General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: August 15, 2026, 5:44 AM ET

Basketball

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers engaged in a thrilling duel, with Clark's Indiana Fever ultimately defeating Bueckers' short-handed Washington Mystics 98-87. Both stars poured in 29 points each in the high-scoring contest. The WNBA is seeing a tight race for playoff seeding as the regular season winds down, with several teams jockeying for position. In other WNBA news, Fever coach Stephanie White received strong support from her players, including Caitlin Clark, amid criticism and boos from fans. The Los Angeles Lakers' record $12.5 billion sale was reportedly completed in just one weekend. The NBA has also released the schedule and format for the fourth annual NBA Cup tournament.

Football

Alabama running back AK Dear is expected to miss approximately six weeks due to an ankle injury sustained during a preseason scrimmage. In fantasy football, Matt Bowen has identified his top draft targets for the upcoming season, including both early-round stars and late-round sleepers. Bowen has also broken down his tight end tiers, helping fantasy managers identify value. The debate continues regarding the optimal physique for college quarterbacks, with players like Oklahoma's Mateer drawing attention for his size. ESPN has released its preseason All-America team for the upcoming college football season, highlighting top players across the nation. Preseason SP+ rankings for 2026 have been released, offering insights into team strengths and weaknesses. The SEC conference projections suggest a competitive landscape, with predictions for potential champions and teams likely to miss the NCAA tournament. In a significant development, Seth Trimble has transferred from UNC to Louisville.

Golf

Scottie Scheffler fired a 9-under, tying the course record at TPC Southwind, to take a three-stroke lead into the weekend at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Rory McIlroy expressed confidence in maintaining his PGA Tour status despite a reduced number of starts. The FedEx Cup playoffs are underway, with the St. Jude Championship being the first event. Tee times for the first and second rounds have been released. Promising Australian golfer Jessica Bang has tragically passed away at the age of 18 following a brain hemorrhage. LIV Golf is reportedly considering canceling its season-ending Team Championship.

Cricket

Tanzid Hasan Tamim achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Bangladesh batter to score a Test century in Australia. Bangladesh continued their strong performance on day two, further dominating the hosts. Steve Smith saw a reprieve due to an unusual technology call, but Bangladesh otherwise controlled the first day of the opening Test. England has reportedly scrapped its midnight curfew for players, with wins now seen as crucial to repair the team's reputation. Five players, including Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Alex Coles, have received their first England central contracts. Scotland secured a dominant 170-run victory over Canada in World Cup League 2 play, with Captain Richie Berrington and debutant Lyle Robertson being standout performers. Moises Henriques is aiming to help Portugal qualify for their first T20 World Cup, describing it as "cricket nirvana." Notts and Durham have advanced to the One-Day Cup semi-finals. The Welsh Fire team has been eliminated from The Hundred competition, despite an improved season. Birmingham Phoenix, led by Ellyse Perry's unbeaten, secured a five-wicket victory over MI London in The Hundred.

Athletics

Keely Hodgkinson secured a silver medal at the European Athletics Championships, finishing behind Audrey Werro in the 800m. Despite the loss, Hodgkinson expressed pride in her ability to "continue to fight." In other European Championship news, Great Britain's Amy Hunt claimed her second gold medal, winning the 200m and setting her sights on a historic quadruple. Matthew Hudson-Smith made history by winning the 400m gold, becoming the joint most decorated male athlete at the European Championships. British teenager Filip Nowacki won a dramatic gold medal in the men's 200m breaststroke final. Angharad Evans also secured her first European Championship gold in the women's 100m breaststroke. Katarina Johnson-Thompson expressed that injuries have hampered her performance on the opening day of the heptathlon. Ireland's Kate O'Connor holds "mixed emotions" after the first day of the women's heptathlon. Jakob Ingebrigtsen expressed disappointment over Josh Kerr's decision to miss the European Championships. Adam Ramsay-Peaty admitted to being "confused" by his continued struggles, leading to an early exit from the 50m breaststroke at the Europeans.

Rugby Union

Former Wales captain Jonathan Davies has called for the Welsh Rugby Union board to step down. The Ospreys have publicly responded to WRU plans, asserting that four professional Welsh sides are the correct structure. England's Red Roses are preparing for the WXV Global Series, utilizing controversial smaller balls in their training sessions.

Other Sports

The Great Britain women's flag football team has advanced as group winners, aiming to secure an Olympic spot at the World Championships. In a tragic incident, British cyclist Finlay Tarling died at the age of 19 following an accident during the Volta a Portugal. Legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman, a five-time Men's College World Series winner, has died at the age of. Rocky Flintoff is drawing attention for his cricketing talent, with some suggesting he should be fast-tracked to international cricket. The Great Britain dressage team has qualified for the 2028 Olympics by winning silver at the FEI World Championships. A judge has upheld a decision to remove a Tulsa, Oklahoma, team from contention for the Little League Baseball World Series. Ty Gibbs will honor former NASCAR driver Kyle Busch by driving an M&M's paint scheme at Bristol Motor Speedway. Efe Obada has retired from the NFL to pursue his "true calling" and launch a foundation. Castleford Tigers managed to defeat Hull FC despite ongoing coaching issues. Swansea City's Cameron Burgess is expected to miss the entire season after rupturing his Achilles. The Irish League's European aspirations are now largely dependent on Larne's performance. Four Canadian hockey stars remain suspended following their acquittal on sexual assault charges, with an appeals board finding they breached Hockey Canada's code of conduct. Eddie Jones has revealed an unusual coaching technique for Japan's rugby team, using videos of geese flying in formation.

Boxing and MMA

Mackenzie Dern, the strawweight champion, believes her poker skills have enhanced her composure in the octagon ahead of her title defense. Islam Makhachev stated he "does not have much time" left in the UFC as he prepares for his title defense against Ian Machado Garry at UFC. UFC 330 is set to feature two championship bouts, with analysis suggesting Machado Garry poses a significant threat to Makhachev. Prichard Colon, who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2015 fight, has died at the age of.

Tennis

Elena Rybakina staged a comeback to defeat Naomi Osaka in three sets in their Canadian Open quarter-final match.

Olympics and Multi-Sport

The 1996 U.S. Olympic team, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Candace Parker have been inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. British gymnast Ruby Evans is focused on her training ahead of the 2026 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

Lacrosse

Playoff berths are on the line in the final week of the Premier Lacrosse League season, with teams vying for top spots heading into the postseason. The PLL Power Rankings show the Cannons and Waterdogs as top contenders. The Women's Lacrosse League championship features a matchup between the Charm and the Palms.