Sunrisers Leeds won their opening match of The Hundred women's cricket competition by defeating MI London by seven wickets. MI London scored 107 runs, and Sunrisers reached the target with 31 balls left, led by strong batting from Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland.
Key Facts
MI London scored 107 runs for 8 wickets in 100 balls.
Sunrisers Leeds scored 109 runs for 3 wickets in 69 balls to win the match.
Phoebe Litchfield scored 43 runs from 26 balls for Sunrisers.
Annabel Sutherland was not out with 30 runs from 23 balls.
India’s Deepti Sharma took important wickets early in the MI London innings.
Sunrisers' bowler Kate Cross suffered a shoulder injury during the game and needed a scan.
Dani Gibson, the most expensive player in the auction, is captain of the Sunrisers and took 2 wickets for 17 runs.
The match was played at The Oval and is part of The Hundred competition.
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Remco Evenepoel won stage 16 of the Tour de France, a 26.1km individual time trial, beating overall leader Tadej Pogacar by 28 seconds. This helped Evenepoel reduce Pogacar’s lead to 4 minutes 32 seconds in the overall race.
Key Facts
Remco Evenepoel is an Olympic champion and won the 16th stage time trial at the Tour de France.
The stage was 26.1 kilometers long along Lake Geneva.
Evenepoel beat Tadej Pogacar, the current overall race leader, by 28 seconds.
This was Evenepoel’s second win in a row and his fourth career Tour de France stage victory.
On Belgium’s national holiday, Evenepoel became one of the few Belgians to win a stage on that day.
Pogacar’s overall lead in the race is now 4 minutes 32 seconds.
Evenepoel’s teammate Florian Lipowitz crashed during the stage and had to leave the race with an injury.
Danish rider Mattias Skjelmose finished third on the stage, over a minute behind Evenepoel.
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“The Dink” is a new sports comedy movie about pickleball, focusing on a former tennis star who learns to appreciate the sport during his recovery from an injury. The film features quirky characters, funny moments, and actors like Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, and Ben Stiller.
Key Facts
The movie centers on a tennis player named Dusty, who dislikes pickleball but tries it for rehab.
Dusty was trained by his strict father, Chuck, and lost his chance at tennis fame early in his career.
Pickleball is shown as a “lesser sport” but is portrayed with respect and humor in the film.
Jake Johnson plays the main character, Dusty, supported by Mary Steenburgen and Ed Harris.
Ben Stiller appears briefly as Dusty’s doctor and also helped produce the film.
The movie has many comedic actors in smaller roles, including Patton Oswalt and Chloe Fineman.
Director Josh Greenbaum aims for a mix of silly and heartfelt moments without mocking pickleball players.
A particularly funny scene involves minor characters and adds to the movie’s charm.
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Lionel Messi will take a short break from playing for his soccer team, Inter Miami, after losing the World Cup final with Argentina. He and his teammate Rodrigo De Paul will miss two MLS games to rest following the demanding World Cup schedule.
Key Facts
Messi lost the World Cup final with Argentina, losing 1-0 to Spain.
Messi plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), helping them win a championship in 2025.
FIFA and FIFPRO recommend players get at least 72 hours rest between matches and a 21-day break after each season.
Messi played 8 matches in the World Cup, including the full 120 minutes in the final.
Messi and teammate Rodrigo De Paul will both miss two games for Inter Miami to rest.
Inter Miami is currently second in the MLS standings after 15 matches this season.
Messi has scored 12 goals and made 8 assists in 14 games this MLS season.
The 39-year-old Messi has not yet announced if he will retire from international soccer.
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Aston Villa is negotiating to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea, initially on loan with a chance to buy him permanently. Chelsea is willing to sell Garnacho, who joined them last year from Manchester United but had limited impact.
Key Facts
Aston Villa wants to sign Alejandro Garnacho on loan with a possible obligation to buy.
Chelsea valued Garnacho at £43 million last month but is open to a loan deal first.
Garnacho joined Chelsea from Manchester United last September for £40 million.
Manchester United will receive 10% of any future transfer fee for Garnacho.
Garnacho scored one Premier League goal for Chelsea last season and had limited playing time.
Chelsea recently signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a record £117 million.
