THE EVE EDITION
Lyonnes Hits Eight as Barcelona Answers an Early Scare
OL Lyonnes delivered the loudest statement of Champions League Matchday 1, overwhelming Servette 8-0 in Geneva behind a Marie-Antoinette Katoto hat trick and two goals from Melchie Dumornay. Last season’s runners-up produced the largest victory of the league-phase era and finished the opening round atop the 18-team table on goal difference.
Barcelona had to come from behind after Evelyne Viens gave Paris FC an early lead, but Kerolin answered and Clara Serrajordi put the defending champions in front before halftime. Caroline Graham Hansen then took over, creating Ewa Pajor’s first goal, scoring herself and helping set up Pajor again. Paris FC’s Clara Mateo pulled one back late to make the final 5-2. Pajor moved level with Sam Kerr on 17 goals, the most since the competition introduced its group stage, as Barcelona celebrated the 900th official victory in the history of its women’s team.
Chelsea had a much tighter opening night. Wieke Kaptein ripped a first-half strike into the top corner against Champions League debutant Austria Wien, but the expected separation never came. Chelsea created opportunities to extend the lead through Melvine Malard, Alyssa Thompson, Sjoeke Nüsken and Sandy Baltimore, while Austria Wien nearly stole an equalizer when Modesta Uka struck the post. Kaptein’s goal survived as the difference in a 1-0 win that delivered three points without anything resembling the control Chelsea would have wanted.
Roma did not even get that escape. OH Leuven held the Italian side 0-0 in Belgium, with Marta Pandini sending Roma’s best opportunity off the base of the post from the penalty spot late in the match. Leuven had chances of its own after halftime and earned its point behind an excellent performance from Jada Conijnenberg. It was only the second scoreless draw of the league-phase era, and remarkably, Leuven has been involved in both.
Ajax Routs Aktobe as the Europa Cup Field Begins to Separate
Ajax hammered Aktobe 8-0 behind an Ella Touon hat trick and two goals from Katja Snoeijs, while Klaudia Miłek scored four times as Czarni Sosnowiec delivered the day’s biggest surprise with a 6-2 win at Breiðablik. Wolfsburg overwhelmed Sturm Graz 6-1. Feyenoord, Brøndby and Sparta Praha each built 4-1 advantages, and Malmö and Hammarby won 2-0. At the other end of the spectrum, Hearts and Real Sociedad finished scoreless in the only draw of 15 first legs, leaving plenty still open when the Europa Cup returns next week.
Spain and DPR Korea Turn the Semifinals Into a Champions’ Final
Spain dominated Italy 2-0 to return to the U-20 Women’s World Cup final, piling up 26 shots and getting the breakthrough when Daniela Agote’s cross deflected in for an own goal. Agote then created Pau Comendador’s tournament-leading sixth goal to seal it. DPR Korea was every bit as commanding in a 3-0 win over Colombia, allowing only two shots and none on target as Pak Ok-I, Choe Rim-jong and So Ryu-gyong scored. Sunday’s final now brings together the last two champions: 2022 winner Spain against defending champion DPR Korea, which has gone through six matches in Poland without conceding.
Dream Claims No. 4 as Dallas Puts a Bow on Its Turnaround
Atlanta secured the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the opening round with an 83-65 win over New York, breaking the game open with a 23-7 second quarter. Allisha Gray scored 24 points as the Dream finished 30-14, but both teams left with health concerns. Angel Reese did not return after taking an inadvertent elbow from Sabrina Ionescu late in the first half, while the Liberty, already without Breanna Stewart, lost Jonquel Jones to a left ankle injury.
Dallas closed its remarkable turnaround with a 103-91 win over Seattle. Paige Bueckers scored 25, Arike Ogunbowale added 23 and Jessica Shepard delivered 20 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the Wings finished 27-17, a 17-win improvement from last season. Seattle’s young trio of Dominique Malonga, Awa Fam and Flau’jae Johnson combined for 72 points in the loss.
Spain Survives a Doubles Marathon to End an 18-Year Semifinal Wait
Spain reached its first Billie Jean King Cup semifinal since 2008 after edging Kazakhstan 2-1 in a tie that came down to a punishing doubles decider. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro opened with a 6-2, 6-2 win before Yulia Putintseva beat Cristina Bucșa in three sets to force the decisive rubber.
