All Scores

What to watch this weekend in women’s sports

(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The WNBA Finals headline this weekend in women’s sports, with the Chicago Sky awaiting the winner of Friday night’s pivotal Game 5 in the semifinal series between Las Vegas and Phoenix.  The NWSL is also back in action after a tumultuous few weeks for the league.

Here’s everything you need to see this weekend in women’s sports.

img
Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

WNBA Semifinals: Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces

Friday, Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2

The Las Vegas Aces battled back from a 2-1 Semifinals series deficit to force a Game 5 on their home court. Chelsea Gray and A’ja Wilson showed up in the Aces’ 93-76 victory over Phoenix on Wednesday and will need to come up clutch again if the team hopes to advance to their second-consecutive WNBA Finals.

img
Scott Tetsch/Getty Images

WNBA Finals: Chicago Sky vs. winner of Aces/Mercury

Sunday, Oct. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC

The Chicago Sky await the winner of the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury matchup after downing the Connecticut Sun 3-1 in their semifinals series. Candace Parker and the Sky are firing on all cylinders after taking out the league’s top-seeded team, advancing to Chicago’s first Finals since 2014.

img
Jeremy Reper/ISI Photos

NWSL: Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC

Saturday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. ET on Twitch

Gotham FC will travel to Orlando to take on the Pride after celebrating Carli Lloyd’s historic retirement in her hometown of Philadelphia. With one point separating Gotham and the Pride in the NWSL standings, Saturday’s matchup will be critical in the two teams’ playoffs push.

img
RANDY LITZINGER/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES

NWSL: Washington Spirit vs. Racing Louisville FC

Saturday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Paramount+

The Washington Spirit will look to lock up a win on Saturday as the team sits just outside playoff contention at seventh in the NWSL standings. Racing Louisville is also on the hunt for a victory, with the team’s last win dating back to Aug. 8.

img
Craig Mitchelldyer/ISI Photos/Getty Images

NWSL: Kansas City vs. Portland Thorns FC

Sunday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. ET on Paramount+

Top-ranked Portland Thorns will travel to take on last-placed Kansas City on Sunday. The Thorns enter this weekend’s matchup fresh off a tough 3-2 loss to the Houston Dash and will look to get back to their winning ways against Kansas City. The team remains at the center of the Paul Riley scandal after GM Gavin Wilkinson was placed on administrative leave.

img
Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

NWSL: OL Reign vs. Chicago Red Stars

Sunday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. ET on Paramount+

Second-seed OL Reign continue their quest to dethrone the Thorns at the top of the table, sitting three points below Portland. OL Reign, hungry for three points in the standings, will hope to deliver the Chicago Red Stars their first loss in five games when they face off on Sunday.

img
Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos:Getty Images

NWSL: Houston Dash vs. North Carolina Courage

Sunday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. ET on Paramount+

The Houston Dash and North Carolina Courage are both coming off emphatic wins and will look to extend their runs with Sunday night’s game. With a tight table, only three points separate third-place North Carolina from fourth-place Houston.

img
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

LPGA: The Cognizant Founders Cup

Thursday, Oct. 7 at 2-5 p.m. on the Golf Channel

Friday, Oct. 8 at 12-3 p.m. on the Golf Channel

Saturday, Oct. 9 at 12-3 p.m. on the Golf Channel

Sunday, Oct. 10 at 12-3 p.m. on the Golf Channel

Jin Young Ko will look to defend her Founders Cup title as Nelly Korda returns to the course after a three-week break.

Wimbledon Increases Prize Money, Winner to Receive $4.07 Million

Czechia's Barbora Krejčíková celebrates a point during the 2024 Wimbledon final.
2025 Wimbledon competitors could win up to 11.1% more prize money this year. (Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images)

Wimbledon is leveling up, as the annual London-based Grand Slam announced Thursday that it's increasing its purse by 7% across the board in 2025, pushing the total prize money to £53.5 million ($72.59 million) ahead of tennis tournament's June 30th kick-off.

Both the 2025 women's and men's singles champions will earn winner's checks in the amount of £3 million ($4.07 million) — an 11.1% increase over the amount won by 2024 champ Barbora Krejčíková.

With increases across all Slam events, from singles and doubles to wheelchair competitions, even athletes who stumble early will see a raise over last year's competition.

For example, singles players ousted in this year's first round will take home 10% more than in 2024, earning deposits of £66,000 ($89,530).

The 2025 total purse now doubles the prize money offered by the tournament a decade ago, and makes Wimbledon the biggest potential payday across all four of the sport's Grand Slams.

