Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda celebrates a double during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Milwaukee, between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32)
Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10)
Edmonton Oilers' Evan Bouchard (2)
The flag is displayed during the national anthem prior to Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (18)
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton warms up before Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Atlanta Dream, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4)
Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Milwaukee Brewers' Garrett Mitchell, left, celebrates past Tampa Bay Rays catcher Nick Fortes after scoring during the fifth inning of Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Cowboys' DeMarvion Overshown blocks a pass by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee (16)
Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32)

If you love sports, Oct. 26, 2026, was tough to beat.

Five professional leagues in North America were in action at the same time on Monday night, a phenomenon known as a sports equinox.

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Major League Baseball and the NFL vied for the most viewers while the NBA, WNBA and NHL gave their diehard fans games to watch.

Monday marked the 33rd sports equinox, the first since Oct. 27, 2025, and the fourth instance with women's professional basketball included, according to Sportradar.

Here's a guide on how to sample a little bit of this and that in the sports smorgasbord:

The Tampa Bay Rays hosted the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the World Series, with the game starting shortly after 8 p.m. EDT on Fox. After the Brewers won the first two games by one run, they scored eight with two outs in the fifth inning on the way to winning 10-1, with Brandon Woodruff finishing it off on the mound.

Milwaukee is one victory away from the franchise's first championship in nearly six decades of existence. Game 4 is Tuesday night.

Even though the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys entered with 2-4 records, the NFL always draws a lot of interest and millions care about the NFC East matchup that kicked off at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN.

With quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve because of blood clots, the reeling Eagles continued their free fall. Dak Prescott threw for three touchdowns, Javonte Williams ran for 155 yards and the Cowboys rolled to a 38-21 win.

Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving returned to the Dallas Mavericks' lineup for their game at the Miami Heat. That game tipped off at 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV, well before baseball and football got underway.

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Flagg dominated with 29 points and 11 assists as the Mavs sent the Heat to an 0-4 start.

In the middle of the World Series and “Monday Night Football,” the NBA had Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors visiting Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets at 10 p.m. on NBCSN and Peacock.

The WNBA was vying for eyeballs against MLB, the NFL, NBA and NHL for the first time since 2000, when the league did it three times in September of that year.

The Golden State Valkyries hosted Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream in Game 5 of the Finals at 8 p.m. on USA Network, CNBC and Peacock. With the best-of-seven series tied at two games apiece, the Valkyries won 64-55 to move one win away from their first title in their second season.

Game 6 is Thursday in Atlanta.

The NHL had some of its top scorers skating in three games.

The New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings were on the ice at Madison Square Garden in a game that started at 7 p.m. on NHL Network. The Kings scored three times and chased Rangers goaltender James Reimer before either baseball or football started.

In a game that started at 8:30 on ESPN+, Toronto lost 5-2 at Calgary but not before captain Auston Matthews became the second-fastest U.S.-born player to reach 800 career points, doing so in 703 games.

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See AP’s full sports coverage here

 

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