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Your latest sports news, in the Philippines and around the world.

Full list of 2026 WNBA All-Star Starters and Reserves Announced

It’s now complete, the WNBA released the full list of WNBA All-Star Starters and Reserves in this year’s WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago.

Below is the full roster of 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Stars.

All-Star Starters
PLAYER POSITION TEAM
PaigeBueckers Guard Dallas Wings
Caitlin Clark Guard Indiana Fever
^Olivia Miles Guard Minnesota Lynx
Kelsey Mitchell Guard Indiana Fever
Aliyah Boston Frontcourt Indiana Fever
Natasha Howard Frontcourt Minnesota Lynx
^Jessica Shepard Frontcourt Dallas Wings
Breanna Stewart Frontcourt New York Liberty
Gabby Williams Frontcourt Golden StateValkyries
A’ja Wilson Frontcourt Las Vegas Aces
All-Star Reserves
PLAYER POSITION TEAM
Sonia Citron Guard Washington Mystics
Allisha Gray Guard Atlanta Dream
Rhyne Howard Guard Atlanta Dream
Marina Mabrey Guard Toronto Tempo
Kelsey Plum Guard Los Angeles Sparks
Courtney Williams Guard Minnesota Lynx
Jackie Young Guard Las Vegas Aces
Kiki Iriafen Frontcourt Washington Mystics
Jonquel Jones Frontcourt New York Liberty
^Dominique Malonga Frontcourt Seattle Storm
Nneka Ogwumike Frontcourt Los Angeles Sparks
Angel Reese Frontcourt Atlanta Dream

The WNBA All-Star Weekend is set for July 23–25. The centerpiece of the three-day celebration is the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25. Leading up to the game, fans can enjoy the Kia WNBA Shooting Stars and the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest on Friday, July 24, airing on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET from Wintrust Arena. Additionally, the WNBA Live fan festival, presented by AWS, will run from Thursday evening through Saturday at McCormick Place.

Australia routs Gilas Pilipinas for 50-points to advance to the second round (92 – 49)

FIBA;

Australia never trailed and led for 38:05 as they delivered a blowout win over the Philippines, 92-49, on July 6, 2026, at RAC Arena in Perth in the 1st Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. The hosts seized control with a dominant opening quarter, built a double-digit cushion by halftime, and continued to widen the gap in the second half, outscoring the Philippines in both the third and fourth quarters to put the game to bed.

Despite the blowout, Gilas Pilipinas (2-4) will advance to the second round of qualifiers starting this August, where they face tougher opponents. They carry over their record, leaving them with little margin for error. Meanwhile, the undefeated Boomers (6-0) comfortably march forward, safely securing the top spot in Group E for the second round.

Full Game highlights;

Wimbledon 2026: Jasmine Paolini Outlasts Alex Eala in Dynamic Three-Set Match

Alexandra Eala’s historic run at the 2026 Wimbledon tournament ended with a thrilling match on Monday, July 6, in the Round of 16. After beating defending champion Iga Swiatek in the previous round, the 21-year-old Filipina star pushed Italy’s Jasmine Paolini to her limits before losing 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Paolini took early control of the match, serving well to win the first set. Showing the fight that defined her tournament, Eala hit back with aggressive shots from the baseline to win three straight games and take the second set. In the final set, the two players were tied at 3-3 before Paolini’s experience helped her win the final games.

Despite the loss, Eala’s great performance made her the first Filipino player in the Open Era to reach the second week of a Grand Slam tournament.

Jasmine Paolini’s next opponent in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon will be the 12th seed, Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine. Kostyuk advanced to the final eight after defeating America’s Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4. Paolini holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over Kostyuk coming into their upcoming matchup.

Indiana Fever Secure First-Ever Road Win Against Las Vegas Aces, 84-68

The Indiana Fever secured a milestone 84-68 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday night, marking their first-ever franchise win against the Aces in Las Vegas.

The highly anticipated matchup lacked its usual generational marquee billing, as both teams played short-handed. Indiana’s electric guard Caitlin Clark was sidelined for her third consecutive game while recovering from a back injury. Meanwhile, Las Vegas was forced to operate without their anchor and four-time league MVP, A’ja Wilson, who missed her third straight game due to an ankle injury.

Despite the missing star power, the Fever capitalized on a dominant second-half surge. The undisputed top performer of the night was Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell. Celebrating her recent All-Star starter selection, Mitchell put on a masterclass by scoring a game-high 27 points, converting 10-of-12 free throws, and hitting timely buckets whenever Las Vegas threatened. She was supported by Aliyah Boston, who dominated the interior with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jackie Young led the struggling Aces with 15 points, but Las Vegas simply could not find their rhythm, collapsing to their lowest-scoring output of the season.

