General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: June 17, 2026, 8:47 AM ET

Combat Sports & UFC

The UFC's inaugural event on the White House South Lawn delivered high-stakes drama as Justin Gaethje shocked the heavily favored Ilia Topuria to capture the undisputed lightweight title. Gaethje secured the victory after Topuria retired on his stool at the end of Round, though the event was marred by controversy. Alex Pereira accused Ciryl Gane of landing illegal blows to the back of his head during Gane's victory to reclaim the interim heavyweight title, while Sean Strickland was removed from the Fan Fest for public safety reasons. Beyond the fights, the event faced security crises when the FBI thwarted planned attacks targeting members of Congress, and fighter Josh Hokit disparaged Michelle Obama in post-fight comments. Despite the chaos, Dana White praised the spectacle but confirmed the promotion will never return to the White House.

Golf & Major Championships

Rory McIlroy is preparing for the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where he will tee off at 12:52 BST on Thursday. McIlroy has called for caution regarding the course setup to avoid the controversies of previous years, while simultaneously expressing concern that the PGA Tour's proposed "Track Two" events could become "glorified Korn Ferry events." Other contenders are also preparing for the major, including Brooks Koepka who plans to compete after a hand injury forced him to withdraw from the Canadian Open. Meanwhile, Bud Cauley completed a comeback by winning the RBC Canadian Open, capturing his first PGA Tour title in his 239th start with a final-round 5-under par.

Football & International Soccer

Lionel Messi continued his dominance by scoring a hat trick in a 2026 World Cup qualifier that captivated crowds in Kansas City. In Europe, Erling Haaland announced his readiness for his World Cup debut with Norway, while Spain's Luis de la Fuente downplayed a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, insisting the favorites will not panic. In other international news, Northern Ireland is awaiting the draw for their World Cup play-off semi-final opponents.

Baseball & MLB Operations

The MLB trade deadline on August 3 is placing 12 executives under pressure to make moves that could define their futures. This tension comes amid broader labor concerns, as Hall of Famer Tom Glavine sees signs of trouble that could mirror the labor fights of 1994. On the field, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and other stars are shifting the AL MVP odds, while fantasy managers are navigating Trea Turner's slump and evaluating matchup rankings for guards to maximize points.

Tennis & Wimbledon Preparations

Wimbledon's wild card announcements brought a historic return as Venus and Serena Williams will pair up for doubles for the first time since 2022. At the Nottingham Open, 17-year-old Hannah Klugman claimed her first WTA Tour win by defeating Harriet Dart, though Francesca Jones narrowly lost after missing two match points. At Queen's, Emma Raducanu reached the final but was defeated by Donna Vekic, extending her trophy drought since 2021. Other storylines at Queen's included Corentin Moutet's profane interview and Dan Evans' criticism of the tournament's wildcard decisions.

Basketball & WNBA

The New York Liberty have returned to the top of the WNBA Power Rankings following a seven-game winning streak, which included an 86-64 victory over the Mystics to clinch a spot in the Commissioner's Cup final. The league also witnessed a historic scoring duel as Kelsey Plum and Kahleah Copper both scored over 40 points in the same game for the first time in WNBA history. Meanwhile, the Dallas franchise is attempting to transition from mediocrity to title contender status with a retooled roster. In the NBA, OG Anunoby predicted a boom in UK basketball following the New York Knicks' championship season.

Cricket & World Cup Action

The Women's T20 World Cup has seen mixed results, with India defeating Pakistan by 64 runs thanks to Smriti Mandhana's 68. In contrast, New Zealand suffered back-to-back defeats after a poor fielding performance, and Bangladesh narrowly beat the Netherlands in the final over. In England's Test squad, James Rew will debut as Jamie Smith misses the second Test due to the birth of his daughter, while Ollie Robinson was ruled out with a knee injury.

Formula 1 & Motorsports

Lewis Hamilton secured a redemptive victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, marking his first win with the Italian team and surpassing his own expectations. The race saw title leader Kimi Antonelli suffer a late retirement, while McLaren lodged an appeal against the reversal of Pierre Gasly's pit-lane speeding penalty. Off-track, F1 is targeting net zero by 2030 by shifting to sea freight and investing in sustainable aviation fuel. In other racing, Toyota ended Ferrari's streak to win the Le Mans 24 Hours, and Denny Hamlin passed Kyle Busch for ninth on the NASCAR all-time wins list.

College Sports & NCAA

The Men's College World Series in Omaha has been dominated by Troy's first-ever appearance, where they ousted Ole Miss 12-8. However, the trip was marred by the theft of $35,000 in camera gear from the team bus. Legal battles continue in college football as the Big 12 sued Texas Tech over the eligibility of quarterback Brendan Sorsby, while the NCAA requested an expedited ruling from an appeals court to resolve the injunction allowing Sorsby to play.

Other Sports & Athletics

In rugby, Joe Root is captaining England on a game-by-game basis, while Ben Stokes' role remains a mystery ahead of the match at The Oval. In athletics, Audrey Werro won the 800m, while World Athletics launched a project to improve pregnancy and childbirth policies for female athletes. In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup in 20 years by beating the Vegas Golden Knights. Finally, England's darts team won a record sixth World Cup title behind Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.