General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: June 26, 2026, 8:31 PM ET

WNBA & Player Safety

A call for enhanced player protection within the WNBA emerged Friday from a group of prominent figures, including Hall of Fame inductees Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne. The sentiment was echoed by Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White, who expressed gratitude for the league's review of an incident involving Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark, but questioned the on-court officiating that failed to address the infraction in real-time . Meanwhile, the Fever will sit star guard Caitlin Clark against the Los Angeles Sparks due to back issues, marking her second missed game of the season. In a record-setting performance, Toronto's Marina Mabrey matched the WNBA record with 53 points and tied the mark for most three-pointers made in a game with nine, leading the Tempo to a 125-97 victory over the Sparks.

Golf & Tennis

Scottie Scheffler dominated the Travelers Championship, firing a 10-under-par 60 to seize the lead after two rounds of the PGA Tour event. Scheffler narrowly missed a sub-60 round on the 18th hole, settling for his impressive score. On the women's side, Ina Yoon holds a two-shot lead after the first round of the Women's PGA Championship, while Nellie Korda's bid for a third consecutive major title faltered. In tennis, Serena Williams, a betting long shot in her return to singles play, is slated to face 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round of Wimbledon Wimbledon. Jannik Sinner is the odds-on favorite for the men's title at the grass-court Grand Slam. Jack Draper's encouraging return from injury was cut short as Ugo Humbert denied him a spot in the Eastbourne Open final.

Cricket

Sri Lanka kept their semi-final hopes alive in the Women's T20 World Cup with a tense three-wicket victory over Scotland. Ireland secured a historic T20 win against world champions India, a result that India-born bowler Jai Moondra described as a "dream come true". Hampshire Hawks continued their strong run in the T20 Blast with a sixth consecutive win, defeating table-toppers Yorkshire by two wickets. In a significant upset, Warwickshire stunned Surrey in the Women's T20 Blast, moving off the bottom of the standings. Afghanistan's women's cricket team have formally requested "clear answers" from the International Cricket Council regarding their future.

Rugby League & Union

Leeds Rhinos maintained their dominant position in Super League, with Maika Sivo scoring two tries to bring his season tally to 27 in an emphatic win over champions Hull KR. Australia's Angus Bell expressed readiness to face his former Ulster teammates, whom he considers "friends for life," when the Wallabies meet Ireland on July 4.

Cycling & Athletics

Megan Barker reclaimed her British elite women's circuit race title at the National Road Championships, marking the second Welsh winner of the event. Lizzie Deignan is set to return to the Great Britain cycling team as a sporting director, a role that will be instrumental in supporting the road squad through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In athletics, Olympic medallist Jenny Simpson has been released from hospital following a cardiac arrest suffered while running last week. The Paris Diamond League meeting will be held in a reduced format due to extreme heat in France. Josh Kerr plans to target Hicham El Guerrouj's mile world record at the London Diamond League meeting on July 18, utilizing specialized training methods. Laura Muir is slated to compete in the 5,000m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as part of her preparation for major events leading up to the 2028 Olympics.

Boxing

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is vacating his three world titles but has stated he is not retiring, planning one "last dance" before concluding his career. The highly anticipated rematch between boxing legends Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather has been postponed indefinitely, with contract disputes cited as the primary reason. A boxing analyst breakdown of the upcoming Xander Zayas-Jaron Ennis title fight offers predictions from former champions.

American Football & Soccer

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss publicly disagreed with first-year LSU coach Lane Kiffin's remarks regarding Ole Miss' historical use of Confederate symbols and its impact on recruiting Black players. An ESPN investigation has revealed widespread child exploitation and neglect within the Argentine soccer system, despite the nation producing the current World Cup champions. The NBA draft saw the Atlanta Hawks select Cadeau for Michigan, with the guard planning to remain with the Wolverines following Dusty May's departure. The NBA offseason is underway, with teams looking to make strategic moves in the lead-up to the 2026 free agency period.

Motorsport & Other

Kimi Antonelli led George Russell in a Mercedes one-two during the first practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix. Tom Aspinall has confirmed he is back in "full training" after undergoing surgery on both eyes, preparing for a potential rematch with interim champion Ciryl Gane. Rally driver Josh McErlean is battling for a podium position in fourth place at Rally Greece, while Jon Armstrong has retired from the event.

Player & Coach Discussions

WNBA Hall of Fame inductees Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne, along with coach Cheryl Reeve, have voiced concerns about the need for the WNBA to better protect its players. Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White acknowledged the WNBA's review of an incident involving Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark but questioned the referees' failure to make a call during the game.