Aston Villa has made several player sales totaling nearly £200 million this summer.
New Villa signings recently include Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, and Modou Kaba Cisse.
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A business group led by Amit Bhatia wants to buy a small part of Liverpool Football Club. The club’s current owners, Fenway Sports Group, said the group is interested but no deal is final yet.
Key Facts
Amit Bhatia leads a consortium interested in buying a minority stake in Liverpool FC.
Fenway Sports Group currently owns Liverpool and confirmed the investment interest.
A similar minority stake was sold in 2023 to a firm called Dynasty for £82m to £164m.
Fenway Sports Group bought Liverpool in 2010 for £300m when the club was struggling financially.
The potential deal could value Liverpool at over $6 billion (£4.5 billion).
Amit Bhatia is a businessman and former co-owner of QPR football club.
Bhatia is connected to billionaire Lakshmi Mittal through marriage.
Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League last season.
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Edwin Diaz, a former New York Mets closer now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, may return to play this weekend after recovering from elbow surgery. The Dodgers will face the Mets at Citi Field, giving New York fans a chance to see Diaz back in action.
Key Facts
Edwin Diaz left the Mets this winter and joined the Dodgers.
Diaz has been out since April due to elbow surgery.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Diaz might return this weekend.
The Dodgers and Mets will play each other at Citi Field.
The Dodgers have one of the best records in baseball this season.
Mets are having a tough season and might finish with the worst record.
Mets struggle to hold leads late in games, reducing Diaz’s potential impact if he were still on their team.
Tanner Scott has successfully filled the Dodgers’ closer role during Diaz’s absence.
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The French Open has become the first major tennis tournament to offer players a share of the event’s total revenue as part of prize money talks. This new profit-sharing approach sets it apart from other grand slam events and increases pressure on the US Open to adopt a similar model.
Key Facts
The French Open proposed sharing tournament revenue with players during recent talks at Wimbledon.
This makes the French Open the first grand slam to consider prize money based on event profits.
Players want all four grand slam tournaments to pay 16% of revenue in prize money immediately, rising to 22% by 2030.
Players are also asking for contributions to their pensions and health care, plus a bigger role in tournament decisions.
The US Open prize fund announcement is expected soon, with pressure to follow the French Open’s example.
Some players, including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, may skip the US Open mixed doubles if progress is not made.
Last year, the US Open raised prize money by 21% to $85 million, up from $70 million the year before.
A similar increase this year could push the US Open prize fund over $100 million for the first time.
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The president of Spain’s football league, Javier Tebas, criticized FIFA for planning to expand the World Cup from 32 to 64 teams in 2030. He said this decision harms domestic football leagues and jobs and called FIFA’s leadership system flawed.
Key Facts
Javier Tebas is the president of the Spanish football league (La Liga).
FIFA is considering increasing the World Cup teams to 64 for the 2030 tournament.
The 2030 World Cup will be hosted mainly by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with some matches in Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
Tebas believes FIFA’s current leadership system is flawed and has allowed Gianni Infantino to lead too long.
Tebas claims the World Cup event is short (about 40 days) and involves only a small part of the football industry.
He warned that expanding the tournament could damage domestic football leagues, which are important for the sport’s day-to-day health.
Tebas said FIFA is acting irresponsibly by ignoring the needs of national leagues.
FIFA has not commented on Tebas’s statements.
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The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico was widely seen as successful in terms of attendance, excitement, and revenue, though some aspects were controversial. The expanded 48-team format worked well, and plans for a possible 64-team tournament are being discussed. The long-term effects on soccer’s popularity in North America remain uncertain.
Key Facts
The 2026 World Cup was hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The tournament had 48 teams instead of the previous 32, and the format worked well overall.
Attendance was high, and the tournament generated billions more dollars than expected.
Some new features included hydration breaks, championship rings, and commercial breaks similar to American sports.
Mexico and Canada were pleased with their hosting performances; Mexico reached the last 16, and Canada showed improvement.
The US Soccer Federation had limited control and did not receive direct profits from the tournament.
It is unclear if the World Cup significantly increased new soccer fans in North America.
Discussions are ongoing about expanding future World Cups to 64 teams.
