FIFA drops World Cup schedule & playoff draw

Paige Bueckers’s response to fouling Caitlin Clark? Talk to the hand.

FIFA drops World Cup schedule & playoff draw

Football fans can start making plans, as FIFA revealed the full 2027 Women’s World Cup match schedule ahead of next summer’s kickoff in Brazil.

• Running from June 24th to July 25th, the tournament spans 64 matches across eight World Cup cities — with Rio de Janeiro’s Estádio do Maracanã showcasing both the opener and final.

• Each of the eight host cities were awarded seven total matches including at least one knockout clash, with the home team taking the pitch in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília. (See full schedule)

Setting the stage: FIFA also laid out the two-stage inter-confederation playoff tournament’s preliminary phase, kicking off November 24th.

• Chinese Taipei, South Africa, Ghana, Uzbekistan, Papua New Guinea, and Ecuador each play three first-round matches, with the top two finishers moving on to face CONCACAF and UEFA contenders in the final round.

• “Next year, we will see people from across Brazil and around the world come together to celebrate women’s football in a country renowned for its love of the game,” said former Brazil captain Aline Pellegrino. (See full draw)

Angel Reese pushes Atlanta toward playoff berth

No. 5 Atlanta is closing in on clinching, nearing a WNBA playoff berth after eliminating No. 12 LA 124-88 behind star forward Angel Reese’s perfect night.

• Reese finished with 20 points on 9-of-9 shooting, adding 10 rebounds and eight assists to fall just short of a second career triple-double.

• “I was just in the mode,” Reese said after helping the Dream bounce back from last week’s tough loss to Indiana. “When you see the ball go through the net, you just continue to shoot it.” (Watch full highlights)

Eyes on the prize: With its magic number down to two, Atlanta can book a fourth straight postseason run this weekend — though help might be needed along the way.

• If already-eliminated Toronto upsets No. 9 Portland tonight, the Dream can clinch with an eliminating victory over No. 11 Phoenix tomorrow.

• “You can see the [players’] effort into what we’ve been emphasizing as coaches,” said Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko. “I know there’s still some room to even get better at it.” (See all scenarios)

Tune in: Atlanta visits Phoenix on Saturday at 10 PM ET (WNBA League Pass).

San Diego tackles Utah in top-table NWSL action

No. 5 San Diego is searching for a boost, as the Wave navigates a regular-season stretch that’s yielded just one win in its last five matches.

• San Diego has weathered extensive injuries in recent weeks, including top performer Dudinha’s season-ending ACL tear and star signing Caterina Macario’s ongoing heel issue.

• The Wave has since leaned on its young core, as Melanie Barcenas, Kimmy Ascanio, and Lia Godfrey continue to strive for results. (See injury report)

Uphill climb: San Diego faces a tough test tonight, taking on a steady No. 3 Utah side intent on making history as the NWSL postseason comes into view.

• The Royals have never beaten the Wave across all competitions, as San Diego rides a 5-0-0 head-to-head record into the top-table clash.

• “Right now we have a good understanding of what a game is, [and] what it takes to win it,” said Utah head coach Jimmy Coenraets. (See full preview)

Tune in: San Diego hosts Utah tonight at 10 PM ET (Prime).

2026 NCAA volleyball season tips off

The 2026 NCAA volleyball season has arrived, as blue chip programs and rising stars start down the road to December’s Final Four — with redemption on the line.

• After falling in the 2025 regional finals, Nebraska tops the AVCA preseason rankings behind coach Dani Busboom Kelly’s second season at the helm.

• Surprise 2025 champion Texas A&M re-enters at No. 8, upstaged by SEC powerhouses No. 2 Texas and No. 3 Kentucky. (See full rankings)

Setting the stage: This weekend’s slate will likely shake things up, as high-stakes non-conference matchups hit the floor at Milwaukee’s AVCA First Serve.

• All four 2025 semifinalists — Texas A&M, Kentucky, No. 4 Pittsburgh, and No. 6 Wisconsin — step into the spotlight as 10 big-name teams tip off this season’s record-setting coverage across ESPN and Fox. (See full lineup)

Tune in: Texas A&M takes on No. 7 Louisville tonight at 6 PM ET (ESPN2).

San Francisco seeks to extend WPBL lead

With just over three regular-season weeks left, No. 1 San Francisco looks to lengthen its WPBL standings lead against No. 2 LA and No. 4 Boston this weekend.

• The Firebells sit a half-game above the Queens on a 5-3 record, followed by No. 3 New York with just two games separating the entire four-team table.

• Fueled by a league-leading 11 home runs and 73 RBIs, San Francisco holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over LA after last week’s 17-3 rout. (Watch full highlights)

Taking stock: Topping the charts in hits, RBIs, and runs scored, Heights catcher Denae Benites has quickly emerged as both a fan favorite and individual standout.

• Firebells ace Jill Albayati holds the lowest ERA for pitchers with more than one start, tallying 10 strikeouts and two earned runs across 10 innings. (See full stats)

Tune in: San Francisco takes on LA tonight at 7:30 PM ET (ESPN+).

Quote of the day

Angel City forward Sydney Leroux
after re-taking the pitch at BMO Stadium for the first time in 654 days.