WNBA rookie debuts yield mixed results

Toronto’s first-ever points? A crisp Brittney Sykes jumper.

WNBA rookie debuts yield mixed results

The WNBA’s 30th season tipped off with a bang, as the league welcomed its newest generation to the pros via a hyper-competitive weekend slate.

• No. 2 draft pick Olivia Miles impressed in her Minnesota debut, putting up 21 points and eight assists in Saturday’s 91-90 loss to Atlanta, while Seattle’s Flau’jae Johnson averaged 14 points over her first two pro games.

• “My team trusts me, and they need me to do that,” Miles said postgame. “So just staying aggressive, and the outcome will be the outcome.” (Watch full highlights)

Around the horn: Other prospects saw less flashy premieres, as Wings’ No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd added just three points off the bench in Dallas’s 107-104 win over Indiana.

• “She’s number one for a reason — she’s one of the best shooters I’ve seen,” Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale said in the rookie’s defense. “We’ll never get mad if she shoots any shots.” (Watch full highlights)

• 2026 NCAA champions Kiki Rice, Lauren Betts, and Angela Dugalic struggled to find their footing in Friday’s Bruin reunion, as Betts and Dugalic combined for just two points in Washington’s 68-65 win over scoreless Rice’s Toronto. (Watch full highlights)

Up next: Fudd faces another test tomorrow, as Dallas takes on Atlanta at 8 PM ET (League Pass), before Minnesota visits Phoenix at 10 PM ET (League Pass).

Aces’ title defense off to a rocky start

The Aces’ title defense is off to an up-and-down start, as 2025 runner-up Phoenix humbled Las Vegas 99-66 on Saturday — setting up Sunday’s 105-78 bounce-back win over LA.

• Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson picked up right where she left off, turning in two 19-point performances despite her team’s early struggles against a formidable Mercury offense.

• “We know what it’s like to have a long offseason,” Wilson after falling to Phoenix. “You’re just like, ‘I don’t care who’s in front of us this first game, we have to redeem ourselves.’” (Watch full highlights)

Taking stock: The Aces righted the ship against a Sparks team in flux, as LA integrates veteran talent like forward Nneka Ogwumike — plus reserve signing Kate Martin — into a developing squad.

• 2024 No. 2 pick Cameron Brink played just eight minutes on Sunday, as even star guard Kelsey Plum’s 27-point night couldn’t hold off the Aces.

• “We need Cam to bring that defensive energy,” said Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts. “She’s gotta get out on the floor with some confidence, and do what she’s capable of doing.” (Watch full highlights)

Up next: Las Vegas tips off USA’s Wednesday night doubleheader against Connecticut at 8 PM ET, before LA hosts Indiana at 10:30 PM ET.

Boston & Gotham spur heated NWSL rivalry

An NWSL rivalry was born on Saturday, as expansion side Boston visited Gotham FC for the first time this season — ultimately splitting the difference in a 1-1 draw.

• Both goals came over the course of three minutes, as Gotham forward Jaedyn Shaw scored in the 37th minute, before Legacy midfielder Alba Caño leveled the field in the 40th.

• “I think the team starts to understand this: To beat us will start to be very, very hard, because we fight until the last minute,” said Boston manager Filipa Patão. (Watch full highlights)

Home field advantage: The regional feud drew a crowd, as 11,308 fans took advantage of NYC Mayor Mamdani’s $5 ticket campaign — resulting in Gotham’s fourth-most attended regular-season match on record.

• And the stars were out, as the mayor linked up with NWSL icon Ali Krieger, WNBA legend Sue Bird, and USWNT coach Emma Hayes at Red Bull Arena.

• “That’s what you dream of as a player, to be able to get out and give a crowd something to cheer about,” said Gotham midfielder Savannah McCaskill.

UCLA slugger breaks NCAA homer record

The 2026 softball season saw yet another record fall, after UCLA senior Megan Grant launched her 38th dinger in Saturday’s 7-2 Big Ten tournament loss to Nebraska — breaking the NCAA single-season home run record.

• Grant one-upped Arizona alum Laura Espinoza’s 1995 high-mark, with more on deck as the Bruins set off down the path toward this year’s WCWS.

• “I’m just so grateful for the opportunity I was blessed with and just to follow the people that were before me,” said Grant. (Watch full clip)

Space race: Grant isn’t alone in her historic pursuit, as Oklahoma's Kendall Wells tallied 36 home runs this season, while Grant’s teammate Jordan Woolery has 33.

• The final record will likely come down to the postseason, after former frontrunner Wells failed to get under one in the Sooners’ 10-5 SEC tournament loss to Georgia. (See full recap)

Stacked SEC dominates NCAA softball bracket

The SEC showed its softball stripes on Sunday, after the super-conference landed six of the 2026 DI softball championship bracket’s top eight seeds — with Alabama taking No. 1 overall.

• 2025 winner Texas enters the postseason at No. 2, while regular-season champion Oklahoma fell to No. 3 after last week’s SEC tournament upset loss to No. 10 Georgia.

• “We all had a conversation and decided to go back to Norman and just practice harder, do things sharper,” said Sooners head coach Patty Gasso. “Instead of going through the motions like we’ve got it.” (See full bracket)

Setting the field: Big Ten titans No. 4 Nebraska and No. 8 UCLA both cracked the Top 10, while SEC standouts No. 5 Arkansas, No. 6 Florida, and No. 7 Tennessee rounded out the upper echelon.

• 2025 WCWS runners-up Texas Tech enters double-elimination regionals at No. 11, positioned as an underdog behind ace senior NiJaree Canady.

Tune in: The 2026 NCAA softball championship kicks off Friday at 11 AM ET, live across ESPN networks.

Quote of the day

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson
naming which finger she plans to wear her 2025 WNBA championship ring on.