General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 17, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Women's Rugby and Football
England's remarkable 41-match unbeaten run came to an end as Canada edged a thriller in Toronto, with Shoshanah Seumanu central to the drama.
Boxing
Pundits have weighed in on the heavyweight rematch, with Dubois and Wardley set to meet again on Saturday and figures from the boxing world offering their predictions.
College Football
Notre Dame face their first real test at Provo in a marquee clash, and Connelly's Week 7 breakdown highlights the loaded slate, including Ohio State against Indiana. Coastal Carolina's bold throwback look stood out, with the Chanticleers leading the Week 7 uniform rankings. Meanwhile, ESPN has reached a handshake agreement to broadcast a 24-team College Football Playoff, though critics argue the expansion raises concerns about the event's direction. A hypothetical 24-team bracket built from the 2025 final rankings shows how the field would take shape.
WNBA
Ranking the top players in the WNBA Finals, the debate centres on Reese or Williams as the league's best performer this postseason.
Rugby Union and League
Dragons overturned a half-time deficit to beat Perpignan 29-14 in their Challenge Cup opener, four tries carrying them through despite missing the bonus point. Jaminet was the star as Toulon beat Edinburgh in the Challenge Cup, handing the Scots their first defeat of the season. In the Champions Cup, Gloucester and Bordeaux drew 36-36 in a thriller. Cardiff welcome back Faletau and Adams for their Champions Cup clash with Northampton. The Irish provinces have named their teams for Saturday's European openers, with debuts and returns across the squads. France boss Laurent Frayssinous blamed the NRL gap for his side's heavy defeat by Samoa.
Rugby League World Cup
England captain George Williams said the team will embrace the underdog tag ahead of their clash with Tonga.
Football
Coleraine produced a statement win, with Ruaidhri Higgins praising the manner of their 3-2 victory over Larne in the Irish Premiership.
Cycling and Athletics
Great Britain added two more golds at the Shanghai track Worlds, with Stewart and Morris continuing the nation's medal run.
Olympic Movement
The IOC is shutting down 12 permanent committees, including those focused on human rights and gender issues.
Sports Business and Legal
Banana Ball is adding international contests and unveiled a new "360" format. The NCAA has sued Ohio's governor over an order allowing schools to ignore a new eligibility rule. The ECB has dropped the Rooney Rule from its coach recruitment process.
Tributes and Court Cases
Southern Nazarene safety Tyler Ulrich died at 21 after an in-game injury. A burglar was jailed for stealing charity cash from snooker star Kyren Wilson's home.
Combat Sports and Entertainment
PFL's Liz Carmouche will compete in her sixth career championship rematch, while the new Street Fighter film features WWE and UFC talent.
College Recruiting and Roster Moves
Indiana's Charlie Becker, once overlooked as a recruit, has become the face of the Hoosiers. Midway through the season, a review of the 10 teams that fixed roster needs shows who got it right and who did not.
Youth Cricket and Rugby
Teenager Thomas Rew, has been named England Lions captain for the West Indies tour.
Coming Up
The Dubois and Wardley heavyweight rematch takes place Saturday. Notre Dame face BYU at Provo in Week.