The more things change…

Dallas duo powers Wings to preseason win

The Wings took flight last night, as former UConn teammates and back-to-back No. 1 draft picks Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd lifted Dallas over Indiana 95-80.

• The WNBA preseason clash opened with a superstar duel, as Bueckers dropped 20 points in 20 minutes to counter Caitlin Clark’s 21 — before the Fever guard exited after taking a hard fall off a third-quarter closeout foul.

• “I feel good. I just landed on my kneecap really hard,” Clark said after the game, quieting concerns after missing most of last season with injury. (Watch full highlights)

Good looks: The Wings showcased preseason confidence, seamlessly integrating offseason additions Alanna Smith and Odyssey Sims into the starting five.

• “We tried to keep it very vanilla in what we did today, only running three or four actions,” said Dallas first-year head coach Jose Fernandez. “That’ll be different next week.”

Tune in: The Wings have one more dress rehearsal before tipoff, taking on the Aces on Sunday at 7 PM ET, live on ION.

Revamped Sparks hunt veteran boost

LA faces its first WNBA competition on Sunday, taking on expansion side Portland after cruising past Nigeria 89-63 last weekend — giving the Sparks one more look at its revamped lineup before regular-season tipoff.

• An ambitious offseason saw LA retain star guard Kelsey Plum, bring back former MVP Nneka Ogwumike, and trade young guard Rickea Jackson for 2019 WNBA champion Ariel Atkins, signaling a win-now mentality.

Big picture: Carrying a veteran load, the Sparks’ young core will likely face scrutiny this season, as 2026 second-round pick Ta’Niya Latson fights for a roster spot while 2024 No. 2 pick Cameron Brink shakes off injuries that stalled her early career.

• “This offseason has been about basketball for [Brink]. It’s not been about her hamstring, quad strength, and her mobility,” said LA GM Raegan Pebley. “It’s great to see Cam come into year three confident and without so much noise.”

• “I think my motto this year is just to play basketball,” echoed Brink. “Just to hoop and keep it simple.” (See full report)

Tune in: The Sparks face the Fire on Sunday at 7 PM ET, live on WNBA League Pass.

Gotham hosts Louisville in winning form

2025 NWSL champion Gotham is righting the ship, after back-to-back wins propelled the No. 4 Bats up the NWSL standings with Sunday’s match against No. 15 Louisville waiting in the wings.

• Opening the season with just two goals across five matches, Gotham now has seven under its belt after multi-goal wins over Bay FC and Chicago.

• “We have played two games in a row where we’re happy with the results and the performance,” said recent addition Guro Reiten. “We always want to improve.” (Watch full highlights)

Big picture: The Bats face a Racing side still finding their footing, with Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to No. 3 Washington totaling four defeats in six games.

• “I felt we could be a bit more confident, a bit more decisive from an in-possession standpoint,” Louisville head coach Bev Yanez said postgame. “I think [we] could have caused just a bit more havoc from them defensively.” (See full recap)

• This weekend’s trip north will mark Louisville’s fifth away match this season, with every dropped result coming on the road.

Tune in: Gotham hosts Louisville on Sunday at 5 PM ET, live on CBS Sports.

Catch up on the latest women’s soccer headlines, as all-new episode of The Late Sub together with Amazon Prime dishes up host Claire Watkins’s hottest takes on all things USWNT, NWSL, Champions League, and more.

• In the episode, Claire breaks down NWSL expansion team Denver’s difficulties, detailing what the Summit needs to build steam and how incoming star Lindsey Heaps can get them over the hump.

• Plus, Claire dives into the NWSL’s planned Ohio expansion and so much more.

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

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Arsenal & Barcelona shoot for UWCL final return

Arsenal is honing in on another UWCL final, as the reigning European champion visits OL Lyonnes for Saturday’s semifinal decider on a 2-1 aggregate lead.

• The Gunners enter the match with momentum, after dismantling Leicester City 7-0 in WSL play and re-signing vice captain Leah Williamson.

• “I don't feel like I’m done,” Williamson said after 12 years at Arsenal. “I think it’s really special to be somewhere where you care so much about the people, the project, the place. I don't think it's something to take for granted.” (See full report)

Big pressure: Three-time UWCL winner Barcelona is also eyeing a final return, taking on German champion Bayern Munich after the pair’s first leg ended 1-1.

• “We have to adapt our game,” said Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas. “We should’ve scored one more goal in the second half. Now let’s go to the Camp Nou.” (Watch full highlights)

Tune in: Arsenal kicks off against Lyonnes on Saturday at 9 AM ET, before Barcelona hosts Bayern on Sunday at 10:30 AM ET, live on Paramount+.

Golden State tops 2026 WNBA valuations

Golden State is riding high, as the Valkyries lead Sportico’s third annual WNBA team valuations for the second consecutive year at $850 million.

• New York ($600 million), Indiana ($560 million), Seattle ($425 million), and Phoenix ($420 million) round out the top five, with Atlanta sitting last at $280 million.

• Golden State took in a league-record $78 million in revenue during its 2025 debut season, fueled by more than 10,000 season ticket holders alongside strong sponsorship deals.

Big money: The news aligns with the WNBA’s historic uptick, with last season’s 13 teams averaging $427 million each for a combined $5.55 billion — up 59% year-over-year after a record 180% jump the year prior.

• National WNBA revenue is predicted to climb even more in 2026, as the league tips off its blockbuster 2.2 billion media deal.

Read more: Access the full report paywall-free on Sportico.

Number of the day

1,116,497

The PWHL welcomed 1,116,497 fans during its third regular season, up 28% over 2024/25.