Todays Sporting News – 9 September 2025

• There is much at stake for Bafana Bafana and Nigeria when the teams clash in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
• LeBron James has become the first NBA player to author a piece in China’s state-run People’s Daily newspaper, an unusual move suggesting the top-flight basketball league’s years-long row with Beijing could be coming to an end.
• Norway striker Erling Haaland needed three stitches below his lip when the baggage door of the team bus opened and struck him in the face.
• Football – Ché Adams’ 43rd-minute strike and a second-half own goal from Zakhar Volkov gave Scotland a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Belarus.
• Cricket – England’s Brendon McCullum has ramped up the Ashes hype ahead of this winter’s trip to Australia, describing England’s pursuit of the urn they last won a decade ago as “the biggest series of all of our lives”.
• Formula One – Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri insisted that protecting their teammates was central to McLaren’s use of team orders at the Italian Grand Prix, after criticism of their instructed place swap at Monza.
• The consecutive number of times that Australian cliff-diving star Rhiannan Iffland has claimed Red Bull cliff diving’s King Kahekili Trophy is NINE. Iffland delivered a near-perfect performance at the Stari Most bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the penultimate stop on this year’s Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, to win the title.
• The U.S’ top soccer league has banned Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez from play for three matches for spitting on a Seattle Sounders staff member after the Leagues Cup final.
• The U.S’ top soccer league has banned Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez from play for three matches for spitting on a Seattle Sounders staff member after the Leagues Cup final.
• Matildas and Manchester City star Mary Fowler will swap the pitch for the runway later this month. Fowler is set to make her Paris Fashion Week debut on 29 September, walking in the L’Oréal Paris Le Défilé show at the Hôtel de Ville. She will become the first professional footballer and first Australian brand ambassador to walk the event.
• Jeromey Webberley has been named as the coach for the Tasmanian Devils team set to join the VFL in 2026. The 37-year-old Tasmanian played 16 games for the Richmond Tigers between 2010 and 2012.
• The Socceroos will take on New Zealand in the second of two matches tonight as the sides compete for the ‘Soccer Ashes’.
• Athletic Bilbao defender Alvarez given 10-month doping ban: Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been hit with a 10-month ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance following a Europa League clash against Manchester United last season, European football’s governing body Uefa said on Monday.
• Bethell, Root tons, Archer four-for see England hand out record thrashing: England 414 for 5 (Bethell 110, Root 100, Buttler 62*, Smith 62) beat South Africa 72 (Archer 4-18, Rashid 3-13) by 342 runs. Jacob Bethell cracked the first hundred of his professional career as England thrashed South Africa by a record margin in …
• ‘Partisan Irish fans provide timely Ryder Cup reminder’: As Rory McIlroy addressed his eagle putt on the last hole of the Amgen Irish Open on Sunday, among the thousands surrounding the green stood two young lads clad in red and enraptured by what might happen next. The putt from just inside 30 feet …
• Was England’s 342-run over South Africa their biggest ever in ODIs?: England beat South Africa by 342 runs at the Rose Bowl. Was this their biggest win in ODIs? asked Bill Green from England England ran up 414 for 5 in Southampton last weekend, then bowled South Africa out for 72 to win by 342 runs.
• Could brilliant Bethell give England Ashes conundrum?: Jacob Bethell can now add another bullet point to the notebook he uses to scribble down reminders before going out to bat. He has always written notes about the bowlers he has faced – and previously taken tips from the great West Indies all-rounder Sir …
• The inquest begins into Wales’ woeful World Cup: But it’s doubtful many would agree with the Welsh Rugby Union’s (WRU) head of women’s rugby, who was speaking before the Fiji defeat, when looking at the results and performances. Previous defeats by Scotland …
• Boks disappointed by 15 minutes of poor play that led to defeat: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Jesse Kriel were both bitterly disappointed by the team’s 24-17 defeat against the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday. The loss dashed their hopes of beating the hosts for the first time at Eden Park since …
• England pull off biggest ever ODI victory in dead rubber: Joe Root and Jacob Bethell have plundered centuries and fast bowler Jofra Archer took 4-18 as England demolished South Africa by a world record 342 runs in the third and final one-day international in Southampton. South Africa sent their hosts in to …
• Here’s what Liverpool did before agreeing Alexander Isak deadline day deal: Liverpool have got a new No9. Alexander Isak completed his move from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day – costing the Reds a British record £125m. It was a protracted transfer saga that left bad blood between the Swede and his employers.
• Comoros boost hopes of first World Cup appearance: Comoros beat the Central African Republic 2-0 on Sunday to boost their hopes of a maiden World Cup appearance next year. The victory lifted the multi-island nation of less than 900 000 inhabitants off the south east coast of Africa two places.
• The FIM World Supercross Championship has unveiled its most competitive rider lineup to date for the international 2025 season, underscoring a new era of depth and global star power in the sport.  Wildcard riders for the finale of the FIM World Supercross Championship taking place at the DHL Stadium on 13 December 2025 in Cape Town are still to be announced.
• First YouTube-exclusive NFL game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs draws 17.3 million viewers.
• Serena Williams joins high-profile group of investors in women’s basketball league Unrivaled, valuing the new venture at $340M.
• The proposed R360 breakaway league has delayed its application for World Rugby approval until at least next June.
• Royce Lewis homered twice and drove in four runs as the Minnesota Twins beat the sloppy Angels 12-3 on Monday night.
• The first phase of ticket sales for next summer’s World Cup in the US will open Wednesday with a 10-day presale lottery that will give applicants the opportunity to purchase up to four tickets apiece for as many as 10 matches.
• Dele Alli handed EFL lifeline as three clubs eye deal.
• Wrexham play fair with Birmingham City after scandalous Coventry decision.
• Owner Acun Ilicali delivers major £15m boost to help Hull City’s finances.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY:

