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Report: Jersey number strife, film session callouts marred Cambage’s Sparks tenure

(Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

Conflict on and off the court marred Liz Cambage’s brief tenure with the Los Angeles Sparks, Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday night.

The star center and the team agreed to a contract divorce, the Sparks announced Tuesday, less than six months after she signed with the team as a free agent.

Her issues with the Sparks came to a head Saturday during the team’s matchup with her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, Yahoo Sports reported. Cambage was unhappy with her touches, which led to her teammates force-feeding her the ball out of annoyance in the 84-66 blowout loss, sources told Yahoo’s Chris Haynes.

Cambage, who ended with 11 points and five rebounds through 22 minutes, said on her way out of the locker room that she “can’t do this anymore” before wishing the team “best of luck,” according to the report.

Concerns surrounding Cambage predated her time with Los Angeles. Multiple Sparks players acknowledged that a focused Cambage could help the team, but they expressed concern over her issues on past teams, sources told Yahoo Sports.

Still, then-head coach and general manager Derek Fisher brought Cambage into the fold. He later was fired by the team in June.

The starting center made waves before the season even started with a jersey number swap. Cambage requested to wear No. 8, but the Sparks were retiring that number to honor DeLisha Milton-Jones. Instead, she requested to wear No. 1, which already belonged to forward Amanda Zahui B., per Yahoo Sports.

Zahui B. was approached by Fisher about a number swap, but she politely declined. Eventually, though, management opted to give the number to Cambage anyway — and Zahui B. learned of the switch via social media, Yahoo Sports reported.

In an unrelated move, Zahui B. was suspended by the Sparks for the 2022 season. Fisher cited Zahui B.’s overseas commitments, which he believed would have forced her to miss up to 13 games of the regular season.

During the season, Cambage criticized teammates during film sessions and accused them of not giving her the ball, Yahoo Sports reported.

The Sparks issues, though, extend beyond Cambage. Players expressed dismay over a perceived lack of leadership and accountability in the franchise, according to Yahoo Sports.

Another sticking point is the the team’s practice location, Jump Beyond Sports complex, which was chosen by Fisher and his staff prior to the season.

“An AAU team wouldn’t want to play there,” one player told Yahoo Sports.

Some of the Sparks’ practices in July have been held at USC and Crypto.com Arena instead, per Yahoo Sports.

Still, despite the strife, the team sits in playoff position in sixth place in the WNBA standings. The league’s top eight teams make the postseason.

“The mindset of the players is to keep moving on,” interim head coach Fred Williams said. “You’ve got to move forward. It’s one player’s decision to do what she needs to do.”

During a scheduled media session Tuesday, Williams – who has known Cambage since their time together in Dallas – addressed Cambage’s exit, saying the team “respects” her decision to leave.

“I was really, I was surprised a little,” Williams said. “It was kind of an emotional shock. A lot of it was she played her former team that she’s with and a lot of emotions flew around. It was a surprise. But I have to respect what she wants.

“Once a person gives you that verbally what she wants, you have to listen because it could be something else, could be something that’s not related to basketball.”

Report: WSL Champs Chelsea Target Angel City Star Alyssa Thompson

Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson eyes play across the pitch during a 2025 NWSL match.
WSL titan Chelsea FC is reportedly interested in signing USWNT and Angel City winger Alyssa Thompson as soon as possible. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Chelsea FC is once again looking across the pond to bolster their roster, with the six-time reigning WSL champions reportedly aiming to make a deal with NWSL side Angel City to acquire ACFC and USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson, per The Guardian this week.

Though the two clubs have yet to reach terms, Chelsea would need to have the deal signed before the WSL transfer window closes next Thursday.

Any agreement for Chelsea to snag Thompson from Angel City will likely feature yet another historic transfer fee, with cost projections topping former Tigres UANL star Lizbeth Ovalle's record $1.5 million transfer to the Orlando Pride earlier this month.

The 20-year-old phenom is currently under contract with ACFC through the 2028 season after inking a three-year extension this past January.

With six goals and two assists in her 16 regular-season appearances in 2025 so far, the 2023 NWSL Draft No. 1 pick is trailing only rookie Riley Tiernan's seven goals on this year's Angel City scoresheet.

Should the transfer go through, Thompson would be the third ACFC player in a week to be moving to the UK, with the NWSL club transferring defender Alanna Kennedy and midfielder Katie Zelem to the newly WSL-promoted London City Lionesses on Wednesday.

As for Chelsea, the Blues have been a major player in recruiting US players over the last few seasons, with Thompson potentially joining her USWNT teammates Catarina Macario and Naomi Girma in suiting up for the WSL side's upcoming 2025/26 season.

