THE EVE EDITION
AFTERGLOW | SUN OCT 4
Atlanta and Golden State both took Game 1 of their WNBA semifinals, the Valkyries against the defending champion Aces, though both games also brought injuries that could shape the series.
In Barcelona, Clàudia Pina scored four times before halftime of a 7-0 Clásico watched by a Liga F record crowd. In Beijing, Nikola Bartůňková removed Aryna Sabalenka a day after top seed Elena Rybakina fell, leaving the China Open without either of its top two seeds.
Manchester City stayed perfect by beating Arsenal from behind twice, Milan stole a late win from Juventus, and Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim found winners in the final 15 minutes. By night Clara Luvanga made NWSL history for Washington, North Carolina came back from match point against Georgia Tech, and Jeeno Thitikul answered a double bogey with two closing birdies to win in Hawaii.
Canada and Williams Put Atlanta and Golden State Ahead in the Semifinals
Jordin Canada scored 20 of her 25 points after halftime as Atlanta beat New York 92-82, and Gabby Williams had 25 points and 11 rebounds as Golden State beat Las Vegas 71-60, giving the Dream and the Valkyries 1-0 leads in their best-of-five semifinals. Canada shot 9 of 14 with four three-pointers and five steals. Atlanta trailed 40-37 at halftime, won the third quarter 32-15 and scored 32 points off 21 Liberty turnovers, which AP says ties the WNBA playoff record, but lost Allisha Gray to a left-hand injury in the first half. At Chase Center, Golden State’s bench outscored the Aces 27-7 and held them to a season-low 60 points, and Jewell Loyd left in the third quarter with a left-leg injury. The Valkyries had lost all three regular-season meetings with Las Vegas. Janelle Salaün was also named Sixth Player of the Year with all 74 votes, and Game 2 for Atlanta is Wednesday, October 7.
Pina Scores Four as Barcelona Beat Real Madrid 7-0
Clàudia Pina scored four first-half goals as Barcelona led 5-0 at the break and beat Real Madrid 7-0 before a Liga F record crowd of 40,533, the club’s biggest win over its rival. Pina became the first Barcelona player to score four against Madrid, Caroline Graham Hansen added the third, and Ewa Pajor’s goal was her 15th in Clásicos, equaling Alexia Putellas’ record. Barcelona lead Liga F with 18 points from six wins, five clear of Madrid. Real Sociedad earned its first league win of the season, 1-0 at Valencia through captain Nerea Eizagirre, and Tenerife beat Logroño 2-1 on a stoppage-time volley from substitute Iratxe Pérez.
Bartůňková Stuns Sabalenka in Beijing
Nikola Bartůňková beat #2 seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 to reach the China Open’s fourth round, and with top seed Elena Rybakina already out, Beijing has its first last 16 since 2015 without either of its top two seeds. The 20-year-old Czech, seeded #26, converted three of eight break points while Sabalenka failed on all five of hers in the first set, and it was the first Top 3 win of her career. #4 Mirra Andreeva beat Polina Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 after trailing 4-2, #5 Linda Nosková beat Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-1 and #19 Ekaterina Alexandrova came from a set down against Diana Shnaider. Bartůňková meets Sinja Kraus next, and Nosková and Alexandrova meet Tuesday.
Hemp Double Keeps Manchester City Perfect as Arsenal Stuck in 10th
Lauren Hemp scored twice as Manchester City came from behind twice to beat Arsenal 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium, keeping the champions perfect through five WSL matches. Lisa Baum and Alessia Russo gave Arsenal leads either side of halftime, but Hemp equalized in first-half stoppage time, substitute Kerstin Casparij leveled again, Hemp put City ahead in the 72nd minute and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw closed it out. Arsenal sit 10th, 10 points behind City, and manager Renée Slegers said, “We’re not in the title race conversation.” Chelsea won 3-0 at West Ham to stay second on 13 points, and London City Lionesses moved third with a 6-1 win at Tottenham.
