Gotham sinks Spirit in Queens Classic sellout

“The ref can’t miss that then I play with a contusion the rest of the game” - Fever star Caitlin Clark lamenting the officiating in Wednesday’s loss to Golden State.

Gotham sinks Spirit in Queens Classic sellout

No. 4 Gotham threw a record-setting party in Queens, as Rose Lavelle’s first-half strike lifted the reigning NWSL champion past No. 2 Washington 1-0 in front of 42,175 fans — an New York City women’s sports record.

• On her bobblehead night, Lavelle curled a long stunner into the far post in the 37th minute, echoing her performance in last year’s title match shutout.

• “Good thing it went in,” the US midfielder joked afterward. “Because if I missed it and I didn’t cross to Esther that would have been bad.” (Watch full highlights)

Kerr returns: Australia captain Sam Kerr made her long-awaited NWSL return in the 64th minute to deafening applause, immediately slipping into Gotham’s high press.

• “It’s a good preview,” said Gotham defender Mandy Freeman. “We're hoping to see more of her stretching ability, the way she can connect with the midfield and get behind... Sam is a great, well-experienced player, having her on the team has been a joy.” (See full report)

Tough calls: Both teams battled 90-degree heat and a wildfire-driven haze that forced two hydration breaks per half, breaking up the game. 

• “If we have to have a hydration break every 15 minutes, then we shouldn’t be playing — that’s my opinion,” Spirit star Trinity Rodman told reporters. “But at the end of the day, there’s 40,000 people… It was a hard situation for everybody.”

• “Can I be honest? I don’t like them,” echoed Washington coach Adrián González. “It kills the momentum.” (See full report)

Report: Adam Silver influenced Alyssa Thomas suspension

The Thomas-Clark saga has a new wrinkle, as Sports Business Journal reported that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stepped in to persuade WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to suspend Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas.

• The issue stems from a June 24th no-call foul on Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, with the WNBA later issuing Thomas a Flagrant 2 and $1,000 fine for making contact with Clark’s neck after a tussle beneath the basket. 

• According to sources, Engelbert initially didn’t consider discipline since no foul was called on the play, but Silver insisted “there was clear evidence of a flagrant foul,” saying he “felt badly for Clark and told Engelbert she had to act.” (See full report)

Big picture: Soon after the report surfaced, the WNBA told USA TODAY the claims were “absolutely false.”

• Engelbert is in the final year of her contract, and has drawn criticism over officiating, fueling speculation about her future. 

• “I don’t want to speak for Cathy,” Silver said this week. “We made tremendous progress under her leadership over the last several years. Cathy continues to do a strong job building the league.” (See full response)

Honorary GMs stack WNBA All-Star rosters

WNBA All-Star rosters are a lock, as honorary GMs Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted their squads ahead of the July 25th showdown in Chicago.

• The league ditched the player-captain and conference-vs-conference formats of years past, with top fan vote-getters Paige Bueckers (Team Coop) and Caitlin Clark (Team Spoon) divvied up via a coin toss before the WNBA legends filled out the rest. 

• Cooper tapped starters Breanna Stewart (New York), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana), Natasha Howard (Minnesota), and Gabby Williams (Golden State), while Weatherspoon paired Clark with A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas), Olivia Miles (Minnesota), Aliyah Boston (Indiana), and Jessica Shepard (Dallas). (See full lineups)

Raising the bar: In honor of its 30th anniversary, the league is upping the stakes by putting a little extra cash on the line.

• Teams will play for an $100,000 prize pool benefitting Chicago-based nonprofits, with the winning team earning $70,000 towards its chosen organization while $30,000 goes to the runner-up’s cause. (See full report)

At the helm: Las Vegas’s Becky Hammon (Team Coop) and Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve (Team Spoon) will lead the squads, after each coach finished the first half of 2026 at the top of the WNBA standings.

Nike & Famous Footwear are taking over Chicago with a free immersive basketball experience built for the community.

• Expect Nike athlete appearances (subject to availability), a Skills Challenge featuring 50 of Chicago’s top up-and-coming hoopers, plus footwear trialing, unique photo moments, customization, music, food, and giveaways.

Be there: Admission is free and open to all, while capacity lasts. Register now.

London City continues to stock up

London City’s spending spree continued this week, signing French winger Kadidiatou Diani to a three-year deal on Wednesday to mark the team’s sixth blockbuster summer window addition.

• The 31-year-old joined the Michele Kang-backed Lionesses from fellow Kang property OL Lyonnes for a reported fee north of $670,000. 

• The signing follows two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, ex-England goalkeeper Mary Earps, Spain’s Mapi León, and more in Kang’s bid to make the newly promoted WSL side a surprise title threat. (See full report)

Sibling rivalry: Diani won’t be away for long, with LCL also announcing plans to face the reigning Première Ligue winner in Lyon for August 29th’s Mastercard Cup.

• Though her Champions League dreams could hit a snag, as UEFA bars one owner from controlling two clubs in the same competition — a potential clash if London City and Lyon both qualify for the UWCL. (See full report)

Hilton fires man who sent Chelsea Gray a racist DM

Another WNBA star is facing online abuse, after Hilton Grand Vacations fired an employee suspected of sending a racist DM to Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray.

• Gray posted the message to her Instagram on Monday, writing that people act as if athletes fabricate the abuse they receive.

• Her followers quickly linked the sender to a photo displaying a Hilton Grand Vacations name tag, prompting the company to discover the man violated multiple company policies. (See full report)

Big problem: The news comes weeks after Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas received death threats after an on-court altercation with Indiana’s Caitlin Clark — renewing calls for the league to better protect its players both on and off the court.

• “To all our players and the entire WNBA community, you have our unwavering support in fighting against all forms of racism, hate speech, and harassment,” the Aces posted in response. (See full post)

Quote of the day

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman
discussing last night’s Citi Field turnout ahead of Gotham’s move to nearby Etihad Park.