General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 12:45 PM ET

MLB Trade Deadline Aftermath & Roster Readiness

With the trade deadline now past, every MLB team's playoff hopes have been reassessed, showing how fates have risen or fallen and which rosters are most complete. Our panel of insiders weighed in on the biggest blockbusters, grading deals involving Tarik Skubal and Adley Rutschman. Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson extended his major-league-record errorless streak to 113 games after a surprising error was overturned to a hit. Tommy John, namesake of the elbow surgery, bid farewell amid health battles and did not attend New York Yankees' Old-Timers' Day. For fantasy managers, Tristan Cockcroft goes with his gut on late-season trade targets as the deadline approaches.

NBA Schedule Release & Season Projections

The NBA announced its opening week, Christmas Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day games, leading with a tripleheader on Oct. 20 that includes the Knicks facing LeBron and the 76ers. On the college side, SEC projections for 2026-27 range from three possible champions to teams that won't go dancing. Seth Trimble has committed to play for Louisville next season after the court ruling that gave Class of 2022 high schoolers a fifth season.

NFL Training Camp & Player Milestones

49ers QB Brock Purdy impressed in a joint practice against the Titans, part of the latest NFL training camp intel. Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, still negotiating a contract extension, is leading by example at camp. A fascinating debate emerged from Manning Camp over whether quarterbacks should be swole, prompting an ESPN investigation. A high school player in Arkansas unknowingly wore a helmet with a venomous snake for nearly an hour, a truly bizarre discovery. Northwestern's football team received a $35 million donation from Liz and Dick Uihlein aimed at strengthening the program. We also broke down how much a Power 4 starter earns in 2026, talking to GMs and agents to put a price on each position.

WNBA Playoff Push & Record Performances

Time is running out as teams jockey for playoff seeds; the latest WNBA Power Rankings reflect the urgency. Fever coach Stephanie White spoke out against critics and received support from Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham after being booed in Indiana before Tuesday's win over the Liberty. Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride dropped 43 points and set a WNBA record by making 10 three-pointers in a win over Dallas. The transgender controversy surrounding the WNBA intensified after Sophie Cunningham said it was "common sense" to ban transgender women from sports, with former NBA players weighing in on eligibility rules. For fantasy managers, a playoff guide offers strategy, players and expert picks for the women's hoops playoffs.

College Football 2026: ACC Preview & Freshmen to Watch

In the ACC, a full preview of the ACC and Notre Dame reveals intrigue in every corner. Coaches tipped off 43 quarterbacks, and an anonymous QB breakdown covers Heisman and draft outlooks. Freshman phenoms could affect conference and CFP races, despite not being the top-ranked recruits. The NCAA and FBI have partnered to fight athlete sexploitation, educating athletes on preventing private images from being leaked.

European Athletics Championships – Birmingham

Great Britain dominated the European 100m, with Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu claiming a sensational one-two for the hosts. Amy Hunt stormed to 100m gold in a "coming of age" moment, while Jakob Ingebrigtsen returned from "the lowest of lows" to win a stunning 5,000m gold. Keely Hodgkinson progressed through her 800m heat alongside rivals Audrey Werro and Femke Bol, remaining on course for a tantalising showdown. She said a home European title would mean as much as Olympic gold. The team behind her golden rise, the M11 Track Club, is also chasing a world record. Nearly 10,000 seats were empty at Alexander Stadium, drawing criticism of empty seats and ticket prices. Adam Ramsay-Peaty finished fifth in the European 100m breaststroke final, beaten for the first time at the European Aquatics Championships. GB secured three medals on opening day, while Jack Kelly set a new Irish record to reach the breaststroke final. Day three schedule and BBC coverage is available. The women's 800m world record remains untouched for 43 years; here's why it's so tough to break. American middle-distance runner Jonah Koech received a three-year doping ban for blood doping.

