Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Formula 1
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 4:20 PM ET
Bortoleto and the Junior Class
Gabriel Bortoleto has watched Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar celebrate their first wins, a rise that is setting the pace for the next generation of drivers.
Verstappen's Red Bull Deal
Max Verstappen was weighing a possible exit from Red Bull when a major car upgrade influenced his decision to sign a new deal.
Football/Soccer
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
Premier League
Manchester City cruised past the side in a dominant display, with Erling Haaland netting a brace, though Enzo Maresca played down fears over the striker after he limped off. Aston Villa won at Newcastle, with Johan Manzambi scoring the winner, and Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 as Pedro Neto scored both second-half goals. Liverpool returned to winning ways at Brentford, with Florian Wirtz instrumental, while Andoni Iraola questioned the VAR decision that overturned a Liverpool penalty. West Ham were unstoppable in the weekend's action.
Manchester United
Michael Carrick dismissed questions about his own future as head coach, and insisted the squad is ready to move on from Lisandro Martínez's fiery outburst. Carrick also opened the door to January transfer activity.
La Liga & Europe
Barcelona equalled the best start to a LaLiga season in history, with Lamine Yamal claiming a brace in a 5-2 win over Betis, and Hansi Flick hailed him as the best player in the world. Raphinha is fit to return for the trip to Betis. Bayern Munich moved top of the Bundesliga after a 6-1 win over RB Leipzig, with a Díaz hat trick, ahead of their Champions League meeting with Arsenal. Paris Saint-Germain came back to beat Strasbourg 3-1, with Gio Reyna scoring for the hosts in defeat. Inter Milan face a blow as captain Lautaro Martínez is likely to miss seven matches.
Championship & Lower Leagues
Wrexham eased pressure on Phil Parkinson with a 4-1 win over Preston, and Parkinson credited the players for blocking out outside noise. West Brom came back from two early goals to beat Blackburn 3-2. Stoke won 1-0 at Derby, while Birmingham beat QPR 3-0 with a Liam Millar double. Portsmouth beat Norwich 1-0 from the penalty spot, and Sheffield United edged out Bristol City 1-0. Swansea fell to West Ham, and Vitor Matos urged his squad to use the defeat as fuel.
Scotland
Hearts face Celtic at Parkhead in a test of their credentials. Kilmarnock beat Motherwell 3-2 with a Greg Kiltie double, Aberdeen beat St Mirren 3-1, and Falkirk claimed an Edinburgh double by beating Hibs.
Women's Football
Arsenal were booed off after a 1-1 draw with Birmingham, adding pressure on Renee Slegers, and Olivia Smith's strike salvaged a point. Spirit claimed a playoff spot as Gotham missed out on the NWSL Shield. Zambia players will miss several NWSL games due to Ebola travel restrictions.
Other Headlines
Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was taken to hospital for precautionary tests. Real Madrid demanded that LaLiga chief Javier Tebas resign. Gianni Infantino apologized at a FIFA Council meeting, though his reelection remains uncertain.
Coming Up
Lionel Messi travels to Spain two days before Inter Miami's MLS game against Atlanta United, and Enzo Maresca hopes to see inflatable bananas at the Etihad. Bayern face Arsenal in the Champions League.
NBA Basketball
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
Knicks Roster Moves
The Knicks are waiving Bruce Brown while keeping James Wiseman on the roster ahead of the season opener, a decision that gives New York added frontcourt depth.
Lakers Ownership Dispute
Five of the Buss siblings filed a challenge against Jeanie Buss's petition to remove them as trustees, escalating a family legal fight over control of the Lakers.
Suns Ownership
Kevin Durant fired back at Suns owner Mat Ishbia on social media after Ishbia framed Phoenix's tenure in a way Durant rejected publicly.
Wizards Injury Update
First overall pick AJ Dybantsa exited the preseason finale with an ankle injury, and the Wizards will have it checked out.
76ers
Joel Embiid insisted that no one on the star-laden roster will take a back seat, even as VJ Edgecombe sat out Friday night's 125-120 loss to the Celtics. LeBron James delivered a monster slam in front of a sellout Philadelphia crowd during his home debut. Philadelphia also converted 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall to a two-way contract to bolster its injury-hit frontcourt.
