Sports

Israel’s basketball powerhouse: Deni Avdija’s meteoric rise to NBA stardom

Deni Avdija has become the fulcrum of Portland’s offense and one of the most productive two-way forwards in the league.

|ByASHER SMITH
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS forward Deni Avdija (8) scores a basket during the first half against Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Some of the Jewish and Israeli 2026 Winter Olympians, from left: Noa Szollos, Quinn Hughes, A.J. Edelman, Attila Mihály Kertész and Mariia Seniuk.

Jewish and Israeli athletes to watch in the 2026 Winter Olympics

Israel will send nine athletes to Milan for the 2026 Olympic Games, its second-largest delegation at its ninth Winter Olympics.

|ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
The scene at Bloomfield Stadium was bedlam as Hapoel Tel Aviv players and fans celebrated together after the Reds earned their first derby victory over arch-rival Maccabi since 2014.

Curse is broken: Hapoel Tel Aviv’s night to remember after derby drought - comment

Over the course of these 30 contests that were sandwiched between wins, Maccabi won 25 times and drew five games as it scored 56 goals and conceded only 10.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV'S Will Rayman (11) has earned an increasingly important role with the club and he was instrumental in the yellow-and-blue's 75-71 Euroleague victory over Panathinaikos.

Everyone loves Rayman after Maccabi Tel Aviv's Euroleague triumph

Above all, the player who contributed to the win over the Greeks was Will Rayman, who perhaps made the most important and critical play, a play that wasn’t even with the ball.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Jerusalem marathon 2026 to offer special benefits for IDF reservists

The 15th Jerusalem Marathon, scheduled for March 27, offers special discounts for IDF reservists and security forces.

JANUARY 9, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
MARATHON DAY in Jerusalem is always one of the most energetic and fun experiences of the year throughout the capital.

Built for the big moments: Carrington leads Hapoel Jerusalem’s recent surge

The naturalized Israeli is in the midst of this third season with the capital city Reds and has been nothing less than a consummate professional, one of the leaders of the team.

JANUARY 8, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
VETERAN GUARD Khadeen Carrington has become the heartbeat of Hapoel Jerusalem, delivering his biggest games when the stakes are the highest.

Hapoel Tel Aviv beats Dubai, Maccabi falls in Barcelona

Blakeney, Micic power first-place Reds against Dubai • Yellow-and-blue drops to 8-12 in Euroleague

JANUARY 7, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV guard Antonio Blakeney reacts after scoring two of his game-high 25 points in the Reds’ 80-65 Euroleague rout of visiting Dubai.

Trump draws criticism after joking about transgender athlete at Kennedy Center

Remarks by President Donald Trump mocking a transgender athlete have sparked criticism, amid ongoing legal battles over transgender rights in the US.

JANUARY 7, 2026BySHOSHANA BAKER
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, New York, U.S., September 23, 2025.

Israelis banned from UK sports arena for their own protection, new evidence suggests

Maccabi fan ban was driven by threats against Israelis, not from them; police hid evidence from Home Affairs Committee

JANUARY 6, 2026ByMATHILDA HELLER
POLICE OFFICERS detain a protester outside the stadium during the match, Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv, Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain, November 6, 2025

Maccabi Tel Aviv keeps pace in Third with conquest of Hapoe

After a fairly even opening 20 minutes, Mathew Cudjoe’s reckless tackle on Helder Lopes saw the midfielder sent off, leaving Sakhnin with only 10 men.

JANUARY 6, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
One of Hapoel Beersheba's Kings Kangwa with teammates and one of Beersheba's Dan Bitton celebrating goals

Bondi heroes, first responders met with standing ovation and tribute at Sydney Cricket Ground

After passing through the 48,000-strong crowd, the heroes were met with a guard of honor from the England and Australian teams.

JANUARY 5, 2026ByMATHILDA HELLER
Ahmed al Ahmed, who disarmed a Bondi Beach attacker, stands with first responders during the guard of honour at Day 1 of the Ashes Test at SCG, Jan 4, 2026.

Two parachutists miss the field during dramatic Armed Forces Bowl entrance

During the pregame ceremonies, five parachutists attempted to jump onto the field at the Amon G. Carter Stadium before Texas State faced off with Rice University.

JANUARY 4, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A parachutist crashes at the Armed Forces Bowl at the Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sixty Australian athletes call for Royal Commission into Bondi attack despite Albanese refusal

"This is a national crisis, and it demands a national response. It is about the character of our country and the Australia we want future generations to inherit," the sports figures said in a letter.

JANUARY 4, 2026ByMATHILDA HELLER
People stand near flowers laid as a tribute at Bondi Beach to honour the victims of a mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday, in Sydney, Australia, December 16, 2025.

The cricket match we missed and the Shabbat we found - opinion

What we witnessed that Shabbat was something far rarer and more precious than a Test match victory: a glimpse of genuine Jewish unity. 

JANUARY 4, 2026ByJONATHAN LIEBERMAN
Old Finchleians Cricket Club v Highgate Taverners Cricket Club at Old Finchleians Memorial Ground, Woodside Park, North London, England.