Brittney Sykes masterclass fuels Tempo's rise

Which duo became the first WNBA teammates to record twin 30-point double-doubles?

Tempo picks up the pace

The Tempo is building rhythm, as newcomer No. 8 Toronto hops above the playoff line after Wednesday’s 106-102 Commissioner’s Cup win over No. 15 Connecticut.

• Inaugural backcourt duo Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey instantly gelled, averaging a combined 39.5 points a game — anchored by Sykes’s 38-point run against the Sun.

• “We put the ball in her hands a fair bit near the end, and she made great things happen,” Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said of the league’s third-highest leading scorer. (Watch full highlights)

Looking ahead: Toronto tests its resilience this weekend, first facing No. 11 Washington as the Mystics recover from Monday’s 78-76 loss to No. 6 Indiana — courtesy of Caitlin Clark’s walk-off 3-pointer.

• “We’ve had moments where we’re on the ropes, and to see us show that Mystics DNA, the togetherness, the toughness — we don’t even get to that moment if we don’t show who we are,” said Washington head coach Sydney Johnson.

• The Tempo heads home on Sunday, hosting No. 4 Atlanta as the Dream looks to leapfrog Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings.

Tune in: Toronto takes on Washington tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on ION.

Lynx & Aces stage top-table clash

The WNBA’s top two teams tussle this weekend, as No. 1 Minnesota travels to Las Vegas on Saturday to take on a No. 2 Aces team nipping at its heels.

• Even without sidelined star Napheesa Collier, the 10-2 Lynx are off to a breakout season behind top-scorer and Rookie of the Year shoe-in Olivia Miles.

• “She’s special,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said of the No. 2 draft pick. “We’ve had, obviously good teams, legendary teams, but it’s a different time now.” (See full standings)

Scouting report: Las Vegas is charting a similar course, carrying a five-game winning streak into the weekend as four-time MVP A’ja Wilson leads the league with 25.8 points per game.

• Veteran point guard Chelsea Gray has been in vintage form, after tying the single-game record for made 3-pointers in Thursday’s win over Portland.

• “Our trust is something we have been growing forever,” Wilson said of her on-court chemistry with Gray. “Our trust, our communication — just the kind of person Chels is.” (Watch full highlights)

Tune in: Minnesota takes on Las Vegas on Saturday at 8 PM ET, live on CBS.

Wimbledon boosts purse after French Open fallout

Wimbledon is upping the ante, as the London Grand Slam announced its raising this year’s overall payout to £64.2 million — a £10.7 million leap from 2025.

• The 20% increase marks the largest in tournament history, with ATP and WTA champions set to take home £3.6 million each while first-round losers walk with £80,000.

• “What has been decided this year is the biggest uplift ever in quantum terms,” said All England Club chair Debbie Jevans. “We’re proud to be able to do that through how we run the championships in such a sustainable way.” (See full report)

Big push: The news comes after top stars publicly protested French Open revenue sharing — though Wimbledon’s payout still falls below the 16% players are targeting.

• “We’ve always been clear that we’re on the side of the players,” added Jevans, noting All England Club’s nonprofit status. “Revenue does not take into account the contributions that we give.”

• The grass-court Slam’s new total amounts to 15.1% of last year’s recorded revenue, a tick up from 2025’s 13% split.

Stay tuned: Wimbledon kicks off on June 29th, live on ESPN.

Catch up on the latest women’s soccer headlines, as an all-new episode of The Late Sub presented by Ally Bank dishes up host Claire Watkins’s hottest takes on all things USWNT, NWSL, Champions League, and more.

• In the episode, Claire breaks down the USWNT’s chaotic trip to Brazil, after the US and As Canarinhas split a pair of friendlies that were anything but.

• Plus, Claire takes a hard look at the current USWNT roster, sizing up who’s ready to go and who’s missing the mark ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Tune in: Catch The Late Sub with Claire Watkins on YouTube.

Ally Bank, Member FDIC.

Kelsey Plum signs with Adidas

Kelsey Plum has landed on the Adidas roster, as the apparel giant officially added the LA Sparks guard to its growing women’s basketball lineup this week.

• Plum joins WNBA stars Satou Sabally and Aliyah Boston plus retired icon Candace Parker, with brand support expected both on and off the court.

• “There’s no better brand to partner with to authentically express myself,” Plum said. “Their commitment to basketball is unwavering and I’m looking forward to this new chapter.” (See full release)

Big moves: The signing confirmed prior speculations, after Plum started wearing Adidas at this year’s Unrivaled games in defiance of her Under Armour contract.

• With signature products still in the works, Plum will sport the adidas Crazy Energy for the rest of the 2026 WNBA season.

Abby Wambach joins multi-club ownership group

Three women’s soccer greats are buying in, as retired USWNT stars Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Leslie Osborne joined multi-club ownership group Crux Football’s new Player Investor Collective.

• The initiative invites former athletes across all sports to invest in European women’s soccer clubs, building on a portfolio that includes France’s Montpellier HSC Féminines and Sweden’s FC Rosengård.

Big growth: Crux focuses on smaller markets, aiming to promote parity and self-sustainability while appealing to investors who might not have the capital to buy into big-name teams.

• “We don’t necessarily need more investment in Lyon, Arsenal, or Barcelona,” said founder and CEO Bex Smith. “What we need are better teams throughout… There should be pathways for athletes to participate in building the future of the sport.” (See full report)

Quote of the day

Tempo guard Marina Mabrey
after photos surfaced of teammate Brittney Sykes sipping a Coke during Wednesday’s OT win over Connecticut.