Four-Time Grand Slam Champ Naomi Osaka Extends US Open Comeback Run

Tennis star Naomi Osaka reacts to her second-round victory at the 2025 US Open.
World No. 24 Naomi Osaka is through to the third round of the US Open for the first time since 2021. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka is looking like her old self this week, as the world No. 24 advanced to the 2025 New York Grand Slam's third round for the first time since 2021 with a straight-set win over the US's No. 47 Hailey Baptiste on Thursday.

"I don't make it my business to know anymore, I kind of just leave it up in the air," said the fan favorite following questions about a possible fifth Grand Slam title run. "I've trained really hard. I practiced really hard. If it happens, it happens."

After taking her lumps on the WTA Tour since returning from pregnancy in 2024, the 2025 US Open marks Osaka's first seeded entry into a major tournament since 2022 — and she appears to be embracing her competitive boost in style, complete with eye-catching outfits and a matching Labubu.

The 27-year-old Japanese national next faces No. 18 Daria Kasatkina in the pair's third career meeting, with Osaka getting the best of the Australian in both previous matchups — most recently at the 2024 Italian Open.

Should Osaka advance to Sunday's Round of 16, she could be on a collision course toward a date with No. 3 Coco Gauff, after the US star advanced past her own emotionally challenging second-round battle on Thursday.

How to watch Naomi Osaka at the 2025 US Open

With times still to be announced, Osaka will next battle Kasatkina during the second day of 2025 US Open third-round play on Saturday.

Live coverage of the New York Grand Slam airs across ESPN platforms.

Kansas City Current Rides 10-Match Unbeaten Streak Toward Team-First NWSL Shield

Kansas City Current players embrace forward Temwa Chawinga after her goal during a 2025 NWSL match.
The No. 1 Kansas City Current enter the weekend on a 10-match unbeaten streak. (Amanda Loman/NWSL via Getty Images)

The No. 1 Kansas City Current have been unstoppable this season, riding a 10-match unbeaten streak into Saturday's game against the No. 9 North Carolina Courage and inching closer to claiming a franchise-first NWSL Shield.

The Current's dominant 12-point advantage over the No. 2 Washington Spirit marks the league's largest top-table margin since the Courage finished 15 points ahead in 2018.

Even more, Kansas City tops the NWSL in goals scored (34) while also registering the fewest goals allowed (10), entering the league's 18th weekend of play with a record-tying five consecutive shutouts.

After coming in fourth in 2024, the Current's defense has continued to improve under manager Vlatko Andonovski, while another MVP-level year from star forward Temwa Chawinga has bolstered Kansas City's offense.

Chawinga currently leads the 2025 NWSL Golden Boot race with 11 goals through 17 games, while sitting in the league's Top 3 for both shots and shots on goal.

"I think because we have such a powerful offense, the defensive things, maybe people don't notice as much," Kansas City forward Michelle Cooper said earlier this week. "I think something absolutely important to us is our entire back line and the commitment to get little touches in, to take [advantage] of angles, and block shots."

How to watch the Kansas City Current this weekend

No. 1 Kansas City will host No. 9 North Carolina — one of just two teams to defeat the Current all season — at 7:30 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage airing on ION.

Injury-laden New York Liberty Strive to Maintain WNBA Standings Foothold

New York Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison celebrates a play with her teammates during a 2025 WNBA game.
The New York Liberty will continue their hunt to secure a 2025 WNBA Playoffs spot against the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday. (Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)

The No. 5 New York Liberty are creeping back up the ladder, as the defending WNBA champions continued reversing their recent skid with Thursday's 89-63 win over the No. 10 Washington Mystics — all while the race to the 2025 WNBA Playoffs reaches its boiling point.

While Washington rookie Sonia Citron's 18 points led the game, New York pulled together a true team effort to secure Thursday's victory, with five Liberty players scoring double-digits — including a season-high 16 points off the bench from forward Isabelle Harrison in her return from concussion protocol.

"We're not looking at the other teams at this point," Liberty forward Emma Meesseman said after the game. "We're just looking at ourselves, to maybe send a message to ourselves."

Despite that focus, New York is still contending with injury woes that have overshadowed much of the Liberty's season, taking Thursday's court without starters Sabrina Ionescu (toe), Jonquel Jones (illness), and Natasha Cloud (nose), while leaning on recently returned forward Breanna Stewart.

"We need to win the rest of our games," acknowledged Stewart, with the team gearing up for visits to the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury, No. 8 Golden State Valkyries, and No. 7 Seattle Storm over the next week. "We need to go and be road warriors."

The Liberty will have their hands full against the Mercury this weekend, with Phoenix coming in hot off a three-game winning streak with postseason-clinching top-of-mind.

"It's like a playoff matchup," Stewart added. "It's a big game, big implications, and [we're] not shying away from that."

How to watch the New York Liberty this weekend

No. 4 Phoenix will host No. 5 New York at 10 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage airing on NBA TV.

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