Sports in the District are basically a rollercoaster that never stops. If you’re asking "what is the score of the Washington game," you probably realized that half the city’s teams are playing at the exact same time. It's January 17, 2026, and depending on whether you're looking for ice, hardwood, or the gridiron, the answer is wildly different.
Let's cut to the chase.
The Big Scores Right Now
If you're tracking the Washington Wizards, they just wrapped up a brutal late-night road trip. On Friday night, January 16, they fell to the Sacramento Kings with a final score of 128-115. Honestly, it wasn't as close as the score looks. Domantas Sabonis came back from a knee injury and the Wizards just didn't have an answer. They’ve now dropped five straight.
But if you’re looking for the live action happening this Saturday night, January 17, here is the breakdown:
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- Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers: This game is the main event at Capital One Arena tonight. Puck drop was set for 7:00 PM ET. It’s a massive game for the Caps as they try to snap out of a mid-January funk.
- Washington Wizards vs. Denver Nuggets: Yes, they're playing a back-to-back. After losing in Sacramento last night, they are in Denver tonight with a 9:00 PM ET tip-off.
What Really Happened With the Commanders?
A lot of people are still searching for the football score, but here is the thing: the Washington Commanders' season ended a couple of weeks ago.
Their last game was on January 4, 2026. They actually ended the year on a high note, beating the Philadelphia Eagles 24-17. It was a weird game. The Eagles sat Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, and Washington took advantage with Josh Johnson leading the way. They finished the season 5-12, which isn't great, but beating Philly always feels a little bit like a playoff win for the fans.
College Hoops: The Huskies and Georgetown
On the college side, it’s been a busy day. In Washington D.C., the Georgetown Hoyas just played a nail-biter against No. 3 UConn. It ended 64-62 in favor of UConn. KJ Lewis had a chance to tie it with a three at the buzzer, but it just didn't go down.
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Meanwhile, the Washington Huskies (the ones out in Seattle) have been dealing with a heavy Big Ten schedule. Their football season ended back in December with a 38-10 win over Boise State in their bowl game, but the basketball team is currently the focus for U-Dub fans.
Why Keeping Up Is So Hard
Honestly, the "Washington" name is a mess for search engines. You've got the Huskies, the Commanders, the Nationals (who are in spring training mode soon), the Wizards, and the Capitals.
If you're looking for the Washington Capitals score, remember they are currently 24-18-6. They’ve been struggling to win games consecutively. Every time they get a big win—like the 3-2 comeback against the Canadiens earlier this week—they seem to follow it up with a flat performance. Tonight’s game against the Panthers is basically a "must-win" if they want to keep pace in the Metropolitan Division.
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Quick Stats from the Recent Wizards Loss:
- Alex Sarr: 19 points (leading the team).
- Tre Johnson: 18 points.
- Trae Young: Sidelined. He's the new guy everyone is waiting to see, but he's out with knee and quad issues until mid-February.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often confuse the "Washington game" with whichever team is trending on social media. Right now, most of the chatter is about the Wizards' trade for Trae Young and whether the Capitals can actually make a run.
If you’re betting or just following along, the most important thing to watch tonight is the Capitals' power play. It’s currently ranked 30th in the league at a measly 15%. If they don't fix that against Florida, the final score tonight isn't going to be pretty.
Actionable Steps for DC Fans
If you want to stay updated without constantly refreshing a search page, do these three things:
- Check the Capitals Radio Network: If you're driving, tune into 106.7 The Fan. It’s the most reliable way to get live updates for the Caps game happening right now.
- Monitor the Wizards' Injury Report: With Trae Young out, the Wizards' scores are going to be ugly for a while. Don't expect a win against Denver tonight unless Jordan Poole goes nuclear.
- Watch the NHL Standings: The Caps are on a 95-point pace, which is right on the bubble. Every goal in this Florida game matters for the wildcard race.
Keep an eye on the live trackers for the 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM starts tonight to see how these scores settle.