New Photo - Josh Duggar speaks out from jail via lawyer about brother Joseph's child sexual abuse allegations

The &34;19 Kids and Counting&34; star is currently in jail serving a 12year prison sentence for possessing child pornography. Josh Duggar speaks out from jail via lawyer about brother Joseph's child sexual abuse allegations The &34;19 Kids and Counting&34; star is currently in jail serving a 12year prison sentence for possessing child pornography. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiauthorphotoba4923fec03a4027868306485696ef41.jpg) Joey Nolfi Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at . Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

The "19 Kids and Counting" star is currently in jail serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography.

Josh Duggar speaks out from jail via lawyer about brother Joseph's child sexual abuse allegations

The "19 Kids and Counting" star is currently in jail serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography.

Joey Nolfi, senior writer at

Joey Nolfi

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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March 20, 2026 11:43 a.m. ET

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Josh and Joseph Duggar

Josh and Joseph Duggar. Credit:

Washington County Sheriffs Department (2)

Amid a child sex abuse allegation that led to the arrest of *19 Kids and Counting* star Joseph Duggar, the reality TV personality's currently incarcerated brother, Josh Duggar, has reacted to the claims through his attorney.

Speaking via lawyer from jail, where he's serving a 12-year sentence for possessing child pornography, Josh's attorney told the *Daily Mail* that the allegation that his brother inappropriately touched a 9-year-old girl in 2020 "deeply saddened" him.

"Josh understands the stigma of being accused," the attorney told the publication. "He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction."

Joseph Duggar

Ida Mae Astute/Getty

The attorney continued, noting that, while Josh and Joseph aren't in consistent communication, Josh "hopes and prays for his brother's well being in this difficult time."

Joseph's sister, Jill Duggar Dillard, also addressed the allegation on the Dillard family blog.

"We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill's brother (Joseph Duggar's) arrest," she wrote. "We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph's arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken."

See what the Duggar family's been up to in the 10 years since '19 Kids and Counting' ended amid scandal

The Duggar family on '19 Kids and Counting'

'19 Kids and Counting' star Joseph Duggar's mug shot released

Joseph Duggar

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She added, "We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead."

On Wednesday, the Bay County Sheriff's Office announced that Joseph was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old, and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. Authorities said that the ex-reality TV star was arrested and booked in the Washington County, Ark. jail.

The charges against him stemmed from allegations regarding a then-9-year-old girl who was on vacation with her family in Panama City Beach, Fla. She accused Joseph of repeatedly engaging in "unlawful sexual activity," according to language in a statement from the sheriff's office.**

Joseph Duggar's mugshot

Joseph Duggar's mugshot.

Washington County Sheriff's Department

Joseph allegedly asked the girl to sit on his lap, Bay City police said. "As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket," authorities added.

The girl, who is now 14, reported the alleged sexual assault Wednesday in Tontitown, Ark., telling authorities that Joseph "eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology."

Joseph, Josh, and Jill all starred with parents Jim Bob and Michelle on TLC's *19 Kids and Counting* from 2008 to 2015.

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Josh Duggar speaks out from jail via lawyer about brother Joseph's child sexual abuse allegations

The &34;19 Kids and Counting&34; star is currently in jail serving a 12year prison sentence for possessing child por...
New Photo - Beauty in Black actor Xavier Smalls calls LGBT people an 'abomination' that 'God doesn't tolerate...

The star of Tyler Perry's Netflix drama made the comments in a live broadcast on social media that reportedly occurred on Feb. 7. Beauty in Black actor Xavier Smalls calls LGBT people an 'abomination' that 'God doesn't tolerate' in resurfaced video The star of Tyler Perry's Netflix drama made the comments in a live broadcast on social media that reportedly occurred on Feb. 7. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiauthorphotoba4923fec03a4027868306485696ef41.jpg) Joey Nolfi Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at .

The star of Tyler Perry's Netflix drama made the comments in a live broadcast on social media that reportedly occurred on Feb. 7.

