“I don’t mind being the first to do something and getting trashed for it.” - fashion icon Naomi Osaka on her US Open style

US routs Hungary to book FIBA semis

USA Basketball is rolling in Berlin, hammering Hungary 108-56 in this morning’s FIBA World Cup quarterfinal to move just two wins away from a fifth straight title.

• Napheesa Collier put up a game-high 19 points — including 10 in the opening quarter — as the US hit 20 of its first 26 shots to lead 59-30 at the break — marking the highest-scoring quarterfinal half in FIBA history.

• Caitlin Clark neared another double-double with 10 points and nine assists, backed by a balanced attack that saw every US player make the scoresheet. (Watch full highlights)

Bouncing back: Team USA set two World Cup quarterfinal records with 108 points and 31 assists, burying doubts after last week’s group-stage scare against Italy.

• “We want to make sure everybody gets involved,” Kahleah Copper said after her 10-point finish. “We know what they’re doing on their respective [WNBA] teams. But you come here, you sacrifice a little bit of that.” 

•  The US now awaits the winner of today’s Spain vs Australia matchup, with the semifinals slated to tip off on Saturday. (See full schedule)

US Open sets semifinal showdowns

Flushing Meadows has its final four, as world No. 4 Coco Gauff survived No. 5 Mirra Andreeva to set a Thursday clash with freshly minted No. 1 Elena Rybakina.

• Rybakina ousted Cinderella qualifier Qinwen Zheng, ending former No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week reign to claim her first top ranking.

• Gauff scored a dramatic 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory over Andreeva to extend her 11-match winning streak, as the 2023 US Open champ returns to the semis with home-court advantage. (Watch full highlights)

Setting the field: The other half of the bracket pits back-to-back defending champion Sabalenka against No. 3 Jessica Pegula in a rematch of the 2024 final — with Sabalenka owning the pair’s 9-4 head-to-head record.

• The Belarusian rallied past Wimbledon winner No. 6 Linda Nosková to reach a record sixth straight US Open semifinal, before Pegula edged No. 27 Emma Navarro in three tense sets.

• “I’m loving playing against her, because it’s a battle, because it’s a fight,” Sabalenka said of Pegula. “I love being under pressure.” (See full preview)

Tune in: US Open semifinals kick off today at 7 PM ET (ESPN).

2026 Solheim Cup tees off in Europe

The Solheim Cup tees off tomorrow, as defending champion Team USA chases its first road win in more than a decade at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. 

• World No. 1 Nelly Korda anchors captain Angela Stanford’s US side, entering her fifth Cup on a 10-5-1 record — including 2024’s perfect 4-0 foursome run alongside partner Allisen Corpuz.

• Solheim vets Megan Khang and Rose Zhang bring match-play savvy to Team USA, with Lindy Duncan and Auston Kim representing the 12-player lineup’s lone rookies. (See full roster)

Across the pond: Perennial contender Europe leans on top-ranked UK duo Lottie Woad and Charley Hull, with Hull tallying 15 match wins across eight Solheim Cups.

• Captained by newly retired LPGA stalwart Anna Nordqvist, the host team counters with four rookies and home-course support as Europe looks to lift the trophy for the first time since going back-to-back in 2021. (See full roster)

How it works: Friday and Saturday each feature four foursomes and four fourballs, before Sunday’s 12 singles matches decide the 28 points on offer — with 14.5 needed for the win. (See full format)

Tune in: Solheim Cup coverage starts Friday at 1:30 AM ET (Golf Channel).

PWHL lands 1st season-long TV deal

The PWHL is broadening its reach, signing its first season-long national TV deal this week after years of relying on streaming, local, and regional US distribution. 

• As the pro hockey league enters its expanded fourth season, ION and Scripps Sports will air a Saturday Game of the Week plus two more weekly games, before returning for another exclusive Walter Cup Finals broadcast. 

Big picture: The deal delivers the PWHL to 128 million+ households, joining the WNBA, NWSL, MLV, WTGL, and FIVB on ION’s growing women’s sports roster.

• “Women’s sports is a cornerstone of our mission,” said Scripps Sports President Brian Lawlor. “This partnership further demonstrates ION as the premier destination.” (See full release)

ESPN extends ‘Women’s Sports Sundays’

ESPN is still betting on women’s sports, extending Women’s Sports Sundays into the fall with 11 weeks of NCAA volleyball, WNBA playoffs, NWSL, and more starting September 13th.

• College volleyball anchors the slate with several Top 10 clashes, joined by four NWSL matches — plus all eight Decision Day games on November 1st.

• Additional programming includes WNBA postseason action, indoor golf league WTGL’s debut, NCAA basketball, and a highly anticipated MVPW title fight between Elif Turhan and Alycia Baumgardner. (See full lineup)

Big picture: The news follows a summer launch that drew strong WNBA and AUSL ratings, with ESPN averaging 1.3 million viewers through its first few Sundays. 

• “We are excited to continue building this franchise through a tremendous amount of collaboration and intentionality,” said ESPN exec Susie Piotrkowski. “We are continuing to do what we do best.”

Number of the day 

846,000

Fueled by the Williams sisters’ doubles return, the 2026 US Open averaged 846,000 viewers through its first three rounds — the most since their last run in 2022.