We’d all love to sling threes for a day.

NWSL rivalry week kicks off

It’s officially rivalry weekend in the NWSL, as teams lean on regional proximity, competitive history, and plain old bad blood to add an edge to each of this weekend’s matchups.

• No. 8 Gotham vs. No. 3 Washington, Saturday at 12 PM ET (ESPN): Don’t let the gap in the standings fool you, this is a game between two title contenders loaded with stars, as Trinity Rodman, Rose Lavelle, Esther, Midge Purce, and more face off.

• No. 4 San Diego vs. No. 11 Angel City, Saturday at 10 PM ET (ION): The battle for SoCal bragging rights sees the Wave taking on an LA side that they’ve struggled to beat since 2023, despite more consistent results in the standings.

• No. 5 Seattle vs. No. 6 Portland, Sunday at 4 PM ET (CBS): The oldest and most hallowed rivalry in NWSL history also reflects some urgency in a tight playoff race, as the Thorns can overtake the Reign should they grab three points at home.

Go deeper: Ranking the NWSL’s rivalries | The Late Sub

18-year-old Victoria Mboko stuns Osaka and the tennis world

The feel-good story of the summer completed her storybook ending on Thursday, as 18-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko defeated Naomi Osaka on home soil to win her first WTA Tour title at the Canadian Open.

• “I would have never thought that I would have made it to the final, let alone win the tournament,” she said after coming back from down a set to defeat Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

• In a dream run, Mboko took down four Grand Slam champions in Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Osaka on her way to an inaugural WTA 1000 event victory.

Big picture: While she fell just short of the finish line, the Canadian Open also represented a return to form for Osaka, who will now likely be seeded going into the US Open for the first time since returning from pregnancy.

The Mystics trade Aaliyah Edwards to Sun

Thursday’s WNBA trade deadline came and went with one final flurry of activity, as the Washington Mystics leaned all the way into their rebuild.

• Washington sent 2024 No. 6 pick Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Sun, in return for 2024 No. 5 Jacy Sheldon, as well as the right to a first round pick swap in 2026.

• The move follows a trade sending Mystics leading scorer Brittney Sykes to Seattle in return for Alysha Clark and a 2026 first round pick.

Big picture: The WNBA trade deadline was relatively quiet this year, but that could change with a new CBA and subsequent salary hike.

Crypto group claims they’re behind WNBA sex toy trend

Two more sex toys were thrown onto the court during a WNBA game on Thursday, as a cryptocurrency group has claimed they’re behind the continued trend.

• Anonymous crypto investors have told multiple outlets that the stunts are intended to raise awareness of a new crypto coin, “greasing the market” with each incident.

• “It was more or less like an opportunistic approach to, you know, what is already trending," an anonymous crypto trader told ESPN. "Where is there already controversy and how do we intercept some of that attention?"

Big picture: Two arrests have already been made stemming from objects thrown in Atlanta and Phoenix, but league security still has work to do to stem the tide.

• "This has been going on for centuries, the sexualization of women. This is the latest version of that. And it's not funny," Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said this week. "These people that are doing this should be held accountable.

Diana Taurasi opens up about Olympic benching

In her new Prime Video documentary Taurasi, women’s basketball great Diana Taurasi opened up about not playing any minutes in her sixth and final Olympic gold medal game in Paris in 2024.

• "I'm confused by what happened," Taurasi said in the third episode of the three-part series. "I never got, 'Hey, you're not going to play because we're going this direction.'“

Big picture: Taurasi’s addition to the 2024 Team USA squad at the age of 42 came from a place of experience, having won gold at five consecutive Olympics.

• "I've done this five other times where I felt like I really earned it," she said. "This one was the one that doesn't belong."

Two USWNT stars earn Ballon d’Or nods

Only two US players have been nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, reflecting a quiet six months for the USWNT that saw many of the team’s heavy hitters sidelined.

• US and Arsenal defender Emily Fox earned her first career nomination, alongside USWNT captain and OL Lyonnes midfielder Lindsey Heaps.

Big picture: The US also ceded ground in this week’s FIFA rankings, falling to No. 2 in the world by just a two-point margin after now-No. 1 Spain reached the UEFA Women’s Euro Final.

• The rankings saw more than a few head-scratchers, after Brazil dropped three spots following their Copa America Femenina win, and England only rose to No. 4 despite beating Spain and winning the Euro’s.

WNBA rivalry matchups heat up

The WNBA is hyping up a rivalry week of its own, highlighted by a rematch of last year’s Finals.

• No. 6 Seattle vs. No. 7 Las Vegas, Friday at 10 PM ET (ION): The Aces have a chance to make a major statement on Friday, with the opportunity to leapfrog a struggling Seattle with their third win in a row.

• No. 9 Los Angeles vs. No. 8 Golden State, Saturday at 8:30 PM ET (League Pass): The Sparks can rise above the playoff line with a win against the Valkyries.

• No. 1 Minnesota vs. No. 2 New York, Sunday at 12:30 PM ET (ABC): The second 2024 finals rematch of the season has both teams struggling with injuries, as a Napheesa Collier-less Minnesota tries to fend off a Liberty squad without Breanna Stewart.

• No. 3 Atlanta vs. No. 4 Phoenix, Sunday at 6 PM ET (NBA TV): The Dream and the Mercury have dueling multi-game winning streaks on the line.

Number of the day 

3

Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas extended her triple-double streak in the Mercury’s 95-60 blowout win on Thursday, becoming the first player in WNBA history to record three consecutive triple-doubles.