An action-packed week in the WNBA kicks off Tuesday. Just Women’s Sports has three matchups to watch, starting with Tuesday’s rematch between the Mercury and the Mystics.

Phoenix Mercury vs. Washington Mystics

Tuesday, June 14 @ 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

While the Mystics are 9-6 overall, their record doesn’t necessarily tell the tale of their talent. When these two teams faced off Sunday, the Mercury got the best of the Mystics in overtime, but Washington was without Elena Delle Donne.

Still, following the loss, Mystics coach Mike Thibault didn’t mince words about the team’s performance.

“Wasted opportunity — that’s all I’ve got,” he said. “This is the most frustrating one of the year. Chance to beat a good offensive team, playing good defense for the most part, and let them off the hook.”

With 12 lead changes and 13 ties over 60 minutes in Sunday’s game, Tuesday’s rematch has the potential to be just as enticing – particularly with the addition of Delle Donne. In her appearances time this season, the Mystics have gone 6-3. She’s been averaging 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 26.3 minutes per game.

Las Vegas Aces vs. Dallas Wings

Wednesday, June 15 @ 1 p.m. ET

The Dallas Wings prove an interesting study, despite having lost their last three. After beating the Storm by 17 points on June 3, they lost to Las Vegas by six points. Then they dropped two straight to Seattle by a total of six points. 

Arike Ogunbowale was ejected from Sunday’s game against Seattle after kicking a ball into the stands. Former No. 1 overall pick Charli Collier can’t stick in the lineup. Regardless, the team has the talent to threaten top-tier teams like the Aces, who lead the league.

A’ja Wilson has been a dominant force for an Aces team that has plenty of firepower. But guard Jackie Young remains out with an ankle sprain after being a major contributor to the team’s offense through 11 games, averaging 19.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun

Friday, June 17 @ 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network

The Storm and the Sun are near the tops of their respective conferences, and Seattle has hot lately, winning its last three. Storm star Breanna Stewart leads the league in points, averaging 21.7 per game.

Meanwhile, Connecticut boasts two of the league’s best rebounders in Jonquel Jones (8.7 per game) and Alyssa Thomas (8.4 per game). Thomas also ranks in the top five in the league in assists with 5.8 per game.

These two teams matched up on June 5, with Connecticut coming out on top following a 32-point fourth quarter. But the two teams kept it close to the end, and Friday could offer another riveting contest.

Full Schedule:

• Tuesday
  • Phoenix Mercury vs. Washington Mystics @ 7 p.m. ET
  • Seattle Storm vs. Minnesota Lynx @ 9 p.m. ET
• Wednesday
  • Las Vegas Aces vs. Dallas Wings @ 1 p.m. ET
  • Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever @ 7 p.m. ET 
  • Atlanta Dream vs. Connecticut Sun @ 7 p.m. ET
• Thursday
  • Washington Mystics vs. New York Liberty @ 7 p.m. ET
• Friday
  • Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun @ 7 p.m. ET
  • Atlanta Dream vs. Chicago Sky @ 7 p.m. ET
  • Phoenix Mercury vs. Dallas Wings @ 8 p.m. ET
• Sunday
  • Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty @ 12 p.m. ET
  • Connecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics @ 2 p.m. ET
  • Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever @ 3 p.m. ET
  • Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings @ 4 p.m. ET
  • Minnesota Lynx vs. Las Vegas Aces @ 6 p.m. ET

The 2025 NWSL Championship claimed a major viewership milestone on Saturday, as Gotham FC's 1-0 title win over the Washington Spirit became the first-ever league match to record an average of more than one million viewers.

The CBS evening broadcast averaged an impressive 1.184 million fans and peaked at 1.55 million viewers, making it the most-watched NWSL match of all time.

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The 2025 final marked a 22% viewership increase over the 967,900 fans who watched 2024's Orlando Pride victory — the previous NWSL viewership record-holder — and a 45% ratings gain over Gotham's 2023 championship win, which averaged 816,800 viewers.

