Too humid for NCAA volleyball? Might as well throw an epic dance battle.

Ballon d’Or drops 2026 shortlist

The 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist is here, as NWSL and USWNT standouts joined a European-heavy field — including eight members of Club of the Year frontrunner Barcelona’s UWCL champion squad.

• The 30-player lineup’s NWSL ties run deep, headlined by back-to-back MVP Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City), Barbra Banda (Orlando), 2025 US Soccer Player of the Year Rose Lavelle (Gotham), and ex-North Carolina midfielder Manaka Matsukubo, who transferred to Chelsea in July.

• Lorena (Kansas City) and Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham) will square off against each other after both picking up Goalkeeper of the Year noms. (See full list)

Around the horn: Manchester City’s Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is a favorite after her 21-goal, WSL-winning run, while rising USWNT star Lily Yohannes made the Young Talent of the Year cut after lifting France’s treble with OL Lyonnes.

• Two-time reigning winner Aitana Bonmatí was left off after an injury-struck season, while her 2025/26 Barcelona teammates Alexia Putellas, Mapi León, Esmee Brugts, Clàudia Pina, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ewa Pajor, Patri Guijarro, and Cata Coll all got the call.

• Club América’s Scarlett Camberos became the Ballon d’Or’s first-ever Mexican shortlister, with her team following suit as Liga MX Femenil’s first Club of the Year nominee. (See full report)

Stay tuned: The 2026 Ballon d’Or lands in London on October 26th (DAZN).

WNBA tips off commissioner hunt

The WNBA is eyeing a new boss, as multiple outlets reported outgoing leader Cathy Engelbert submitted a list of candidates to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ahead of her end-of-year retirement.

• Sources indicate the search begins later this month, with the league open to a non-traditional pick while prioritizing stronger relationships with players, owners, and executives after Engelbert’s sometimes rocky rapport. 

• ​​Engelbert told The AP that she’s been building a succession plan for years, and is prepared to stay on into early 2027 if the league fails to find a replacement in time. (See full report)

Big shoes: ESPN named WNBA’s Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin, Liberty CEO Keia Clarke, and Valkyries President Jess Smith as potential candidates according to “people around the league.”

• Three-time champion Swin Cash and Nike executive Tanya Hvizdak are also in the mix, alongside WNBPA President and LA Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike — also set to retire after this season.

• “I don’t close doors,” Ogwumike said when asked if she’d consider the job. “But I do appreciate vacation.” (See full report)

WPBL kicks off 1st-ever postseason

WPBL playoffs take the field tonight, as the four-team pro baseball league kicks off twin best-of-three semis — with a ticket to the inaugural championship on the line.

• No. 1 San Francisco enters as the heavy favorite over No. 4 Boston, after sweeping the pair’s regular-season series 5-0 behind No. 1 overall pick — and home run co-leader — Kelsie Whitmore’s two-way spark.

• The Hunters’ longshot hopes hinge on cleaning up a leaky defense while leaning on leadoff hitter Lexi Hastings, who tops Boston’s arsenal with 12 runs, 12 hits, and seven RBIs. (See full preview)

Batter up: No. 2 New York and No. 3 Los Angeles face off tomorrow, after Whitmore’s long-ball race rival Denae Benites helped the Heights stack 32 runs over the last two games to clinch the second seed.

• New York meets its match in the Queens, claiming a 3-2 regular-season series advantage over the Heights thanks to catcher Ashton Lansdell’s 21 runs, 21 hits, and 14 RBIs on the year.

• “Seeing these four elite teams take the field at Robin Roberts Stadium to compete for our very first Championship is a historic moment for baseball,” said Commissioner Justine Siegal. “The time for women’s professional baseball is now.” (See full preview)

Tune in: San Francisco takes on Boston tonight at 7 PM ET (ESPN+).

US opens U-20 World Cup with upset loss

The US is off to a shaky start, dropping Sunday’s 2026 U-20 World Cup opener 2-1 to Italy despite outplaying the Azzurre in the attacking third.

• Former U-17 star Micayla Johnson (Chicago) struck first, tapping in an 18th-minute cross from Emeri Adames (Seattle) to become the first US player to score in three straight youth WWCs.

• Two scrappy Italy goals erased the lead, putting the USWNT’s shot at winning its first U-20 title since 2012 in question. (Watch full highlights)

Big picture: Last month’s roster drop raised concerns about the future of US Soccer, after club commitments left top eligible players like Claire Hutton and Lily Yohannes off the lineup.

• “I am sending a warning sign,” senior team coach Emma Hayes told ESPN. “I am massively worried about the direction for, and the lack of all of those experiences for American players.” (See full report)

Tune in: The US tries to climb the Group D ranks today, facing Japan at 12 PM ET (FS2).

European Leagues call out FIFA’s “abusive conduct”

FIFA is facing fresh heat, as Europe’s top leagues accused soccer’s governing body of “abusive conduct” towards the women’s game in a complaint to the European Commission.

• The group argued that FIFA’s crowded calendar endangers the health and wellbeing of players and leagues while claiming the organization favors its own interests over domestic competition. 

Context: The news comes on the heels of UEFA’s vote to boycott, leading President Gianni Infantino to revoke a plan to sell off private stakes in FIFA events.

• “The recent controversy surrounding the aborted FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative has further exposed this structural conflict and vividly illustrates how profit-driven motives taint FIFA’s regulatory decisions and decision-making processes,” European Leagues stated. (See full report)

Number of the day 

48

Last night’s three-set US Open victory over Emma Navarro marked Jessica Pegula’s 48 comeback win — the most of any WTA player since 2020.