Michigan leapfrogs UConn in AP Top 25 update

The Barbie may have left the Bayou, but Angel Reese will always have a home at LSU.

Michigan soars in AP Top 25 update

No. 2 Michigan is making history, climbing to a program-high ranking in Monday’s AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll after upsetting then-No. 2 UConn last week.

• The Huskies fell to No. 4, ceding just two spots after Sunday’s bounce-back win over No. 10 Iowa.

• “To be in position today to beat Connecticut and be the No. 2-ranked team in the country, it’s just a credit to our players and credit to our staff,” said Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico. (See full remarks)

Chutes & ladders: Many powerhouses held steady this week, fueled by No. 1 South Carolina’s ranked victories over No. 19 Maryland and No. 23 North Carolina.

• Reigning champion No. 10 UCLA launched into the Top 10 off a 2-0 start, while No. 14 Oklahoma jumped 10 spots after an opening win over UNC.

• No. 3 USC stole a single first-place vote from South Carolina, flexing its potential as the two NCAA titans prepare for Sunday’s “The Real SC” showdown. (See full rankings)

Gotham moves NWSL semi amid pitch concerns

No. 1 Gotham is on the move, relocating Sunday’s NWSL semifinal against No. 4 Kansas City from New Jersey’s Sports Illustrated Stadium to NYC’s Icahn Stadium.

• The team cited poor pitch quality as its primary motivation, responding to mounting player and staff complaints in recent weeks.

• “We felt it was important to prioritize a playing surface that appropriately allows our athletes to perform at their best,” said President of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch West. (See full release)

Downsizing: While Icahn Stadium features a manicured grass field, it holds just 5,000 seats — a steep drop from the Bats’ 25,000-capacity home venue.

• Gotham currently rents SI Stadium from MLS side NY Red Bulls, with a permanent move to Queens’s 25,000-seat Etihad Stadium slated for 2028.

• “A smaller stadium means many of you will not be there, and that is the hardest part,” said captain Tierna Davidson. “You have turned every ground where we have played into home, and that does not change on Sunday.”

Barcelona & Arsenal clash in UWCL Matchday 4

Champions League heats up this week, with Matchday 4 promising to rattle the standings as the league phase’s highest-profile clash takes the stage.

• Reigning champion No. 1 Barcelona hosts 2025 winner No. 3 Arsenal on Thursday, with each club looking to tighten its grip on the UWCL table.

• “This match is very important,” said Barça midfielder Aitana Bonmatí. “We’re facing a great rival, whom we respect very much. It will be crucial to play well and get the win.” (See full preview)

Around the horn: USWNT fans will be watching as No. 2 Lyonnes’s Lily Yohannes takes on No. 5 Juventus, while No. 4 Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson faces No. 16 BK Häcken.

• No. 10 Manchester City’s Sam Coffey will hunt a edge against No. 8 Inter, after the WSL side drew all three of its league phase matches so far.

• “There are no guarantees, but the idea and the philosophy is to perform the best we can,” said Man City manager Andrée Jeglertz. “That’s the target.” (See full schedule)

Tune in: Champions League action returns today at 12:45 PM ET (Paramount+).

Alex Eala hits career-high WTA ranking

The 2026 WTA Tour has reached its end, as tennis’s governing body gave this year’s top performers one last boost in Monday’s final rankings update.

• Filipina phenom No. 15 Alexandra Eala hit a new high, reaching her third career final in Hong Kong before falling to US rising star No. 69 Claire Liu.

• “This season has just — it changed my life,” Eala said, thanking her team. “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve put in this year, and we’re the only ones who truly know what it took.” (See full remarks)

Holding fast: The Top 10 stayed intact as the WTA Finals rolls on, with No. 1 Elena Rybakina remaining on top spot despite withdrawing from the round-robin event.

• No. 4 Coco Gauff will look to gain ground against No. 7 Linda Nosková this afternoon, after both players notched big opening wins. (See full schedule)

European stars headline FIFPRO World XI

UEFA continues to hold court, as FIFPRO named 10 European standouts and one NWSL star to Monday’s 2026 World XI roster.

• Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia) holds her own in a lineup that features five England nationals and five Spanish 2023 World Cup winners.

• Alexia Putellas (London City, Spain) leads the charge after winning her third Ballon d’Or, sharing the honor with seven fellow WSL players. (See full list)

Falling short: The annual position-specific distinction serves as the only major football award determined entirely by player vote.

• Among defenders, Emily Fox (Arsenal, US) finished eighth while Avery Patterson (Houston Dash, US) finished 10th, with goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham, Germany) ranking third. (See full breakdown)

Quote of the day

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
paying tribute to former guard Azzi Fudd during her Huskies of Honor induction.