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Referee Anthony Taylor has retired from professional football refereeing after a 20-year career that included over 800 matches. He officiated major games in England and internationally, including the World Cup and European Championships, and cited the intense pressure and constant scrutiny as reasons for his decision.
Key Facts
Anthony Taylor retired immediately at age 47 after refereeing 831 matches over 20 years.
His final game was the Spain vs. Portugal World Cup last 16 match on 6 July 2026.
Taylor started in the Football League in 2006 and Premier League in 2010, officiating 432 top division matches.
He refereed every major English domestic cup final and many important European and international matches.
Taylor was on FIFA’s list of referees for 14 years and handled 163 international games.
He was shortlisted for the 2022 World Cup final, but excluded due to political tensions involving England.
Taylor faced serious abuse after the 2023 Europa League final but was supported by UEFA officials.
Following his retirement, the English refereeing body merged officials into one group for the 2026-27 season.
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The U.S. Center for SafeSport has started publicly announcing the names of people banned or restricted for abuse in Olympic sports. This change aims to increase transparency and help keep sports safe by sharing weekly updates about those on its disciplinary list.
Key Facts
The SafeSport Center fights abuse in Olympic and Paralympic sports.
It has a Centralized Disciplinary Database with names of banned or restricted individuals.
Before, the database was public but not widely shared or publicized.
Now, SafeSport will send weekly updates naming those added to the list.
The updates include cases with final decisions from arbitration (a process to resolve disputes).
The goal is to make information more accessible to improve athlete safety.
Recipients of these updates include sports governing bodies, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the media.
Being on the list means restrictions or bans apply to all levels of sport, from elite athletes to beginners.
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Cleveland’s new WNBA team, starting play in May 2028, has announced Progressive Insurance as the jersey patch sponsor. Progressive will have both allowed patch spots on the jersey, marking the first time in WNBA history a sponsor has bought both positions.
Key Facts
Cleveland’s WNBA team will begin playing in May 2028.
Progressive Insurance is the jersey patch sponsor for the Cleveland team.
Progressive is the first WNBA sponsor to buy both patch spots on a team’s jersey.
Teams can sell jersey patches on the upper left corner and below the number on the front of the uniform.
The Phoenix Mercury were the first WNBA team to have a jersey sponsor in 2009.
Progressive’s CEO, Tricia Griffith, is also an investor in Cleveland Astra, a women’s soccer team starting in 2028.
Cleveland was granted the WNBA expansion team on June 30, 2025.
The team has received about 9,000 season ticket deposits so far.
The team’s name will be announced in the next few months.
The team’s owner, Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group, plans a special event on August 4 at Rocket Arena.
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The New York Yankees are unlikely to trade two of their top prospects, George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Lagrange, despite looking for new players. Both prospects are performing differently, with Lombard doing well and Lagrange less impressive. The Yankees have a history of holding onto prospects who do not always meet expectations.
Key Facts
George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Lagrange are two of the Yankees' top prospects.
Reports say the Yankees consider them "non-starters" in trade discussions.
Lombard, 21, is playing well at Triple-A with a high OPS (.803) and five home runs.
Lagrange, 23, has a 4.55 ERA at Triple-A, which is below average for a pitcher.
The Yankees need bullpen help and right-handed hitters but may trade others instead.
Past prospects like Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones have not yet met high expectations.
Dominguez is hitting .230 with five home runs; Jones has struck out 34 times in 73 at-bats.
Both Lombard and Lagrange still have time to improve or could be missed if traded away.
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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Caleb Ferguson struggled in a recent 8-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners, giving up several runs, including a grand slam. During the game, a collision between a runner and an umpire allowed runners to advance, which frustrated Ferguson and led to him angrily speaking to the umpire.
Key Facts
Caleb Ferguson is a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds lost 8-0 to the Seattle Mariners.
Ferguson gave up a grand slam to Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh.
A ground ball caused second baseman Edwin Arroyo to collide with umpire Bill Miller.
The collision allowed runners on base to advance safely.
Ferguson showed visible frustration and was vocal after the collision.
The Reds currently have very low chances (0.1%) of making the playoffs.
Umpires work throughout the series, so Ferguson and Miller may interact again in upcoming games.