Late Winners Lift Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim as Union Score Four
Anny Kerim-Lindland’s 80th-minute goal gave Wolfsburg a 2-1 win over Hamburg and moved the club second in the Frauen-Bundesliga, three points behind Bayern Munich, on the day captain Svenja Huth made her 350th top-flight appearance. Hoffenheim came from behind at Nürnberg when Jonna van de Velde scored in the 87th minute for a second straight league win. Union Berlin won 4-0 at Stuttgart for its first away win of the season, with Lina Hausicke scoring twice.
Milan’s Late Turnaround Stuns Juventus as Inter Wins at Como
AC Milan scored twice in two minutes to beat Juventus 2-1, its first Serie A Women win of the season and the club’s 100th in the competition. Martina Lenzini put Juventus ahead in the 79th minute, Thea Kyvåg equalized in the 86th and a deflected Renzotti shot won it two minutes later, handing Juventus its first defeat. Como 1907 stayed perfect with Riola Xhemaili’s 95th-minute winner at Napoli, and Inter beat Como Women 2-0. Roma, Inter and Como 1907 share the lead on six points.
PSG Wins at Fleury to Carry Perfect Start Into Lyon Showdown
Paris Saint-Germain won 3-1 at Fleury to stay perfect through four Première Ligue matches, three days after a 5-0 Champions League win over OH Leuven. Morissaint scored from the penalty spot, Echegini headed in the second before halftime and Rasheedat Ajibade added a third before Chossenotte pulled one back. PSG trails OL Lyonnes only on goal difference, and the two meet October 17 at the Parc des Princes.
Villarreal Turns the Red River Match as Florida State Hold Off Clemson
Amalia Villarreal scored a 68th-minute penalty and an 82nd-minute winner as Texas came from behind to beat Oklahoma 2-1, the program’s 200th win at Mike A. Myers Stadium. Florida State scored twice in the first 10 minutes through Sam Erbach and Wrianna Hudson and held on for a 2-1 win at #23 Clemson, ending the Tigers’ eight-match home unbeaten run. The Seminoles, unbeaten in five, face #1 North Carolina on Friday.
North Carolina Survive Match Point and Reverse-Sweep Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech rushed the court after what it thought was a match-ending block against #25 North Carolina, but a challenge for a net fault overturned the call, and the Tar Heels won the third set 28-26 and the match 3-2. Safi Hampton tied her career high with 22 kills as North Carolina moved to 4-0 in the ACC. #6 Wisconsin beat #20 Minnesota 3-1 behind freshman Audrey Flanagan’s 14 kills, #17 Oregon ended Illinois’ seven-match winning streak after a 31-29 first set, and #5 SMU swept Boston College for its 13th straight ACC win.
Gotham Secure a Home Quarterfinal as Luvanga Wins It for Washington
Gotham clinched a home playoff match despite conceding a stoppage-time equalizer to Angel City in a 1-1 draw, after Jaedyn Shaw’s 10th goal of the season had put them ahead. Washington needed three leads to beat Houston 3-2, and Clara Luvanga, the first Tanzanian player in NWSL history, scored the 84th-minute winner that eliminated the Dash. Lindsey Heaps scored twice as Denver won 3-0 at Chicago, and Abby Smith kept her 20th regular-season clean sheet on her 33rd birthday.
Thitikul Answers a Late Double Bogey With Birdies to Win the LOTTE Championship
Jeeno Thitikul drove into the water at the 16th and made double bogey to fall into a tie, then birdied the last two holes to win the LOTTE Championship by three at 21 under. Ina Yoon, level after 16, found water off the 17th tee and bogeyed. Thitikul closed with a 68 at Hoakalei Country Club for her fourth win of the season and the 11th of her career, passed $20 million in career earnings and became the first Thai winner of the event. The tour moves to the Buick LPGA Shanghai, October 15-18.
LAST LIGHT
Sunday kept asking how teams respond. Thitikul lost her lead with two holes left and won by three. City trailed Arsenal twice and won by two. North Carolina was one overturned call from a sweep and won in five.