Beauty in Black actor Xavier Smalls calls LGBT people an 'abomination' that 'God doesn't tolerate' in resurfaced video

The star of Tyler Perry's Netflix drama made the comments in a live broadcast on social media that reportedly occurred on Feb. 7.

Joey Nolfi, senior writer at

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March 20, 2026 11:50 a.m. ET

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Xavier Smalls in 'Beauty in Black'

Xavier Smalls in 'Beauty in Black'. Credit:

Quantrell Colbert/Netflix

A resurfaced portion of a live video shared by *Beauty in Black* actor Xavier Smalls has courted controversy for the TV star. In the clip, from a Feb. 7 social media broadcast, Smalls compared LGBT people to murderers and called them an "abomination."

Smalls, who plays Angel on the Netflix drama series created by Tyler Perry, received blowback from fans after the one-minute screen recording of his comments went viral over a month after its initial broadcast. The screen recording appeared to be lifted from the actor's Instagram page. While * *was not able to view the video during its original broadcast, the person who reportedly captured it sent the recording to EW.

"The live was on February 7th 2026 at 5:20PM," Instagram user Paul Poulos, who posts on the site under the handle @monsterstargaga (which also appears in the recording), tells EW. "I screen recorded it live & yes the recording is legitimate."

Ricco Ross and Xavier Smalls in Netflix's 'Beauty in Black'

Ricco Ross and Xavier Smalls in Netflix's 'Beauty in Black'.

Calvin Ashford/Netflix

In a portion of the broadcast in Poulos' screen recording, Smalls told his followers that "God loves you," and that "he loves all his children, whether you're an atheist, whether you curse him, whether you live in sin. Whether you're drunk, smoke weed, whatever, he still loves you."

"But, he'll send you to hell, because when you die, there's only two places, right? And if you live in sin on this earth, he's so holy, he's so grand beyond our imagination, you can't kick it with him in heaven," Smalls continued in the clip. "Not because he doesn't love you, but because he's so holy, he can't dwell with unholy people."

After Poulos wrote in the live broadcast's comments section asking him if LGBT people are going to hell as well, Smalls replied, "That goes for other sinners. Scoffers, mockers, liars, all things that are an abomination. It's not just the LGBT. If you're drunk, if you're an alcoholic, if you're a murderer, these are all sins that God doesn't tolerate."

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Mignon, Novi Brown, KJ Smith, Ebony Obsidian on Sistas

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter*****.**

EW has reached out to representatives for Smalls, Netflix, and Perry for comment.

Smalls' words came after he completed his three-season run on *Beauty in Black*, Perry's Netflix TV series about two women whose paths cross in dramatic ways. On the show, Smalls played Angel, a male stripper.

The project has welcomed several LGBTQ+ cast members to appear since its 2024 debut, including *RuPaul's Drag Race* judge and *Bros* actress Ts Madison, a prominent trans personality who played small role across five episodes between seasons 1 and 2.

'Beauty in Black' creator Tyler Perry

'Beauty in Black' creator Tyler Perry.

Emma McIntyre/Getty

Daytime TV icon Kathie Lee Gifford also came under fire recently after she made comments that many interpreted as being anti-LGBTQ+, during an interview with controversial conservative personality Tomi Lahren.

"I don't even know how many letters there are now. They've really got to stop with that. We know what you mean, you know?" Gifford said, referencing the number of letters in the LGBTQ+ acronym. "I'm not telling anybody how to live their life. I never have. I just know what Jesus said: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love God first."

She also told Lahren that "the scriptures do have something to say about" the LGBTQ+ community.

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New Photo - Mormon Wives cast warned ABC about 'disturbing' Taylor Frankie Paul footage weeks before video le...

&34;Mormon Wives&34; star Mikayla Matthews previously shared that it was a cast decision to pause production on season 5 of their hit Hulu reality series. Mormon Wives cast warned ABC about 'disturbing' Taylor Frankie Paul footage weeks before video leaked: Report &34;Mormon Wives&34; star Mikayla Matthews previously shared that it was a cast decision to pause production on season 5 of their hit Hulu reality series. By Mekishana Pierre :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/MekishanaPierreauthorphotoed08906b8105488ca1e991de8ac00dec.jpg) Mekishana Pierre Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at .

