General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 3:37 PM ET

Golf & FedEx Cup Playoffs

Rory McIlroy expressed confidence he will negotiate a compromise with the PGA Tour to satisfy his 15‑event minimum and maintain dual membership despite planning only 14 starts. The FedEx St. Jude Championship kicks off the playoffs in Memphis with Scottie Scheffler, McIlroy and the field vying for Tour Championship berths; tee times for the opening rounds are set. Jackson Koivun clung to the 70th and final playoff spot after winning the 3M Open in just his third start as a pro, becoming the first player in decades to jump from college to postseason in two months. An amateur golfer resigned from a St. Louis club after admitting he faked a hole‑in‑one in a now‑viral cheating scandal.

College Basketball Transfers & SEC Projections

Seth Trimble committed to Louisville after a court ruling granted Class of 2022 high schoolers a fifth season of eligibility, leaving North Carolina as a “home.” SEC 2026‑27 projections break down best‑ and worst‑case scenarios for every team, from going undefeated to missing the NCAA tournament.

Cricket: Afghanistan, Ireland & The Hundred

Afghanistan comfortably sealed the ODI series over Ireland with a game to spare at Stormont, setting a record tally in the format. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 71 helped Afghanistan take a 2‑0 lead in the five‑match series. In The Hundred, Welsh Fire were eliminated after a six‑run loss to London Spirit. Ellyse Perry hit an unbeaten 62 to lead Birmingham Phoenix to a five‑wicket win over MI London. Trent Rockets face a nervous wait after a six‑wicket defeat by Southern Brave. Sunrisers Leeds beat Welsh Fire by 71 runs to close in on knockout qualification. In the One‑Day Cup, Middlesex advanced amid a wide‑open Group A after upsets. Glamorgan youngsters shone despite winning only two of eight matches. Rocky Flintoff, 18‑year‑old son of Andrew Flintoff, hit his first professional century for Lancashire. Scotland scraped past UAE by one wicket with one ball left in a World Cup League 2 Tri‑Series match.

Equestrian & Olympics

Great Britain’s dressage team secured qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics by winning silver at the FEI World Championships in Aachen.

WNBA & Women’s Basketball

Fever coach Stephanie White defended players after being booed in Indiana before Tuesday’s win over the Liberty, receiving support from Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham. The WNBA Power Rankings show time running out as teams jockey for playoff seeds. Kayla McBride set the WNBA single‑game record with 10 three‑pointers in a 103‑90 win over Dallas. A transgender controversy has emerged after Sophie Cunningham said it was “common sense” to ban transgender women from women’s sports, with former NBA players weighing in. Fantasy women’s hoops playoffs strategy guide is available.

Little League World Series Legal Battle

A Texas judge backed Little League’s decision to remove a Tulsa team from the Southwest Region, keeping them from Tuesday’s title game for a LLBWS bid. However, multiple reports say a different judge granted a temporary restraining order allowing Tulsa to compete. The Little League World Series schedule and coverage are available.

College Football & NFL

Northwestern football received a $35 million donation from Liz and Dick Uihlein over three years. College football 2026 examines how much a Power 4 starter earns, with input from GMs and agents. Coaches spill the tea on 43 QBs for the upcoming season. Freshman phenoms to watch are highlighted. A high school player in Arkansas unknowingly wore a helmet with a venomous snake inside for nearly an hour. Former NFL player Efe Obada retired to pursue his “true calling” after growing up in foster care. Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez is having a notable camp while negotiating a contract extension. New Orleans Saints kicker Charlie Smyth, from County Down, is entering his first pre‑season as an NFL starter.

NBA & Basketball

The NBA Cup 2026 schedule and groups have been revealed for the fourth annual in‑season tournament. The Knicks face LeBron and the 76ers on NBA opening night in a tripleheader on Oct. 20.

Rugby Union

England head coach Steve Borthwick handed first central contracts to Asher Opoku‑Fordjour, Alex Coles, Guy Pepper, Jack van Poortvliet and Seb Atkinson. Ospreys rejected WRU plans to cut a professional team, arguing four sides are the way forward. Ulster captain Iain Henderson will miss several months after hip surgery. Wales wing Lisa Neumann returns from injury in a 46‑strong WXV training squad that includes 14 uncapped players. England’s Red Roses are using smaller balls in pre‑season training ahead of the WXV Global Series. Ma’a Nonu, performed a solo haka before his Sharks side faced New Zealand.

Football (Soccer)

Arne Slot pulled out of talks for the Netherlands managerial vacancy, saying his next job will be in club football. Manchester United vs Leeds will be the first English football clash at Dublin’s Croke Park in a pre‑season fixture. Brennan Johnson is tipped to thrive under David Moyes after moving from Crystal Palace to Everton. The Irish League’s European hopes rest with Larne after Northern Ireland dropped outside Uefa’s top 50 coefficient ranking.

European Athletics Championships & Swimming

Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu claimed a sensational 100m one‑two for Great Britain at the European Championships in Birmingham. Amy Hunt stormed to 100m gold, calling it her “coming of age.” Jakob Ingebrigtsen fought back from near death to win 5,000m gold after almost a year out. Keely Hodgkinson and rivals Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders‑Bol advanced to set up a tantalising 800m showdown. The team behind Hodgkinson’s rise and world‑record pursuit is profiled. The women’s 800m world record remains the longest‑standing in athletics at 43 years. Criticism of empty seats and ticket prices arose after nearly 10,000 seats were empty at Alexander Stadium. At the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, Adam Ramsay‑Peaty finished fifth in the 100m breaststroke, beaten for the first time at the event. GB claimed three medals on the opening day, while Jack Kelly set an Irish record in the breaststroke. Jonah Koech, the US 1500m champion, received a three‑year ban for blood doping. Russian Athletics filed a new claim against sanctions with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Snooker, NASCAR, Gymnastics, Horse Racing & Other Sports

Zhang Anda shocked world number three Zhao Xintong 6‑5 in a thrilling China Open opener decided on a respotted black ball. Ty Gibbs outlasted Christopher Bell to win the NASCAR Cup Series race in Iowa. Hezly Rivera won her second straight U.S. gymnastics national title at age. A horse racing integrity firm is investigating five races at Saratoga and Monmouth Park after unusual betting patterns. Tommy John bid farewell on social media amid health battles, missing the Yankees’ Old‑Timers’ Day. Dakota Ditcheva broke both hands again during a win, months after similar injuries. A solar eclipse forced the Ffos Las horse racing meeting to begin two hours early. Summer Shaw won Commonwealth bronze in judo for Scotland, then returned to work at McDonald’s a week later. Kimi Antonelli, the 19‑year‑old F1 star, sees his career and salary profiled. Hacky sack’s viral comeback is examined. Jeremias James, an Argentine defender with Welsh roots, hopes for a rule change to play for Wales. Davy Litten will join Wakefield Trinity from Hull FC at season’s end. NIFL CEO Gerard Lawlor insisted no side deals were done to enable the EGM that prevented a season delay. Fantasy baseball late‑season targets are identified, including a look at the Bronx. The NCAA and FBI partnered to fight athlete sexploitation. John Mateer’s massive arms at Oklahoma have sparked debate on how big QBs should be. Opener Emilio Gay is set to be fit for England’s Test against Pakistan. A quiz invites guessing The Hundred cricketer No. 21.