They understood the assignment.

USWNT kicks off in Commerce City

The USWNT takes the pitch against Ireland tonight, kicking off a three-game stretch that spans two friendlies against the Girls in Green in Colorado and Ohio before a Washington, DC clash with regional rivals Canada.

• “We’re largely inexperienced and still learning with everything that we’re looking to do, but this team, they are fast learners,” head coach Emma Hayes told media earlier this week.

Big picture: The US is without a number of first-choice starters after Hayes decided to give her Europe-based players a break this window, with these three matchups providing perhaps the last chance for young bubble players to impress.

• Next week’s bout with Canada will be the USWNT’s last match opportunity until October’s international window — the second-to-last break of 2025.

• “We’re at the stage where we are determining the criteria for 2027 and what that looks like,” Hayes said. “From October onwards, I would say that extended pool will be the group that we will build towards 2027 with.”

Comeback kids: Tonight’s lineup could feature a boost from previously injured Olympians Rose Lavelle and Croix Bethune, with Lavelle stepping into a newly elevated leadership role on the team.

• “I had a lot of really great older players to look up to to help usher me into the position where I now can be that for the younger players, so it’s definitely something that I lean into,” Lavelle said on Wednesday.

Tune in: The USWNT takes on Ireland tonight at 9 PM ET, live on TBS.

Fever face a cold front

Two-time WNBA champion DeWanna Bonner — the Indiana Fever’s splashiest offseason signing — has been waived at her request, the team announced Wednesday.

• Bonner missed the last five games due to personal reasons, with recent reports alluding to the 37-year-old six-time All-Star’s desire to sever her Fever contract.

• “Despite our shared goals and excitement heading into the season, I felt the fit did not work out and I appreciate the organization’s willingness to grant my request to move on, particularly at this point in my career,” Bonner said in a statement.

Big picture: After bringing on key additions like Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sophie Cunningham, the Fever were projected to take a serious leap forward under new coach Stephanie White this season.

• But things hit a snag, with franchise player Caitlin Clark sidelined for weeks with a quad strain while White missed several games for personal reasons.

• The Fever currently sit eighth in the WNBA standings on a 7-7 record, as Clark battles through a slump that saw her average just 26.5% from the field in her last three games.

• She’ll ride the bench again tonight, with the superstar guard managing a groin injury.

What’s next: To fill the gaps, Indiana signed Aari McDonald to a rest-of-season contract this week, after the point guard’s strong performance in Clark’s absence.

• Bonner has 48 hours to clear the waiver wire, with reports linking her to a veteran minimum contract with the Mercury for the remainder of the season.

Tune in: See if the Clark-less Fever can turn things around against the Sparks at 7 PM ET tonight, live on Prime.

Apple TV+ announces UConn docuseries

College basketball’s greatest dynasty is back in the spotlight, with Apple TV+ set to debut a new three-part docuseries focused on the UConn Huskies.

• According to the streamer, the series “reveals the epic narrative of UConn’s roller coaster path to becoming the greatest dynasty in women’s sports history, with each episode featuring a blend of unique archival footage, incisive interviews and intimate access with UConn’s 2024/25 championship squad.”

Big picture: The sports doc industry has boomed in recent years, as the women’s game finds a place at the table with critically acclaimed productions like HBO’s ACFC-focused Angel City and Netflix’s USWNT series, Under Pressure.

• The UConn series will be directed by Emmy Award-winning sports documentarian Matthew Hamachek, whose credits include The Dynasty: New England Patriots and Tiger.

• “This series offers fans an exclusive view into 40 seasons of UConn women’s basketball, and I’m really excited for audiences to be able to see all the hard work that has built this program,” said coach Geno Auriemma, who’s led the Huskies since 1985.

Stay tuned: Apple TV+ says the series is currently in production, with the official premiere date forthcoming.

PRESENTED BY JWS & MICROSOFT COPILOT
“Between the Lines” spotlights Aaliyah Edwards

There’s a new WNBA show in town, as the fourth episode of JWS digital series Between the Lines with Lisa Leslie presented by Microsoft Copilot brings another helping of unfiltered commentary, insider perspective, and cultural critique to basketball fans everywhere.

• This week, first-round 2024 draft pick Aaliyah Edwards stops by Between the Lines to fill Lisa in on her journey with the young and mighty Washington Mystics.

• Through the episode, the Canadian national and former UConn standout gets into lessons she’s learned in her second year in the pros, stepping into a leadership role in DC, making lasting friendships across the league, and more.

Tune in: Catch episode two of Between the Lines with Lisa Leslie today on YouTube.

Legacy land a leader

2026 NWSL expansion side Boston Legacy FC announced the hiring of their inaugural head coach this week, tapping Benfica manager Filipa Patão ahead of the team’s first season.

• Patão has led the Portuguese club since 2020, amassing a 156-28-15 W-L-D record over all competitions while also leading the team to the 2023/24 Champions League quarterfinals.

• “Boston is a club where we want to develop both technical identity and have a clear style of play, but also we want a coach who thinks about more than just winning games,” said incoming Boston general manager Domè Guasch in a team statement.

Euro style: Patão adds to the Legacy’s increasingly European front office, after Guasch joined from FC Barcelona.

• “The American league is extremely competitive and that’s one of the reasons I accepted this project,” Patão said. “I like competition, difficulty, and getting the players to strive for more and better.”

Poulin leaves no crumbs

Montréal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin has won the 2024/25 season’s Billie Jean King MVP award, the PWHL announced on Wednesday.

• Poulin beat out Toronto Sceptres defender Renata Fast and former Boston Fleet forward Hilary Knight for the honor, becoming the PWHL’s first-ever two-time MVP finalist in the process.

• She also took home Forward of the Year, with Fast winning Defender of the Year, Victoire goalkeeper Ann-Renée Desbiens taking Goalkeeper of the Year, and Rookie of the Year going to Sirens forward Sarah Fillier.

Big picture: The awards cap a banner year for the Canadian national, who picked up 2025 IIHF Player of the Year as well as MVP honors at April’s IIHF Women’s World Championship.

Number of the day 

5,000

Three-time league MVP A’ja Wilson became the fastest-ever WNBA player to reach 5,000 career points last night, completing the feat over just 238 games.