General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: June 17, 2026, 8:43 PM ET

NBA & WNBA Updates

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker will switch from his longtime No. 1 jersey after eight seasons wearing the number he donned since being drafted sixth overall in 2015 and during his lone college season at Kentucky. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark unveiled her first signature Nike shoe on Wednesday, the Caitlin, ending months of speculation about when the rookie sensation would receive her first signature sneaker release. The WNBA announced expansion to a 50-game schedule beginning in 2027, representing a 14% increase from the current 44-game format as the league continues its growth trajectory.

College Sports Controversies

The University of Cincinnati denied claims it knowingly played quarterback Brendan Sorsby after the player's agent publicly questioned the school's handling of gambling violations during the 2024 season. In Baton Rouge, LSU commit Ahmad Hudson remains committed to pursuing both football and basketball despite being ranked among the nation's top prospects in both sports, telling reporters "I could never pick one" as he weighs his future athletic options.

College Football Playoff Expansion

CFP leadership continued discussions about expanding to a 24-team field during Wednesday meetings, though logistical questions remain unresolved regarding scheduling, selection criteria, and how the expanded format would integrate with existing bowl structures. The proposed expansion would represent a 50% increase from the current 12-team playoff setup.

International Cricket

South Africa rebounded from their opening match loss with a commanding performance against Pakistan, led by Marizanne Kapp and Annerie Dercksen, while Pakistan remained winless in the tournament. England's cricket team made a solid start to the second Test against New Zealand despite the ongoing Ben Stokes controversy, with bowler Sonny Baker lifting spirits through an impressive debut performance that helped overshadow recent disciplinary issues. However, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt will miss at least two T20 World Cup matches after suffering a left calf injury during Tuesday's contest. Former England captain Michael Vaughan called stripping Stokes of the Test captaincy a "travesty" if the decision is finalized over the midnight curfew violation.

Tennis Results

British number five Arthur Fery produced a superb display to defeat Adrian Mannarino in straight sets at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club, keeping home hopes alive in the grass-court tournament. Dan Evans will need to qualify for Wimbledon's main draw after the British tennis stalwart missed out on a wildcard entry for the men's singles competition.

Horse Racing

Ombudsman claimed victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes for a second consecutive year at Royal Ascot, delivering an impressive performance in the feature race of day two that delighted connections and maintained the horse's strong form trajectory.

Golf Championship Updates

The USGA implemented changes aimed at creating a fairer test at Shinnecock Hills for this week's U.S. Open, with chief championships officer John Bodenhamer stating they "learned a great deal" from the 2018 championship experience. Scottie Scheffler remains the favorite for the 2026 U.S. Open though his odds for completing the career grand slam have lengthened slightly, reflecting bettor skepticism about his ability to claim the elusive title. Golf's governing bodies pushed back implementation of golf ball distance limitations to a single-date rollout in January 2030, abandoning the originally proposed phased approach. 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell spoke about sharing his major championship return with his son as "the sands of time deplete" on his competitive career.

Athletics Incident

Olympic bronze medalist Jenny Simpson collapsed after suffering a medical episode while pacing a mile group at a track event in Raleigh, North Carolina on Tuesday night, with the three-time world champion receiving immediate medical attention before being transported to a local hospital where she remains under observation following the incident.

Rugby Union Selections

Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell are set to return for Saturday's Premiership final at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium after recovering from injuries, providing significant boosts to their respective clubs. Leinster confirmed captain Caelan Doris will start in Friday's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls, with Tadhg Furlong also returning to the lineup for the decisive match. Ireland coach Andy Farrell named uncapped Connacht trio Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen in his squad for next month's Nations Championship fixtures, while fly-half Jack Crowley was ruled out due to injury.

Boxing & Combat Sports

Rico Verhoeven confirmed his appeal against the Oleksandr Usyk defeat was dismissed by governing bodies, ending his challenge to the controversial stoppage loss from last month's heavyweight title fight. Alex Pereira accused Ciryl Gane of landing illegal strikes during their UFC White House event bout, claiming several questionable blows contributed to his defeat. Amy Pu became the first female to referee a professional boxing fight in Britain, speaking to BBC Sport about breaking barriers and overcoming prejudice in her journey to the sport's top officiating ranks.

Motorsports & Football

Formula 1 detailed measures to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, including shifting from air to sea freight, investing in sustainable aviation fuel, and revising race schedules to reduce environmental impact. Australia's women's cricket team thumped Bangladesh by nine wickets in their T20 World Cup encounter, continuing their impressive tournament performance. Belgium's Wout van Aert will miss next month's Tour de France after suffering an elbow injury that requires extended recovery time.

Baseball Awards Race

Rafael Devers overtook Witt in American League MVP betting odds as the Boston Red Sox third baseman's strong start to the season reshaped the awards landscape, with both players seeing their odds fluctuate