Sunday Sports Lineup: From Ice to the Court

The day starts with a chill as an AHL hockey game kicks off at 4 p. m. on TV. Soon after, a top‑tier Australian football match begins at 4:05 a. m. , showing teams from Collingwood and St. Kilda battling it out on the field. At 10 a. m. , fans can catch taped NHRA qualifying at Gainesville Raceway, followed by the main event of the Gatornationals at noon. Mid‑afternoon brings a NASCAR Cup Series race, the Straight Talk Wireless 500, which takes place at Phoenix Raceway in Arizona. Baseball fans have a busy schedule: the World Baseball Classic starts early with Australia versus Japan, then moves to games in Miami, Puerto Rico, and Houston through the evening. The rest of the day keeps sports fans busy with a mix of bowling, college basketball, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, softball, wrestling, golf, horse racing, MLB spring training, NBA action, and even Paralympic events.College basketball features matchups from the Missouri Valley Tournament to the Big Ten and Big East tournaments, with games spread across multiple networks. Women’s college sports include basketball championships in the Southern and Atlantic Coast regions, gymnastics contests featuring top schools, and a selection special for women’s ice hockey. Golf viewers can follow the DP World Tour, PGA Tour events, and Champions Tour finals, while horse racing highlights America’s Day at the Races. Late in the day, Major League Baseball spring training games show the Yankees against the Mets and the Giants versus the Cubs. NBA games pit Boston against Cleveland, New York against Los Angeles, and Houston against San Antonio, with additional matchups on NBC. NHL action features Minnesota playing Colorado and Boston facing Pittsburgh in the evening, followed by Detroit versus New Jersey and Edmonton against Vegas. The day ends with a variety of Paralympic competitions, including snowboarding finals and cross-country skiing events.