Nuggets Injury
Julian Strawther will miss six weeks with a sprained knee and will be reevaluated at that point.
Thunder Eligibility Challenge
A Spanish club is challenging the NBA eligibility of Thunder rookie Aday Mara.
Warriors Ties
Jimmy Butler says he feels he let the Warriors down and is working toward a return to Golden State, which views his return as its best option.
League Notes
Hall of Famer and Kentucky legend Cliff Hagan died at 94, the five-time All-Star who spent his entire NBA career with the St. Louis Hawks. Steve Lacy delighted a concert crowd with a viral "LeBron, LeBron, LeBron" version of his hit "Oh Yeah?" And ESPN's Brian Windhorst shared intel on Karl-Anthony Towns' next contract, expansion plans, and why rival teams are watching Orlando.
Coming Up
The Knicks open their season with Wiseman on the roster, and the 76ers prepare for their opener after the preseason finale.
NFL Football
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
Injuries & Roster Moves
The Eagles have placed Jalen Hurts on injured reserve, though a separate report indicates the team is not planning to do so, as the quarterback remains out indefinitely with a blood clot. Philadelphia's backfield is also thin, with Saquon Barkley ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, while Eagles' beat-up backfield also loses Shipley, and WR Smith is likely to return.
The Steelers placed receiver Roman Wilson on injured reserve, while DK Metcalf came off the injury report. In New England, A.J. Brown was activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets. Bears nickel corner Kyler Gordon was activated off the PUP list, and Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is out against the 49ers with a groin injury.
Quarterbacks
The Ravens have ruled out Lamar Jackson for a second straight week, with Huntley set to start against the Browns. Seattle is sticking with Sam Darnold despite seven interceptions in four games, and Caleb Williams is expected to play in Week. Aaron Rodgers is quizzing Steelers pass catchers as he prepares them for games.
Week 6 Previews & Picks
Our analysts make their predictions for upsets and touchdown scorers, while a full guide to every Week 6 game covers matchups and picks. For bettors, experts break down the odds and player props for Sunday's slate.
Fantasy Football
Owners weighing a change at quarterback can consider six replacements, while last-minute pickups such as Winston and Tucker are offered as options for lineups affected by injuries or bye weeks. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Mike McDaniel explained why Omarion Hampton's snap count is decreasing.
League & Off-Field
Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper was removed from the exempt list, though he could still face league discipline. Packers running back Josh Jacobs is eligible to return next week amid an ongoing investigation. Titans CEO Burke Nihill apologized to fans and said the organization believes coach Robert Saleh and the GM can turn the team around. Jacksonville is unlikely to play three international home games in 2027, and Jaguars fans took over a London pub during game week.
Coming Up
The 49ers ruled Nick Bosa out for Monday Night Football, with Evans and Juszczyk still hopeful for a return.
MLB Baseball
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
ALCS
Rain forced Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Rays and Guardians to be postponed to Saturday, pushing the off-day to Sunday, now Game. Cleveland took Game 3 by a 3-2 margin, with Petey Halpin's go-ahead, two-run homer providing the decisive blow. Tampa Bay struck out 13 times in that loss, and Junior Caminero, who accounted for four of those strikeouts, vowed adjustments before the next game. José Ramírez has been a driving force for Cleveland, and his confidence has fueled the Guardians' October run. Cleveland will open with Shawn Armstrong as an opener, while Tampa Bay counters with Nick Martinez in Game.
NLCS and World Series
Milwaukee swept the Dodgers to reach the World Series, ending Los Angeles' bid for a three-peat. The Brewers celebrated their first Fall Classic appearance since 1982 after dethroning the defending champions. Los Angeles' postseason ended abruptly with the sweep, and the club now faces questions about its future.
Phillies Front Office
Phillies president Dave Dombrowski has put shortstop Trea Turner on notice, telling him to improve at the position or find a new one. Meanwhile, new manager Don Mattingly says he is ready to make his mark on the club, admitting the team "really wasn't my team" before he took the job.