"Mormon Wives" star Mikayla Matthews previously shared that it was a cast decision to pause production on season 5 of their hit Hulu reality series.

Mormon Wives cast warned ABC about 'disturbing' Taylor Frankie Paul footage weeks before video leaked: Report

"Mormon Wives" star Mikayla Matthews previously shared that it was a cast decision to pause production on season 5 of their hit Hulu reality series.

By Mekishana Pierre

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Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Popsugar.

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March 20, 2026 11:56 a.m. ET

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MIRANDA MCWHORTER, JESSI NGATIKAURA, LAYLA TAYLOR, MIKAYLA MATTHEWS, MAYCI NEELEY, TAYLOR FRANKIE PAUL, JENNIFER AFFLECK, WHITNEY LEAVITT, AND DEMI ENGEMANN attend a special event celebrating the season 2 premiere of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Friday, May 9 in Los Angeles, CA

'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' cast attend season 2 premiere. Credit:

Disney/Stewart Cook

In the aftermath of ABC's decision to shelve Taylor Frankie Paul's season of *The Bachelorette*, a recently published report claims that not only were executives of the longtime reality series had been warned about it by Paul's *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives *costars.

In audio obtained, but not published, by NBC News, the ladies of "MomTok" — which includes Jessi Ngatikaura, Jennifer Affleck, Mayci Neeley, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, Layla Taylor and Mirana McWhorter — allegedly told ABC executives during a meeting held on March 7 that they had concerns about continuing their Hulu reality series with Paul.

During the meeting, cast members reportedly told execs they were concerned for their brand and their careers after alleged incidents between Paul and on-again-off-again partner, Dakota Mortensen.

Dakota Mortensen at the Arby's Cinema Center during the "We Audition" party on January 24, 2026 in Park City, Utah., Taylor Frankie Paul at "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" season 2 Los Angeles premiere held at Paramount Theatre on May 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Dakota Mortensen; Taylor Frankie Paul.

Sara Jaye/Getty; JC Olivera/Variety via Getty

Paul has been the subject of near-constant controversy since she founded MomTok, the community of Mormon influencers whose lives *Mormon Wives *chronicles. She was arrested for alleged domestic violence in 2023 after an altercation with Mortensen, ultimately being charged with misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief, and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, after she allegedly threw a chair at Mortensen that instead hit their daughter. Paul eventually pleaded guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault, which means that if she complies with the terms of the plea, the charge will be dismissed. All other charges were also dismissed.

News of a separate, more recent reported domestic assault incident made the rounds on Monday in the lead-up to Paul's debut as the Bachelorette. A spokesperson for the Draper City police Department in Utah confirmed to PEOPLE that "allegations have been made in both directions" and "contact was made with involved parties on [Feb.] 24th and 25th."

NBC News reports that during the alleged 30-minute Zoom, the cast "gave accounts of Paul's alleged behavior" and "repeatedly referenced 'distressing' and 'upsetting' video recordings of Paul's alleged conduct." The outlet notes that none of the stars detailed the contents of the referenced videos, nor did they play them on the call.

Taylor Frankie Paul's ex Dakota Mortensen speaks out after filing restraining order

Dakota Mortensen

ABC reveals what it will air in place of 'The Bachelorette' after abruptly scrapping Taylor Frankie Paul's season

Taylor Frankie Paul on 'The Bachelorette'

"A cast member called it 'concerning' that no one at Disney or Hulu seemed to want to know what is in the videos," the report states.

One cast member allegedly told execs: "It's a dangerous situation, it's a sad situation, and we don't know how to navigate it, because Taylor is our friend."

A source told NBC News that the production company "engaged a seasoned law firm to conduct an investigation of the competing and conflicting allegations that Taylor and Dakota had toward one another." They added, "It would have been inappropriate to engage in a dialogue regarding an ongoing investigation."

While a source close to the situation confirmed to ** that there is an ongoing investigation, they could not discuss said ongoing investigation.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Almost two weeks after the reported meeting, production on season 5 of the reality series was officially paused as police opened an investigation into an alleged second domestic assault incident between Paul and Mortensen.