Game highlights;

Next;
The Indiana Fever will play the first game of a back-to-back road stretch this Thursday against the LA Sparks, followed by a matchup against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces will have almost a week off before traveling to Portland to take on the Fire this Friday.

ICYMI: New Zealand Tall Blacks Outlast Gilas Pilipinas in Double-Overtime Classic (106 – 102)

FIBA;

Reuben Te Rangi delivered 22 points as New Zealand survived a double-overtime thriller, edging the Philippines 106-102 on July 3, 2026 at Spark Arena in Auckland in a 1st Round game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. The Tall Blacks led for much of the night, but the game remained tightly contested, stretching through regulation and both extra periods before a winner finally emerged. New Zealand ultimately withstood a fierce late charge to seal the deal in front of their home fans.

Here’s the full game highlights between New Zealand Tall Blacks and Gilas Pilipinas;

Next
Gilas Pilipinas will face the Australians in the First Round of Group A this July 6th at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
The New Zealand Tall Blacks will host Guam at the Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, on July 6th as well.

How Rafa Nadal Academy Scholarship at 13 Launched Alexandra Eala to WTA Top 30  

Arthur Millot, writing for TennisTemple;

Her destiny shifted during a well-known event among junior tennis specialists: Les Petits As.

Her performance caught attention, and recruiters from the Spanish academy spotted her.

A moment she’ll never forget: “We were there and we won, and the Rafa Nadal Academy contacted me, so it was a big event.”

This contact marked a decisive turning point, as the Rafa Nadal Academy offered her a scholarship.

A rare privilege for a young player from a country lacking major tennis infrastructure.

This support changed everything: no more financial pressure, access to top-level facilities, daily professional coaching.

This is Alex Eala’s origin story.

A short article but worth reading specially if you’re one the people who follows her tennis career.

Although she comes from a privileged background, what Alex has achieved at this stage in her tennis career still takes immense hard work and training.

Alex Eala Dethrones Defending Champion Iga Swiatek to Advance Wimbledon Last 16

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala created monumental history at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, stunning defending champion and world No. 3 Iga Swiatek in a thrilling third-round clash on Centre Court. The 21-year-old Eala displayed remarkable composure to oust the Polish superstar in straight sets, 7-6(9), 6-2.

The opening frame was an absolute marathon. Eala initially led 5-3 before Swiatek mounted a furious rally, saving multiple set points to force a tiebreak. Showing incredible resilience, the 29th-seeded Eala survived a tense 11-9 tiebreak battle to claim the upper hand. Carrying that electric momentum directly into the second set, Eala broke early and dictated play, sealing the historic upset with clinical poise.

In the post-game interview, Eala praised Swiatek and the fans on Centre Court at Wimbledon: “I don’t know how to describe it. I’m in the 2nd week of a slam. It’s amazing for me. Iga is a phenomenal player and a really nice person. I’m really grateful to be able to share Centre court with her at Wimbledon. I’m really emotional. Maybe for someone like Iga who’s won so many slams or someone like Serena or Venus, this achievement may seem small.. but for someone who grew up in the Philippines.

With this monumental victory, Eala becomes the first Filipino player in the Open Era to reach the Round of 16 at Wimbledon, beautifully securing her ticket to the second week of a Grand Slam.

Eala’s next match will be against Jasmine Paolini (the tournament’s 13th seed) in the Round of 16 this Monday, July 6th.

A’ja Wilson is the Western Conference Player of the Month for June

Just like with Caitlin Clark, WNBA release a 10-mins highlight video;

A’ja Wilson claims her second Western Conference #KiaPOTM honors after a MONSTER June:

♠️ 26.5 PPG
♠️ 10.3 RPG
♠️ 2.9 APG

Alex Eala defeats Maya Joint to advance to 2026 Wimbledon 3rd round

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala secured a historic milestone at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, roaring back to defeat Australia’s Maya Joint 3–6, 6–2, 6–0 on Thursday, July 2nd. The 29th-seeded Eala initially struggled to find her rhythm on Court 3, dropping the opening set to a dangerous opponent who had just upset 23-time Grand Slam icon Serena Williams.

