News

2026 WNBA championship odds: Lynx a clear favorite behind ROY front-runner Olivia Miles

Olivia Miles has closed out the Rookie of the Year betting market with the Lynx favored to win the WNBA title.

Wings' Paige Bueckers doesn't have concussion, to sit vs. Liberty

Wings star Paige Bueckers was ruled out of Monday's game against the Liberty, but the team said she does not have a concussion after a scary collision Sunday.

8 conferences create women's basketball officiating alliance

Eight conferences, including the Big East and ACC, have created a women's basketball officiating alliance with the goal to enhance the quality, consistency and development of officiating.

NWSL Power Rankings: Star-studded Gotham beat Spirit, jump to No. 1

With Rose Lavelle, Esther González, Jaedyn Shaw and Sam Kerr all in form, it's impossible to keep Gotham off the top of ESPN's NWSL Power Rankings.

Michigan AD Warde Manuel to step down at end of calendar year

Warde Manuel will step down as Michigan AD at the end of the calendar year, the school announced as part of the conclusion of an investigation into the culture of athletics at the university.

Dallas faces New York, seeks 7th straight victory

New York Liberty (13-12, 8-3 Eastern Conference) at Dallas Wings (17-8, 7-6 Western Conference)

Reese appreciates Brondello's apology; 'grateful' for WNBA's ban

Angel Reese said she appreciated Sandy Brondello's apology for referring to her as a "protected species" but also was grateful to the WNBA for suspending Brondello for one game.

DeWanna Bonner scores season-high 21, Mercury beat Sun 72-63 to snap 5-game skid

— DeWanna Bonner scored a season-high 21 points, Kahleah Copper added 12 of her 18 points in the second half, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Connecticut Sun 72-63 on Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak.

Bueckers nets 25 before exiting Wings' win after collision

Paige Bueckers had 25 points before leaving following a scary collision, Arike Ogunbowale scored six of her 20 down the stretch, and the Wings defeated the Sparks 90-82 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to a franchise-record six games.

Phoenix Mercury vs. Connecticut Sun - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Phoenix Mercury vs. Connecticut Sun, 07/19/2026

Dream's Angel Reese exits win vs. Sky with left leg injury

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese left Sunday's victory over Chicago with a left leg injury.

Dream beat Sky 93-91 on Canada's layup at buzzer after losing star Angel Reese to knee injury

— Jordin Canada made a layup at the buzzer and the Atlanta Dream bounced back after squandering a 22-point lead and losing star Angel Reese due to a knee injury, beating the Chicago Sky...

Atlanta Dream vs. Chicago Sky - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Atlanta Dream vs. Chicago Sky, 07/19/2026

Angel Reese 'grateful' to WNBA for Sandy Brondello suspension

Angel Reese 'grateful' to WNBA for Sandy Brondello suspension

Bueckers scores 25, leaves late in 4th quarter, as Wings beat Sparks 90-82

— Paige Bueckers had 25 points before exiting following a scary collision, Arike Ogunbowale scored six of her 20 down the stretch and the Dallas Wings beat the Los Angeles Sparks 90-82 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to a franchise...

Dallas Wings vs. Los Angeles Sparks - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Dallas Wings vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 07/19/2026

Kelsey Mitchell goes off for 33 points in Fever's win over Liberty

Kelsey Mitchell goes off for 33 points in Fever's win over Liberty

Mitchell posts 10th consecutive 20-point game in Fever's win

Kelsey Mitchell, a four-time WNBA All-Star guard, authored a four-point play en route to a season-high 33-point effort, and the Fever rallied to record a 108-88 victory over the Liberty.

Tempo's Brondello suspended one game for Angel Reese comment

The WNBA has suspended Tempo coach Sandy Brondello for one game after she was heard referring to Angel Reese as a "protected species."

Sources: Michigan regents to discuss investigation Thursday

The University of Michigan regents are expected to discuss an investigation into the culture of its athletic department on Thursday, sources told ESPN, and as part of the review, a decision on the future of AD Warde Manuel is expected in the coming days.

SWAC football, basketball games on ESPN networks through 2030-31

The SWAC has reached a new multi-year media rights agreement that will keep league football and basketball games on ESPN networks through the 2030-31 seasons.

Golden State puts home win streak on the line against Washington

Washington Mystics (12-12, 8-5 Eastern Conference) at Golden State Valkyries (19-7, 7-5 Western Conference)

Minnesota faces Seattle on 5-game win streak

Minnesota Lynx (20-6, 13-1 Western Conference) at Seattle Storm (6-21, 1-12 Western Conference)

Gotham FC HC Juan Carlos Amorós departs for 5-week paternity leave

Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós announced after Saturday's NWSL match that he would be stepping away from the team for the next five weeks following the birth of his second child, Laia, in May.