Costar Matthews revealed that it was the women of the cast that made the decision to pause production. "It was a decision that all us girls came up with and agreed on. We didn't feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening," Matthews said when a fan asked if the show was "actually on pause" during an Instagram Q&A on Thursday.

Although some assumed the other women in the *Mormon Wives *cast were jealous of Paul's new gig, costar Ngatikaura shot down that theory on Tuesday. She commented on an Instagram post from influencer Zack Peter, who speculated about unverified reports of cast jealousy, writing, "It was never a jealousy thing lol."

A source close to the matter told EW* *that cameras were not rolling when the incident took place, and claimed that Paul's children were not present. And another source close to the matter told EW that Mortensen's "number one priority here is protecting" his and Paul's son, Ever.

"He knew there was a possibility it could come out," the source said, "but he was not going to be the one to proactively do that because he has always wanted a decent relationship with Taylor. It's been really hard to achieve that, but he wants to co-parent well."

In an exclusive interview with Paul on Tuesday, she implied to *EW* that Mortensen was not aligned with her desires to keep their legal issues out of the media.

"I actually took action about a few weeks ago. I'm just doing third-party everything — pick-up, drop-offs, communication — so no contact right now for me," she told *EW* of her current status with Mortensen. "I think that's the best case, honestly, because clearly it's just not to a point of us getting along, so I wanted to take the best action I could. … I didn't want to bring anything to the public eye, making it a bigger deal for the sake of my son, and just everything about to come out. But that wasn't the plan for [Mortensen]."

Dakota Mortenson and Taylor Frankie Paul on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

Dakota Mortenson and Taylor Frankie Paul on 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives'.

Fred Hayes/Disney

Things took another turn on Thursday, when TMZ published a video of the 2023 domestic violence incident involving Paul prior to the series premiere of her show *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*. In that footage, Paul could be seen throwing a chair in front of her eldest child and attempting to put Mortensen into a headlock.

Soon after, a representative for Disney Entertainment Television confirmed that ABC was not moving forward with the latest season of *The Bachelorette* on Thursday — just three days before the season was set to premiere. "In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of *The Bachelorette* at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family," a spokesperson said in a statement to EW.

*If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at **1-800-799-7233**, or go to **thehotline.org**. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.*

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New Photo - 12 of the Most Memorable Cinderella Teams Who Have Competed in March Madness

12 of the Most Memorable Cinderella Teams Who Have Competed in March Madness Christopher RudolphFri, March 20, 2026 at 1:10 PM UTC 0 North Carolina State's coach Jim Valvano in 1983. ; Stephen Curry 30 of the Davidson Wildcats in 2008. ; DJ Burns Jr. 30 of the NC State Wolfpack in 2024Credit: Bettmann; Gregory Shamus/Getty; Lance King/Getty A March Madness Cinderella story is when an underdog team goes on to become a dominant force during the NCAA Tournament There have numerous Cinderella stories, with a select few leading to unforgettable historymaking showdowns NC State has made waves during...

12 of the Most Memorable Cinderella Teams Who Have Competed in March Madness

Christopher RudolphFri, March 20, 2026 at 1:10 PM UTC

0

North Carolina State's coach Jim Valvano in 1983. ; Stephen Curry #30 of the Davidson Wildcats in 2008. ; DJ Burns Jr. #30 of the NC State Wolfpack in 2024Credit: Bettmann; Gregory Shamus/Getty; Lance King/Getty -

A March Madness Cinderella story is when an underdog team goes on to become a dominant force during the NCAA Tournament

There have numerous Cinderella stories, with a select few leading to unforgettable history-making showdowns

NC State has made waves during March Madness, both in 1983 and 2024

During March Madness, Cinderella trades the castle ballroom for the basketball court.

Cinderella stories are an an exciting part of the annual NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship and there are several bracket busters over the years that fans haven't forgotten about.

A March Madness Cinderella story is when an overlooked team is considered an underdog after Selection Sunday, but then exceed expectations during the NCAA tournament, enchanting basketball fans with their surprising rags-to-riches narrative.

