2026 MLB Playoffs: Braves, ChiSox, Padres, Yankee Claim Series Openers

 The 2026 Major League Baseball postseason got underway on Tuesday with the opening games of all four opening-round best-of-three series. 

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

At Daikin Park, Houston:

Colson Montgomery hit a solo home run while Sam Antonacci drove in two runs as the Chicago White Sox took out the homestanding Houston Astros 6-3 in the opening game of their series.  The Sox will try to finish off the Astros on Wednesday on Peacock at 2:00 PM Pacific Time.

At Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York:

Cam Schlitter pitched 6 1/3 innings of shutout baseball while Ben Rice homered twice and delivered six runs as the New York Yankees opened their first-round series by making mince meat of the Boston Red Sox 9-0.

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

At Truist Field, Cumberland, Georgia:

Austin Riley hit a three-run homer as the Atlanta Braves took game one of their series with the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 5-3.

The Braves will try to close out their series at home on Wednesday at 11:00 AM Pacific Time on NBC.

At Petco Park, San Diego:

Fernando Tetis, Jr. hit the first-ever leadoff homer in franchise history as the San Diego Padres massacred the visiting Chicago Cubs 8-0 in their series opener.

The Padres will look to finish off the Cubbies with a home win in game two on Wednesday at 7:00 Pacific Time on NBC Sports Network and Peacock. 

WNBA Playoffs: Liberty Complete Sweep Of Top-Seeded Lynx; Catlin Clark Keeps Fever Alive

The second game of two quarterfinal-round series in the WNBA Playoffs took place on Tuesday. 

At Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York:

Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones (with 13 rebounds) each scored 21 points as the eighth-seeded New York Liberty completed a two-game series sweep of the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx with an 87-71 home victory.

Courtney Williams paced the Lynx with 18 points.

At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis:

Caitlin Clark scored 27 points (with 15 assists) while Kelsey Mitchell added 26 and Aliyah Boston 22 as the Indiana Fever squared their best-of-three series at a game apiece after their 99-89 home triumph over the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. 

Jackie Young paced the Aces with 31 points points (making all 13 free throws in the process) while A'ja Wilson added 22 (to go with nine rebounds).  

The series will be decided on Friday at the Michelob Light Arena in Paradise, Nevada and will be cablecast on the USA Network with tip-off at a time to be determined. 

WNBA Playoffs Open

 The Women's National Basketball Association's Playoffs opened on Sunday with first game of all four quarterfinal-round series (best -of-three).

At Target Center, Minneapolis:

Breanna Stewart scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the New York Liberty knocked off the homestanding Minnesota Lynx 91-75 in their series opener.

Nia Brodie came off the bench to score 16 points to lead Minnesota.

At Michelob Light Arena, Paradise, Nevada:

Aja Wilson scored 38 points and pulled down 16 rebounds while Jackie Young added 21 points and 10 assists as the homestanding  Las Vegas Aces took game one of their series with the Indiana Fever 102-85.

Aliyah Boston paced the Fever with 18 points.

At State Farm Arena, Atlanta:

Rhyne Howard scored 26 points while Allisha Grey added 22 to pace the Atlanta Dream to a series-opening 92-77 victory over the visiting Washington Mystics.

Sonia Citron led Washington with 25 points.

At Chase Center, San Francisco:

Cecilia  Zandalasini scored 22 points while Tiffany Hayes (off the bench) added 21 and Gabby Williams 20 as the Golden State Valkyries opened their series with a 104-80 domination of the visiting Dallas Wings.

Paige Bueckers paced Dallas with 21 points.

Niners Hold Off Cards To Stay Unbeaten

At Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California: 

Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 15 of 27 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns (two to tight end George Kittle, one each to wide receivers Deebo Samuel, Sr. and Mike Evans) while running back Christian McCaffrey ran for 75 yards and scored another TD as the San Francisco 49ers (3-0) held off the visiting Arizona Cardinals (1-2) 36-30 on Sunday.

Ducks Climb Up To #15 In AP, Coaches Polls

After their Saturday road victory over Southern California, the Oregon Ducks climbed up to #15 in both Associated Press (up five spots) and Coaches polls (up one), both were released on Sunday.

Beavers Prove Too Much For Miners

At Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas:  

Quarterback Brian Atkinson completed 24 of 24 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns while running back AJ Newberry ran for 111 yards and another score as the Oregon State Beavers (2-2) manhandled the homestanding UTEP Miners (1-3) 33-7 on Saturday night.

 

Ducks Knock Off Trojans In LA

 At Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum:

Before he was injured, Dante Moore completed eight of ten passes for 77 yards, then backup Dylan Raiola completed 19 of 25 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns while running back Dierre Hill, Jr. ran for a pair of TDs as the Oregon Ducks (#20 AP, #16 Coaches; 1-0 in Big Ten play, 3-1 overall) knocked off the homestanding Southern California Trojans (#13 AP, 1-1 Big Ten, 3-1 overall) 41-27 on Saturday.