1909 — Jack Johnson retains his heavyweight boxing title when he fights Al Kaufman to a no decision in 10 rounds at Coffroth’s Arena in San Francisco.

1940 — Donald McNeil beats Bobby Riggs after losing the first two sets to capture the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association title. Alice Marble wins her third straight title with a two-set triumph over Helen Jacobs.

1956 — Australia’s Ken Rosewall wins the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association title with a four-set victory over Lewis Hoad. Shirley Fry beats Althea Gibson 6-3, 6-4 for the women’s title.

1960 — The Denver Broncos beat the Boston Patriots 13-10 in the American Football League’s first regular-season game. The game is played on a Friday night at Boston University’s Nickerson Field.

1968 — Arthur Ashe wins the U.S. Open by beating Tom Okker 14-12, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Ashe is the first Black male to win a Grand Slam tournament. As an amateur, Ashe is ineligible to receive the $14,000 winner’s prize, but collects $280 in expenses for the two-week tournament.

1972 — UCLA’s Efren Herrera kicks a 20-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining to beat preseason No. 1 Nebraska 20-17 at the Memorial Coliseum.

1974 — Jimmy Connors romps to a 6-1, 6-0, 6-1 victory over Ken Rosewall to win the U.S. Open.

1978 — Chris Evert beats 16-year-old Pam Shriver 7-5, 6-4 to win her fourth straight U.S. Open.

1979 — In an all-New Yorker U.S. Open men’s final, John McEnroe beats Vitas Gerulaitis, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3. Tracy Austin, at 16 years, 8 months and 28 days, becomes the youngest U.S. Open women’s singles champion, ending Chris Evert’s 31-match win streak at the Open with a 6-4, 6-3 win.

1984 — John McEnroe beats Ivan Lendl 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to win his fourth U.S. Open.

1990 — Pete Sampras, at the age of 19 years and 28 days, becomes the youngest U.S. Open men’s singles champion, defeating Andre Agassi, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

2000 — Venus Williams wins her first U.S. Open singles title, defeating Lindsay Davenport, 6-4, 7-5.

2006 — Top-ranked Ohio State tightens its hold on the No. 1 spot after beating the No. 2 ranked and defending champion Texas Longhorns 24-7 in Austin, Texas.

2007 — Asafa Powell sets another world record in the 100 meters, winning a heat at the Rieti Grand Prix in 9.74 seconds. The world’s fastest man improves his record by 0.03 seconds, having run 9.77 three times.

2012 — Serena Williams, two points from defeat, suddenly regains her composure and her game, coming back to win the last four games and beat No. 1-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 for her fourth U.S. Open championship and 15th Grand Slam title overall.

