Aces pickup Chennedy Carter scored 97 points off the bench through five games — a new WNBA record.

Mallory Swanson makes NWSL return

USWNT and Chicago star Mallory Swanson is back, returning to the pitch for the first time since 2024 in Saturday’s 4-0 loss to No. 8 North Carolina.

• Swanson subbed on in the 76th minute, registering one shot for the No. 16 Stars in her first competitive appearance since giving birth in November — and hinting at the possibility of rejoining the US as early as next month’s Brazil friendlies.

• “For me, it’s just checking the next box, checking the next progression, and just continuing to feel everything as it comes,” Swanson said postmatch. (Watch full highlights)

Big picture: In last place on an -18 goal differential, Chicago will need Swanson at her best this season — but the Olympic gold medalist wasn’t sweating the details.

• “I don’t feel like it was a journey to the finish line, I feel like it was a journey to the start line,” she added. “Because I feel like I’m a whole new person.”

• “Mal is Mal and now she’s back, which will be huge for us,” Stars manager Martin Sjögren said. “But we also need to understand that now she made her first minutes after being away for a very, very long time, so we can’t put too much pressure on her.” (See full standings)

Up next: Swanson could be back in a Chicago uniform on Sunday, as the Stars visit Bay FC at 5 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Las Vegas shows off championship bonafides

The WNBA champion Aces showed out this weekend, taking down Connecticut and Atlanta to reach 4-1 on the season after a lackluster opener.

• Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson averaged 32.5 points in her last two games, dropping 45 on the winless Sun on Friday before contributing 20 to Sunday’s tight 85-84 victory over the Dream.

• “I want to be efficient,” Wilson said. “It’s beautiful to rack up all these points, but to be efficient, that’s what’s key.” (Watch full highlights)

Taking stock: The Aces needed more than Wilson to take down surging Atlanta, with veteran point guard Chelsea Gray hitting the game-winner after the Dream erased a 19-point deficit.

• “That’s who she is,” coach Becky Hammon said of Gray’s performance. “The bigger the moment, the bigger she gets. I have the ultimate trust in the group down the stretch.”

• Atlanta’s was also a team effort, with four players finishing in the double-digits behind Allisha Gray’s game-leading 25 points. (Watch full highlights)

Up next: Las Vegas has some downtime before hosting LA on Saturday, while Atlanta looks for redemption against Dallas on Friday.

Mystics face the Wings after big weekend win

The young Mystics are flying high, coming off Friday’s 104-102 OT win over Indiana ahead of tonight’s youth-fueled clash with Dallas.

• Washington guard Sonia Citron led the team with 30 points, backed by three other double-digit scorers — enough to offset Fever guard Caitlin Clark’s own 32-point night.

• “Every game we want to put our best foot forward,” Citron said. “We want to show who we can be, and we just want to be tough.” (Watch full highlights)

Youth group: The Wings will aim to match that toughness, as tonight’s game totals eight first-round 2025 and 2026 draft picks between the two sides.

• Dallas is looking to snap a two-game losing streak, with reigning No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd appearing healthy after Thursday’s loss to the Lynx.

• “You’ve just got to make sure you keep [Citron] in front of you, and she can’t get wide-open looks,” Dallas head coach Jose Fernandez said. “You can’t let really good players have uncontested shots.” (See full recap)

Tune in: The Wings host the Mystics tonight at 8 PM ET, live on Peacock.

Montréal takes Walter Cup lead as PWHL teases expansion

Montréal is one win away from its first PWHL title, holding a towering 2-0 lead over Ottawa after this weekend’s best-of-five Walter Cup finals slate.

• Games 1 and 2 both went to overtime, with the Victoire taking Thursday’s opener 3-2 off an Abby Roque game-winner, before securing Saturday’s 2-1 victory courtesy of Maggie Flaherty.

• “We’ve been a team all year that has defended by committee and as a collective, they did the job in both ends of the rink today,” said head coach Kori Cheverie. (Watch full highlights)

Big growth: The PWHL also made headlines off the ice, as San Jose is reportedly set to join Detroit, Hamilton, and Las Vegas in the rapidly expanding league.

• With an official announcement expected Tuesday, the California expansion squad will tip the PWHL’s scales firmly south, with seven US-based and five Canadian teams. (See full report)

Tune in: Montréal shoots for the sweep tonight at 6 PM ET, live on ION.

Lotte Woad lifts 2026 Queen City trophy

English sensation Lottie Woad is on the rise, earning her second career LPGA title on Sunday after winning the 2026 Queen City Championship by two strokes.

• Finishing at 12-under par, Woad took home the $300,000 winner’s share, edging out world No. 1 Nelly Korda and No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul.

• “This one is definitely a little sweeter than the first because I wasn’t really expecting that,” said the 22-year-old. “I’ve seen how good everyone is out there, so it’s good to win again.” (Watch full highlights)

Bright future: Woad burst onto the scene last year out of Florida State, winning the Scottish Open in her pro debut after finishing third at the 2025 Evian Championship as an amateur.

Number of the day 

275

Indiana center Aliyah Boston sat out the Fever’s Sunday win over Seattle with a lower leg injury, marking her first missed game in 275 appearances.