This Week in Sports: Guerrero Jr. finally snaps home run drought, TFC topples MLS-best Nashville SC, Boxing legend Chuvalo dies at 89

Vivek JacobMon, September 14, 2026 at 3:19 PM UTC

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There were certainly no shortage of headlines coming out of the world of sports this week. (Credit: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images, Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images/Yahoo Canada Illustration)

It was a week of big highlights for Canadian sports teams and athletes tinted with one very sad human loss.

The Toronto Blue Jays will believe the face of the franchise is ready for the final couple weeks of the 2026 campaign after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally hit his first home run of the season at Rogers Centre.

Toronto FC teased some of its best soccer with a huge upset win over the MLS league-leading Nashville SC, and Cyle Larin is dominating the EFL Championship to now stand as the league's top scorer.

All of those highs are quelled by the sadness that legendary boxer George Chuvalo — who has been in the ring with the likes of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman — passed away at the age of 89.

Here's everything you from the week that was.

Guerrero Jr. finally has lift-off at Rogers Centre

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 13: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays receives the Blue Jays Home Run Jacket from George Springer #4 after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on September 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Toronto Blue Jays fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. cranked his first home run at Rogers Centre this season on Sunday.

With a 2-1 lead against the Baltimore Orioles in the bottom of the fifth with two out, Guerrero Jr. crushed a pitch from lefty Trevor Rogers into the bullpen in left field. The crowd was in ecstasy as the ball went out, when it was just a couple nights ago that he was booed for a rough performance in what has been an abysmal season.

The blast was just Guerrero Jr.'s ninth home run of the season, an astonishingly low total when considering he hit eight in last year's postseason run to the World Series alone.

Making the moment in the game all the more special, Guerrero Jr.'s home run was sandwiched between dingers from George Springer and Kazuma Okamoto for a three-home run inning.

With the win, the Blue Jays clinched a series win against the Orioles and moved back to .500 at 75-75. With just 12 games to go, Toronto is a game back of the Cleveland Guardians for the final A.L. Wildcard spot.

If Guerrero Jr. has finally found his home run stroke, there may yet be time to believe in these Blue Jays.

TFC have night to remember against MLS-best Nashville

Emilio Aristizabal #17 of Toronto FC celebrates the team's winning goal during a Major League Soccer game against Nashville SC at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Indrawan Kumala/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Toronto FC produced one of its best moments of the season on Sept. 9, toppling MLS-best Nashville SC 2-1 courtesy a 92nd minute winner from Emilio Aristizabal.

Having initially fallen behind to a disastrous own goal in just the third minute, Toronto FC showed excellent resolve to score the equalizer through Daniel Salloi in the 72nd minute and then push on for the winner.

Unfortunately, the good times didn't last as TFC then lost 3-0 on Sept. 12 to Orlando, led by Antoine Greizmann. The final scoreline wasn't necessarily reflective of the competitive nature of the contest, TFC conceding the first goal at the very end of the first half and then the final two goals in the last 10 minutes as they pressed for an equalizer.

TFC sit four points back of a direct playoff berth.

The Vancouver Whitecaps continue to set the pace in the Western Conference, despite falling 2-1 to Austin FC in a fairly heated encounter on Sept. 13. The Whitecaps dominated the match with 19 shots to Austin's four but just couldn't convert. Some controversial decisions from the referee added to the frustration, which culminated in Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen picking up a yellow card for arguing from the touchline.

CF Montreal remain in last place, after having lost both their matches this past week.

Boxing legend George Chuvalo passes away at 89

TORONTO, ON - 1966: George Chuvalo in the ring with Muhammad Ali (1942 - 2016), Toronto, 29th March 1966. (Doug Griffin/Toronto Star via Getty Images).

Canadian boxing legend George Chuvalo, known as the iron-chinned heavyweight, passed away on Saturday at the age of 89.

Chuvalo had been suffering from dementia and was residing at a long-term care facility in Toronto.

