Phoenix's Satou Sabally out for must-win WNBA Finals Game 4

It’s always the thought that counts.

Mercury’s Satou Sabally ruled out for WNBA Finals Game 4

No. 4 Phoenix will fight for survival tonight, as the Mercury enter Game 4 of the WNBA Finals down 0-3 to No. 2 Las Vegas — and without one of their brightest stars.

• Phoenix forward Satou Sabally has been ruled out with a concussion, after picking up a head injury in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s Game 3.

• Sabally has been the team’s leading scorer this postseason, averaging a team-high 19.0 points plus seven rebounds per game.

Big picture: While coming back from 0-3 might not be in the cards, a home-court victory tonight could soften the blow of an eventual Aces championship.

• “At the end of the day, it’s about getting each other open shots,” Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said on Wednesday. “All season long, we’ve seen different defenses, so it’s not about just one person. It’s about us playing connected, playing for each other.”

• “We’re facing elimination,” she added. “We’ve had plenty of opportunities to go out there and get a win. At some point, we have to take it upon ourselves.”

Bottom line: The Aces might have one hand on the trophy, but Phoenix can still prove they can execute their brand of basketball with their backs against the wall.

Tune in: Game 4 of the WNBA Finals tips off tonight at 8 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Louisville paves NWSL playoff path with Emma Sears re-up

As No. 7 Louisville zeroes in on a club-first NWSL playoff berth, the 2021 expansion team locked down a big part of their future this week by signing USWNT forward Emma Sears to a new contract through 2028.

• Sears set a new single-season scoring record for Racing this year, with the 24-year-old registering 10 goals so far in 2025.

• "I’m so proud to be continuing my career with Racing Louisville FC — a club and city that have truly become home for me,” Sears said in Thursday’s statement. “We’ve built something special here.”

Big picture: Louisville can keep momentum going with a result against No. 14 Chicago tonight, as they look to shoot further above the postseason cutoff line.

• Recent form will be on their side, entering the weekend on a two-game winning streak, contrasted by Chicago’s four-game winless run.

• Every point helps, with only four points separating Nos. 3 through 8 in the NWSL standings and only No. 1 Kansas City and No. 2 Washington having punched playoff tickets.

Tune in: Louisville takes on Chicago tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on NWSL+.

Top seeds cruise to Wuhan Open semis as Świątek stumbles

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is back like she never left, following up her brief post-US Open rest period by blowing past the Wuhan Open competition with last night’s straight-set quarterfinal victory over No. 9 Elena Rybakina.

• With three Wuhan Open titles under her belt — 2018, 2019, and 2024 — Sabalenka extended her career tournament record to 20-0 on Thursday, as she gears up to take on No. 6 Jessica Pegula in tonight’s semifinal round.

• “Honestly, that’s just crazy,” Sabalenka said of her success at the WTA 1000 event. “I feel a really great connection with the Chinese fans, I guess. I feel like at home playing in this stadium.” (Watch full highlights)

Big picture: Sabalenka and Pegula aren’t the only big names advancing this week, as No. 3 Coco Gauff cruised past unseeded Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-0 to book her own semifinal appearance.

• While the US star had little trouble dispelling her quarterfinal opponent, No. 2 Iga Świątek wasn’t so lucky, falling to Italy’s No. 8 Jasmine Paolini in straight sets to set up a tight semifinal clash between Gauff and Paolini.

• Sabalenka’s semifinal could also go the distance, with Pegula coming off six straight three-set matches dating back to the China Open — and emerging victorious from five of them.

Tune in: Wuhan Open coverage continues tonight at 10 PM ET, live on the Tennis Channel.

JWS is putting women’s sports in the hot seat, with an all new episode of Athlete Spotlight presented by Delta delivering an up close and personal look inside the lives of some of the sports world’s most exciting players — including NWSL fan favorite and Angel City captain Ali Riley.

• In the episode, Riley traces her soccer journey, from finding herself through the sport and representing New Zealand on the global stage to deciding to retire at the end of 2025 and her undying love for the NWSL.

• “I don’t need to be remembered for anything specifically as an individual,” she tells JWS. “I will follow this league and the players and what they get to do and what they get to experience, and know that what I did and the women who came before me, it helped make it happen.”

Tune in: Catch Athlete Spotlight: Ali Riley on YouTube.

Book your next adventure at delta.com

Alex Morgan & Mia Hamm host celebrity charity soccer match

Two of women’s soccer’s biggest stars are teaming up, with retired USWNT icons Alex Morgan and Mia Hamm joining forces for The Goal Cup, a new celebrity soccer match benefitting the Alex Morgan Foundation and Mia Hamm Foundation.

• Set for January 17th, 2026 at USC Rawlinson Stadium in LA, Hamm and Morgan will captain rival sides in the “LA vs. San Diego” showdown, with additional participants yet to be announced.

• “The Goal Cup is about celebrating the game we love while creating real impact for girls and women,” Morgan said in a statement. “I’m proud to team up with Mia, to launch the SoCal rivalry and ensure soccer continues to be a force for good beyond the field.”

Be there: Pre-sale ticket access opens October 14th at 1 PM ET via The Goal Cup, with general sales following on October 15th.

Sky star Angel Reese hits the runway for Victoria’s Secret

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is staying busy, announcing yet another high-profile partnership as she gears up to become the first professional athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on October 15th in New York.

• “Stepping into a dream: From Angel to a Victoria Secret ANGEL,” Reese posted to Instagram on Thursday. “I’m finally getting my wings — I’ll be walking the Victoria’s Secret 2025 runway show for the first time, and it feels like destiny.”

Big picture: Hitting the runway is just the latest entry on Reese’s growing resume, with the 23-year-old stepping in as the new face of Juicy Couture, launching a signature shoe with Reebok, and making her feature film debut this year.

• “Angel Reese, welcome to the runway,” Victoria’s Secret wrote in a promotional post. “The first professional athlete angel... major is an understatement.”

Quote of the day

USC freshman guard Jazzy Davidson
on watching Aces star A’ja Wilson in this year’s WNBA Finals.