The Big Ten captured the national championship in both women’s and men’s basketball, with UCLA and Michigan crowned champions. No. 1 seed Michigan defeated No. 2 UConn in the men’s bracket, 69–63 in a hard-fought game, while the No. 1 seeded Bruins routed No. 1 seed South Carolina, 79–51. Michigan’s Wolverines had one of the most dominant runs to the national championship in NCAA history, with a +108 point differential from the Round of 64 all the way up until the National Championship game. The Wolverines began their stretch of dominance against No. 16 seed Howard in a 101–80 win....

For the first time in history, both the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams have simultaneously clinched Olympic gold for Team USA. Not since Canada swept both men’s and women’s tournaments at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics has one nation claimed both gold medals. For U.S. women’s hockey, Sunday’s victory comes for the first time since 2018; for men, the first time since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980.  The men’s victory was even more validating for Midwesterners when the final goal was made by Michigan’s Jack Hughes with three other Michiganders on the ice, mirroring the predominately...

Since 2019, Alysa Liu has taken the figure skating world by storm. She’s been breaking records and garnering numerous awards since a young age, but it’s her authenticity and alternative style that have placed the 20-year-old at the forefront of Team USA. Her distinct haloed hair and smiley piercing, her emphasis on self-preservation, and her relaxed, joyful nature have not only landed Liu two gold medals, but also established her as a role model for expressing individuality and the rewards of going against the grain in such a technical sport.  Last Thursday, Liu became the first American...

Nearly a year ago, my co-editor, Micah Rodriguez, wrote an article which stated — correctly —  “NIL Has Changed March Madness for Good” (“The Oberlin Review,” April 4, 2025). An NIL deal, which stands for “Name, Image, and Likeness,” allows athletes to access monetized opportunities such as brand deals per the current legislation in their institution’s state. The deals have raised eyebrows since July 2021, when the policy was set in motion for all three NCAA divisions.  Last year, it was clear to Rodriguez that March Madness wasn’t “mad” anymore. The death of the Cinderella...

The Milwaukee Bucks have had a disappointing season. From a sportsbook perspective, their over/under was 43.5 wins at the beginning of the season. They are currently 23–30, on pace to be well under. Giannis Antetokounmpo, their star player out of Greece, has been sidelined with an injury for a large part of the season. The general disappointment of the season has led to speculation that Antetokounmpo, the 2018 and 2019 MVP and 2021 NBA Champion, may be traded.  The speculation was warranted. Numerous verified sources confirmed that the Bucks were actively shopping Giannis to other teams. NBA...

For the first time in history, an Oberlin College-affiliated athlete competed at the Winter Olympics. Not only did she compete, but this past week in Milano Cortina, Italy, Liz Lemley, OC ’30, took home the gold medal in women’s mogul skiing and bronze in the inaugural women’s dual mogul event.  Liz’s father, Wayne Lemley, OC ’76, studied math and physics at Oberlin College. Shortly after graduation, rather than spending his weekends staring at numbers, he instead spent his time at Stratton Mountain and Killington, looking on in awe as some of the world’s best mogul skiers tore through...