WNBA All-Star and PhD candidate? This Fever favorite does it all.

WNBA’s Cleveland Sirens unveil name & logo

The Cleveland Sirens are setting sail, as Ohio’s WNBA expansion team unveiled its official identity — a nod to Lake Erie’s “power and pull” — ahead of its 2028 debut.

• The name pays homage to the city’s lakefront, while its colorway references the now-dissolved Cleveland Rockers (1997-2003).

• “The Cleveland Sirens are sharp, unapologetic, fearless and relentless, representative of this region, our Great Lake, and the future of our city and women’s basketball,” said President of Business Operations Allison Howard. (See full report)

Big moves: Owned by Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group, the Sirens will play at Rocket Arena alongside the NBA’s Cavaliers — also backed by Gilbert — while training at their own nearby facility.

• Cleveland follows Golden State, Toronto, and Portland into the league, becoming the WNBA’s 16th franchise before Detroit hits the court in 2029 and Philadelphia launches in 2030.

• “The enthusiasm and support behind the Cleveland Sirens underscore Cleveland’s role in the league’s next chapter,” said Rock Entertainment Group CEO Nic Barlage. (See full release)

Get yours: Season ticket deposits and official Sirens merch are available now via clevelandsirens.com.

Wings & Mystics settle the series in DC

A rubber match tips off in Washington, as No. 4 Dallas visits No. 8 Washington to decide the pair’s regular-season series tonight.

• The Mystics took Friday’s most recent meeting 81-75 behind Shakira Austin’s 28 points and 10 rebounds, with the center notching her 11th double-double this season. (See full recap)

• Dallas then bounced back by routing No. 14 Connecticut 83-63 on Sunday, with Jessica Shepard and Arike Ogunbowale each dropping 15 points while Shepard also tacked on nine rebounds. (See full recap)

Scouting report: Washington is on a four-game winning streak — its longest since 2020 — powered by Austin’s scoring alongside sophomore guard Sonia Citron’s two-way spark. 

• The Wings haven’t won in DC since 2023, but hope to harness momentum after announcing they’ll move all 2027 home games from UT Arlington to Dallas’s 20,000-seat American Airlines Center.

• “We’re the Dallas Wings, at the end of the day. We’re not the Arlington Wings,” Ogunbowale told the Dallas Morning News. “Being actually in the city, in the culture — that’s going to be really good.” (See full report)

Tune in: Washington hosts Dallas tonight at 6:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass).

NWSL stars collide in WAFCON decider

Two NWSL stars are putting it all on the line, as Temwa Chawinga’s Malawi squares off with Barbra Banda’s Zambia in today’s win-or-go-home Group C closer.

• Entering the tournament ranked No. 153 in the world, Malawi turned Cinderella after the KC Current standout and her sister Tabitha (OL Lyonnes) fueled the WAFCON debutant to back-to-back wins.

• But the unbeaten Scorchers aren’t safe yet, facing a 1-1 Zambia side looking to avenge Saturday’s 1-0 loss to 10-time winner Nigeria. (See full preview)

How it works: If Malawi falls to the Copper Queens and Nigeria tops Egypt, Chawinga’s fairytale run could end via tiebreakers — though the three goals the sisters hung on the Super Falcons may prove their saving grace.

• A one-goal Zambia win would pull all three contenders level at six points, throwing Group C into a head-to-head scramble that currently favors Malawi.

• Reigning champion Nigeria controls its own fate, clinching a quarterfinal berth with a win over Egypt but risking a shock first-round exit with a draw and a Zambia victory. (See all scenarios)

Tune in: Chawinga and Banda take the pitch in Rabat today at 4 PM ET (CAF TV).

PRESENTED BY AMAZON PRIME

Don’t miss ‘Time Wasting’ with Kelley O’Hara & Ali Riley

Soccer icons Kelley O’Hara and Ali Riley are back, as all-new episode of Time Wasting presented by Amazon Prime serves up another jam-packed helping of tactical breakdowns, behind-the-scenes stories, and insider perspectives.

• In the episode, Ali and Kelley dig into the NWSL’s wild week, including Utah silencing Portland and Gotham’s Emily Sonnett landing on the SEI list.

• Plus, Kelley breaks down FIFA’s big announcement and subsequent walk-back of its controversial funding plan.

Tune in: Catch Time Wasting on YouTube.

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Summer transfer window reshapes WSL rosters

The transfer market is buzzing, as UWCL champion Barcelona landed Brazil’s Kerolín for a record WSL fee while Arsenal reportedly sends USWNT defender Jenna Nighswonger back to the NWSL.

• Barcelona signed the 26-year-old from Manchester City for £1.25 million, topping 2025 Arsenal addition Olivia Smith’s previous £1 million mark.

• Kerolín will fill an attacking gap for the Spanish titan, after big-name exits by Alexia Putellas, Mapi León, and Ona Batlle. (See full report)

Homeward bound: Nighswonger is said to be joining Bay FC, landing back in market as US coach Emma Hayes zeroes in on her 2027 World Cup roster.

• The 25-year-old transferred to Arsenal from Gotham FC in 2024, going on to lift the Champions League trophy with the Gunners in 2025. (See full report)

2026 Solheim Cup takes shape

The Solheim Cup is setting the field, as captain Anna Nordqvist polished off Team Europe’s 12-player lineup while the US locked in two automatic entries for next month’s showdown in the Netherlands.

• Nordqvist tapped Irish vet Leona Maguire alongside rookies Julia López Ramírez (Spain), Nastasia Nadaud (France), and Mimi Rhodes (England), pairing them with eight qualifiers including UK favorites Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. (See full roster)

Taking stock: On the US side, three-time competitors Angel Yin and Jennifer Kupcho clinched their spots to join world No. 1 Nelly Korda at Bernardus Golf. 

• The seven top-ranked US players after August 23rd’s CPKC Women’s Open punch automatic tickets, with captain Angela Stanford adding three more to round out the defending champion squad. (See full report)

Stay tuned: The 2026 Solheim Cup runs September 11-13 (NBC/Golf Channel).

Number of the day

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USWNT legend Tobin Heath will sign a ceremonial one-day contract with the Portland Thorns this month, allowing her to officially retire as a member of the club.