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NWSL takes the pitch

The NWSL returns this weekend, bouncing back from April’s international break as teams who have excelled early attempt to prove they belong on the top half of the table.

• Squad rotation could have a major impact this weekend, with national team players arriving back in market on short rest after a busy international spin.

What to watch: The NWSL’s fourth matchday is loaded, listing matchups all over the standings heavy with significance as the league resets.

• Seattle Reign vs. Orlando, Saturday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): Seattle has already made strides after a difficult finish last season, but how will the Reign — currently sitting in sixth — stack up against top-tier Orlando?

• San Diego Wave vs. Kansas City, Saturday at 10 PM ET (ION): Fifth-place San Diego has similarly stabilized, but they’ll have to handle second-place KC and Temwa Chawinga’s high-flying attack.

• Gotham vs. North Carolina, Sunday at 4 PM ET (Paramount+): Two clubs with high expectations enter the weekend firmly below the playoff line, as talent-laden Gotham and North Carolina continue to hunt down their first wins of the season despite robust rosters.

Bottom line: Only five points currently stand between first and eighth place, but this weekend’s results could push differentials even further as teams compete to gain a foothold with a long season ahead.

2025 WNBA Draft: Which teams are in play?

Monday’s draft could seriously shape the future for the three WNBA teams at the helm of this year’s lottery, as top pick-holders Dallas, Seattle, and Washington all prepare to make major moves after a rollercoaster offseason.

• The Wings currently hold 2025’s No. 1 pick, while Seattle will select second after a blockbuster three-team trade with LA and Las Vegas sent Jewell Loyd to the Aces — and the No. 2 pick to the Storm.

• Washington wields significant draft capital following another series of trades, sending Ariel Atkins to Chicago in exchange for the No. 3 pick while also holding tight to the fourth and sixth first-round selections.

Big picture: Uncertainty has reigned in recent months, as team executives find out alongside the public exactly who’s entering the WNBA’s talent pool and who’s decided to give the NCAA one more year.

• “We’re always nimble as GMs in this league,” Dallas general manager Curt Miller told media on Thursday. “You don’t truly know who is declaring and coming into the draft until the very end.”

DC’s dark horse: While Dallas and Seattle wield the highest picks, Washington’s wealth of selections gives them the most first-round influence — especially when it comes to expansion franchise Golden State’s No. 5 pick.

• “I think it actually creates an opportunity for us to build strength in a couple of different ways,” said Mystics general manager Jamila Wideman.

Bottom line: Expect teams outside of the lottery to wait patiently with their fingers crossed on Monday, as last year’s lowest record-holders finally count their blessings.

Bueckers cashes in early

Projected No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers announced her first pro deal on Friday, signing with new WNBA partner Ally Financial as the brand gears up to help launch the league’s first-ever Rivalry Week.

• “I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to give with what you’ve been given,” Bueckers said at this morning’s press conference. “A lot of my partnerships, we have values aligned of giving back.”

Big picture: Bueckers making an early endorsement splash challenges the idea that NIL opportunities end the moment players exit the NCAA, as draft prospects weigh the factors behind going pro.

• “I think at times there’s too much made about salary, and too much made about what's going on in college,” Dallas GM Curt Miller told reporters on Thursday. “The top players that we’re talking to, their endorsements are going to travel with them.”

Upping the stakes: In line with the deal, the Ally-sponsored WNBA Rivalry Week will run from August 9th through the 17th, highlighting matchups with a significant amount of recent history.

• Key games include regional foes Indiana and Chicago battling it out on CBS, Golden State hosting an California clash with the LA Sparks, and a pair of WNBA Finals rematches featuring the Liberty, the Lynx, and the Aces.

Bottom line: Bueckers has been out of the college game for less than a week, but early chances to cash in show that her value isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

PWHL sees Takeover Tour success

The PWHL’s Takeover Tour was a smash hit, with the second-year league’s nine-game out-of-market series drawing record-breaking crowds across North America.

• According to a recent league press release, a total of 123,601 fans attended the Tour, setting a new US attendance record for pro women’s hockey in Denver with 14,018 — shortly before setting another when 14,288 fans filled Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena.

• More than half the matches rank among the PWHL’s top 10 for single-game attendance, including Vancouver’s 19,038-strong sold-out crowd.

Big picture: The move was both a marketing push and a way to size up cities for future expansion, with demand growing everywhere from Seattle to Quebec City.

• “Across the nine stops, we connected with new fans, grew the game, and gave audiences the opportunity to experience the unparalleled excitement of a PWHL game live,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL EVP of business operations.

Denver NWSL staffs up

Denver’s incoming NWSL expansion team announced more infrastructure news on Thursday, bringing on decorated sports executive Jen Millet as the club’s first-ever president.

• Millet most recently served as chief operating officer for 2024 NWSL expansion team Bay FC, returning to her hometown of Denver to take on another team launch.

• “People might say I’m crazy to do back-to-back builds,” Millet told The Athletic. “But I actually love this kind of work, and so I’m excited to get going.”

Big picture: With a new dedicated stadium and training facility in the works, record season ticket sales, and NWSL-savvy leadership, Denver looks prepared to hit the ground running in 2026.

Number of the day 

25%

Over 1300 NCAA women’s basketball players have entered the transfer portal — accounting for more than 25% of the Division I player pool.