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During his prime, Chuvalo fought all of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman and never once suffered a knockout. He fought Ali for the heavyweight title in 1966 and became the first man at the time to take Ali to 15 rounds. Widely regarded as the greatest boxer of all time, Ali called Chuvalo the toughest boxer he faced to that point.

He finished with an overall record of 73 wins – 64 via knockout, 18 losses and two draws.

The City of Toronto honoured his legacy with the opening of the George Chuvalo Community Centre in 2019. It is located in the Junction.

Dabrowski falls short in U.S. Open doubles title quest

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani high five during a Women's Doubles semifinal match on Day Eleven of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 in Flushing, NY. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/USTA via Getty Images)

While no Canadian made the second week of the U.S. Open in singles action, Gabriela Dabrowski continued to fly the red and white flag high in doubles with a run to the semifinals that ended in heartbreaking fashion.

She was the defending champion coming in but, playing alongside Brazilian Luisa Stefani as the second seed, fell 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(8) to American pair Robin Montgomery and Ashlyn Kreuger.

As a nation, we probably don't give enough love to Gabby Dabrowski. Her run fell short in the women's doubles semifinals, but she was right there in giving herself a shot at a third U.S. Open crown.

With Australian and French Open titles in mixed doubles, she is one Wimbledon title away from having won all four Majors across both women's and mixed doubles. She has played in three Wimbledon women's doubles finals, losing in 2019, 2024, and earlier this year.

Dabrowski is currently the fifth-ranked women's doubles player in the world, having reached a career-high of second earlier this year.

Alexander Zverev won the men's singles title for his second career Major, defeating American Ben Shelton in the final. Elena Rybakina won the women's crown, defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Rybakina also became the World No. 1 with her success in New York.

Athlete of the Week: Cyle Larin

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Cyle Larin during the Sky Bet Championship 2026/27 match between Southampton and Bristol City at St Mary's Stadium on September 12, 2026 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)

The "Brampton Bagsman" is having the time of his life.

After a few memorable performances for Canada at the World Cup, Cyle Larin is now the leading scorer in the English Football League Championship with seven goals in seven matches.

In Southampton's most recent match against Bristol City, Larin started and scored twice in a 4-1 victory.

The City of Brampton announced a few days ago that Larin will be presented with a Key to the City in recognition of his international career and achievements as one of Canada's all-time leading scorers. The ceremony will take place at City Hall on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 6-8 p.m.

It is a free event but registration is required. The first 250 Brampton residents between the ages of four and 12 will receive a special gift at the event.

De Grasse finishes 5th in Ultimate Championship 200m

Canada's Andre De Grasse reacts after the men's 200m semi-final heat 2 during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship at the Gyula Zsivotzky National Athletics Centre, in Budapest on September 13, 2026. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP via Getty Images)

Andre De Grasse finished fifth in the World Athletics Ultimate Championships 200-metre sprint final with a time of 19.92. Compatriot Aaron Brown was seventh with a time of 20.23, while U.S. sprinter Kenneth Bednarek finished with a winning time of 19.52.

Edmonton native Marco Arop finished second in the men's 800-metre final with a time of 1:42.28, falling behind only in the final lap as Algeria's Djamel Sedjati bolted to the finish line with a time of 1:41.91.

Contrary to the Olympics and World Championships, there are no medals at the Ultimate Championships. It's prize money that's the main draw for the athletes, as the winner of each event earns $150,000.

Canadian women 4-0 at wheelchair basketball worlds

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 08: Arinn Young of Team Canada acknowledges the crowd following the team's defeat during the Women's Wheelchair Basketball Bronze Medal Match against Team People's Republic of China on day eleven of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at Bercy Arena on September 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Sticking with international competition, Canada improved to 4-0 in the women's wheelchair basketball worlds with an 80-37 win over Brazil.

Arinn Young had 23 points, six rebounds, and nine assists while Cindy Ouellet and Elise Froese each added 15 points.

Canada's final group stage game comes Tuesday against Great Britain at Carleton University.

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Source: “AOL Sports”