General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: June 29, 2026, 11:40 AM ET

Tennis

Wimbledon is underway, with British hopes facing early setbacks. Jack Draper has withdrawn from the tournament due to an ongoing arm injury that has sidelined him for much of the past year. Meanwhile, veteran Serena Williams is making her return to singles play at the All England Club for the first time in four years, though she is considered a betting long shot to win. Williams has also voiced her displeasure with the sport's anti-doping system, calling it "unprofessional" and "unreasonable" ahead of her return. On the men's side, Jannik Sinner is the strong favorite to retain his title, particularly in the absence of rival Carlos Alcaraz, despite a recent surprising early exit at the French Open as he aims to dominate again. Celebrity sightings were also a feature on day one, with David Beckham and Niall Horan among those making appearances. Wimbledon's iconic strawberries and cream also remain a staple, leading a list of signature event foods.

Golf

Viktor Hovland has claimed the Travelers Championship, defeating world number one Scottie Scheffler in a playoff. Hovland secured the victory with a birdie on the par-4 18th hole on Monday morning. Norway's Hovland was cheered by a contingent of World Cup fans as he secured his win. Scheffler had forced the playoff by making an 8-foot par putt on the 18th on Sunday, but ultimately missed a crucial putt to fall short. Hovland had earlier taken a one-shot lead over Scheffler on Sunday by birdieing the 18th hole.

MMA

The middle of the year has produced several strong contenders for fight, knockout, and submission of the year in MMA, with potential candidates emerging even before July highlighting a competitive calendar.

NFL

NFL record holder Chris Johnson has revealed his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

WNBA

The WNBA season continues with significant matchups and coaching milestones. On Tuesday, New York hosts Las Vegas in a game featuring the league's two winningest teams over the past three seasons. In coaching news, Cheryl Reeve tied the WNBA record for career coaching wins with her 379th victory as the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Dallas Wings. This milestone matches Mike Thibault's previous record as Reeve enters the Hall of Fame. Chicago Sky's Kamilla Cardoso set a WNBA record for the most field goals without a miss, going 13 for 13 and scoring 30 points in a dominant performance. In a separate development, Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts criticized the WNBA and defended his player Alyssa Thomas following her suspension, which stemmed from a play involving Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever prompting a defensive stance.

Basketball (NBA)

NBA free agency is generating significant buzz, with ongoing speculation surrounding LeBron James and the Lakers. Insiders are providing the latest intel on potential player movement. Additionally, a significant trade has occurred, with the Hornets sending Miles Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick, and a second-round pick to the Suns in exchange for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and a 2033 first-round pick reshaping rosters. Examining team finances, Bobby Marks has analyzed all 30 NBA teams, detailing their spending power and proximity to the second apron offering front office insights. The aftermath of a major trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo is also being dissected, with details emerging about the bids and negotiations that led to the end of his 13-year tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks exploring the trade's ripple effects. The NBA draft also provided talking points, with questions arising about the best value picks, the scarcity of trades in the first round, and predictions for Rookie of the Year addressing draft outcomes.

International Soccer

The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams has drawn criticism from Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz, who fears the change will degrade the competition. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been actively traveling to World Cup host nations via private jet logging extensive travel. The tournament's knockout stage permutations are being analyzed, with an overview of teams vying for qualification and those facing elimination detailing knockout scenarios. A review of the remaining 32 teams still alive in the World Cup examines why each contender could potentially win.

Cricket

England's cricketing landscape is experiencing potential leadership changes following Ben Stokes' retirement. Former captain Michael Vaughan believes more leadership shifts are necessary in English cricket following Stokes' departure. Vaughan also reflected on Stokes' retirement, emphasizing how the team will navigate the loss of one of their "greatest" players addressing team transition. England's women's team, however, managed to avoid relegation from the Pro League, though the men's team finished second overall after a penalty shootout loss to India in their final match contrasting team fortunes. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is utilizing a rare therapy, previously employed by NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, in an attempt to regain fitness for the T20 World Cup semi-final seeking recovery methods.

