The Liberty are now 5-1.

With an 88-81 win over the Dallas Wings on Monday night, New York held on to second place in the WNBA standings and advanced to the franchise’s best start since 2007.

The Liberty have done an about-face after winning just two games last year. New York now looks to be a legitimate playoff contender with Sabrina Ionescu back from injury, Betnijah Laney playing like an MVP candidate and Natasha Howard making an immediate impact after returning from overseas.

Sab x Flash 👀⚡️ #OwnTheCrown pic.twitter.com/rxJMQqtggZ

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) May 24, 2021

Howard recorded 12 points and seven rebounds against the Wings before leaving in the fourth quarter with an apparent knee injury. If Howard can stay healthy, the 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year will provide vital experience to an otherwise young team.

Laney, the WNBA’s Most Improved Player last season with Atlanta, has scored 20 points or more in each of New York’s first six games, making her only the sixth player in league history to do so. Laney had a game-high 26 points on 60 percent shooting in the win Monday night.

Betnijah doing Betnijah things! @BetnijahLaney#SeafoamSZN pic.twitter.com/HuycQLLqqS

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) May 25, 2021

New York will look to extend its historic start in a game against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday.

Spanish midfielder and reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí is officially eyeing a return to the pitch.

Following a lengthy rehabilitation process for a broken leg suffered last year, the Barcelona superstar is signaling that her comeback will be defined by even better form.

Bonmatí has spent the early part of 2026 focusing on a recovery program designed to not only restore her fitness but also to enhance her durability. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner emphasized that the time away from competition allowed her space to reflect and rebuild, something she intends to use to her advantage as she rejoins both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

"The goal wasn't just to heal the bone," Bonmatí told reporters from the International Sports Press Association on Monday.

"It was to come back better than I was before the injury. I've worked on aspects of my game and my physicality that you often don't have time for when you are playing every three days."

Bonmatí’s absence has significantly impacted Barcelona, where she's long served as the primary engine in the midfield. While the club has maintained its league dominance, her tactical intelligence and transitional play are vital for their upcoming campaigns.

The 28-year-old's return is equally meaningful for Spain, as the team heads down the road to the 2027 World Cup.

Medical staff have remained cautious with her timeline, prioritizing long-term health over an accelerated return. However, with Bonmatí now participating in full-contact training sessions, a full re-entry appears sooner rather than later.

For the rest of the footballing world, a "better than ever" Bonmatí is a daunting prospect. Should she successfully translate training into award-winning performances on the pitch, the gap between her and the rest of the field may only widen.

In the meantime, Barcelona is once again through to the Spanish Women Super Cup. This Saturday they'll face rivals Real Madrid in an all-new El Clásico, this time with a Super Cup title on the line.

How to watch Barcelona FC vs. Real Madrid in the Women's Super Cup Final

Barcelona kicks off against Real Madrid on Saturday, January 24th at 1 PM ET, live on DAZN.

Gymnastics superstar Jordan Chiles might have already conquered the world, but she isn’t finished with the record books just yet.

The UCLA star and Olympic gold medalist is officially on Gym Slam watch. According to a recent report from Forbes, Chiles is on the verge of becoming one of the few college gymnasts in history to record a Perfect 10 on all four apparatuses.

The senior already notched perfect marks on her signature events — bars and floor — for fifth-ranked UCLA. Now, Chiles is hunting an elusive 10.0 on vault and beam, intent on joining college gymnastics' most exclusive ranks.

Chiles came close to rounding out the Slam last weekend against Nebraska. That's when the 24-year-old received a Perfect 10 on vault and 9.90 on uneven bars, before posting a 9.975 on beam — a fraction of a point shy of her goal.

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Only 15 gymnasts have achieved the Gym Slam, including legends Trinity Thomas, Maggie Nichols, and fellow Bruin Kyla Ross. The milestone would solidify her transition from an Olympic powerhouse to one of college gymnastics' greatest all-arounders.

After a decorated run at the Paris 2024 Games, Chiles returned to UCLA to finish second in both the Big Ten and NCAA all-around rankings.

Chiles will get another shot at history when UCLA visits East Lansing on Sunday to face Big Ten rivals No. 21 Michigan State. However, the pair's head-to-head history favors the Spartans, with the Bruins falling twice to their conference foes in 2025.

How to watch Jordan Chiles compete in UCLA gymnastics

No. 5 UCLA takes on No. 21 Michigan State on Sunday, January 25th at 1 PM ET, live on FOX.

More NWSL stars are jumping ship, as both the San Diego Wave and North Carolina Courage saw respective key players Delphine Cascarino and Denise O'Sullivan sign with WSL clubs over the last few days.

Former Wave forward Cascarino inked a deal through the 2029/30 season with the London City Lionesses on Monday, one day after San Diego announced they had mutually parted ways with the French international despite her contract running through 2026 with an option for the 2027 NWSL season.

"I'm really happy to be here," said the 28-year-old in a statement. "London City is the only independent women's club in the WSL, which excites me."

North Carolina midfielder and captain O'Sullivan made a similar move on Saturday, as the Ireland international signed with Liverpool following more than eight seasons and a club-record 186 appearances for the Courage.

The last-place WSL team reportedly shelled out a club-record transfer fee of approximately £300,000 to roster the 31-year-old two-time NWSL champion and three-time Shield-winner, who called Liverpool "a new challenge" that will see her "only a 40-minute flight away" from her family in Cork, Ireland.

Though the NWSL departures of Cascarino and O'Sullivan mark a kind of homecoming for the European standouts, they are just the latest to exit the US league, after USWNT star Sam Coffey joined WSL-leaders Manchester City last week.

"England — for men and women — is the country of football," noted Cascarino. "It's always been a goal of mine to play in this league."

New York Sirens forward Taylor Girard made PWHL history this week, earning a record four-game suspension for leaving the bench to join a line skirmish at the end of Sunday's 2-1 win over the Montréal Victoire.

The brawl occurred at the the final buzzer of the PWHL's record-breaking Takeover Tour stop in Washington, DC, with eight players — four Sirens and four from the Victoire — subsequently issued 10-minute misconducts in addition to Girard's infraction.

As the sole player not originally on the ice to join the skirmish, Girard was the only player to receive an additional 20-minute charge.

Even more, Girard's actions immediately triggered a four-game suspension, as the PWHL Rulebook dictates that exact punishment for "the first player to leave the players' bench illegally during an altercation or for the purpose of starting an altercation from either or both Teams."

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The four-game ban marks the longest punishment in PWHL history, doubling the two-game suspension that Seattle Torrent defender Aneta Tejralová received for an illegal check to the head last month.

With the PWHL on break after January 28th as 30% of the league's rosters compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics, the four-game suspension means that Girard — who sits second on New York's scoring sheet with five goals on the season — will not be available for the No. 2 Sirens until March 5th.