As part of the 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend festivities, the Phoenix Mercury officially opened the doors to their new state-of-the-art practice facility on Thursday.

Along with a host of player-driven amenities, the 58,000-square-foot, $100 million property showcases two full-sized basketball courts named after veteran Mercury star Diana Taurasi, complete with a one-of-a-kind Taurasi-inspired logo.

The Diana Taurasi courts pay tribute to the three-time WNBA champion, six-time Olympian, 11-time WNBA All-Star, and the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer.

"Phoenix is the best basketball city in the world and continues to elevate the standard in women’s professional sports," said Mercury owner Mat Ishbia in a team release. "This practice facility is about hard work, passion, and greatness, all attributes that Diana Taurasi exemplifies, and we are honored to name our basketball courts after the greatest women’s basketball player of all time."

With 24-hour access for players and staff, the practice courts feature built-in technologies capable of providing real-time performance analytics. The facility also includes a strength and cardio training area, indoor and outdoor turf training areas, a functional movement area, and a team meeting room with theater-style seating.

Amenities specific to athlete recovery are also on hand, including a dedicated physician and testing room, recovery room, hydrotherapy room with hot and cold plunge pools, freestanding underwater treadmill, and two massage rooms. The locker room is home to vanity stations, a sauna, a steam room, and a wellness room.

An area for players to relax and refuel, the onsite player lounge and kitchen is stocked with private chef, snack bar, pantry, and smoothie bar.

"This practice facility sets the standard for what it means to invest in women’s sports," said Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein. "From performance to recovery to team culture, we are providing our players with the space and amenities they need to be and feel their best."

The Mercury's practice facility is located inside the Player 15 Group's team member campus, headquarters to owner Mat Ishbia’s sports, entertainment, real estate, and investment company. the Player 15 Group's team member campus. Debuting this past April, the grounds also house business facilities for the Phoenix Mercury, Phoenix Suns, Valley Suns, and arena operations.

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In a press release issued this morning, NJ/NY Gotham FC announced they will celebrate Kelley O'Hara and her legendary career on Sunday, October 20th, just after the team’s final regular-season match against the Orlando Pride at Red Bull Arena. 

O'Hara, who announced her plan to retire from professional soccer via an exclusive Just Women's Sports interview this past May, is a soccer icon, having competed for both club and country and achieving incredible success on all levels. She is a two-time World Cup champion, an Olympic gold medalist, two-time NWSL champion, and a leading voice in the landmark fight for equal pay. 

O'Hara joined Gotham FC in 2023, making history as the NWSL’s first-ever free agent signing. She quickly played a pivotal role in Gotham FC's success throughout the season and in the playoffs and helped lead the team to the club's first-ever championship.

"Kelley is not just a phenomenal player; she is a true leader and an inspiration to everyone in our organization," said Gotham general manager and head of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West in the statement. "We are privileged to have her a part of our Gotham FC family, and to be part of this special celebration as she closes out her incredible career."

During O'Hara’s 11 NWSL seasons, she also played for the Washington Spirit (2021-22), where she scored the game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time to secure the 2021 NWSL Championship for the team, as well as for the Utah Royals (2018-20) and for Gotham FC under its former name Sky Blue FC (2013-17).

In addition to her NWSL success, O’Hara has been a cornerstone of the USWNT, with 160 recorded appearances and one of only 12 players in USWNT history to be named to four World Cup teams. She helped lead the USWNT to two World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, an Olympic gold medal in 2012, and an Olympic bronze medal in 2021. 

An advocate for women in sports, O'Hara is a frequent contributor to Just Women’s Sports, and hosts the platform’s namesake podcast, among others, including the popular The Players' Pod.

The post-game ceremony hosted by Gotham FC will bring fans, teammates, and the soccer community together to honor O'Hara’s 15-year professional career. Particularly noted for her on-field versatility, competitive spirit, and unmatched leadership, O’Hara leaves an indelible, signature mark on the game. More details will be provided via Gotham FC’s social media pages. 

