Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Formula 1
Last updated: October 13, 2026, 5:30 AM ET
Verstappen and Leclerc
Leclerc's autosport.com strong start gave him a real opening on Verstappen, yet the chance slipped away and the move never materialised. Red Bull autosport.com carries a hidden advantage into 2027, with Verstappen sitting just 0.196 seconds clear of the field after two wins in the last three races.
Football/Soccer
Last updated: October 13, 2026, 5:30 AM ET
Premier League
Manchester City thrashed espn.com 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, silencing a vitriolic home crowd, and Erling Haaland espn.com was among the scorers in a match that also featured a controversial red card. Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola espn.com criticised the dismissal of Ryan Gravenberch as undeserved, while ex-referee Dermot Gallagher skysports.com called the first yellow card "very harsh." Ten people were arrested and a police officer was hurt bbc.co.uk as the heightened atmosphere spilled over. Fans of City brought inflatable bananas espn.com to Anfield, while Liverpool supporters greeted the visitors espn.com with a frosty welcome following the club's guilty verdict. Virgil van Dijk insisted espn.com the rivalry should not be viewed differently, and commentators have described City's new villain status espn.com as a taste of what is to come.
Coventry produced a 4-1 demolition bbc.co.uk of Newcastle, their first home Premier League win in 25 years, and the result lifted them out skysports.com of the drop zone. Manager Lampard's side stunned the visitors espn.com with four goals, and Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle apologised skysports.com to travelling supporters, while Carragher said his side had been "beaten up" again. Sky Sports tracked the match live skysports.com as the Sky Blues celebrated.
Arsenal's season is under scrutiny after a woeful WSL start espn.com, and Mikel Arteta confirmed injuries espn.com to Piero Hincapié and Martin Zubimendi while defending his training programme. Troy Deeney named his latest bbc.co.uk team of the week after the round of fixtures. Leicester suffered another bruising afternoon, with boos ringing out bbc.co.uk during a defeat at Peterborough, and Peterborough's chairman denied bbc.co.uk making an illegal approach for Savage.
Champions League & Europe
Luis Enrique is central to PSG's plans bbc.co.uk as the club bids for a third successive Champions League title. Manchester United face a testing week, with Michael Carrick backing his side espn.com to rebound from a "challenging, stickier" spell, and Paul Merson warned skysports.com that Carrick is under pressure. Diego Simeone described United espn.com as dangerous, and the club are linked with bbc.co.uk Atlético's Giuliano Simeone. Bruno Fernandes's form bbc.co.uk has been questioned as the skipper yet to recapture last season's highs. Bayern Munich will be without Manuel Neuer, with Urbig to start espn.com in goal. Liverpool are reportedly eyeing espn.com Hull goalkeeper Tzolakis as a potential Alisson successor.
Spain & Women's Football
The USWNT fell 2-0 espn.com to world champions Spain, with Spain's clinical finishing highlighting the gap, and head coach Hayes wants a faster start espn.com in the second friendly. England take a two-goal lead into their Women's World Cup qualifier, but questions remain over finishing ruthlessness bbc.co.uk. Gotham FC lose key players espn.com for the NWSL playoffs, and St. Louis City equalled the MLS record espn.com for an unbeaten run after beating LA Galaxy 6-2. Fifpro warned bbc.co.uk that the women's game's billion-dollar boom is leaving players behind.
MLS & Americas
Lionel Messi scored twice espn.com as Miami won 4-0 over DC United in his first match since leaving the Argentina national team. Inter Miami ended a winless run espn.com, while Nashville still top the power rankings. Corinthians hired Clarence Seedorf espn.com amid a relegation battle in Brazil.
Scandal & Governance
FIFA president Gianni Infantino appears to have espn.com received an undisclosed $1.7M World Cup payment, raising questions over FIFA regulations. Andy Burnham held a formal meeting bbc.co.uk with the Manchester City chairman, and the details are to be released. Mensur Suljovic faces a probe skysports.com after inciting jeers and alleged sexist comments. Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended espn.com by Portugal's federation after a walkout, while Vinícius Júnior apologised espn.com after a red card for a hair pull. Ronaldo still scored for Al Nassr espn.com in Riyadh despite a security delay. Football Australia is monitoring espn.com the fallout from attacks on Riyadh, which has raised doubts over the Asian Cup hosting. Andy Carroll thanked the public bbc.co.uk for their support following a sexual assault case. Saracens sacked Totoa Auvaa skysports.com after a further incident.
