General Sports 3d Briefing
×Last updated: April 13, 2026, 2:30 AM ET
Golf: McIlroy Secures Masters Victory Amid Drama
Rory McIlroy claimed his second green jacket by edging out Scottie Scheffler by a single stroke McIlroy Holds Off Scheffler espn.com following a dramatic third round where McIlroy saw a significant lead evaporate How Rory McIlroy Won Back-to-Back Masters espn.com. Scheffler had earlier mounted a charge, firing a career-low 7-under 65 Scheffler Fires Masters Career-Low 65 espn.com to climb back into contention entering Sunday’s final round. The tournament also saw moments of frustration; Sergio García broke his driver espn.com on the second tee box and received a code-of-conduct warning, while his Spanish playing partner Jon Rahm added some spice espn.com to the early groupings. Furthermore, Shane Lowry made history by recording his second career ace espn.com at Augusta National, a feat unmatched by any other competitor.
Rugby Union & League: European and Domestic Action
In European rugby, holders Bordeaux advanced to the Champions Cup semi-finals after dispatching French rivals Toulouse, setting up a contest against English holders Bath Holders Bordeaux Beat Toulouse bbc.com. Elsewhere in the Challenge Cup, Ulster secured their semi-final berth with a decisive 41-24 victory over La Rochelle Impressive Ulster Into Challenge Cup Semi-Finals bbc.com, while Dragons reached their first semi-final in a decade by defeating Zebre 35-32 bbc.com. In the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on the domestic front, Wigan Warriors edged out Wakefield Trinity bbc.com in a close contest, and St Helens cruised past Catalans St Helens Cruise Past Catalans bbc.com to set up a semi-final clash with Warrington Wolves, who themselves came from behind to beat Leigh bbc.com. Meanwhile, Welsh rugby faces internal turbulence as an extraordinary general meeting bbc.com is scheduled for Monday at the Principality Stadium amid ongoing administrative crises, following the national team's earlier defeat to Scotland Scotland Beat Wales 24-19 bbc.com in the Women's Six Nations opener.
WNBA: Free Agency Moves and Contract Extensions
WNBA free agency saw major moves as the Los Angeles Sparks aggressively retained talent, agreeing to returns for ten-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike Ogwumike Returning to Sparks espn.com, two-time champion Kelsey Plum on a one-year, $999,999 deal Plum Signing 1-Year Deal espn.com, and finalizing a multiyear contract for three-time All-Star Dearica Hamby Hamby Finalizing Deal to Remain espn.com. The Chicago Sky countered by signing seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins and versatile forward Azura Stevens Revamped Sky Sign Free Agents espn.com, while the Phoenix Mercury secured four-time All-Star Kahleah Copper and two-time champion DeWanna Bonner Mercury Re-Sign Copper, Bonner espn.com. In other significant signings, Dallas secured Arike Ogunbowale to a seven-figure, multiyear pact Ogunbowale Gets Multiyear Wings Deal espn.com, Kelsey Mitchell finalized a one-year, $1.4 million supermax deal to stay with the Fever Mitchell to Ink Supermax Deal espn.com, and New York retained Satou Sabally and Jonquel Jones on multiyear agreements Liberty Signing Sabally, Jones espn.com.
UFC & Boxing: Title Changes and Retirements
At UFC, Carlos Ulberg stunned Jiri Procházka in the first round to capture the vacant light-heavyweight title Ulberg Stuns Prochazka Despite Knee Injury bbc.com, achieving the knockout victory despite suffering an apparent knee injury moments earlier Ulberg Blew Out His Knee espn.com. Following his title win, questions immediately arose regarding his ability to defend the belt soon Who Should Challenge For Ulberg's Championship espn.com. In professional boxing, former two-time super-lightweight world champion Regis Prograis announced his retirement at age 37 Prograis Announces Retirement bbc.com, just after suffering a points defeat to Conor Benn Benn Cruises to Points Win Over Prograis bbc.com. Meanwhile, heavyweight Tyson Fury's comeback win over Arslanbek Makhmudov was lauded by David Haye as an "optimal performance" Optimal Performance - Haye & Lewis React bbc.com, fueling speculation about potential future bouts with Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder For Heavyweight Division espn.com.
