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WNBA allows public charter flights but nixes Aces’ loophole

The Las Vegas Aces had worked with the public charter service to create flights around their game schedule, but they no longer are doing so. (Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)

The WNBA is allowing teams to fly on a public charter service this season, albeit with terms and conditions applied.

Teams can use JetSuiteX, which on its website bills itself as a “hop-on jet service that’s faster on the ground and more comfortable in the air.” JSX operates out of private terminals, which helps teams bypass airports and TSA security.

JSX planes can hold up to 30 people, which means teams have the option to buy out the flight, a league executive told ESPN.

The news of the expanded travel policy, first reported by the Washington Post’s Candace Buckner, comes after Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury were harassed in a Dallas airport last weekend while waiting on a commercial flight.

But JSX isn’t available in the majority of WNBA cities. The airline has three hubs in Los Angeles, as well as hubs in Phoenix, Dallas, Las Vegas and Westchester County in New York. So the usage of such flights has varied by team.

Also, unlike traditional charters, JSX flights have pre-set routes and times, which the WNBA has told teams the cannot change, ESPN reported. And while the airline offers the ability to book flights outside its pre-set schedule, such a move is prohibited by the league.

The Las Vegas Aces attempted to work around that condition, the Washington Post reported, working with JSX to create publicly available flights in conjunction with their road game schedule. Those flights still appear on the company’s website as “pop up flights” available for anyone to book.

The Aces booked such “pop up flights” during a recent three-game road trip, but the team was told by the WNBA to cancel one of the flights (a June 4 trip from Indianapolis to Hartford, Connecticut).

“The WNBA approved that all teams can book JSX flights with certain protocols in place,” a WNBA spokesperson told the Washington Post in response to a question about the canceled flight. “Since this is a new program this year, we had to address a few matters with teams earlier in the season.”

The Aces are no longer taking such flights, but they are not facing a fine from the WNBA, ESPN reported.

Report: Qatar in Talks to Host 1st FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in 2028

Fireworks light up Lusail Stadium in Qatar during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Men's World Cup.
Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup. (Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

The host of the 2022 Men's World Cup is back in the headlines, with Middle East nation Qatar reportedly in talks with FIFA to house the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in January 2028.

Despite recent gains on the men's side, the Qatar women’s national team is currently unranked due to a lack of official matches — founded in 2009, the squad has not competed in any official capacity in 12 years.

The lack of support for the nation's women's team is unsurprising given Qatar's concerning human rights record — one that the soccer world has long called into question, particularly concerning the treatment of women, migrants, and the LGBTQIA+ population.

The reported aim to host the 2028 Women's Club World Cup would constitute another example of Qatar sportswashing those international human rights concerns using the country's close relationship with the international soccer governing body — one bolstered by the fact that FIFA president Gianni Infantino resides in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Despite this week's reports, FIFA said they have yet to receive a formal bid for its first-ever women's club competition.

With 16 teams expected to compete from January 5th through 30th, 2028, European clubs are already bracing for calendar disruptions thanks to the Women's Club World Cup's winter kick-off.

At least five teams from Europe and two each from Asia, Africa, South America, and North America will compete, with the remaining three clubs determined by a 2027 qualifying tournament.

Team USA Figure Skating Trio Ignites 2026 Winter Olympics Hopes

The US Figure Skating women's singles team of Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito pose for a photo after making the nation's 2026 Winter Olympics squad.
The USA women's figure skating team is hoping to end a 20-year medal drought at the 2026 Winter Olympics next month. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

US Figure Skating is hoping to make Olympic history this year, naming powerhouse trio Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito to the official 2026 Winter Games roster on Sunday as Team USA aims to end a 20-year medal drought in Milan next month.

Glenn earned her spot after winning her third-straight national title on Friday, with reigning world champion Liu and 18-year-old 2024 Worlds runner-up Levito chasing her onto the 2026 US Figure Skating Championships podium.

"Just so grateful. That was terrifying," Glenn said after her win. "And I had to skate after two incredible ladies brought down the house."

Liu is the only US women's singles skater returning with Olympic experience — at just 16 years old, she took sixth place in Beijing — but the group's national podium tally adds to Team USA's renewed confidence.

