Sports 8-Hour Briefing
×Formula 1
Last updated: October 20, 2026, 5:20 PM ET
Formula 1
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed confidence that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix will proceed as scheduled.
Coming Up
The Qatar and Abu Dhabi races are set to go ahead as planned, according to the FIA.
Football/Soccer
Last updated: October 22, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Champions League
Como stunned Manchester United espn.com with a 4-1 win, and Cesc Fàbregas and Nico Paz dedicated the historic result to their loyal supporters. United's collapse has put Michael Carrick under pressure espn.com, with Carrick apologising for his players' display. Jamie Carragher criticised Bruno Fernandes skysports.com for questioning the club's tactics, calling the comments disgraceful.
Arsenal showed resilience in Munich, with Declan Rice espn.com central to a performance that suggested star attackers are not always essential to winning the competition. Real Madrid, meanwhile, beat Leipzig espn.com with goals from Mbappé and Diomande, though José Mourinho noted that Vinícius Jr. was whistled by the home crowd.
Premier League and Transfers
Leicester, now 10th in League One a decade after winning the Premier League, are being examined on whether Russell Martin is turning things around bbc.co.uk. Bournemouth's climb from Bury to AC Milan bbc.co.uk was marked as the club reached what it called dreamland. Arsenal are monitoring Club Brugge striker espn.com Nicolò Tresoldi, while Manchester City's spending advantage has prompted renewed debate over Premier League rules espn.com.
Championship and Women's Football
Birmingham are buoyant under Chris Davies skysports.com, while West Ham made a statement in the Championship catch-up. St. Louis City won the US Open Cup espn.com for the first trophy in club history, beating Columbus, although goalkeeper Roman Bürki was stretchered off espn.com after a collision. Angel Reese starred again skysports.com with 21 points and 12 rebounds as Atlanta beat Golden State to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.
Fans and Other Sport
AC Milan backed a fan boycott espn.com over what it described as excessive away ticket prices. Elsewhere, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua skysports.com fans have their questions answered ahead of their bout, and Harry Kane said he would prefer espn.com to know the Ballon d'Or result in advance rather than wait for Monday's reveal.
Coming Up
Real Madrid face Barcelona in Sunday's Clásico, with Valverde and Güler expected to be key espn.com. McLaren will bring upgrades skysports.com to the United States Grand Prix as they look to respond to the Red Bull threat.
NBA Basketball
Last updated: October 22, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Return Games
Damian Lillard received an enthusiastic welcome espn.com in his first regular-season game back with the Trail Blazers. Tyrese Haliburton delivered an emotional return espn.com from his Achilles tear, leading the Pacers to a gritty win over the Pelicans. Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points espn.com in his return to Toronto as the Raptors routed the Bulls 135-92.
Blowouts and Struggles
Kyrie Irving was held to 15 points espn.com as the Rockets trapped him relentlessly in a Mavericks loss. Giannis Antetokounmpo said the new-look Heat must trust each other more espn.com after an opening-night blowout by the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards joined Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan espn.com as the only players to score 40 points in an opener.
Trades and Moves
The Mavericks agreed to a two-way deal espn.com with former first-round pick Walter Clayton Jr. The Warriors are exploring trade options espn.com for center Kristaps Porzingis.
Fan Reaction and Off-Court
Anthony Davis drew MVP chants espn.com from an eager Washington crowd in a strong debut. Luka Dončić took out a full-page advertisement espn.com in the Los Angeles Times declaring the Lakers' title run starts now. Rockets forward Tari Eason was ejected espn.com in the first quarter after shoving Dereck Lively's teammate Washington in the back. Tyrese Haliburton also wore a jacket espn.com paying tribute to Triple H on his return.
NFL Football
Last updated: October 22, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Injuries and Lineups
Fantasy managers are weighing whether to start Josh Jacobs espn.com following his return, as ESPN's Week 7 lineup analysis also highlights emerging top-10 quarterbacks and two wide receivers worth starting. The Giants will start J.J. McCarthy espn.com at quarterback over Winston this weekend against the Texans, while Texans receiver Tank Dell espn.com says he is ready to be tackled in his first game since December 2024.
Discipline and Investigations
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league welcomes an investigation espn.com into the medical care Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts received. Separately, a source said Nick Sirianni was fined $250,000 espn.com for his conduct toward officials, one of three coaches penalized. Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper, now off the exempt list after two arrests, said there are no excuses espn.com for his absence. Packers running back Josh Jacobs, in his first comments since his May arrest, apologized espn.com for putting the team in that situation. Titans coach Robert Saleh defended espn.com Jordan Elliott's character, saying last week's gun incident was not a criminal act.
Contracts and Trades
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, a free agent after the season, said he may go get paid elsewhere espn.com if Detroit does not offer a deal. ESPN's Week 7 buzz also covered quarterback contract questions and trade candidates, including whether the Seahawks keep Sam Darnold espn.com beyond this season.
