Liberty top WNBA rankings | Morgan buys into Wave FC | Minnesota eyes PWHL repeat

Time to get your weight up.

Liberty top WNBA rankings

The New York Liberty will open the 2025 WNBA season at the top of the league’s power rankings, with the reigning champions drumming up high expectations despite a short-staffed roster.

• 2024 runners-up Minnesota claimed No. 2 followed by 2023 champs Las Vegas at No. 3 and Dominique Malonga-fueled Seattle at No. 4, with the revamped Indiana Fever eying a 2025 turnaround at No. 5.

Top dogs: The betting market reflects the league’s latest forecast, with sportsbook FanDuel setting the Liberty’s title odds at +210, followed by the Aces at +360 and the Lynx at +370.

• The lines also support Indiana’s promise, giving the Fever the fourth-best championship odds at +390 — far higher than fifth-best Phoenix at +1,300.

Long shots: On the flip side, Dallas, LA, Washington, Connecticut, and Golden State occupy the rankings’ bottom half, as 2025’s potential lottery teams prepare to prove their ability against top-line squads.

• The up-for-sale Sun and brand-new Valkyries have the longest title odds on FanDuel at +50,000 each.

Takeaway: While preseason action has provided a few quality sneak peeks, Friday’s opening tip-off represents a fresh start for the league, one where anything can — and surely will — happen.

Morgan rejoins the Wave

US soccer legend Alex Morgan is back in the game, investing in the San Diego Wave this week to become a minority owner of her former NWSL club.

• One of the 2022 expansion side’s first signings, Morgan captained the Wave to their 2023 NWSL Shield win before retiring in September 2024 as the team's all-time leader in both goals (28) and assists (11).

• “San Diego is where I’ve built my home, where I am raising my children, and found a purpose beyond my playing career,” Morgan said in a statement. “I believed in Wave FC before a single match was played, and I still believe this club has the power to change the future of women’s sports.”

Big picture: Morgan joins an ownership group led by the Levine Leichtman family, after the Leichtmans purchased the team from founding owner Ron Burkle at a reported $113 million valuation last year.

• “Alex has always fought to positively impact this game beyond the pitch,” said Wave FC controlling owner Lauren Leichtman. “Her decision to invest is not only a continuation of her leadership but also a reflection of her belief in what we are building.”

Adding to the portfolio: The two-time World Cup champion appears to be making good on her desire to shape the women’s sports landscape after hanging up her boots, also buying into Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball ahead of the league’s early 2025 debut.

• “The way that Unrivaled is set up, I was on board from day one,” Morgan told Boardroom in January. “It would be really exciting to do something with other women's sports as well.”

Minnesota closes in

The Minnesota Frost are on the brink of clinching a second straight trip to the PWHL Finals, as the 2024 Walter Cup champs skate into tonight’s semifinals Game Four with a 2-1 lead over the Toronto Sceptres.

• The Frost turned a corner in the best-of-five series after Sunday’s wild 7-5 victory — the highest-scoring PWHL game in history — as No. 4 seed Minnesota inches closer to a repeat title.

• “I think it’s a fan’s dream and a coach’s nightmare, a 7-5 playoff game,” said Frost head coach Ken Klee after the record-breaking match. “We found a way to win and that’s the most important thing.”

Tune in: Minnesota takes the ice at home against Toronto tonight at 7 PM ET, live on YouTube.

WNBA stars ditch Eurobasket

Several European WNBA standouts announced they will skip out on this summer’s Eurobasket, opting to prioritize league play following a pivotal 2024 Olympics.

• Seattle’s Gabby Williams and Dominique Malonga both confirmed they will not represent France at this year’s European tournament.

• Fellow France star Carla Leite has also chosen to remain with club team Golden State, while Leite’s Valkyries teammate, 2025 No. 5 overall draft pick Juste Jocyte, will join Lithuania in Europe.

Big picture: Because it’s considered a major tournament, eligible WNBA players are allowed to miss regular-season games during the Eurobasket without violating the league’s prioritization rules.

• The 2025 regional competition featuring Europe’s top national teams is set to tip off on June 18th.

Marta heads back to Brazil

39-year-old football icon Marta is coming out of international retirement to rejoin the Brazil national team later this month, the federation announced yesterday.

• In April 2024, the Orlando Pride captain told CNN Esportes that she would retire from national team play after the Paris Olympics, later telling reporters at November’s NWSL championship that she’d be available if called upon.

• Brazil’s call-up also included Kansas City Current forward Debinha, returning to As Canarinhas after not making the 2024 Olympic roster.

USWNT drops new duds

US Soccer dropped new USWNT kits this week, with the national team set to debut the new designs during their May 31st friendly against China PR.

• Nike’s red-and-blue striped “Heartbeat Kit” will be worn by both the US men’s and women’s teams, while the blue-starred “Brilliant Kit” — a tribute to the team’s 40th anniversary — is a USWNT exclusive.

• “The refreshed designs honor the brilliance of the US Women’s National Team — celebrating 40 years of legacy, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements both on and off the pitch,” said Nike North America women’s business vice president Maggie Gauger in Tuesday’s release.

Get yours: The full collection will be available for purchase starting May 22nd.

Quote of the day

NWSL team Angel City
updating fans via social media after ACFC defender Savy King collapsed on the field during Friday’s matchup with Utah.