General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 22, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
WNBA
The Dream beat the Valkyries by 26 points to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals. Former UConn players Gabby Williams, Tiffany Hayes, Kiah Stokes and Kaitlyn Chen are helping fuel Golden State's run to the title series. Enes Kanter Freedom was denied entry to Game 3 after refusing a private suite arranged by the Dream. ESPN also ranked the league's greatest players across its 30-season history, while a separate panel weighed the snubs and underrated stars.
College Football
Week 8 could bring more chaos to the SEC after two decades of order, as upsets pile up across the conference. Last week's Bottom 10 featured several top programs, from Texas to Georgia. Utah senior defensive tackle Jamal Wallace is under investigation for an alleged rape. At Texas, Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning face a make-or-break stretch, while former Maryland coach Mike Locksley says he is at peace after his firing and is open to NFL or college coordinator jobs.
College Basketball
Bilas named his top players to watch as the season approaches, and early recruiting rankings put Houston and UConn at the top of the 2027-28 freshman class. Villanova will leave the Big 5 series at the end of the season. Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins revealed a progressive cognitive condition. Self said Kansas fans crossed the line with profanity aimed at former Jayhawk Flory Bidunga.
NBA
Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg said he lost all respect for Luka Doncic after a testy matchup.
Formula 1
Max Verstappen criticised the bumps on the Austin track ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli says he will just have fun as he chases the title. Lewis Hamilton urged a humble approach to the African Grand Prix amid human rights concerns. Briton Freddie Slater will drive for Audi in first practice in Mexico City.
NASCAR
Carson Hocevar is rubbing rivals the wrong way as the series' newest bad boy.
Cricket
Harry Brook hit 202 for England, the first double century by an England batter in a one-day international, but Sri Lanka chased down 430 to win. Brook's innings cemented his status as the world's best all-format batter. James Anderson may have counties interested in his services after leaving Lancashire. Australia face mounting problems after being beaten by South Africa by an innings and 31 runs.
Rugby Union
Wales' Welsh Rugby Union lost £18m and says four regions are unsustainable. Former Scotland and Harlequins player Tim Visser goes on trial charged with rape. Northampton back George Hendy is determined to force his way into the England squad. Felix Balshaw, son of 2003 World Cup winner Iain, plays for France. Top clubs are embracing data to guide recruitment decisions. Ireland's Neve Jones wins her 50th cap as Stacey Flood and Dorothy Wall return. Wales' Alex Callender targets a 50th cap in the WXV Global Series. A 17-year-old French amateur player died after an on-field injury. England's travel schedule before their Rugby League World Cup defeat left them exhausted, according to Brian McDermott, who also urged the Super League to accept NRL investment.
Football
Man United endured a rough night in the Champions League. Swansea winger Ronald faces up to two months out with injury.
Gymnastics
Great Britain's Joe Fraser won bronze in the all-around final at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Boxing and MMA
Joe Cordina agreed terms to fight Manny Pacquiao, on the Fury-Joshua card in Cardiff. Alexander Volkanovski says retirement and fighting at 40 do not scare him, and ESPN previewed UFC 333 with predictions for both championship fights.
Cycling and Athletics
The 2027 Tour de France route was revealed in Paris, with UK stages detailed. Ruti Aga received a six-year ban after a fake prescription from a family member. Henri Schoeman spoke out about a decade of abuse following his viral win over the Brownlees.
Other Sports
Alicia Dudeney won an epic match at the Wrexham Open. Titans defensive tackle Jordan Elliott was released after pulling a gun in a car park. Phil Vickery moved from World Cup winner to bodybuilder at. A Spanish eco cricket ground aims to host Test matches. ESPN's Pardon the Interruption turned.
Coming Up
The Dream and Valkyries continue their WNBA Finals with the series tied at one game apiece after the Dream's lead. Antonelli races in Austin this weekend, and Volkanovski and Evloev meet at UFC 333.