League-leader Minnesota silences the Dream

NCAA softball saw its 31-year-old home run record shattered this year — not once, but twice.

League-leader Minnesota silences the Dream

Minnesota’s rebuild looks to be ahead of schedule, as the Lynx cruised past a tough Atlanta defense 96-81 last night to top the WNBA standings at 5-2.

• All five Lynx starters finished in the double-digits, led by veteran guard Courtney Williams’s 25 points and center Natasha Howard’s 22 points.

• “Their connectivity, I felt it in training camp,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said of her team. “It’s been exciting to watch because it’s not necessarily common — typically it takes a little bit longer.” (Watch full highlights)

Taking stock: Despite back-to-back deep playoff runs, expectations for the Lynx lowered this season after an ankle injury sidelined star forward Napheesa Collier.

• Rookie Olivia Miles has stepped, leading her draft class with 15.1 points and 5.9 assists per game while instantly gelling with Williams, Howard, Nia Coffey, and Kayla McBride.

• “She is the focal point of a lot of the game at such a young age,” Reeve said of this year’s No. 2 pick. “I felt it before the game, her level of focus.”

Up next: Minnesota now heads to Chicago, capping its season series with the Sky tomorrow at 7:30 PM ET (ION).

Caitlin Clark ‘probable’ for Fever vs Valkyries

Indiana is bracing for a case of deja vu, mounting a three-game winning streak despite growing injury concerns for Caitlin Clark — with the superstar guard’s beleaguered 13-game 2025 season remaining front of mind.

• Clark was a late scratch in last Wednesday’s 90-73 win over Portland due to back soreness, returning Friday to post 22 points in the Fever’s 90-82 win over Golden State.

• The 24-year-old remains “day-to-day,” with The Indianapolis Star listing her as probable for tonight’s Valkyries rematch.

• “At the end of the day, it’s me and my confidence,” Clark said. “Having however many soft tissue injuries [last season] is a real mental challenge.” (See full report)

Scouting report: Indiana will need a healthy lineup to keep Golden State at bay again, after the Valkyries paired lock-step defense with high-volume 3-point shooting to match Indiana’s 4-2 record.

• “Our depth is going to be our strength,” Golden State forward Gabby Williams said after routing Connecticut 97-70 on Monday. “I know it’s only game six, but these minutes here are going to pay off in November.” (Watch full highlights)

Tune in: Golden State hosts Indiana at 10 PM ET, live on Prime.

PWHL players disclose leaguewide salaries

The PWHL continues to make women’s sports history, as the players union voted to publicly disclose their salaries in an effort to promote transparency.

• “This decision reflects our belief that greater salary transparency gives players clearer information and stronger context in individual negotiations, while also supporting a more transparent and credible marketplace for the league overall,” said PWHLPA executive director Malaika Underwood. (See full report)

Big picture: Only 10 PWHL players made more than $100,000 last season, led by Ottawa’s Emily Clark at $126,090 and New York’s Sarah Fillier at $125,000.

• Reigning Walter Cup winner Montréal averaged just under $58,000 per player, with captain Marie-Philip Poulin and other top-paid stars opting to take pay cuts to maximize team depth.

• Many players earned closer to the league low of $37,131.50, with 17 players on minimum contracts while others hovered around $40,000. (See full list)

Chicago Stars fire GM Richard Feuz

Chicago is making a change, firing GM Richard Feuz this week after skidding to 15th in the NWSL standings on a league-worst -17 goal differential.

• Feuz joined the Stars in February 2024, leading the club to a 17-36-14 record across all competitions while finishing last in 2025.

• “Chicago Stars FC and its ownership recognize that our on-field performance has fallen short,” said Stars president and interim GM Karen Leetzow. “We have determined that a change in sporting leadership is necessary to reach our collective ambitions.” (See full statement)

Big bets: Chicago continues to express confidence in new coach Martin Sjögren, while banking its comeback on an active transfer window and star striker Mallory Swanson’s return.

• “We feel confident that the [signing] conversations we are having can be brought to fruition during this window,” said Leetzow.

Iowa & UConn introduce nonconference series

The Hawkeyes and Huskies are making plans, as Iowa and UConn announced a new two-year nonconference women’s basketball series kicking off next season.

• UConn opens 2026/27 by hosting Iowa this November, while the Hawkeyes host the Huskies for the first time since 1999 the following year.

• UConn holds a 7-4 all-time head-to-head advantage, though Iowa won the pair’s most recent Final Four clash in 2024. (See full stats)

Big picture: The post-Caitlin Clark Hawkeyes continue to grace the national stage, while the Huskies target non-Big East contenders to boost their strength of schedule.

• UConn has already set matchups with 2026 AP Top 25 teams Michigan, South Carolina, Duke, and Maryland ahead of next season’s tipoff. (See dates)

Quote of the day

USWNT manager Emma Hayes
on Triple Espresso rejoining the US roster as 2027 World Cup qualifiers loom.