General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: August 26, 2026, 2:54 AM ET

WNBA Playoff Race & Power Rankings

The Dallas Wings clinched the final playoff berth Tuesday with a 96-78 win over the Portland Fire, powered by rookie sensation Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 pick, who delivered another stellar all-around performance in her first postseason push. Meanwhile, the latest WNBA Power Rankings show the Golden State Valkyries climbing four spots after earning their first-ever franchise win over Minnesota, while the Fever tumbled three spots despite a strong individual stretch from their star backcourt.

The Chicago Sky have banned Enes Kanter Freedom from Wintrust Arena after he was ejected during a verbal altercation with guard Natasha Cloud, with owner Michael Alter citing a "potential threat" to player safety in a sharply worded statement. The ban comes amid heightened scrutiny of fan-athlete interactions across the league as playoff intensity ramps up.

College Sports Policy Shifts

The SEC has adopted a sweeping policy forbidding former professional athletes from returning to competition in football and basketball, going a step further than the Big Ten, which officially banned NFL returnees from suiting up for its schools. The decisions close a controversial loophole that had allowed veteran players to re-enter college rosters, drawing mixed reactions from coaches and player advocates.

In a lighter note, Akron announced that Marty Whims II, a lifelong Zips season-ticket holder and graduate, won the "Offensive Coordinator of the Game" promotion, earning the chance to call plays from the sideline during an upcoming home contest. Ohio State's Ryan Day, meanwhile, is entering his 10th year in Columbus with a tenure that has weathered Michigan losses, fan backlash, and ultimately a national title breakthrough, cementing his legacy as one of the most resilient figures in the sport.

Little League & Golf

Kinley Rasmus of Phenix City, Alabama, broke the Little League World Series record for most hits by a girl in tournament history, collecting her fifth base knock Tuesday to power her team deeper into the bracket. The 12-year-old's torrid pace has made her the breakout star of the summer classic.

The Golf Channel has postponed its "Big Break" reboot amid ongoing backlash surrounding partner Good Good Golf, a popular YouTube collective embroiled in a sponsorship controversy that has forced the network to delay the reality series' debut. The Tour Championship field rankings were released with Scottie Scheffler holding the top spot, while Wyndham Clark's win last week vaulted him into the No. 2 seed discussion ahead of the season finale in Atlanta.

Rory McIlroy called the PGA Tour's new matchplay playoff format a "big swing" that gives fans exactly what they want, praising the 2028 overhaul as a bold departure from stroke-play tradition. Sir Nick Faldo, however, warned that LIV golfers seeking a DP World Tour return may need to eat "a bit of humble pie" to regain eligibility, a pointed remark aimed at the fractured landscape of professional golf.

Tennis: US Open Qualifying & Comebacks

Bianca Andreescu's hard-fought road back to the US Open has been defined by seven years of setbacks since her stunning 2019 title, but the Canadian is again fighting through qualifying with renewed purpose. Alex Eala returns to New York a different player than the unheralded debutant of last year — now a top-20 contender with legitimate expectations of a deep run. Britons Harriet Dart and Fran Jones both advanced in qualifying, while Stan Wawrinka, denied a wildcard for a farewell appearance, said his 2016 US Open triumph will forever remain one of the greatest moments of his life despite the snub. Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has appealed to CAS against her four-year ban after refusing to let an anti-doping official into her home in December 2025, a suspension that would run until June 2030.

Boxing, Cricket & Rugby League

Moses Itauma admitted that Filip Hrgovic's taunts are starting to "wind him up" ahead of their heavyweight showdown Saturday, adding a personal edge to the title fight. England captain Joe Root said he is "hacked off" and "disappointed" by the nightclub incident involving Brydon Carse in Derby, while a CricViz Q&A tackled whether left-handers are statistically superior and when Root might catch Sachin Tendulkar's Test run record. St Helens legend Jonny Lomax announced his retirement at season's end, closing a storied Super League career.

Cycling, Solheim Cup & Indy Car

Tadej Pogacar delivered an astonishing solo effort to win Vuelta a España stage four, extending his overall lead and taking a massive step toward his first career title in the Spanish Grand Tour. Leona Maguire said Europe's 2024 Solheim Cup defeat provides extra incentive ahead of September's contest in the Netherlands, where the home side will look to reclaim the trophy from the United States. Finally, Indy Car's Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C. sparked pre-race debate but delivered three hours of thrilling street racing, with the sport itself emerging as the big winner on Sunday.