BC Lions Hold Off Riders In Vancouver

 At BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia:

In Friday Canadian Football League action, quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns as the British Columbia Lions defeated the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders 31-24, with both teams now at 8-6, with the Lions having won two of three games with the Riders.

Niners Prove Too Much For Dolphins In Home Opener

At Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California:

Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards and a pair of touchdowns (one each to George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk) on Sunday as the San Francisco 49ers (2-0) dominated the visiting Miami Dolphins (0-2) 35-13. 

Running back Christian McCaffery scored his first two touchdowns of the season.  

The Niners will host the Arizona Cardinals this coming Sunday at 1:05 PM Pacific Time on FOX. 

Ducks Inch Up Both AP, Coaches Polls

After French-frying Portland State on Saturday, the Oregon Ducks climbed up one spot in the Associated Press poll, up two spots in the Coaches' poll.

The Ducks will host #11-ranked Southern California (they're ranked 12th in the Coaches' rankings) in their Big Ten Conference opener this coming Saturday.

Beavers Manhandle Grizzlies For First Win Of Season

At Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon: 

Quarterback Braden Anderson completed 22 of 30 passes for 333 yards and five touchdowns on Saturday night as the Oregon State Beavers (1-2) made mince meat of the Montana Grizzlies (3-1, FCS) 52-17 for their first win of the season.

Ducks Nuke PSU Vikings

At Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon:

On Friday, quarterback Dante Moore completed 19of 23 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns while backup QB Dylan Raiola completed all eleven passes for 124 yards and another three TDs as the Oregon Ducks (#21 AP, #20 Coaches; 2-1) made mince meat of the visiting Portland State Vikings (FCS; 0-4) 84-0.

Ducks Tumble In Latest Football Rankings

After being knocked off by Oklahoma State this past Saturday, the Oregon Ducks fell fifteen spots to #21 in the latest Associated Press college football rankings (they dropped 12 spots to #18 in the Coaches' poll). 

Red Raiders Hold Off Game Beavers

At Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon: 

Quarterback Will Hammond completed 20 of 27 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown while running backs J'Koby Williams (who ran for 116 yards) added a score as the Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0, #13 AP) defeated the homestanding Oregon State Beavers (0-2) 35-24 on Saturday night. 

Blue Bomber Knock Off Riders In Banjo Bowl

At Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba: 

In the 2026 edition of the Banjo Bowl, quarterback Zach Collaros threw for 175 yards and a touchdown, while Sergio Castillo kicked four field goals (31, 45, 44, and 36 yards) on Saturday as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-6) held off the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-5) 19-7 in Canadian Football League action.

Cowboys Knock Off Ducks In Stillwater

At Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Oklahoma:

Drew Mestemaker threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns (and ran for one) on Saturday as the Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-1) snapped their 21-game losing streak against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents by knocking off the visiting Oregon Ducks (#6 in both the Associated Press and Coaches' polls, 1-1) 39-31.  

 

Niners Make Kangaroo Meat Of Rams In Season Opener In Australia

 At Melbourne Cricket Ground, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia:

In front of 100,021 fans on Thursday (Friday in Australia), the San Francisco 49ers opened their National Football League regular season by dismantling the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the league's first-ever regulation-season contest in Australia.

Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns (one each to Damarcus Robinson, Mike Evans, and Deebo Samuel, Sr.) as the Niners, after trailing 7-3, reeled off 20 unanswered points.

Christian McAffrey carried the ball 10 times for 68 yards while fellow running back Kaelon Black carried the ball 14 times for an additional 65 yard.

Kicker Eddie Pineiro kicked field goals of 20 and 56 yards.

Unbeaten Ducks Drop Four Spots In AP Poll

After holding off a game Boise State squad in their season opener, the Oregon Ducks fall four spots to number six in the Associated Press college football poll.  The Ducks also fall four spots to number six in the Coaches' poll.

In the AP poll, Oregon still amassed three first-place votes, one in the Coaches poll.

In the AP poll, Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, and Indiana make up the top five.

 

Riders Top Archrival Blue Bombers In Regina

 At Mosaic Stadium, Regina, Saskatchewan:

The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32-26 in overtime in Sunday Canadian Football League action.

Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 23 of 33 attempts for 362 yards with ten of the completions to Dhel Duncan-Busby for 148 yards.

Backup QB Tommy Stevens ran one yard for the game-winning OT TD.

Ducks Come Back Hold Off Broncos

 At Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon:

Quarterback--and Heisman Trophy candidate--Dante Moore completed 28 of 37 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday as the Oregon Ducks (#2 AP) came back from a double-digit deficit to overcome the visiting Boise State Broncos 34-27 in the regular season opener for both schools.

Beavers Drop Season Opener At Houston

 At TDECU Stadium, Houston:

Quarterback Conner Weigman threw for 305 yards and a touchdown while running for another score on Saturday as the Houston Cougars (#23 AP) defeated the visiting Oregon State Beavers 33-20 in the regular season college football opener for both schools, spoiling JaMarcus Sheppard's debut as the Beavers head coacl.