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Manchester United has restricted the online accounts of thousands of season-ticket holders as part of a crackdown on ticket reselling and rule-breaking. Some loyal fans say they have been unfairly targeted and feel stressed because of unclear accusations and possible ticket cancellations.
Key Facts
Manchester United has about 46,800 season-ticket holders at Old Trafford.
The club wants to stop ticket reselling and check for rule violations related to ticket use.
Thousands of fans had account restrictions placed, stopping them from buying or transferring tickets online.
Fans under investigation must provide proof to defend themselves before any tickets are revoked.
No tickets have been cancelled yet; a panel will decide cases before the season starts on August 22.
Some supporters say they have not been clearly told what rules they have broken, causing worry and frustration.
The club uses digital tickets on phones and requires attendance or ticket transfer to approved people for at least 16 of 19 home league games.
Manchester United Supporters' Trust reported many fans seek help and worry about the club's strict actions.
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Ryan Fox from New Zealand won the 2026 British Open golf championship at Royal Birkdale in England. He made a remarkable final shot on the last hole to secure his first major win, defeating American Cameron Young by one stroke.
Key Facts
Ryan Fox won the British Open on July 19, 2026.
Fox’s final shot was a 9-iron from 175 yards on the toughest hole.
His winning shot is compared to famous golf moments like Sandy Lyle’s 1988 Masters shot.
Cameron Young finished one stroke behind Fox with a strong final round score of 64.
Young had a difficult moment waiting to hear the final results and left without speaking to the media.
Other notable players mentioned include Tommy Fleetwood, Sam Burns, Bryson DeChambeau, and Justin Thomas.
The event was held at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
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ESPN is planning to lay off Karl Ravech, a baseball announcer who has worked there for over 30 years. The company is cutting jobs as part of a bigger cost-saving plan that also affects other sports commentators.
Key Facts
Karl Ravech is a longtime baseball host and announcer at ESPN.
He is expected to be laid off amid ESPN's recent job cuts.
The layoffs are part of a larger cost-cutting strategy by ESPN’s parent company, Disney.
Other sports commentators, like NFL analyst Ryan Clark, have also been or are expected to be laid off.
These cuts mostly affect behind-the-scenes and some on-air staff.
ESPN has expensive contracts with some personalities, such as Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith.
ESPN did not plan to tell some affected employees about their layoffs until media reports came out.
ESPN was expected to issue an official statement about the layoffs.
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The Atlanta Hawks traded their former No. 1 draft pick, Zaccharie Risacher, to the Dallas Mavericks in a large three-team deal. Trae Young, who played for the Hawks before moving to the Washington Wizards, reacted positively to the trade on social media, hinting that Risacher will benefit from the change.
Key Facts
The Hawks, Mavericks, and Thunder completed a three-team trade involving multiple players and picks.
Zaccharie Risacher, the Hawks’ 2024 No. 1 draft pick, was sent to the Mavericks.
Risacher averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 22.4 minutes per game last season.
Trae Young played seven years with the Hawks before being traded to the Wizards in January.
Young posted a supportive comment on social media, suggesting Risacher’s move is positive.
The Mavericks now have Risacher, last year’s No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, and Kyrie Irving on the roster.
The Hawks received defensive wing Lu Dort and guard Ryan Nembhard from the trade.
Young recently signed a $212 million, four-year deal with the Washington Wizards.
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Tyrese Haliburton tried to convince LeBron James to join the Indiana Pacers, but James responded with laughing emojis, suggesting he is not interested. LeBron James is still deciding on his next team, with a few teams like the Cavaliers, Heat, and 76ers being the top contenders.
Key Facts
Tyrese Haliburton invited LeBron James to join the Pacers next season.
LeBron James replied to Haliburton's message with six laughing crying emojis.
Haliburton said it "hurt" to get that response and doesn’t think James will join the Pacers.
LeBron James is considering several teams, including the Cavaliers, Heat, 76ers, Timberwolves, and Warriors.
The Eastern Conference teams (Cavaliers, Heat, 76ers) seem more likely to get James than the Timberwolves or Warriors.
LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, said they are not in a hurry to decide on James’s next team.
The Pacers struggled last season with a 19-63 record, partly because Haliburton missed the season due to an Achilles injury.
Haliburton is recovering well and recently returned to full basketball practice.
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