Sports News Today: MLB Drama, WNBA Playoff Push, NFL Preseason and College Football Returns
August 26, 2026
The sports calendar is shifting into another gear.
Major League Baseball is entering the stretch run with playoff races tightening, the WNBA postseason picture is taking shape, NFL teams are preparing for their final preseason games, college football returns this weekend, and the U.S. Open is already producing major storylines before the singles main draw begins.
Here are some of the biggest sports stories and upcoming games to watch.
Braves Stop Dodgers' Winning Streak in Atlanta
One of Tuesday night's biggest baseball games delivered.
The Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3, ending Los Angeles' six-game winning streak. Ozzie Albies drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning single before closer Raisel Iglesias survived a tense ninth.
Shohei Ohtani opened the ninth with a triple, putting the potential tying run just 90 feet away, but Iglesias escaped without allowing him to score.
Atlanta improved to 77-55, while the Dodgers dropped to 80-52, making this series particularly interesting because both clubs are fighting for premium postseason positioning in the National League.
And they are not finished.
The Dodgers and Braves meet again Wednesday night in Atlanta, with Roki Sasaki scheduled for Los Angeles against AJ Smith-Shawver for Atlanta.
MLB Delivers a Wild Tuesday Night
Atlanta's victory was only one chapter in a chaotic night around baseball.
The Arizona Diamondbacks erased a four-run deficit and beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 when rookie Ryan Waldschmidt launched a two-run walk-off home run with two outs in the ninth.
Cleveland also produced a major comeback, overcoming a five-run deficit to beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-6 in 10 innings, with José Ramírez driving in five runs.
The Mets edged Milwaukee 3-2 in 10 innings, Pittsburgh beat San Diego 1-0 behind a ninth-inning Oneil Cruz home run, Houston defeated the Yankees 9-7, and Kansas City extended its winning streak to nine games.
Baseball's late-August pressure is officially here. One swing can move a standings race, and there are still enough games remaining for several teams to make a serious run.
Dallas Wings Clinch WNBA Playoff Berth
The Dallas Wings are headed back to the WNBA playoffs.
Dallas defeated the Portland Fire 96-78 Tuesday night, clinching its first postseason berth since 2023.
The victory also pushed Dallas to 23-16, establishing a new franchise record for regular-season victories.
Paige Bueckers continued her impressive season with 22 points and 11 assists, while Jessica Shepard scored 21. Awak Kuier contributed 12 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and three steals.
Dallas has now secured a top-eight finish but can still move significantly within the playoff seeding picture.
With Bueckers leading the offense and the Wings playing meaningful basketball deep into the season, Dallas has become one of the teams worth watching heading toward the playoffs.
Serena Williams' U.S. Open Return Ends in the Quarterfinals
One of the most fascinating stories in tennis came from Serena Williams, who returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium alongside Carlos Alcaraz in U.S. Open mixed doubles.
Williams, 44, was competing at the U.S. Open after stepping away from the sport in 2022.
Williams and Alcaraz won their opening match but were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, 5-4 (4), 4-1.
The appearance generated major attention, especially because Williams showed flashes of the power and competitiveness that defined her legendary career.
The mixed doubles championship now moves to its semifinals and final Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Bencic and Cobolli will face married couple Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils, while Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik meet Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev in the other semifinal.
The semifinals and championship are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday.
NFL's Final Preseason Week Begins Thursday
The evaluation window is closing quickly across the NFL.
The league's final preseason week begins Thursday, giving coaches one last game opportunity to evaluate roster battles before the regular season.
One notable decision: Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen will not play against Pittsburgh Thursday, although some Bills starters are expected to see action.
The NFL schedule has four preseason games Thursday:
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills — 7 p.m. ET
- New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns — 8 p.m. ET
- San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders — 8 p.m. ET
- Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers — 10 p.m. ET
The Patriots-Browns game will stream nationally on Prime Video.
Friday brings a much larger slate, including Bengals-Eagles, Saints-Cowboys, Giants-Jets, Seahawks-Chiefs, Cardinals-Packers and Commanders-Ravens.
For many established starters, these games are warm-ups or nights off.
For players fighting for the final few roster positions, they're job interviews under stadium lights.
College Football Returns Saturday
The long wait is nearly over.
The 2026 college football season begins Saturday, August 29, with several intriguing Week 0 games.
The day starts overseas with North Carolina vs. TCU in Dublin, Ireland at noon ET.
Other major games include:
- San Jose State at USC — 3 p.m. ET
- NC State vs. Virginia — 3:30 p.m. ET
- Jacksonville State at North Dakota State — 5:30 p.m. ET
- Hawaii at Stanford — 7 p.m. ET
- New Mexico State at Florida State — 7 p.m. ET
- Memphis at UNLV — 10 p.m. ET
Memphis-UNLV could be particularly important for the Group of Six playoff picture, while USC gets an early opportunity to begin building its case for national contention.
Big Ten and SEC Draw a Line on Former Pro Athletes
College sports is also dealing with a major eligibility issue before the season even begins.
The Big Ten and SEC have adopted rules restricting athletes with professional experience from returning to compete for conference schools, following recent court decisions involving players seeking additional NCAA eligibility.
The SEC policy applies to athletes who have been drafted or appeared on professional rosters, including the NFL, NBA, WNBA and NBA G League.
The issue could produce additional legal challenges as college sports continues adjusting to a rapidly changing environment involving eligibility, athlete compensation and transfers.
Top Games to Watch Wednesday
Wednesday offers another loaded sports schedule.
MLB
Philadelphia Phillies at Seattle Mariners — 4:10 p.m. ET
Philadelphia enters at 73-60, while Seattle is 64-69. Jesús Luzardo is scheduled to face Bryan Woo.
Houston Astros at New York Yankees — 7:05 p.m. ET
After Houston's 9-7 victory Tuesday, the Astros and Yankees continue their series in the Bronx.
Milwaukee Brewers at New York Mets — 7:10 p.m. ET
Milwaukee enters at 81-51 while the Mets sit at 60-72.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves — 7:15 p.m. ET
Perhaps the game of the night. Los Angeles looks to answer after Atlanta snapped its six-game winning streak.
WNBA
Golden State Valkyries at Connecticut Sun — 7 p.m. ET
Golden State is coming off an impressive 80-66 victory over league-leading Minnesota and remains in the battle near the top of the WNBA standings.
Toronto Tempo at Seattle Storm — 10 p.m. ET
The expansion Tempo travel to Seattle for Wednesday's late game at Climate Pledge Arena.
Tennis
U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Semifinals & Championship — 7 p.m. ET
Arthur Ashe Stadium hosts both semifinals followed by the championship as the tournament's redesigned mixed doubles event crowns its winner.
Looking Ahead to the Weekend
This is one of those transition weeks that makes the sports calendar especially fun.
MLB playoff races are accelerating.
The WNBA postseason bracket is becoming clearer.
NFL preseason ends and roster decisions arrive.
College football officially returns.
And on Sunday, August 30, the main singles draw of the U.S. Open gets underway in New York.
Late August is essentially the sports world's revolving door: baseball is turning toward October just as football walks back into the building.
And this weekend, that door starts spinning fast.