Here are the biggest sports stories from yesterday as you start your day!

 LeBron James makes NBA history in season return

LeBron returned to the court for the Los Angeles Lakers after missing the first 14 games of the season (due to sciatica). He posted 11 points in 30 minutes in a 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz.

By stepping into that game, LeBron became the first NBA player in history to play in 23 consecutive seasons.

 Curaçao becomes smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026

The Curacao national football team secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America by drawing 0-0 away at Jamaica. That result secured them the top spot in their CONCACAF group.

With a population of around 156,000, Curaçao becomes the least-populous nation ever to reach the men’s World Cup finals — eclipsing the previous record held by Iceland (population ~350,000).