Flavor Flav turned Las Vegas into one big Olympic & Paralympic bash this weekend.

Sandy Brondello suspended over Angel Reese remark

The WNBA made a statement on Saturday, issuing No. 10 Toronto coach Sandy Brondello a one-game unpaid suspension for calling Atlanta’s Angel Reese a “protected species” in Friday’s 111-92 loss to the No. 5 Dream.

• The remark came after Tempo center Nyara Sabally drew a foul on Reese with 3:16 left and stayed down for medical attention, as Brondello was picked up on mic protesting the call.

• Reese later tagged the coach in a tweet referencing the comment, prompting Brondello to post an apology saying she understood her words “carried an impact beyond what I intended, particularly for Black women in our league, and I’m deeply sorry for that.” (See full response)

Big picture: The 57-year-old Australian — who also helms the Opals national team — used a term common in rugby and AFL to describe players who get favorable whistles.

• Dispatching her from tonight’s game against No. 3 Las Vegas, the league called her phrasing “inappropriate” and said it expects all personnel to uphold “the highest standards of professionalism and respect.” 

• “I appreciate Sandy’s apology, but I also appreciate the love and support that I’ve had,” Reese said Sunday. “There is no place for discrimination or hate in this league… I’m just grateful that we are able to move on from the situation and play winning basketball.” (See full clip)

Up next: The WNBPA already planned to address escalating harassment with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Tuesday — a conversation sharpened by fallout surrounding Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas’s Flagrant foul on Caitlin Clark and a racist DM sent to Aces guard Chelsea Gray.

Denver stuns Portland in Lindsey Heaps debut

Lindsey Heaps is back in the US of A, as the longtime USWNT captain made her debut for No. 10 Denver on Saturday — wearing the armband in a 2-1 win over No. 4 Portland inside a sold-out Centennial Stadium.

• Coloradoans carried the day, as Highlands Ranch native Janine Sonis pulled the Summit level after Windsor’s Sophia Wilson nailed a first-half penalty, while rookie Natalie Means scored the game-winner in the 86th minute. 

• Golden product Heaps signed with her hometown club in January but delayed her arrival to finish the season with OL Lyonnes, returning to the NWSL after the secondary transfer window opened. (Watch full highlights)

Big ups: Heaps, who played for the Thorns from 2016 to 2021 before spending the last five seasons with the French titan, praised the league she left behind. 

• “Being away six years… it’s so crazy just how the game evolves,” the 32-year-old told reporters. “On any given day, any team can win, and that makes our league very, very special.” 

• “We both grew up here,” Sonis said of her teammate. “I continue to pinch myself in these moments — we need to continue to deliver performances like this.” (See full report)

Up next: Denver has its work cut out for it on Sunday, taking on Trinity Rodman and No. 1 Washington at 7 PM ET (Victory+).

Fever rolls Liberty as Caitlin Clark nears tech limit

Indiana buried a skidding New York squad, as Kelsey Mitchell dropped a game-high 33 points on 10-of-14 shooting to fuel the No. 6 Fever past the No. 7 Liberty 108-88 on Saturday.

• Indiana flipped a 13-point deficit by outscoring New York 30-12 in the third quarter, before Mitchell capped the night with a four-point play over Liberty forward Breanna Stewart to secure the Fever’s fourth win in five games.

• Stewart’s 26 points weren’t enough to keep New York afloat, as the 2024 WNBA champion dropped its fourth straight result — and lost guard Marine Johannes to a non-contact ankle knock in the process. (Watch full highlights)

Tough road: Indiana guard Caitlin Clark earned her sixth technical foul of the season less than two minutes in, after she confronted an official for not calling a foul on Liberty center Jonquel Jones over what the CBS broadcast dubbed a legal screen. 

• The offense carries a $1,000 fine, with a seventh charging Clark an additional $1,000 while an eighth triggers an automatic one-game suspension plus a $1,500 penalty. 

• “It’s a long season, so making sure we’re strategic in using our technical fouls,” Fever coach Stephanie White said afterward, as Clark trails only Angel Reese in this year’s leaguewide tech tally. (See full report)

Up next: Indiana looks to keep rolling on Wednesday, facing No. 14 Connecticut at 8 PM ET (USA).

If you’re making the trip for the biggest weekend in women’s basketball, don’t wait to grab your ticket for JWS Spot.

• We’ll have player appearances every hour, exclusive merch you can’t get anywhere else, free drinks for the first 100 guests, bucket hats, giveaways, and a room full of fans getting ready for tipoff.

📍 Bottom Lounge, Chicago

⏰ July 25th | 2-6 PM

Be there: Get your free ticket now.

Wings tie franchise streak — but lose Paige Bueckers

No. 4 Dallas got it done despite a scare, scoring a franchise record-tying sixth straight win in Sunday’s 90-82 victory over No. 11 LA — after star guard Paige Bueckers exited with an apparent head injury.

• Bueckers put up 25 points before colliding with Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike late in the fourth quarter, smacking the back of her head on the floor then departing for the locker room.

• “Wings head coach Jose Fernandez said he doesn’t have an update on Paige Bueckers,” tweeted WFAA’s Mike Leslie afterwards. “Sounds like they’ll run some tests to check her out fully, but it’s unclear specifically what they’re checking.” (Watch full highlights)

Up next: Dallas hosts New York tonight in last Thursday’s rescheduled clash, as Bueckers’s availability hangs in the balance. (See injury report)

Juan Carlos Amorós steps away from Gotham

No. 2 Gotham’s boss is taking a break, as head coach Juan Carlos Amorós embarks on five weeks of parental leave following Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win over No. 12 Seattle.

• The Spaniard welcomed his second child earlier this year, sharing his plans in early July to allow assistant Shaun Harris to prepare to step in as acting head coach.

• “I also recognize the visibility that comes with my role,” Amorós said. “When fathers take parental leave, particularly men in leadership positions, it helps normalize an important principle: Caring for children is a shared responsibility.” (See full report)

With a bang: The fourth-year manager departs as the reigning champion nears the top of the NWSL table, netting three goals against the Reign in the weekend match’s final 17 minutes — with Esther registering a quick brace before Rose Lavelle sealed it in the 98th. (Watch full highlights)

Number of the day

1

With Sunday’s win over Argentina, Spain became the first-ever country to claim consecutive Men’s and Women’s World Cup titles.