Games and League News
Jalon Daniels swapped jerseys espn.com with his idol Aaron Rodgers after Pittsburgh's 26-19 overtime victory. The NFL also announced that U2 will headline the first espn.com Thanksgiving Eve halftime show. Cornell Green, a five-time Pro Bowl defensive back on the Cowboys' Doomsday Defense, died at 86 espn.com after never missing a game in 13 seasons.
Power Rankings
ESPN's latest 1-32 power rankings espn.com identify the biggest offensive issue for each team heading into Week, while analysts debate whether the Colts were right to give Steichen more time espn.com and whether the Eagles will trade their stars.
Coming Up
The Giants start McCarthy espn.com against the Texans this weekend. The NFL's Thanksgiving Eve halftime show featuring U2 espn.com is still to come.
MLB Baseball
Last updated: October 21, 2026, 11:10 PM ET
Postseason Matchups
The Brewers and Rays are set for the World Series espn.com, two small-market clubs that were long shots to reach this stage. Tampa Bay clinched the AL pennant espn.com behind a memorable blast from Junior Caminero, his first career postseason home run, which he off Guardians All-Star pitching. The Guardians, meanwhile, ran out of gas espn.com in the ALCS, extending Cleveland's championship drought to 78 years.
The matchup has drawn comparisons to a small-ball contest, though ESPN's analysis questions how neatly espn.com both clubs fit that label. Rays insiders describe a disciplined internal system espn.com that has carried the franchise deep into October.
Brewers Fan Frustration
Milwaukee supporters who cashed in on a 2015 promotion have voiced anger espn.com over the seating allotted for World Series games, with the club acknowledging it fell short of the promotion's spirit. The family of Bob Uecker said the late broadcaster would be incredibly proud of this group.
Front Offices and Managers
Athletics owner John Fisher defended his hiring espn.com of a young executive, arguing that "the world is run by 31-year-olds today." In New York, Brian Cashman reached a new contract espn.com to remain Yankees GM, while Aaron Boone rejected calls for a culture overhaul, insisting the clubhouse remains a strength. In Anaheim, Kurt Suzuki is out as Angels manager after a 100-loss season.
Player News
Shohei Ohtani will not require surgery for his ailments this year, and the Dodgers fully expect him to pitch next season. Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato, is seeking an MLB move espn.com through the posting system. The qualifying offer for this winter's free agents rose to $23.15M espn.com, up 5.1% from 2025. An Ohio bettor was banned by regulators for alleged violent threats against a Blue Jays manager.
Coming Up
The World Series opens between the Brewers and Rays espn.com, with Milwaukee and Tampa Bay meeting for the championship.
NHL Hockey
Last updated: October 22, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Flyers and Kings
Rookie forward Cole Knuble scored twice espn.com to help the Philadelphia Flyers beat the opposition, with his father watching from the stands. The Los Angeles Kings finally snapped their skid espn.com with a 5-2 win over the Capitals, ending a stretch as the NHL's only winless team, though the Kings lost forward Byfield to an upper-body injury.
Penguins and Trade Watch
Penguins forward Ben Kindel was hospitalized espn.com in Salt Lake City for evaluation after a medical emergency on a flight. Panthers forward Brady Tkachuk, traded from Ottawa to Florida in June, says he will donate the Senators jerseys espn.com that were thrown on the ice in protest. Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin's trade request, made public last June, has expanded to 10 teams espn.com, according to a source.
General Sports
Last updated: October 22, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
WNBA Finals
The Dream took a 2-1 series lead espn.com after Angel Reese delivered another double-double in a 97-71 Game 3 rout. Atlanta's margin reached 26 points over the Valkyries, as detailed in a full game breakdown espn.com. Enes Kanter Freedom, meanwhile, was denied entry espn.com to the game after refusing a suite the team had arranged.
College Basketball
Kansas head coach Bill Self said Jayhawks fans crossed the line espn.com by aiming profanity at former Kansas star Flory Bidunga, now at Louisville. Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins revealed espn.com he has a progressive cognitive condition.
NFL
Fantasy analysts upgraded Jaylen Warren espn.com and downgraded Patrick Mahomes in this week's matchup rankings. Separately, Maryland fired head coach Mike Locksley espn.com after seven seasons, and the Terps are now weighing candidates. ESPN also reviewed espn.com how the 17 first-year Power 4 college football coaches have performed at the season's midpoint.
Soccer
ESPN's panel weighed in espn.com on the turmoil surrounding Manchester United after a chaotic Champions League matchday.
NBA
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg said he lost all respect espn.com for Luka Dončić following a testy first matchup.
Other
Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, said at 38 he isn't scared espn.com of retirement or fighting at. BBC Sport profiled England Rugby World Cup winner Phil Vickery, now entering bbc.co.uk bodybuilding competitions at.
Coming Up
The WNBA Finals continue espn.com with Atlanta holding a 2-1 series edge over the Valkyries.