Michigan humbles UConn in 1st major NCAA upset

Mayor Mamdani is throwing his weight behind the NWSL Shield winner, giving out $12 tickets to Gotham’s big quarterfinal test.

Michigan tops UConn in 1st major NCAA upset

No. 5 Michigan rose to the occasion, taking down No. 2 UConn 77-66 to secure the Wolverines’ highest-ranked win on record.

• Backcourt duo Te’Yala Delfosse and Olivia Olson tamed the Huskies, as Delfosse tallied a career-high 22 points and nine rebounds alongside Olson’s 19 points and eight rebounds.

• “This was really special,” head coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “I think it's great for Michigan, and great for Michigan women’s basketball.” (Watch full highlights)

Looking ahead: The result snapped UConn’s 39-game winning streak, stirring the pot as the Huskies gear up to face five more Top 25 opponents this month.

• Freshman guard Jovana Popovic proved Thursday’s lone bright spot, scoring 25 points to secure more than a third of the team’s point total.

• “Michigan was way more ready from the opening tip," head coach Geno Auriemma said. “They were better organized, they were more disciplined, they ran their stuff.” (See full schedule)

Tune in: UConn’s gauntlet continues against No. 10 Iowa on Sunday at 2 PM ET (FS1).

High-stakes battles lead NWSL playoff charge

NWSL playoff chaos has arrived, as this season’s top eight finishers kick off the 2026 quarterfinals — with fierce competition expected at every turn.

• No. 4 Kansas City hosts No. 5 Angel City in the round’s tightest contest, as ACFC hunts an edge after signing U-17 World Cup star Maddie DiMaria.

• “We’ve shown to be resilient throughout the season,” said Current midfielder Raquel Rodriguez. “And that’s why we’re here.” (See full preview)

Around the horn: Newly crowned Shield winner No. 1 Gotham face No. 8 Seattle, while No. 3 Washington welcomes a dangerous No. 6 Portland side.

• No. 2 San Diego takes on No. 7 Utah without injured midfielder Kimmy Ascanio tonight, as the shorthanded Wave aims to avoid the upset.

• “Now it’s about to reset,” said San Diego coach Jonas Eidevall. “We can take a lot of confidence from what we have achieved so far this season, but this is now a new tournament.” (See full schedule)

Tune in: The NWSL quarterfinals kick off tonight at 10 PM ET (Prime).

FIFA pushes for Olympic age limit

Olympic soccer is bracing for change, as FIFA is reportedly pushing the IOC to convert its expanded 16-team women’s tournament into an U-23 event.

• Football’s governing body cites the women’s game’s increasingly crowded calendar, looking to lighten workloads for top club and national team stars.

• The move mirrors the men’s side’s 1992 shift, with the IOC permitting each team to roster an additional three senior players since 1996. (See full report)

Big picture: Pushback is expected, as the Olympics considers women’s soccer one its premier events — especially for five-time gold medalist Team USA.

• While UEFA’s Euros cycle alternates with the World Cup, other federations have fewer opportunities to experience top-flight competition.

• With the 2028 LA Games already scheduled, Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics serves as the earliest possible switch to a U-23 format.

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

• The NWSL playoffs are here! This episode breaks down all four quarterfinals, ranking them from most to least competitive and predicting who will advance.

• Plus, Claire dives into tactical battles, key players, and injury concerns, debating which team has what it takes to make a run at the title.

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

Ally Bank, Member FDIC.

2026 WTA Finals takes over Indian Wells

Tennis’s elite is hitting the court, as the world’s top eight players kick off the 2026 WTA Finals on Sunday in pursuit of this season’s title.

• No. 1 Elena Rybakina looks to defend her 2025 crown against No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 Mirra Andreeva, No. 4 Coco Gauff, No. 5 Jessica Pegula, No. 6 Elina Svitolina, No. 7 Karolína Muchová, and No. 8 Linda Nosková.

• “It’s definitely, every year different,” Rybakina said. “It’s a lot of tough players, all great champions.” (See full schedule)

Shifting tides: The 2026 event’s purse shrank from $15.5 million to $10 million after relocating from Saudi Arabia to California’s Indian Wells, with plans to stage the 2027 tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.

• “The saga of the WTA Finals continues,” Pegula said in July. “I don’t necessarily think it’s our fault. There just tends to be a lot of world conflicts that seem to happen and get in the way.” (See full report)

Tune in: WTA Finals coverage starts Sunday at 3 PM ET (Tennis Channel).

Diana Taurasi headlines 2027 HOF Class

Basketball greats are stealing the spotlight, as Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi headlines the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s six-person Class of 2027.

• Taurasi is joined by WBL trailblazer Molly Bolin Kazmer, WNBA champion coaches Mike Thibault and Sandy Brondello, NCAA program director Dr. Judith Holland, and decorated referee Dee Kantner.

• “Selection for this esteemed recognition celebrates the hard work, success, and record-breaking journeys for those to join this global class,” said HOF CEO Michelle Marciniak. “We cannot wait to welcome the Class of 2027.” (See full release)

Big shoes: Taurasi retired as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer in 2024, ending a 20-year pro career that spanned three league titles, five Olympic gold medals, and three NCAA championships.

Stay tuned: The 2027 Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for June 26th in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Quote of the day

Seattle Storm guard Flau’jae Johnson
telling a videographer which angle was her “good side” at a photo shoot this week.