Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 6:30 p.m. GMT/ 2:30 p.m. ET . For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect.

TOP STORIES

TENNIS-MIAMI/

Tennis-Raducanu earns dominant win over Japan's Ishii at Miami Open

March 19 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu barely broke a sweat as she brushed aside Japanese wild card Sayaka Ishii 6-2 6-1 on Wednesday to reach the second round of the Miami Open.

CYCLING-TOURDEFRANCE/

Cycling-Tour de France to start in Edinburgh in 2027

LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - The Scottish city of Edinburgh will host the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027 as the world's most famous cycling race returns to Britain for the fifth time.

SOCCER-UEFANATIONS-CRO-FRA/PREVIEW

Soccer-Deschamps praises Dembele, Mbappe happy to be back for France

SPLIT, Croatia, March 19 (Reuters) - France manager Didier Deschamps commended forward Ousmane Dembele’s form as Kylian Mbappe returned to his squad ahead of their Nations League clash with Croatia on Thursday.

UPCOMING

SPORTS

SOCCER

SOCCER-WORLDCUP-BRA-COL/PREVIEW (PIX) $(TV)$

World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Brazil press conference & training

Brazil prepare for their World Cup qualifier against Colombia in Brasilia.

19 Mar 14:45 ET / 18:45 GMT

SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ASIA/

World Cup - Asian Qualifiers

Matches in the third round of Asia's World Cup qualifiers: Group A: Iran v UAE, Qatar v North Korea, Uzbekistan v Kyrgyzstan Group B: South Korea v Oman, Iraq v Kuwait, Jordan v Palestine Group C: Japan v Bahrain, Australia v Indonesia, Saudi Arabia v China

20 Mar

SOCCER-WORLDCUP-AUS-IDN/REPORT (PIX) (TV)

World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Australia v Indonesia

Australia take on Indonesia at Sydney Football Stadium in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

20 Mar 05:10 ET / 09:10 GMT

SOCCER-SPAIN/PREVIEW

Spain - LaLiga weekend preview

A preview of the weekend's action in LaLiga.

20 Mar 07:00 ET / 11:00 GMT

SOCCER-ITALY/PREVIEW

Italy - Serie A weekend preview

A preview of the weekend's action in Serie A

20 Mar 09:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ENG-ALB/PREVIEW (PIX) (TV)

World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group K - England press conference & training

England train and hold a press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground before they host Albania in their first qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.

20 Mar 09:30 ET / 13:30 GMT

ICEHOCKEY

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-TOR-COL/ (PIX)

NHL - Toronto Maple Leafs v Colorado Avalanche

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario

19 Mar 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-MIN-SEA/ (PIX)

NHL - Minnesota Wild v Seattle Kraken

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

20 Mar 21:30 ET / 01:30 GMT

BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL-NBA-ORL-HOU/ (PIX)

NBA - Orlando Magic v Houston Rockets

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Kia Center, Orlando, Florida

19 Mar 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-IND-DAL/ (PIX)

NBA - Indiana Pacers v Dallas Mavericks

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

19 Mar 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-MIA-DET/ (PIX)

NBA - Miami Heat v Detroit Pistons

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida

19 Mar 19:30 ET / 23:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-MIN-NOP/ (PIX)

NBA - Minnesota Timberwolves v New Orleans Pelicans

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

20 Mar 20:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-SAS-NYK/ (PIX)

NBA - San Antonio Spurs v New York Knicks

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas

20 Mar 20:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-OKC-PHI/ (PIX)

NBA - Oklahoma City Thunder v Philadelphia 76ers

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

20 Mar 20:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-UTA-WAS/ (PIX)

NBA - Utah Jazz v Washington Wizards

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

20 Mar 21:00 ET / 01:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-LAL-DEN/ (PIX)

NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Denver Nuggets

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

20 Mar 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-POR-MEM/ (PIX)

NBA - Portland Trail Blazers v Memphis Grizzlies

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland, Oregon

20 Mar 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-PHX-CHI/ (PIX)

NBA - Phoenix Suns v Chicago Bulls

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - PHX Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

20 Mar 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-SAC-CLE/ (PIX)

NBA - Sacramento Kings v Cleveland Cavaliers

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

20 Mar 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

GOLF

GOLF-LPGA-SERIPAK/

LPGA Tour - Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship

Day one of the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship at the Palos Verdes GC in California. Coverage provided by Field Level Media.

20 Mar

GOLF-PGA-VALSPAR/

PGA Tour - Valspar Championship

Day one of the Valspar Championship at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbour, Florida. Coverage provided by Field Level Media.

20 Mar

OLYMPICS

OLYMPICS-IOC/ (PIX) (TV)

144th IOC Session including the election of IOC President

Day two of 144th IOC Session in Pylos, Greece which includes the election of the new IOC President.

20 Mar 03:00 ET / 07:00 GMT

OLYMPICS-IOC/ (PIX) (TV)

144th IOC Session - Mixed Zone

The IOC President Thomas Bach and some of the presidential candidates are expected to speak to the media in a mixed zone following the election at the 144th IOC Session in Pylos, Greece

20 Mar 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

OLYMPICS-IOC/ (PIX) (TV)

144th IOC Session - Press conference with IOC President-elect

The IOC President-elect holds a press conference following the election at the 144th IOC Session in Pylos, Greece.

20 Mar 12:00 ET / 16:00 GMT

ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS-WORLD/ (PIX) (TV)

World Athletics Indoor Championships - Opening Press Conference

World Athletics hold a press conference ahead of the world indoor championships in Nanjing. Sweden's Mondo Duplantis will be one of the athletes to speak to the media.

20 Mar 05:30 ET / 09:30 GMT

TENNIS

TENNIS-MIAMI/ (PIX) (TV)

ATP Masters 1000 - Miami Open

Day two of the Miami Open - an ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

20 Mar 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

TENNIS-MIAMI/ (PIX) (TV)

WTA 1000 - Miami Open

Day three of the Miami Open - a WTA 1000 tournament.

20 Mar 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT