
Sports News Today: MLB Playoff Elimination Games, WNBA Semifinals and NFL Week 5 Arrive
October 7, 2026
October sports are hitting full throttle.
Major League Baseball has four postseason games scheduled Wednesday with multiple teams facing elimination. The WNBA semifinals return for a pair of Game 2 showdowns. The NFL turns the page to Week 5 Thursday night in Dallas, while college football is preparing for one of the biggest games of the season when undefeated Georgia visits undefeated Alabama.
Add the NHL's early-season action and NBA preseason basketball, and sports fans have a packed few days ahead.
MLB Playoffs Take Center Stage
Wednesday could dramatically reshape the MLB postseason bracket.
The Chicago White Sox lead the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 in their American League Division Series and have an opportunity to complete the sweep at home. Chicago took Game 1 by a 3-0 score before beating Cleveland 4-3 in Game 2. Game 3 begins at 4 p.m. ET on TBS.
The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the Atlanta Braves 2-1 after a 3-1 victory Tuesday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a dominant performance for Los Angeles, striking out 10 over seven innings while allowing only one run. Enrique Hernández and Freddie Freeman homered as Los Angeles moved one victory away from the NL Championship Series. Game 4 is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET in Atlanta.
Then comes another elimination game in New York.
The Tampa Bay Rays lead the Yankees 2-0 entering Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. Tampa Bay can eliminate New York with another victory Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on TBS.
The night closes in San Diego, where the Milwaukee Brewers hold a 2-1 advantage over the Padres. San Diego kept its season alive with a 4-3 Game 3 victory Tuesday, forcing another game. Milwaukee and San Diego meet at 10 p.m. ET.
It is the kind of October slate baseball fans live for: four games, postseason pressure and the possibility that several teams could have their seasons ended before midnight.
WNBA Semifinals Return Tonight
The WNBA postseason also resumes Wednesday with both semifinal series entering Game 2.
The Atlanta Dream lead the New York Liberty 1-0 after opening the series with a 92-82 victory. New York gets another opportunity in Atlanta tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN before the series shifts to New York for Game 3 Friday.
Golden State delivered one of the postseason's biggest statements in the other semifinal.
The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Las Vegas Aces 71-60 in Game 1 behind a huge performance from Gabby Williams, who finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Golden State dominated the offensive glass while making life difficult for the defending champions.
Game 2 between Las Vegas and Golden State tips at 9:30 p.m. ET at Chase Center and streams on Peacock with NBC Sports Network coverage.
If the Dream and Valkyries both defend home court again, the pressure heading into Friday's Game 3s will become enormous.
Cowboys Open NFL Week 5 Against Tampa Bay
The NFL returns Thursday night when the Dallas Cowboys host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday on Prime Video.
Dallas enters the game 2-2 and is looking for momentum after an uneven opening month. Tampa Bay has started 0-4 and enters Thursday in desperation mode.
Quarterback is one of the biggest Tampa Bay storylines. NFL.com's preview reports rookie Jalon Daniels is preparing for his second career start while Baker Mayfield deals with an injury. For Dallas, the challenge is converting a favorable stretch of the schedule into wins before the season begins slipping away.
Week 5 continues Sunday with a London matchup between Philadelphia and Jacksonville, followed by a full afternoon and evening schedule around the league.
Georgia-Alabama Headlines College Football Weekend
College football's biggest upcoming matchup could also be affected by something much bigger than football.
No. 2 Georgia travels to No. 6 Alabama Saturday, with both programs entering the matchup at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in SEC play.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
However, Tropical Storm Isaias could complicate the weekend. The storm is forecast to threaten portions of the Gulf Coast, and officials are monitoring whether its path could affect conditions surrounding the Georgia-Alabama game. No schedule change had been announced as of Wednesday.
Georgia-Alabama is the headline attraction in a college football weekend that could reshape the national championship picture. Texas remains No. 1 in the AP poll, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State, while Alabama sits at No. 6.
NHL Season Producing Early Fireworks
The NHL season is already producing standout performances.
Alexis Lafrenière recorded a hat trick and an assist Tuesday as the New York Rangers defeated the New York Islanders 5-2, giving the Rangers their fourth consecutive victory. Oliver Bjorkstrand added two goals while Igor Shesterkin made 17 saves.
In Chicago, the Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 for their first victory of the season. Chicago scored twice during a critical second-period stretch before adding two empty-net goals late.
St. Louis returns home Thursday to face the San Jose Sharks at 7 p.m. CT, opening its home schedule at Enterprise Center.
NBA Preseason Continues
NBA teams are also beginning to take shape during preseason play.
One of Wednesday's most interesting games features Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.
Haliburton is returning from an Achilles injury and is expected to play without restrictions. The game gives Indiana its first real opportunity to see how its rebuilt roster operates around its star point guard. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Later Wednesday, the Portland Trail Blazers host the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET. Portland is expected to use its primary rotation heavily in the first half before experimenting with lineups later in the game.
A Loaded Sports Week Is Just Beginning
Baseball owns Wednesday with four playoff games carrying enormous stakes. The WNBA has two championship contenders trying to take commanding semifinal leads. The Cowboys get the NFL spotlight Thursday, and Saturday brings a Georgia-Alabama showdown with College Football Playoff implications.
This is the sweet spot of the sports calendar.
Baseball is fighting for October survival. Football seasons are beginning to reveal which teams are legitimate contenders. Basketball is coming back to life. Hockey is already rolling.
And over the next several days, several seasons could take very different turns.
Sources and full links
- MLB: 2026 postseason schedule and bracket
- MLB: 2026 playoff and World Series schedule
- Reuters: Yamamoto and Dodgers take NLDS lead over Braves
- WNBA: 2026 semifinal series preview and schedule
- NBC Sports: 2026 WNBA semifinal schedule
- NFL: Buccaneers vs. Cowboys Week 5 preview
- NFL: Official 2026 Week 5 schedule
- AP: Tropical storm could affect Georgia-Alabama planning
- Georgia Athletics: Georgia vs. Alabama game information
- Reuters: Rangers defeat Islanders behind Lafrenière hat trick
- Reuters: Blackhawks beat Blues for first win
- NBA: October 7 preseason schedule
