CHICAGO — WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was evasive when asked directly during her pre-All-Star Game press conference if she expects to be commissioner in 2027. “I am so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hypergrowth period,” Engelbert said. “I will just continue to do my job, execute the strategy because it’s been working.” 

Here are Engelbert’s full comments:

“Obviously I am so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hypergrowth period, so blessed that these players are putting the product on the court they are every night, that they stand for the values that the W has long sought for. I will just continue to do my job, execute the strategy because it has been working. Make sure we listen to the players, communicate with the players. 

“Absolutely love this league. Blessed to have the career I had before, blessed to have the career I have now. Mostly the team we’ve built at the league. I came in here and there were 12 people working at the league, and there were probably 12 people for the 24 years before I got here and now we have almost 100 people working full time. We have a lot of others that help us. We leverage off the NBA model as well. And just the enormous capability we’ve built in digital and social. We have engineers, we have WordPress and we have marketers and brand and data, analytics, data scientists. 

“That’s what I’m most proud of. We have built a powerhouse team and that’s what I focus on is leading that team and leading that team to help this game continue to grow so that young girls who typically drop out of sports too quick can see see our players as their role models. That’s what keeps me going. Having the Nike National EYBL players here has been incredible because I’ve spent time with so many of them at WNBA Live and the hotel and just how they view this league and role models. I can’t tell you how many come up to me and say ‘Cathy, I want you to draft me in 2033 or 2034, and I’m like ‘Oh boy.’ They’re really excited about this league, and that’s what keeps me going.”

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Engelbert has been in charge since 2019, when she became the first commissioner in WNBA history (previously, the league’s top executive was a “president.”) While she has overseen significant growth during her tenure, she has come under significant fire in recent years amid a contentious labor battle and numerous off-court controversies. 

“We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world, but right now we have the worst leadership in the world,” Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier said last September. 

Adam Silver says NBA, WNBA are having ‘ongoing discussions’ about Cathy Engelbert’s future as commissioner

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Lindsay Gibbs

At a press conference at NBA Summer League earlier this month, NBA commissioner Adam Silver was asked about Engelbert’s future. While he said he was “pleased” with the WNBA’s growth, he added that there would be “ongoing discussions” on Engelbert. Here are Silver’s full comments:

So Cathy and I, you know, work together, and I don’t want to speak for Cathy. I would only say, I’m very pleased with where the WNBA is. We’ve made tremendous progress under her leadership over the last several years. Again, the season, we’re off again to a very strong start.

I think my sense was — I was behind the scenes in the collective bargaining process, but I was pleased both with how the league conducted itself and ultimately the Players Association. I think that we reset economically, which was long overdue. My sense is from talking directly with the players that they are pleased with the outcome.

As I said, I think Cathy continues to do a strong job building that league. We’ll have ongoing discussions about what the future looks like.

An ESPN report just ahead of All-Star Weekend cited multiple “high-ranking team sources” who expect that this will be Engelbert’s last season in charge. 

“I don’t see any change [since Collier’s comments],” one anonymous owner told ESPN. “I don’t think she’s learned significantly based on her failures.”

On Friday, WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike expressed empathy for Engelbert and said that it wasn’t her decision whether or not she remained as commissioner. However, she did not sound satisfied with the current state of affairs.

“I think growing pains are natural,” Ogwumike said. “But at what point do those become chronic? You know, after a while, if you’re still experiencing those symptoms, you have to do something to alleviate that type of pain, and that’s what the players are asking for.”

CHICAGO — The WNBA’s 2026 All-Star Weekend is in the books after Team Spoon took down Team Coop, 129-122, thanks to an MVP performance from Jonquel Jones, who put up 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to become the first player in league history to win MVP, Finals MVP, Commissioner’s Cup MVP and All-Star MVP. 

Rookie Olivia Miles added 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for a near-triple-double of her own, while Caitlin Clark added 17 points and five assists in front of a record crowd of 19,783 at the United Center. 

Earlier in the weekend, Team Washington became the inaugural Shooting Stars champion, while No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd became the first rookie to win the 3-Point Contest. 

The 2026 WNBA regular season will resume Tuesday. Before then, let’s take a look at some of the winners and losers from All-Star Weekend. 

Winner: Jonquel Jones

Jones added yet another trophy to her collection on Sunday with an MVP performance in her sixth career All-Star appearance. The veteran center put up 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to become the first player in WNBA history to be named MVP, Finals MVP, Commissioner’s Cup MVP and All-Star MVP. 

In addition, Jones has Most Improved Player and Sixth Player of the Year trophies, along with five All-WNBA and four All-Defensive honors and a championship. Though not often regarded as one of the league’s all-time greats, she is one of the most decorated players. 

After the game, an emotional Jones dedicated her performance to her late aunt, who passed away recently. 

“My love for the game,” Jones said, when asked what’s allowed her to stay so consistent and have so much success. “This is everything I dreamed about, that I wanted as a little kid. I told my parents when I was five years old that I was gonna be a professional athlete. The plan never changed, even when it looked murky, when I didn’t know how I was gonna get it done. When I was on the phone calling random coaches in the Bahamas, hoping that somebody would give me a chance. That was always the goal.”