"We're immensely proud of the fact that, if you look back 10 years, you can see the increase over that period and 7% this year," said All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club chair Deborah Jevans. "And we have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players."

Canadian Swimmer Summer McIntosh Breaks 3rd World Record in Five Days

Canadian star swimmer Summer McIntosh competes in a 2025 race.
Summer McIntosh recorded three world records in five days at the 2025 Canadian swimming trials. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Teen swimmer Summer McIntosh made a major splash at the 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials, shattering three world records in just five days of competition in Victoria, BC.

First on Saturday, the Toronto swimmer shaved 1.2 seconds off the Australian Ariarne Titmus's 400-meter freestyle mark to set a new world record time of 3:54.18.

Then on Monday, McIntosh took down a decade-old record in the 200-meter individual medley (IM), becoming the first woman swimmer to complete the race in less than 2:06.00.

Just two days later, the 18-year-old McIntosh broke her own 400-meter IM world record, besting her 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials time by 0.73 seconds with a 4:23.65 race Wednesday.

With her unstoppable week-long performance, McIntosh became the first swimmer to set three new world records in different individual events at one meet since US legend Michael Phelps's historic run at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Going into tonight, I knew I could do something really special because this has probably been the best meet of my career," McIntosh told reporters after Wednesday's race.

That said, the young star is already eyeing new times — and new records.

"Overall, [I'm] happy with the time, but I know I can go faster," said McIntosh following her 400-meter IM performance. "The faster I swim, the happier I am."

NWSL Returns to California for 2025 Championship Weekend

View of PayPal Park during a 2025 NWSL match.
San Jose's PayPal Park will host the 2025 NWSL Championship in November. (Eakin Howard/NWSL via Getty Images)

The NWSL Championship is on its way back West, with the league announcing on Friday morning that the 2025 title match will kick off from PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

Hosted at the home pitch of 2024 expansion team Bay FC, the game will take place on Saturday, November 22nd.

In addition to the championship match, the 2025 NWSL season's final weekend will include a variety of supporting events like Fan Fest and the annual Skills Challenge competition.

"We're thrilled to bring the NWSL Championship back to the West Coast and to a region with as rich a history in women's soccer as the Bay Area," said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman in a league statement.

Citing a long list of former USWNT stars with local ties, including Julie Foudy, Kelley O'Hara, and Alex Morgan, Bay FC co-founder Brandi Chastain — a US legend herself — called the Bay Area "the place women's soccer calls home."

"Our community's fabric is woven with the greatest the game has to offer," explained Chastain.

"This community's passion for the game, combined with the excitement surrounding one of our newest teams in Bay FC, makes it the perfect setting to celebrate the league's top talent and crown our next champion," said Berman.

How to attend and watch the 2025 NWSL Championship

Like last year, the 2025 NWSL Championship will air in primetime, with CBS set to broadcast the match live at 8 PM ET on November 22nd.

Tickets to the game will be available for purchase beginning in August, though interested fans can sign up for presale access online now.

NWSL, WNBA Player Unions Address ICE Raids, Voice Solidarity with Los Angeles

Orlando Pride players huddle before a 2025 NWSL match.
The NWSLPA and the WNBPA put out a joint statement addressing this week's ICE raids in Los Angeles. (Alex Menendez/Getty Images)

The NWSL and WNBA Players Associations teamed up to release a joint statement on Thursday, with the unions expressing their solidarity with "all people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity" after the recent ICE raids and ensuing protests in Los Angeles.

The move comes after Angel City published their own social media post addressing the ICE raids last Saturday, with the Los Angeles NWSL club noting "We know that our city is stronger because of its diversity and the people and families who shape it, love it, and call it home."

ACFC also directed immigrants in need of assistance in the wake of the ICE raids to two community organizations: the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights and the LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Calling the WNBA Players Association "leaders in this space," NWSL Players Association executive director Meghann Burke told The Athletic that the basketball union initiated their joint statement.

"It's important to stand together as workers' unions," she noted.

NWSL and WNBA unions speak to families impacted by ICE raids

"It's not lost on us that this country and the world are in turmoil right now," wrote the NWSLPA and WNBPA. "Across the country, families are facing fear, hardship, and uncertainty tied to immigration."

The athlete unions then crystallized their position, saying, "We stand with all people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity, no matter where they come from or where they hope to go."

"Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect," they continued. "We know not every situation is simple. But offering compassion should never be up for debate."

Start your morning off right with Just Women’s Sports’ free, 5x-a-week newsletter.