Caitlin Clark's WNBA season is officially over

Mind on my money and my money on my mind.

Caitlin Clark says her WNBA season is officially over

Time has run out on Caitlin Clark’s return from injury, with the Indiana Fever guard announcing via social media that she will officially sit out the rest of the WNBA season in hopes of making a healthy start in 2026.

• “I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling,” Clark said in Thursday’s post.

Big picture: Clark featured in just 13 games this year, battling shooting slumps and soft tissue knocks while the No. 8 Fever’s championship hopes dwindle under the weight of additional roster shifts.

• Veteran offseason signing DeWanna Bonner jumped ship midseason to join the Phoenix Mercury, while guards Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald, and Sophie Cunningham all went down with season-ending injuries alongside forward Chloe Bibby.

• “The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective,” Clark wrote. “I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year.”

Up next: Despite the setback, Indiana still has a clear path to punching a playoff ticket, starting with tonight’s 7:30 PM ET matchup against No. 11 Chicago (ION).

• “Now it's time to close out the season and claim our spot in the Playoffs,” Clark added.

Golden State makes WNBA history with playoff clinch

No. 6 Golden State made WNBA history on Thursday, becoming the first-ever expansion team to clinch a postseason berth in their debut year after an 84-80 win over already-eliminated No. 13 Dallas.

• The Valkyries overcame a 13-point second-half deficit to top the Wings, with forward Janelle Salaün scoring nine of her team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter to seal to deal. (Watch full highlights)

• “I’m bittersweet in terms of ‘We’re supposed to do this’ — that’s my mental,” head coach Natalie Nakase said postgame. “I told the girls, I intentionally picked you guys for this reason, to do things for the first [time].”

Putting in work: Golden State set the WNBA record for most wins by an expansion team under first-year coach Nakase, while also leading the league in three-pointers.

• “What’s kind of cool is we like to be uncomfortable,” continued Nakase. “I have 13 players that love to be pushed.”

• “This is awesome,” said guard Veronica Burton. “It’s a testament to all the work that we put in… to the belief that our coaching staff had in us.”

Up next: The Valkyries will literally be out of their comfort zone this postseason, with the team forced to relocate their first-round home game from Chase Center to San Jose’s SAP Center in San Jose due to a longstanding scheduling conflict.

• “While we would have loved to host our first playoff game at Chase Center and sought every opportunity to try and make that happen, Ballhalla has never been about just one building — it’s about the incredible community our fans have created,” said team president Jess Smith in a statement.

Gotham faces Angel City in NWSL weekend headliner

A high-stakes coastal clash tops this weekend’s bill, with results directly impacting the increasingly tight NWSL standings as No. 8 Gotham tries to hold off a No. 9 Angel City side sitting just one point outside of postseason positioning.

• The pair last met in April, when Gotham shutout ACFC 4-0 at LA’s BMO Stadium behind an Esther González brace.

• “That’s the key — everyone knows their role, their responsibilities, and they’re willing to sacrifice for the team defensively while also bringing their quality in attack,” Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amoros said ahead of tonight’s match.

Big picture: As they try to rise above mid-table traffic, both teams have seen positive results in recent weeks — along with challenging levels of upheaval.

• Angel City recently lost midfielders Alanna Kennedy, Katie Velem, and star forward Alyssa Thompson to midseason transfers, while Gotham’s had little room to breathe after defeating Concacaf W Champions Cup opponent Alianza in El Salvador on Tuesday.

• “You need to be loyal to your style, cement it, and make sure the players know it,” said Amoros. “That’s critical when you’re playing three games in seven days and traveling almost around the world.”

Tune in: Gotham kicks off against Angel City at 5 PM ET on Sunday, live on ESPN.

Prime was on the ground last week, teaming up with JWS to put NWSL fans to the test and hand out some exciting prizes as Orlando welcomed Gotham to Inter&Co Stadium.

• Soccer personality Duda Pavão led the charge, quizzing the Pride faithful on player stats past and present with plenty of merch and — for two lucky winners — some upgraded seats on the line.

• Headed to a Friday night NWSL match on Prime? Keep an eye out for the JWS crew for your chance to show off your team knowledge and win big.

