Top NWSL teams fight on | WNBA champs tip off | Osaka advances in Rome
The NWSL's top two teams risk losing ground this weekend, as the rest of the pack closes in, plus a short-staffed Liberty takes the court and more news to know
NWSL’s top two try to hold on
Kansas City is on a two-game losing streak despite sitting atop the table. (Soobum Im/NWSL via Getty Images)
As the NWSL enters match weekend No. 8, two teams at the top of the table have found themselves in unfamiliar territory: the loss column.
No. 1 Kansas City and No. 2 Orlando are both coming off upset losses — with No. 3 San Diego, No. 4 Gotham, and No. 5 Portland rocketing up the ranks behind them.
What to watch: This weekend, last year’s top teams will attempt to get back on track — or else loosen their grip on this season’s race to the Shield.
Chicago vs. Washington, Saturday at 12:50 PM ET (ABC): The Spirit have fallen all the way to No. 6 after two straight losses, with Washington looking to gain ground against a last-place Chicago side still reeling from head coach Lorne Donaldson’s recent departure.
North Carolina vs. Orlando, Saturday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): No. 9 North Carolina is surging on a two-game winning streak, and will test their new success against a surprisingly fallible Orlando team with two losses in their last three games.
San Diego Wave vs. Portland, Saturday at 10 PM ET (ION): The Wave and the Thorns have locked in over the last couple weeks, with a win for either club bolstering their cases as legitimate Shield contenders.
Kansas City vs. Bay FC, Sunday at 12:50 PM ET (ESPN): Kansas City has stalled after a blistering start, looking for their first win in three games against a Bay FC squad that’s just slipped out of playoff contention.
Bottom line: League-wide parity has its benefits in these early days, but season-long survival will be on the line this weekend — with only so much room at the top.
Short-staffed champs hit the court
New York enters the 2025 season short-handed due to injuries. (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Fresh off winning their first WNBA title, the New York Liberty take the preseason court tonight against Connecticut — despite the reigning champs looking a little worse for wear.
Two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart has been slowly recovering from offseason knee surgery, with the 30-year-old sidelined tonight in an effort to return to full fitness for next week’s season opener.
Finals starter Leonie Fiebich has yet to join the team in training camp, as the European standout finishes her season with Spain’s Valencia Basket.
Star guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is likely out for the entirety of 2025, after exiting offseason 3×3 league Unrivaled with a meniscus injury in early March.
Big picture: New York did manage to make a few savvy pick-ups ahead of this season’s tip-off, with the newly configured team eyeing a strong showing tonight to avoid concerns about a slow start.
The Liberty traded for point guard Natasha Cloud and signed forward Izzy Harrison over the offseason, while also welcoming back guards Marine Johannes and Rebekah Gardner.
Bottom line: Despite the lengthy availability report, Liberty coach Sandy Brondello noted that the team’s markedly late preseason start was not strategic.
“Sometimes it’s just out of our hands,” she told reporters. “This is the first home game that we’ve had because we’ve never been able to get the arena availability so that’s it. Ideally we would have liked to play the game by now, but it is what it is.”
Tune in: New York tips off against Connecticut tonight at 7 PM ET, live on WNBA League Pass.
Osaka’s comeback tour continues
Naomi Osaka has advanced to the Italian Open’s Round of 32. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)
As tune-up tournaments roll on ahead of the 2025 French Open, one familiar name is back in the tennis headlines, with Naomi Osaka making strides on clay.
The Japanese star has advanced to the third round of the Italian Open this week, coming off her first tournament win since 2021 at L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo — a WTA 125 event.
Big picture: The four-time Grand Slam winner has shown glimpses of brilliance after returning from her 2023 pregnancy, as she now aims to keep up momentum on what’s considered to be her weakest surface.
“Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst,” Osaka posted after her May 4th victory. “That’s one of my favorite things about life though, there’s always room to grow and evolve.”
Big names: Osaka isn’t the only tennis star cooking in Europe, as heavy-hitters like world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 2 Iga Świątek, and No. 3 Coco Gauff also moved ahead in Rome as they look to hone their Roland Garros form.
Not usually known as a clay court specialist, Sabalenka has looked particularly formidable, defeating Gauff to take the Madrid Open title just last week.
Don’t miss it: The Italian Open’s Round of 32 kicks off on Saturday, with continuing coverage on The Tennis Channel.
WSL season wraps up
USWNT stars Catarina Macario and Naomi Girma clinched the 2024/25 WSL title with Chelsea. (Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
The WSL’s final matchday of 2025 has arrived, with Saturday’s stacked slate closing out a season of intense competition at the top of the UK league’s table.
Chelsea clinched their sixth straight WSL title last week, while Crystal Palace is getting relegated after just one season in England’s top flight.
Three’s a crowd: The WSL’s top three finishers — Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United — have already secured a spot in next season’s Champions League qualifiers, with Arsenal and United battling for second place in this weekend’s blockbuster closing match.
Arsenal will try to bounce back from a two-game losing streak in WSL play, after advancing to May 24th’s 2024/25 Champions League final for the first time since 2007.
United also faces high stakes, as they look for momentum heading into May 18th’s FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Ottawa charges ahead
The Charge defeated No. 1 seed Montreal 3-2 on Thursday. (Michael Chisholm/Getty Images)
No. 3 seed Ottawa upset No. 1 seed Montréal to kick off their first-ever PWHL playoffs run on Thursday, with the Charge beating the Victoire 3-2 on the road.
Shiann Darkangelo scored the game-winning goal, giving Ottawa a key advantage in the best-of-five semifinal.
In the PWHL’s other semifinal matchup, No. 2 Toronto took an early series lead against 2024 champs Minnesota on Wednesday, defeating the Frost 3-2 behind a brace from Julia Gosling.
Keep up: The playoffs continue this weekend, starting with Toronto and Minnesota tonight at 7 PM ET, with live coverage on YouTube.
Quote of the day
“When you’re the [point guard], you gotta be the strongest voice on the floor. At times that’s where I struggled last year... as a rookie you don’t know when to use your voice.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark
on taking on a more vocal role as she approaches her second year in the WNBA.