The first series of AUX Softball has come and gone, with a new trio of captains emerging from the week’s games. 

Results:

Monday, June 13

• Team Chidester 8, Team Ocasio 3
• Team Eberle 6, Team Ocasio 5

Tuesday, June 14

• Team Chidester 9, Team Eberle 8
• Team Ocasio 12, Team Chidester 6

Wednesday, June 15

• Team Ocasio 5, Team Eberle 3
• Team Chidester 6, Team Eberle 3

Recap:

Catcher Dejah Mulipola emerged as the leader after the first series, following a series of at-bats that resulted in multiple runs scored. She scored 650 points on the week, having earned the most MVP points on the week (180) to help pad her lead. Danielle Gibson currently sits second with 476 points — 174 behind Mulipola.

During 16 total at-bats over the weekend, she had at least one run. Against Team Eberle, Mulipola had four hits and four runs, including one home run. She batted in seven runs over the course of the weekend, including a series-high three against Team Ocasio, which puts her second in the league behind Megan Wiggins.

Behind the plate, Mulipola had 17 putouts, including a series-high nine against Team Eberle on Wednesday, tying Sashel Palacios for the most of any catcher on the week in a single game. Gwen Svekis led the week in putouts with 18.

A member of Team Ocasio this week, Gibson picked up steam in the final two games of the week. Against Team Eberle on Wednesday, she hit two home runs and batted in two runs during three at bats. She’s one of three players to have multiple home runs, with Mulipola and Wiggins the other two.

Aleshia Ocasio emerged as the weekend’s best pitcher, throwing 10 innings. With a 1.40 ERA, she’s the only pitcher to have an ERA under 2. Georgina Corrick also had a solid opening weekend, pitching 7 2/3 innings and managing a 2.74 ERA while recording eight strikeouts.

A new group of captains will draft teams this week, with Mulipola, Gibson and Sam Fischer all emerging as leaders.

But as AU operates, there will likely be some shuffling in the second week of play. A mere 78 points separates second from 10th place while 36 points separate the top five.

Series 2 Schedule:

Saturday, June 18

• Team Mulipola vs. Team Fischer @ 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU
• Team Gibson vs. Team Fischer @ 6 p.m. on ESPNU

Sunday, June 19

• Team Gibson vs. Team Mulipola @ 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU
• Team Fischer vs. Team Mulipola @ 6 p.m. on ESPNU

Monday, June 20

• Team Fischer vs. Team Gibson @ 7 p.m. on ESPN2
• Team Mulipola vs. Team Gibson @ 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2

The NWSL is expanding its footprint across ESPN, with the broadcaster signing on to carry 16 additional regular-season games in both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, upping the platform's total to 33 matches per year.

ESPN will also introduce a season-long "Match of the Week" centerpiece series, as well as live coverage of NWSL Decision Day, when eight concurrent matches will close out the season on the same day. 

"The NWSL showcases some of the best athletes in the world," ESPN EVP of programming and acquisitions Rosalyn Durant said in a press release. "We are proud to increase our commitment on ABC and ESPN, and to further elevate women's sports and the athlete stories."

This media rights extension builds on the league's ongoing blockbuster four-year, $240 million TV deal with ESPN, adding inventory for the final two seasons of the November 2023 agreement.

The deal expansion comes in light of the league's significant growth this season, with the NWSL seeing gains across both attendance and viewership, including a 72% year-over-year ratings rise on ESPN.

"This supplemental agreement underscores the growing demand for women's soccer and ensures our players and clubs receive the visibility they deserve on some of the most prominent sports platforms," said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman in a statement.

The 2025 WNBA season is over for Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, but the 23-year-old star is still making headlines, with Reebok set to drop her signature Angel Reese 1 sneakers on Thursday.

The Angel Reese 1 is a cornerstone of Reebok's re-entry into the basketball market, with the sportswear giant engineering the signature shoe for on-court performance by including features like responsive cushioning and added upper support.

Inspired by the brand's classic Mobius line, the shoes will hit the shelves in three colorways — an iridescent white "Diamond Dust," a bold pink "Mebounds," and a black and white "Receipts Ready" — with Reese's personal logo incorporated into the design.

Reese first signed with Reebok as an NIL athlete at LSU in 2023, a little over six months after winning the NCAA championship with the Tigers.

This week's rollout follows the July sneak peek of the signature sneakers worn by Reese on the cover of NBA 2K26's WNBA Edition.

"This isn't just a shoe, it's my style, my story, and my stamp on the game," Reese said in Reebok's press release. "I wanted to design a basketball shoe that elevates performance, innovation, style, and creative expression, all at once."

"Reebok and I built something that's true to who I am, and I hope it pushes others to stand in their power too."

How to buy the Angel Reese 1 Reebok sneakers

All three colorways of the Angel Reese 1 sneakers will be available for a retail price of $120 beginning at 10 AM ET on Thursday at Reebok.com as well as in select stores.

No. 5 New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart isn't letting Sunday's left knee knock take her off the 2025 WNBA Playoffs court, with the forward planning to compete in Game 2 against the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night.

An emotional Stewart finished Game 1 on the bench, going down with a knee injury in overtime of the Liberty's 76-69 upset win over the Mercury on Sunday.

"What I felt in that moment scared me more than anything," Stewart told reporters on Wednesday morning.

A Monday MRI revealed a sprained MCL, and though the two-time WNBA MVP did not practice on Tuesday, she participated in the team's Wednesday shootaround and said her pain had diminished to a three out of 10.

"[As long as] I don't wake up from my nap and feel like s—t," said Stewart, "I'm willing to take that [chance of re-injury] because I want to be out with my team, and they told me that structurally everything looks OK."

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Even when the game-day status for Stewart was still unknown, New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello promised that the defending champions would give their star "as much time as we can."

"We know what's at stake," Brondello told reporters on Tuesday. "We don't want to go back to Phoenix [for Game 3], but they're going to come in hungry."

Stewart echoed that sentiment on Wednesday morning, saying "We want to finish it here. Not having to go back to Phoenix is our main priority."

How to watch the Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty in Game 2

No. 5 New York will look to oust No. 4 Phoenix from the 2025 WNBA Playoffs with a first-round sweep on Wednesday night, when the Liberty host the Mercury for Game 2 at 8 PM ET.

The matchup will air live on ESPN.

Star sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is reaching new heights, setting a new US record for the 400-meter race in the event's Tuesday semifinals at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist finished the flat event in 48.29 seconds, shaving more than 0.40 seconds off the previous US record of 48.70 seconds set by track legend Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006.

Both her personal best and the fastest time in the world for that event this year, McLaughlin-Levrone's performance also makes her the seventh-fastest woman of all time in the 400-meter dash — elevating expectations that she could challenge the long-standing world record of 47.60 seconds, set by then-East German sprinter Marita Koch in 1985.

Known for her dominance in the 400-meter hurdles, the 26-year-old made the decision to focus on the flat 400-meter event ahead of this year's competition. 

"I definitely wasn't expecting that time," she said afterwards. "It just shows the fitness is there. I'm excited for the finals and grateful to have taken down a record by an amazing woman."

How to watch McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400-meter final

McLaughlin-Levrone will take aim at the 2025 World Athletics Championships' 400-meter podium — and, perhaps, another record time — during the event's final on Thursday.

The US star will race against 2024 Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and silver medalist Salwa Eid Naser when the final begins at 9:24 AM ET.

Live coverage will air on USA Network.