Sisters Reunite at U.S. Open

The biggest sports news for August 26, 2026, includes sweeping NFL changes, a record Seattle Seahawks sale, Serena and Venus Williams reuniting at the U.S. Open, major soccer results and transfers, and important developments across professional golf and motorcycle racing.

The NFL eliminated its annual Pro Bowl event Wednesday, league owners approved the record-setting sale of the Seattle Seahawks, and Serena and Venus Williams received a wild card to compete together at the 2026 U.S. Open.

Elsewhere, Newcastle United advanced in England’s League Cup after completing a significant transfer from Manchester City, the PGA Tour revealed its 2027 schedule, and Scottie Scheffler approached one of professional golf’s most notable financial milestones.

Here is a roundup of the major sports news from Wednesday, August 26, 2026, excluding college sports, Major League Baseball and the WNBA.

NFL Eliminates Pro Bowl Event but Will Continue Honoring Players

The NFL has officially ended the Pro Bowl event, closing the book on an all-star tradition that existed in various forms for more than seven decades.

The league will continue selecting players for Pro Bowl recognition, preserving one of the sport’s most important individual honors. However, the NFL will no longer stage the exhibition or the skills-based Pro Bowl Games that replaced traditional tackle football in recent years.

The NFL began holding an annual all-star contest in its modern form in 1951. Declining television audiences, player withdrawals and concerns about injuries gradually weakened the game’s appeal. The league replaced the tackle-football format with flag football and skills competitions following the 2022 season, but that overhaul did not secure the event’s long-term future.

Players selected as Pro Bowlers will still receive the distinction in official league records and contract negotiations. The NFL must now determine how it will publicly recognize those selections without a dedicated postseason event. The Associated Press reported the league’s decision Wednesday.

Seahawks Sale to Khosla Family Approved at Record $9.612 Billion

NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Seattle Seahawks to the Khosla family for a reported $9.612 billion, establishing a record price for an NFL franchise.

Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and his wife, Neeru Khosla, lead the incoming ownership group. Neeru Khosla will become the Seahawks’ controlling owner, while their son, Neal, is expected to hold a significant position within the organization.

The sale transfers control from the estate of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who purchased the Seahawks in 1997 and helped prevent the franchise from relocating. Allen died in 2018, leaving instructions for the eventual sale of his assets and the distribution of proceeds to charitable causes.

Seattle enters the ownership transition as the defending Super Bowl champion, making the Seahawks an unusually valuable combination of a successful football operation, devoted regional following and premium NFL media asset.

The $9.612 billion valuation surpasses every previous NFL franchise sale and trails only the reported $10 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers among North American professional sports transactions. NFL.com confirmed that owners unanimously approved the transfer.

NFL and Players Association Strengthen Safety Enforcement

The NFL and NFL Players Association also announced tighter discipline for players who repeatedly commit certain health-and-safety violations.

The revised approach focuses on five categories of dangerous conduct and creates escalating penalties for repeat offenders. The agreement reflects the league’s effort to reduce avoidable contact involving the head, neck and lower body while establishing clearer consequences for players who repeatedly violate safety rules.

The NFL and its players association separately unveiled a Behavioral Health Network intended to expand mental-health assistance. The program represents another step toward treating emotional and psychological care as a central part of player health rather than a secondary service.

Together, the initiatives make player welfare one of the dominant NFL stories entering the final stage of the 2026 preseason.

Giants Receiver Calvin Austin Reportedly Out for Season

The New York Giants received damaging injury news when wide receiver Calvin Austin reportedly suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The injury is expected to end Austin’s 2026 season before it begins, removing an experienced speed option from New York’s receiving group. The Giants now face a difficult roster decision as final cuts approach, with younger receivers competing for an expanded role.

In other NFL injury news, Houston Texans players Braden Smith and Ali Gaye were carted away during a joint practice. Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Rueben Bain Jr. reportedly sustained an AC-joint sprain, although the team does not believe that injury is serious.

Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, meanwhile, is scheduled to start against Atlanta in the Dolphins’ preseason finale as the team prepares its first-team offense for the regular season.

Serena and Venus Williams Receive U.S. Open Doubles Wild Card

Serena and Venus Williams will reunite at the U.S. Open after tournament officials awarded the sisters a women’s doubles wild card.

The appearance will mark their first U.S. Open doubles partnership since 2022. Serena, now 44, recently returned to competition following a nearly four-year absence, while 46-year-old Venus has continued playing singles and doubles events.

Together, the Williams sisters have won 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles championships and three Olympic doubles gold medals. Their major-title collection includes U.S. Open doubles victories in 1999 and 2009.

The reunion immediately becomes one of the tournament’s leading attractions. Although both players are in the later stages of their careers, their combined experience, serving power and understanding of each other’s games make them a compelling team.

The U.S. Open women’s doubles competition begins September 3 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Reuters confirmed the sisters’ wild-card entry.

Alexander Zverev Enters U.S. Open as Leading Men’s Contender

Alexander Zverev enters the U.S. Open with one of the best opportunities of his career to win in New York.

Zverev arrives as the tournament’s top seed after winning the French Open for his first Grand Slam singles championship. Injuries and uneven preparation among several leading rivals have opened the men’s draw, increasing expectations surrounding the German star.