Other Sport
Josh Allen had a monster day as the Bills beat the Rams in overtime, and Lando Norris accepted blame skysports.com for his collision with Oscar Piastri at the Singapore Grand Prix. Dan Brundle gave his verdict skysports.com on the weekend's strategy. Zverev was confirmed as year-end No. 1 skysports.com after Alcaraz's exit in Shanghai. Australia closed in skysports.com on a first Test win in Durban, with Matt Renshaw starring. Fury and Joshua will fight for the WBA heavyweight title skysports.com in Cardiff. The London Lions made history skysports.com against the Portland Trail Blazers but were outclassed. Four Super League clubs backed the NRL deal skysports.com after criticism from Leigh. Harry Smith insisted skysports.com England have a winner's mentality ahead of the Rugby League World Cup. Claressa Shields targets a fight skysports.com with Lauren Price in 2027. Pietersen could influence England's Ashes skysports.com batters, and England have renewed contracts skysports.com for Ollie Pope and Shoaib Bashir.
Club & Other News
Doug Loft, former Port Vale and Gillingham captain, died aged 39 bbc.co.uk. Scotland's World Cup play-off will allow alcohol at seats bbc.co.uk. Gateshead expect overdue wages bbc.co.uk to be paid on Tuesday as a takeover nears. The elite calendar was called not sustainable bbc.co.uk amid 55-game seasons. Sky's Huddle segment skysports.com examined whether Shanahan found his Julio Jones with the 49ers. Ben Bayer's Championship roundup skysports.com highlighted Swansea's rise and Burnley's win. Sky Sports Racing previewed the day's cards skysports.com at Southwell, Hereford and Wolverhampton. Man City's defiant display espn.com after the guilty verdict drew attention across the league. Haaland and his father bought property skysports.com on Manchester City's Abu Dhabi development.
NBA Basketball
Last updated: October 13, 2026, 5:30 AM ET
Cooper Flagg and the Rising Star Narrative
Cooper Flagg's ascension is starting to feel inevitable espn.com, as the NBA China Games showcased his evolving game and growing leadership.
Knicks Contract Talks
Former Knicks great Carmelo Anthony espn.com endorsed the team's decision to halt extension discussions and focus on the season. Karl-Anthony Towns, however, publicly voiced disappointment espn.com after the team announced it was tabling all extension talks, calling the news "news to me."
Sixers and Warriors Updates
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope argued espn.com that Philadelphia's success this season hinges on chemistry, with players needing to genuinely like one another. In Golden State, veteran center Kristaps Porzingis is expected back espn.com at the team facility on Tuesday.
Mavericks and Lakers Preseason
Kyrie Irving made his long-awaited return espn.com to the court in Dallas' China preseason game, scoring 17 points in his first appearance. Meanwhile, Walker Kessler nears his preseason debut espn.com for the Lakers after completing a full practice following a finger injury.
Injury Report
Kings second-year center Maxime Raynaud avoided a serious injury espn.com and will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Throwback Uniforms and Memorabilia
The Pacers, Spurs, Nuggets and Nets unveiled ABA-inspired uniforms espn.com and courts honoring the league's milestone ABA anniversary. A game-worn Michael Jordan road jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals sold for a record $14 million espn.com, setting a new benchmark for sports memorabilia.
Warriors Extension
Golden State locked up espn.com guard Brandin Podziemski on a five-year, $110 million extension.
NFL Football
Last updated: October 13, 2026, 5:30 AM ET
Bills Survive Rams in Overtime Thriller
Josh Allen finally broke through his overtime struggles, leading Buffalo to a 37-34 win over Los Angeles on Monday night. Entering the game 0-7 in overtime contests, Allen came through with his usual late-game theatrics. The emotions spilled over after the final whistle, when Rams offensive lineman Jackson threw a punch at Bills linebacker Chubb at midfield.
Rams Reassess Special Teams
The Rams' night was undone in part by their kicking operation, which suffered a missed field goal and a blocked attempt. Los Angeles plans to evaluate everything about the unit in the wake of those blunders.
Commanders Tie Giants in Chaotic Finish
Washington and New York played to a 27-27 tie espn.com after the Commanders botched the final play of overtime. Quarterback Jayden Daniels took responsibility, saying "it's on me" for the chaotic closing seconds. Daniels' admission came as the NFC East produced a rough week in which no division team secured a victory, a result that kept Dallas' playoff hopes alive espn.com.
Ravens and Texans Find Late Wins
Baltimore edged out a 30-23 overtime victory with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley at the controls while Lamar Jackson remains sidelined. Huntley's clutch performance espn.com rewarded the coaching staff's faith in him. Elsewhere, Houston acquired wide receiver espn.com Marvin Harrison Jr. from Arizona, reuniting him with quarterback C.J. Stroud after the 1-4 Texans sought an offensive spark. The reasons behind the deal espn.com reflect Arizona's decision to move on from the former first-round pick.