Here's a look at 12 of the most memorable Cinderella stories from March Madness history.

01 of 11

1983: NC State

Akeem Olajuwon #35 of the Houston Cougars plays against the North Carolina State Wolfpack on November 19, 1983 in Raleigh, North CarolinaCredit: Ronald C. Modra/Getty

After winning three ACC tournament games in a row, North Carolina State was able to claim a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Led by head coach Jim Valvano, the NC State Wolfpack made it all the way to the final, where they were up against the University of Houston's Cougars.

There were only seconds left in the game and both teams were tied at 52-52 when NC State's Dereck Whittenburg launched a shot 30 feet from the basket. Lorenzo Charles then caught and dunked it with the buzzer, scoring a victory for the team.

NC State's 1983 tournament story was the basis for a 2013 ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, Survive and Advance.

02 of 11

2006: George Mason

The George Mason Patriots celebrate their overtime victory over the Connecticut Huskies during the Regional Finals of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 26, 2006 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.CCredit: Win McNamee/Getty

The George Mason Patriots ended their regular season in a defeat against the Hofstra Pride, but went on to stunning victories during the NCAA Tournament in 2006.

The Patriots defeated the Michigan State Spartans, the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Wichita State Shockers and the UConn Huskies. The George Mason team would finish in the Final Four, ultimately losing to the Florida Gators.

03 of 11

2008 Davidson

Bryant Barr #24, Stephen Curry #30 and Thomas Sander #15 of the Davidson Wildcats celebrate after defeating the Georgetown Hoyas 74-40 during the 2nd round of the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at RBC Center March 23, 2008 in Raleigh, North CarolinaCredit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty

In 2008, the Davidson Wildcats earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament after a 22-game winning streak.

Led By Stephen Curry, the Wildcats won games against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the Georgetown Hoyas and the Wisconsin Badgers. The Wildcats eventually made it to the Elite Eight, but lost out to the Kansas Jayhawks.

"We made history for our school," Curry said, according to ESPN.

04 of 11

2010 and 2011: Butler

Darius Theus #10 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams playing against Khyle Marshall #23 and Andrew Smith #44 of the Butler Bulldogs during the National Semifinal game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Reliant Stadium on April 2, 2011 in Houston, TexasCredit: Andy Lyons/Getty

The Butler Bulldogs came close to clinching the national title in 2010. In their final matchup, they went up against Duke Blue Devils, who beat them 61-59.

While the Bulldogs' ended their season with a tough finish, they repeated their Cinderella story the following year.

In 2011, Butler returned to the tournament as a No. 8 seed team. They were later defeated by No. 3 seed UConn with a final score of 53–41.

05 of 11

2011: VCU

Butler University plays against Virginia Commonwealth University during the semifinal game of the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball championships in Houston, TX.Credit: Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty

In 2011, VCU played in the First Four, making it all the way to the Final Four.

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In a Cinderella vs. Cinderella matchup, VCU faced Butler. The Bulldogs ultimately won 70–62.

06 of 11

2013: Florida Gulf

Sherwood Brown #25 of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles playing against the Florida Gators during the South Regional Semifinal round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 29, 2013 in Arlington, TexasCredit: Ronald Martinez/Getty

Florida Gulf Coast became the first No. 15 seed team to make it into the Sweet 16.

The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, known as "Dunk City," beat Georgetown and San Diego State in shocking defeats. The Eagles eventually lost to the Florida Gators.

07 of 11

2018: Loyola Chicago

Donte Ingram #0 of the Loyola Ramblers celebrates after his game-winning three pointer against the Miami Hurricanes in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, TexasCredit: Tom Pennington/Getty

The Loyola Chicago Ramblers made it all the way to the Final Four, losing to the Michigan Wolverines.

The Ramblers players were stars on the court, but their 98-year-old team chaplain, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, became a national icon during their tournament run.

Sister Jean was able to see the Ramblers return to the tournament in 2021, before her death in 2025 at age 106, per ESPN.

