General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 9, 2026, 11:10 PM ET
WNBA
A'ja Wilson claimed a record fifth WNBA Most Valuable Player award, and she has said she will skip the pregame ceremony to focus on Game. Her run is being measured against some of the greatest careers in pro sports in a comparison of her MVP run. The Fever, meanwhile, face questions espn.com after another early playoff exit despite a dominant offense and Caitlin Clark's return. Clark also denounced online hate aimed at teammate Kelsey Mitchell.
MLB
The Dodgers and Brewers espn.com meet again in the NLCS, and the preview lays out how each team can reach the World Series.
College Football and Basketball
Nick Saban's influence is clear in a coaching tree espn.com that now includes 45 head coaches across four college stops and one NFL team. Michigan State's Tom Izzo, meanwhile, defended his approach to roster building, calling it "right school" rather than "old-school." In the Big Ten, the conference still has no expansion talks underway, according to commissioner Tony Petitti, even as a potential cap looms. Ahead of the weekend, the Big Ten takes center stage espn.com with several teams seeking statement wins, while a College Football Playoff preview focuses on Georgia and Alabama. The preseason men's basketball top 25 espn.com keeps Florida at No. 1, whether or not Denzel Aberdeen is able to play. Kentucky State's Aminata Seck espn.com was released on bond after two months in ICE custody.
Golf and Boxing
Daniel Hillier won an electric BMW SUV after acing the 187-yard par-3 17th at the Spanish Open. In boxing, Jake Paul espn.com has been cleared to fight again after recovering from a broken bone, with Canelo and Strickland among the names on his wish list. Experts also weighed in on whether Fury could knock out Joshua espn.com and other matchups.
WNBA Officiating
Breanna Stewart said officials told her the Liberty did not have a reset timeout in overtime, but officials dispute that account espn.com.
Cricket and Rugby Union
Pat Cummins bbc.co.uk confirmed he has spoken with Usman Khawaja about his former teammate's autobiography. In rugby, Gloucester's rise under Farrell bbc.co.uk has been noted by Charlie Atkinson, while Ulster made seven changes bbc.co.uk for Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash, including Beirne's return to Munster. Exeter boss Rob Baxter praised young Wales back-row Kane James bbc.co.uk. Celtic Challenge introduced a home final incentive bbc.co.uk for its Irish, Scottish and Welsh sides.
Motorsport
Rally Scotland will join the WRC calendar bbc.co.uk with its inaugural event from 30 September to 3 October. Valtteri Bottas recounted a cycling trip bbc.co.uk through Malaysia to the Singapore GP, reporting dogs and snakes along the way. The Singapore Grand Prix was declared a heat hazard bbc.co.uk for the fourth time this season. Women continue to dominate in Top Fuel drag racing bbc.co.uk, one of the few elite motorsport classes where they frequently win.
Rugby League and Netball
All 14 Super League clubs will remain in place for 2027 bbc.co.uk, with Wakefield Trinity topping the gradings. England will host the 2031 Netball World Cup bbc.co.uk, marking the fourth time the event has come to the country.
Fantasy Football and College Football Features
Matt Bowen highlighted risers and fallers espn.com after a month of play. Qualifying for the WWE Money in the Bank event, a fan guide espn.com explains the ladder matches and briefcases. The QB2 talent drain espn.com is pushing backup quarterbacks out of college football, and Michigan has slipped back espn.com into the bottom 10 of the rankings. Iowa's Van Halen cover band espn.com has become a fan favorite, and the best freshman rankings place a surprise player at the top espn.com. A Nebraska stadium renovation sale espn.com is offering removed fixtures, including urinal troughs, from Memorial Stadium.