WNBA crowns May's best | Texas takes WCWS lead | England's roster shakeup
The WNBA recognized May's top performers this week, tapping Players, Coach, and Rookie of the Month, plus Texas pulls ahead and more news to know
WNBA taps May standouts
Napheesa Collier won May’s Western Conference Player of the Month. (Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)
The WNBA recognized May’s top performers on Wednesday, handing out the league’s first round of monthly awards to early-season standouts across the league.
Napheesa Collier picked up Western Conference Player of the Month, with the Lynx star averaging 26.8 points per game while leading Minnesota to a 6-0 start in May.
Dream standout Allisha Gray earned the Eastern Conference honor, after her 21.4 points-per-game average boosted Atlanta to third in the league standings.
New York’s Sandy Brondello won Coach of the Month — a natural fit after leading the 2024 WNBA champs to their best opening record since 1997.
Strong starts: The most surprising nod, however, went to Rookie of the Month Kiki Iriafen, with the Mystics forward averaging a 13.9-point, 10.1-rebound double-double while shooting 47.4% from the field in her first month as a pro.
The USC product opened the season with a bang, becoming just the second rookie in WNBA history to record four double-doubles in her first five games after Utah Starzz forward Natalie Williams did it in 1999 — three years before Iriafen was born.
A day-one starter, Iriafen also became the first Rookie of the Month in Washington franchise history, telling reporters, “From the day I got drafted to the Mystics, I just put my head down, like, I’m going to work… I’m just giving my best effort every single time that I’m playing, and it’s nice to see the fruits of your labor come to fruition.”
Tune in: See the award-winners in action tonight as Sandy Brondello’s Liberty visit Iriafen and the Mystics tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on Prime.
Texas takes WCWS lead
Texas softball is one win away from their first-ever national championship. (Brett Rojo-Imagn Images)
Texas topped in-state rivals Texas Tech 2-1 last night, taking the Game 1 of the 2025 Women’s College World Series finals — and putting the Longhorns just one win away from celebrating their first-ever national softball championship.
“It’s tight, especially when you’re facing a good pitcher,” said Texas catcher Reese Atwood, who delivered the game-winning hit. “Any momentum, any energy, we’ll take it."
How it happened: After a controversial obstruction call gave Texas Tech a 1-0 lead, a rare misstep from Red Raiders ace Nijaree Canady gave Texas the daylight they needed to pull ahead.
After being instructed to intentionally walk Atwood — who had yet to register a WCWS hit — Canady accidentally sent her fourth pitch over the plate, with Atwood launching a two-run RBI single away on a 3-0 count.
“Maybe it was the wrong decision. Maybe we should’ve went at her,” said Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco after the loss
Big business: With as many as two more games left to play, the softball postseason has already been a huge hit, averaging 1.1 million viewers on ESPN before the finals even began.
Join the masses as Texas Tech tries to keep their championship dreams alive against Texas starting at 8 PM ET tonight, live on ESPN.
England drops Euros roster — minus big names
Defender Millie Bright withdrew from consideration prior to England’s roster release. (Visionhaus/Getty Images)
England dropped its 2025 Euros roster this morning, with manager Sarina Wiegman’s title-defending squad facing major shakeups after three longtime staples recently withdrew from consideration.
Forward Fran Kirby and goalkeeper Mary Earps officially announced their international retirements days before today’s drop, with Wiegman previously telling the 31-year-old Kirby that she’d be left off this summer’s lineup.
Defender Millie Bright followed suit, stepping back from the team yesterday in a social media post that stated she’s “not able to give 100% mentally or physically.”
Big picture: While these shifts don’t necessarily spell defeat, England now faces an uphill climb in their hunt for a second straight European title.
The Lionesses will start their campaign in Group D, a tricky division featuring perennial powerhouses France and the Netherlands plus regional rival Wales.
To further complicate things, England is also coming off a rocky Nations League run, failing to qualify for this year’s Finals after finishing second behind Group A3 winner — and 2023 World Cup champs — Spain.
US influence: England’s Euros roster might be missing some homegrown talent, but the lineup does feature a handful of NWSL stars stepping into the spotlight.
Washington defender Esme Morgan will make her Euros debut after helping lead the Lionesses to the 2023 World Cup final, while Gotham defender Jess Carter and Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse return to the competition to defend their 2022 success.
Stay tuned: With a refreshed roster and increased parity across the women’s game, the Lioness’s path 2025 Euros victory is more uncertain than ever.
PRESENTED BY TST |  |
The Soccer Tournament (TST) — the annual 7×7 competition with a $1 million winner-take-all prize — is taking the pitch once again this summer, with RBC Wealth Management joining as the presenting sponsor of the women's event.
TST kicks off on June 5th, 2025 in Cary, North Carolina.
Reese releases player exclusive Reebok
Reese’s signature Reebok shoe is expected to drop in 2026. (Reebok)
Reebok Basketball dropped Angel Reese’s first player exclusive shoe yesterday, one week after the debuting the Chicago Sky star’s signature logo.
The two-tone black cherry and pink “Pretty Gritty” Engine A is a limited-edition release, with Reese sporting a pair in Chicago’s recent 97-92 win over the Dallas Wings.
Big picture: Having signed with Reebok during her senior year at LSU, the apparel giant is expected to release Reese’s first-ever signature sneaker in 2026.
“I’m excited to give fans a glimpse into what’s to come in our overall partnership and we’re still just getting started,” she said of her player exclusive.
Get yours: The “Pretty Gritty” Engine A is on sale now via Reebok’s website.
Staley joins CBS Sports
CBS will join CBS’s WNBA coverage starting this Saturday. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley will be taking her talents to CBS Sports, the network announced on Wednesday, headlining a new WNBA pregame show premiering this weekend.
WNBA Tip Off will debut at 7:30 PM ET this Saturday, serving as the lead-in to the Sky’s primetime matchup against the Fever — the first WNBA game ever set inside Chicago’s United Center.
The decorated South Carolina boss will be joined on air by sports reporter Sarah Kustok and fellow former WNBA star Renee Montgomery.
Big picture: Staley’s involvement spotlights CBS’s commitment to live WNBA broadcasts, with the network scheduling at least three additional WNBA Tip Off slots through August 16th.
Quote of the day
“The Fleet wasn’t just a team, it was home. These past two seasons were some of the most meaningful of my career, and I’ll carry those memories with me forever.”
Former Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight
on signing a one-year deal with Seattle’s incoming PWHL team after Boston left her unprotected ahead of next week’s expansion draft.