Lindsey Heaps lands in Denver

Neither planes, trains, nor automobiles could get the Liberty to Dallas on Thursday — resulting in an official postponement.

Lindsey Heaps lands in Denver

No. 11 Denver is turning a new leaf, as USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps is set to debut for the 2026 expansion side against No. 3 Portland on Saturday.

• The match holds extra significance for Heaps, facing the team she led to two NWSL Shields and a league title before transferring to OL Lyonnes in 2022.

• “Lindsey’s world-class talent and leadership will make an immediate impact,” Denver manager Nick Cushing said of the 2018 NWSL MVP. “We can’t wait to see her wear the crest.” (See full report)

Taking stock: The weekend headliner pits two Colorado heavyweights against each other, with Heaps taking on fellow area native Sophia Wilson as the Thorns look to overcome Sunday’s 2-0 loss to regional rival Seattle.

• The Summit’s temporary Centennial Stadium home will also make its premiere, hosting the club until its purpose-built venue opens in 2028.

• “It is such a weird feeling,” Heaps told ESPN of her homecoming. “I’m waking up and getting on I-25 to go to training, which is a highway I would take all the time as a little kid to go play club soccer. It’s so bizarre.” (See full profile)

Tune in: Denver hosts Portland at 2 PM ET on Saturday, live on CBS.

Boston rides unbeaten streak into DC clash

No. 12 Boston is starting to find its footing, roaring back from the midseason break on a three-game unbeaten streak — underlined by Wednesday’s 1-0 win over No. 8 Orlando.

• The Legacy sits just four points below the playoff line, having drawn even with No. 14 Bay FC and notched wins against No. 15 Chicago and the Pride.

• “We are building this culture to be a team that knows how to suffer, but at the same time, knows how to win games, not just be competitive,” Boston coach Filipa Patão said after the midweek shutout. (Watch full highlights)

Scouting report: The Legacy faces a tough test on Sunday, taking on a No. 2 Washington side smarting from its 1-0 Queens Cup loss to No. 4 Gotham.

• Played in front of a New York City record crowd at MLB’s Citi Field, Wednesday’s defeat snapped the Spirit’s own three-game winning streak, while also marking its first regular-season shutout since late March.

• “We’re glad we’ve been a part of [it], and would have liked to play villain a little bit more,” midfielder Andi Sullivan said after the showcase event. “But the energy was tremendous.” (Watch full highlights)

Tune in: Boston welcomes Washington on Sunday at 7 PM ET, live on Victory+.

Atlanta hunts consistency in Toronto

No. 5 Atlanta is on the upswing, curbing a five-game losing streak to take two of its last three games heading into tonight’s clash with No. 11 Toronto.

• The Dream is leaning on third-year star Angel Reese, after the double-double machine notched her 16th of the season in Monday’s 101-92 win over LA.

• “Angel made big emotional plays that gave us the energy to close it out,” head coach Karl Smesko said postgame. (Watch full highlights)

Scouting report: Atlanta now faces a Tempo squad searching for its own consistency, as the 2026 expansion side enters the weekend looking to turn around a bumpy 2-5 homestand.

• Toronto struggled to galvanize around Sunday’s 93-91 win over No. 7 New York, falling to No. 8 Washington 79-62 on Tuesday to sit at a 10-14 record.

• “They were just a handful for us,” Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said of the young Mystics. “We have to prepare to put up a little bit more resistance next game.” (Watch full highlights)

Tune in: Toronto hosts Atlanta tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on ION.

Catch up on the latest women’s soccer headlines, as an all-new episode of The Late Sub presented by Ally Bank dishes up host Claire Watkins’s hottest takes on all things USWNT, NWSL, Champions League, and more.

• In the episode, Claire breaks down some of the biggest moves by billionaire multi-team owner Michelle Kang as she builds out her women’s soccer empire.

• Kang has the London City Lionesses looking like a European powerhouse, while she also takes the same hard stance on the Washington Spirit — particularly in re-signing USWNT superstar Trinity Rodman.

Tune in: Catch The Late Sub with Claire Watkins on YouTube.

Ally Bank, Member FDIC.

Napheesa Collier scores 1st Jordan Brand PEs

Napheesa Collier is officially a Jumpman, as Jordan Brand dropped the Lynx star’s first-ever PE sneaker — the Queen Phee Jordan Heir Series 2.

• The five-time WNBA All-Star helped develop the Heir Series 2 silhouette, sporting a True Blue and Baltic Blue design inspired by Minnesota’s colors, with personal touches like her daughter Mila’s name and “Queen Phee” hidden inside. 

• While Collier hasn’t laced up this season due to injury, the news coincides with word that she’s nearing a return to the court. (See full release)

Get yours: Retailing at $115, the Queen Phee Jordan Heir Series 2 is available now via Nike.com.

Women’s sports win big at the ESPYs

Women’s sports stars shined bright this week, as A’ja Wilson, Alysa Liu, Lauren Betts, and more top performers cleaned up at the 2026 ESPY Awards.

• Liu took home Best Breakthrough Athlete, beating out a field that included Macklin Celebrini, Drake Maye, and Fernando Mendoza after winning US figure skating’s first women’s Olympic gold in 24 years.

• “I’ve been in my sport since I was five years old, and I had some really rough times in it,” Liu told the crowd. “It really feels like I broke through in my own way — for myself and for my sport.” (Watch full clip)

Big ups: Wilson won both Best WNBA Player and Best Women’s Sports Athlete, after earning a recordvfourth MVP award alongside her third league title in 2025.

• UCLA alum Betts picked up Best College Athlete (Women’s Sports), after leading the Bruins its first-ever NCAA championship this year. (See full list)

Quote of the day

Mystics center Lauren Betts
shining a light on mental health during her ESPYs acceptance speech for Best College Athlete.