The tennis world is swinging back to the States, as the WTA’s best hit the hard court at Washington, DC’s Mubadala DC Open this week ahead of August’s US Open.

The Mubadala DC Open serves as a WTA 500 tune-up tournament for both singles and doubles, as the season’s final Grand Slam looms.

Slam winners Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys, and Venus Williams headline this year’s field, alongside US favorites world No. 3 Jessica Pegula and No. 26 Emma Navarro.

VenusWilliams had originally paired with Filipina rising star Alexandra Eala in doubles, before a late scratch saw Russia’s Diana Shnaider step in.

Eala is one of several missing big names, as No. 6 Karolína Muchová, No. 12 Victoria Mboko, and No. 15 Jasmine Paolini all sit this one out.

“Venus is someone who deserves a partner who can give their all,” Eala said. “Right now I think I can only do that for singles.”

Where to Watch WTA Stars at the 2026 Mubadala DC Open

2026 DC Open coverage continues through Sunday, live on Tennis Channel.

Sha’Carri Richardson is back on top, winning her third-career 100-meter title at Friday’s USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships — underlining her recent return to form.

The star sprinter finished in 10.77 seconds — slightly off her personal best time of 10.65 after a slow start. However, a last-second burst saw her reclaim her title.

“It feels phenomenal to be back in a better place: healthy mentally, physically, emotionally,” Richardson told NBC Sports. “Hard work pays off.”

Elsewhere, reigning 200-meter world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden easily took the 200-meter US crown with a season-best time of 21.69.

“I told myself, ‘Just let each phase of the race come to you,’” she said afterward. “‘Go out there, [and] when the gun goes off, let it rip.’”

The AUSL champion Utah Talons have done it again, sweeping the Chicago Bandits with Sunday’s 6-1 Game 2 win to claim a second straight Athletes Unlimited Softball League title.

With victory adds to Utah’s AUSL domination, finishing as the second-year league’s No. 1 seed and champion in back-to-back seasons.

“I’m incredibly proud of this group,” coach Cindy Ball-Malone said. “When I first met this group in March, I asked them what they wanted to do, and they said repeat — job well done.”

Talons ace Montana Fouts delivered on the big stage, pitching a complete game while allowing just one run on eight hits with four strikeouts.

“I’m very proud of how I felt when I saw the rest of my team,” the 2026 Pitcher of the Year said. “I felt genuine love. I’m thankful I got the opportunity to get it done for them.”

Outfielder Jadelyn Allchin took championship series MVP, going 3-for-6 at the plate while recording three runs and three RBIs.

The AUSL now gears up for the 2026 All-Star Cup, taking the field on August 8th at 7 PM ET.

Soccer fans held their breath on Friday, as USWNT and Gotham defender Emily Sonnett was stretchered off the Portland field with injury in the opening minutes of the Gotham vs Thorns game’s 2-2 draw.

“Gotham FC defender Emily Sonnett left Friday’s match at Portland with a suspected left knee injury,” read a team statement. “She will receive further evaluation in New Jersey.”

“Emily’s one of our key players as a leader on and off the pitch, so it’s really difficult when you lose such a great and key player that early in the game,” added interim manager Shaun Harris.

The game that followed pitted the No. 5 Portland’s potent offense against No. 2 Gotham’s staunch backline.

Superstar signing Sam Kerr played hero for the Bats. The Australian international scored her first goal since returning to the NWSL, securing the result in the 62nd minute.

“I thought we were quite poor today, to be honest,” Kerr said postgame. “We were probably lucky to get away with the tie.”

Gotham’s roadtrip continues with Wednesday’s visit to No. 14 Bay FC, kicking off at 10 PM ET (CBS Sports).

New York’s Jonquel Jones stood tall on Saturday, lifting the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game MVP trophy after leading Team Spoon to a 129-122 win over Team Coop.

The Liberty big pulled off the league’s first MVP sweep, after earning 2021 WNBA MVP, 2024 Finals MVP, 2023 Commissioner’s Cup MVP, and 2026 All-Star MVP.

“This is everything I dreamed about,” she said. “I told my parents when I was five years old that I was gonna be a professional athlete. The plan never changed — even when it looked murky.”

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert came under scrutiny during her State of the League address, deflecting questions about her future as multiple reports suggest her tenure might be nearing its end.

“I’m so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hyper-growth period,” she said. “I will just continue to do my job, execute the strategy, because it has been working.”

Engelbert also announced the WNBA will debut its first centralized review center in 2027, in an effort to “help bring greater consistency, efficiency, and transparency to our officiating process while continuing to improve the quality of the game.”

The regular season returns tomorrow, as No. 14 Connecticut faces No. 8 Washington at 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass).

Surrounded by superstars Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell enters her fourth WNBA All-Star Game as one of the league’s most underrated offensive threats — quietly averaging a career-high 23.3 points per game this year.

“It’s about time that people give Kelsey her flowers,” Boston said of her teammate. “The way that she shows up every single day, the way that she gives us everything, is so amazing.”

