General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: May 16, 2026, 8:54 PM ET

Golf

The PGA Championship continued to produce drama as Alex Smalley surged late to card a 68 in the third round, claiming a two-stroke lead at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania with thirty players within five shots of the surprise leader. Smalley's run mirrored a broader resurgence at the event, which joined the Masters and U.S. Open with a $20M purse, the largest in the sport's history. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm made big moves on "moving day," while Rahm posted a 68 of his own to share the lead after rounds of 67 and. At the G4D Open, Simon Seungmin Lee won at Celtic Manor, finishing three under par in one of golf's premier events for athletes with disabilities. In the WNBA, A'ja Wilson scored 45 points on 15-of-18 shooting to lead the Aces to a 101-94 win over the Sun, setting a league record with her fifth career 40-point game.

Horse Racing

Preakness winner Napoleon Solo held off Iron Honor at Pimlico, rebounding from two fifth-place showings to claim his first victory of the year. The triumph came in the 151st running of the race, described in a pre-race guide as the ultimate Preakness betting breakdown. Across the Atlantic, Matt Bush won European gold in Para-taekwondo for Great Britain just two months after the birth of his second child, calling the victory a moment that will keep him rising to future challenges.

Basketball

The San Antonio Spurs advanced to the Western Conference finals with a convincing win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Stephon Castle leading the charge in a series that saw the Spurs close out the Wolves. In the Eastern Conference, Caitlin Clark hit a game-tying three with 3.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime for the Fever, though Indiana ultimately fell in the extra period. On Friday night, A'ja Wilson torched the Sun with 45 points in the Aces' third straight win, marking her fifth career 40-point performance in the WNBA.

Rugby Union

The Scarlets and Dragons shared spoils in a dramatic nine-try draw in Llanelli, with the Scarlets finishing above the Dragons in the URC regular season. Leinster trounced the Ospreys 10-try to 0 in a warm-up for next week's Champions Cup final, securing second place and a potential home semi-final. Saracens beat Gloucester 30-14 to move three points off fourth place in the Premiership, while Harlequins stunned Exeter with a 41-24 comeback that dented the Chiefs' top-four hopes. Cardiff defeated the Stormers 22-16 in Cape Town, providing a memorable Welsh rugby night, ahead of a URC play-off tie. The Scarlets' draw also meant Leinster locked in second place, setting up a potential home semi-final in the Champions Cup.

MMA & Boxing

Ronda Rousey orchestrated her own return event in an effort to rewrite the ending of her MMA career, staging an event she masterminded after a decade away from the sport. MVP MMA debuted with returns from Rousey, Gina Carano, Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou, marking the first major professional event since Rousey's exit from the UFC a decade ago.

Six Nations & International Rugby

England entered Sunday's fixture against France with 38 consecutive Test wins and eight successive Six Nations titles on the line, though a patched-up squad faces a rejuvenated opponent in Bordeaux. Wales, meanwhile, aim to avoid the worst losing run in their 39-year history against Italy when they return to Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday. Ireland's head coach Scott Bemand said his side is desperate to show their best version in the final Six Nations match against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium. In Ulster, Nick Timoney vowed to leave nothing unturned ahead of the Challenge Cup final against Montpellier, while in the domestic game, Conor McManus said Monaghan must take Armagh down the stretch in Sunday's Ulster SFC final at Clones.

Celtic Celebrations & Domestic Football

Hoops fans celebrated a 3-1 Premiership title win over Hearts in Glasgow's east end, though the festivities turned sour as riot police dealt with serious disorder. Celtic's victory ended Hearts' title hopes in dramatic fashion.

Snooker

Ronnie O'Sullivan defeated Kyren Wilson 6-3 to reach the Snooker 900 Global Championship final, where he will face Luca Brecel.

Track & Field

Ireland's Mark English won the 800m at Diamond League Shanghai with a strong finish, while Beth Potter finished second in Yokohama for the second consecutive year in the triathlon, and Alex Yee came fifth on his return to the men's event.

Ice Hockey

Great Britain lost 5-2 to Austria in their opening game at the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship, a disappointing start to the tournament.

Baseball

Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal is tossing just two weeks after elbow surgery, sparking hope in Detroit that the ace could return sooner than expected. Meanwhile, Clay Holmes of the Mets and Max Fried of the Yankees are expected to miss extended time with injuries, affecting fantasy lineups league-wide.

Cultural Beats

Drake referenced LeBron James multiple times on his new album, continuing a public tension between the rapper and the NBA star. In the trade market, Giannis Antetokounmpo's trade watch has been reset, with ten teams now monitoring potential suitors. Steve Kerr stayed with the Warriors after facing a career crossroads, convinced that confronting the pains of his past meant he had everything left to play for.