Winner: Azzi Fudd

Fudd was the first No. 1 overall pick not to be named an All-Star in their rookie season since Charli Collier in 2021, but she still got her All-Star moment with a historic performance to win the 3-Point Contest. She scored 24 points in the first round to qualify for the championship round, then poured in 30 points to defeat Bridget Carleton and take home the trophy. 

Fudd is the first rookie, first Wings player and first UConn alum to win the 3-Point Contest, and her 30 points in the championship round are tied for the second-most in 3-Point Contest history. 

Highest 3-Point scores in WNBA history

After her win, Fudd challenged Stephen Curry to a rematch. Back in high school, Fudd was one of the first girls invited to Curry’s SC30 Select Camp, and lost to him in a 3-point contest. 

“Steph, if you are listening, I’ve been asking for a rematch since high school, so maybe this is our time to start figuring out a time and a place,” Fudd said.

Loser: Cathy Engelbert

It was hard not to feel for commissioner Cathy Engelbert when she began stammering after she was asked directly during her pre-All-Star Game press conference if she expected to remain in charge in 2027. Once she finally started speaking, Engelbert was evasive about her future, which has come under increased scrutiny over the last year. 

“Obviously I am so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hypergrowth period, so blessed that these players are putting the product on the court they are every night, that they stand for the values that the W has long sought for,” Engelbert said. “I will just continue to do my job, execute the strategy because it has been working. Make sure we listen to the players, communicate with the players.”

Engelbert, who is the league’s first commissioner, has been in her role since 2019. While she has overseen tremendous growth, she has recently faced significant criticism for her inability to cultivate relationships with players. Just ahead of All-Star Weekend, an ESPN report cited multiple “high-ranking team sources” who expect that this will be Engelbert’s last season in charge. 

Her press conference did nothing to dissuade those thoughts, nor did the deafening boos around the arena at the United Center when she presented the trophy.

Winner: Elena Delle Donne

Delle Donne made her return to “competitive” action this weekend during Friday’s Shooting Stars competition and helped Team Washington lift the inaugural trophy alongside Shakira Austin and high school star GG Banks (who previously attended the same high school as Delle Donne — Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware). 

The two-time MVP and 2019 champion, who had to retire early at 33 years old due to Lyme disease and persistent back injuries, spent the majority of her career fighting to keep the league afloat. In Chicago, where she spent her first four seasons, she finally got to experience the league she helped create. 

“I came into the league and made the choice to try to stay home and be marketable. Going overseas, there was a lot of money to be made there, but I did feel like we were losing the market and people would forget about the WNBA in the offseason,” Delle Donne said. 

“When I came in as a rookie, I wanted to try my best to be marketable, get a signature shoe, do all those things. There were a lot of moments where it was like, ‘This is hard, I don’t know if this is gonna happen,’” Delle Donne continued. “You just keep your head down, keep working and trust in the process. I’m so proud of where this league is and where it will continue to go.”

Elena Delle Donne reflects on massive WNBA growth after triumphant return to All-Star Weekend

Jack Maloney

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Winner: Dominique Malonga

Malonga is averaging 16.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game during her sophomore season, which earned her an All-Star nod. At 20 years old, she became the third-youngest All-Star in WNBA history. Now, she’s the youngest player to dunk in an All-Star Game. 

In the middle of the second quarter, Malonga took a pass from Angel Reese on the fastbreak and cruised down the lane for an effortless slam, which brought everyone out of their seats. 

Malonga is the first player to dunk in an All-Star Game since Sylvia Fowles in 2022, and the seventh player to do so all-time. 

Loser: Sky

The Sky’s dreadful few years continued this weekend when they became the first host franchise in All-Star Game history to not have a single player representative take part in an All-Star Weekend event.  

While it was understandable that no Sky player made the All-Star Game, it was a major surprise that Sky players were absent from both the Shooting Stars competition and the 3-Point Contest. The general sense on the ground in Chicago around the Sky’s lack of on-court representation was confusion. It also highlighted what has been another disappointing season in the Windy City. 

Despite a number of win-now moves in the offseason, the Sky — who owe the Mystics a 2027 first-round pick swap — are stuck in 13th place at 9-18. They’re five and a half games behind the Mystics for the final playoff spot, and may end up giving up a lottery pick for the second draft in a row. To make matters worse, Olivia Miles, whom the Lynx selected with the Sky’s 2026 first-round pick, started Saturday’s game and nearly recorded a triple-double. 

Chicago and the Sky put on a great event, which included All-Star practice at The Obama Presedential Center — attended by Obama himself. But as cool as that moment was for the players and the league, even that couldn’t be fully celebrated. It only happened because the Sky’s practice facility, which was supposed to host practice and other events, is still not ready. (It was originally supposed to open in December of 2025.)

Despite possessing obvious talent, Prince Tycoon has proven to be a frustrating galloper for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

For this reason, Prince Tycoon will race with blinkers for the first time when he contests the Quayclean Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Prince Tycoon began his career in fine style at Caulfield in May last year, a performance that earned the then two-year-old a trip to Queensland for the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) at the Gold Coast 13 days later, where he finished second.

