36 points against Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Her sister, Taylor Barbot, was 12th in the country at 6.0 assists per game. Taryn and Taylor have played together for three years at Charleston, so expect a package deal.

9. Jada Williams, 5-8, PG, Jr., Iowa State
The move to Iowa State was a good one for Williams despite staying just one year after two with Arizona. Williams became a better shooter, a more disciplined point guard and ranked third in the country with 7.7 assists per game. With her quickness and experience, Williams could step into another major conference program to fill a one-year gap at the point, much like Tonie Morgan did at Kentucky this season.

10. Nunu Agara, 6-2, F, Jr., Stanford
After averaging more than 15 points per game in consecutive seasons — but no NCAA tournament appearances to show for it — Agara is looking to finish her career elsewhere. Limited as a 3-point shooter but outstanding in the lane, Agara shot 51.3% on 2-point field goal attempts and pulled down 8.7 rebounds per game. Not being the No. 1 option and a primary focus of the defense might help Agara’s efficiency and her WNBA draft standing.

11. Aaliyah Crump, 6-1, F, Fr., Texas
Health was an issue for Crump in her lone season with the Longhorns, but the talent was clearly there. The highest-rated recruit for Vic Schaefer at Texas — No. 5 overall — and a starter to begin the season, Crump suffered a foot injury in November that forced her to miss two months. She averaged 7.9 points per game and had 16-point outings against LSU and Arkansas in February. Texas is bringing in two highly regarded freshmen wings in this recent recruiting class, but Crump was a likely starter next season and a possible No. 1 scoring option in 2027-28 after the departure of Madison Booker.

12. Tilda Trygger, 6-6, F, So., NC State
A native of Sweden, Trygger spent the first two years in the United States in Raleigh. She was productive with 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds after being more of a role player as a freshman. With good shooting range and improved physicality, Trygger has a high ceiling and has all-conference potential for her final two seasons.

13. Mia Pauldo, 5-6, G, Fr., Tennessee
Of all the departures from the Lady Vols, this one might hurt the most. Pauldo was Kim Caldwell’s biggest get in 2025’s No. 2-rated recruiting class. The entire recruiting class is now gone after one season. Pauldo was Tennessee’s third-leading scorer (10.4 PPG) and its best 3-point shooter (36.5%). Pauldo is also a pure point guard but was seldom able to show off those skills to their fullest in Knoxville. She is joined by her sister, Mya Pauldo, in the portal.

14. Madison St. Rose, 5-10, G, Sr., Princeton
The least surprising player in the portal, St. Rose could not stay at Princeton because of Ivy League rules prohibiting redshirts. She missed most of the 2024-25 season with a knee injury, so St. Rose has eligibility left that she can’t use with the Tigers. St. Rose could help any national contender at either guard spot after averaging 15.8 points on 47.9% shooting this season.

15. Kiyomi McMiller, 5-8, G, So., Penn State
A volume shooter with electric offensive abilities, McMiller is looking for her third team in as many years. A clash with the coaching staff her freshman season at Rutgers pushed her to Penn State, where this season was calmer and more productive for McMiller (21.6 PPG). A coaching change for the Lady Lions opened the door for another transfer. McMiller’s raw talent should necessitate being higher on this list, but her two teams were a collective 14 games below .500, and where she might fit best is the biggest question mark.

16. Mia Woolfolk, 6-3, F, So., Georgia
With noticeable improvement in her second season in Athens, Woolfolk played some of her best games against Georgia’s best opponents. She had 29 points against Oklahoma, 19 points and seven rebounds in the upset of Vanderbilt and 27 in the NCAA tournament loss to Virginia. Woolfolk’s strength is in the low post, but she moves well and uses her quickness facing up to get by taller opponents and to the rim.

17. Lara Somfai, 6-3, F, Fr., Stanford
The Cardinal roster suffered some big losses when the portal opened, but none bigger than Somfai. Losing Agara hurts, but Somfai and fellow freshman Hailee Swain were supposed to be the building blocks that brought Stanford back to prominence. Somfai has three years of eligibility remaining. She averaged 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds.

18. Justice Carlton, 6-1, F, So., Texas
A 28-game starter for a Final Four team this season, Carlton appeared to gain more and more of Vic Schaefer’s trust as the season progressed. Her strength is elite and she uses it to score from close range against taller defenders. Carlton averaged 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds that included a 15-point effort in the SEC tournament championship game. Her physicality made her an ideal fit for Texas, and her loss is a big one for the Longhorns.

19. Kaylene Smikle, 6-0, G, Sr., Maryland
Health is the question mark, otherwise Smikle might be higher in these rankings. She was first-team all-Big Ten in 2025 after scoring 17.9 points per game before being limited to seven games this season and then opting for knee surgery. That preserved Smikle’s final year of eligibility, which will now be used at her third school. Smikle, who began her career at Rutgers, has never averaged fewer than 16.1 points in a full season.

20. Jaida Civil, 6-0, G, Fr., Tennessee
The numbers were modest (6.4 PPG, 4.0 PPG), but Civil demonstrated defensive skills and athleticism that should fit anywhere. Ranked No. 20 in that recruiting class that also featured the Pauldo sisters and Deniya Prawl, Civil’s playing time swelled in February before those minutes were trimmed again in the postseason.
Also considered:
Achol Akot, Oklahoma State; Carys Baker, Virginia Tech; Essence Cody, Alabama; Skylar Forbes, Marquette; Lanie Grant, North Carolina; Gracie Merkle, Penn State; Zahirah Walton, George Mason; Jadyn Wooten, Oklahoma State
Sports
How to watch the 2026 NCAA women’s bowling championship on ESPN
The 19-team field for the 2026 NCAA national collegiate women’s bowling championship is down to four clubs. Jacksonville State, Wichita State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas State will compete for the title this week at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio. The champion will be determined using best-of-seven Baker match play, with the championship match airing on ESPNU.
Here are key facts about the 2026 NCAA national collegiate women’s bowling championship:
How can fans watch?
Fans can catch all of the action in the ESPN App and in the NCAA streaming hub.
What is the schedule?
*All times Eastern
April 10
Semifinals
9 a.m.: Match 1 – No. 1 Jacksonville State vs. No. 4 Wichita State,
9 a.m.: Match 2 – No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 3 Arkansas State
3 p.m.: Match 3 – Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner
3 p.m.: Match 4 – Match 1 loser vs. Match 2 loser
April 11
Finals
9 a.m.: Match 5 – Match 4 winner vs. Match 3 loser
6:30 p.m.: Final – Match 3 winner vs. Match 5 winner on ESPNU
Recent NCAA women’s bowling champions
2025: Youngstown State
2024: Jacksonville State
2023: Vanderbilt
2022: McKendree
2021: Nebraska
How can fans access more college sports coverage from ESPN?
Check out the ESPN college sports hub page for the latest news, analysis, features, scores, rankings and more.
Sports
Ranking the top 20 men’s basketball players to enter the transfer portal
The buzzer sounded on Michigan’s national championship win over UConn just before 11:20 p.m. ET on Monday. About 40 minutes later, the transfer portal was open. Ten hours after that, more than 1,000 Division I men’s basketball players had added their names to the portal.
After the portal drew around 2,100 players in 2024 and nearly 2,700 players last year, most coaches expect this season’s portal entrants to surpass the 3,000 mark. The NCAA enacted rule changes earlier this year that changed the transfer portal window in all sports. In men’s basketball, it will be open for two weeks, from April 7 to April 21.
Bookmark this page to stay updated on the top players in the portal — and analysis on their commitments — as we ultimately expand to 100 names in the coming days and weeks.
Last updated: 5 p.m. ET on April 7


Transferring from Kansas
Bidunga was one of the bigger breakout stars of the 2025-26 season, jumping from averages of 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds to 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds, and adding 2.6 blocks per game. He established himself as one of college basketball’s elite post defenders while shooting 64% from the floor and tallying 13 double-doubles. He’s a plug-and-play player who has already won all-conference honors in the Big 12.

Transferring from Wisconsin
Blackwell should be one of the most explosive scorers in the country next season. He averaged 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Badgers this season while improving his consistency on the perimeter to make nearly 39% of his 3-point attempts. After playing off the ball next to Nick Boyd at Wisconsin, Blackwell wants to be more of a playmaker at his next stop.

Transferring from Wake Forest
One of the nation’s elite scorers, Harris enjoyed a breakout season in Winston-Salem. He jumped from averaging 6.1 points as a freshman to averaging 21.4 as a sophomore, ranking in the top 20 nationally in that category. Harris had three performances of 30-plus points, including 38 points in 39 minutes against Boston College.

Transferring from Saint Mary’s
Murauskas entered the portal shortly after Randy Bennett left Saint Mary’s to be the coach at Arizona State. The Lithuanian forward earned All-West Coast Conference honors in each of the past two seasons, averaging 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the 2025-26 campaign. Murauskas began his career at Arizona.