How to attend Gotham FC's Kelley O'Hara send-off match

The Kelley O'Hara Retirement Celebration will held after the conclusion of Gotham FC’s last regular-season home game on Sunday, October 20th. Fan Fest begins at 2:30 PM ET and the match kicks off at 5 PM ET against Orlando Pride, with tickets now available through Ticketmaster.

In this week's episode of The Late Sub, Claire checks in on the big picture for both the NWSL and WNBA playoff races as title contenders emerge, playoff spoilers make their cases, and some teams begin to plateau at an inopportune time.

Then, she chats with NWSLPA President Tori Huster about the league’s landmark CBA, and how concerns about parity might be overstated.

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

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Spanning 72 teams from 50 European leagues, the deepest Champions League tournament in UEFA history starts tomorrow with clubs from the UK to Georgia eyeing Lisbon's late-May final.

Four teams gained automatic entry to October's 16-team group stage — defending UEFA champs FC Barcelona and runners-up Lyon, plus top German finishers FC Bayern and WSL title-holders Chelsea — with this month's qualifiers determining the remaining 12.

The road to the Champions League group stage

There are two qualifying rounds played concurrently between two sets of teams: The champions path matches up winners from each non-automatically qualified league, while the league path does the same with second- and third-place finishers.

Each path opens with a series of four-team, single-elimination mini-tournaments, in which 59 clubs will enter Wednesday's semifinals with just 15 moving on from Saturday's finals.

Those 15 will join runners-up from top leagues France, Germany, Spain, England, Italy, and Sweden for Round 2 later this month, all vying for a spot in group stage play.

Top European clubs battle for Champions League glory

Set to square off against Denmark's FC Nordsjælland tomorrow, Portuguese powerhouse SL Benfica​ has made the group stage every year since the 2021-22 season.

WSL favorites Arsenal saw their 16-season UWCL quarterfinal streak snapped by Paris FC last year, so they'll be hungry for redemption when they face Scotland’s Rangers FC tomorrow. If victorious, they'll be set to face the winner of tomorrow's match between 2024 Women's Cup runners-up Atlético de Madrid and Norway's Rosenborg on Saturday.

Also brewing tomorrow is a battle of the underdogs between Finnish side KuPS Kuopio and Scottish third-place finishers Celtic.

How to watch UEFA Champions League matches

Champions League action kicks off tomorrow at 5 AM ET, with live streaming coverage exclusively on DAZN.

NWSL chaos reigned supreme this weekend, as lower-table teams walked away victorious in five out of seven matches.

Even Sunday’s 1-1 draw between second-place Washington and 12th-place San Diego was a lopsided affair, as Wave defender Kristen McNabb received credit for both goals.

The only expected result was Orlando’s 2-0 win over fourth-place Gotham on Sunday. With the victory, the Pride remains atop the standings while extending their record winning streak to 19.

Courage adds to Kansas City's loss count

On a streak of their own, now-fifth-place North Carolina added an 18th match to their home unbeaten stretch — one that dates back to 2023 — with Sunday’s 2-1 win over third-place Kansas City. The loss is KC’s third in a row, a marked departure after going undefeated through their first 15 games.

The Current's goal was unsurprisingly notched by Golden Boot race-leader Temwa Chawinga, who now sits two goals ahead of Orlando’s Barbra Banda with 14 on the season — four shy of tying ex-NWSL star Sam Kerr’s single-season record.

Mid-table movement heats up NWSL playoff race

This weekend’s upsets shook the mid-table, proving that securing a playoff berth won't be an easy task.

On Friday, Bay FC beat Portland 3-1, lifting the now-eighth-place expansion team over the postseason cutoff line while stalling the sixth-place Thorns at 27 points for the third straight week.

Extending their unbeaten streak to six matches, 11th-place Seattle defeated a restructured Louisville 3-2 on Saturday. Then on Sunday, striker Sydney Leroux’s stoppage-time winner delivered ninth-place Angel City a 2-1 win over Chicago.

With just eight regular-season matches to go, a slim four points now separate the seventh-place Red Stars from 10th-place Louisville.