Injury Report Across the League
Green Bay suffered a significant blow when defensive tackle Javon Hargrave tore his Achilles espn.com, ending his season. Packers linebacker Micah Parsons will not be ready to return espn.com for Sunday's game against Dallas. San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks espn.com with a hamstring issue. Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left Sunday's overtime loss with a rib injury espn.com that he does not expect to be long term, and sources say the injury is not considered serious espn.com. Steelers receiver Roman Wilson will be out multiple weeks espn.com with a finger injury.
Chargers and Dolphins Under Pressure
The Chargers have opened 0-5 for the first time since 2003, and coach Jim Harbaugh says he and ownership espn.com are "in this fight together." In Miami, coach Jeff Hafley is not considering espn.com a quarterback change, though he insists the passing game must improve. The Packers, meanwhile, roasted Bears receiver espn.com Luther Burden after a 31-7 Green Bay win.
Coaching and Front Office Moves
Arizona's Mike LaFleur says change is coming espn.com for the Cardinals, though not among the playcallers. Dallas added veteran coach espn.com Mike Pettine to assist first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Chicago coach Ben Johnson remained noncommittal espn.com about his starting quarterback should Caleb Williams be unable to play against Atlanta.
Standouts and Milestones
Mike Evans delivered seven catches espn.com for 113 yards and a touchdown as San Francisco beat Seattle 32-29. Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs passed Barry Sanders espn.com for the most NFL touchdowns before turning. Drake Maye rebounded espn.com from a slow start with a dominant Week 5 win despite mounting New England injuries. Pittsburgh's Jaylen Warren continued his strong run espn.com while Rico Dowdle is out. In Jacksonville, nose tackle DaVon Hamilton delivered the crucial snap espn.com on Cam Little's walk-off extra point.
to Week 6
Oddsmakers have released lines for every Week 6 matchup, and analysts have flagged early value plays espn.com that emerged once the numbers opened. Fantasy managers looking for waiver help should consider Jordan Love and MarShawn Lloyd espn.com, who top the list of available options. Week 5's fantasy results highlighted Maye, Warren and Gibbs espn.com as standouts, while other players struggled. For a deeper look at the league's personalities, ESPN examined how NFL stars espn.com like Matthew Stafford approach coaching their own children, and a profile of Josh Allen's Hollywood endorsement career espn.com highlighted his growing off-field profile.
MLB Baseball
Last updated: October 13, 2026, 5:30 AM ET
Brewers and Dodgers
The Brewers proved their way can beat anyone, including the Dodgers, and Milwaukee came into its NLCS rematch determined to show the outcome would be different. In Game, Milwaukee outlasted espn.com Los Angeles 2-1 behind a Turang homer, a win that came after the Brewers had failed to score more than one run in any game of a four-game sweep by the same club earlier in the playoffs. Manager Pat Murphy praised espn.com his team's resilience in the aftermath.
Los Angeles faces its own questions. Shohei Ohtani's lingering injuries will determine whether he plays in Game, with the club's decision hinging on his health. Meanwhile, Miguel Rojas remains espn.com on the NLCS roster after being sidelined by a back issue.
Guardians and Rays
The Guardians stole Game 1 espn.com on the road, winning 7-3 over Tampa Bay as DeLauter and Ramírez ignited the offense, while the pitching staff held the Rays to a single run over the final eight innings. Cleveland enters the series after a whirlwind Game 5 and cross-country flight, a contrast to Tampa Bay's rest-heavy path espn.com that has sparked debate over rest versus rust.
Both clubs made minor roster moves. Tampa Bay added espn.com rookie right-hander Brody Hopkins and dropped Garrett Cleavinger, while Cleveland made one change of its own. Guardians manager named espn.com Tampa Bay native Parker Messick to start Game, a homecoming of sorts for the young pitcher.
Postseason Umpiring and Analysis
Robot umpire challenges are favoring hitters espn.com in the playoffs, with batters succeeding on ABS challenges more often than in the regular season. In the American League, the White Sox collapsed espn.com after squandering a 2-0 ALDS lead, striking out 21 times and managing just three hits in the decisive Game.
ESPN's panel has ranked espn.com the four remaining clubs and offered espn.com predictions for both championship series. Analysts also examined espn.com how each of the four surviving teams was assembled, from superstar signings to under-the-radar finds.
NHL Hockey
Last updated: October 13, 2026, 5:30 AM ET
Injuries & Lineup Updates
Minnesota forward Nico Sturm, was taken to a hospital for precautionary evaluation after a puck struck his head during the Wild's victory. Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene espn.com will be sidelined for up to three months following core muscle surgery. Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin espn.com will miss Tuesday's matchup against the Canadiens due to an upper-body injury.
Blackhawks Return
Chicago captain Connor Bedard espn.com, who was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, is likely to make his season debut Tuesday against the Penguins.
Rangers Push Forward
The New York Rangers espn.com defeated the Canucks 6-2 two days after losing starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin for the season, relying on Garand in net. Fantasy managers looking to replace Shesterkin can find goalie options espn.com among this week's pickups.