Transferring from Providence
A surprise freshman star, Vaaks is a versatile perimeter weapon who has great positional size and can make an impact as a playmaker or a scorer. The Estonia native averaged nearly 16 points per game to go with 3.2 assists and scored 20-plus points against St. John’s (twice), Villanova (twice) and UConn.

Transferring from Colorado
An All-Big 12 honorable mention, Johnson was another surprising freshman. The Los Angeles native opened his career with 24 points against Montana State and barely slowed down the rest of the way. He had huge performances against BYU (27 points) and Arizona (28 points) to average 16.9 points and 3.0 assists over the season.

Transferring from Oregon
Shelstad was on his way to becoming one of the best guards in the Big Ten before suffering a hand injury in December that limited him to 12 games. He averaged 15.6 points and 4.9 assists to that point, coming off a sophomore campaign in which he earned third-team All-Big Ten honors.

Transferring from Villanova
Lewis decommitted from Kentucky last spring, switched his Wildcats allegiance to Villanova, then performed like one of the better first-year point guards in the country. He averaged 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals, finishing with seven games of 20-plus points. Improvement as a 3-point shooter would allow him to take the next step.

Transferring from Cincinnati
Thiam showed a tremendously high ceiling down the stretch of his sophomore campaign at Cincinnati. He had a three-game stretch in February in which he had 28 points and eight rebounds against Kansas, 21 points and 10 boards against Texas Tech, and 24 points and 15 rebounds against Oklahoma State. He averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks on the season.

Transferring from Notre Dame
Burton has missed a large part of each of the past two seasons with injuries, but he has produced every year he has been on the floor. In 69 total games over three seasons in South Bend, Burton averaged 19.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting just a tick above 33% from 3-point range.

Transferring from Syracuse
A former top-10 recruit in the 2024 high school class, Freeman put together two productive seasons at Syracuse. This past season, he averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors. Freeman was hampered by an injury in nonconference play but put up six games of 22-plus points against ACC opponents.

Transferring from San Diego State
Byrd withdrew from the NBA draft last spring to return to San Diego State, where he cemented himself as one of the most versatile defensive players in the country. He posted more than three combined blocks and steals per game while averaging double figures in scoring for the second season in a row.

Transferring from VCU
Hill undoubtedly boosted his stock with his performance against North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA tournament. He led VCU to a 19-point comeback and upset victory with 34 points, five rebounds and five assists. He earned first-team All-Atlantic 10 honors this past season, averaging 15.0 points while shooting 37% from 3.

Transferring from LSU
A hand injury limited Thomas to just 16 games in Baton Rouge, but he’ll be one of the most sought-after portal point guards in the country. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.5 assists at LSU and had the Tigers in the postseason hunt when healthy. Thomas began his career with two seasons at UNLV.

Transferring from Louisville
Analytics models love Fru for his incredible efficiency: The Germany native shot better than 75% from the field while averaging 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in just 22 minutes per game. Most of his big games came in the first half of this past season, but he’s an immediate-impact, two-way starting big man at the high-major level.

16. KJ Lewis, 6-4, SG, Jr.
Transferring from Georgetown
Lewis is in the portal for the second year in a row. He left Arizona for a more sizable role on the offensive end, and he found that at Georgetown, averaging nearly 15 points per game while improving as a shooter from 3-point range. The All-Big East selection brings physicality and toughness on the defensive end, too.

Transferring from Virginia Tech
Avdalas posted 33 points, five rebounds and six assists in his second career college game, looking every bit the part of a first-round pick in a win over Providence. Although he was unable to replicate that type of performance the rest of the way, there’s still plenty of potential with his combination of size and skill. Avdalas averaged 12.1 points and 4.6 rebounds this past season.

Transferring from Alabama
Coach Nate Oats expanded Sherrell’s role this past season. He was one of the best bigs in SEC conference play, improving from an average of 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds to 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds. He had 15 points and 15 rebounds in an NCAA tournament win over Hofstra; he also went for 26 points and 13 rebounds in a February win over Arkansas.

Transferring from Georgia
The Nigerian center made strides at both ends of the floor from his freshman to sophomore seasons in Athens, averaging 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks this past campaign while shooting nearly 76% from the field. He’s one of the best rim protectors in college basketball. He also scored in double figures 10 times in SEC play.

Transferring from NC State
The former top-25 recruit also entered the NBA draft as an alternative to the portal. Able entered this past season as a potential one-and-done first-rounder but had an inconsistent season in Raleigh under Will Wade. Able showed flashes of his potential throughout the campaign, averaging 8.8 points and shooting 35.5% from 3-point range.
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