OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — Team golf is taking over New York, with the Aramco Team Series teeing off at Glen Oaks Club on Long Island on Thursday. The 54-hole contest, introduced to the Ladies European Tour for the first time this year, is part of a four-leg format, held in London, Spain, New York, and Jeddah.

Twenty eight teams of four, made up of three pros and one amateur, will face off in the three-day event, competing with a $1 million purse and world ranking points on the line.

Lovingly referred to as the Augusta of the north, Glen Oaks is popular among the golfers, even among those who have never played it before.

“I’ve never been out here but I’ve heard nothing but great things about it. I got to play about 14 holes and it’s in perfect shape,” said Lexi Thompson, adding, “it will all come down to the greens.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aramco Team Series (@aramco_series)

Teams were picked in a unique “NFL-style” draft on Tuesday evening, with captains selecting their first teammate, and the third pro and amateur filled in at random.

Most pros cited their caddy’s research as the reasoning behind the selections, but the choice came down to an in-the-moment decision for others.

With the first pick of the draw, Jessica Korda felt the pressure.

“I’ve known of her for a long time, I didn’t expect to go first, I froze,” said Korda of her choice, Karolin Lampert, adding, “I saw her name and went for it — gut feeling.”

The Aramco series marks team golf’s return to American soil after September’s dramatic Solheim Cup. Catriona Matthew, who captained a victorious European squad, says the team format is central to growing the game.

“I think it’s great for the game of golf,” said Matthew of the Aramco Series, adding, “the fans love seeing team golf and obviously this format where you’re playing with an amateur or other events when men and women play side by side is great fun to have throughout the season.”

Thompson agreed, maintaining that the innovative setup helps the game.

“I think us as athletes, we just want to see the game grow, and I think ideas like this that aren’t just cookie-cutter 72-hole events really brings in new ideas for golf and grows the game.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aramco Team Series (@aramco_series)

Progression of the game, specifically of the women’s Tour, is all part of the tournament’s “Driving Force” initiative, which includes supporting the Girls on the Green Tee charity, which focuses on introducing young girls to the sport.  According to the golfers, the tournament itself, and its partnership with Aramco, is a powerful move for the Tour.

“I always say, ever since I turned pro in 2010, we’ve gained more partnership and sponsors, more events, and more prize money. It really just helps out the game in general but especially on the women’s side, I think we’re on the upward rise of things and we want to continue that with the players out here,” said Thompson, “We want to leave the game in a better place than it was when we first got out there.”

Watch out for American Solheim stars Nelly Korda, Lizette Salas, Danielle Kang to make a run at the win with their teams, while European winner Anna Nordqvist teams up with two-team partner Linda Wessberg in her chase for the trophy.

Play begins on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. ET at the Glen Oaks Club on Long Island. The event is being streamed on The Golf Channel.

Clare Brennan is an Associate Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @clare_brennan2.

Cameron Brink already has her rookie of the year pick for the upcoming WNBA season, and it’s Indiana-bound star Caitlin Clark. 

In the latest edition of Kelley on the Street, host Kelley O'Hara caught up with Brink in New York hours before the Stanford phenom went No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Sparks at the 2024 WNBA Draft. When O’Hara asked who would win the WNBA's rookie of the year, she answered without pause.

"Caitlin Clark," she said, while a fan commented that she thought Brink would take home the award. Brink later added that the extra foul granted to WNBA players will be "good for me."

"I hope it’s me," Charisma Osborne, who was later drafted by the Phoenix Mercury, said when asked her ROY prediction. "But, I don’t know — we’ll see."

Watch more of Kelley on the Street:

Maria Sanchez issued a statement on Thursday, confirming recent reports that she has requested a trade from the Houston Dash. 

In it, she revealed that the club has been aware of the request "since late March."

"This has all taken a toll and isn’t an easy thing to talk about, but I want to confirm that I’ve requested an immediate trade," she wrote. "My expectations and reasons have been clear. I trust that my current club’s management will honor my decision in a timely manner and proceed with accepting a trade."

"I’m eager to refocus and dive back into what I love most: playing football," she concluded.

