General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: August 14, 2026, 11:44 AM ET

MLB Standings and Player Rankings

ESPN MLB experts have updated their top 50 players, reflecting strong performances as the 2026 regular season winds down. This in-season update aims to assess the league's best talent.

NASCAR Honors and Schemes

Ty Gibbs will honor former NASCAR driver Kyle Busch by running an M&M's paint scheme in the upcoming Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. This tribute will mark a special occasion for Gibbs.

Athletics European Championships Drama

At the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, British teenager Filip Nowacki secured a dramatic gold medal in the men's 200m breaststroke final. Great Britain's Angharad Evans also claimed her first European Championship gold in the 100m breaststroke final. In other track and field news, Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith made history by winning the 400m gold, becoming the joint-most decorated man at the European Championships. Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu completed a sensational 1-2 for Great Britain in the men's 100m final. Keely Hodgkinson advanced to the women's 800m final, while rival Audrey Werro qualified despite a fall. The European Championships also saw criticism regarding empty seats and ticket prices at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, with nearly 10,000 seats unoccupied on one day. Jakob Ingebrigtsen expressed disappointment over Josh Kerr's absence from the European Championships.

Cricket World Cup League 2 and T20 Aspirations

Scotland achieved a commanding 170-run victory over Canada in the World Cup League, led by captain Richie Berrington and debutant Lyle Robertson. Meanwhile, Moises Henriques expressed his desire to help Portugal qualify for their first-ever men's T20 World Cup, calling it "cricket nirvana" at this stage of his career. Afghanistan comfortably secured their ODI series victory over Ireland with a game to spare. In The Hundred, Welsh Fire and MI London were eliminated from the competition after losing their final group stage matches. Ellyse Perry her unbeaten 62 guided Birmingham Phoenix to a five-wicket win over MI London.

Football News and Transfers

Manchester United and Leeds United are set to play a historic pre-season encounter at Croke Park, marking the first time two English teams will compete in association football at the Dublin venue. Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy aims to prove doubters wrong regarding their relegation prospects for the 2026-27 season. Swansea City suffered a significant blow with the news that centre-back Cameron Burgess has ruptured his Achilles, likely ruling him out for the entire season. In a significant team development, Ospreys have publicly rejected the WRU's plan to cut a professional team, advocating for four Welsh professional sides. Five players, including Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Alex Coles, have received their first England central contracts as part of a squad shake-up by Steve Borthwick. Eddie Jones revealed an unusual coaching method for Japan, using videos of geese flying in formation to inspire the team before their second Test against Australia.

NBA Cup and Player Development

The NBA has revealed the group stage schedule for the 2026 NBA Cup, the fourth annual in-season tournament. In college football news, Northwestern's football team received a significant $35 million donation from Liz and Dick Uihlein. Seth Trimble has committed to play for Louisville next season, taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility. ESPN's 2026 preseason All-America team has been announced, highlighting the nation's top college football players. Discussions continue around the physicality of college quarterbacks, with players like Oklahoma's Mateer drawing attention for their size, and an investigation into the debate at Manning Camp. A discussion also explores how much a Power 4 starter earns in college football for the 2026 season.

Golf and LIV Tour Updates

LIV Golf players have been informed that the season-ending Team Championship is likely to be cancelled. Rory McIlroy expressed confidence in maintaining his PGA Tour status, despite planning to play only 14 events, and aiming to reach a compromise to fulfill the minimum qualification of 15 events. The FedEx Cup Playoffs are underway, beginning with the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, where players are competing for spots in the Tour Championship. Tee times for the first and second rounds of the FedEx St. Jude Championship have been released, featuring notable players like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. An amateur golfer has resigned from his club after admitting to a cheating scandal involving a faked hole-in-one.

UFC Championship Fights and Fighter Status

UFC 330 in Philadelphia is set to feature two championship bouts, with significant storylines including Machado Garry being considered a real threat to Islam Makhachev. Makhachev, preparing for his welterweight title defense against Garry, stated that he "does not have much time" left in the UFC.

Tennis Tournament Action

Iga Swiatek has reached the Canadian Open final, her first of a season she describes as her "toughest." She will face Elena Rybakina, who came back from a set down to defeat Naomi Osaka in their quarter-final match.

Other Sports News

A Texas judge upheld a decision to remove a Tulsa, Oklahoma, team from the Southwest Region, preventing them from competing in a title game for a spot in the Little League Baseball World Series. In horse racing, a racing integrity firm is investigating five races at Saratoga and Monmouth Park due to unusual betting patterns. The Great Britain dressage team has qualified for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles by winning silver at the FEI World Championships. Efe Obada has retired from the NFL to pursue his "true calling" and has launched a foundation. The Irish League's hopes for European qualification now rest with Larne, following Northern Ireland's drop in Uefa's coefficient ranking. A solar eclipse has led to schedule changes for some sporting events in the UK, including an earlier start for a horse racing meeting in South Wales, due to the solar eclipse. Former All Blacks player Ma'a Nonu performed a solo haka in response to the All Blacks before his side, the Sharks, played against New Zealand in Durban. A high school football player in Arkansas discovered a venomous snake inside his helmet during practice. Arne Slot has withdrawn from talks for the Netherlands managerial vacancy, stating his next role will be in club football. The world record for the women's 800m, the longest-standing in athletics, remains unbroken after 43 years. England's Red Roses are preparing for the WXV Global Series, using smaller balls in training.

Fantasy Sports and Player Analysis

Matt Bowen has released his favorite fantasy football targets for the upcoming season, covering players across all draft levels. Tristan H. Cockcroft offers advice on late-season fantasy baseball trade targets as the deadline approaches.

WNBA Playoff Race Tightens

The WNBA Power Rankings show an increasingly tight race for playoff seeds, with teams needing strong performances to secure their postseason berths. Fever coach Stephanie White received support from Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham after facing criticism and boos from fans.

Hockey Player Suspensions

Four Canadian hockey stars remain suspended despite their acquittal on sexual assault charges, as an appeals board found they violated Hockey Canada's code of conduct. A fifth player has been reinstated.