Tune in: Catch all the On Ground At action on JWS YouTube.

Shopping. Streaming. Live Sports. It’s on Prime.

Chicago Sky reacts to Angel Reese’s criticisms

The Chicago Sky reportedly held a team meeting to address Angel Reese’s explosive Chicago Tribune interview this week, after the star forward put the already-eliminated WNBA team on blast.

• “We are aware of [Reese’s comments],” Sky head coach Tyler Marsh said on Wednesday. “We’re addressing it in-house as currently speaking. That’s where we’ll stay right now.”

• “Angel has shown a commitment to wanting to be here,” he added. “We as an organization continue to show a commitment that we want people that want to be here.”

Raising concerns: Reese focused much of her critique on the team’s leadership and roster construction, as Chicago closes in on back-to-back losing seasons.

• “We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at,” Reese said of veteran Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot, currently sidelined with an ACL tear. “I know she’ll be a great asset for us, but we can’t rely on that.”

• “We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who’s been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before,” she continued.

State of Connecticut submits bid to buy WNBA’s Sun

The Connecticut Sun’s sale saga added a new chapter, as the state of Connecticut submitted a bid proposal on Thursday to keep the WNBA team in-state.

• Owned by the Mohegan Tribe since 2003, the state is just the latest entrant into the ongoing bidding war, with Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca, ex-Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry, and the WNBA itself all making offers ranging from $250 to $325 million in recent weeks.

• Unlike previous relocation bids, the state’s proposal will see the Sun split home games between their current Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville and Hartford’s PeoplesBank Arena, while also promising a new practice facility.

Hometown heroes: Despite winding down 2025 in 12th place, the Sun have amassed a loyal local following, selling out their 10,000-capacity arena four times this year with NCAA powerhouse UConn located less than an hour away.

• “The best place for the Connecticut Sun is Connecticut because we have this very fierce fan base for women's basketball,” Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz told ESPN. "We love the [UConn] Huskies. We love watching the Sun… and we've seen that the Connecticut Sun players have been great community leaders and role models."

Amanda Anisimova ends Naomi Osaka’s US Open run

Naomi Osaka’s US Open comeback tour has ended, as the two-time tournament champion ceded last night’s semifinal to world No. 9 Amanda Anisimova in a 6-7(4-7), 7-6(7-3), 6-3 come-from-behind victory.

• “Naomi is playing amazing tennis,” the 23-year-old US rising star said of Osaka’s US Open run. “She’s back where she belongs. I told her I’m so proud of her after having a baby and playing at this level, it’s insane.”

Big picture: Anisimova is on a journey of her own, shaking off her recent straight-set Wimbledon Final loss to reach her second-ever major championship match.

• A US player is now guaranteed to have competed in every women’s Grand Slam final this year, with Anisimova getting her second shot at joining No. 6 Madison Keys and No. 3 Coco Gauff as 2025’s big Stateside winners.

Tune in: Anisimova will meet No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s US Open Final, with coverage starting at 4 PM ET on ESPN.

Chelsea boss Bompastor confirms Sam Kerr return

Chelsea FC star Sam Kerr is officially back, as the 31-year-old gears up to make her first appearance for the WSL club in 20 months following a 2024 ACL tear.

• “She is in a good place, she has been training well, she’s physically in a good position,” Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor told reporters ahead of today’s 2025/26 opener. “She’s also mentally in a good position, because again I think she’s one of the players everyone wants to see on the pitch.”

Big picture: Chelsea will be getting more than one boost this afternoon, after the reigning league champions finalized USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson’s near-$1.5 million transfer from NWSL side Angel City yesterday.

• Thompson signed a five-year deal with the London club, with Chelsea accelerating interest in the 20-year-old rising star in the wake of forward Mayra Ramirez’s recent hamstring injury.

Tune in: Chelsea takes on Manchester City today at 2:30 PM ET, live on ESPN+.

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Women’s flag football is stealing the spotlight, as Mexican Women's National Flag Football team quarterback Diana Flores headlines Under Armour’s “We Are Football” launch this week — putting new focus on the growing sport.