General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: May 21, 2026, 8:55 PM ET

Motorsports & Racing

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch died at age, marking a tragic end to a career that included over 230 race victories across NASCAR's three national series. Busch was hospitalized with a severe illness just days before his death, forcing him to withdraw from Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His passing came just hours after Kevin Harvick was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, celebrating a career that culminated in the 2014 championship. Meanwhile, Joey Chestnut will defend his Nathan's Hot Dog Eating title while serving probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge, and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was named Grand Marshal for the 110th Indianapolis, bringing mainstream attention to the legendary race.

Tennis & Golf

Aaron Rai captured the PGA Championship after receiving crucial advice from his wife before the final round, securing his first major victory at Aronimink. The win moved Rai to world No. 21 and positioned him as a contender for the upcoming U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where former champion Graeme McDowell qualified among the final nine spots. At the French Open, Jannik Sinner began his career Grand Slam pursuit against French wildcard Clement Tabur, while Britain's Toby Samuel reached the main draw by defeating David Goffin in qualifying. However, leading players threatened to limit media commitments to 15 minutes in protest over stagnant prize money, as tournament director Amelie Mauresmo confirmed no adjustments to the purse.

Rugby Union

Ulster faces Montpellier in Friday's European Challenge Cup final with fit-again winger Robert Baloucoune starting after recovering from injury. Despite missing key players including Iain Henderson and Stuart McCloskey, Ulster's Angus Bell expressed hope to create memories as the province seeks its first silverware in 20 years. Head coach Richie Murphy called for his team to fight with everything against the French champions, while prop Angus Bell emphasized the honor of potentially ending the drought. In international rugby, Benhard Janse van Rensburg earned an England call-up despite his Springbok background, with coach Steve Borthwick defending the selection as building the best possible team.

Boxing & Combat Sports

Former Bellator and Strikeforce boss Scott Coker announced plans for a new MMA fight league targeting global expansion, while promoter Eddie Hearn described Rico Verhoeven as "not a normal man" ahead of the Dutch fighter's challenge against Oleksandr Usyk. Belfast's Caoimhin Agyarko will face Josh Kelly for the IBF light-middleweight title this summer. However, Most Valuable Promotions banned Claressa Shields from future events following a physical altercation with Alycia Baumgardner, casting uncertainty over women's boxing's biggest rivalry.

College Basketball & Recruiting

Top-10 recruit Kam Mercer committed to Cincinnati while announcing plans to reclassify into the 2027 class, joining a recruiting class that already includes Eve Long, the No. 5 overall prospect. Florida center Rueben Chinyelu withdrew from the NBA draft to return for his senior season, while Michigan's Morez Johnson Jr. kept his name in the draft. These decisions could significantly impact the 2026-27 college season, with programs adjusting scholarship allocations and roster construction.

WNBA & Women's Sports

Nneka Ogwumike returned to the Los Angeles Sparks after helping negotiate the new collective bargaining agreement, aiming to lead the franchise back to the playoffs. The Chicago Sky cracked the top five in ESPN's power rankings REF: