A couple of marquee signings and one key absence highlight an eventful international break in the NWSL.
On Thursday, the Kansas City Current announced that star defender Gabrielle Robinson is out for the season with an ACL tear. Robinson, the only Current defender to start and play every minute of the team’s first 10 games, sustained the injury during the team’s 1-0 win over Utah.
"Gabby has been one of the league's best defenders this year and we are heartbroken for her," Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski said in a team release. "She has worked so hard to make an impact on our club. She has one of the best attitudes around this injury and we are confident she will make a full return as she tackles her recovery process with a positive attitude.
"Her teammates have been incredibly supportive, and we have talented players that will be able to step in during her absence."
The Current are one of just two undefeated teams left in the NWSL, sitting second behind the Orlando Pride. The Pride, running off an eight-game win streak, announced the signing of Zambian midfielder Grace Chanda on Thursday.
Her Zambia national team co-star Barbra Banda joined the Pride earlier this season, and currently tops the Golden Boot race with eight goals in seven games for Orlando. Chanda is set to join the Pride after the Summer Olympics.
Chanda played the last two years for Madrid CFF, making 28 appearances for the club. While she helped Zambia qualify for last summer’s Women's World Cup, she missed the tournament due to illness.
"I am extremely excited to join Orlando. It is a great club, where I will be able to play alongside amazing players, like Marta and Barbra," Chanda said in a statement. "This is a very important step in my life because I have always wanted to play in the NWSL, one of the best leagues in the world."
Also announcing a big-name pick-up is the Washington Spirit, who are set to add Manchester City defender Esme Morgan to the lineup.
Morgan made 53 appearances over her seven seasons with Manchester City, which included time spent on loan to Everton. A member of the England national team, she was named to the Women’s World Cup squad last summer.
Women's hockey history was made on Wednesday, with PWHL Minnesota taking home the inaugural league championship Walter Cup.
After Boston forced a Game 5 in double-overtime on Sunday, Minnesota went on to notch a decisive victory with a final score of 3-0. Liz Schepers, Michela Cava, and Kendall Coyne Schofield all found the back of the net for Minnesota, with Schofield’s coming on an empty-netter to end the game.
The win came after a disappointing Game 4 loss at home that saw a game-winning — and possibly championship-winning — Minnesota goal waived off. But back in Boston, Minnesota was determined not to leave without that Cup.
"I just think to have something so good taken away, like last game, I just think we knew we had to have it," Taylor Heise, who was named Playoffs MVP after posting a league-leading eight postseason points, told the Athletic. "Like that feeling [of winning] — you had it and you want it back."
The captain and oldest member of the roster, Coyne Schofield had the honors of taking the first lap on the ice with the Walter Cup in hand.
"It makes me want to tear up thinking about it. She's done so much for this sport," Heise said about the captain. "She's definitely one of the people that's helped this sport grow and one of the reasons why this arena is sold out here tonight."
Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley relayed that Coyne Schofield, who helped to found the PWHL, was more than worthy of the win.
"There’s so much about this day that she deserves," said goalie Nicole Hensley. “She has obviously done so much for this sport and for this professional league. It’s completely fitting that she’s the first one to touch the Walter Cup.”
Perhaps fittingly, Minnesota began the season with a win over Boston and ended it the same way. And yet as they entered the playoffs, the odds were stacked against them,
Minnesota started postseason play as the lowest seed after ending a regular season that saw record-breaking attendance numbers on a five-game losing streak. Then, on the brink of elimination against top-seeded Toronto — who started the first round on a 2-0 series lead — Minnesota won three straight to advance to the Finals.
"It’s honestly hard to put into words," said Coyne Schofield. "As soon as we got in, we never looked back. There were times we were down, but we weren’t out. Some people may have counted us out, but we believed in us, the entire way."
WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier have released more details about Unrivaled, their professional women's 3-on-3 basketball league set to debut in January 2025.
The co-founders announced early Thursday that player salaries will start in the six-figure range, making Unrivaled the highest-paid league in professional US women’s sports history.
"It’s really important to us," Collier told the Associated Press. "Compensation is a huge part of Unrivaled as a league and a business. All the players in this first year will have equity in the league. For players to have a piece of the pie essentially to grow their generational wealth is something we’re really excited about."
According to Stewart, the salaries will be "similar or more" than the average WNBA player's salary. Compensation has long been a sticking point in pro women's basketball, with many WNBA players stacking up off-court sponsorship deals or opting to spend their offseasons competing overseas to supplement their regular income.
"For years, women have relied heavily on off-court sponsorships for a majority of their income. With Unrivaled, we're revolutionizing the game by prioritizing investments in our stars and ensuring their on-court performance is reflected in their pay," Stewart said in Thursday's statement.
Additional player incentives include an equity stake in Unrivaled, which is backed by an investor group that spans the likes of Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and golfer Michelle Wie West, among others.
First announced last summer, Unrivaled will take place in Miami over eight weeks of the WNBA offseason. It's expected to host 30 players spread among six teams, with the co-founders teasing some "superstar" signings, despite rosters having yet to be announced. The league says it has agreed to terms with 10 WNBA All-Stars, with details to come later this summer.
"Any person that you can think of, that is the best in the [WNBA] that you think is a great player, we've gone after them," Collier told Yahoo Sports. "That can give you a little bit of an idea."
The court will be about two-thirds the size of a WNBA court, with teams sticking to the same rosters throughout the season. Games will also be shorter than WNBA games, while still retaining the four quarter format.
"Breanna and I set out to create a league that would change the way women's sports are viewed and ultimately how sports leagues operate," said Collier. "We may have had the vision, but this isn't just our league — it belongs to the players, and the Unrivaled model reflects that."
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas has withdrawn her 2024 Olympics bid.
Douglas made it official when she exited the Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships this weekend, citing an ankle injury suffered during training this week. The move ends her recent comeback attempt to make the 2024 Paris Olympic team after an eight-year hiatus.
Had she made the Olympic squad, the 28-year-old would have been the oldest American woman to compete in an Olympic gymnastics event since 1952.
"I love this sport and I love pushing my limits," Douglas told ESPN. "I hope I can inspire both my peers and the next generation of gymnasts that age is just a number, and you can accomplish anything you work hard for."
A two-time Olympian, Douglas became the first Black gymnast to win the all-around title at an Olympics in 2012. In 2016, she helped the US to back-to-back team golds at the Rio Games. In February 2024, she announced her impending comeback and returned to competition the following April at the American Classic. She also withdrew from her most recent outing at May's Core Hydration Classic after a troubling start at the uneven bars.
Douglas plans to continue to train after recovering from her injury, with an eye on making it to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
"I proved to myself and to the sport that my skills remain at an elite level," Douglas said. "My plan is to continue to train for the LA 2028 Olympics. It would be such an honor to represent the US at a home Olympics."
There's been no shortage of drama at the 2024 French Open so far, with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka giving world No. 1 Iga Swiatek a run for her money in Wednesday's second-round match.
Osaka looked every bit the former No. 1 that she is, despite the clay court not being her favored surface. After losing the first set to Swiatek in a tiebreak, Osaka took the second set 6-1. But up 5-2 in the third, Osaka could only watch as Swiatek fought back for a 7-5 set win to take the match.
"For sure, this match was really intense. Much more intense for the second round than I ever expected. For sure, I'll be more ready next time," Swiatek said after the match. "Naomi played amazing tennis... I'm happy that she's back and she's playing well."
The victory extends Swiatek’s Roland Garros winning streak to 16 matches. The two-time defending champion is looking for her third-straight trophy — and fourth overall — at the major.
For Osaka, the battle was an indicator of what might be in store for the rest of the year as she continues to make her way back from maternity leave. After all, she had match point at 5-3 in the third set before missing a couple of backhands that Swiatek swiftly converted for a break point.
"I cried when I got off the court, but then, you know, for me, I kind of realize I was watching Iga win this tournament last year, and I was pregnant. It was just my dream to be able to play her," Osaka told reporters in a postmatch press conference. "When I kind of think of it like that, I think I'm doing pretty well. And I'm also just trying not to be too hard on myself. I feel like I played her on her better surface. I'm a hard-court kid, so I would love to play her on my surface and see what happens."
It was Osaka’s best match in years, with some of her serves reaching 122 MPH. She won 92 of the 139 points that lasted four or less strokes, and finished with a 54-37 advantage on winners.
But even as Osaka looked more and more like her old self, it wasn’t enough to overcome the world No. 1. Swiatek’s bid to become the first woman to win three French Open championships in a row since 2009 continues.
Elsewhere, Coco Gauff easily handled Tamara Zidansek in straight sets in her own second round match, while Sofia Kenin and Ons Jabeur also advanced to the third round.
Arsenal captain Leah Williamson is staying in North London, signing a new contract with the club while Barcelona’s Mariona Caldentey has also reportedly accepted the club's offer.
Williamson, who also captains the England women's national football team, has spent the entirety of her pro career at Arsenal, in addition to being a lifelong fan of the Gunners. The defender has made 232 appearances for the club since 2014, stating in a press release that she's "very happy to be staying."
"Everyone knows what Arsenal means to me, but I think every time I sign a new contract, I feel that love ignite all over again," she said. "This is a place where I can still continue to grow, develop and be challenged."
Williamson last signed a new contract with Arsenal in 2022, before battling her way back from a season-ending ACL tear that kept her out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Arsenal teammate Stina Blackstenius has also re-signed with the club, while longtime striker Vivianne Miedema is set to depart.
And the Gunners appear to have selected Miedema’s replacement, with Barcelona forward Mariona Caldentey reportedly joining the London side next season. The 28-year-old is set to announce the deal in the coming days, having previously been linked to the Washington Spirit.
Caldentey had been with Barcelona since 2014, making 194 appearances and scoring 70 goals with the Spanish club. She's fresh off of winning a third Champions League trophy with Barcelona, and is also coming off of a Women's World Cup win with Spain last summer.
While Barcelona appeared to have confirmed Caldentey's move Tuesday afternoon, Arsenal has yet to release an official statement.
2024 WNBA Draft No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark continues to improve, dropping a professional career-high 30 points in Indiana’s 88-82 loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday.
She also had six assists and five rebounds alongside three steals and three blocks. Clark is the first rookie to record 30 points, three blocks, and three steals in a game in WNBA history. She’s just the fourth player overall to register the stat line.
Clark's 30-point game is also the third-most points by a rookie in Fever history behind Tamika Catchings, who twice scored 32 points in her rookie season. Clark has now become the fastest rookie in league history to record 100 points and 50 assists.
"I think I just played with an aggressive mindset," Clark said after the game. "I think that was the biggest thing — to play downhill the best I could. We did some good things and then we just kind of shot ourselves in the foot."
But even Clark’s numbers weren't enough, as the Fever went on to their seventh out of eight games. However, the team has played eight games in 14 days and there hasn’t been much time to rest. Despite signs of growth since the beginning of the season, Clark recorded seven turnovers — a game high.
"The biggest thing for me is, when I get in there, I still get a little indecisive — and that’s honestly where a lot of my turnovers are still coming from," Clark explained. "Just a little indecision when I do get my feet in the paint, but I think I’ve done a better job of probing and finding people open or finishing at the rim. I think I’ve done a better job as well of understanding who’s guarding me.
"That will continue to get a lot better, [I’ll] continue to take care of the ball a little bit better and find people, not be a little indecisive – I’ve got to make decisions a little bit faster once I do get my feet in the paint."
Down at the half, Indiana fought back to take the lead in the third quarter. But a 28-8 run from Los Angeles left the Fever unable to recover, with the Sparks ultimately prevailing 88-82.
Pro golfer Lexi Thompson is retiring, she announced on Tuesday. This will be her final season on the LPGA Tour.
The 29-year-old has been playing professionally for the past 15 years. The two-time Olympian and six-time Solheim Cup competitor said that she’d been contemplating retirement for a few months, coming to the conclusion that it was time to step away.
"While it is never easy to say goodbye, it is indeed time," Thompson posted to Instagram. "At the end of 2024, I will be stepping away from a full professional golf schedule. I'm excited to enjoy the remainder of the year as there are still goals I want to accomplish.
"I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Time with family, friends, and my trusted companion Leo. I will always look for ways to contribute to the sport and inspire the next generation of golfers. And of course, I look forward to a little time for myself."
Thompson is set to play at the US Women’s Open in Pennsylvania starting Thursday. Speaking from Lancaster Country Club, Thompson told reporters that she’s currently taking it "day by day."
"I'm not going to say yes or no on how many events I'll play or if I do," she said. "I'm just going to take it day by day and see how I feel, especially going into next year, but I'm very content with this being my last full-time schedule year."
Thompson also cited mental health as a factor in her decision to retire.
