Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
March 14, 2026
March 14, 2026 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Sports



PHIL ROEDER / CC BY 2.0
With the NFL Draft Combine all wrapped up, Branson discusses the top prospects and their potential landing spots in this mock draft.

2026 NFL Mock Draft: Post-NFL Draft Combine

For NFL diehards out there, this period without football can be difficult, but thankfully the offseason is just kicking off, and with that comes the multitudes of mock drafts, free agency predictions and the frenzies of the trade season! As the draft season progresses, why not have some fun with some predictions of where players might land come April!


ERIK DROST / CC BY 2.0
The NBA trade deadline passed in early February; here is a breakdown of those last minute moves.

Breaking down the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline

This year’s NBA trade came with countless hot takes, surprises and gambles, and was the start of some rebuilds. Injury-dependent playoff expectations will be reshaped and team systems will need to adapt.



Men’s lacrosse pulled off a miraculous comeback victory, baseball handily won four games, and men’s and women’s basketball both dropped the Centennial Conference Championship to Gettysburg on this week’s edition of Hopkins Sports in Review.
HOPKINSSPORTS.COM

Hopkins Sports in Review (Feb. 23 – Mar. 1)

Welcome back to another week of Hopkins Sports in Review! This was a big week for Men's and Women’s Basketball, who both played through the Centennial playoffs and competed in the Centennial Conference Championship. Baseball also had a full slate, playing four games throughout the week. Men’s lacrosse continued their season with a big come-from-behind win.


YANTSIMAGES / CC BY-SA 4.0
Alysa Liu’s journey to the Olympic Gold medal was anything but simple. She battled harsh conditions and a corrupt system to come out on top.

Joy beyond gold, why Alysa Liu’s win means more than the medal

Alysa’s unconventional song choice and vibrant personality are on full display both on and off the ice. Her joy goes much deeper than a medal or podium. Though her path is unconventional, it is also truly one of hope. Her win is a rejection of a caustic philosophy all too prevalent in modern skating.


COURTESY OF HOPKINSSPORTS.COM
A big week of Hopkins Sports has produced a number of massive storylines and records that have been smashed!

Hopkins Sports in Review (Feb. 16 – 22)

Over the past week, we have seen records broken and standards set for what looks to be another incredibly successful semester of Hopkins sport! Come with us as we take a look at some of the most notable storylines from recent action.


D. BENJAMIN MILLER / CC 1.0 UNIVERSAL
Spring training kicks off after a chaotic MLB free agency, highlighted by the Dodgers’ big spending, a shift toward shorter high-value contracts and the underpayment of top Japanese players. 

Takeaways from MLB Free Agency

Spring training is now underway, marking the unofficial end of Major League Baseball free agency. This year’s iteration was a tumultuous one. The upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations loomed over this free agency period as the MLB Players’ Association and the Owners’ Association prepare to do battle at the conclusion of the 2026 season.


LORIE SHAULL / CC BY-SA 4.0
The second-ever WNBA Unrivaled offseason is ongoing, showcasing talent and providing ways for players to gain income before the official season starts.

WNBA unleashes Unrivaled to redefine the offseason

Women’s basketball has reached unprecedented levels of recognition with stars like Cailtin Clark and Aja Wilson. That being said, women’s basketball players have rather low-paying salaries and are mostly required to compete overseas during the offseason to continue producing income. Players often leave their families, spouses and kids to provide financially. That is, until Unrivaled.


SOUNDERBRUCE / CC BY-SA 4.0
Just two years ago, it looked like Sam Darnold would end up as a backup for the rest of his career. Since then, he has won 14 games in back to back seasons, culminating in a Super Bowl victory with the Seattle Seahawks.

Sam Darnold’s unlikely path to Super Bowl Champion

With the Seattle Seahawks’ victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Seahawks QB Sam Darnold has reached the summit of professional football. However, his climb has been anything but smooth. Darnold’s career shows that the combination of perseverance, dedication and the right support can completely warp one’s trajectory.


COURTESY OF HOPKINSSPORTS.COM
Hopkins fencing took on the Centennial Conference Championship over the weekend and fought for multiple top-four finishes.

Hopkins Sports in Review (Feb. 9 – Feb. 15)

The snow is melting, the fields are cleared and the weather is warming up. All three of these factors point to one conclusion: You should go attend a Hopkins sports game! If you need any more convincing, here are the rundowns of how some of our teams did in the past week. Embrace the hype and go support. 


PAWEL MARYANOV / CC BY 2.0
With twelve men’s ice hockey team’s competing in the Olympics, rankings the jerseys was not an easy feat, but there the spectrum ranges from gorgeous canvases to boring practice-like shirts.

Ranking Olympic men's hockey jerseys

While I could do a detailed game-by-game breakdown, these jerseys caught my eye and they deserve their own spotlight. To preface, this is just my take almost purely based on aesthetics.


COURTESY OF HOPKINSSPORTS.COM
Kotov is a key member of the Men’s Fencing team and combines his passion for mechanical engineering with his approach to fencing Sabre.

Athlete Spotlight: Leonid Kotov

In an interview with The News-Letter, Kotov discussed his fencing career and his love for the sport in addition to his experience studying engineering.


DESTINATIONALAN / CC BY-SA 4.0
Extreme heat, camera controversy, wearable medical tracking device debates and heartbreaking matches turned the 2026 Australian Open from a competition to a spectacle.

Kicking off the year with the 2026 Australian Open showdown

From heat to heartbreak to history in the making, this year’s Australian Open (AO) brought it all. Beyond the heightened audience excitement off court, the high-intensity later stages of the tournament proved to fans worldwide why AO remains the battleground for where champions are made. 


COURTESY OF HOPKINSSPORTS.COM
This week in Hopkins Sports in Review, Junior Alex Colletti sets multiple records, and Women’s Basketball continues its unbeaten season.

Hopkins Sports in Review (Feb. 2–8)

Welcome back to another week of Hopkins Sports in Review! It’s a busy time for Blue Jay athletics as lacrosse kicks off its season, while basketball is now fully into conference play, with both men's and women’s hoops looking to claim the Centennial Conference crown. Here’s everything you need to know about Hopkins sports from this week.


ALL-PRO REELS / CC BY-SA 2.0
With Superbowl LX happening this Sunday, our sports editors and writers gave their predictions for who they think will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy!

Super Bowl LX Roundtable

Super Bowl Sunday is upon us! This year’s iteration of the unofficial American holiday features the New England Patriots pitted against the Seattle Seahawks. Even among Super Bowls, this one is drawing more eyes than most. The last time these two teams met in the Super Bowl, it resulted in one of the best football games ever.


COURTESY OF HOPKINSSPORTS.COM
The Men’s and Women’s fencing teams dominated multiple opponents in all three fencing disciplines, Foil, Sabre and Epee.

Hopkins Sports in Review (Jan. 26 – Feb. 2)

The semester may just be kicking into gear, but the spring sports are just starting to bloom and the winter sports are putting up some chilling wins. It’s the best of both worlds: thrilling lacrosse matches with a snowy and gorgeous Homewood campus as a backdrop, or an indoor gym where you can cheer in comfort.





News-Letter Magazine