Indiana & Phoenix turn up the heat

A two-time Ballon d’Or winner landed in London this week.

Fever & Mercury renew rivalry in tense finale

The WNBA’s hottest storyline is getting another chapter, as No. 12 Phoenix hosts No. 7 Indiana for the pair’s third and final regular-season matchup — weeks after tensions boiled over in Indianapolis.

• The bad blood hinges on Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas’s June 24th no-call foul on Fever star Caitlin Clark, with an official review charging Thomas with a Flagrant 2 days later.

• Thomas called the on-court tussle a “complete accident,” and revealed she received death threats over it, while both Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts and Indiana coach Stephanie White condemned the harassment. (See full report)

Injury report: Clark, however, will sit this one out, after playing 16 minutes against No. 9 LA last night while dealing with a lingering back injury.

• Clark will swap places with teammate Aliyah Boston, after the center watched from the sidelines as the Sparks secured the 106-92 win behind veteran Nneka Ogwumike’s 24 points.

• “I feel good,” Clark assured reporters. “It’s tough to come back on a back-to-back, so I won't be available [in Phoenix] solely because of minute restriction and my progression.” (See full report)

Tune in: Indiana visits Phoenix tonight at 10 PM ET, live on Prime.

USMNT & USWNT split World Cup payout

Equal pay is paying off, as US Soccer said it will distribute the USMNT’s $16 million World Cup check evenly between the men’s and women’s teams — a product of the game-changing 2022 CBA.

• The USMNT scored the check by reaching the Round of 16 before falling 4-1 to Belgium, with US Soccer keeping 20% of the purse while dividing 80% — $6.4 million, or $246,153.85 each — between this summer’s men’s roster and next year’s women’s squad. 

• In accordance with the agreement, the women’s half will sit in an interest-bearing account until coach Emma Hayes chooses her 26-player World Cup lineup. (See full report)

Payment pending: In order to get the cash, the USWNT must first punch its ticket to Brazil, facing El Salvador in November 27th’s win-and-in Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal

• The 2023 World Cup paid out $110 million, showcasing a big leap over 2019’s $30 million.

• Granted they qualify, individual payouts from the 2027 tournament are projected to climb even higher based on FIFA’s expanding prize pool.

LPGA’s 4th major tees off

The LPGA’s fourth major is underway, as the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship teed off early this morning in France.

• World No. 1 Nelly Korda, newly minted Women’s PGA champion Haeran Ryu, and rising star Lottie Woad headline the 132-player field’s early group, with seven amateurs including US notables Kiara Romero and Farah O’Keefe joining the mix. 

• No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul — who lost last year’s title in a high-stakes playoff — leads the second wave alongside 2015 champion Lydia Ko and England standout Charley Hull. (See full field)

Cashing in: The players are competing for a $9.1 million purse, with the winner taking home a $1,365,000 cut.

• The Championship partnered with Porsche to sweeten the deal, offering up a new Cayenne Turbo Electric to whoever scores a hole-in-one on the 140-meter 16th hole.

• “The Amundi Evian Championship stands for world-class sport in a unique setting — and it is precisely this combination that makes the tournament so attractive for Porsche,” said Porsche AG Director of Brand Management and Partnerships Deniz Keskin. (See full report)

Tune in: Evian Championship coverage runs through Sunday, live on The Golf Channel.

If you're making the trip for the biggest weekend in basketball, make JWS Spot your first stop. Expect player appearances, exclusive merch, free drinks, free bucket hats, ‘90s giveaways, and a room full of people who love women’s basketball as much as you do.

📍 Bottom Lounge, Chicago

⏰ July 25th | 2-6 PM

Be there: Grab your free tickets before they’re gone.

WPBL reveals team names & logos

The WPBL is taking shape, as the upcoming pro women’s baseball league revealed its team names and logos ahead of its late-summer debut.

• The league’s four teams take inspiration from area trailblazers, with the New York Heights paying tribute to civil rights leader Dorothy Irene Height, volunteer firefighter Lillie “Firebelle” Hitchcock Coit giving way to the San Francisco Firebells, the LA Queens honoring baseball icon Lizzie “Queen of the Diamond” Murphy, and the Boston Hunters spotlighting physician Harriot K. Hunt. 

• “The WPBL stands on the shoulders of these incredible women,” said Commissioner Justine Siegal. “These names are not just symbols, they represent the grit, audacity, and excellence that our athletes will bring to the field.” (See full release)

Stay tuned: The WPBL kicks off August 1st in Springfield, Illinois, with games running through late September. (See full schedule)

WNBA All-Star books the Obama Center

All-Star Weekend is tipping off in style, as the WNBA announced plans to hold this month’s events at Chicago’s Obama Presidential Center — making it the first pro sports league to visit the newly unveiled facility.

• The league will host media day, practices, Changemaker Day, and Jr. WNBA Day at the South Side landmark, taking advantage of its 60,000-square-foot athletic building and regulation court. 

• “We are thrilled to welcome the WNBA,” said Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett. “At the Center, we believe sports have the power to bring people together and create meaningful opportunities to build the next generation of leaders.” (See full report)

Stay tuned: All-Stars Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Olivia Miles, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, Jessica Shepard, Breanna Stewart, Gabby Williams, and A’ja Wilson headline the star-studded weekend, tipping off July 24th. (See full lineup)

Quote of the day

UConn coach Geno Auriemma
singing the Huskies standout-turned-Dallas Wings rookie’s praises.