General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: August 14, 2026, 8:36 PM ET

Basketball

The Los Angeles Lakers' sale for a staggering $12.5 billion (£9.3bn) was finalized over a single weekend, leaving the NBA community and its fans in disbelief. This monumental transaction has set a new benchmark for professional sports team valuations. In other basketball news, the NBA Cup schedule, format, and group standings for the 2026 season have been released, offering a comprehensive guide to the fourth annual in-season tournament. The Indiana Fever's coach, Stephanie White, has publicly defended her players amidst fan criticism and booing, receiving strong support from Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham following a recent victory. The WNBA playoff race is intensifying as teams jockey for seeding, with time running out for some to make a significant run.

Football (American)

A high school football player in Arkansas had a terrifying discovery when he found a venomous snake inside his helmet during practice, a situation he unknowingly endured for nearly an hour. Meanwhile, in college football, a debate is ongoing regarding the physique of quarterbacks, with Oklahoma's John Mateer drawing attention for his muscular build, raising questions about whether players are getting too big. The 2026 college football season is being previewed with a tiered ranking of all 138 FBS teams, offering an early look at expectations for the upcoming season. ESPN's preseason All-America team for 2026 has been released, highlighting the nation's top collegiate talents at every position. Bill Connelly's final preseason SP+ rankings for 2026 offer insights into what the projections and production numbers indicate heading into the season. Seth Trimble has announced his transfer from UNC to Louisville, becoming eligible to play next season due to a court ruling granting Class of 2022 high schoolers an extra year of eligibility.

Football (Soccer)

Manchester United and Leeds United are set to face each other in a historic pre-season encounter at Dublin's Croke Park, marking the first time two English teams will compete in association football at the venue. Cardiff City's manager, Brian Barry-Murphy, expressed confidence that his team can overcome preseason predictions of relegation for the 2026-27 season. In a significant development, former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confirmed discussions regarding the Netherlands managerial vacancy but stated his next role will be in club football.

Golf

LIV Golf players have been informed that the season-ending Team Championship is likely to be canceled later this month. Rory McIlroy expressed confidence in maintaining his PGA Tour status, believing he can reach a compromise to meet the minimum 15-event qualification requirement despite currently having 14 starts.

Rugby

Former Wales captain Jonathan Davies has called for the resignation of the Welsh Rugby Union board. The Ospreys have publicly responded to WRU plans, asserting that maintaining four professional Welsh teams is the most effective path forward. England's Red Roses are in pre-season training for the WXV Global Series, utilizing controversial smaller balls and preparing for a demanding schedule.

Cricket

Tanzid Hasan Tamim achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Bangladesh cricketer to score a Test century in Australia, contributing to the team's dominant performance on the second day of the match. Australia's Steve Smith benefited from an unusual technology reprieve, but Bangladesh dominate the hosts on the first day of the opening Test. England has scrapped its midnight curfew, seven months after its implementation, with the team now needing wins to repair its reputation. Scotland secured a commanding 170-run victory over Canada in a World Cup League 2 match, with captain Richie Berrington and debutant Lyle Robertson being standout performers. Moises Henriques expressed that helping Portugal qualify for their first T20 World Cup would represent "cricket nirvana" at the end of his playing career. Afghanistan clinched an ODI series victory against Ireland with a game to spare, setting a new record for their highest tally in the one-day format. Notts and Durham secured spots in the One-Day Cup semi-finals after a century from Jack Haynes, while Durham also advanced.

Tennis

Elena Rybakina staged a comeback to defeat Naomi Osaka in a three-set thriller at the Canadian Open, advancing to the quarterfinals after being a set and a break down.

Athletics

Britain's Amy Hunt secured her second European Championships gold medal with a victory in the 200m, setting her sights on a historic quadruple. Matthew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain made history at the European Championships by winning the 400m gold, becoming the most decorated man in the event's history. Keely Hodgkinson secured a silver medal in the 800m at the European Championships, finishing behind Switzerland's Audrey Werro. In the same event, Keely Hodgkinson reached the women's 800m final at the European Championships, shortly after rival Audrey Werro experienced a significant fall. The world record for the women's 800m remains unbroken after 43 years, posing a significant challenge for athletes aiming to surpass it. Great Britain's Filip Nowacki claimed a dramatic gold medal in the men's 200m breaststroke at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris. Adam Ramsay-Peaty expressed confusion over his early exit from the 50m breaststroke at the European Aquatics Championships, continuing his recent struggles. Great Britain's Angharad Evans won her first European Championship gold medal in the 100m breaststroke final. Katarina Johnson-Thompson is facing challenges in her heptathlon return at the European Championships, attributing her struggles to past injuries. Ireland's Kate O'Connor reported "mixed emotions" after the first day of the women's heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships.

