Morning Sports Report: Big MLB Scores, NFL Preseason and WNBA Drama
Friday, August 21, 2026
The sports weekend is arriving with plenty already in motion. Major League Baseball produced everything from a one-run slugfest to an 18-run explosion Thursday, the NFL preseason continued with San Francisco piling up 41 points, and the WNBA playoff race delivered another notable night in Dallas.
Meanwhile, Olympic flag football is attracting serious interest from NFL players, Kelsey Mitchell has made WNBA history, and baseball enters a full 15-game Friday schedule.
Here is your morning sports report.
Angels Explode for 18 Runs Against Astros
The Los Angeles Angels crushed the Houston Astros 18-3 Thursday night in one of the most lopsided MLB results of the day.
Los Angeles collected 18 hits and scored six runs in the fourth inning before adding four more in the fifth. The Angels ultimately scored in six different innings.
The result was particularly surprising considering Houston entered the game leading the American League West and had already secured another season-series victory over the Angels.
Yankees Keep Rolling Against Baltimore
The New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-1, completing another strong night for New York as the postseason race continues to take shape.
The victory moved the Yankees to 72-55.
Elsewhere in the American League, Toronto cooled off first-place Tampa Bay with a 5-1 victory over the Rays, while Kansas City beat the Athletics 6-2.
Cardinals Survive 19-Run Battle With Cincinnati
One of Thursday's wildest games came in Cincinnati.
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Reds 10-9 in a game that produced 19 combined runs.
Cincinnati fought throughout the afternoon, but St. Louis escaped with the one-run victory and improved to 66-63.
Thursday's Key MLB Final Scores
MatchupFinalCardinals at RedsSTL 10, CIN 9Giants at GuardiansCLE 5, SF 2Blue Jays at RaysTOR 5, TB 1Athletics at RoyalsKC 6, ATH 2Mariners at BrewersMIL 7, SEA 4Braves at White SoxATL 2, CHW 0Yankees at OriolesNYY 6, BAL 1Nationals at RangersTEX 2, WSH 0Angels at AstrosLAA 18, HOU 3
The Rangers held Washington to just one hit in their 2-0 victory, while Atlanta shut out the White Sox 2-0.
49ers Put Up 41 in NFL Preseason
The NFL preseason continued Thursday with two games.
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 41-17, giving San Francisco one of the highest-scoring performances of the preseason so far.
In Houston, the Las Vegas Raiders edged the Texans 22-20.
The games matter far less for the standings than they do for roster decisions. Coaches are using these weeks to evaluate backup quarterbacks, rookies, special-teams players and athletes battling for the final places on 53-man rosters.
More Than 200 NFL Players Interested in Olympic Flag Football
The NFL's relationship with the Olympics is becoming much more than a hypothetical conversation.
More than 200 NFL players representing more than 25 countries have expressed interest in competing in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to the NFL.
NFL owners previously approved a framework allowing players to participate.
The 2028 Games will feature men's and women's flag football competitions, creating the possibility that some of the NFL's biggest stars could eventually represent their countries on an Olympic stage.
Joe Burrow is among the players who has expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, while Patrick Mahomes has indicated that younger players may be better positioned to compete by 2028.
Football going Olympic still sounds slightly futuristic.
But apparently the future already has a playbook.
Dallas Ends Indiana's Winning Streak
The Dallas Wings defeated the Indiana Fever 91-85 Thursday night, ending Indiana's five-game winning streak.
Arike Ogunbowale scored a season-high 32 points, while Jessica Shepard added a career-best 26 for Dallas.
The game also featured two of women's basketball's most recognizable young guards, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.
Dallas needed the victory badly as it continues fighting for a postseason position.
Kelsey Mitchell Makes WNBA History
Even in defeat, Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell added another piece of history to her season.
Mitchell recorded her 21st consecutive game with at least 20 points, setting a WNBA record for the longest such streak.
Her scoring run has been one of the defining individual performances of the 2026 WNBA season.
Nneka Ogwumike Preparing to Close Legendary WNBA Career
Another major WNBA story this week involves one of the league's most accomplished players.
