📰🏟️ Stars and Strikes

Good afternoon. Welcome back to another week full of top sports stories in an easy-to-digest format. Let’s get right to it.

—Kyle

1) Team USA sets rotation for World Baseball Classic

Manager Mark DeRosa announced the starting pitching lineup for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, which kicks off with pool play action tomorrow.

• Giants ace SP Logan Webb will start Game 1 for Team USA against Brazil on Friday.
• He’ll be followed by both of last year’s Cy Young winners: Tigers SP Tarik Skubal in Game 2 against Britain (Saturday), then Pirates phenom Paul Skenes in Game 3 against Mexico (Monday).
• Mets SP Nolan McLean is scheduled for Game 4 against Italy (Tuesday), though he’s currently fighting a cold.

The stars are set to shine on Team USA

2) UConn women complete undefeated regular season

The #1-ranked Huskies’ women’s basketball team (31-0) completed its 11th undefeated regular season in program history with a win over St. John’s on Sunday night.

• It also marks UConn’s 47th straight win, tied for the fifth-longest streak in D1 history.
• The defending national champs are outscoring their opponents by an average of 37.8 points/game, on pace for the third-highest mark in D1 history.
• That includes victories of 25+ points in all but four of the Huskies’ 31 games.

Can UConn keep the streak alive in March?

3) NY Jets reportedly franchise tag RB Breece Hall 

The Jets placed the franchise tag on its star running back this morning, hours before Tuesday’s 3 pm CT deadline to do so, per multiple reports.

• Hall’s tag, which will pay him $14.3M, essentially guarantees that he isn’t going anywhere next season unless the Jets trade him.
• The 25-year-old rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards in 2025, and would have been one of the most coveted NFL free agents on the market once the legal tampering period begins Monday.

Inside the Jets’ temporary Hall pass

4) Olympic gold medalist to compete in Enhanced Games

Hunter Armstrong, a 2x Olympic gold medalist swimmer, announced plans to compete in the Enhanced Games this May, joining an event where performance-enhancing drugs like steroids are openly encouraged.

• Armstrong, who formerly held a world record in the 50m backstroke, says he plans to compete without taking any PEDs to try and earn some of the significant prize money, after losing his main sponsor.
• He still wants to try competing in the 2028 LA Olympics, though international swimming federation officials have yet to answer Armstrong’s questions about eligibility.

For Armstrong, it’s time to sink or swim

5) NBC hosts “Throwback Tuesday” NBA coverage

NBC is bringing back the ‘90s vibe for tonight’s matchup between the Spurs and 76ers (7 pm CT), with the network recreating the entire retro feel of its 1995-96 NBA telecasts.

• The broadcast team, on-screen graphics/scorebug, and even grainy highlights packages will all have a throwback feel.
• That includes broadcasting legends Bob Costas, Doug Collins, and Mike Fratello on tonight’s call, as well as analysts Isiah Thomas and Hannah Storm on the pregame show.

Will the refs call NBC for time traveling?

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