General Sports 3d Briefing
×Last updated: August 15, 2026, 8:39 AM ET
Golf
Scottie Scheffler is in contention at the FedEx St. Jude Championship espn.com, tying the course record with a 9-under 61 in the second round to take a three-stroke lead. He birdied the first five holes en route to his impressive score. The tournament's second round also saw highlights from other players, with Sungjae Im espn.com battling for position. Tee times espn.com for the first and second rounds were released, detailing when top players like Scheffler and Rory McIlroy would be on the course. The FedEx Cup Playoffs espn.com have begun in Memphis, with spots in the Tour Championship on the line. Rory McIlroy expressed confidence in maintaining his PGA Tour status espn.com despite having only 14 starts, believing he can reach a compromise to meet the minimum qualification of 15 events. LIV Golf players bbc.co.uk have been informed that the season-ending Team Championship is likely to be cancelled.
Basketball
In the WNBA, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers delivered electrifying performances in a matchup that lived up to the hype. Clark's Indiana Fever defeated Bueckers' short-handed Seattle Storm 98-87, with both stars scoring 29 points. Clark-Bueckers clash lives up to hype in Fever win espn.com. The WNBA Power Rankings espn.com show that time is running out for teams to secure playoff seeding, with many squads needing a strong finish to make the postseason. Fever coach Stephanie White defended her players amid criticism and boos, receiving vocal support from Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham after a recent game. White rips critics, backed by Fever after fans boo espn.com. Diana Taurasi, ahead of her jersey retirement by the Phoenix Mercury, expressed her desire to join the team's ownership group espn.com within the next year or two. The league has revealed the group stage schedule for the 2026 NBA Cup espn.com, the fourth annual in-season tournament. Legendary coach Mike D'Antoni reflected on his career, discussing his famed "seven seconds or less" offense, his time in New York, and his tenure with the Lakers. NBA HOF week: Mike D'Antoni dishes on Nash, Kobe and Linsanity espn.com. The Los Angeles Lakers' $12.5 billion sale bbc.co.uk was reportedly agreed upon in a single weekend, surprising many in the NBA.
College Sports
The landscape of college football espn.com is set to change in 2025 with adjustments to sequencing, fourth downs, game pacing, and scoring. Coaches have weighed in on these impending modifications. Bill Connelly's final preseason SP+ rankings espn.com for 2026 offer insights into what the projections and production numbers signify heading into the season. ESPN's preseason All-America team espn.com for 2026 highlights the nation's top players at each position, featuring prominent teams like the Longhorns, Tigers, and Buckeyes. The SEC espn.com is projected to have three potential champions for the 2026-27 season, alongside three teams unlikely to make the NCAA tournament. Seth Trimble has transferred to Louisville espn.com for the upcoming season, following a court ruling that grants Class of 2022 high schoolers an extra year of college eligibility. Legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman, who led the Tigers to five Men's College World Series titles, has passed away at the age of. Bertman, 5-time MCWS winner at LSU, dies at 88 espn.com. A Texas judge upheld a decision to remove a Tulsa, Oklahoma, team from the Southwest Region, preventing them from competing in the title game for a chance at the Little League Baseball World Series espn.com.
American Football
Two-time Super Bowl champion Nazeeh Johnson believes a fertility medication bbc.co.uk he was taking led to him testing positive for a banned substance, resulting in his suspension. Alabama running back AK Dear is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks due to an ankle injury espn.com sustained during a preseason scrimmage. Lamar Jackson is adapting to the Ravens' new offense under offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, embracing a new vision for the team. 'MVP adapter': Inside Lamar Jackson's adjustments to Ravens' new offense espn.com. Matt Bowen has identified his top fantasy football espn.com draft targets for the upcoming season, ranging from first-round stars to late-round sleepers. Bowen has also categorized tight ends espn.com into tiers, helping fantasy managers identify value throughout their drafts.
