Sky shows promise | Team USA taps Bird | Man City joins W7F

No flies on her.

Sky shows early promise

WNBA preseason continued on Tuesday, as teams size up their rosters with less than 10 days to go until the regular season tips off.

• After missing the playoffs last year, Chicago showed out under new head coach Tyler Marsh, taking down 2024 championship contenders Minnesota 74-69 to complement the weekend’s win over Brazil.

Big picture: The Sky successfully leaned into their young core, pairing second-year bigs Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso with new backcourt talent like vets Ariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot alongside rookie Hailey Van Lith.

• “Hailey is great, she’s like a sponge,” Vandersloot said after the game. “She’s listened to everything I say. I think the best part of of it is that we can compete in practice — we’re going to make each other better.”

Early victories: The Sky join the Fever and Aces in winning both of their preseason matchups so far, with Chicago forecasting quite the turnaround from last year’s losing record.

• “We understand that nothing that’s happened in the past, good or bad, impacts what we're doing moving forward — and that’s with any team,” Marsh told reporters this week.

Bottom line: After a quietly active offseason and several key draft picks, the Sky just might have what it takes to right the ship — so long as they can keep striking a balance between their young firepower and seasoned leaders.

Team USA puts Bird on it

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird is taking over as managing director for the US women’s basketball team, per multiple reports on Monday.

• Bird is moving into a key leadership position with Team USA in the lead-up to the 2028 LA Olympics, as the women’s side shoots for a record-ninth consecutive gold medal.

Big picture: Bird’s hiring presents a significant departure for USA Basketball, with the 44-year-old former point guard now responsible for selecting the team’s players and coaches.

• Until now, Team USA relied on an Olympic committee to oversee roster decisions and build national team camps, with the decision to institute a managing director mirroring the leadership structure on the men’s side.

What’s next: Bird’s first major test at the helm will be the 2026 FIBA World Cup, set to tip off in Germany next September.

• World Cup qualifying will start this coming November, with national teams hitting the court directly after the WNBA wraps up postseason play.

Bottom line: USA Basketball’s committee never shied away from difficult decisions, but switching to a single-entity structure puts Bird on the hook for the program’s success — with an Olympic record on the line.

Williams headlines Olympic HOF class

The US Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame announced their Class of 2025 on Monday, featuring a cohort headlined by tennis titan Serena Williams, track and field legend Allyson Felix, and gymnastics icon Gabby Douglas.

• Additional inductees include three-time beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, Paralympian-turned-Olympian Marla Runyan, and Paralympic multi-sport specialist Susan Hagel.

• The gold medal-winning 2004 USA women’s wheelchair basketball Paralympic team also earned Hall of Fame honors.

Big picture: The group marks the first Olympic Hall of Fame induction since 2022, with individuals voted in by Olympians, Paralympians, members of the US Olympic and Paralympic organizations, and fans.

The MS in Sports Business program offers a unique opportunity to elevate your career in sports management. Designed with input from top executives at leading sports organizations, the program blends business fundamentals with real-world applications.

• Industry-Driven Curriculum

• Accelerated 14-Month Format

• Unparalleled Networking

• Career-Ready Focus

Complete the 38-unit program in just 14 months while gaining hands-on experience, mentorship, and access to a global network. Ready to take your sports career to new heights? Apply now.

World Sevens completes lineup

The Women’s World Sevens tournament — a new 7v7 soccer competition running alongside the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in Portugal — dropped the rest of its bracket on Monday, rounding out an eight-team field.

• Manchester City, PSG, AS Roma, and FC Rosengard will participate in the event, joining previously announced 7v7 offshoots from Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Ajax, and Benfica in vying for the tournament’s $5 million purse.

• “We’ve assembled a lineup that reflects some of the very best of women’s football clubs renowned for their ambition, skill, and global fanbases,” said W7F head of football Adrian Jacob.

Change in course: While intended to be a global event, W7F’s debut will only feature European teams, as the May 21st through 23rd window clashes with the NWSL’s regular season.

Shiffrin backs NWSL Denver

Decorated US skier Mikaela Shiffrin is investing in Denver’s incoming NWSL team, the club announced this week, as the recently awarded expansion franchise prepares for its 2026 kick-off.

• “I’m beyond thrilled to join the ownership group of Denver NWSL and support something so meaningful in the community I call home,” said the all-time winningest World Cup alpine skier.

Big picture: Hailing from Vail, Colorado, Shiffrin is just the latest prominent women’s sports athlete to buy into the NWSL, with club valuations rising and further expansion on the horizon.

• “Mikaela’s commitment to excellence, her global impact, and her deep Colorado roots make her a perfect addition to our ownership group,” said Rob Cohen, Denver NWSL controlling owner.

WNBA preseason coverage delivers

The first-ever fully broadcast WNBA preseason got off to a strong start this weekend, as an average of 1.3 million viewers tuned into ESPN for the Indiana Fever’s exhibition against Brazil on Sunday.

• The game peaked at 1.6 million viewers, up 13% from ESPN’s 2024 regular-season coverage.

• Sunday pregame show WNBA Countdown also saw a big boost, averaging 571,000 viewers to mark a 71% year-over-year increase.

Quote of the day

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese
on playing in Chicago’s Tuesday night preseason game after attending the Met Gala in New York on Monday.