General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: August 9, 2026, 9:19 AM ET

Cricket

Sunrisers Leeds kept their Hundred knockout hopes alive with a six-wicket win over Welsh Fire, eliminating their opponents in the process. Meanwhile, world number one Judd Trump suffered a shock first-round defeat by Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham at the China Open.

Rugby League

Tommy Makinson, the five-time Super League champion winger for Catalans Dragons, will retire at the end of the 2026 season. In Super League action, Warrington Wolves crushed Bradford Bulls 42-4 to move fourth, while Wigan Warriors thumped Toulouse 48-18 to go second, with Zach Eckersley and Liam Marshall each scoring twice. Huddersfield Giants celebrated their upcoming move to Dewsbury by thrashing Catalans Dragons 42-20.

Rugby Union

Ulster fell 15-10 to Connacht in their opening Interprovincial Championship match, with second row Fiona Tuite saying the side needs to execute more.

Football (Soccer)

Wales legend Ian Rush said reaching Euro 2028 is a must after their World Cup qualifying heartbreak. In the Carabao Cup, Swansea City fear a serious Achilles injury for Cameron Burgess after he limped off against Birmingham City. In the Irish League, a much-changed Ballymena shocked Linfield 3-0 at Windsor Park.

WNBA

DiJonai Carrington was ejected from the Chicago Sky’s loss to Indiana Fever after a hard foul, then posted “white privilege” on social media. The WNBA quickly rescinded Caitlin Clark’s eighth technical foul, sparing her a suspension. The Minnesota Lynx clinched a playoff berth with their 26th win, defeating the Las Vegas Aces 98-87.

NBA / College Basketball

Top high school prospect Ahmed Nur earned an exclusive ticket to “The Sanctuary,” an offseason NBA performance retreat. UConn coach Dan Hurley warned that coaches taking advantage of court rulings for late additions are doing more harm than good. The Protect College Sports Act failed to reach a Senate vote but gained a spot on September’s calendar.

NFL

Lane Johnson said 2026 will “probably” be his last season after returning to the Eagles. Jahmyr Gibbs’ $67.5 million extension is one of 10 notable NFL deals shaping the 2026 preseason. A list of 16 players in the mix for the 2027 NFL draft No. 1 pick includes QBs Dante Moore and Arch Manning. Ohio State landed four-star quarterback Christopher Vargas, the top pocket passer in the 2028 class. Fifty-one freshmen poised to impact the 2026 college football season are highlighted, while a list of college football’s biggest villains for every Power 4 team explains the fury behind each fanbase.

MLB

Tommy John, the namesake of the famous elbow surgery, did not attend the Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day and shared a vague health message. A comprehensive look at all 30 MLB teams after the trade deadline details how playoff hopes have risen or fallen and roster completeness.

Tennis

World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprise defeat in the Canadian Open last, joined by Britain’s Cameron Norrie who also exited in Toronto.

Boxing

Callum Simpson reclaimed the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles via unanimous decision in his rematch with Troy Williamson, avenging his only loss.

Cycling

Demi Vollering raced clear to win stage eight of the Tour de France Femmes and snatch the yellow jersey with one stage left. The Hess women’s cycling team failed to pay riders and staff despite a wealthy benefactor, highlighting the difficulty of running a professional team.

Other

A former ball boy for the Vikings who was fired and later rehired reached the Hall of Fame — the story of Larry Fitzgerald’s path. Hacky sack is experiencing a viral comeback, with a growing grassroots base and a future on ESPN’s The Ocho.