“She's incredibly underrated,” echoed Clark. “There’s not a better scorer in this league in a one-on-one matchup than Kelsey.”

Coming off a late-2025 health scare, Mitchell has altered small parts of her routine ahead of the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, with IV treatments now a fixture of her off-court recovery.

Her outside game has only improved, averaging nearly three made 3-pointers per game while shooting a career-best 42% from behind the arc.

“I want my game to always be limitless, and I can find different ways to do different things,” Mitchell explained. “It was just about making sure I felt confident, trusting my work a lot more.”

If that wasn’t enough, Mitchell’s been pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership, aligning her All-Star mindset with a grad student’s discipline.

“The balance of being a professional athlete, and then having to go home and do some schoolwork — it keeps me honest,” Mitchell said.

“She’s literally doing school work, and then goes and drops 30 on everybody,” Clark laughed. “Pretty incredible.”

Kelsey Mitchell suits up for Team Coop in tonight’s WNBA All-Star Game at 8:30 PM ET, live on ABC.

NWSL stars are stepping into the global spotlight, as the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations lands in Morocco on Sunday — with World Cup berths on the line.

WAFCON was originally slated for March, but CAF abruptly postponed the continental tournament and moved it outside an official FIFA window.

The 16-team competition’s top four finishers qualify outright for the 2027 World Cup. Two additional teams subsequently advance to an inter-continental playoff.

The tournament features 11 NWSL players across eight teams. The list includes Nigeria’s Gift Monday (Washington) and Michelle Alozie (Chicago), Cote d’Ivoire’s Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington), and Mali’s Aïssata Traoré (Boston).

Two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga makes her WAFCON debut on Tuesday, as Malawi readies for its first-ever finals appearance against reigning champion Nigeria.

Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda and Bay FC’s Rachael Kundananji lead Zambia into Tuesday’s battle with Egypt. The Copper Queens look to avenge last year’s 5-0 quarterfinal loss to Nigeria.

Where to Watch NWSL Stars at WAFCON 2026

WAFCON kicks off Sunday, with select matches streaming live on CAF TV.

No. 4 Portland is aiming to stop the skid, entering tonight’s heavyweight clash with No. 2 Gotham FC after dropping back-to-back matches this month.

The Thorns are chasing the Bats up NWSL table after Gotham drew level with league-leader Washington at 30 points apiece last weekend.

“It’s always difficult coming to Portland and playing in this environment,” said interim Gotham manager Shaun Harris. “But at the same time we relish these kinds of moments.”

Portland should expect an boost via forward Morgan Weaver. The veteran returns from a knee injury that’s kept her sidelined since November 2024.

Star striker Sophia Wilson tops the Thorns in goals with seven on the season. Pietra Tordin subsequently leads in assists with six across 16 games.

“Portland is a very good team,” said Gotham defender Bruninha. “They have very good players and very fast players, so we need to give them our full attention.”

Where to Watch Tonight's Thorns vs Gotham FC NWSL Match

Portland hosts Gotham tonight at 10 PM ET, live on Prime.

Three generations of talent hit the WNBA All-Star Game court Friday, as the league revealed the legends and up-and-comers set to compete in All-Star Weekend’s Shooting Stars.

Hall of Famer Elena Delle Donne teams up with Washington’s Shakira Austin, three-time MVP Lauren Jackson with Seattle’s Flau’jae Johnson, five-time champion Rebekkah Brunson with Minnesota’s Courtney Williams, and five-time All-Star Deanna “Tweety” Nolan with Dallas’s Jessica Shepard.

The event also spotlights young standouts from Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League, including Jezelle “GG” Banks, Ryan Carter, Tatianna Griffin, and Morghan Reckley.

Replacing the Skills Challenge of years past, the two-round showdown gives teams 70 seconds to score as many points as possible from seven locations around the court.

Shots range from layups to long-range 3-pointers, with the two highest-scoring teams advancing to the championship.

2026 All-Star honorary GMs Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon will serve as designated passers.

Shooting Stars tips off on Friday at 8 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Minnesota is flying high, as star Napheesa Collier returned from injury to lift the No. 1 Lynx over No. 15 Seattle 86-76 yesterday behind 24 points and 10 rebounds.

The forward made her 2026 debut after recovering from an offseason double ankle surgery, addressing damaging sprains suffered last season.

“I felt like a kid in a candy store — I couldn’t wait to get on the court,” Collier said postgame. “I’m just happy to be here.”

Despite missing its cornerstone all season, Minnesota entered Wednesday’s matchup on a six-game winning streak atop the WNBA standings.

Rookie phenom Olivia Miles leads the team with 19.6 points per game. Veteran Natasha Howard has shouldered the defense with 8.1 rebounds per game.

“We do recognize the narrative of someone who’s been incredible like Olivia has — to insert Phee, what do they look like together?” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. “I’m just as excited to find out.”

Minnesota closes out the first half of the season at 22-6, returning to action against No. 10 Toronto on Tuesday at 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass).