The final weekend of the Athletes Unlimited lacrosse season is upon us. Team Ohlmiller is set to face off against Team Cummings on Friday at 5 p.m. ET, kicking off the final slate of games.

After a dominant showing through the first four weeks of the season, Taylor Cummings has a chance to clinch the inaugural lacrosse title. Challenging her are Caylee Waters and Kady Glynn. The goalkeepers are within striking distance of the top spot and could make things interesting down the stretch.

Here’s where things stand as we head into the closing weekend:

1. Taylor Cummings, midfielder (1,507 points)

Cummings came on quickly but quietly, drafting last week for the first time all season. She selected Marie McCool, as she told Just Women’s Sports she would before the season started, and drafted well enough to vault herself to the top of the leaderboard. She could be hard to catch if she continues to rack up MVP points this weekend.

2. Caylee Waters, goalie (1,422 points)

Waters overtook Glynn in the goalie battle last week for the first time all season. The two have been duking it out since Week 1, with Waters earning more MVP points (165) than Glynn (45). Waters drafted her own team this week and has a chance to chase down Cummings for the top spot.

3. Kady Glynn, goalie (1,357 points)

Glynn drafted a team for the first time last week, testing her lacrosse savvy. Her team won twice last weekend and helped increase her win points total. Glynn still has an opening to move past Waters, with only 65 points between the goalies.

4. Kylie Ohlmiller, attacker (1,296 points)

Ohlmiller has drafted twice this season, once in Week 2 and again in the final week. She leads the AU field in assists and is tied for second in goals, showing why she was the NCAA record-holder for points and assists. She’s also racked up win points and could make a run at Cummings in the final weekend.

Your Championship Weekend Captains 🌟

Only 6⃣ more games till we crown our first-ever Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse Champion 🏆 #BeUnlimited pic.twitter.com/RiiSASCV6D

— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) August 20, 2021

5. Kayla Wood, defender (1,273 points)

Wood emerged as one of the top defenders early in the season. Despite recording only one goal and one assist this season, she’s grabbed points by securing ground balls, controlling draws and winning games. Wood has fallen down the leaderboard a bit in recent weeks, but with a monster weekend, she could climb back up the rankings. Even if she can’t steal the top individual spot, Wood has a chance to win Defensive Player of the Year and take home a $5,000 bonus.

6. Dempsey Arsenault, midfielder (1,238 points)

Arsenault dropped off a bit this week after spending time in the top four last week and drafting a team of her own. Her team lost both of their games, and the midfielder took a hit in the standings.

7. Kayla Treanor, attacker (1,216 points)

Treanor has been a steady force on the leaderboard and on the field, with a total of 165 MVP points at this point in the season. She’s also fourth in goals and assists, making her a valuable drafting option and a player to keep an eye on.

8. Britt Read, goalie (1,192 points)

Read was high up on the leaderboard early in the season, even drafting her own team in Week 3, but she’s dropped off since then. She’s still racked up stat points, however, by leading the way with 492 save points.

9. Nicole Levy, attacker (1,164 points)

Levy has been quietly making waves all season long. She’s scored 10 goals and is tied for first in two-point goals with five.

10. Sam Apuzzo, attacker (1,164 points)

Apuzzo has been lighting up the net this season. She leads the league in goals, which has allowed her to accumulate 165 MVP points in the process.

For a full schedule of the weekend’s games, click here.

Editor’s note: Athletes Unlimited is a sponsor of Just Women’s Sports.

The NWSL is changing up its athlete acquisition process, with the league announcing on Wednesday that it will replace the CBA-eliminated draft with a pair of player combines starting this December.

Dividing prospects into two groups — adults and college-aged (U18-23) and youth (U13-17) — the three-day programs will showcase player talent and allow clubs to sign standouts as free agents.  

To maintain competitive balance across the NWSL and set incoming 2026 expansion teams Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC up for success, the league already revised several roster-building mechanisms, including adopting a new allocation money structure as well as intra-league loans.

Like the abolishment of the draft and the new mechanism requiring athletes to acquiesce to their own trades, the new NWSL combines will give players more freedom over their careers while also better aligning the growing US league with global soccer standards.

"As the women's soccer landscape continues to rapidly evolve, a Combine is a strategic platform that will allow us to support NWSL clubs in early talent evaluation and provide players with exposure to a professional environment," said league director of youth development Karla Thompson in Wednesday's statement.

"This initiative is about widening the lens...and ensuring that talent, wherever it resides, has a continued pathway to our league."

Despite falling from the playoffs on Wednesday night, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase is still ending her season on a win, with the WNBA naming the first-year expansion team sideline boss the 2025 Coach of the Year this week.

Nakase picked up 53 out of the sports media panel's 72 votes to take the title, with fellow sideline rookie Karl Smesko (Atlanta Dream) trailing with 15 votes while veteran leaders Becky Hammon (Las Vegas Aces) and Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) tied for third place with two votes apiece.

"What this does, is it reflects on [our] whole organization," said Nakase, sharing credit with her team and staff. "Without [the players], we wouldn't have had a winning season and we wouldn't be where I am today now."

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Golden State made WNBA expansion history under Nakase

In leading Golden State to a 23-21 regular season — a league record for wins by an expansion team in their first campaign — Nakase also minted the Valkyries as the first-ever expansion franchise to make the WNBA Playoffs in their debut season.

That success came from the team's strong defense, as the Valkyries held opponents to a league-wide low in both points per game (76.3) and field goal percentage (40.5%) on the year.

Before joining the Valkyries, Nakase served as an assistant coach in Las Vegas, helping guide the Aces to back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.

"Natalie has been a fierce leader from the very moment she was announced as head coach," said Golden State GM Ohemaa Nyanin. "Her core philosophy of connectivity and emphasis on high character has created an environment where everyone can thrive. Her unique approach to leadership and ability to hold players accountable with care while staying true to her values has been remarkable."

"I love playing for a fiery coach who always wants to win and believes in her players so much," said Valkyries — and former Aces — guard Kate Martin.

The new WNBA home-away-home first-round format has upped the dramatics in the 2025 Playoffs, as multiple home-court upsets have forced Game 3 deciders this week.

The No. 6 Indiana Fever's Game 2 win over No. 3 Atlanta set up Thursday's elimination game, with the injury-riddled Fever taking down the Dream 77-60 on Tuesday to keep their playoff dreams alive.

The No. 7 Seattle Storm also earned themselves a Game 3, facing No. 2 Las Vegas in Thursday's nightcap after snapping the Aces' 17-game winning streak in Tuesday's 86-83 Game 2 shocker.

Indiana and Seattle remain the series' underdogs, ceding home-court advantage as Atlanta aims to build on their first playoff win since 2016 while Las Vegas shoots for a third title in four years.

"Our backs were definitely against the wall in this, and we know that we've just been through so much this season," Fever center Aliyah Boston said postgame. "Coming out with this win and then giving ourselves another chance in Game 3, emotions are high."

How to watch Game 3 action in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs

The first round's Game 3 finales begin with two winner-take-all matchups on Thursday night, beginning when the No. 6 Indiana Fever tackles the No. 3 Atlanta Dream at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2.

Shortly afterward, the No. 6 Seattle Storm will take on the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces, also airing live on ESPN2.

The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx became the first WNBA team to punch their ticket to the 2025 semifinals with a dramatic come-from-behind win on Wednesday night, fighting back from a 17-point deficit to sneak past the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries 75-74 and sweep their first-round playoffs series.

Bolstered by a strong crowd traveling down to San Jose for the relocated home matchup, the Valkyries broke out into an early lead, but the 2025 expansion side couldn't hang on in the final seconds as the top-seeded Lynx rallied.

"I am just so proud of our effort," Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier said postgame. "I think it shows the grit and the resilience that this team has and what we've been talking about for two years."

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The Lynx secured the only sweep in this year's best-of-three opening postseason round, with every other series moving to a Game 3 decider.

"The games that we've watched demonstrate that level of desperation for teams in elimination games," Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve reflected.

How to watch the Minnesota Lynx in the 2025 WNBA semifinals

The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx will next face the lowest seed to advance past this week's first round, with Thursday and Friday Game 3 action determining their opponent.

The 2025 WNBA semifinals will then tip off on Sunday, with live coverage airing on ESPN platforms.