Bucșa returned alongside Sara Sorribes Tormo and withstood 20 break-point opportunities from Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva, saving 18 in a 6-2, 7-5 victory. The second set alone lasted nearly 90 minutes as Spain repeatedly fought off chances for Kazakhstan to move ahead. The five-time champions now face Czechia on Friday, two wins away from their first title since 1998.
Kalinina Does Double Duty as Ukraine Returns to the Semifinals
Anhelina Kalinina delivered both points as Ukraine beat Belgium 2-1 to return to the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals. Kalinina recovered after dropping an opening-set tiebreak to Jana Otzipka, winning 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 before Greet Minnen answered for Belgium with a three-set victory over Elina Svitolina to force the deciding doubles.
Kalinina then teamed with Lyudmyla Kichenok and finished the job with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Magali Kempen and Lara Salden. Ukraine is back in the semifinals for the second consecutive year after reaching the stage for the first time in 2025 and will face the winner of China-Italy on Saturday.
Andreeva Cruises Into a Singapore Rematch With Fernandez
Mirra Andreeva cruised into the Singapore quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich and will meet Leylah Fernandez, who avenged her Roland-Garros loss to Alycia Parks with a 6-4, 6-3 win. Fernandez beat Andreeva 6-1, 6-4 in Toronto only a few weeks ago. Maja Chwalińska overwhelmed Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-0, 6-1 in 59 minutes to advance against defending champion Elise Mertens, who moved through by walkover after Barbora Krejčíková withdrew with a lower-back injury.
USA Stays Perfect, Then Slams the Door on the Dominican Republic
The United States stayed perfect at the NORCECA Women’s Final Six with a 3-1 win over the Dominican Republic, taking the first two sets before surrendering the third, its first dropped set of the tournament. The Americans watched a five-point lead disappear in the fourth before Toyosi Onabanjo and Ella Powell finished the 27-25 clincher with consecutive blocks. Caitie Baird led the U.S. with 19 points as it improved to 3-0, setting up a rematch with Mexico, the only team to beat the Americans during their Pan American Cup championship run last week.
Nebraska Closes Nonconference Play Unbeaten as Kentucky Rallies at Vanderbilt
No. 1 Nebraska finally got its match with Missouri after the original meeting at Wrigley Field was called off, sweeping the Tigers 25-10, 25-17, 25-14 to finish nonconference play 11-0. The Huskers hit .380 while holding Missouri to .020. No. 3 Kentucky recovered after dropping its opening set at Vanderbilt to win 3-1, while No. 8 Florida swept Jacksonville for its seventh straight victory.
Aminata Wins the Fight as AEW’s Women’s Division Crowds Around Moné
Queen Aminata beat Skye Blue with Mercedes Moné watching from commentary, but the aftermath became the bigger picture. Julia Hart attacked Aminata, Mina Shirakawa answered, Thekla joined the fight and Willow Nightingale followed, leaving six women, Blue included, facing off as Moné stood above them raising the AEW Women’s World Championship. Willow can earn the next shot at Moné by beating Thekla at All Out, while Women’s World Tag Team Champions Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor were ambushed by challengers Megan Bayne and Lena Kross during a decidedly unfriendly tea party. Persephone retained the TBS Championship against Hyan with help from the ropes, then issued an open challenge for All Out after Hyan and Thunder Rosa called out Persephone and Britt Baker for a tag match next week.
H.A.T.E. Steals Hanan’s Belt as Shimonoseki Gets Messy
Hanan and Saya Iida beat Kian Furusawa and Rian, but Ruaka crashed the celebration, attacked Hanan and ran off with the Wonder of Stardom Championship ahead of their September 29 title match. H.A.T.E. later beat Cosmic Angels in the 10-woman main event, with Ruaka arriving at ringside carrying the stolen belt. Elsewhere, Rina pinned Fuwa-chan with Pink Devil as she and Azusa Inaba defeated Hazuki and Fuwa-chan.
Lyons Outlasts Raye Before Choo Puts the Champion to Sleep
Nikkita Lyons survived a strong challenge from Skylar Raye to complete her third successful EVOLVE Women’s Championship defense, only for Wendy Choo to attack from behind, choke her out with the Dirt Nap and end the night holding the title over her. Vanta the Unknown impressed in her in-ring debut by submitting WWE ID prospect Veronica Haven before dropping Laynie Luck too, while Sloane Jacobs stole a win over PJ Vasa with help from the ropes. Anya Rune leaned further into her anime-inspired character and mysterious abilities as the all-women’s episode gave several developing names a chance to stand out.