Racing Louisville FC vs. Houston Dash - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Racing Louisville FC vs. Houston Dash, 07/19/2026

Utah Royals vs. Orlando Pride - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Utah Royals vs. Orlando Pride, 07/19/2026

Gabby Williams hits two late 3-pointers and leads Valkyries to 9th straight win, 74-69 over Mystics

— Gabby Williams hit two key 3-pointers over the final six minutes and finished with 18 points, Veronica Burton had 11 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, and the Golden State Valkyries held off the Washington Mystics 74-69 on Saturday night for...

Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark help Fever rally from 13-point deficit, beat Liberty 108-88

— Kelsey Mitchell had 33 points on 10-of-14 shooting, Caitlin Clark added 17 points, and the Indiana Fever beat the New York Liberty 108-88 on Saturday night.

Golden State Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Golden State Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics, 07/18/2026

Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty, 07/18/2026

WNBA-leading Lynx beat the Fire 101-93 for 5th straight win

— Kayla McBride scored 24 points to move into the top 20 on the WNBA career scoring list and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Portland Fire 101-93 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory.

Lynx vs. Fire - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Lynx vs. Fire, 07/18/2026

Chicago Stars vs. Angel City FC - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Chicago Stars vs. Angel City FC, 07/19/2026

Gotham-Seattle play with extra hydration breaks, weather delay in NYC

The NWSL implemented two hydration breaks per half at a Gotham FC game in New York City for the second time in four days on Saturday due to poor air quality from smoke blown in by distant Canadian wildfires.

Denver Summit beat Portland Thorns 2-1 in Lindsey Heaps' debut

United States women's national team captain Lindsey Heaps wore the captain's armband and tallied the game-winning assist in her Denver Summit FC debut on Saturday.

Bay FC vs. North Carolina Courage - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Bay FC vs. North Carolina Courage, 07/19/2026

Denver Summit FC vs. Portland Thorns FC - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Denver Summit FC vs. Portland Thorns FC, 07/18/2026

Kansas City Current vs. San Diego Wave FC - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Kansas City Current vs. San Diego Wave FC, 07/18/2026

For USWNT star Lindsey Heaps, transfer to Denver Summit marks welcome return home

Lindsey Heaps and her family speak to ESPN about her path to the USWNT, to France, and back to Colorado with new NWSL team Denver Summit FC.

Illinois awards AD Josh Whitman with extension, raise

Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman received a contract extension through 2036 that includes a significant raise.

Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps postponed due to wildfire smoke

Poor air quality due to wildfire smoke from Canada has forced Thursday's Major League Soccer game between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Fire at Chicago's Soldier Field to be postponed.

Michigan board did not discuss AD Warde Manuel's future at meeting

The University of Michigan's board of regents did not discuss the future of athletic director Warde Manuel during a Thursday meeting.

Citi Field sellout crowd bodes well for Gotham FC's move to New York

Fans turned out in droves to watch Gotham win the Queens Classic, a sign that the team's move to the borough could alter the franchise's trajectory.

How top 2027 women's basketball commits fit at their schools

Projecting the impact of top 2027 posts Jayla Forbes (Texas) and Caroline Bradley (LSU).

Jayla Forbes, No. 13 girls' 2027 recruit, commits to Texas

Jayla Forbes, the No. 13 player and second-ranked post in the girls' SC Next class of 2027, has committed to Texas.

Sam Kerr returns for Gotham in sold-out Queens win

Sam Kerr made her highly anticipated return to Gotham FC and the NWSL on Wednesday, coming off the bench in a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit in front of a record-breaking crowd at Citi Field.

Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit, 07/16/2026

Michigan AD Warde Manuel doesn't want to leave

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is defending his resume; and says he does not want to leave the school.

Babajide, Madugu welcome expanded WAFCON as Nigeria target another title

Nigeria forward Rinsola Babajide and coach Justin Madugu believe the expansion of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations to 16 teams will make this year's tournament more competitive.

WAFCON champs Nigeria retain backbone of squad, but Ashleigh Plumptre out injured

Nigeria coach Justine Madugu has retained the backbone of the squad that won a record 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations title last year, naming captain Rasheedat Ajibade among an experienced 25-player squad.

NWSL's Washington Spirit add Cameroon midfielder Monique Ngock to roster

The Washington Spirit have strengthened their growing African contingent by signing Cameroon midfielder Monique Ngock to a three-year contract through the 2028 season, the NWSL club announced.

NCAA women's tourney to seed top 16 by true ranking in 2027

Beginning with next year's NCAA women's basketball tournament, the top 16 teams will be placed in the bracket in their true ranking regardless of conference affiliation.