Jannik Sinner will miss the tournament because of injury, while Carlos Alcaraz is attempting to regain his best form following an extended layoff. Zverev reached the U.S. Open final in 2020 and possesses the powerful serve and durable baseline game required to succeed on the New York hard courts.

American contenders Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul will also attempt to end the country’s long wait for a men’s singles champion. No American man has won the U.S. Open since Andy Roddick captured the title in 2003. Reuters detailed Zverev’s opportunity ahead of the tournament.

Newcastle United Advances in League Cup Thriller

Harvey Barnes scored twice as Newcastle United rallied to defeat West Bromwich Albion 3-2 and advance to the third round of England’s League Cup.

West Brom threatened an upset, but Newcastle’s attacking depth eventually changed the match at St. James’ Park. Barnes delivered the decisive contribution as the Premier League club survived a difficult second-round test.

The victory came on the same day Newcastle completed the signing of midfielder Nico González from Manchester City on a long-term contract. González gives Newcastle another technically skilled option in central midfield as the club balances domestic competition with its broader ambitions.

Reuters reported Newcastle’s comeback victory and the club’s agreement for González.

Champions League Qualifying Concludes Ahead of League-Phase Draw

The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League qualifying process concluded Wednesday, determining the final seven clubs to reach the league phase.

Twenty-nine teams qualified directly, while the remaining places were decided through the qualifying rounds and two-leg playoffs. The league-phase draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, in Monaco.

The draw will establish each club’s initial European schedule under UEFA’s league format. The competition continues to use a single standings table rather than the traditional eight-group structure.

Attention outside the field also centered on relations between UEFA and FIFA. European officials appeared ready to end the threat of boycotting FIFA competitions after the governing body withdrew a controversial World Cup investment proposal that had generated opposition among UEFA’s 55 member associations.

UEFA published the completed Champions League qualifying information and results.

PGA Tour Announces 36-Event Schedule for 2027

The PGA Tour unveiled a 36-event schedule for 2027, including a major change to the beginning of its season.

For the first time in 56 years, the Tour will not open its calendar in Hawaii. The season will instead begin January 21 at The American Express in La Quinta, California.

The updated schedule also changes portions of the West Coast and Florida swings. The Cadillac Championship will move from May to March, while the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Valspar Championship will exchange dates.

The season will conclude with a three-event FedEx Cup playoff schedule and the Tour Championship at East Lake. The 2027 postseason will be the final edition under the current model before the PGA Tour introduces a new match-play championship structure in 2028. Reuters reported the full slate and its principal changes.

Scottie Scheffler Closes in on Tiger Woods’ Earnings Record

Scottie Scheffler could move past Tiger Woods atop the PGA Tour’s official career earnings list at the Tour Championship.

Scheffler needs slightly more than $1 million to overtake Woods, and a top-eight finish at East Lake would be enough to reach the milestone. The Tour Championship champion will receive $10 million from a $40 million purse.

The comparison reflects the dramatic growth of professional golf purses more than a direct comparison of career accomplishments. Woods won 82 PGA Tour events, including 15 major championships, while Scheffler entered the week with 21 Tour victories.

Scheffler credited Woods with creating the commercial growth that made modern prize funds possible. He is also attempting to win the Tour Championship for the second time in three seasons after recovering from hand, foot and mouth disease. Reuters reported Scheffler’s proximity to the earnings record.

PGA Tour Suspends Matt Gogel for Betting on Golf

The PGA Tour suspended PGA Tour Champions player Matt Gogel for six months after determining that he placed wagers on professional golf.

The Tour said Gogel did not bet on tournaments in which he competed, but its regulations prohibit players from wagering on covered golf competitions. The suspension adds to the wider debate surrounding the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting and the integrity rules imposed on athletes, officials and other participants.

Professional leagues and tours have embraced betting companies as sponsors and media partners while simultaneously strengthening penalties for participants who gamble on their own sports.

Gogel’s suspension was announced by the PGA Tour and reported Wednesday by Reuters.

MotoGP Rider Ai Ogura to Miss Aragon Grand Prix

Trackhouse MotoGP rider Ai Ogura will miss the Aragon Grand Prix after suffering a fracture near his left thumb during a training session in Japan.

Medical examinations determined that Ogura requires surgery. Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori will replace him for the upcoming race weekend.

MotoGP also confirmed that Fermín Aldeguer will join the VR46 Racing Team beginning in 2027. Aldeguer signed a two-year agreement and will compete as an official Ducati rider with factory-supported machinery.

The move represents an important addition for Valentino Rossi’s team and gives Ducati another highly regarded young rider within its long-term structure. MotoGP confirmed Ogura’s injury and Aldeguer’s move to VR46.

A Transformative Day Across Professional Sports

Wednesday’s sports news extended far beyond scores and standings. The NFL ended one of its longest-running traditions while approving a franchise sale worth nearly $10 billion. The Williams sisters prepared for another Grand Slam appearance, European soccer completed its Champions League qualifying process, and the PGA Tour continued reshaping its schedule and postseason.

Each development carries consequences beyond a single event. The Seahawks sale demonstrates the soaring value of elite professional teams. The end of the Pro Bowl reflects changing television habits and increased attention to player safety. Meanwhile, the return of Serena and Venus Williams gives the U.S. Open a partnership with unmatched history and worldwide recognition.

Together, those stories defined a busy August 26 across the professional and international sports landscape.