"I think we all have our struggles, especially out here," she said. "Unfortunately in golf you lose more than you win, so it's an ongoing battle to continue to put yourself out there in front of the cameras and continuing to work hard and maybe not seeing the results you want and getting criticized for it. So it's hard.
"I will say, yes, I've struggled with it — I don't think there's somebody out here that hasn't. It's just a matter of how well you hide it, which is very sad."
This will be Thompson’s 18th-straight year participating in US Women’s Open. At just 12 years old, she was the youngest golfer to qualify for the 2007 tournament, later making her first cut at the major in 2009 at 14.
Thompson turned pro in 2010 and went on to win 11 LPGA tournaments, capturing her first title in 2011 at the Navistar LPGA Classic.
The retirement came as a surprise to many, including decorated LPGA standout Nelly Korda.
"She's had such an amazing career," Korda said Tuesday. "I've gotten to be on the team with her a couple times representing our country. I think she does an amazing job for the Tour. She spends so much time going to each pro-am party. She really dedicated her time to growing the game.
"It's sad to see that she's obviously leaving and not going to be out here with us anymore, but she's had an amazing career, and I wish her the best in this new chapter of her life."
Former Iowa teammates Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin shared the court once again on Saturday, this time as professionals.
It was Martin’s Aces that got the 99-80 win over Clark’s Fever in Las Vegas. The pair's former coaches Lisa Bluder, Jan Jensen, Jenni Fitzgerald, and Raina Harmon were all in attendance to watch their Hawkeyes — Clark, Martin, and former national player of the year Megan Gustafson — take the court.
"It’s super special. It’s cool for our program, cool for Lisa, for Coach Jan, for all of them," Clark said in a pregame press conference. "They’ve known me since I’ve been 13 years old and now I’m 22 getting to live out my dream and they’ve been a huge part of that and helping me get here and helping Megan and Kate to get here too. It’s a great moment for them and I’m sure they’re not complaining about a trip to Vegas."
As for her college teammate, Clark had nothing but good things to say ahead of the showdown.
"I’m just really happy for her and everything Coach [Becky] Hammon says about her is so true," she said. "Every person that played at Iowa and was around her knows that to be true. She’s the ultimate teammate, ultimate person, ultimate leader."
In the end, Martin stole the show with 12 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes, while Clark amassed eight points, seven assists, and five rebounds over 29 minutes of playing time.
"It was weird," Martin admitted after the game. "I'm not going to lie — just looking out on the court and seeing her in a different jersey than me, it was obviously different. But it's really fun. We're both living out our dreams right now."
The Aces next meet the fever on July 2nd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Barcelona was crowned champion of the Champions League on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Lyon in Bilbao.
Alexia "La Reina" Putellas, who recently re-signed with Barcelona, came off the bench to score the team's second goal. Fellow Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí provided the team’s first. After the game, defender Lucy Bronze said Putellas was nicknamed "the queen" for a reason.
"Alexia is the captain of the team and she's the queen of Barcelona for a reason," defender Lucy Bronze told DAZN. "She's got the quality to do that in the last minute of the Champions League final when we were up against it at the end and it just sealed the win for us. It was amazing."
The victory marked Barcelona's first win over Lyon in a UWCL final, having previously gone up against the French side at both the 2019 and 2022 Champions League finals. It's also Barcelona's second Champions League title in a row.
"It's hard to win it once, but to do it back-to-back, Lyon showed how difficult it is and this team has finally done that," Bronze said. "I think we go down in history as one of the best teams in Europe."
This season, the team also secured a quadruple for the first time in club history, having already won Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, and the Spanish Supercopa. The win ensures that coach Jonatan Giráldez — who has officially departed the team to join the NWSL's Washington Spirit — leaves Europe a champion.
"It was an incredible game. I am really happy, it's one of the best days of my life for sure," Giráldez told broadcaster DAZN after the game. "We did an amazing job. I am very proud of all of them."
Following the win, Putellas said her team "can't ask for anything else."
"Our objective was to win four out of four," the Spain international told reporters. "We have achieved everything we wanted. Every minute of sacrifice has been worth the effort — and I'd say that not after the game, but before, just entering in the stadium, with all the support we had here, it was worth it."
2024 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Aitana Bonmatí said that the crowd support made it "feel like Camp Nou."
"I am on cloud nine right now," she said. "It is an historic day which we will remember forever."