The NBA on April 19-20 announced finalists for its 2025-26 regular-season awards, headlined by a three-way race for Most Valuable Player: reigning winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City), Nikola Jokic (Denver) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio). Wembanyama is also a Defensive Player of the Year finalist alongside Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City) and Ausar Thompson (Detroit) and is widely regarded as the favorite for that award. Other key finalists include Rookie of the Year contenders Cooper Flagg (Dallas), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte) and VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia); Sixth Man nominees Tim Hardaway Jr., Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Keldon Johnson; Coach of the Year candidates J.B. Bickerstaff, Mitch Johnson and Joe Mazzulla; and Clutch Player finalists Anthony Edwards, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray. The league said awards will be announced during playoff broadcasts starting Monday with Defensive Player of the Year, followed by Clutch Player (Tuesday), Sixth Man (Wednesday), Sportsmanship (Thursday) and Most Improved (Friday). The league allowed Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham on ballots under an ‘‘extraordinary circumstances’’ clause despite not meeting the 65-game threshold; Anthony Edwards lost his appeal but remains a Clutch nominee selected by coaches.

The FIA, team principals, power-unit chiefs and Formula One Management unanimously agreed a package of in-season refinements on April 20 to address driver complaints and safety concerns from the opening rounds of the 2026 season. Most measures will be implemented from the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, subject to a formal World Motor Sport Council e-vote. Key changes include reducing the maximum permitted lap recharge in qualifying from 8MJ to 7MJ and raising peak "superclip" recovery power from 250kW to 350kW to promote more "flat-out" qualifying laps. In races, boost power will be capped at an additional +150kW to limit sudden closing-speed differentials; MGU‑K deployment will be allowed at 350kW in key acceleration/overtaking zones but limited to 250kW elsewhere. A new low-power start-detection system will trigger automatic MGU‑K deployment and flashing lights for slow-starting cars; those start measures will be trialled in Miami. Wet-weather rules will be adjusted (higher tyre blanket temperatures, reduced ERS deployment and simplified rear-lighting) to improve control and visibility. The changes respond to driver unrest — including public criticism from Max Verstappen — and safety concerns highlighted by Ollie Bearman’s high-speed crash in Japan.

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said on April 20 he has "100%" backing from the club’s owners despite a damaging run of form that has left the Blues' Champions League hopes in jeopardy. Chelsea lost 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to Manchester United at the weekend, marking a fourth successive Premier League defeat and a run of four league games without scoring — a drought the club has not endured since 1912, according to reports. The defeat left Chelsea sixth on 48 points with five matches remaining, narrowing the margin for a top-five finish. Rosenior, appointed in January and working under a long-term contract, said he and the owners are aligned on both immediate results and the club’s longer-term project. Co-owner Behdad Eghbali has publicly reiterated support and indicated a potential summer shift toward recruiting more experienced players. Rosenior also addressed a post-match dressing-room incident involving defender Wesley Fofana, who apologised, and confirmed injury concerns: Estevao Willian is ruled out for the next match and Joao Pedro faces a late fitness test; Levi Colwill is building minutes back via under-21 action. Chelsea travel to Brighton next in a crucial fixture.

The Dallas Cowboys on April 20 signed kicker Brandon Aubrey to a four-year, $28 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history. The deal averages $7 million per season and includes a reported $20 million guaranteed and an $8.25 million signing bonus. Dallas placed a second-round restricted free-agent tender on Aubrey earlier this offseason. Aubrey, 31, has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with the Cowboys and was a first-team All-Pro in 2023. He has converted 112 of 127 field-goal attempts (88.2%) in his NFL career, with a long of 65 yards and a league-record six field goals of 60-plus yards. Last season he made 36 of 42 attempts (85.7%), including 11 of 17 from 50-plus yards. A former Notre Dame soccer standout and 2017 MLS draft pick who transitioned to football via the USFL, Aubrey’s range has altered Dallas’ offensive strategy by effectively increasing field-position scoring range. The contract surpasses previous kicker benchmarks set by Harrison Butker and Ka’imi Fairbairn.

The San Francisco 49ers and veteran left tackle Trent Williams agreed on Monday to a two-year, $50 million contract extension, Williams’ agency Elite Loyalty Sports announced. The deal includes $37 million fully guaranteed and a $22 million signing bonus, and keeps the 12-time Pro Bowl selection under contract through at least the 2027 season. The agreement ends an offseason standoff after the team declined a $10 million option in March and removes uncertainty ahead of the NFL draft. Williams, who turns 38 in July, was one of the NFL’s highest-graded tackles in 2025 and has been a team captain since joining San Francisco in 2020. The contract gives the 49ers short-term clarity at a premium position while preserving salary-cap flexibility; Williams is due a reported base salary near $22.2 million in 2026 and carries a significant cap number. Williams’ agency also highlighted career-earnings milestones, a claim some outlets scrutinized. The deal allows the 49ers to shift draft priorities away from an immediate left-tackle replacement and keeps a veteran protector in place for quarterback Brock Purdy.

Defending champions John Korir and Sharon Lokedi each retained their Boston Marathon titles on April 20, 2026, delivering landmark performances in the 130th running of the race. Korir broke the men’s course record, finishing in 2:01:52 — 70 seconds faster than Geoffrey Mutai’s 2011 mark and the fifth-fastest marathon time recorded on any course. Lokedi won the women’s race in 2:18:51, leading a Kenyan-dominated top four (Loice Chemnung second, Mary Ngugi-Cooper third, Mercy Chelangat fourth). Korir and Lokedi earned $150,000 apiece; Korir received an additional $50,000 for the course record. Americans posted notable results: Zouhair Talbi (2:03:45) and Jess McClain (2:20:49) recorded the fastest times ever by athletes racing as U.S. citizens in Boston, with McClain setting the fastest Boston time by a U.S. woman. Marcel Hug claimed his ninth men’s wheelchair title (1:16:06) and Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women’s wheelchair race (1:30:51). Organizers cited cool, clear conditions and a slight tailwind that helped produce the fastest elite fields in the event’s history.