International Football & Rugby
The Welsh Rugby Union bbc.co.uk (WRU) has stated that there is no realistic prospect of generating enough revenue to support four professional teams beyond 2028, indicating a potential reduction to three. Ospreys bbc.co.uk have publicly responded to the WRU's plans, arguing that maintaining four professional Welsh teams is the optimal path forward. Former Wales captain Jonathan Davies has called for the resignation of the WRU board bbc.co.uk. Manchester United defeated Leeds in a historic match at Croke Park, adding another significant event to the stadium's storied history. More history made at Croke Park as Man Utd beat Leeds bbc.co.uk. Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy is determined to prove doubters wrong, as pundits have dismissed the team as potential relegation candidates for the 2026-27 season. Cardiff aim to prove doubters wrong - Barry-Murphy bbc.co.uk. Swansea City has suffered a significant setback with scans revealing that center-back Cameron Burgess has a ruptured Achilles tendon bbc.co.uk, likely ruling him out for the entire season.
Cricket
Spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the crucial wicket of Steve Smith, bringing Bangladesh closer to a historic first Test victory in Australia on day three in Darwin. Bangladesh move closer to historic win in Australia bbc.co.uk. Tanzid Hasan Tamim made history by becoming the first Bangladesh cricketer to score a Test century in Australia, as the team continued their dominance on day two of the first Test in Darwin. Hasan hits Bangladesh's first century in Australia bbc.co.uk. Australia's Steve Smith benefited from an unusual technology reprieve, but Bangladesh otherwise controlled the hosts on day one of the first Test. Bangladesh dominate Australia despite Smith reprieve bbc.co.uk. England has rescinded its midnight curfew, which was implemented seven months ago. According to Stephan Shemilt, only victories can now repair the team's damaged reputation. Only wins can stop curfew hokey-cokey for England's 'grown adults' bbc.co.uk. Scotland secured a commanding 170-run victory over Canada in a World Cup League 2 match at Forthill, with captain Richie Berrington and debutant Lyle Robertson delivering standout performances. Berrington & Robertson star as Scotland crush Canada bbc.co.uk. Afghanistan has clinched the series against Ireland with a game to spare at Stormont, setting a new record for their highest total in the one-day format. Afghanistan comfortably claim series over Ireland bbc.co.uk. Moises Henriques views helping Portugal qualify for their first-ever men's T20 World Cup as "cricket nirvana" towards the end of his playing career. Henriques chasing 'cricket nirvana' with Portugal bbc.co.uk. Notts and Durham have advanced to the One-Day Cup semi-finals bbc.co.uk. Jack Haynes and Kyle Verreyne both scored centuries to lead Notts to victory over Yorkshire, while Durham also secured their place in the next round.
Cycling
Tragically, British cyclist Finlay Tarling, aged, died in a serious accident during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal. Teenage Welsh cyclist Tarling dies in Volta a Portugal accident bbc.co.uk. Following his death, Finlay Tarling's team, NSN, has withdrawn from the remaining stages of the Volta a Portugal. Tarling's team withdraws from Volta a Portugal after Briton's death bbc.co.uk.
Athletics
Keely Hodgkinson secured a silver medal bbc.co.uk in the 800m at the European Athletics Championships, finishing behind Audrey Werro. Hodgkinson expressed pride in her ability to "continue to fight" despite the result. In the same event, Keely Hodgkinson reached the women's 800m final, moments after rival Audrey Werro experienced a dramatic fall that put her qualification in jeopardy. Hodgkinson into 800m final and Werro through despite nasty fall bbc.co.uk. Britain's Amy Hunt captured her second European Championships gold medal, winning the 200m race. She has her sights set on a historic quadruple achievement. 'Two out of four, baby' - Hunt wins 200m as she eyes historic quadruple bbc.co.uk. Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith made history by winning the 400m gold medal at the European Championships in Birmingham, becoming the joint most decorated man at the event. GB's Hudson-Smith wins historic 400m gold on home track - highlights & report bbc.co.uk. British teenager Filip Nowacki claimed a dramatic gold medal in the men's 200m breaststroke final at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris. GB teenager Nowacki wins dramatic European gold bbc.co.uk. Great Britain's Angharad Evans won her first European Championship gold medal in the 100m breaststroke final in Paris. GB's Evans wins European gold in 100m breaststroke bbc.co.uk. Adam Ramsay-Peaty, a former Olympic and world champion, expressed confusion over his continued poor form at the European Aquatics Championships, particularly after his early exit from the 50m breaststroke. Ramsay-Peaty confused by early exit at Europeans bbc.co.uk. Katarina Johnson-Thompson stated that injuries have hampered her progress as she competes on day one of the heptathlon at the European Championships. 'Happy to be here' - Johnson-Thompson struggles on heptathlon return bbc.co.uk. Ireland's Kate O'Connor reported "mixed emotions" after the first day of the women's heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships. O'Connor with 'mixed emotions' after day one bbc.co.uk. British gymnast Ruby Evans is focused on her training ahead of the 2026 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships bbc.co.uk, discussing how she manages fame and her supporters.