Coming Up
Game 4 of the ALCS is now set for Saturday, with Sunday serving as an off-day before Game.
NHL Hockey
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 4:20 PM ET
Trades & Roster Moves
The Maple Leafs acquired Aatu Räty after he cleared waivers, sending Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr to Vancouver in the deal. Arizona State's hockey program is in turmoil as head coach Greg Powers has departed amid a probe into a player's collapse, and Hakstol has been brought in to replace him.
Game Results & Standouts
Brady Tkachuk recorded back-to-back natural hat tricks, becoming just the third player in NHL history to do so and lifting Florida past Vancouver. Patrick Kane set a record for assists by a U.S.-born player with his 895th career helper, which came on Connor Bedard's opening goal.
Power Rankings & Previews
The Hurricanes return to the top of the latest 1-32 poll, which also highlights each team's biggest surprise of the 2026-27 season. A full 14-game Saturday slate is previewed with storylines and betting information, while Friday's marquee pairings of Penguins-Avs and Bruins-Ducks are covered in a separate preview.
Fantasy Hockey
Managing a fantasy roster is simpler than many managers expect, as outlined in a weekly lineup guide for drafted teams.
Coming Up
Saturday's 14-game slate is set to begin, with the full preview and betting lines laid out ahead of puck drop. Penguins-Avs and Bruins-Ducks face off Friday.
General Sports
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
WNBA Finals
Golden State held court to take a 1-0 lead over the Atlanta Dream, winning 68-64 in Game. Gabby Williams led the way with 26 points and late free throws to hold off the Dream.
College Football
Auburn stunned No. 1 Georgia after a costly Stockton fumble, with QB Byrum Brown's running game driving the upset. Ohio State survived Indiana after a fourth-down misstep by Nick Marsh, while Indiana ended its long run of moral victories. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said the Longhorns will evaluate everything after the loss to Florida, which will start Tramell Jones Jr. at quarterback to snap a two-game slide. Ohio State will be without Julian Sayin for several weeks with a shoulder injury. Coastal Carolina's throwback look topped the Week 7 uniform rankings, and Connelly's breakdown highlights Notre Dame's test at BYU. ESPN has reached a handshake agreement to broadcast a 24-team College Football Playoff, though some observers question whether expansion is the right move.
Boxing
Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title with a second-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley, their second meeting in five months.
Rugby Union
Munster beat Racing 92 33-25 in their Champions Cup opener, while Connacht stunned Saracens with a seven-try win. Leinster cruised past Clermont 48-23, Glasgow picked up a bonus-point win at Sale, and Ulster secured a bonus point against Zebre. Montpellier beat Bath 32-14, and Stormers beat Bristol 49-12. Scarlets thrashed Newcastle 47-14, though fly-half Sam Costelow was injured, a worry for Wales. Ospreys opened their Challenge Cup campaign with a bonus-point win in Georgia. Tributes were paid to Hyron Andrews before Champions Cup matches.
Rugby League
England crushed Wales 70-6 in the Women's Rugby League World Cup opener, but Brian McDermott says England's men must fix errors after the Tonga loss.
Women's Rugby & Cycling
Australia sent Scotland to an eighth straight defeat with an eight-try win, while Canada ended England's 41-match unbeaten run in Toronto. Britain's Anna Morris completed a hat-trick of golds at the Track Cycling World Championships.
Tennis & Golf
Sonay Kartal beat Jelena Ostapenko to reach the Wuhan Open final. Alexander Zverev said he had overachieved by reaching the Shanghai Masters semi-finals. Eugenio Chacarra extended his lead at the DP World India Championship as Rory McIlroy faded before play was halted. Billy Loughnane became the youngest champion jockey since 1923.
Gymnastics & Soccer
The U.S. women's gymnastics team lost Rivera to an ankle injury ahead of the world championships. Four clubs reached the FA Cup first round for the first time.
Coming Up
Dubois and Wardley's heavyweight rematch takes place Saturday. The WNBA Finals continue with the Valkyries and Dream battling for the title.