We might go really nice together.

Report: WNBA media deals top $3 billion

As the 2026 season tips off, the WNBA’s broadcast presence has only continued to grow — with the league’s TV deal rising significantly in value in just two years.

• The WNBA’s $2.2 billion. 11-year media rights deal secured in 2024 has already risen to more than $3.1 billion this season, per a report in Front Office Sports, as the league adds sponsors.

• The WNBA recently renewed deals with Paramount and Scripps and added USA Sports to its roster of league broadcast partners that also includes Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon.

Big Picture: 2026 is set to mark the largest nationally televised WNBA season in league history, as expansion to 15 teams extends the league’s available inventory alongside record ratings in the last two years.

• NBC, USA and Peacock will broadcast this year’s WNBA Finals, the first time since 2000 that a WNBA champion will not be crowned on a Disney-owned network.

Liberty chase league‑best mark vs expansion Portland

The New York Liberty are off to one of the WNBA’s hottest starts in 2026, sitting on an early 2-0 record going into tonight’s matchup against new expansion side Portland.

• The Liberty began the season with a blowout, soundly taking down Connecticut 106-75 in their opening matchup, before needing an overtime period to overcome Washington 98-93 on Sunday.

• “I thought given the cards that we were dealt, I think we did pretty good,” said Liberty forward Breanna Stewart on Sunday. “We were playing OT without both of our centers and just continuing to fight through it.”

Big picture: The WNBA’s recent guidance on officiating has come into play in both of the Liberty’s early wins, as both New York and Washington combined for 58 foul calls on Sunday — leading to bigs Jonquel Jones and Han Xu fouling out.

• “I know it’s going to take time of figuring out what’s the standard of what’s going to be called, but there’s calls that are being called that are unnecessary on both sides,” said Stewart. “And then there’s no flow.”

• The Liberty will aim to lower the number of foul calls against the 0-1 Fire, who fell 98-83 to the new-look Chicago Sky in the team’s first game since 2002 on Saturday.

Tune in: New York takes on Portland tonight at 10 PM ET, live on League Pass.

Barbra Banda leads Orlando into key test at Boston

Orlando travels to New England on short rest tonight, taking on expansion NWSL side Boston in a midweek clash featuring clubs on opposite sides of the early playoff line in the league standings.

• The Pride currently sit at No. 7 in the NWSL table, after golden boot leader Barbra Banda scored a late tally against North Carolina on Friday to end Orlando’s two-game losing streak.

• While they currently sit at the bottom of the standings, Boston also has a little momentum going, as the Legacy are unbeaten in three straight games after beginning their season with six straight losses.

Big picture: Both teams will have to rely on rotation and fitness with a short turnaround into tonight’s action, with a renewed focus on defense leading the way.

• “Defensively, we looked a lot more solid than we did last week,” said Orlando head coach Seb Hines of the team’s narrow victory last weekend. “It took a moment of brilliance from Barbra, and I’m happy to see the ball hit the back of the net.”

• “We need to keep the ball more times, we need to be more composed, more comfortable and more focused in the moments that we have the ball to (not) lose the ball so fast,” said Boston manager Filipa Patão.

Tune in: Orlando takes on Boston tonight at 7 PM ET, live on Victory+.

Sabalenka upset blows Italian Open draw wide open

The Italian Open field has opened up heading into today’s quarterfinal round, as an upset loss by World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday upended expectations for the tournament’s final rounds.

• Romanian No. 27 Sorana Cîrstea handed Sabalenka just her third loss of 2026 — but her second loss in three matches — in three sets on Saturday, as Cîrstea extends her retirement tour.

• "I feel like I didn't play well from the beginning till the end," Sabalenka said. "I felt like my body was limiting me from performing on the highest level."

Big picture: Other clay court specialists remain in the competition, as reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff and four-time Roland Garros title-winner Iga Świątek both pushed into the final eight.

• 2026 Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina will take on No. 7 Elina Svitolina, as Gauff battles No. 8 Mirra Andreeva, and Świątek takes on US standout Jessica Pegula.

• “Today I just lost all sort of routine and sense,” Gauff said of her three-set Round of 16 scare against No. 72 Solana Sierra. “I kind of let the anger out. Kind of helped me win the second set.”

Tune in: The Italian Open quarterfinals began at 8 AM ET this morning, live on the Tennis Channel.

Beth Mead to leave Arsenal after nine seasons

Arsenal is officially losing a club legend this summer, as the club announced on Monday that forward Beth Mead will be moving on from the Gunners after nine years with the team.

• Mead scored 86 goals in 263 games for Arsenal in her career, winning the 2025 UEFA Women’s Champions League title as well as multiple domestic cups.

• "For me, it's always been about more than just trophies, it's about the people you share it with," Mead said on social media. “The friendships I've made here go far beyond football and I know that they'll last a lifetime.”

Big picture: Mead is reportedly close to a move to 2026 WSL champions Manchester City, as a busy offseason could reshape the hierarchy of numerous top English clubs.

• Chelsea legend Millie Bright has already announced her retirement, while Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw and Chelsea legend Sam Kerr both have not yet signed extensions with their current clubs.

Number of the day 

87.4

WNBA teams averaged 87.4 points per game in the league’s opening weekend of the 2026 season, the highest scoring output in the first two days of a season in league history, per ESPN.