TCU leapfrogs the NCAA competition in latest AP Poll rankings

Who is she??

TCU cracks the Top 10 as new AP Poll reflects NCAA upsets

The NCAA is experiencing early-season shakeups, as Monday’s AP Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Poll saw teams gain — and lose — major ground.

• No. 1 UConn retained their spot at the top, though No. 2 South Carolina earned three first-place votes after the Gamecocks claimed the “Real SC” title against No. 11 USC on Saturday, with the Trojans sliding three spots in return.

• No. 6 Michigan launched into the Top 10 this week, climbing eight spots after Saturday’s statement win over now-No. 24 Notre Dame.

• Preseason No. 7 Duke saw the biggest skid, falling out of the Top 25 altogether after Friday’s upset loss to No. 23 West Virginia. (See full rankings)

Leapfrogs: Jumping from No. 17 to 10, TCU emerged as the week’s biggest winner thanks to Sunday’s ranked win over No. 16 NC State.

• Star TCU newcomer Olivia Miles registered a 15 point, 14 rebound double-double in the victory, complemented by graduate transfer Marta Suarez’s game-leading 26 points.

• “This is absolutely, 100%, 10-toes-down where I should be,” Miles said earlier this season. “I have so much support around me to get me better and get more reps in. And that’s just the energy at TCU.”

Up next: Top 25 action continues Friday, as USC takes on Notre Dame at 6 PM ET (ESPN), before UCONN faces Michigan at 8 PM ET (Fox Sports).

Aces boss Becky Hammon sounds off on WNBA leadership

Las Vegas Aces boss Becky Hammon spoke her mind last week, telling CNBC that replacing WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert could be key to reaching a CBA agreement.

• “Her private conversations that she’s had with individual players — or lack of the conversations — have led to some rocky relationship status with the players,” Hammon said of Engelbert, noting her limited interactions with the commissioner.

• “I would say they’re probably going to look for a change in leadership,” she added. “I just think it might be too fractured at this point.” (Watch full clip)

Doubling down: Hammon also voiced support for Lynx star Napheesa Collier, after the five-time All-Star described the WNBA as having the “worst leadership in the world” in her now-viral 2025 exit interview.

• “I completely agree with Napheesa that the players should be making more than coaches,” the Las Vegas coach — who publicly makes seven figures a year — continued. “They’re due for a huge increase in salary, and it’s got to be something that is sustainable. That’s the biggest thing you got to remember, that this league is still a young league.”

Bottom line: The season might be over but CBA concerns linger, with Hammon and others looking to avoid a lockout as November 30th’s extension deadline nears.

WPBL taps neutral Illinois stadium for 2026 debut season

Professional women’s baseball has a home base, with Front Office Sports reporting that the WPBL will play the entirety of its 2026 debut season at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.

• The incoming league prioritized a neutral venue without an existing baseball team to house its four inaugural clubs — New York, Boston, LA, and San Francisco — with barnstorming games also planned for each team market.

• “Our sport is for everybody,” WPBL co-founder Keith Stein said. “It’s for middle America, everybody. We thought, ‘Our teams are on these two coasts, it would be good to be in the middle of the country.’”

How it works: Founded in 2024 as the first pro women’s baseball outfit since 1954, the WPBL will hold its first-ever draft on November 20th, with teams drawing from a pool of 120 eligible players.

• The league recently fielded an oversubscribed Series A investment round, telling FOS that they’re closing a $3 million raise with another round planned ahead of August 2026’s season-opener.

• Each 30-player team will operate under a $95,000 salary cap for the first year, with the league also covering living costs throughout the six-week season as well as giving players a percentage of sponsorship funds.

Up next: The 2025 WPBL Draft kicks off on Thursday at 8 PM ET, with live coverage across WPBL’s Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube channels.

Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson gamble pays off

Chelsea's £1 million gamble is paying dividends, as USWNT rising star Alyssa Thompson continued her goal-scoring momentum for the defending WSL champs.

• Thompson left NWSL side Angel City for Chelsea on a then-record £1 million transfer fee in early September, with the 21-year-old going on to score three goals in four games across both WSL and Champions League play.

• “You can see how much talent she has and the quality she brings to the team,” Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor praised. “She’s improving game after game, becoming more connected to her teammates, and understanding the way we want to play better.”

• “I want to learn, grow, and develop a lot,” said the young striker. “I feel like Chelsea is such an amazing environment to do that in.”

Bottom line: Beyond individual accomplishment, Thompson’s success underscores Chelsea's depth as they continue to hunt domestic and continental honors — while also looking to draw more USWNT stars away from the NWSL.

Sweden captain Magda Eriksson announces international retirement

Magda Eriksson is hanging up her international boots, announcing she’s retiring from the Sweden national team to focus on her health while continuing to play club soccer for Germany’s Bayern Munich.

• The 32-year-old captain sat out the most recent international window with injury, watching as Sweden fell to Spain in the Nations League semis.

• “It’s by far the toughest decision I’ve ever made,” Eriksson said on social media. “But I’m listening to my body and mind instead of my heart and I’ve landed on the fact that unfortunately it’s a decision that has to be made.” (Watch full clip)

Big picture: Eriksson retires as a two-time Olympic silver medalist, often leading Sweden through major tournaments where early domination dissolved into a third-place finish — including at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.

• “It is heavy news,” Sweden coach Tony Gustavsson said of Eriksson’s legacy. “Her professionalism, courage, and heart have left a strong mark on the national team.”

Quote of the day

Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers
roasting retired WNBA icon Diana Taurasi on The Link with Diana Taurasi.