Player News Today — October 23, 2026
Co-defendant denies Billups gave him info, pleads guilty in NBA gambling case and more — today's player signal.
The sports world is buzzing today with a mix of controversy, rankings, and preseason excitement. In the NBA, a co-defendant in the ongoing gambling case involving Billups has pleaded guilty, but surprisingly denied that Billups provided him with inside information. Meanwhile, over in the MLB, fans are getting a glimpse into the future with rankings of top players for the 2026 World Series - and some tough decisions have to be made about who's making the cut. College basketball is also heating up, with UConn's Strong and USC's Watkins leading the way on the preseason AP All-American women's team.
But it's not all about the future - the WNBA is celebrating its 30-season history by ranking the greatest players of all time. And in the present, teams are dealing with the fallout of last season's actions, like the Bills' Gardner-Johnson, who saw his suspension for spitting upheld after an appeal. In the English Premier League, Manchester United is trying to get its house in order after a messy season, with questions swirling about who's to blame: the players, the coaches, or new investor Ratcliffe? With so much going on, there's something for every sports fan to chew on today!
Today's signal:
• Co-defendant denies Billups gave him info, pleads guilty in NBA gambling case (espn.com)
• Rasmussen or Miz? Caminero or Chourio? Ranking every player in the 2026 World Series (espn.com)
• Who's to blame for Man United mess: Carrick, the players ... Ratcliffe? (espn.com)
• UConn's Strong, USC's Watkins headline preseason AP All-American women's team (espn.com)
• Bills DB Gardner-Johnson's suspension for spitting stands after appeal (espn.com)
• WNBA's greatest players of all time: Ranking the 30 best in 30-season history (espn.com)