The Big Dance is getting even bigger…

No. 1 picks headline WNBA tipoff

The last four No. 1 draft picks square off on Saturday, as the Fever’s Aliyah Boston (2023) and Caitlin Clark (2024) kickstart the 2026 WNBA season against the Wings’ Paige Bueckers (2025) and Azzi Fudd (2026).

• “Me and Caitlin have been competing against each other for a long time,” said Bueckers. “She’s a generational player. Every time we take the floor and get to compete against each other, it’s always a great time.” (See full report)

• “You have to be able to win,” Clark told Yahoo Sports. “That's my main focus, winning and winning a championship. Everything else will come along with that.”

High stakes: The young squads are sure to remain in the spotlight, as Dallas strives to prove itself as a postseason contender while Indiana looks to extend its 2025 playoff run.

• “I’m so thankful that this league is where we are right now,” said Fever coach Stephanie White. “I think the next step is to position ourselves to get to the finals.”

• “All eyes will be on the Wings and the Fever this weekend,” said Wings boss Jose Fernandez. “It’s an exciting time for the league. It’s an exciting time to kick off the WNBA season.”

Tune in: Dallas takes on Indiana on Saturday at 1 PM ET, live on ABC.

Aces & Phoenix stage 2025 Finals rematch

Las Vegas opens its WNBA title defense on Saturday, going up against 2025 runner-up Phoenix in a rematch of last year’s cutthroat finals series.

• The Aces swept the Mercury to win the league’s first-ever best-of-seven finals, lifting a third trophy in the last five years after just four games.

• “We just got swept — you would have some motivation too, right?” Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper said this week. “That’s big time, 1,000%.” (See full report)

Taking stock: With both teams retaining key talent, the clash features reigning four-time MVP A’ja Wilson going head-to-head with six-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas.

• “First and foremost, it’s just about starting day one, laying the foundation for us,” Thomas said. “We let one go in the finals, something we definitely don’t forget.”

• “I like making people mad. I like proving people wrong,” Wilson said. “I like to let people just burn because me and my team are doing great.” (See full report)

Tune in: Las Vegas faces Phoenix on Saturday at 3:30 ET, live on ABC.

Final cuts shakeup WNBA rosters

The WNBA’s final rosters are set, with brutal cuts and surprise pickups dominating the week’s headlines.

• Golden State waived guard Kate Martin after dropping 2026 draft-day trade subject Marta Suarez, while the team also petitions for roster relief due to Iliana Rubert’s pregnancy.

• The Valkyries will lean on veteran talent in pursuit of another playoff-qualifying run, with just one 2026 addition — undrafted Duke product Miela Sowah — in the lineup. (See full roster)

Tough calls: With just 12 roster spots and two developmental players per team, organizations faced big decisions ahead of tonight’s tipoff — though opportunities for players to rejoin squads later on remain on the table.

• European talent like Leonie Fiebich (New York), Leila Lacan (Connecticut), Awa Fam (Seattle), and Juste Jocyte (Golden State) have all seen their WNBA contracts temporarily suspended due to overseas commitments, contributing to early-season roster uncertainty.

• Some are finding second chances, as Connecticut scooped up waived Chicago guard Hailey Van Lith, while the Sky signed previously cut forward Maddy Westbeld and guard Aicha Coulibaly to development contracts.

Catch up on the latest women’s soccer headlines, as 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 the NWSL MVP race with Orlando’s Barbra Banda leading the charge despite her team’s struggles — because if the season ends today, she’s taking it.

• She also gets into this year’s Golden Boot race, as North Carolina’s Ashley Sanchez, Portland’s Olivia Moultrie, and Gotham’s Rose Lavelle top the charts.

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

Ally Bank, Member FDIC.

NWSL weekend spotlights SoCal rivalry

The NWSL is kicking off the first El Clásico of 2026, as Angel City welcomes the Wave to LA for Saturday’s Southern California showdown.

• Both teams enter the weekend looking to snap multiple-game losing streaks, with No. 4 San Diego coming off two consecutive losses while No. 8 Angel City dropped three. (See full standings)

Seeing red: LA will be without Maiara Niehues, after the midfielder was shown a red card in last Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Utah — and later received an additional one-match suspension for Major Game Misconduct.

• San Diego’s Jonas Eidevall is also sidelined, after he became the first coach to get sent off this season in last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Bay FC.

• “These are things that you have to go through early in the season to experience, to come out the other side,” said Wave assistant coach Becky Tweed.

Tune in: Angel City hosts San Diego on Saturday at 8:45 PM ET, live on ION.

New pro basketball league raises $40 million

The pro basketball landscape is getting more crowded, as 2026 newcomer Upshot League aims to provide lower-tier opportunities for graduating NCAA talent.

• Tipping off next week, the league features four teams — Charlotte Crown, Greenbsoro Groove, Jacksonville Wave, and Savannah Steel — tackling 40 regular-season games with an eye on expansion.

• Upshot launches with significant support, after backers including basketball legends Tamika Catchings, Cheryl Miller, and Ann Meyers Drysdale helped raise an initial $40 million in funding. (See full report)

Big picture: As WNBA roster cuts continue to limit professional pathways, new ventures are filling the gap while bringing the game to previously unserved markets.

• “These players reflect exactly who we are — elite, competitive, and globally relevant from day one,” Upshot co-founder and commissioner Donna Orender said of the inaugural lineup. “They are seizing expanded opportunities, and we celebrate creating a new stage for women’s professional basketball.”

Tune in: Upshot League tips off on Friday, May 15th, live on YouTube.

Number of the day

$250M

US Soccer announced plans for a $250 million training facility in Atlanta, set to become the federation’s new headquarters.