The Professional Women’s Hockey League has its team names, according to a report from The Athletic.

The PWHL submitted trademark requests for six names: Toronto Torch, Montreal Echo, Ottawa Alert, Minnesota Superior, Boston Wicked and New York Sound.

Detroit Hockey reported first on the applications, which were filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Still, the league has yet to announce any team names, so these officially remain in limbo ahead of the inaugural season in 2024.

When the PWHL acquired assets from its predecessor, the Premier Hockey Federation, in June, it is unclear whether that included team names and logos. Based on the trademark filings, the new league is taking its names in a different direction, leaving behind the Toronto Six, Montreal Force, Minnesota Whitecaps, Boston Pride and New York Riveters.

The PWHL announced its logo on Tuesday, with a “stylized ‘W’ to highlight women, and crossed hockey sticks and a puck that nestle perfectly within the middle of the letterform.”

“We love the prominence of the ‘W’ used in a clean and strong design that celebrates PWHL trailblazers and their legacy across women’s sports,” PWHL Advisory Board member Stan Kasten said in a news release. “When people see the logo, they will recognize how it represents women and immediately know it’s about hockey. The ‘W’ symbol speaks for itself but offers versatility to fit nicely when used inside our PWHL lettering.”

Bold. Powerful. Undeniable.

Introducing our logo.
📰 https://t.co/Xdi9tJPUJC pic.twitter.com/ZRcd49JnXk

— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) October 24, 2023

Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu became New York's hero​ on Wednesday, sinking a 28-foot buzzer-beating logo three to notch the WNBA Finals Game 3 win.

The bucket silenced Minnesota's 19,521 record-breaking home crowd and securing a 2-1 series advantage over the Lynx.

“Definitely the biggest shot of my career,” Ionescu said post-game. “And, hopefully, not the last.”

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The most-watched Finals game in 23 years was defined by dramatic momentum swings. The Liberty flipped the script on their Game 1 loss, with Ionescu overcoming a tough shooting night to avoid another overtime finish.

The first half saw Minnesota lead by as many as 15 points. But New York superstar Breanna Stewart's monster 30-point, 11-rebound double-double boosted the Libs to the tight 80-77 victory.

In total, the Liberty only led for 2 minutes and 19 seconds on Wednesday, the second-shortest amount of lead time for a winning team in an WNBA Finals game.

"Obviously, Stewie got us back in there," Liberty coach Sandy Brondello remarked after the game. "But I thought, '[at] the right time, this is Sabrina.' She's a great shooter. What I love about her is that she backs herself. Not everyone can take those big shots and make them. She can."

Can New York go all the way tonight?

In their sixth WNBA Finals trip, the Liberty are on the brink of clinching their first-ever championship this evening — assuming they avoid a winner-take-all Game 5 in Brooklyn on Sunday. 

"Just knowing that we're one win away, that's what's the most motivating," Stewart said on Thursday. "The fact that we have an opportunity to finish this thing tomorrow night."

On the flip side, this is Minnesota's last chance to turn things around. Tonight's Game 4 is now a must-win for the Lynx, who are in danger of falling short of what would be a WNBA record-setting fifth league title. Battling back from a 2-1 series deficit isn't an impossible feat, having been done four previous times in WNBA Finals history, including by Minnesota in 2017.

"It's win or go home at this point," Lynx star Napheesa Collier told reporters. "So we have to come in with the mindset that we’re going to be just as aggressive and then just have faith in that we're going to execute better down the stretch."

How to watch Liberty vs. Lynx in Game 4 of the 2024 WNBA Finals

New York and Minnesota will tip off Game 4 of the 2024 WNBA Finals at 8 PM ET Friday. Live coverage will air on ESPN.

In today’s episode, host Claire Watkins runs down the October roster for the USWNT, discussing comments from head coach Emma Hayes that lays out her vision for the team's long preparation ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup.

Later, Watkins marvels at yet another incredible 2024 WNBA Finals showdown, as the Liberty take a crucial 2-1 series advantage in their search for the franchise's first WNBA Championship title.

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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The BBC dropped its 2024 Footballer of the Year shortlist on Tuesday, with three of the five nominees hailing from the NWSL.

Orlando striker Barbra Banda, Portland forward Sophia Smith, and San Diego center back Naomi Girma headline the 10th edition of the traditionally UK-heavy award. Barcelona FC standouts Aitana Bonmatí and Caroline Graham Hansen round out the five-player selection.

