Seattle rallies past Minnesota to delay WNBA playoff hopefuls

Game recognize game.

Seattle’s upset win delays WNBA playoff hopefuls

No. 7 Seattle crashed the playoff clinching party on Thursday, upsetting No. 1 Minnesota 93-79 to keep multiple WNBA teams from punching postseason tickets.

• “We’ve been searching for this type of a game to have at this juncture of the season,” Storm head coach Noelle Quinn said, after Seattle handed Minnesota their biggest blown lead in franchise history.

• “Play some f--ing defense, man,” Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve said, criticizing her team’s performance. “Act like that end matters. We have not done that in a long time.” (Watch full highlights)

Chaos agents: The Storm’s comeback spurred chaos with six open playoff spots remaining, preventing the Lynx from claiming the No. 1 seed for at least another game while also blocking clinching scenarios for No. 3 Atlanta and No. 4 Phoenix.

• The Mercury did get one step closer to a postseason berth with a tight 83-79 win over No. 12 Chicago, as guard Kahleah Copper’s 28 points helped them hold ground in the WNBA standings.

• “I feel like we’re doing an incredible job, we all want to do the right things,” Copper said. “We’ve just got to continue to clean up the little things.”

Up next: The Storm will continue to shape their destiny this weekend, facing the Sky tomorrow at 9 PM ET (League Pass) with just four regular-season games remaining.

Can New York join the WNBA playoff party?

No. 5 New York is creeping back up the ladder, as the defending WNBA champions continue to reverse their recent skid with Thursday’s 89-63 win over No. 10 Washington — all while the playoff race reaches its boiling point.

• The victory was a team effort, with five Liberty players finishing in double-digit scoring including a season-high 16 points off the bench from forward Isabelle Harrison in her return from concussion protocol.

• “We’re not looking at the other teams at this point,” Liberty forward Emma Meesseman said after the game. “We’re just looking at ourselves, to maybe send a message to ourselves.” (Watch full highlights)

Availability issues: However, New York’s injury woes are far from over, taking the court last night without starters Sabrina Ionescu (toe), Jonquel Jones (illness), and Natasha Cloud (nose) while leaning on recently returned forward Breanna Stewart.

• “We need to win the rest of our games,” Stewart said, gearing up for visits to Phoenix, Golden State, and Seattle. “We need to go and be road warriors.”

• The Liberty will have their hands full this weekend against the No. 4 Mercury, with Phoenix coming in hot off a three-game winning streak.

• “It’s like a playoff matchup,” Stewart added. “It’s a big game, big implications, and [we’re] not shying away from that.”

Tune in: Phoenix tips off against New York on Saturday at 10 PM ET, live on NBA TV.

KC Current looks to extend unbeaten streak

No. 1 Kansas City has been unstoppable this season, riding a 10-game unbeaten streak into Saturday’s matchup with No. 9 North Carolina while closing in on their franchise-first NWSL Shield.

• The Current’s 12-point advantage over the No. 2 Spirit marks the league’s largest top-table margin since the Courage finished 15 points ahead in 2018.

• Kansas City tops the NWSL in goals scored while also registering the fewest goals allowed, entering the weekend with a record-tying five consecutive shoutouts. (See league stats)

Big picture: After coming in fourth in 2024, the Current’s defense has continued to improve under manager Vlatko Andonovski while another MVP-level year from forward Temwa Chawinga has bolstered the offense.

• Chawinga currently leads the Golden Boot race with 11 goals through 17 games, while sitting in the league’s Top 5 in shots and shots on goal.

• “I think because we have such a powerful offense, the defensive things, maybe people don’t notice as much,” Kansas City forward Michelle Cooper told the Kansas City Star earlier this week. “I think something absolutely important to us is our entire back line and the commitment to get little touches in, to take of angles, and block shots.”

Watch more: “Kansas City Current: Championship or Bust” on The Late Sub

Tune in: The Current take on the Courage tomorrow at 7:30 PM ET, live on ION.

Prime was on the ground this month, teaming up with JWS to put NWSL fans to the test and hand out some exciting prizes as the Washington Spirit took on Racing Louisville.

• Soccer personality Duda Pavão took over Rowdy Audi, quizzing the Spirit faithful on player stats past and present with plenty of merch and — for two lucky winners — some upgraded seats on the line.

• Headed to a Friday night NWSL match on Prime? Keep an eye out for the JWS crew for your chance to show off your team knowledge and win big.

Tune in: Catch all the On Ground At action on JWS YouTube.

Shopping. Streaming. Live Sports. It’s on Prime.

Naomi Osaka eyes a US Open comeback

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka is looking like her old self this week, as the world No. 24 advanced to the New York Grand Slam’s third round for the first time since 2021 with Thursday’s straight-set win over No. 47 Hailey Baptiste.

• “I don’t make it my business to know anymore. I kind of just leave it up in the air,” said the fan favorite, responding to questions about a possible title run. “I’ve trained really hard. I practiced really hard. If it happens, it happens.” (Watch match highlights)

Big picture: After taking her lumps on the WTA Tour since returning from pregnancy in 2024, this year’s US Open marks Osaka’s first seeded entry into a major tournament since 2022 — and she’s approaching the competitive boost in style, complete with eye-catching outfits and matching Labubus.

• The 27-year-old Japanese national next faces No. 18 Daria Kasatkina in the pair’s third-career meeting, with Osaka most recently getting the best of Kasatkina at the 2024 Italian Open.

• Should Osaka advance to Sunday’s Round of 16, she could be on a collision course toward a date with No. 3 Coco Gauff, after Gauff advanced past her own emotionally challenging second-round battle on Thursday.

Tune in: The US Open’s third-round coverage starts tomorrow, live on ESPN.

Chelsea sets sights on ACFC’s Alyssa Thompson

Chelsea FC is once again looking across the pond, with the reigning WSL champions reportedly nearing a deal with NWSL side Angel City to acquire ACFC and USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson this week, per The Guardian.

• Though the two clubs have yet to reach terms, Chelsea would need the deal signed before the WSL transfer window closes next Thursday.

• Any agreement is bound to feature yet another historic transfer fee, likely topping former Tigres star Lizbeth Ovalle’s record $1.5 million transfer to the Orlando Pride earlier this month.

Bottom line: Chelsea has been a major player in recruiting US players over the last few seasons, with Thompson potentially joining USWNT teammates Catarina Macario and Naomi Girma in another splashy Blues signing.

Quote of the day

Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers
commenting on this week’s tragic mass shooting in her home state of Minnesota.