Flyers Struggle
The winless Philadelphia Flyers espn.com suffered a 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday, marking the worst start in franchise history, while fans chanted for coach Tocchet's firing. Carolina later trolled Philadelphia espn.com on social media, taking shots at the city's Eagles and Phillies as well.
Western Conference Preview
The Golden Knights and Wild espn.com meet in an early-season Western showdown as the NHL slate features just three games Monday.
Around the League
Odds and best bets were posted for the day's biggest sporting events, including Dodgers vs. Brewers cbssports.com and Bills vs. Rams on Monday Night Football.
Obituary
Former Capitals forward Bobby Gould espn.com, who spent most of his 11-year NHL career in Washington, died at age.
General Sports
Last updated: October 13, 2026, 5:30 AM ET
College Football
Texas suffered a damaging upset against Oklahoma, and CFP hopes espn.com now look sharply diminished for the Longhorns as Georgia remains firmly in control of the picture. Week 6 produced multiple surprises across the sport, and the postseason projections espn.com have been reshaped accordingly. Three top-10 SEC teams fell, leaving the conference's upset-filled weekend as one of the most dramatic of the season, as the best moments espn.com from Week 6 make clear. The updated Top 25 rankings espn.com reflect that turbulence, while the AP poll espn.com keeps Georgia at the summit.
Michigan has opted to stick with Underwood at quarterback espn.com, with Whittingham confirming Beck will continue calling plays. At Texas, Sarkisian defended Arch Manning espn.com after the upset loss, arguing that the Manning name has drawn outsized criticism. UCLA, meanwhile, has voiced serious concern espn.com over the knee injury sustained by quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning said defensive tackle Bear Alexander will avoid discipline espn.com over a helmet-punch incident that injured Iamaleava. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, meanwhile, expressed regret espn.com for his "cesspool" remarks about Aggie fans following the loss to Missouri. Alabama, for its part, is unlikely to see Ryan Coleman-Williams espn.com in the trip to Tennessee, according to DeBoer.
NFL
The NFL's Week 5 slate produced plenty of talking points, led by the social media trolling espn.com that accompanied several victories, with the Jets' "Cleveland Brown" jab standing out. ESPN's NFL Nation reporters weighed in on the biggest questions, including whether the Ravens can win big espn.com with Tyler Huntley and whether the Vikings are legitimate contenders. Elsewhere, the Week 5 overreactions espn.com centered on whether the Titans should consider a new quarterback and whether the NFC East winner could post a losing record.
WNBA
The Valkyries have made a remarkable ascent, with their rapid rise espn.com from expansion side to Finals contender completed in just two years. Meanwhile, the Dream still do not have a confirmed venue for their WNBA Finals home games espn.com, as conflicting events at State Farm Arena remain unresolved.
MLB Postseason
Milwaukee opened the NLCS with a win over the Dodgers espn.com, a hard-fought result between the league's top two seeds.
Golf
Grant Forrest celebrated a huge Spanish Open victory bbc.co.uk in Madrid, speaking of his validation and relief after holding his nerve over the closing holes.
Football
Wales take a 1-0 lead into their play-off semi-final second leg, and have been given a history lesson ahead of the Albania clash bbc.co.uk. In Ireland, former All-Ireland winner John McEntee has been appointed Monaghan manager bbc.co.uk, replacing Bannigan.
Rugby League and Union
England's Rugby League World Cup squad has been shaken up, with Lewis left out of the opener while captain George Williams partners Harry Smith in the half-back pairing. In the Premiership, a try-heavy round has sparked debate over scoring inflation and points pile-ups bbc.co.uk, alongside the return of old-school Saracens.
Cricket
Director of cricket Rob Key believes Brydon Carse can return to England colours bbc.co.uk, while Ollie Pope has pulled out of the Afghanistan Premier League bbc.co.uk draft, a controversial league he has now withdrawn from.
Horse Racing
Trainer Willie Mullins has been fined and his horse disqualified bbc.co.uk by a British Horseracing Authority panel following a doping test.
Boxing
Callum Smith will face Dmitry Bivol bbc.co.uk for the unified world light-heavyweight title in Russia. Lauren Price will defend her unified welterweight titles bbc.co.uk against Kotaskova, a bout broadcast on BBC.
Other Sports
Great Britain's Sky Brown won silver bbc.co.uk at the World Skate Games Olympic qualifier, while Matt Richardson has been withdrawn from the British cycling squad bbc.co.uk for next week's World Championships. Arizona State is in talks with Dave Hakstol espn.com about taking over its men's hockey program. The Welsh Rugby Union has named Lyndon Faulkner as its new chairman bbc.co.uk, while BBC Sport has examined the complex issue of egg-freezing in sport.