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).

No. 5 Atlanta is on the upswing, as the Dream curbed a five-game losing streak to take two of its last three games heading into tonight’s clash with No. 11 Toronto.

The Dream is leaning on third-year star Angel Reese. The double-double machine notched her 16th of the season in Monday’s 101-92 win over LA.

“Angel made big emotional plays that gave us the energy to close it out,” head coach Karl Smesko said.

Atlanta now faces a Tempo squad searching for its own consistency. The 2026 expansion side enters the weekend looking to turn around a bumpy 2-5 homestand.

Toronto struggled to galvanize around Sunday’s 93-91 win over No. 7 New York, falling to No. 8 Washington 79-62 on Tuesday to sit at a 10-14 record.

“They were just a handful for us,” Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said of the young Mystics. “We have to prepare to put up a little bit more resistance next game.”

Toronto hosts Atlanta tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on ION.

No. 12 Boston is starting to find its footing, as the Legacy roars back from the midseason break on a three-game unbeaten streak — underlined by Wednesday’s 1-0 win over No. 8 Orlando.

The Legacy sits just four points below the playoff line. Boston drew even with No. 14 Bay FC, and notched wins against No. 15 Chicago and the Pride.

“We are building this culture to be a team that knows how to suffer,” Boston coach Filipa Patão said after the midweek shutout. “But at the same time, knows how to win games, not just be competitive.”

The Legacy faces a tough test on Sunday, taking on a No. 2 Washington side smarting from its 1-0 Queens Cup loss to No. 4 Gotham.

Played in front of a New York City record crowd at MLB’s Citi Field, Wednesday’s defeat snapped the Spirit’s own three-game winning streak, while also marking its first regular-season shutout since late March.

“We’re glad we’ve been a part of [it], and would have liked to play villain a little bit more,” midfielder Andi Sullivan said after the showcase event. “But the energy was tremendous.”

Boston welcomes Washington on Sunday at 7 PM ET, live on Victory+.

No. 11 Denver is turning a new leaf, as USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps is set to debut for the 2026 expansion side against No. 3 Portland on Saturday.

The match holds extra significance for Heaps, facing the team she led to two NWSL Shields and a league title before transferring to OL Lyonnes in 2022.

“Lindsey’s world-class talent and leadership will make an immediate impact,” Denver manager Nick Cushing said of the 2018 NWSL MVP. “We can’t wait to see her wear the crest.”

The weekend headliner pits two Colorado heavyweights against each other, with Heaps taking on fellow area native Sophia Wilson as the Thorns look to overcome Sunday’s 2-0 loss to regional rival Seattle.

The Summit’s temporary Centennial Stadium home will also make its premiere, hosting the club until its purpose-built venue opens in 2028.

“It is such a weird feeling,” Heaps told ESPN of her homecoming. “I’m waking up and getting on I-25 to go to training, which is a highway I would take all the time as a little kid to go play club soccer. It’s so bizarre.”

Denver hosts Portland at 2 PM ET on Saturday, live on CBS.

ESPN’s investment is is paying off, as the newly debuted Women’s Sports Sundays is reporting strong WNBA and AUSL audience turnouts.

WNBA broadcasts are averaging 1.3 million viewers through 10 games — up 6% over last season — while pro softball games are averaging 204,000 viewers to mark a 213% year-over-year increase.

Last Sunday’s Fever vs Aces showdown earned top WNBA ratings, peaking at 1.8 million for a 53% boost over 2025’s regular-season viewership.

ESPN’s decision to replace the long-running Sunday Night Baseball with a women’s sports block raised offseason eyebrows, though the math appears to be working in the media giant’s favor.

The WNBA’s entire TV deal totals $280 million across six networks, while MLB’s Sunday night programming alone runs $200 million per year.

Venus and Serena Williams are back in the headlines. Speculation surrounding the sisters’ US Open plans is growing following Serena’s singles return in London.

The pair were slated for a doubles run at Wimbledon. However, their bid derailed after Serena tweaked her knee during her first-round singles loss.

“Her intention is to keep playing — the US Open as well,” Serena’s coach Rennae Stubbs said after her All England Club exit.

“As long as physically she can go — and I’m hoping in a few weeks that’s the case — [the goal is] to get her back on the court and hitting balls.”

Serena has also been linked to ATP star Carlos Alcaraz as a possible US Open mixed doubles partner. The pairing depends on his availability after dealing with a longterm wrist injury.

“She did whisper to me, 'I would have won if I had a good knee,'” Stubbs continued.

“Leading up to the tournament, she was playing practice sets, beating players that are still in the tournament. I won’t mention which ones because I don’t want to embarrass them, but she was playing well.”