Project B made headlines this week, as the offseason league told Front Office Sports it will adhere to Olympic and FIBA gender eligibility guidelines, citing “consistency and confidence for players and stakeholders.”

The IOC effectively barred trans athletes from competing in Olympic women’s sports earlier this year, with FIBA following suit as it continues reviewing basketball-specific data through 2027.

The news arrives as the media storm surrounding gender eligibility reaches new heights, after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham spoke out against trans inclusion in women’s sports.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s recently formed task force found “no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA,” while the players union decried “hate, abuse, and demonization” directed at transgender people.

Project B has signed 15 players ahead of its January debut — including Cunningham and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike.

ESPN is betting on women’s college sports, as the network unveiled expanded coverage across volleyball and soccer ahead of the 2026 NCAA season.

The volleyball lineup marks the largest in ESPN history, listing more than 2,400 matches including 106 on linear TV. Everything kicks off with an August 21st showdown between Louisville and defending champion Texas A&M.

The network will air the entire NCAA volleyball tournament, culminating in December 20th’s final in San Antonio.

ESPN will carry 46 regular-season NCAA soccer matchups including 10 top-ranked clashes. ESPN+ will additionally stream 1,750+ games across 22+ conferences.

2025 champ Florida State headlines eight broadcasts. Georgia hosts its first-ever match inside Sanford Stadium, looking to break the women’s college soccer attendance record while subsequently honoring the USWNT’s 1996 Olympic gold-medal win.

World No. 153 Malawi rolls on, as the Chawinga sisters powered the tournament debutants past No. 74 Algeria 3-1 to meet Cameroon in Sunday’s WAFCON final.

OL Lyonnes’s Tabitha Chawinga opened the scoring with a bicycle kick off a corner in the 34th minute, before sealing the win with a 76th-minute strike.

KC Current star Temwa Chawinga netted her fifth goal of the tournament in first-half stoppage time, pulling level with Zambia’s Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) atop WAFCON’s Golden Boot race.

No. 71 Cameroon pulled off the bracket’s other upset, as goalkeeper Michaely Bihina made four saves to beat host No. 64 Morocco 3-1 on penalties after 120 scoreless minutes.

All four semifinalists already secured their 2027 World Cup berths, while the four losing quarterfinalists — Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria — battle for two tickets to FIFA’s inter-confederation playoffs this afternoon.

The 2026 WAFCON final kicks off Sunday at 3 PM ET (beIN Sports USA).

This year’s Champions League is taking shape, as Tuesday’s third qualifying draw unveiled 2026/27 paths for Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Hot off a busy transfer window, Chelsea drew Spanish side Real Sociedad, while Real Madrid pulled Dutch titan Ajax, PSG landed Bundesliga’s Eintracht Frankfurt, and two-time winner Wolfsburg got Serie A runner-up Inter.

The winners enter the 18-team League Phase alongside automatic qualifiers Barcelona, Lyon, Arsenal, and Manchester City, while the losing teams drop to the Europa Cup draw. 

There’s financial incentive to advance in Champions League play. Each League Phase club earns a guaranteed €505,000, plus €60,000 for every win, €20,000 for each draw, and €10,000 to €180,000 based on final standings.

The Champions League third qualifying round kicks off August 26th (Paramount+).

US Soccer lost one of its brightest stars this week. NWSL and USWNT midfielder Olivia Moultrie landed on the season-ending injury list after tearing her ACL in training.

The 20-year-old was in the midst of a career-best league run. She’s tallied five goals and five assists to propel No. 5 Portland up the NWSL table.

“Olivia is one of the most driven players I have been around, and she will use that drive during her recovery and rehabilitation,” Thorns President & GM of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos said in a team statement.

The blow is likely to sideline Moultrie for November’s Concacaf W Championship. That’s when the US kicks off its 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympic qualifiers.

“Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to sum up all of the feelings right now,” Moultrie posted.

“I know there is a reason this path has been chosen for me and I can’t promise everything but I can promise I’ll be back and I’ll be better.”

A celebrated LPGA event is making a comeback, as the Corning Classic returns to the schedule in 2027 after the Western New York tournament's 18-year hiatus.

Now known simply as "The Classic," the event leaps from a popular small-market stop to a heavyweight, boosting its purse to $5 million to rank among the highest on the LPGA Tour schedule outside of majors. It additionally marks a massive jump from the $1.5 million paid to 2009 winner Yani Tseng.

The revival lands as its title sponsor celebrates its 175th anniversary in Corning, a small town some two hours outside of Buffalo.

"The return of The Classic brings together the LPGA's history and its future," commented LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler.

"As we continue shaping the next chapter of our Tour, we're building on the qualities that have defined the LPGA for decades — incredible championships, committed partners, passionate communities and unforgettable experiences for our athletes."

The tournament showcases a storied history. Nine of its past champions are enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame, including Joanne Carner, Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, and Annika Sorenstam.

"Community support was always at the heart of what made this tournament so enjoyable to play," Sorenstam said.

"I know that the latest generation of players are going to love the event just as much as we all did."

The Corning Classic tees off in May 2027.

Big Ten volleyball is landing on the big stage, as Fox expands its NCAA coverage this season. Its 2026 broadcast lineup headlined by a primetime broadcast of the conference's first-ever Big Ten Women's Volleyball Tournament final.

The inaugural tournament runs November 20-25, with 10 of its 14 matches earning national TV coverage. The finalists will then square off alongside Netflix's first Wednesday NFL game and college basketball's Feast Week.

Fox will carry three Big Ten volleyball matches overall, including volleyball blueblood Nebraska. The team's popularity has convinced the network to slot its Wisconsin matchup onto a college football-dominated Saturday on October 10th.

This season's NCAA volleyball schedule features several marquee Fox windows beyond the tournament. The slate includes Big Ten/SEC Challenge Week matches from Wrigley Field — Nebraska vs Missouri and Penn State vs Kentucky — airing in primetime on September 6th.

FS1 is also expanding its slate to 16 regular-season matches featuring Big Ten teams, up from nine a year ago. However, NBC and Peacock are not scheduled to air any Big Ten volleyball this season.

Fox's NCAA volleyball coverage tips off August 22nd with Wisconsin vs Louisville.

Athletes Unlimited is tapping the breaks, as the multi-sport operation pulls back from its pro volleyball and basketball leagues to reimagine both products.

AU is zeroing in on its pro softball league after second-season ratings jumped 181% on ESPN, with the AUSL serving as its sole property in 2027.

“As we look ahead, we’re sharpening our focus on where we can create the greatest long-term impact for athletes, fans, and partners,” AU said in a statement.

“As part of that strategy, we’ll pause AU Pro Volleyball during the 2026 season and AU Pro Basketball for the 2027 season while we thoughtfully reimagine the future of those properties to reflect the continued growth and evolution of both sports.”

The news comes as upstarts LOVB, MLV, and Unrivaled 3×3 gain steam. Additionally, preparations for the 2028 Olympics have presented scheduling issues for Athletes Unlimited’s truncated format.

These aren’t the company’s first casualties, after it cut AU Pro Lacrosse in 2024 over similar concerns.

The UFC's return to LA has a new women's bout, as a flyweight clash between Casey O'Neill and Eduarda Moura has reportedly been added to the UFC 331 dance card.

O'Neill enters on a roll, bouncing back from consecutive losses to Jennifer Maia and Ariane Lipski with two straight wins. That includes UFC Seattle's first-round knockout of Gabriella Fernandes in March, snapping a nearly two-year layoff.

The Scot burst onto the scene with four straight victories to open her UFC run. She subsequently hit a skid, though she'll look to keep her momentum going against a game opponent.

Moura brings a 3-2 octagon record into the matchup but arrives with question marks, having missed weight three times in her UFC tenure — most recently in a decision loss to Wang Cong at UFC Vegas 113 in February.

The 32-year-old will aim to right the ship against one of the division's rising names.

UFC 331 is less than two months away. However, still lacks an announced main event.

The women’s transfer market is buzzing, as UWCL champion Barcelona landed Brazil’s Kerolín for a record fee. Meanwhile, Arsenal reportedly sends USWNT defender Jenna Nighswonger back to the NWSL.

Barcelona signed the 26-year-old from Manchester City for £1.25 million, topping 2025 Arsenal addition Olivia Smith’s previous £1 million mark.

Kerolín will fill an attacking gap for the Spanish women’s soccer titan, after big-name exits by Alexia Putellas, Mapi León, and Ona Batlle.

Nighswonger, however, is said to be joining Bay FC. She transfers back into market just as US coach Emma Hayes zeroes in on her 2027 World Cup roster.

The 25-year-old transferred to Arsenal from Gotham FC in 2024, going on to lift the Champions League trophy with the Gunners in 2025.