General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: May 22, 2026, 2:54 PM ET

Tennis

Emma Raducanu rehired coach Andrew Richardson after initially parting ways following her US Open triumph, citing the difficulty of finding such a strong connection with someone who understands her game. Meanwhile, Britain's Felix Gill fell in French Open qualifying, missing his chance at a Grand Slam singles debut. Leading players including Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner limited media duties to 15 minutes in a coordinated protest over prize money distribution at Roland Garros.

Cricket

England batter Jacob Bethell will have a finger injury assessed less than two weeks before the first Test against New Zealand, adding uncertainty to the squad selection. Paul Stirling was ruled out of Ireland's one-off Test against New Zealand at Stormont with a calf injury, leaving the Irish batting lineup without their most experienced player for the historic match.

Cycling

Alberto Bettiol won stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia with a stunning acceleration over the final climb in the Italian Lakes, while Eulalio retained the pink jersey. Australia's Tour Down Under will feature the first joint men's and women's event on the World Tour, with both fields racing on the same course and distance on the same day, marking a significant step for gender equality in professional cycling.

Rugby Union

Leinster will face holders Bordeaux in Saturday's Champions Cup final, with head coach Leo Cullen acknowledging the "serious challenge" ahead. Bordeaux Begles chase back-to-back Champions Cups after their remarkable rise from promotion to France's top flight in 2011. Cardiff insist there will be no excuses when they travel to face South Africa in the URC play-off quarter-final against Stormers. Ulster attempt to end a 20-year trophy drought in the Challenge Cup final against Montpellier in Bilbao. England captain Zoe Stratford and Tatyana Heard will leave Gloucester Hartpury at the end of the season, departing the three-time reigning Premiership Women's Rugby champions.

Boxing

Unified champion Oleksandr Usyk stands alone atop heavyweight boxing, though questions remain about how long he can maintain that position. Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven landed a shot at Usyk through his celebrity connections and fighting pedigree, though promoter Eddie Hearn acknowledged he has a mountain to climb despite calling him "not a normal man."

NBA

Victor Wembanyama is shattering the NBA's age curve and defying conventional wisdom about playoff experience requirements. The Thunder built their championship roster around Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso as final pieces, with Sam Presti betting on fit over flash. Bobby Marks examines 20 free agents and their potential market value this summer. The New York Knicks produced an 18-point surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93, taking a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference final series.

Auto Racing

Kyle Busch embodied motorsports' greatest compliment as a racer, throwback and role model, but died at age 41, with his representatives confirming he had been hospitalized with severe illness. Max Verstappen hinted at continuing in F1 as planned engine rule changes would return racing "almost back to normal." Lewis Hamilton insisted he has no plans to retire from Formula, stating he will "be here for quite some time."

College Sports

Kansas baseball scoured the juco ranks to transform into one of college baseball's top programs. Georgia's Diamond Dogs are powered by home-run hitting as they chase SEC tournament success and College World Series berth. Top-10 sophomore Kam Mercer committed to Cincinnati while planning to reclassify up into the 2027 class. Florida center Rueben Chinyelu will return for his senior season after withdrawing from the NBA draft. The conference's top teams lost significant talent, opening opportunities for new programs in what remains one of college basketball's most consistent leagues.

Ice Hockey

Great Britain suffered a 4-1 loss to Switzerland at the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship, falling to the tournament hosts and favorites. Former Wales prop Rhys Thomas recently underwent a heart transplant in Cape Town, holding his own heart in his hands after life-saving surgery.

Darts

Stephen Bunting overcame Luke Humphries 6-3 in Sheffield to claim his second nightly win of the year, while Michael van Gerwen was eliminated by Luke Littler in the Premier League semifinals.

Six Nations

England captain Meg Jones and Ireland's Aoife Wafer made the Women's Six Nations player shortlist for player of the year honors after strong performances throughout the championship.

NFL

Former Commanders owner Dan Snyder's former home returned to market nearly three years after selling the franchise, listing the property for sale.

Swimming

Team Scotland named their full swimming squad for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, adding Olympians Katie Shanahan, Keanna Mac Innes and Lucy Hope to pre-selected Duncan Scott.

Baseball

The Houston Astros face three potential paths forward: continue competing, soft rebuild, or complete teardown as they approach a critical decision point.

NASCAR

Kyle Busch died at age 41 after being hospitalized with severe illness, marking the end of a career that included two Cup Series championships and more wins across NASCAR's three series than any other driver in history.