Muchova and Mensik win US Open mixed doubles as NFL reforms and playoff races tighten
Sports on Thursday is led by a Czech title at the US Open mixed doubles event, major NFL governance and ownership changes, college eligibility turmoil, a sharper National League race, the Vuelta a España's early hierarchy, and UEFA's draw day amid easing FIFA tensions.
Czech pair wins the revamped US Open mixed doubles event
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik won the US Open mixed doubles title in their first tournament together, beating Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 1-6 (10-6). The two-day, star-driven format again produced attention before the singles draw, but many headline names, including Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, exited early. The result gave the Czech pair a shared $1 million prize and kept debate alive over whether the condensed mixed event is a sporting upgrade or mainly a fan-week showcase.
Read the full storyNFL owners approve Seahawks sale while ending the Pro Bowl game
NFL owners unanimously approved the $9.612 billion sale of the Seattle Seahawks to Vinod Khosla and his family, formalizing a transition for the defending Super Bowl champion under the terms of the late Paul Allen's ownership plan. Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, must divest his 3.1% stake in the San Francisco 49ers. The league also announced that, beginning with the 2026 season, the Pro Bowl will no longer be staged as an AFC-NFC game or skills event; 88 players will still be selected with no replacements, shifting the honor away from exhibition programming and toward permanent player recognition.
Read the full storyCollege conferences move to block pro players from returning
The SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 moved quickly to restrict athletes who have entered professional leagues from coming back to college competition. The SEC rule covers players drafted by, signed with or rostered by NFL, NBA or WNBA teams; the Big Ten initially focused on football; and the Big 12 adopted an all-conference-sports ban. The moves respond to lawsuits and NCAA eligibility changes that created a path for some former college athletes to seek a fifth year, forcing conferences to choose between roster stability and likely legal challenges.
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Braves and Brewers sharpen the National League race
Atlanta beat the Dodgers 6-5 on Ha-Seong Kim's two-out walk-off single in the ninth inning, giving the Braves another direct result in a series with National League seeding implications. Milwaukee, meanwhile, beat the Mets 8-1 behind Brice Turang's three-run homer after starter Dustin May was struck by a 106 mph line drive on his first pitch and left with a bruised right scapula. Robert Gasser covered 5 1/3 innings of one-run relief, a reminder that late-season pitching depth can decide playoff positioning as much as star power.
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Brennan takes another Vuelta stage as Pogačar keeps red
Matthew Brennan of Visma-Lease a Bike sprinted to his second victory of this Vuelta a España on the 173.3 km fifth stage from Falset to Roquetes, beating Jordi Meeus and Vincenzo Albanese after late climbing failed to dislodge enough sprinters. Cyclingnews reported that 89 riders finished together, leaving the general classification unchanged: Tadej Pogačar kept the red jersey with a 3:21 lead over Primož Roglič. Thursday's hilly stage from Alcossebre to Castelló now becomes the next test of whether Pogačar's margin is control or an invitation to attack.
Read the full storyUEFA enters draw day as FIFA boycott pressure eases
UEFA's 2026-27 Champions League league-phase draw is scheduled for 18:00 CET at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, with 36 clubs each drawn against eight opponents, four home and four away. Fixtures are due by August 29, while the Europa League and Conference League draws follow on August 28. The club draw comes as UEFA is reportedly ready to lift its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that Gianni Infantino's abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup or related competitions will not be revived, reducing immediate pressure on teams preparing for FIFA youth events.
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