Other Sports
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is inducting a distinguished class that includes the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Candace Parker, all recognized for their significant contributions to advancing the sport. Class of 2026: Two Lady Vols, a pioneering Olympic team and the first 50-40-90 season espn.com. Angel Reese's exceptional rebounding prowess espn.com in the WNBA is attributed to factors beyond her height or leaping ability, showcasing a unique skill set. UFC fighter Mackenzie Dern attributes her composure in the octagon to her experience with poker, as she prepares for her first strawweight title defense. UFC champion Dern says poker patience helps her fighting bbc.co.uk. UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev indicated that he "does not have much time" left in the UFC as he prepares for his title defense at UFC. I do not have much time left in UFC - Makhachev bbc.co.uk. The preview and picks for UFC 330 espn.com suggest that Ian Machado Garry poses a significant threat to champion Islam Makhachev. In the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), playoff berths are on the line as the final week of the season approaches. Week 13 preview: in final week of PLL season, WLL championship espn.com. The PLL Power Rankings espn.com ahead of Week 13 show that the Boston Cannons and Philadelphia Waterdogs are finishing strong in the East as the playoffs draw near. The Great Britain women's flag football team has advanced as group winners, aiming to secure a spot in the Olympics at the World Championships. GB women top group as they aim to book Olympic spot bbc.co.uk. The Great Britain dressage team bbc.co.uk has qualified for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles by winning silver at the FEI World Championships. Promising 18-year-old Australian golfer Jessica Bang has died after suffering a brain hemorrhage while preparing for a tournament in Thailand. Rising golf star, dies after brain haemorrhage bbc.co.uk. Boxer Prichard Colon, who sustained a severe brain injury during a 2015 fight, has died at the age of. Boxer Colon dies 11 years after brain injury in fight bbc.co.uk. Castleford Tigers overcame coaching issues to defeat Hull FC, marking only their third away win in Super League this season. Castleford shrug off coach problems to beat Hull bbc.co.uk. Four Canadian hockey players remain suspended following their acquittal on sexual assault charges, as an appeals board determined they violated Hockey Canada's code of conduct. Four Canadian hockey stars remain suspended after sexual assault acquittal bbc.co.uk. The Irish League's hopes for long-term European success now rest with Larne, following Northern Ireland's drop outside the top 50 of Uefa's coefficient ranking. How Irish League's long-term European hopes rest with Larne bbc.co.uk. Former NFL player Efe Obada has retired to pursue his "true calling" and has launched a foundation, having spent 10 years in the league after growing up in foster care. Briton Obada retires from NFL to pursue 'true calling' bbc.co.uk. Ty Gibbs will honor former NASCAR driver Kyle Busch by driving an M&M's-themed car at the upcoming Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gibbs to honor Kyle Busch by driving M&M's car espn.com. Jakob Ingebrigtsen expressed significant disappointment regarding British rival Josh Kerr's decision to withdraw from the European Championships. Kerr's Europeans absence ruining the sport - Ingebrigtsen bbc.co.uk. Elena Rybakina mounted a comeback to defeat Naomi Osaka in a three-set thriller in the Canadian Open quarterfinals. Rybakina comeback knocks Osaka out of Canadian Open bbc.co.uk. MI London and Welsh Fire have been eliminated from The Hundred after failing to reach the knockout stages following losses in their final group matches. MI London and Welsh Fire fail to reach knockouts bbc.co.uk. Ellyse Perry's unbeaten 62 led Birmingham Phoenix to a five-wicket victory over MI London in The Hundred. Perry fifty takes Phoenix to victory over MI London bbc.co.uk. ESPN MLB experts have updated their rankings of the top 50 players espn.com as the 2026 regular season progresses. Tristan H. Cockcroft offers advice on potential late-season fantasy baseball trade targets as the deadline approaches. Looking for more late-season heroes? Check out the Bronx espn.com. Eddie Jones revealed his unique coaching method for Japan, which involves watching videos of geese flying in formation, ahead of their second Test against Australia. Jones turns to geese to inspire Japan bbc.co.uk.