2015 — Japan’s Saori Yoshida wins her 16th world or Olympic freestyle title at the world wrestling championships. The most decorated athlete in wrestling history, the 32-year-old Yoshida wins her 13th title at worlds — to go with three Olympic golds in as many tries.

2017 — Sloane Stephens dominates Madison Keys in the U.S. Open final and wins 6-3, 6-0 for her first Grand Slam title. The 83rd-ranked Stephens is the second unseeded woman to win the tournament in the Open era, which began in 1968.

2018 — Alabama strengthens its hold on No. 1 over No. 2 Clemson. The Crimson Tide made its 106th overall appearance at the top of the AP football rankings, which started in 1936, passing Ohio State for the most by any school.

2018 — Green Bay Packers start 100th season with historic 24-23 comeback win over Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field; first ever Packer recovery from 17+ points deficit after three quarters (20-3).

2018 — Cleveland ends its 17-game losing streak with a 21-21 tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2021 — Tom Brady becomes the first player in NFL history to start 300 regular season games. Brady and the Buccaneers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 31-29 on opening day of the 2021 season.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY:

1914 — George Davis of the Boston Braves pitched a 7-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second game of a doubleheader. Davis’ no-hitter was the first thrown at Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox.

1922 — Baby Doll Jacobson hit three triples to lead the St. Louis Browns to a 16-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

1936 — The New York Yankees clinched their eighth American League pennant with a doubleheader sweep of the Cleveland Indians, 11-3 and 12-9. The Yankees finished 19½ games ahead of the Detroit Tigers for the largest margin in team history.

1945 — Dick Fowler of the Philadelphia Athletics pitched a 1-0 no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns in the second game of a doubleheader.

1948 — Rex Barney of the Brooklyn Dodgers pitched a 2-0 no-hit victory against the New York Giants on a rainy day at the Polo Grounds. He walked two and struck out four.

1965 — Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers tossed his fourth no-hitter, a perfect game, against the Chicago Cubs. Koufax fanned 14 in the 1-0 victory while Cubs pitcher Bob Hendley allowed one hit — a double by Lou Johnson.

1987 — Nolan Ryan strikes out his 4,500th batter.

1988 — Atlanta’s Bruce Sutter joined Rollie Fingers and Rich Gossage as the only pitchers to save 300 games as the Braves beat the San Diego Padres, 5-4 in 11 innings.

1992 — Robin Yount became the 17th player to reach 3,000 hits in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 5-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Yount singled to right center off Cleveland’s Jose Mesa in the seventh inning.

1998 — The New York Yankees officially clinched the AL East title, the earliest in AL history, beating the Boston Red Sox 7-5. The Yankees improved to 102-41 — 20½ games ahead of second-place Boston.

2001 — Barry Bonds hit three home runs to give him 63 for the season. The third homer was a three-run shot in the 11th inning lifting San Francisco over the Colorado Rockies 9-4. Bonds broke Roger Maris’ record of 61 for most homers in a season by a left-handed hitter.

2004 — Joe Randa had six hits and tied a major league record with six runs, and Alex Berroa hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs in Kansas City’s 26-5 victory over Detroit in the first game of a doubleheader. Randa became the first AL player to have six hits and six runs in the same nine-inning game.

2007 — Milwaukee became the third team in major league history to open a game with three straight home runs when Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy and Ryan Braun connected off Cincinnati’s Phil Dumatrait in a 10-5 victory. Weeks and Braun each hit two home runs and J.J. Hardy homered and hit two doubles — all in the first four innings.

2017 — Jose Abreu became the first White Sox player to hit for the cycle in 17 years in Chicago’s 13-1 rout of the San Francisco Giants.

2020 — At the urging of Roberto Clemente’s family, Major League Baseball pays tribute to its first Latin American superstar by allowing Puerto Rican players and others to wear his uniform number, 21, in his honor, on this day. This is akin to the wearing of #42 on Jackie Robinson Day. In addition, all members of the Pirates, Clemente’s former team, wear the number, the first time it has been worn by a team member since Clemente’s passing 48 years earlier.

2022 — Major League Baseball announces the adoption of a number of changes to the rules to be introduced at the start of the 2023 season. They include a pitch clock, limits on defensive shifts, and larger bases. All of these changes have already been successfully tested in minor league games and aim to improve pace of play, reduce injuries and create more in-game action.