1918 in sports


 * Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War I or the 1918 flu pandemic

1918 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

American football
College championship Professional football
 * College football national championship – Pittsburgh Panthers
 * Most teams shut down due to World War I and the flu pandemic; those that continue play are forced to delay the start of play until the middle of October or later
 * Dayton Triangles defeat Detroit Heralds, both of whom continue full operations despite war and flu, to establish themselves as the strongest team in the US
 * Buffalo Niagaras sign Tommy Hughitt for play in a citywide league, establishing a trend of expansion of top-level professional competition outside Ohio

Association football
Europe
 * There is no major football in Europe due to World War I

Australian rules football
VFL Premiership South Australian Football League: West Australian Football League:
 * South Melbourne wins the 22nd VFL Premiership beating Collingwood 9.8 (62) to 7.15 (57) in the 1918 VFL Grand Final.
 * not contested due to World War I
 * 21 September: East Fremantle 11.8 (74) defeat East Perth 8.5 (53) for their tenth WAFL premiership.

Bandy
Sweden
 * Championship final – IFK Uppsala 4–1 IK Sirius (replay following 2–2 draw)

Baseball
World Series Events
 * 5–11 September — Boston Red Sox (AL) defeats Chicago Cubs (NL) to win the 1918 World Series by 4 games to 2
 * Babe Ruth leads the American League in home runs for the first time, hitting 11
 * 2 September — professional baseball is curtailed to accelerate mobilisation for war

Boxing
Events Lineal world champions
 * No world titles change hands in 1918 but Jack Dempsey, with a series of knockouts including one against Battling Levinsky, is now the main challenger to Jess Willard.
 * World Heavyweight Championship – Jess Willard
 * World Light Heavyweight Championship – Battling Levinsky
 * World Middleweight Championship – Mike O'Dowd
 * World Welterweight Championship – Ted "Kid" Lewis
 * World Lightweight Championship – Benny Leonard
 * World Featherweight Championship – Johnny Kilbane
 * World Bantamweight Championship – Pete Herman
 * World Flyweight Championship – Jimmy Wilde

Canadian football
Grey Cup
 * not contested due to World War I

Cricket
Events India New Zealand
 * There is no first-class cricket in England, Australia, South Africa or the West Indies due to World War I. A number of first-class matches are arranged in New Zealand but are not part of any official competition.
 * Bombay Quadrangular – Hindus shared with Parsees
 * Plunket Shield – not contested

Cycling
Tour de France Giro d'Italia
 * not contested due to World War I
 * not contested due to World War I

Figure skating
World Figure Skating Championships
 * not contested due to World War I

Golf
Events
 * All major championships are cancelled due to World War I

Horse racing
England Australia Canada Ireland USA
 * Grand National – not held due to World War I
 * 1,000 Guineas Stakes – Ferry
 * 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Gainsborough
 * The Derby – Gainsborough
 * The Oaks – My Dear
 * St. Leger Stakes – Gainsborough
 * Melbourne Cup – Night Watch
 * King's Plate – Springside
 * Irish Grand National – Ballyboggan
 * Irish Derby Stakes – King John
 * Kentucky Derby – Exterminator
 * Preakness Stakes – not contested as a single race
 * Belmont Stakes – Johren

Ice hockey
Stanley Cup Events
 * The temporary Toronto Arenas team defeats the Montreal Canadiens 10–7 to win the inaugural National Hockey League (NHL) championship
 * Vancouver Millionaires defeats Seattle Metropolitans 3–2 to win the Pacific Coast Hockey Association championship
 * 20–30 March — Toronto Arenas (NHL) defeats Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA) in the 1918 Stanley Cup Finals by 3 games to 2
 * 2 January — Montreal Wanderers disbands following destruction of its home venue by fire
 * Allan Cup is won by Kitchener Greenshirts

Motor racing
Events
 * No major races are held anywhere worldwide due to World War I

Rowing
The Boat Race
 * Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race – not contested due to World War I

Rugby league
England Australia New Zealand
 * All first-class competitions are cancelled due to World War I
 * NSW Premiership – South Sydney (outright winner)
 * 1918 New Zealand rugby league season

Rugby union
Five Nations Championship
 * Five Nations Championship series is not contested due to World War I

Speed skating
Speed Skating World Championships
 * not contested due to World War I

Tennis
Australia England France USA Davis Cup
 * Australian Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I
 * Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I
 * Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I
 * French Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I
 * French Women's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I
 * American Men's Singles Championship – Lindley Murray (USA) defeats Bill Tilden (USA) 6–3 6–1 7–5
 * American Women's Singles Championship – Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (Norway) defeats Eleanor E. Goss (USA) 6–4 6–3
 * 1918 International Lawn Tennis Challenge – not contested