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Minnesota hangs tough amidst schedule gauntlet

The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx rebounded from a weekend loss to Chicago, taking down the Sky 91-78 Monday night in the second consecutive game between the two teams.

• 2025 MVP candidate Napheesa Collier led the charge with 29 points, overcoming another double double from Angel Reese, her ninth in a row.

Big picture: Despite maintaining a three game advantage over the No. 2 Mercury, the recent schedule hasn’t been kind to the league-leading Lynx.

• Minnesota has maneuvered through a two-week grind that has featured seven games — including the Commissioner’s Cup final — and two back-to-back matchups.

• “We’re in the midst of one of the most illogical schedules in my 25 years of doing this,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said this week. “Four out of five games at noon, two back-to-backs in there. It’s illogical.”

The Lynx needed their hot hand to keep the pace, as the Mercury also grabbed a key win on Monday night, taking down Golden State 78-77 in a tightly-contested matchup.

• New signing DeWanna Bonner made a huge impact off the bench, scoring 22 points to go along with 11 rebounds.

Sparks look for a light as they await Brinks’ return

As they build around their young core, the No. 11 LA Sparks will try to lean on positive habits as they take on a similarly young Washington Mystics team Tuesday night.

• Led by Kelsey Plum and Azurá Stevens, the Sparks have been boosted by the return of Rae Burrell from a knee injury she sustained in the first game of the season.

• “She's just the energizer bunny," head coach Lynne Roberts said of Burrell. "She puts pressure on the defense. I feel like she's getting in a groove."

What to watch: LA will try to make strides heading into the All-Star break, with Cameron Brink poised to return from her ACL tear later this month.

• Los Angeles vs. Washington, 10 PM ET (League Pass): The Sparks look for their first back-to-back win at home, taking on a Mystics team that’s comfortable playing in the clutch.

• Indiana vs. Connecticut, 8 PM ET (ESPN): The Fever are on a roll, hoping to tack on a third-straight win as they face the Sun for the first time since their earlier dust-up.

Way-too-early picks for the USWNT’s World Cup qualifying roster

No one is asking USWNT head coach Emma Hayes to pick her 2026 World Cup Qualifying squad today, but that didn’t stop me (Claire Watkins) from taking a swing in the latest episode of The Late Sub.

Here’s who I see making the cut next year:

• Goalkeepers: Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals).

• Defenders: Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Crystal Dunn (PSG), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC).

• Midfielders: Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes), Claire Hutton (KC Current), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit).

• Forwards: Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars FC), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign FC), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC).

Watch the full breakdown: Way-too-early USWNT World Cup Qualifying Roster | The Late Sub

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Boston Legacy announce investment, facilities

New NWSL expansion side Boston Legacy FC made two key announcements on Monday, shoring up the club’s place in the larger New England ecosystem.

• The Legacy first announced that Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston has invested in the club, after playing high school hoops in Massachusetts before attending South Carolina.

Boston also announced their commitment to building a $27M, privately-funded performance center in Brockton, MA, stocked with workout spaces, a bubble dome for year-round training, turf and grass fields, and more.

• “NWSL is the most competitive league in the world, and our players need and deserve a training facility that enables them to be at their best,” said team controlling owner Jennifer Epstein.

NWSL teams stay busy with friendlies

NWSL teams have kept busy during the international break, taking on strategic friendlies to test their depth and regional prowess.

• The KC Current will be playing in the final of the inaugural Teal Rising Cup this evening against Brazil side Corinthians, after Kansas City downed Palmeiras and the Chicago Stars fell to Corinthians in the semis.

• Houston and North Carolina have also tested themselves against international club competition, with the Dash defeating Liga MX Femenil side C.F. Monterrey 4-0 last week, before the Courage played UANL Tigres to a scoreless draw.

Tune in: The Teal Rising Cup third place game between Chicago and Palmeiras kicks off at 6 PM ET tonight, airing on ESPN+.

• The Current will then face Corinthians at 9 PM ET, also on ESPN+.

College amateur almost wins LPGA major

21-year-old English amateur golfer Charlotte “Lottie” Woad came in third at this weekend’s Evian Championship, finishing one stroke out of a playoff between Grace Kim and Jeeno Thitikul, which Kim won.

• Woad’s finish would have paid out a purse of $444,702 — had she been participating in the event as a professional.

Big picture: A senior at Florida State, Woad earned her LPGA card this weekend through the LPGA's new Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program, but the world’s highest-ranked amateur isn’t making a pro commitment just yet.

• “I'm just going to take the next week and discuss with my family and coaches and then I'll make a decision after that,” she said.

Number of the day

16

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard is expected to miss at least 16 days of playing time through the end of July due to a knee injury, forcing WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to name an All-Star replacement for this weekend.