General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 5:31 PM ET

College Football & Basketball Governance

Discussions regarding the future structure of the College Football Playoff intensified as ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips backed a 24-team expansion, a viewpoint shared by a majority of the league’s coaches and athletic directors, suggesting the move would provide greater 'hope' across the conference. Separately, in college basketball governance, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian sharply criticized Ole Miss academics by calling them "basket weaving," drawing a response that also prompted comments from Florida coach Jon Sumrall following recent controversial remarks by Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma State Cowboys saw a massive roster overhaul under first-year coach Eric Morris, who transferred in 20 players, including his quarterback from North Texas, signaling a significant rebuild effort.

In the WNBA, the narrative surrounding the Las Vegas Aces was reversed by their 2-0 start, silencing critics who had questioned the team following a draft-day trade and the release of a fan favorite, placing them atop the latest power rankings alongside the undefeated New York Liberty. In the NBA, a tough reality was underscored after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated, leaving both LeBron James and the organization in an awkward position regarding a potential reunion, as James stated he is unsure 'what the future holds', though sources suggest the Lakers might need him more than they admit. The San Antonio Spurs, however, managed to secure a 3-2 series lead in their playoff matchup, providing a positive takeaway from the first round action.

Professional Golf & Tennis Majors Prep

The focus shifted heavily toward the PGA Championship, where Scottie Scheffler entered with his shortest odds for the event at +385, with Rory McIlroy (+910) and Jon Rahm (+1400) trailing, while Cameron Young saw his odds leap significantly to +1475. Despite his strong position, McIlroy battled a physical issue, stating he was "totally fine" for the tournament despite needing a bigger and wider shoe with more cushioning after nursing a sore little toe that forced him to halt a practice round earlier in the week. Jon Rahm, having settled his dispute with the DP World Tour, confirmed his availability for Ryder Cup selection, which Luke Donald welcomed, though Rahm maintained that his immediate job is playing golf, not attempting to fix the business dealings of the LIV circuit. On the women's side, Iga Swiatek regained her ruthless form in Rome, reaching the semi-finals after a statement win, suggesting she is primed for Roland Garros, while Emma Raducanu confirmed her return from injury via a wildcard entry into the Strasbourg event to gain necessary match practice.

Cricket & International Fixtures

England cricket saw several administrative and selection shakeups, with former wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor being named England's fielding coach, marking a landmark move as the first woman to coach an England side in a major sport, while director of cricket Rob Key lauded the recall of Ollie Robinson, stating the seamer is "one of the best bowlers in the world" after his two-year international exile ended, alongside the call-up of uncapped trio Emilio Gay, James Rew, and Sonny Baker for the first Test against New Zealand. On the international front, the second ODI between England and New Zealand was abandoned without a ball bowled, while Bangladesh secured a historic home Test victory over Pakistan, propelled by fast bowler Nahid Rana’s 5-40 figures. Furthermore, South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail reversed her international retirement to be included in the Proteas' T20 World Cup squad, and former England spinner Kirsty Gordon was named in Scotland's T20 World Cup roster, marking her first appearance in nearly nine years.

Rugby Union & League Developments

The Welsh rugby landscape saw movement both internationally and domestically, with England-born utility back Nikita Prothero proudly displaying the Welsh word "hiraeth" tattooed on her arm, emphasizing the non-negotiable nature of her switch to the Welsh setup, as Steve Tandy also named six uncapped players, including Kane James and Bryn Bradley, for the summer games. In the women's game, Sam Monaghan expressed that having an Irish club enter the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) would be "amazing" for the sport's growth, a sentiment echoed by the WRU lodging its interest in an expanded PWR team. Meanwhile, in the URC, Glasgow Warriors face the prospect of having to host the final in Belfast at Affidea Stadium if they progress due to venue availability issues in Scotland, while Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey faces several weeks out with a hamstring injury, ruling him out of the European Challenge Cup final.

Cycling, Motorsport, and Combat Sports

The cycling world saw a surprising retirement as three-time Olympic medallist Katie Archibald announced she was stepping away from the sport after falling in love with her new career as a nurse, despite being previously slated for the 2026 Commonwealth Games team. In motorsport, the anticipation builds for Max Verstappen to swap his F1 car for 24 hours at the Nürburgring, a significant departure from his usual race schedule. In combat sports, Ronda Rousey is preparing to reconstruct the ending of her MMA story in an event she masterminded, which will feature Gina Carano's return after a 17-year absence. In the UFC, Khamzat Chimaev's team indicated he is "obsessed" with an immediate title rematch against Sean Strickland, stating it is "the only fight he will accept right now", following a UFC 328 card where only one contest earned an A grade.

Other Sporting Notes & Player Milestones

In women's cricket, The Blaze, Hampshire, and Warwickshire all secured victories in the Women's One-Day Cup, highlighted by opener Tammy Beaumont's unbeaten 99 run innings. Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson announced his immediate retirement from first-class cricket, while 18-year-old Glamorgan bowler Tom Norton achieved a record-breaking hat-trick on his first-class debut. In cycling's Giro d'Italia, Igor Arrieta won a challenging, soaking-wet stage five, three days after Jhonatan Narvaez took stage four despite being involved in a major crash. Elsewhere, Olympic swimming champion Daniel Wiffen stated he will use his mother's recovery from cancer as "motivation" as he gears up for the Commonwealth Games in July. In darts, Northern Ireland's Josh Rock claimed his first European Tour title in nearly two years, defeating Kevin Doets 8-6 to capture the Austrian Open title.