08 of 11

2021: Oral Roberts

Oral Roberts University players celebrate their win against Ohio State University in overtime of the first round of the 2021 NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament held at Mackey Arena on March 19, 2021 in West Lafayette, IndianaCredit: Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos via Getty

In 2021, the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles was the second No. 15 seed team to reach the Sweet 16 — the first was Florida Gulf Coast in 2013.

Oral Roberts were defeated by No. 3 seed Arkansas Razorbacks in a game that ended with a final score of 72-70.

09 of 11

2022: Saint Peter's

Jaylen Murray #32 and Latrell Reid #0 of the St. Peter's Peacocks celebrate after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 67-64 in the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Center on March 25, 2022 in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaCredit: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty

The Saint Peter's Peacocks defeated the Kentucky Wildcats, the Murray State Racers and the Purdue Boilermakers.

Saint Peter's reached the Elite Eight, becoming the first No. 15 seed to do so. They eventually lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

10 of 11

2023: Fairleigh Dickinson

Joe Munden Jr. #1 of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights reacts in the second half of a game against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 17, 2023 in Columbus, OhioCredit: Andy Lyons/Getty

In 2023, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights pulled off a shocking upset, defeating Purdue, a No. 1 seed.

Ultimately, Fairleigh Dickinson lost out to the Florida Atlantic Owls, 78-70.

"The average fan wants to see a 16 (seed) beat a 1 and a 15 beat a 2," said then-Knights coach Tobin Anderson, per The Athletic. "That's what the beauty of the NCAA Tournament is."

11 of 11

2024: NC State

Mohamed Diarra #23 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack celebrates after winning the Championship Game of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament 84-76 against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2024 in Washington, D.C.Credit: Greg Fiume/Getty

More than 40 years since their first Cinderella story, NC State embarked on another run in 2024.

That year's NCAA Tournament saw the Wolfpack win four games, which propelled them to the men's Final Four for the first time since 1983, according to ESPN.

They later lost to Purdue, with a final score of 50-63.

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12 of the Most Memorable Cinderella Teams Who Have Competed in March Madness

12 of the Most Memorable Cinderella Teams Who Have Competed in March Madness Christopher RudolphFri, March 20, 2026 a...
New Photo - Georgia Tech basketball targeting Troy's Scott Cross as next coach | Sources

Georgia Tech basketball targeting Troy&x27;s Scott Cross as next coach | Sources John Brice, USA TODAY Fri, March 20, 2026 at 1:21 PM UTC 0 Georgia Tech basketball targeting Troy's Scott Cross as next coach | Sources Troy coach Scott Cross has emerged as the leading candidate in Georgia Tech's basketball coaching search, multiple people with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Friday, March 20. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about Cross' candidacy.

Georgia Tech basketball targeting Troy's Scott Cross as next coach | Sources

John Brice, USA TODAY Fri, March 20, 2026 at 1:21 PM UTC

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Georgia Tech basketball targeting Troy's Scott Cross as next coach | Sources

Troy coach Scott Cross has emerged as the leading candidate in Georgia Tech's basketball coaching search, multiple people with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Friday, March 20.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about Cross' candidacy. It wasn't immediately clear whether Cross, who led Troy to its second straight Men's NCAA Tournament berth this season, has been offered the job.

The Georgia Tech job came open when athletic director Ryan Alpert fired Damon Stoudamire on March 8 after the Yellow Jackets closed their season on a 12-game losing streak and failed to make the 15-team ACC Tournament. Stoudamire, an ex-Arizona star, lasted three seasons with the Yellow Jackets and posted a 42-55 record.

Cross and Furman coach Bob Richey were among the candidates thoroughly vetted by Alpert during Georgia Tech's search, with Cross emerging as the focus, multiple sources told USA TODAY Sports.

1 / 0See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

Richey coached Furman to its eighth March Madness berth this season and second since 1980. The 15th-seeded Paladins (22-12) will face No. 2 UConn (29-5) in the first round on Friday.

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Why Georgia Tech is targeting Scott Cross

Georgia Tech is trying to revive a program that has lost 93 games the past five seasons and has just one NCAA Tournament berth since 2010.

In narrowing the focus on Cross, Georgia Tech is targeting a coach coming off a successful stint after spending more than two decades at the Division I level.