Ireland has achieved a historic T20 series victory over world champions India, winning the series 2-0. This marks Ireland's first T20 series defeat of India since 2023, secured by a dramatic one-run win in the final match clinching a shock series win. India-born bowler Jai Moondra expressed that helping Ireland secure this historic win was a "dream come true" celebrating a personal milestone. Cricket in Ireland saw further historical moments as both the men's and women's teams secured victories over India and the West Indies, respectively, prompting discussions about whether it was the biggest weekend in Irish. Heinrich Malan has stepped down as head coach of Ireland's cricket team less than 24 hours after their historic T20 series win over India announcing his departure.

In domestic T20 Blast action, Hampshire secured their sixth consecutive victory with a thrilling two-wicket win over Yorkshire extending their winning streak. Hampshire also moved to the top of the Women's T20 table after beating Durham, while The Blaze secured second place with a victory over Essex leading the women's standings. Kent stunned Hampshire with a victory in the T20 Blast, fueled by half-centuries from Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings securing an upset win. Warwickshire provided a significant upset in the Women's T20 Blast by defeating Surrey, moving them off the bottom of the standings claiming a surprise victory.

Rugby Union

Wales will reduce their squad size for the upcoming Nations Championship, with head coach Steve Tandy indicating the team will be cut to between 32 and 34 players preparing for the tournament. Forwards coach Paul O'Connell confirmed that Ireland has no further injury concerns ahead of their Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney confirming team fitness. Flanker Jac Morgan expressed his support for Dewi Lake, who has retained the captaincy for Wales backing the captain. In a farewell match, George North concluded his illustrious 16-year career with Wales by scoring two tries in a 33-31 victory over the Barbarians signing off in style.

Athletics

The Paris Diamond League meeting will proceed in a modified format due to extreme heat in France adapting to weather conditions. Great Britain's Georgia Hunter Bell achieved her second Diamond League victory of the season with a commanding performance in the women's 1500m in Paris securing a second win. Josh Kerr is planning to break Hicham El Guerrouj's mile world record on July 18 at the London Diamond League meeting, detailing his preparation methods targeting a world record. Olympic medallist Jenny Simpson has been released from the hospital following a cardiac arrest she experienced while running at an event in the United States recovering from incident.

Boxing

Jaron "Boots" Ennis is looking to solidify his position as undisputed champion after his recent victory, with a potential fight against Vergil Ortiz Jr. on the horizon pursuing undisputed status. Boxing analysts and former champions have offered their predictions and insights on the upcoming Xander Zayas-Jaron Ennis title fight analyzing the matchup. The highly anticipated rematch between boxing legends Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather has been postponed indefinitely due to various contractual disputes. British boxer Ellie Scotney made history by becoming the youngest undisputed champion from the United Kingdom, a feat acknowledged by Jake Paul who fulfilled a promise related to her achievement celebrating a historic win. Ben Whittaker marked his American debut with an impressive second-round victory against Richard Rivera at Barclays Center in Brooklyn making a U.S. debut.

Cycling

Zoe Backstedt is aiming to make her debut in the Tour de France Femmes in August, following a successful double title-winning week at the British Road Championships targeting a Grand Tour debut. Megan Barker reclaimed her British elite women's circuit race title on the second day of the National Road Championships, marking the second Welsh winner of the event reclaiming a national title.

Motorsport

Shane van Gisbergen secured his second consecutive victory at Sonoma Raceway, becoming the most successful active Cup Series driver on road and street courses dominating road courses. In Moto GP, Japan's Ai Ogura achieved his maiden race victory after Marco Bezzecchi was taken to the hospital following a crash claiming a first win. Josh McErlean achieved his best World Rally Championship finish, securing fourth place at Rally Greece, where Sebastien Ogier claimed the victory achieving a career-best finish. George Russell experienced palpable relief after securing another victory in the Austrian Grand Prix in 2026 returning to winning ways.

Other Sports

• American Football: NFL record holder Chris Johnson has revealed he has been diagnosed with ALS NFL star's diagnosis.
• Swimming: Gretchen Walsh broke the women's 50-meter freestyle world record on Sunday, surpassing the mark set by her training partner Kate Douglass just nine days prior by 0.04 seconds setting