Team Spoon lifts the WNBA All-Star trophy as Comm'r Engelbert dodges questions

Dominique Malonga threw down an All-Star dunk in Chicago this weekend.

Jonquel Jones leads Team Spoon to All-Star win

New York’s Jonquel Jones stood tall on Saturday, lifting the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game MVP trophy after leading Team Spoon to a 129-122 win over Team Coop.

• The Liberty big pulled off the league’s first MVP sweep, after earning 2021 WNBA MVP, 2024 Finals MVP, 2023 Commissioner’s Cup MVP, and 2026 All-Star MVP.

• “This is everything I dreamed about,” she said. “I told my parents when I was five years old that I was gonna be a professional athlete. The plan never changed — even when it looked murky.” (Watch full clip)

Big questions: Commissioner Cathy Engelbert came under scrutiny during her State of the League address, deflecting questions about her future as multiple reports suggest her tenure might be nearing its end.

• “I’m so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hyper-growth period,” she said. “I will just continue to do my job, execute the strategy, because it has been working.”

• Engelbert also announced the WNBA will debut its first centralized review center in 2027, in an effort to “help bring greater consistency, efficiency, and transparency to our officiating process while continuing to improve the quality of the game.” (Watch full clip)

Up next: The regular season returns tomorrow, as No. 14 Connecticut faces No. 8 Washington at 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass).

Emily Sonnett injury overshadows Gotham draw

Soccer fans held their breath on Friday, as USWNT and Gotham defender Emily Sonnett was stretchered off the field in the opening minutes of the Bats’ 2-2 draw with Portland.

• “Gotham FC defender Emily Sonnett left Friday’s match at Portland with a suspected left knee injury,” the team said in a statement. “She will receive further evaluation in New Jersey.”

• “Emily’s one of our key players as a leader on and off the pitch, so it’s really difficult when you lose such a great and key player that early in the game,” added interim manager Shaun Harris. (See full report)

Chess match: The game that followed pitted the No. 5 Thorns’ potent offense against No. 2 Gotham’s staunch backline.

• Superstar signing Sam Kerr played hero for the Bats, scoring her first goal since returning to the NWSL to secure the result in the 62nd minute.

• “I thought we were quite poor today, to be honest,” Kerr said postgame. “We were probably lucky to get away with the tie.” (Watch full highlights)

Up next: Gotham’s roadtrip continues with Wednesday’s visit to No. 14 Bay FC, kicking off at 10 PM ET (CBS Sports).

Utah wins 2nd straight AUSL title

The Utah Talons have done it again, sweeping the Chicago Bandits with Sunday’s 6-1 Game 2 win to claim a second straight Athletes Unlimited Softball League title.

• With victory adds to Utah’s AUSL domination, finishing as the second-year league’s No. 1 seed and champion in back-to-back seasons.

• “I’m incredibly proud of this group,” coach Cindy Ball-Malone said. “When I first met this group in March, I asked them what they wanted to do, and they said repeat — job well done.” (Watch full highlights)

Roster report: Talons Ace Montana Fouts delivered on the big stage, pitching a complete game while allowing just one run on eight hits with four strikeouts.

• “I’m very proud of how I felt when I saw the rest of my team,” the 2026 Pitcher of the Year said. “I felt genuine love. I’m thankful I got the opportunity to get it done for them.”

• Outfielder Jadelyn Allchin took championship series MVP, going 3-for-6 at the plate while recording three runs and three RBIs. (See full report)

Up next: The AUSL now gears up for the 2026 All-Star Cup, taking the field on August 8th at 7 PM ET (ESPNU).

Catch up on the latest women’s soccer headlines, as an all-new episode of The Late Sub presented by Ally Bank dishes up host Claire Watkins’s hottest takes on all things USWNT, NWSL, Champions League, and more.

• In the episode, retired legend Ali Riley helps Claire break down the biggest questions for the USWNT’s 2027 World Cup roster, discussing which players might make the cut and dropping some bold statements along the way.

Tune in: Catch The Late Sub with Claire Watkins on YouTube.

Ally Bank, Member FDIC.

US Open hopefuls hit the hard court in DC

The tennis world is swinging back to the States, as the WTA’s best hit the hard court in Washington, DC this week ahead of August’s US Open.

• The Mubadala DC Open serves as a WTA 500-level tune-up tournament for both singles and doubles, as the season’s final Grand Slam looms.

• Slam winners Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys, and Venus Williams headline this year’s field, alongside US favorites world No. 3 Jessica Pegula and No. 26 Emma Navarro. (See full draw)

Trading places: Venus Williams had originally paired with Filipina rising star Alexandra Eala in doubles, before a late scratch saw Russia’s Diana Shnaider step in.

• Eala is one of several missing big names, as No. 6 Karolína Muchová, No. 12 Victoria Mboko, and No. 15 Jasmine Paolini all sit this one out.

• “Venus is someone who deserves a partner who can give their all,” Eala said. “Right now I think I can only do that for singles.” (See full report)

Tune in: DC Open coverage continues through Sunday, live on Tennis Channel.

Sha’Carri Richardson wins big at US Championships

Sha’Carri Richardson is back on top, winning her third-career 100-meter title at Friday’s 2026 US Championships — and underlining her recent return to form.

• The star sprinter finished in 10.77 seconds — slightly off her personal best time of 10.65 — as a last-second burst saw her reclaim her title.

• “It feels phenomenal to be back in a better place: healthy mentally, physically, emotionally,” Richardson told NBC Sports. “Hard work pays off.” (Watch full clip)

Cleaning up: Elsewhere, reigning 200-meter world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden easily took the 200-meter US crown with a season-best time of 21.69.

• “I told myself, ‘Just let each phase of the race come to you,’” she said afterward. “‘Go out there, [and] when the gun goes off, let it rip.’” (See full results)

What you had to say

On Saturday, 55.43% of you said Team Spoon would win the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game. Good call.

• 55.43%: Team Spoon

• 44.57%: Team Coop