Backed by a passionate, flag-waving Filipino crowd that felt like a home audience, Eala completely turned the tide with supreme grit. She adjusted her baseline depth and attacked the net aggressively. After commanding the second set, Eala unleashed a flawless performance in the decider, handing Joint a 6–0 “bagel.” This victory successfully avenged a heartbreaking loss to Joint at last year’s Eastbourne finals and established Eala as the first-ever Filipino singles player in the Open Era to reach the third round of a Grand Slam.

Next;
Eala’s historic breakthrough sets up a blockbuster third-round clash against World No. 3 and defending champion Iga Swiatek. This highly anticipated singles encounter is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2026. Before that singles showdown, Eala takes the court for opening-round doubles action alongside partner Nikola Bartunkova against Sofia Kenin and Jelena Ostapenko.

USA Basketball Announces 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Roster

Here’s the official roster of the 2026 USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team;

  • Pedro Bradshaw
  • Izaiah Brockington
  • Torrey Craig
  • Jacob Gilyard
  • Dewan Hernandez
  • Jay Huff
  • Mike James
  • Orlando Robinson
  • Matt Ryan
  • Terry Taylor
  • Jarrod Uthoff
  • Gabe York

The team will be lead by Head coach Stephen Silas with assistants Marlon Garnett, Clay Moser and Patrick Mutombo.

The USA are schedule to take on Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo this July 3rd. The squad will then travel to Zacatecas, Mexico, with the game scheduled to tip off at 10 p.m. ET on July 6th.

Breaking: Boston Celtics Sending Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and Draft Picks

Boston got the shorter end of this deal but I think the team thinks that it’s better for them to get Paul George than deal with a disgruntled player after the Giannis deal fell through.

Here are more details on the trade;

76ers receive;

  • Jaylen Brown

Celtics receive

  • Paul George
  • 2028 first-round pick
  • 2031 first-round pick (via PHI)
  • 2028 second-round pick (best of GSW/OKC/MIL)
  • 2030 second-round pick (best of WAS/POR/PHX)

Source: NBA

Maya Joint takes down Serena Williams at 2026 Wimbledon

Cole Bambini wrote, “Serena Williams gave Wimbledon another chance to look at the sport’s greatness on Tuesday. And for her opponent Maya Joint — who defeated the seven-time Wimbledon champion 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 in Williams’ first singles match in nearly four years — she fulfilled a lifelong dream and won the biggest match of her career.

The win sets up a July 2nd match between Maya Joint and Alex Eala, who took care of her opponent in an earlier match.

Kawhi Leonard Traded back to the Raptors

ESPN;

The LA Clippers have agreed to trade All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

The deal marks a return to Canada for the star who led the Raptors to an NBA title in 2019, winning Finals MVP after he averaged 28.5 points per game in the victory over the Golden State Warriors.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Leonard return to Toronto, especially if the Raptors are willing to sign him to a two-year, $123.7 million extension. Furthermore, the team boasts a lot of promising young talent, namely Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and rookie Allen Graves, whom they drafted 19th overall.

New York Liberty are the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Champions

In this year’s Cup Finals, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionsecu lead the Liberty to their second Commissioner’s Cup championship in front of their home crowd. Sabrina Ionescu scored 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists – her best offensive game of the season, while Breanna Stewart added 25 points and 11 rebounds to help the Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces 93-85.

The Las Vegas Aces are playing without their leading scorer and four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who injured her right ankle on Sunday in a win over Chicago.

New York Liberty captured their second WNBA Commissioner’s Cup in 3 years. They won the cup in 2023 against the Las Vegas Aces as well.

Full game highlights;

Indiana Fever Star Kelsey Mitchell Joins Puma in Historic Sneaker Deal

Puma has made a massive splash in the hoops world by officially signing WNBA All-Star Kelsey Mitchell to its growing basketball roster.

The Indiana Fever guard makes history as the inaugural athlete to join the Puma “Hali” franchise, a specialized sub-brand spearheaded by NBA star Tyrese Haliburton. Both dynamic guards share a close friendship and represent Indianapolis sports while rocking the number zero on their jerseys.

Images of Hali 1 that Kelsey Mitchell have been wearing during games.

This strategic partnership underscores Puma’s continued commitment to elevating women’s basketball. Fans can expect Mitchell to showcase exclusive, custom colorways of the Hali 1 sneaker on court later this season.

Alex Eala Crushes Renata Zarazúa to Seal Historic First Wimbledon Win

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala made history at the All England Club on Tuesday, dominating Mexico’s Renata Zarazúa 6-1, 6-2 to secure her first-ever main draw victory at Wimbledon.