"All we've got to do, is do our job," said 26-year-old Glenn. "I think the US ladies have come so, so far in the last two decades that if all three of us do our jobs in Milan, then more than likely someone's going to be up there [on the Olympic podium]."

How to watch the 2026 Olympic figure skating competition

While the US women will first take the ice in the team competition on February 6th and 8th, the trio will begin contending for individual glory by skating their short programs at 12:45 PM ET on February 17th, airing live on USA Network.

The 2026 Olympic podium will then be finalized in the free skate competition at 1 PM ET on February 19th, with live coverage on NBC.

Denver Summit Rookie Jasmine Aikey Wins 2025 MAC Hermann Trophy

Stanford senior midfielder Jasmine Aikey reacts to a play during an NCAA soccer match.
Incoming Denver Summit rookie Jasmine Aikey is the sixth Stanford Cardinal to win the MAC Hermann award. (Stanford Athletics)

Incoming Denver Summit FC rookie Jasmine Aikey capped her Stanford career by earning the top honor in NCAA women's soccer, lifting the 2025 MAC Hermann Trophy last Friday.

Aikey is now the sixth Cardinal to win the award, joining fellow alums and USWNT standouts like Kelley O'Hara (2009), Christen Press (2010), Catarina Macario (2018, 2019), and Andi Sullivan (2017).

"I am so happy that Jasmine's hard work and dedication paid off, as she is one of the most talented and competitive student-athletes I have ever coached," said Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe in the school's Friday announcement.

The 20-year-old topped both Stanford and the ACC in goals scored this season with 21, tallying 11 assists as she led the Cardinal to both the 2025 ACC Championship and last month's College Cup Final.

Even more, her dominant season saw Aikey claim the 2025 MAC Hermann Award over fellow finalists and ACC stars Jordynn Dudley, a junior forward for reigning NCAA champion Florida State, and Izzy Engle, a Notre Dame sophomore attacker and the 2025 ACC Offensive Player of the Year.

With her Friday win, Aikey also made history as just the second student-athlete to win both the Hermann Trophy and the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, joining Portland alum and international soccer's all-time leading scorer, Canada legend Christine Sinclair.

The forward won't be resting on her laurels for long, however, with Aikey now gearing up for next month's NWSL preseason after signing a two-year deal to join 2026 expansion side Denver Summit last Thursday.

"I'm ready to get to work and help set the standard in Denver," remarked the newly minted pro in a club statement.

WTA Rankings Shift as Tennis Stars Gear Up for 2026 Australian Open

US tennis star Coco Gauff reacts to a point during a 2026 United Cup match.
US star Coco Gauff rose to world No. 3 in the WTA rankings after her 2026 United Cup performance. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

As top tennis talents turn toward the 2026 Australian Open, this week's WTA rankings refresh hints at the drama to come as the year's first Grand Slam nears.

Following her strong 2026 United Cup showing against world No. 2 Iga Świątek, Team USA favorite Coco Gauff jumped to No. 3, leapfrogging fellow US star No. 4 Amanda Anisimova along the way.

Meanwhile, reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys hit a slight skid, falling two spots to No. 9 after unwavering No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka ousted her from last week's Brisbane Open quarterfinals.

Sabalenka aside, Switzerland's No. 10 Belinda Bencic might have the hottest hand heading into Melbourne, busting into the Top 10 after winning all five of her 2026 United Cup singles matches — including a dominant three-set victory over Poland's Świątek.

Bencic also made history in this week's rankings update, becoming the first returning mother to crack the WTA's top tier since US tennis icon Serena Williams did so in 2021.

"I think it's been a huge goal, maybe a huge ride after the whole comeback, to come back and prove this to myself, that it's possible," Bencic said this week.

How to watch top WTA ranked tennis players this week

Next up for the WTA rankings' elite will be the record-breaking 2026 Australian Open, with the main draw of the season's first Slam kicking off down under on Sunday.

Live coverage from the Melbourne hardcourt will air across ESPN platforms beginning at 7 PM ET on Saturday.