Motorsports

Ty Gibbs will honor NASCAR legend Kyle Busch by driving a car with an M&M's paint scheme in the upcoming Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Olympics

The Great Britain dressage team has successfully qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, securing a silver medal at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany. The Great Britain women's flag football team has advanced as group winners, positioning themselves to potentially secure an Olympic spot at the World Championships.

Other Sports

Legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman, who led the Tigers to five Men's College World Series titles, has passed away at the age of. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will induct the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, along with Elena Delle Donne and Chamique Holdsclaw, recognizing their significant contributions to the sport. A Texas judge has upheld a decision to remove a Tulsa, Oklahoma, Little League team from the Southwest Region, preventing them from competing in the title game for a spot in the Little League Baseball World Series. The Phoenix Mercury is considering an ownership bid from their star player, Diana Taurasi, who hopes to join the group Welsh cyclist Finlay Tarling has died at the age of 19 following a severe accident during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal. Promising 18-year-old Australian golfer Jessica Bang has died after suffering a brain hemorrhage while preparing for a tournament in Thailand. Prichard Colon, who sustained a severe brain injury during a 2015 fight, has died at the age of. The horse racing integrity firm HISA is investigating five races at Saratoga and Monmouth Park due to unusual betting patterns. Efe Obada, a former NFL player, has retired from the league to pursue his "true calling" and has launched a foundation. A high school football player in Arkansas discovered a venomous snake inside his helmet during practice.

Fantasy Sports

Fantasy baseball managers are advised to consider adding Seymour and Wesneski to their lineups for Saturday's MLB action. Matt Bowen has identified his top fantasy football draft targets for the upcoming season, ranging from early-round stars to late-round sleepers. Bowen has also categorized tight ends into tiers to help fantasy managers identify value throughout their drafts. Fantasy baseball managers looking for late-season additions are encouraged to consider targets in the Bronx.

College Sports

A debate continues regarding the physique of college quarterbacks, with Oklahoma's John Mateer attracting attention for his muscular build. SEC projections for the 2026-27 season have been released, highlighting potential champions and teams that may miss the NCAA tournament. The cost of starting players at each position in college football for the 2026 season has been estimated by speaking with general managers, staffers, and agents.

UFC

Ian Machado Garry faced significant booing from the crowd at the UFC 330 news conference in Philadelphia, though he stated that fans will be chanting his name after he defeats welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. Makhachev indicated that he "does not have much time" left in the UFC as he prepares to defend his welterweight title against Garry at UFC. Mackenzie Dern, the strawweight champion, believes her composure developed through playing poker has been instrumental in her fighting success as she prepares for the first defense of her title.

Lacrosse

The PLL power rankings ahead of Week 13 show a tight race, with the Boston Cannons and Philadelphia Waterdogs vying for the top spot as the playoffs approach.

Team Sports (General)

A fifth Canadian hockey player has been reinstated, although an appeals board found that the entire group violated Hockey Canada's code of conduct, leading to the continued suspension of four players. Castleford Tigers managed to overcome coaching instability to defeat Hull FC, securing only their third Super League away win of the season. Swansea City has suffered a significant setback with scans confirming that center-back Cameron Burgess has a ruptured Achilles tendon, likely sidelining him for the entire season. In The Hundred, Welsh Fire and MI London have been eliminated from the competition after losing their final group matches. Birmingham Phoenix secured a victory over MI London in The Hundred, with Ellyse Perry scoring an unbeaten. Northern Ireland's European hopes for the Irish League are now resting with Larne, following a drop in Uefa's coefficient ranking.

General Sports News

The UK's sporting schedule has been affected by a solar eclipse, prompting an earlier start for a horse racing meeting at Ffos Las in South Wales. A weekly sports quiz is available, testing knowledge on recent events including tattoos, transfers, and photo finishes. Former All Blacks star Ma'a Nonu performed a solo haka in South Africa as a response to the All Blacks' traditional pre-match ritual.