Obscure Sports News

Here are a few stories that have come across my feed:

UTAH GREAT 8s WIN INTERNATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE TITLE
Haven't heard of the Great 8s or the International Arena League (IAL)? Not many people have but the Utah team won the inaugural league championship over the Cincinnati Slingers. Utah rallied from a 59-40 deficit in the 4th quarter to defeat the Slingers 62-59. Cincinnati attempted a long field goal on the final play which fell short.

Watch the championship game here: https://www.youtube.com/live/scs-VE1Dsl8?si=IDba-u-8EAqpPy_H

The league started with lofty goals with franchises in Europe. The league started play in April with ten founding franchises split across North America and Europe. In the United States, teams will be based in Arizona, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, and Utah and Pennsylvania while the European contingent includes clubs in Nottingham, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Glasgow and Zurich. Early in the 2026 season, the league announced that European teams like the Düsseldorf Warriors and Glasgow Tartans would no longer participate, consolidating the active roster down to domestic U.S. teams and a single combined European representation.

NORDIC STORM DOMINATES MUNICH RAVENS FOR EUROPEAN FOOTBALL ALLIANCE TITLE
The Nordic Storm (11-1) came to Innsbruck looking to make history and left with the first championship in European Football Alliance history, pulling away from the Munich Ravens (10-2) for a 48-28 victory at Tivoli Stadion Tirol. Read more here: https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/nordic-storm-overpower-munich-ravens-to-capture-inaugural-efa-championship/

CHARLOTTE CROWN WINS FIRST UPSHOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Charlotte Crown women's basketball team pulled off a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Jacksonville Waves 81-76. The Crown outscored Jacksonville 32-19 in the final quarter. Former UNC star Deja Kelly was named championship game MVP, leading the way with 29 points. She, along with teammate Schaquilla Nunn, was named to the All-UPSHOT team.

Watch the game here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Nb_T2ZfdmSY?si=LoD3Je1U0carl08r

NEW BOX LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCED
The American Box Lacrosse League (ABLL) today announced the launch of a brand-new United States-based professional indoor/box lacrosse developmental league, with its inaugural Barnstorming Showcase Tour scheduled to begin in January 2027.
The ABLL was created to provide American born lacrosse players and coaches, both indoor and outdoor, with a dedicated platform to further develop their skills, gain high-level competitive experience, and pursue opportunities throughout professional indoor lacrosse. Co-founded by longtime sports industry professionals George Manias, who will serve as President and Chief Operating Officer, and Steve Donner, who will serve as League Commissioner. The ABLL is also backed by a group of U.S. military veterans and experienced sports industry professionals, which will be announced in the near future.