A panel that includes coaches, players, journalists, and administrators selects the award's shortlist, with the final winner determined by fan votes.

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Footballer of the Year looks outside the UK

Seven of the nine previous winners of the London-based broadcaster's award played their soccer, whether club or country, in the UK.

Only two-time BBC Footballer of the Year Ada Hegerberg, a Norwegian national and striker for Lyon, has earned the honor without a connection to England.

Hegerberg's 2019 win also came during the only other year when all five of the BBC's Footballer of the Year nominees played outside the UK.

Stellar resumes back the 2024 Footballer of the Year nominees

After winning Olympic gold in Paris this summer, USWNT stars, NWSL game-changers, and longtime friends Smith and Girma have dominated on both international and domestic pitches this year.

Along with her three Olympic goals, Thorns forward Smith has already matched her 2023 NWSL Golden Boot-winning tally of 11 goals in her 2024 campaign — despite being recently hampered by an ankle injury.

Representing the back line, Girma was the only field player to feature in every minute of the 2024 Paris Games, with USWNT boss Emma Hayes calling her "the best defender I have ever seen."

Despite such praise, the 2023 US Soccer Player of the Year was notably snubbed last month from the 2024 Ballon d'Or shortlist. The other four BCC-nominated players feature on both lists.

Meanwhile, with 13 NWSL goals so far this season, Zambian national Banda is a frontrunner for the league's 2024 MVP award. With three hat tricks across the Tokyo and Paris Games, her 10 goals across those tournaments make her Africa's all-time leading Olympic scorer.

As for the Barça athletes, Norwegian national Hansen's injuries left her underrated for much of the 29-year-old's career, but her last two seasons with the Liga F side has seen her score an astounding 45 goals in 55 appearances.

Meanwhile, Bonmatí has secured every possible club-level trophy during her Barcelona career, including three UWCL titles. The 2023 World Cup champion with Spain is also the 2023 Ballon d'Or winner.

How to vote for the BBC 2024 Footballer of the Year

Fans worldwide can cast their votes online now through 5 AM ET on October 28th, with the winner announced on November 26th.

The penultimate NWSL matchday has arrived, and there's no game with higher stakes this weekend than Saturday's clash between seventh-place Portland and ninth-place Louisville.

Both clubs sit three points from the postseason cutoff line, and while Louisville has everything to gain, the Thorns — who snapped Orlando’s unbeaten streak last weekend — have everything to lose.

Elsewhere in the NWSL, eighth-place Bay FC's Saturday test against the fifth-place Courage could determine multiple postseason fates. Meanwhile, ACFC hosts the surging Royals in a must-win match on Sunday.

NWSL playoff field comes down to two spots 

With just two regular-season games to go, six of the NWSL's eight playoff berths are locked, while six other teams — Portland, Bay FC, Louisville, Utah, Angel City, and San Diego — are looking to punch the last two tickets. 

This weekend's clinch and elimination scenarios:

• Seventh-place Portland can secure a berth with a win over Louisville, or a draw with Louisville plus a Bay FC loss.
• Eighth-place Bay FC can clinch with a win over North Carolina and a Louisville loss, or a draw with North Carolina plus a Louisville loss and a draw between Angel City and Utah.
• A Bay FC win immediately eliminates Angel City, San Diego, and Utah.
• To stay alive,​ 11th-place Angel City and 12th-place San Diego must win while 10th-place Utah must at least draw.
• Ninth-place Louisville can only be eliminated with a loss to Portland plus a Bay FC win or draw.

Hardware hoisters face off on Sunday

The top of the NWSL table has postseason berths and hosting duties all locked up, but even without playoff positioning on the line, Sunday's tilt between league-leaders Orlando and third-place Gotham is about more than bragging rights: The 2024 Shield-winners' visit to the 2023 champions feels like a postseason preview, all wrapped up in a Kelley O'Hara retirement party.

The Pride's response to their first season loss will unfold on Sunday's pitch while Gotham will be facing the only team to defeat them since June. Low stakes aside, this match is arguably all about momentum.

How to watch key NWSL matches this weekend

Portland kicks off against Louisville on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET before Bay FC takes on North Carolina at 10 PM ET, both on ION.

Then on Sunday, Angel City faces Utah at 7:30 PM ET, with live coverage on Paramount+.

The Pride's visit to Gotham will kick off at 5 PM ET on Sunday, with live coverage on ESPN.