General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 10, 2026, 4:20 AM ET
Basketball
The Dream's Reese is already stepping into a starring role in her playoff debut, having logged just four postseason games. Las Vegas and New York face elimination in Game 3 of their WNBA semifinals, with both sides needing a win to stay alive. The Fever's playoff exit raised questions about the franchise's direction despite a dominant offense and Caitlin Clark's return. Clark herself spoke out against online abuse aimed at teammate Kelsey Mitchell. A'ja Wilson won a record fifth WNBA MVP award and will skip the pregame ceremony to focus on Game, while ESPN compared her dominance to the sport's all-time greats.
In the NBA, LeBron James suffered a defeat on his 76ers debut in pre-season and said it "is going to take some time" for his new teammates to gel.
Tennis
Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the Shanghai Masters in a shock second-round loss to Hubert Hurkacz. The BBC reported the same upset, describing it as a surprise defeat for the Serbian. Jake Paul has been cleared to resume fighting after recovering from a broken bone, with Canelo and Sean Strickland among the names on his wish list.
Motorsport
Max Verstappen claimed sprint pole at Red Bull's latest outing, beating Mercedes driver George Russell after yet another settings issue. In Singapore practice, Russell was fastest ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff rejected accusations that the team is biased against George Russell, insisting critics think he is the devil incarnate.
Golf
Daniel Hillier aced the 187-yard par-3 17th hole at the Spanish Open, winning an electric BMW i X5 worth around $157,000 despite a mixed round.
Baseball
The Dodgers and Brewers renewed their rivalry in an NLCS showdown, with ESPN laying out how each team can reach the World Series.
Cricket
Nic Maddinson made a record-breaking duck on his Australia return, facing 33 balls without scoring, the longest duck by a Test opener this century. In South Africa, Marnus Labuschagne fell to leave the hosts on top in the first Test in Durban.
Football
Republic of Ireland eased to an 8-0 win over 10-man Kazakhstan, all but assuring their place in the play-off final. Ireland's Aoife Wafer was ruled out of the WXV tour to South Africa, a major blow to the squad.
College Football
Week 6 brings the biggest tests of the season, with Georgia-Alabama and several Big Ten unbeatens in action. The Big Ten takes center stage as most of its teams look for statement wins. UCLA has turned things around under Bob Chesney, starting 4-0. Georgia's Gunner Stockton is being hailed as a quiet leader aiming to bring another national title to Athens. Alabama believes it has fixed Ryan Coleman-Williams' drop issues after a VR-based depth perception diagnosis. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said there have been no expansion discussions despite a potential cap. Michigan State's Tom Izzo defended his relationship-first roster building. Six coaching buyouts will shape the coaching carousel, from Lincoln Riley to Deion Sanders. Nick Saban's influence runs deep with 45 head coaches tracing their roots back to him. The freshman rankings spotlight a surprise player at the top after five weeks. The State Fair of Texas tips guide first-timers to Red River's iconic setting.
NFL
Week 5 features 16 games, including Bears vs. Packers and 49ers vs. Seahawks. Late-game chaos is forcing coaches to adapt, as early scoring and end-zone kicks prove costly. The 2027 QB class is ranked, with the top 15 passers assessed for strengths and weaknesses. Jason Kelce tried rugby in London and stunned amateur players.
Boxing and Entertainment
Tickets for the Fury-Joshua fight at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, priced up to £13,000, sold out within an hour. Ahead of WWE Money in the Bank, a fan guide explains the ladder matches and title storylines, and contributors made their picks for winners and bold predictions.
Other Sport
Legendary Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall announced his retirement at. Sean Strickland argued that UFC fighters are not paid enough to retire. Wimbledon's boss joked that Royal Marine Commandos would love to sort out influencers. Carpenter aims to strengthen his England case by outshining Furbank. West Indies remain hopeful of hosting England in a women's Test next year. A MVSU men's basketball player from China was taken into ICE custody ahead of the season.