General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: July 19, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

WNBA Action Heats Up

Paige Bueckers poured in 25 points before a collision forced her exit, while Arike Ogunbowale added, including six crucial late points, to lead the Wings to a 90-82 victory over the Sparks. In other WNBA news, Angel Reese expressed gratitude for the WNBA's decision to suspend coach Sandy Brondello for one game following her "protected species" comment, stating she appreciated Brondello's apology but also the league's action was grateful to the WNBA. Caitlin Clark made WNBA history by recording over 40 points and 10 assists in a single game, becoming the first player to achieve this feat as the Indiana Fever defeated the Seattle Storm. NBA commissioner Adam Silver commented on the intense debate surrounding Clark, suggesting it's "not largely about officiating" and that the star player has become "a political football".

Golf and Tennis Updates

Rory McIlroy admitted to feeling "stuck in neutral" during the Open Championship and plans to take a summer break to celebrate his Masters victory. Meanwhile, Sam Burns held a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Ryan Fox tied a major championship record with a score of 62 on Saturday, marking the third player to achieve this at the Open this week. Jon Rahm received a code-of-conduct warning for throwing his club after a missed shot on the 15th hole was given a warning. Stefanos Tsitsipas captured his first ATP title in 16 months, defeating Raphael Collignon in the Swiss Open final. Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova will miss the Canadian Open following "small surgery" and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

Motorsports and Cycling News

Remco Evenepoel criticized the "inhuman" middle-of-the-night doping tests at the Tour de France after winning stage, an event during which two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the race. Tadej Pogacar further extended his overall lead in the Tour de France with another dominant victory on a mountainous stage 14. Tom Pidcock moved up to fourth place overall in the Tour de France standings after Mauro Schmid won stage 13 from a breakaway. George Russell's title hopes suffered a blow after crashing out at Spa, leaving him 50 points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli. Russell also expressed frustration over a "serious issue" with his Mercedes' straight-line performance, deeming his title fight "impossible" infuriated by issue. The Mercedes driver scout responsible for discovering Kimi Antonelli is reportedly leaving the team to join rivals Red Bull.

Rugby and International Rugby

Wales' netballers are heading to the Commonwealth Games with renewed confidence after defeating Tonga 65-52 in their final warm-up match. Wales completed Steve Tandy's first season with three wins and nine defeats in 12 international matches. In the Nations Championship, South Africa secured a comfortable seven-try bonus-point victory over Wales. Scotland secured a hard-fought bonus-point win against Fiji in a pulsating Nations Championship match. Gregor Townsend indicated that Scotland would not be overly concerned by another high-scoring match against Fiji, as long as they emerged victorious. England's discipline was described as "comical" by Matt Dawson, who noted the team's issue after receiving four yellow cards in their 31-24 victory over Argentina. England managed to hold on for a victory against Argentina in a chaotic match, aided by a controversial late try ruling. Joe Root explained the challenges young batters face in 50-over cricket due to limited exposure to the format. Argentina wore a replica of their 1986 World Cup kit during their match against England. Wales are aiming to defy the odds in South Africa to conclude a demanding 10-month campaign. Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn will partner in midfield again as Wales concludes their season in South Africa. Rugby union is experiencing a surge in popularity in football-dominated Argentina, according to Pumas head coach Felipe Contepomi. New Zealand secured a six-try victory over Ireland at Eden Park, marking Ireland's sixth consecutive loss against the All Blacks, France, and South Africa.

Combat Sports and Individual Athletes

Dricus Du Plessis positioned himself for another title shot with a decisive five-round unanimous decision win over Kamaru Usman at UFC Fight Night. Ben Askren returned to the wrestling mat a year after double lung transplant surgery, losing 6-3 to Belal Muhammad. Conor McGregor provided further details on his leg injury sustained earlier this month, confirming ACL and meniscus damage, and expressed confidence in his ability to fight again. Boxer Hannah Rapp tragically died at the age of 26 after being struck by a car while cycling in Texas. Two riders have died in separate incidents during British eventing competitions on Saturday.

Other Sports News

The Wings defeated the Sparks 90-82, extending their winning streak. Limerick's manager John Kiely and wing-back Diarmaid Byrnes expressed their delight following their first All-Ireland title win since 2023. Castleford Tigers staged an "extraordinary comeback" to defeat league leaders Leeds Rhinos 36-34 in a thrilling West Yorkshire derby. Zoe Backstedt successfully defended her Baloise Ladies Tour title, having been the youngest winner a year prior. Beth Shriever made history by becoming the first BMX racer to secure four elite world titles, with extreme weather impacting the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane. Elfyn Evans extended his World Rally Championship lead despite finishing sixth at Delfi Rally Estonia. Cooper Flagg's latest trading card is expected by at least one collector to sell for $5 million. A collector's opinion suggests Tom Dundon's decision to place his family on the Stanley Cup devalued the trophy. ESPN and Make-A-Wish are celebrating 20 years of fulfilling sports dreams for critically ill children, with WNBA star A'ja Wilson and the Aces among those involved. Keely Hodgkinson returned to winning form at the London Diamond League after a challenging period. Josh Kerr is aiming for the mile record, while Keely Hodgkinson is reportedly downplaying her 800m bid at the Diamond League meeting in London. Rhys McClenaghan is described as a "work in progress" as he heads to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games, where he will be perfecting a new routine. Ali Smith, a two-time Paralympian, discussed the challenges of returning to the Commonwealth Games after experiencing two miscarriages. Sir Chris Hoy expressed confidence in the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games, recalling positive past experiences and anticipating a "massive success" despite a scaled-down format. The World Cricketers' Association has voiced concerns regarding changes to the men's 50-over World Cup format. Liam Dawson and Tom Banton will be released from England's ODI squad to participate in T20 Finals Day. Northants Steelbacks defeated Somerset by 17 runs to secure a spot in the T20 Blast final. Familiar teams, including Northants Steelbacks and Somerset, will compete on T20 Blast Finals Day. Investigation is ongoing after disorder at a football stadium led to fans, including children, fleeing onto the pitch. Bill Belichick expressed optimism about North Carolina's football program, stating they are "way ahead" of where they were a year ago. Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman received a contract extension through 2036 with a significant raise. Monshun Sales, a highly-rated recruit, has committed to the Indiana Hoosiers.