Saturday's gains both matched the 22% viewership increase the NWSL regular season saw this year and also far exceeded the 2025 postseason's pre-final year-over-year increase of 5%.

Calling the one-million viewer mark "an extraordinary achievement" in Tuesday's league statement, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman also noted that the "record-setting audience demonstrates the deepening connection fans have with our players, our clubs, and the world-class competition on the field, and it underscores the growing demand for women's soccer on the biggest stages."

"We're incredibly proud of what this moment represents for the NWSL and for everyone who continues to invest in and believe in the future of our game," Berman added.

Incoming offseason league Project B scored more major WNBA signings this week, as the upstart venture continues stacking its roster ahead of a planned November 2026 launch.

Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham have both publicly signed on with Project B, joining already announced talent like Seattle Storm star Nneka Ogwumike and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones, and Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd.

Also inking deals to join the inaugural season of Project B are Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün, and Li Meng, a former Washington Mystics guard and current player in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association.

The multi-continent, Formula One-style traveling tournament circuit will ultimately sign 66 international stars, as Project B looks to field six 11-player teams in its debut 2026/2027 campaign.

Project B player signings will undoubtedly impact other offseason leagues like Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited, but the new venture is also looming large over the ongoing WNBA CBA talks.

With negotiations racing toward this Sunday's extended deadline, Project B is putting WNBA compensation offerings under increased pressure, as the new league is reportedly anteing up multimillion-dollar salaries to its signees — far exceeding the 2025 WNBA maximum as well as the $1.1 million-max currently on the negotiating table.

World No. 1 Spain will take aim at a second-straight UEFA Nations League title this week, as La Roja take on No. 5 Germany in the first leg of the 2025 tournament's final at 2:30 PM ET on Friday.

The defending Nations League champions booked their spot in the 2025 final by dismantling No. 3 Sweden 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinal round, while Germany advanced after a tense 3-2 aggregate win over No. 6 France.

Germany must also contend with availability issues during Friday's match, as 28-year-old Bayern Munich forward and senior national team leading scorer Lea Schüller will be out due to family reasons.

To overcome that disadvantage, German head coach Christian Wück is reinforcing the team's back line, adding Athletic Bilbao defender Bibi Schulze Solano to the roster on Wednesday.

Also aiming to shut down Spain's offensive firepower on Friday is new NWSL champion goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who joined her German compatriots late following Gotham FC's title celebrations in New York this week.

While Spain and Germany will contend for the 2025 Nations League trophy this week, the pair — along with ousted semifinalists Sweden and France — have already booked spots in the top group of teams battling for tickets to the 2027 World Cup, with UEFA qualifying set to begin in 2026.

A full 19 months removed from their back-to-back Final Four runs, No. 11 Iowa basketball refuses to go away, with the Hawkeyes already notching one Top-25 win in the young 2025/26 NCAA campaign so far.

The still-unbeaten Hawkeyes took down No. 15 Baylor 57-52 last Thursday, with Iowa starting post players Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden combining for 28 points while guard Taylor Stremlow added another 12 off the bench in the marquee win.

"We have nice pieces," said Iowa head coach Jan Jensen this week. "But it's knowing when to play which pieces and with whom, and we're six games in."

The Hawkeyes have been finding their new identity under Jensen after a transformative period saw Iowa's longtime head coach Lisa Bluder retire while superstar guard Caitlin Clark joined the WNBA.

"Jan's been amazing," Stuelke told JWS at the Big Ten Media Day in October. "She stepped up like she needed to, and she's been growing every day since she's been the head coach, which it's really cool to see she cares. And it's a great environment for all of us."

"I have a year under my belt," Jensen echoed. "I know what this chair feels like now, and I have a little better of understanding of what that first road trip feels like, what that first big win feels like, or the tough loss feels like."

How to watch Iowa basketball in the 2025/26 NCAA season

Though there are a few lopsided matchups on the Hawkeyes' more immediate schedule, Iowa's season heats up with a ranked rivalry matchup against No. 10 Iowa State on Wednesday, December 10th.

The state rivals will tip off at 7 PM ET, with live coverage airing on ESPN.