Nneka Ogwumike has announced that she will retire from the WNBA after the 2026 season.
The 2016 MVP and 11-time All-Star has spent 15 seasons in the league and helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to the 2016 championship. She has also played a major leadership role as president of the WNBA Players Association.
Ogwumike plans to continue playing internationally in 2027, according to Reuters.
NFL Preseason Games Tonight
Three more preseason games are scheduled for Friday.MatchupTimeNew York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers7:00 p.m. ETCarolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars7:30 p.m. ETGreen Bay Packers at Denver Broncos9:00 p.m. ET
One storyline to watch in Denver is quarterback Bo Nix, who is expected to see limited action as he returns from the ankle injury he suffered during last season's playoffs.
WNBA Games Tonight
Friday brings three more WNBA matchups.MatchupTimeMinnesota Lynx at Washington Mystics7:30 p.m. ETGolden State Valkyries at Chicago Sky7:30 p.m. ETPortland Fire at Toronto Tempo10:00 p.m. ET
Minnesota enters the stretch run as one of the league's strongest teams, making the Lynx-Mystics matchup one of the more interesting games on Friday's schedule.
Full MLB Schedule for Friday
Baseball has a packed 15-game schedule today.MatchupFirst PitchBraves at Brewers4:10 p.m. ETCardinals at Phillies6:40 p.m. ETBlue Jays at Yankees7:05 p.m. ETRays at Orioles7:15 p.m. ETNationals at Marlins7:10 p.m. ETGiants at Red Sox7:10 p.m. ETMets at White Sox7:40 p.m. ETTigers at Royals8:10 p.m. ETAthletics at Astros8:10 p.m. ETAngels at Rangers8:15 p.m. ETGuardians at Rockies8:40 p.m. ETReds at Diamondbacks9:40 p.m. ETTwins at Padres9:40 p.m. ETPirates at Dodgers10:10 p.m. ETCubs at Mariners10:10 p.m. ET
One early matchup stands out immediately: Atlanta at Milwaukee.
The Braves have climbed to No. 3 in ESPN's latest MLB power rankings, joining Milwaukee and the Dodgers in an all-National League top three.
Friday therefore gives baseball fans a direct matchup between two of the strongest teams in the sport.
Another Major-League Stadium Rising in Las Vegas
Away from the field, construction continues on the Athletics' future ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip.
A second massive steel truss arch has been installed as the stadium begins to take more recognizable shape.
The Athletics' move to Las Vegas remains one of the biggest transformations underway in American professional sports.
What to Watch Today
Friday is a bridge between two sports seasons.
Major League Baseball is entering the portion of the calendar where every series begins to carry playoff consequences. The WNBA postseason picture is tightening. NFL teams are making final roster evaluations. College football is almost here.
And underneath all of it is another interesting shift: sports are becoming increasingly global.
NFL players are thinking about Olympic medals. The NFL itself continues expanding internationally. WNBA talent is increasingly global, and American leagues are competing for audiences far beyond their traditional markets.
The games remain the center of it all.
But the sports world around them keeps getting bigger.
Sources and Direct Links
ESPN – MLB Scores and Schedule
ESPN MLB Scoreboard
MLB – Official Scores for August 20, 2026
MLB August 20 Scores
ESPN – 49ers 41, Chargers 17
49ers vs. Chargers Final Score
ESPN – Raiders 22, Texans 20
Raiders vs. Texans Final Score
Reuters – More than 200 NFL players interested in Olympic flag football
Read the Reuters report
Reuters – Nneka Ogwumike to retire after 2026 WNBA season
Read the Reuters report
WNBA – Minnesota Lynx at Washington Mystics
WNBA Game Page
WNBA – Golden State Valkyries at Chicago Sky
WNBA Game Page
WNBA – Portland Fire at Toronto Tempo
WNBA Game Page
ESPN – Kelsey Mitchell sets WNBA scoring streak record
ESPN WNBA Report
ESPN – MLB Power Rankings
ESPN MLB Power Rankings
ESPN – Athletics' Las Vegas Stadium Construction Update
ESPN Stadium Report