The Hundred & English Domestic Cricket

Welsh Fire ended their campaign with a comfortable 15-run win over London Spirit, Georgia Wareham hitting her first Hundred half-century. Sunrisers Leeds moved closer to qualifying for the knockout stages with a 71-run win over Welsh Fire, while London Spirit beat Birmingham Phoenix by seven wickets. Trent Rockets face a nervous wait after a six-wicket defeat by Southern Brave. Middlesex advanced in the One-Day Cup after a day of unlikely results saw defeats for the top three in Group A. Rocky Flintoff, son of Andrew, hit his first professional century for Lancashire. Glamorgan's One Day Cup coach highlighted positives in developing young players despite winning only two from eight. An email hoax nearly ended Caleb Falconer's Hundred hopes, but he overcame phishing concerns to secure a contract.

International Cricket – Tests & ODIs

Afghanistan beat Ireland at Stormont to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series, powered by Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 71. Scotland beat UAE by one wicket with one ball to spare in a dramatic Cricket World Cup League 2 match. Zhang Anda shocked world No. 3 Zhao Xintong with a thrilling 6-5 victory in the China Open snooker. Emilio Gay is set to be fit for England's first Test against Pakistan next week.

Golf – FedEx Cup, LPGA, and Scandals

FedEx St. Jude Championship first and second round tee times are set; Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are among those playing. Jackson Koivun, who left Auburn in June and won the 3M Open in his third start, narrowly hung on to the 70th spot for a final playoff spot. In women's golf, Charley Hull let slip a one-shot lead as 17-year-old Anna Huang won her fourth event on the LET. An amateur golfer faked a hole-in-one and resigned from his St. Louis-area club.

Boxing & MMA Divisional Rankings

Aaron McKenna cracked the middleweight top 10 after a dominant decision win for the IBF title in the latest men's divisional rankings. Dina Thorslund dominated to win the undisputed bantamweight championship and shake up the 118-pound class. Elif Nur Turhan signed with Most Valuable Promotions, bringing a potential unification fight with Caroline Dubois closer. Dakota Ditcheva broke both hands during her win and cried non-stop.

Rugby Union & League News

England head coach Steve Borthwick handed first central contracts to five players: Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Alex Coles, Guy Pepper, Jack van Poortvliet and Seb Atkinson. Ospreys publicly rejected WRU plans to cut a professional team. Wales named 14 uncapped players in a 46-strong WXV training squad, with Lisa Neumann returning from injury. England's Red Roses are using controversial smaller balls in pre-season training. Iain Henderson will miss several months after hip surgery. Ma'a Nonu performed a solo haka in response to the All Blacks. Davy Litten will join Wakefield Trinity at season's end after a "substantial" fee.

Soccer – Pre-season, Transfers, and National Team

Manchester United face Leeds in a pre-season game at Croke Park, the first association football match between English teams there. Arne Slot confirms talks for the Netherlands job but says his next role will be in club football. Brennan Johnson is tipped to thrive under David Moyes after his move to Everton. The NIFL CEO insists "no side deals" were done to ensure an EGM took place. Jeremias James, proud of his Welsh roots, hopes for a rule change to help his international ambitions.

Formula, Motorsports, and Other Sports

Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old F1 star, is profiled. An F1 Q&A discusses whether Lawson can keep his seat for 2027. Ty Gibbs used late pit strategy to win the NASCAR Cup Series race in Iowa. Hezly Rivera won her second straight U.S. gymnastics title. HISA is investigating five races at Saratoga and Monmouth Park after unusual betting. The horse racing meeting at Ffos Las will begin two hours earlier because of a solar eclipse. Hacky sack has had a viral comeback. Little League World Series drama: a Tulsa team was removed then later allowed to play via temporary restraining order. The full road to the LLBWS includes results, schedules and coverage.

Other Notables

A "Who am I?" cricket quiz for The Hundred star No. 23 is available. Another quiz features The Hundred star No. 21. Efe Obada retires from the NFL to launch a foundation. Charlie Smyth is ready for the next level as an NFL starter. Summer Shaw won Commonwealth bronze and then returned to work at McDonald's. England scrapped a midnight curfew after seven months under new Test captain Joe Root. The Irish League's European hopes rest with Larne. Teenager Rafael Jodar is on the verge of smashing the record for fastest rise to top 10. The Russian Athletics Federation challenges sanctions with a new claim. Las Vegas Aces rested stars for a back-to-back in New York. Eric Karabell's "Do Not Draft" list for fantasy football highlights overvalued players.