Team USA advances despite FIBA World Cup scare

Kansas City’s Izzy Rodriguez opened scoring in style on Friday, looping a picture-perfect Olimpico over Bay FC keeper Jordan Silkowitz’s outstretched hand.

Team USA survives FIBA World Cup scare

The US battled growing pains this weekend, surviving Sunday’s 55-52 scare against Italy before routing Czechia 105-64 on Monday to book a quarterfinal berth.

• The slim win over Italy marked Team USA’s lowest-scoring World Cup performance since 1967’s 42-38 victory over Australia, with Jackie Young leading the US with just 10 points.

• “We’ve seen through the tournament that every game feels like a dogfight,” head coach Kara Lawson said. “It’s really hard.” (Watch full highlights)

Around the horn: The US wasn’t the only titan tested this week, as Mali upset Spain 82-73 on Saturday — before the Spaniards recovered to reach the knockouts.

• Winning Group D sent USA Basketball directly to Thursday’s quarterfinals, where they gear up to face the winner of today’s Hungary vs Japan clash.

• “You have to be able to win different ways in this tournament because every team stylistically plays a little bit different,” Lawson said. (See full schedule)

Tune in: The FIBA World Cup continues today at 11:45 AM ET (TNT).

Top seeds show off as U.S. Open moves to quarters

WTA powerhouses are holding firm in Queens, as the Top 6-ranked stars stormed into the 2026 US Open quarterfinals amid few big-name upsets.

• Defending two-time champion world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 2 Elena Rybakina, and No. 4 Coco Gauff have yet to drop a set, while No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, and No. 6 Linda Nosková also advanced.

• “Going through tough challenges and overcoming those challenges, it definitely gives you strength and really strong belief that you can do it,” said Sabalenka. (Watch full highlights)

Scouting report: The tournament’s biggest surprise is Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng — the first qualifier to reach the women’s quarterfinals since Emma Raducanu’s epic 2021 run.

• Zheng rallied from 0-5 down in back-to-back rounds, first ousting No. 24 Madison Keys 6-1, 6(7)-7, 5-7 before stunning No. 8 Iga Świątek 7-5, 6-3.

• No. 27 Emma Navarro also punched her ticket, shrugging off No. 23 Anna Kalinskaya to meet Pegula in tonight’s all-US showdown. (See full schedule)

Tune in: The US Open quarterfinals begin today at 11:30 AM ET (ESPN).

Ashley Sanchez nears NWSL history

Ashley Sanchez can’t stop scoring, as the forward led No. 3 North Carolina to a 6-0 drubbing of No. 16 Chicago on Sunday behind her first-ever hat trick.

• The weekend performance consolidated Sanchez’s grip on the 2026 Golden Boot race, breaking the league’s single-season record for a US player with 18 tallies.

• “She has to have herself to thank because she’s an incredible player with attributes,” said head coach Mak Lind. (Watch full highlights)

Scouting report: Sanchez is eyeing even more history, nearing Kansas City star Temwa Chawinga’s 21-goal all-time record — with seven games remaining.

• “I feel like I’m really just enjoying being out there on the field, and I think good things happen when you just put a lot less pressure on yourself,” she said. (See full schedule)

Weather derails Big Ten-SEC Challenge finale

The Big Ten has flexed its volleyball prowess, outpacing the SEC 16-12 to win the inaugural Big Ten-SEC Challenge Week despite Sunday’s hectic finale in Chicago.

• Each team across the two conferences competed in the week-long campaign, as No. 3 Kentucky, No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 9 Texas, and No. 10 Florida defended their Top 10 standings with key wins. (See full rankings)

Sticky situation: Sunday’s Wrigley Field doubleheader drew the second highest attendance in ballpark history, as 43,067 fans crowded around a visibly slick court.

• Kentucky opened play with a 3-1 win over No. 12 Penn State, before rising humidity halted No. 1 Nebraska’s clash with Missouri in the first set.

• “This was amazing — I applaud the effort,” said Huskers coach Dani Busboom Kelly. “But there’s a reason our sport’s indoors.” (See full report)

KC parts ways with Vlatko Andonovski

No. 7 Kansas City is cutting ties, parting ways with sporting director Vlatko Andonovski as the Current navigates its first season under manager Chris Armas.

• The move comes less than a year after Andonovski led KC to a franchise-first NWSL Shield as both head coach and sporting director in 2025.

• “Both parties determined that Andonovski's requested transition from coaching into the Sporting Director role at the end of last season was not the right fit,” the team stated. (See full release)

Context: Andonovski transitioned from day-to-day sideline duties to the front office role ahead of the 2026 season, shortly before Armas’s January start.

• The Current sit three points above playoff contention, riding a three-game unbeaten streak after Friday’s 2-1 win over Bay FC. (See full standings)

Boxing icon Katie Taylor hangs up her gloves

Irish boxer Katie Taylor went out with a bang, defeating Flora Pili in front of an 83,000-strong home crowd on Saturday to end her pro career on a 26-1 record.

• Taylor retires a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and undisputed junior welterweight champion, suffering just one defeat across 10 pro years.

• “I don’t know if any other country would sell 80,000 tickets for a female athlete,” Taylor said. “I’m convinced that Ireland’s the only country.” (Watch full highlights)

Big shoes: Taylor made waves as a women’s boxing trailblazer, playing an instrumental role in the sport’s eventual Olympic inclusion. (See full report)

Quote of the day

World No. 18 Alexandra Eala
reflecting on her 2026 US Open run after falling to No. 14 Iva Jovic on Saturday.