ESPN Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Thee women’s NCAA Semifinals on ESPN shattered viewership records, as all-time NCAA basketball scoring leader Caitlin Clark led her Iowa Hawkeyes to a thrilling win over the UConn Huskies, 71-69, in a game that wasn’t decided until the final seconds.

—and the pressure is mounting.The led the Iowa Hawkeyes to victory against UConn on April 5, sending the college team to the women’s NCAA championship game against the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks.Just last week, Iowa's win against Louisiana State University became the in women’s college history, with 12.3 million viewers tuning in to see the epic rematch between Clark and fellow generational talent . While Clark has yet to win a national title, the superstar recently became the the all-time , male or female.

ESPN EVP of Production Norby Williamson, who helped build SportsCenter into a signature franchise but recently had a public clash with Pat McAfee, is departing after nearly 40 years at the network.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Norby Williamson, the ESPN veteran who has managed everything from NFL coverage to “SportsCenter,” is leaving the Disney sports-media giant abruptly just weeks after being called out on camera in a surprise and unprecedented outburst by daytime host Pat McAfee. The McAfee contretemps is not at the root of Williamson’s departure, according to a person familiar with the matter, but rather disagreements between the executive and the longer-term strategy being devised by Burke Magnus, who was handed oversight of content and news production in March of last year.

Women’s basketball is heating up on ESPN.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Fierce media rivals like ESPN and Fox Sports aren’t often eager to see the other do well. But the competitors may be cheering one another this weekend. Fox and ESPN will this weekend each broadcast two games from the new — depending on how one looks at it — UFL, a league that has been built out of the former USFL and its rival, the XFL.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor One of the benefits of hosting any sort of news or discussion program on TV is an authorization to talk. Now some TV journalists and personalities are also being given permission to bite. NBCUniversal needs to get out the proverbial Bactine after being savaged earlier this week by many of its top news personalities over the hire made by NBC News executives of former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel.

Veteran ESPN SportsCenter anchor John Anderson said today that he will retire from the show at the end of June.

Speculation over Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United and possible replacements for the manager continues to bubbles since the takeover by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with Wolves boss Gary O’Neil the latest to be linked.

As the viewing landscape continues to get more complex, ESPN is aiming to streamline things for sports fans by integrating links to video feeds from regional sports networks into its main app and website.

Major League Baseball has announced a formal investigation into L.A. Dodger star Shohei Ohtani‘s role in a gambling scandal involving his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

Manchester United prospect Facundo Pellistri has admitted he is 'sad' how his loan spell at Granada has played out as the Spanish side continue their battle against relegation.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have parted ways with Ippei Mizuhara, who served as new star pitcher Shohei Ohtani‘s interpreter.

Hannah Storm has revealed that she recently battled breast cancer.

As the College Football Playoff gets set to expand to 12 teams this fall, the postseason tournament has reached a nearly $8 billion extension with ESPN through the 2031-32 season.

A former college football star is under arrest and charged with murdering his girlfriend and their unborn child with poison. Blaise Taylor had a stellar ca

Variety Staff Follow Us on Twitter If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. March Madness kicks off this weekend with Selection Sunday, during which the 68-team bracket will finally be announced ahead of the highly anticipated NCAA tournament. The First Four games begin on Tuesday, March 19 in Dayton, Ohio , with games scheduled until the Final Four take place on Apr.

The upcoming sports streaming service from ESPN, Fox & Warner Bros. Discovery has found its boss.

Let me state right out that I am a sucker for dog movies. I still can’t get over My Dog Skip. I learned valuable lifelong lessons from Old Yeller. I consider Lassie a personal friend. I took selfies at the Oscar nominees luncheon with Messi, the French border collie I was pushing for Best Supporting Actor from Anatomy of a Fall. So yes, I am probably the right audience for the latest in the genre, Arthur the King, and its title star.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Warner Bros. Discovery wants to bring one of its “zombie” cable networks back to life with a big jolt of sports. The media company intends to create a new nightly sports block for TruTV, the reality-series cable network that has largely been left to show endless episodes of the popular prank show “Impractical Jokers” and the caught-on-camera serial “World’s Dumbest.” In doing so, Warner no doubt hopes to create new value where there has only been a little.

The Denver Broncos are releasing Russell Wilson.

Manchester United midfield enforcer Casemiro has admitted the Ineos Group should use Manchester City as "a mirror" in their attempts to bring the good times back to Old Trafford.

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has urged his club to copy Manchester City to return to their former glory days.

Caroline Brew editor Chris Mortensen, an award-winning journalist who reported on the NFL for ESPN for decades, died Sunday. He was 72. Mortensen’s family confirmed the news to ESPN.

ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen has died.

Chris Mortensen, an award-winning veteran reporter for ESPN, died Sunday morning, the network announced. He was 72 and no cause was given, but he had been battling cancer during his life.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Fubo chief David Gandler took the gloves off in lambasting the joint venture formed by Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Corp.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Selection Sunday, the official kick-off of March Madness, takes place on March 17, which means there’s more than a couple weeks left of conference play before the 68 teams battle it out during the highly anticipated NCAA tournament. College basketball broadcasts are spread out across many channels including ESPN, CBS Sports, TNT and FOX Sports.

Rudie Obias editor If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. At the end of a long tournament with more than 90 teams, Chelsea F.C. and Liverpool F.C.

I see London. I see France. And if major league baseball players are to be believed, their new uniforms show off their underpants.