Saturday, September 12, 2026 is a packed global sports day: Aryna Sabalenka chases a historic US Open three-peat against new World No. 1 Elena Rybakina in New York, while the Premier League’s Manchester derby and MLB’s tightening wild-card races headline domestic action. Kimi Antonelli’s stunning home win at Monza has him leading the F1 title fight by 59 points over teammate George Russell, NASCAR’s new “Chase” playoff format kicked off at Darlington, and college football’s Week 3 slate features Ohio State still No. 1 after a dominant opener. The WNBA has clinched all eight of its 2026 playoff teams ahead of a September 27 start, and Europe’s Solheim Cup wraps up in the Netherlands as the sports calendar shifts firmly into its autumn rhythm.
Football (NFL/NCAAF)
- NFL: Regular season is underway (kicked off Sept. 9 with Seattle hosting New England); Week 2 action spans this weekend.
- College Football: Ohio State (1-0) sits atop the AP and Coaches polls after a 56-3 rout; Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana and Oregon round out the top 6. Week 3 features Ohio State-Texas and Oklahoma-Michigan as marquee matchups.
Basketball (NBA/WNBA/NCAAB)
- NBA: Offseason; teams are in training-camp prep mode ahead of the 2026-27 season.
- WNBA: All eight playoff teams have clinched — Minnesota, Golden State, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Indiana, New York, Washington and Dallas. Playoffs begin Sept. 27, Finals open Oct. 17. The league is currently on hiatus for the FIBA World Cup in Berlin.
Baseball (MLB)
- Tampa Bay leads the AL, Milwaukee leads the NL as of Sept. 12 standings. Tight wild-card races continue in both leagues; Dodgers’ and Yankees’ magic numbers to clinch are down to 3. Postseason begins Sept. 29, World Series Game 1 set for Oct. 23.
Hockey (NHL)
- Offseason; teams are in preseason preparation, with training camps opening later this month.
Soccer (EPL/MLS/World Soccer)
- Premier League Matchday 4 is live today, headlined by the Manchester derby (Man United vs. Man City) and Arsenal traveling to Sunderland.
- MLS clubs are approaching the September roster freeze amid an active transfer window.
Tennis (US Open/ATP/WTA)
- The 2026 US Open women’s final is today: two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka faces newly crowned World No. 1 Elena Rybakina, with Sabalenka seeking a rare three-peat.
- The men’s final is set for Sunday: Ben Shelton (first major final) vs. Alexander Zverev.
Motorsports (F1/NASCAR/IndyCar/MotoGP)
- F1: Kimi Antonelli won a sensational Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid, becoming the first Italian to win at Monza since 1966; he now leads the championship by 59 points over George Russell, with Lewis Hamilton also in the hunt. Next up: Azerbaijan GP (Sept. 26).
- NASCAR: The Cup Series has returned to a “Chase” playoff format for the first time since 2013; Denny Hamlin enters as the top seed after winning the regular-season title.
Golf (PGA/LPGA/Ryder-Solheim Cup)
- The 2026 Solheim Cup (Europe vs. USA women’s team event) is being contested this week at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, running through Sept. 13.
- No Ryder Cup this year — the next men’s edition is 2027 in Ireland.
Other notable storylines
- Rugby, boxing, MMA, cycling, and Olympic-discipline sports (track, swimming, gymnastics) have no major global events scheduled for this specific date, with most calendars quiet between recent World Championships and the next Olympic cycle.