Stepping onto the grass courts as a tournament seed (No. 29) for the first time in her career, the 21-year-old Eala looked completely in control from the outset. After an early 1-1 deadlock in the opening frame, Eala showcased brilliant baseline grit—surviving a marathon sixth game that featured seven deuces—to break Zarazúa’s serve and run away with the match. She wrapped up the commanding straight-sets victory in just one hour and 18 minutes.

Following her historic breakthrough, Eala advances to the second round, where a blockbuster matchup awaits. She will face the winner of the highly anticipated first-round match between 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams—making a wildcard comeback—and Australia’s Maya Joint.

Eala is scheduled to return to the court for her second-round match on Thursday, July 2, 2026, as she looks to extend her phenomenal grass-court campaign.

Source: WTA

Breaking: LeBron James Reportedly Informs Lakers He Will Play Elsewhere in 2026-27

From NBA.com News Services;

LeBron James reportedly has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he plans to play for a different team during the 2026-27 season, according to multiple reports citing Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul.

The move comes after Draymond Green declined his $27.6 million player option, clearing the runway for the Warriors to retain veteran center Kristaps Porzingis on a two-year, $40 million contract extension that includes a second-year player option.

Since joining the Lakers as a free agent in 2018, James has spent the last eight seasons rewriting the record books in Los Angeles. Now the NBA’s all-time leader in points, minutes, games, and seasons played, he averaged 25.9 points, 7.9 assists, and 7.7 rebounds across 479 regular-season appearances with the franchise. His tenure is highlighted by a 2020 championship run, where he captured Finals MVP honors while guiding the Lakers to their 17th title.

With Porzingis locked in, the Warriors are still expected to make a move to acquire LeBron’s former Lakers teammate, Anthony Davis, from the Wizards.

Ja Morant Traded to Portland Trail Blazers

NBA;

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for forward Jerami Grant and forward Kris Murray, it was announced today by General Manager Joe Cronin.

Morant (6-2, 174) has appeared in 327 career games (325 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Memphis, averaging 22.4 points, 7.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 31.7 minutes per game. He has earned NBA All-Star honors twice (2022, 2023), was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2022 and received the NBA Most Improved Player Award following the 2021-22 season.

Memphis Grizzlies have now traded all their 4 core players of Morant, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, and appears to be rebuilding with their young player lead by Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick in the 2026 draft.

Morant will join a young and point guard heavy Blazers team fresh off its first playoff appearance lead by Deni Avdija, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, with their veterans, Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard.

Sources: Warriors eye LeBron, AD moves as Green declines option  

Anthony Slater, reporting for ESPN;

The Golden State Warriors are planning a pursuit of LeBron James in free agency and Anthony Davis via trade this week, league sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania, opening up the flexibility for such a possibility after Draymond Green declined his $27.6 million player option Monday morning.

Forget AD, forget Green, IF.. and only “IF” the Golden State Warriors are able to pull this off, they’ll be an incredibly fun team to watch. Steph Curry and LeBron James—the greatest shooter and one of the greatest to ever play the game, in the same team!!! It’s like having two cheat-code in the game of basketball.

Jimmy Alapag returns to PBA, takes over as NLEX head coach  

Matthew Li, reporting for Tiebreaker Times;

The former PBA Most Valuable Player has been named the new head coach of NLEX, beginning with the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup.

The appointment was announced Monday evening at the Meralco Center in Pasig, with Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, NLEX team governor Ronald Dulatre, and MPTC president Joey Lim present during the signing ceremony.

Alapag takes over from veteran mentor Jong Uichico, who guided the Road Warriors for five conferences and led the team to the quarterfinals in four of them.

The 47-year-old also becomes the fifth head coach in NLEX franchise history.

Coach Alapag will bring a treasure trove of NBA coaching knowledge, especially on the developmental side.

Mystics Outlast Fire in a Quadruple-Overtime Thriller (124 – 123)

It took four overtime periods and every last drop of energy on the floor, but the Washington Mystics finally outlasted the Portland Fire 124–123 in one of the most exhausting and electrifying games of the 2026 WNBA season. The 3-hour, 35-minute marathon featured 21 ties and 12 lead changes, completely exhausting both rosters.

The game finally ended in a dramatic fourth overtime. With under two minutes remaining, the squads traded desperate possessions. Fighting through severe leg cramps, Washington’s Sonia Citron caught a clutch pass and converted a gritty layup to give the Mystics a 124-122 lead with just 21.4 seconds on the clock. Portland’s rookie sensation Carla Leite attacked the basket on the next possession, drawing a foul with 13.1 seconds left. Under immense pressure, Leite split her free throws, leaving the Fire trailing by one. After a frantic scramble, Leite got one final look—a driving runner at the buzzer—but it bounced off the back rim as time expired.

