General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: June 17, 2026, 2:51 PM ET

Basketball

The Chicago Bulls have agreed to hire former San Antonio Spurs center Tiago Splitter as their new head coach, replacing Billy Donovan after the Brazilian led Portland to a 42-40 record as interim coach. Splitter's appointment comes as college basketball fans await roster decisions from top prospects like LSU commit Ahmad Hudson, who remains committed to playing both football and basketball despite being ranked among the nation's elite in both sports. Meanwhile, West Virginia's first College World Series appearance has transformed Omaha into a sea of blue and gold, with Mountaineers supporters making their presence felt throughout the city during the MCWS trip.

Boxing & MMA

Amy Pu made history by becoming the first female to referee a professional boxing fight in Britain, overcoming significant challenges and prejudice throughout her journey to the sport's top officiating ranks. In MMA news, Alex Pereira publicly accused Ciryl Gane of landing multiple illegal blows to the back of his head during their UFC Freedom 250 bout, while also criticizing referee Herb Dean for failing to intervene. Separately, Floyd Mayweather faces felony charges including theft and intent to defraud after allegedly passing a bad check for a $200,000 watch purchase in Las Vegas.

Rugby

England will clear Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell for Saturday's Premiership final at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium, providing surprise fitness boosts to both club sides ahead of the championship matchup. In domestic rugby, Leinster made three lineup changes for Friday's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls, with captain Caelan Doris confirmed fit to start and Tadhg Furlong returning to the pack. Queensland completed an exhilarating comeback against New South Wales as Selwyn Cobbo scored a second-half hat-trick to level the State of Origin series in dramatic fashion.

Cricket

Australia thumped Bangladesh by nine wickets in the Women's T20 World Cup, continuing their dominant form in the tournament with an eye-catching performance that showcased their batting depth. England sweated on captain Nat Sciver-Brunt's fitness after a major injury scare overshadowed their four-wicket victory over Ireland, with the all-rounder set for scans on a left calf complaint that will rule her out of at least two upcoming matches. Sciver-Brunt played down initial concerns but confirmed she would miss the next two World Cup fixtures as England's medical team monitors her recovery timeline.

Tennis

British number five Arthur Fery produced a superb display to defeat Adrian Mannarino and reach the quarter-finals of the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club, keeping home hopes alive in the traditional Wimbledon warmup event. However, Cameron Norrie's comeback attempt was halted as the British number one fell to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his first singles match since suffering a rib injury in May, raising questions about his preparation for the grass-court season.

Soccer

Lionel Messi delivered a stunning hat-trick in Argentina's 2026 World Cup clash, captivating the heavy Argentine crowd in Kansas City and sending shockwaves through the sports world with his eight-time Ballon d'Or brilliance. Erling Haaland expressed his readiness to make his World Cup debut and show his love for Norway on football's biggest stage, telling ESPN that representing his country at the tournament fulfills a lifelong dream. The performance came amid growing excitement around Norway's emerging talent pool heading into major competitions.

Golf

The USGA and R&A confirmed a unified rollout for the controversial golf ball rollback, now set for January 2030 as a single-date implementation that will affect all professional tours simultaneously. Scottie Scheffler remains the favorite heading into the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, though his odds to complete the career grand slam have lengthened slightly compared to previous majors as bettors look elsewhere for value. 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell returned to major competition at Shinnecock Hills, describing his presence at the championship as something to share with his son while acknowledging that "the sands of time deplete" on his competitive window.

WNBA & Women's Sports

The WNBA will expand its schedule to 50 games beginning in 2027, representing a six-game increase from the current 44-game format as the league continues its growth trajectory following record viewership and attendance figures. In women's boxing, Estefany Alegria entered the ESPN divisional rankings after capturing a third belt with a dominant victory that solidified her position among the sport's elite champions.

Formula 1 & Motorsports

Formula 1 accelerated toward net-zero goals through measures including shifting from air to sea freight, investing in sustainable aviation fuel, and revising the race calendar to reduce carbon emissions. The initiatives form part of broader sustainability efforts as the sport targets carbon neutrality by 2030, with freight logistics representing one of the largest operational changes in recent memory.

Cycling

Belgium's Wout van Aert will miss the Tour de France due to an elbow injury, dealing a significant blow to Jumbo-Visma's general classification hopes in cycling's most prestigious race. The former multi-discipline star had been building toward the July start but requires additional recovery time before returning to competitive action.