A’ja Wilson & Kelsey Plum withdraw from FIBA World Cup

Naomi Osaka proved herself a franchise player before Monday’s US Open win.

A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum exit FIBA World Cup roster

Team USA lost two of its biggest stars, as Las Vegas’s A’ja Wilson and Phoenix’s Kelsey Plum withdrew from the 2026 FIBA World Cup due to health concerns.

• Wilson had recently landed on Las Vegas’s injury report with a back issue, while Plum will officially miss the rest of the WNBA season with a calf knock.

• Rising Mystics duo Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron will replace the powerhouse pair in USA Basketball’s lineup. (See full roster)

Taking stock: With four Olympic golds between them, the veterans’ absence will add pressure to Team USA’s less experienced squad, as the US looks to further a gold-medal streak dating back to 2010.

• Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Angel Reese, Jackie Young, Iriafen, and Citron will make their senior World Cup debuts in Berlin.

• “This is a prestigious event and I think it sets the tone for the next big event, which obviously is the Olympics,” Howard said. “You always want to come out and show your best. I’m here to buy into that and play my part.” (See full report)

Stay tuned: Team USA tips off against China on Friday at 8:15 AM ET (TNT).

Eala-mania hits the US Open

Louis Armstrong Stadium is ready to rock, as world No. 18 Alexandra Eala hits the US Open court for tonight’s first-round matchup against No. 122 Mary Stoiana.

• Hot off her first WTA title win at the DC Open, Eala has become a tennis sensation drawing a massive fanbase in her native Philippines and beyond.

• “At the forefront of everything is gratitude: I’m very grateful for the support that my fans give me and that my supporters give me,” Eala said. (See full report)

Bright future: Eala looks to better her second-round 2025 US Open exit, carrying a career-best No. 18 ranking into the season’s final Grand Slam — the highest-ever WTA standing for a Southeast Asian player.

• “She brings such a amazing crowd, even for practice,” former No. 1 Naomi Osaka said of Eala. “She’s got a really solid head on her shoulders.”

• JWS went behind the scenes this week, digging into the 21-year-old’s meteoric stardom in The DNA Of: Alex Eala’s Rise. (Watch full episode)

Tune in: Eala kicks off her 2026 US Open run tonight at 8:40 PM ET (ESPN).

Players Era Showcase touts huge NIL payday

The Players Era Showcase is packing a punch, as the 2026 NCAA basketball showdown announced its star-studded lineup this week.

• Mirroring last weekend’s Players Era Volleyball Showcase, the round robin competition pits reigning champion UCLA against fellow top teams USC, South Carolina, Duke, Texas, and Notre Dame.

• “It will be the premier non-conference tournament and have a lot of eyeballs with some great programs going head-to-head,” said UCLA head coach Cori Close. (See full release)

Big money: Set for December 19-20 in Las Vegas, the event aims to foreshadow the 2026/27 women’s basketball postseason — while promising a record NIL prize pool.

• “Players Era is guaranteeing women’s college volleyball and basketball players mid-seven figures for available NIL activities — what we believe to be the greatest purse offered by any operator in the space,” Players Era CEO Seth Berger confirmed. (See full report)

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Orlando fires manager Seb Hines

No. 12 Orlando is making changes, as the Pride parted ways with manager Seb Hines amid a season-long skid toward the bottom of the NWSL standings.

• Hines led Orlando to both the the NWSL Shield and championship title in 2024, before going on to suffer 12 losses so far this year.

• “He will always have a special place in our history for helping lead the Pride to levels it had never reached before,” said GM Caitlin Carducci. (See full release)

Bidding adieu: The news caps a long tenure for the former Orlando City player, with Hines first joining the Pride as an assistant back in 2018.

• Assistant coach Yolanda Thomas will take over as interim manager, looking to salvage the 2026 season behind superstar striker Barbra Banda.

Frost re-signs Kendall Coyne Schofield

Minnesota is doubling down on its skipper, re-signing captain Kendall Coyne Schofield to a two-year contract through the 2027/28 PWHL season.

• Coyne Schofield led the Frost to back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025, bolstered by her experience as a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

• “My first three seasons in Minnesota have been unforgettable for my family and me,” said Coyne Schofield. “We’re thrilled to be back for the next two seasons.” (See full release)

Big moves: Amid rapid expansion, the re-signing allows Minnesota to retain its inaugural leadership core alongside fellow captains Lee Stecklein and Kelly Pannek.

Stay tuned: The PWHL is set to drop the puck on the 2026/27 season in November.

Lexi Kilfoyl wins AUSL All-Star Cup

Lexi Kilfoyl came out on top, as the Chicago Bandits ace won the Athletes Unlimited Softball League’s 2026 All-Star Cup with 1,072 points.

• Kilfoyl edged out infielder Baylee Klingler, who took second with 1,040 points, followed by pitcher Sam Landry’s 908-point third-place finish.

• “These are truly the best softball players in the world around me, and knowing that I am number one out of this roster is truly an honor,” said Kilfoyl. (See full results)

How it works: The month-long All-Star Cup showcased 45 top AUSL talents competing on an individual leaderboard across a 12-game, rotating team format.

• “As this league continues to grow and move in the right directions, this is all going to be very special moving forward,” said Kilfoyl.

Quote of the day

LA Sparks star Rae Burrell
brainstorming viral sneaker designs in JWS’s all-new The Bigger Picture.