NWSL storms back with Gotham vs Wave showdown

Two Liberty stars are sharing their $30,000 Commissioner’s Cup checks with New York’s developmental players. Spread love.

NWSL returns with top-table clash

The NWSL returns this weekend, as 2025 champion Gotham FC travels to face league-leader San Diego in the first regular-season action since May 31st.

• The Wave enters Saturday’s clash atop the NWSL table with 25 points, buoyed by Brazil international Dudinha’s team-high five goals and four assists plus rookie Lia Godfrey’s four goals and three assists. 

• No. 5 Gotham is riding high after winning last week’s 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup, sitting four points behind San Diego on a 6-2-3 record. (See full standings)

Scouting report: The Wave will likely be short-staffed, as marquee offseason addition Catarina Macario continues to rehab a heel knock while MVP candidate Dudinha suffered a compound knee injury during Brazil’s June friendlies.

• Gotham also revised its roster this week, officially signing Australian striker Sam Kerr — though she can’t debut until her international transfer certificate clears.

• “There are very few players in the world who can take over a game the way Sam can,” NY/NJ President of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch West told Sports Illustrated. “The fact that she chose to return to Gotham speaks volumes.” (See full report)

Tune in: Gotham kicks off against San Diego on Saturday at 8:45 PM ET, live on ION.

No. 1 Minnesota visits Cup champion New York

Two WNBA titans collide tomorrow, as No. 1 Minnesota faces 2026 Commissioner’s Cup champion New York for the first time this season.

• The Lynx enter off Sunday’s 85-77 win over No. 6 Dallas, as Rookie of the Year frontrunner Olivia Miles and vet Natasha Howard keep Minnesota Top 5 in average points, rebounds, assists, blocks, field goal percentage and 3-point shooting. (See full stats)

• The No. 5 Liberty downed Las Vegas 93-85 on Tuesday behind Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart’s combined 51 points, managing to curb a two-game losing streak to cash this year’s Cup check. (See full recap)

Injury report: Minnesota captain Napheesa Collier returned to practice for the first time this year this week, as she continues to recover from double ankle surgery.

• The Lynx haven’t set a timeline for the 2024 DPOY, with Howard, Courtney Williams, and Kayla McBride stepping up in her stead. 

• “There are players that I haven’t played with before, so naturally there’s that learning curve,” Collier said. “Thankfully, all of our players are team players, not ‘I’ players. They’re always easy to play with.” (See full report)

Tune in: Minnesota visits New York on Friday at 7:30 PM ET, live on ION.

Coco Gauff survives as Wimbledon turns to doubles

Wimbledon is shifting into high gear, as US star Coco Gauff survived a second-round scare on Wednesday to keep her All England Club run intact.

• Gauff edged Solana Sierra 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7), bouncing back from a break down in the third set before winning the final six tiebreaker points and sealing the victory with an ace.

• “I just reminded myself that I’m a great returner as well,” Gauff said. “I was just trying to be positive and I think that showed.” (Watch full highlights)

Around the horn: In the tournament’s biggest shock, 2024 champion Barbora Krejčíková ousted No. 5 Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 — needing seven match points to send the French Open winner packing.

• No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka rolled past McCartney Kessler 6-1, 7-6 (9), No. 4 Jessica Pegula downed Sara Sorribes in straight sets, and No. 14 Naomi Osaka ousted Anastasia Gasanova to reach the third round. (See full draw)

Up next: Slated to start Friday, Serena Williams’s doubles run with sister Venus remains in doubt after she tweaked her knee in Tuesday’s loss to Maya Joint. 

• Williams’s agent Jill Smoller said the 44-year-old is doing “everything she can” to make the match. (See full report)

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Don’t miss ‘Time Wasting’ with Kelley O’Hara & Ali Riley

Soccer icons Kelley O’Hara and Ali Riley are back, as an all-new episode of Time Wasting presented by Amazon Prime serves up another jam-packed helping of tactical breakdowns, behind-the-scenes stories, and insider perspectives.

• In the episode, Ali and Kelley get into their favorite moments from the Men’s World Cup, Gotham’s Challenge Cup win over KC, and the second half of the NWSL season.

• And while the world is waiting for Catarina Macario to return from injury, Kelley and Ali get real about their past injuries, the difficult reality of being an injured athlete, and dealing with mental health.

Tune in: Catch Time Wasting on YouTube.

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Big-name NWSL free agents hit the market

NWSL heavy-hitters are up for grabs, as the players association released the 2027 free agent list, clearing eligible players to begin scouting contracts from clubs across the league.

• Rose Lavelle (Gotham), Sophia Wilson (Portland), and Marta (Orlando) headline this season’s class, alongside Gotham’s Ann-Katrin Berger, Jess Carter, and Midge Purce, Chicago’s Alyssa Naeher, Portland’s Jessie Fleming, San Diego’s Adrianna Leon, and Washington’s Andi Sullivan and Hal Hershfelt. (See full list)

How it works: Under the NWSL’s CBA, any player whose contract expires at the end of 2026 can now begin negotiating 2027 deals regardless of service time. 

• Players can sign with a new team at any time, but can’t join that club before January 1st, 2027, with unsigned players becoming unattached free agents. (See full rules)

Pau Gasol invests €55M in Spain’s Liga F

Spain’s Liga F cashed in this week, as the top-flight women’s league approved a €55 million investment from former NBA star Pau Gasol’s Gasol16 Ventures.

• Weighing in as the largest private investment in women’s club soccer history, the funds will be distributed over the next four seasons in an effort to build up the league’s commercial and operational structure. 

• Liga F is gaining speed, drawing 7.5 million viewers this past season — up 11.2% year-over-year — while closing out the fiscal year with €25.8 million in revenue. (See full report)

Bright future: “This is not an emotional investment in women’s sport,” Gasol said. “It’s an investment decision driven by data, market trends, and the conviction that women’s football represents a tremendous growth opportunity.” (See full release)

Quote of the day

Lynx star Napheesa Collier
hinting at her imminent return from injury as she recovers from surgery.