Those initial two efforts gave the stable considerable encouragement heading into the spring, but Prince Tycoon failed to deliver, finishing out of the top three in two of his three starts.

After being spelled again, Prince Tycoon resumed with a strong on-pace win at Bendigo. He then returned to metropolitan racing to run third at Caulfield Heath over 1200m before a narrow second in his last start, the Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on July 4.

It was following that run the stable decided to apply blinkers.

“We’re going to add a little bit of headgear to him on Saturday,” Young commented.

“He was in front at Flemington last time and he just floated in and out when that horse (winner, Wise Inlaw) came up inside him.

“His last two gallops in the headgear have been good, so hopefully that will work on Saturday and as he’s got a bit of weight, we’ve gone with a claimer.”

Ryan Houston will claim 2kg off Prince Tycoon’s weight, bringing his impost to 57.5kg.

Young noted that Prince Tycoon had also been a frustration with his behaviour at the barriers, which led to the gelding spending time with Julien Welsh.

She stated that this ‘education’ had resulted in better performances this campaign.

“He’s shown plenty, but he’s just been a bit funny in the gates,” Young said.

“He’s taken a bit of work. We had to send him to Julien Welsh and then got him back.

“This preparation, he’s been excellent, he’s behaved himself, he’s filled out and he’s doing everything right.

Hopefully the blinkers do the trick.”

Prince Tycoon faces the Quayclean Handicap at Caulfield this weekend. Consider the online bookmakers for your wagers.

Dominik Szoboszlai sends clear Liverpool message with stunning Sunderland equaliser

Pre-season can be noisy. Fitness, experiments, half-ready line-ups, inflated takes. Strip all that away and one detail still matters, quality travels. Dominik Szoboszlai reminded everyone of that in Liverpool’s friendly against Sunderland in Nashville.

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Liverpool went 2-1 down and the game had turned messy. Then Szoboszlai stepped in. Lewis Koumas and Milos Kerkez did the hard work, Sunderland only half-cleared, and Liverpool’s number 8 did the rest. From 25 yards, on the volley, he lashed an equaliser past the goalkeeper. Clean contact, no fuss, no chance for anyone in the way. A serious goal.

He has made a habit of these. Last season there were long-range free kicks against Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. This one came from open play, and in some ways it said more. It was instinctive, technically sharp and struck with complete conviction.

After the North Wilkesboro race, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, for the Brickyard 400. The 22nd race of the season will go live on TNT Sports at 2 pm ET on Sunday, July 26.

The IMS race will be contested on a 2.5-mile-long oval track. Thirty-nine drivers will compete over 160 laps to drive down Victory Lane. FOX Sports motorsports reporter Bob Pockrass shared the starting lineup for the 2026 Brickyard 400.

Who is on pole for 2026 Brickyard 400?

In Saturday’s (July 25) Cup Series qualifying, Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar claimed his second pole of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season with a time of 48.232 seconds and a speed of 186.598 mph. It marked Hocevar’s third pole of his career.

Hocevar is all set to lead the field to the green flag at the start of the 2026 Indianapolis race, and his teammate Daniel Suarez will share the front row with him after a lap of 186.382 mph.

The pair will be followed by Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, and Denny Hamlin in the top-five. Michael McDowell, Corey Heim, Alex Bowman, A. J. Allmendinger, and the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson completed the top 10.

Bubba Wallace, the defending winner of the event, qualified 29th on Sunday.

2026 Brickyard 400 starting line-up

Below is the complete starting lineup for the 39-car grid at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

1. #77 – Carson Hocevar
2. #7 – Daniel Suárez
3. #45 – Tyler Reddick
4. #54 – Ty Gibbs
5. #11 – Denny Hamlin
6. #71 – Michael McDowell
7. #67 – Corey Heim (i)
8. 348 – Alex Bowman
9. #16 – A. J. Allmendinger
10. #5 – Kyle Larson
11. #19 – Chase Briscoe
12. #41 – Cole Custer
13. #12 – Ryan Blaney
14. #43 – Erik Jones
15. #17 – Chris Buescher
16. #6 – Brad Keselowski
17. #42 – John Hunter Nemechek
18. #35 – Riley Herbst
19. #22 – Joey Logano
20. #3 – Austin Dillon
21. #24 – William Byron
22. #1 – Ross Chastain
23. #20 – Christopher Bell
24. #47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
25. #97 – Shane van Gisbergen
26. #21 – Josh Berry
27. #9 – Chase Elliott
28. #10 – Ty Dillon
29. #23 – Bubba Wallace
30. #38 – Zane Smith
31. #88 – Connor Zilisch (R)
32. #33 – Austin Hill (i)
33. #4 – Noah Gragson
34. #60 – Ryan Preece
35. #2 – Austin Cindric
36. #34 – Todd Gilliland
37. #51 – Cody Ware
38. #62 – Casey Mears
39. #78 – Daniel Dye (i)

Watch all NASCAR Cup Series teams and drivers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Brickyard 400.