Thank you, everyone, for the outpouring of kindness and support. pic.twitter.com/gcnN7dhCJU

— Maria Sanchez (@Maria17_7) April 19, 2024

Reports of Sanchez's trade request first surfaced on ESPN last week, and were later confirmed by multiple sources. 

In December of last year, Sanchez signed a three-year contract with the Dash valued at $1.5 million including bonuses and an option year. It was the largest contract in NWSL history at the time — a figure that would be eclipsed by multiple contracts in the following months. 

Sanchez spent the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning that Houston could match any other team's offer to retain her rights. Should the Dash trade Sanchez, her current contract terms would remain intact, limiting potential buyers to teams able to afford to take on an inking of that size.

The Dash has yet to address the trade, instead reiterating to ESPN that Sanchez is "under contract, a choice she made in free agency at the end of 2023." 

Both the NWSL trade window and transfer window close tonight, April 19th, at 12 a.m. ET. The window will stay closed through the next 11 regular season games, reopening on August 1st, 2024.

The four-time league champion Seattle Storm unveiled their new practice facility on Thursday, with Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel dubbing Interbay's Seattle Storm Center for Basketball Performance the team’s "new home."

"It's just such a special space," Brummel told Fox 13 Seattle. "I think when the players get here, it's gonna be overwhelming."

The sprawling 50,000-square-foot, $64 million property is just the second designated practice facility to be designed and built expressly for a WNBA team, with the Storm further noting that 85% of all design and engineering team members involved in the project's construction were women and people of color. The finished product holds two professional indoor courts, two 3x3 outdoor courts, a state-of-the-art locker room, and players' lounge, plus designated areas for strength and conditioning, kitchen, dining, and nutrition, and recovery. 

"This facility reflects our commitment to providing our athletes an exceptional environment that supports their growth, health, and performance," said Storm co-owner Ginny Gilder in an official team release. "It’s built for women, by women, embodying our dedication to leading the way in professional women’s sports."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

For their part, the team can't wait to make the faciilty their own.

"It's amazing," Storm guard Jewell Loyd told Fox 13. "Not having to drive everywhere around, knowing you have access anytime of the day to get into the gym, to workout." 

Head coach Noelle Quinn said she predicts the team is "never going to leave this building."

"Which is a good thing for me," she continued. "You talk about having an edge in performance. We want our athletes to not only perform on the court, but get whatever they need."

All of the Storm's staff and operations will now live under one roof, and the team also has plans to launch a youth basketball program operating out of the building.

The Caitlin Clark effect is quickly making its mark on the big leagues, as WNBA host teams around the country rush to upgrade their Fever games to larger arenas in order to accommodate surging ticket sales.

With Clark mere weeks away from her Indiana Fever debut, both the Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have officially relocated their scheduled home games with head coach Christie Sides' squad. On Thursday, the Mystics became the latest to adjust their plans, moving their June 7th matchup from Entertainment & Sports Arena in Southwest DC to the more centrally located — and much larger — Capital One Arena "due to unprecedented demand."

The Mystics home court's capacity taps out at 4,200, while Capital One Arena — home to the Wizards, Capitals, and Georgetown Hoya's Men's Basketball — can fit nearly five times that crowd at some 20,000 spectators.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Washington Mystics (@washmystics)

"The move to Capital One Arena will allow for additional fans in the stands as well as premium hospitality options, including Suites and the all-new all-inclusive courtside Hennessy Lofts," the team announced via Thursday's press release.

The Aces were one of the first teams to switch venues, aiming to take on the Indiana Fever in front of as many as 20,000 fans inside T-Mobile Arena on July 2nd. That’s a sizable a boost from their home venue, which holds just 12,000.

For those still planning to face the Fever in their home arenas, ticket prices have skyrocketed. Previously scheduled construction has already forced the LA Sparks to relocate their first five games — including their May 24th clash with the Fever — to Long Beach State's Walter Pyramid. The temporary venue is quite the downsize, holding just 4,000 in comparison to Crypto.com Arena's near-19,000. As of Friday, the get-in price for that game started around $400.

Despite fans launching a Change.org petition urging relocation, the Chicago Sky say they're unable to move their June 23rd Fever meeting from Wintrust Arena's 10,000-seat facility to the 23,500-seat United Center due to a concert. Tickets for that game start around $325 as of Friday.