Cross, who has 19 years' experience as an NCAA head coach, led Troy to a Sun Belt Conference championship and 22-12 record this season, ending with Thursday's 76-47 loss to Nebraska in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Cross' last five Troy teams won at least 20 games. His past two reached the NCAA Tournament and another reached the now-defunct College Basketball Invitational.

Before arriving at Troy, Cross guided Texas-Arlington to postseason appearances in the NIT and College Invitational Tournament (CIT) quarterfinals.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scott Cross top Georgia Tech basketball candidate after March Madness loss

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Georgia Tech basketball targeting Troy's Scott Cross as next coach | Sources

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New Photo - WNBA players briefed on a transformational 7-year CBA with a $7M 2026 salary cap

WNBA players briefed on a transformational 7year CBA with a $7M 2026 salary cap DOUG FEINBERGFri, March 20, 2026 at 12:19 AM UTC 0 1 / 0Basketball WNBACBAFILE Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) plays against the Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball firstround playoff game Sept. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) () NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA players are having information sessions over the next day or two to learn more about the new collective bargaining agreement that was agreed to in principle early Wednesday morning.

WNBA players briefed on a transformational 7-year CBA with a $7M 2026 salary cap

DOUG FEINBERGFri, March 20, 2026 at 12:19 AM UTC

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1 / 0Basketball WNBA-CBAFILE - Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) plays against the Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game Sept. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) ()

NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA players are having information sessions over the next day or two to learn more about the new collective bargaining agreement that was agreed to in principle early Wednesday morning.

Through zoom calls and one-on-one conversations, the players are hearing about some of the details of the transformational new deal that will last for the next seven years with an opt-out after six, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to The on Thursday on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.

Lawyers on both sides are finalizing the term sheet, which should be done in the next day or so. It will then get put to a vote of the players with a majority needed to ratify the CBA. The league's Board of Governors will then need to approve the deal before it becomes official.

The deal came after the two sides spent the past eight days in intense in-person negotiations that lasted for more than 100 hours. They came to the agreement about 2:20 a.m. Wednesday after spending more than 10 hours of discussions on Tuesday.

"This is historical for women's sports. I told Cathy it's not just for the players that are entering the league or the players that aren't already here," union president Nneka Ogwumike said of her conversations with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. "We're just really grateful to be able to come to a deal. We're proud of ourselves."

Here are a few key points from the CBA.

Salary cap

The salary cap for the 2026 season is expected to be $7 million with average salaries more than $585,000, according to the person. Top players can make over $1 million for the first time in the league's history with a supermax salary close to $1.4 million. The cap could grow up to $11 million in 2031 if revenue projections go well. The salary cap can change a maximum of 10% in either direction each year with the exception of after the first season when it could up or down 13%.

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The minimum salary for this year would be around $300,000 as the league enters its 30th season. This would increase salaries fourfold from last season. The average salary, which was about $125,000 last year, should be around $584,000 before revenue sharing in 2026.

"For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars and raising the standard across facilities, staffing and support," Ogwumike said after the verbal agreement Wednesday morning.

The average revenue share over the length of the deal will be around 20%, according to the person. It's still unclear whether its the gross revenue the players asked for or the net revenue the league pushed for.

Housing

Teams will continue to pay for housing for the first three years of the deal according to the person. In 2029 and 2030, teams will pay for housing for players earning $500,000 or less. After that, teams will only pay for the housing of developmental players.

Rookies contracts

Rookie contracts will remain for four years with a bump in pay for all players still on rookie contracts. Players who earn All-WNBA honors can get the maximum salary in the fourth year of their contract if they stay with their team. So far Caitlin Clark would be eligible for that in 2027, Paige Bueckers in 2028 and Aliyah Boston this season.

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Published: March 20, 2026 at 09:28AM on Source: PRIME TIME

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WNBA players briefed on a transformational 7-year CBA with a $7M 2026 salary cap

WNBA players briefed on a transformational 7year CBA with a $7M 2026 salary cap DOUG FEINBERGFri, March 20, 2026 at 12...

 

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