New York makes WNBA Commissioner’s Cup history

“There’s a difference between trolling, and there’s a difference between hatred.” - recently suspended Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas.

Liberty wins 2026 Commissioner’s Cup

New York got it done last night, taking down Las Vegas 93-86 to become the league’s first two-time WNBA Commissioner’s Cup champion.

• With Aces superstar A’ja Wilson sidelined, Liberty vets Sabrina Ionescu and Cup MVP Breanna Stewart combined for 51 of New York’s 93 points.

• “I’m just really proud of the mindset and the mentality of this team,” Stewart said. “We were going to do whatever it took to get this win.” (Watch full highlights)

Big impact: Ionescu provided the spark New York needed, after the recently returned guard hit a dagger 3-pointer to seal the win with 15.7 seconds left.

• “She’s too good,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said of Ionescu. “I don’t know if anybody's noticed in this crowd, [but] she likes big moments and big shots.”

• “I’ve always continued to have that belief in myself,” said Ionescu. “An injury or two is not going to diminish my understanding of who I am, and the work that I’ve put in to get to where I’m at today.” (See full report)

Up next: Both teams feature in ION’s Friday double-header, as New York hosts league-leader Minnesota at 7:30 PM, before Las Vegas faces Chicago at 10 PM ET.

Serena Williams falls in Wimbledon opener

Serena Williams’s singles run was cut short yesterday, after the 44-year-old tennis legend ceded a three-set first-round battle to world No. 87 Maya Joint on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

• Williams was vying to become the oldest player to win a Grand Slam singles match since 47-year-old Martina Navratilova’s 2024 Wimbledon campaign, but fell just short in her fourth-career first-round exit.

• “It was really great to be back at Wimbledon,” Williams said in a postmatch statement. “I definitely relished it and missed it and enjoyed the moment more than anything.” (Watch full highlights)

Around the horn: Elsewhere, big-name contenders rolled through the tournament’s opening slate, with No. 8 Elina Svitolina suffering the only Top 10 upset.

• No. 14 Naomi Osaka turned heads in her kimono-inspired dress before sailing through her first two matches, making quick work of France’s Elsa Jacquemot and Russia’s Anastasia Gasanova to punch a third-round ticket.

• No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 4 Jessica Pegula, No. 7 Coco Gauff, defending champion No. 3 Iga Świątek, and more look to follow suit as Wimbledon continues second-round play. (See full results)

Tune in: Wimbledon coverage runs through July 11th, live on ESPN.

MLB taps AUSL stars as ratings surge

Pro softball is on the rise, as the second-year Athletes Unlimited Softball League reported viewership up 181% over the same time last season.

• ESPN upgraded multiple AUSL games to larger platforms through its first two weeks, with a league-record 404,000 average viewers tuning in to see the OKC Spark take on the Portland Cascade on June 21st.

• Between the Texas Volts breaking the single-game home run record and pitchers throwing five complete-game shutouts, the AUSL has also landed seven SportsCenter “Top Ten Plays” features. (See full report)

Big swings: Four AUSL stars take center stage later this month, after MLB invited them to compete in All-Star Weekend’s MLBx Derby, a co-ed 3-on-3 showcase awarding players on both home runs and defensive plays.

• The Carolina Blaze’s Alyssa Brito leads the lineup, joined by Texas trio Tiare Jenning, Rachel Garcia, and star rookie NiJaree Canady.

• “This partnership gives our athletes an incredible opportunity to showcase their skills,” said AUSL Commissioner Kim Ng. “MLBx is an exciting format that highlights athleticism, power, and defensive excellence.” (See full report)

If you're making the trip for the biggest weekend in basketball, make JWS Spot your first stop. Expect player appearances, exclusive merch, free drinks, free bucket hats, ‘90s giveaways, and a room full of people who love women’s basketball as much as you do.

📍 Bottom Lounge, Chicago

⏰ July 25th | 2-6 PM

Be there: Grab your free tickets before they’re gone.

SCOTUS upholds trans athlete bans

The Supreme Court issued final opinions yesterday, ruling to uphold state laws that bar transgender girls and women from participating in school athletics in a landmark 6-3 decision.

• The Court ruled unanimously that Title IX cannot block laws banning transgender athletes, but split along liberal and conservative lines over whether state bans violate the Constitution.

• “The majority’s opinion ends by reciting the many wonderful ways in which playing sports can be valuable,” wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor. “Because of the Court’s decision today, West Virginia, and any other state actor, can deny [transgender athletes] these experiences simply because it thinks they have an inherent athletic advantage, even if the facts show that they do not.” (See full report)

Following suit: The decision continues a recent slate of trans athlete restrictions, including updated policies issued by the NCAA, USOPC, and IOC.

• “This ruling is heartbreaking for transgender student athletes,” HRC President Kelley Robinson responded. “We are sacrificing the dignity, privacy, and safety of America’s young people to solve a problem that was manufactured and exploited for political gain.” (See full release)

Gotham’s Katie Lampson announces retirement

Katie Lampson (née Stengel) is hanging up her boots, as the two-time NWSL champion announced her immediate retirement from professional soccer.

• Lampson earned titles with Gotham in 2023 and 2025, alongside two NWSL Challenge Cups and two European trophies throughout her 12-year career.

• “Soccer has been my guiding light for the last 30 years,” said Lampson. “It presented opportunities to see the world, meet lifelong friends, and grow as a person.”

Big picture: Lampson’s resume showcases stints across three different continents, appearing in 163 matches across five different clubs while tallying 21 goals, eight assists, and nine game-winners.

• “My career took many unpredictable turns, reminding me to accept my lack of control,” Lampson continued. “I’m most proud that I learned to find an internal motivation and confidence amongst the chaos.” (See full release)

What you had to say

On June 18th, more than 50% of readers picked the New York Liberty to win the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. Well done.

• 53.40%: New York

• 46.74%: Las Vegas