NASCAR & College Hoops: Gibbs Victory and Transfer Portal Chaos
In NASCAR, 23-year-old Ty Gibbs, grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, secured his first Cup Series victory Gibbs Family Revels in Ty's First Cup Series Victory espn.com after outdueling Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson in an overtime finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. College basketball saw intense activity in the transfer portal, with Illinois successfully landing Stefan Vaaks Transfer Guard Vaaks Chooses Illinois espn.com, a surprise freshman out of Providence, and Louisville adding Kansas big-man Flory Bidunga and Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad Louisville Lands Transfers Bidunga, Shelstad espn.com. Iowa State star Milan Momcilovic announced he is entering both the NBA draft and the portal Iowa State's Momcilovic Entering Draft, Portal espn.com, while Texas A&M bolstered its scoring power by landing Kansas State transfer P.J. Haggerty Texas A&M Lands Star Scorer Haggerty espn.com. Furthermore, Michigan coach Dusty May agreed to a new multiyear deal espn.com to remain with the Wolverines after a successful season.
Cycling & Rugby League: Paris-Roubaix Thriller & Cup Action
The Paris-Roubaix cycling classic delivered a thrilling conclusion as Wout van Aert beat Tadej Pogacar in a sprint finish bbc.com to claim the title, although the women's race saw a concerning incident where Lucinda Brand suffered neck pain after a collision bbc.com with a spectator. In Super League action, the Challenge Cup quarter-finals concluded with Wigan edging Wakefield Wigan Edge Out Wakefield bbc.com, and St Helens cruising past Catalans St Helens Cruise Past Catalans bbc.com, setting up semi-final matchups that include Warrington taking on Hull KR Warrington Secure Semi-Final Spot bbc.com, with Hull KR having previously thumped York Knights thanks to a Tyrone May hat-trick May Hat-Trick Helps Holders Hull KR Thump York bbc.com.
International Rugby & Cricket Updates
Scotland's women's team began their new era under coach Sione Fukofuka Scotland Begin New Era bbc.com with a narrow 24-19 victory over Wales in Cardiff Scotland Celebrate Hard-Fought Victory Over Wales bbc.com, leaving the Welsh facing an uphill task as France awaits them Wales Face Uphill Task After Defeat bbc.com. Meanwhile, in cricket, Scotland defeated Namibia in World Cup League Two thanks to a Brandon McMullen masterclass, where he scored a century and took three wickets Scotland Beat Namibia Thanks to McMullen Masterclass bbc.com. In county cricket, Surrey dominated Leicestershire on the opening day, piling up 412-6 as Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope both registered centuries Smith Hits 166 as Surrey Dominate bbc.com.
Motorsport & Miscellaneous Sports Notes
In World Rally Championship action, Takamoto Katsuta dramatically seized the WRC lead after title rival Thierry Neuville crashed out of Rally Croatia bbc.com, compounded by an earlier crash from his Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans WRC Leader Evans Crashes bbc.com. In horse racing, trainer Willie Mullins etched his name further into Aintree history by securing his third consecutive Grand National victory Mullins Etches Name in Aintree Folklore bbc.com, although the race was marred by the subsequent putting down of Gold Dancer after he suffered a broken back Gold Dancer Put Down After Winning bbc.com. Track star Gout Gout, an 18-year-old Australian sprinter, clocked a speed faster than Usain Bolt bbc.com did at the same age while winning at his national championships. Finally, in the NBA, the Atlanta Hawks secured the Southeast Division title with a decisive 124-102 win over the Cavaliers Hawks Secure Play-off Spot bbc.com, which also saw player James pass a career milestone.