“We’re gutted and devastated to lose such a key player at this moment in the season.” - Gotham coach Shaun Harris on Emily Sonnett undergoing knee surgery this week.

Royals host Spirit in top-table test

Utah isn’t backing down, as the surging No. 3 Royals host the No. 1 Spirit tonight in an effort to narrow the three-point gap atop the NWSL.

• Utah arrives hot off Saturday’s 4-1 rout of No. 9 North Carolina, with four players contributing to the club’s highest-ever scoreline as star striker Cloé Lacasse tied Christen Press’s 2019 single-season Royals scoring record.

• “What this group is — and [Lacasse is] a great example of it — is humble,” coach Jimmy Coenraets said. “We’ll enjoy this win, but we also know that the hustle will start tomorrow.” (Watch full highlights)

Head to head: Utah remains unbeaten against Washington through three straight meetings — including March’s Mina Tanaka-fueled 1-1 draw.

• The Spirit has conceded just 12 goals this season after Sunday’s 1-0 win over No. 11 Denver, where US star Trinity Rodman connected with forward Sofia Cantore to net the game-winner from deep.

• “Tactically, the team is improving and growing every week,” manager Adrián González said. “We are finding different ways to win games, and I think that’s really positive.” (Watch full highlights)

Tune in: Washington visits Utah tonight at 9 PM ET (NWSL+).

Trade winds swirl ahead of WNBA deadline

Top WNBA players might be on the move, as reports indicate team front offices are starting to scramble ahead of Sunday’s trade deadline.

• LA guard Kelsey Plum headlines the expiring contracts list, with sources claiming the 31-year-old doesn’t intend to re-sign — leaving the 11th-place Sparks at risk of losing their brightest star.

• Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier is also up for grabs after signing a one-year supermax deal ahead of 2026 — but the No. 1 Lynx hold the leverage, with coach Cheryl Reeve calling her team “open for business” while under no pressure to move the MVP-caliber forward. (See full report)

Buyers & sellers: The playoff-hopeful Mystics might look to pair Plum with second-year standout Sonia Citron, while No. 14 Connecticut appears a top seller as forward Aneesah Morrow draws interest.

• Tanking No. 12 Phoenix is said to be eyeing No. 4 Dallas’s Alanna Smith, while No. 7 New York considers parting with longtime guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton despite a steep asking price. 

• “You can’t be afraid to make bold moves when you have a championship opportunity,” Wings GM Curt Miller said this week. “It’s easy to become comfortable with sustained success, but championship windows don’t stay open forever.” (See full report)

Stay tuned: Expect big news this week as the August 2nd deadline nears.

Wings look to avoid regular-season Atlanta sweep

Two playoff hopefuls collide in Texas tonight, as No. 6 Atlanta visits No. 4 Dallas with the Wings looking to avoid a sweep in the pair’s final regular-season showdown.

• The Wings return from All-Star Weekend averaging 91.7 points on 47.1% shooting, taking seven of their last 10 matchups behind star sophomore Paige Bueckers’s 21.4 points per game. 

• Atlanta also looks to pick up where it left off, building on a three-game winning streak after All-Star guard Allisha Gray dropped 29 points to lift the Dream over No. 13 Chicago. (See full standings)

Head to head: Atlanta is 2-0 against Dallas this year, racking up back-to-back May wins behind offensive outpourings from Gray and forward Rhyne Howard.

• The Dream has since stuttered to a 16-10 record, while the 18-9 Wings are riding high after No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd became the league’s first-ever rookie 3-Point contest winner.

• “With the break, it was about making sure we got back to doing what we do,” Dallas coach Jose Fernandez said. “There’s a lot of excitement for the second half of the season, as there should be.” (See full report)

Tune in: Atlanta tips off against Dallas tonight at 8 PM ET (USA).

Final LPGA major tees off in Lancashire

The LPGA’s final major tees off tomorrow, as world No. 1 Nelly Korda shoots for a third 2026 title at the AIG Women’s Open — grouped with the year’s other two-time winner, No. 3 Haeran Ryu.

• Opening-round contenders Korda and Ryu have split all four majors this season, with Korda lifting the Chevron Championship and US Open trophies before Ryu answered with the Women’s PGA and Evian titles.

• Defending champion Miyu Yamashita, No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, and UK favorites No. 5 Lottie Woad, No. 7 Charley Hull, and 2018 winner Georgia Hall round out the 144-player lineup. (See full field)

Big bucks: This year’s purse saw a sixth consecutive boost, with golfers competing for a record $10 million — including a $1.5 million winner’s share. (See full report)

Tune in: Coverage begins tomorrow at 4 AM ET on Golf Channel, before shifting to USA at 8 AM ET.

Lauren Betts caps title season with Honda Cup win

Lauren Betts’s dream season keeps rolling, as the Mystics rookie won the 2026 Honda Cup for Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year on Monday.

• The UCLA product beat out Pittsburgh volleyball’s Olivia Babcock and Nebraska softball’s Jordyn Frahm for the honor, becoming the 17th basketball player to lift the Cup following Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Breanna Stewart, Candace Parker, Dawn Staley, and more.

• Betts led UCLA to its first NCAA title in March, winning Most Outstanding Player and sweeping the Big Ten awards before being selected fourth-overall in April’s WNBA Draft.

Big ups: “Lauren has distinguished herself among the very best in collegiate athletics,” said CWSA Executive Director Chris Voelz. “She represents the excellence, determination, and character that have defined CWSA honorees for five decades.” (See full release)

Number of the day 

1

Malawi beat 10-time champion Nigeria 3-2 yesterday, as KC Current star Temwa Chawinga scored her country’s first-ever WAFCON goal.