Full game highlights;

Sonia Citron led all scorers with a career-high 32 points for the Mystics. Portland was propelled by Carla Leite, who mirrored Citron with her own career-high 32 points alongside 9 assists, while Sarah Ashlee Barker added 25 on 62.5% shooting and 6 rebounds.

Next
Portland Fire will visit the Seattle Storm on Saturday, while Washington Mystics will host the Atlanta Dream on Thursday.

ICYMI: Cape Verde Outlasted Saudi Arabia to advance to the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Cape Verde made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, advancing to the knockout stage on their debut after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia in Group H. The small island nation of just over 500,000 people became the smallest country ever to reach a World Cup round of 32, completing an unbeaten group stage run of three draws.

Goalkeeper Vozinha was the standout performer, making crucial saves — including stops in first-half stoppage time, the 66th minute, and the 92nd minute — to keep Saudi Arabia scoreless. Cape Verde came closest to winning late on, with Da Costa firing wide in front of an open net after Rodrigues cut it back. The Blue Sharks finished with an xG of 1.52, dwarfing Saudi Arabia’s 0.40.

Cape Verde will advance to a historic Round of 32 match against Argentina in Miami this July 3rd in Miami, while the Saudi Arabia finishes bottom and is officially eliminated from the World Cup.

Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia draw 0-0 ! Cape Verde qualifies for the Round of 32 in their first ever World Cup appearance!

Mitchell and Boston Shine as Shorthanded Fever Roll Past Sparks (111 – 87)

The Indiana Fever delivered a dominant team performance to secure an emphatic 111-87 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks. The convincing win came despite both teams missing their signature stars: Indiana took the court without the injured Caitlin Clark (back), while the Sparks were forced to adapt without offensive powerhouse Kelsey Plum (left leg) and Cameron Brink (left ankle).

In Clark’s absence, the Fever’s starting lineup stepped up remarkably to share the load. Kelsey Mitchell paced the efficient offense with a game-high 26 points, showcasing brilliant accuracy from beyond the arc with a 4 of 6 shooting. Center Aliyah Boston set the tone early, anchoring the interior with 17 points and 7 rebounds—scoring 15 in the first half alone to catalyze Indiana’s breakout lead. Standing in for Clark, Tyasha Harris delivered a stellar 16-point and 5-rebounds performance, while Monique Billings chipped in a vital 15 points and 6 rebounds to round out a balanced, high-scoring attack.

The depleted Sparks struggled to find defensive answers, but their veteran leaders battled through the adversity. Nneka Ogwumike led Los Angeles with a resilient 17 points and 7 rebounds, while Dearica Hamby contributed 15 points in the effort. Ultimately, Indiana’s cohesive ball movement and scorching 55% shooting efficiency proved too overwhelming for the visitors to overcome.

Full Game highlights;

Next
The Indiana Fever have seven days of downtime before heading to Las Vegas to face the Aces this Sunday, July 5th. Meanwhile, the Sparks will enjoy a longer break before hosting the Seattle Storm on July 6th.

Alex Eala’s Historic Draw and Schedule for Wimbledon 2026

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships mark a historic milestone for Philippine tennis. Reaching a career-high world No. 30, 21-year-old Alex Eala has secured the No. 29 seed, becoming the first Filipina ever to be seeded at a Grand Slam singles tournament. Fueled by an impressive grass-court season, including a title in Birmingham and a semifinal run in Berlin, Eala is primed for the grand stage.

The women’s singles draw pits Eala against Mexico’s Renata Zarazúa (world No. 76) in the first round on Tuesday, June 30. A victory could set up a blockbuster second-round clash against 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.

Alongside her historic singles run, Eala will contest the women’s doubles draw with Czech partner Nikola Bartůňková. The duo looks to build on the strong grass-court chemistry they displayed during their recent run at the Birmingham Open.

Source: olympics.com

Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas Suspended One Game Following Flagrant 2 Foul

The WNBA announced today that Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas has been assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and a one-game suspension following a league review.

The disciplinary action stems from an incident with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter of the Mercury’s 111-109 victory over the Indiana Fever last night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Upon review, the league determined that Thomas committed a non-basketball act by recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat of Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

Here’s the video of the play in question;

Under WNBA rules, the league office retains the right to retroactively upgrade fouls and issue fines or suspensions postgame. Thomas is scheduled to serve her suspension on June 27, missing the Mercury’s upcoming road game against the Toronto Tempo.