Last Week around the Leagues
WNBA Women's National Basketball Association

Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
Published on August 11, 2026 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)


This past week Larry Berg was named the third Commissioner of Major League Soccer, the Women's National Basketball Association expansion team in Cleveland announced it will be known as the Cleveland Sirens, and the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets named the Wheeling Nailers as its ECHL affiliate.

Highlights from this week come from Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League Championship, United Soccer League One, Women's National Basketball Association, Canadian Elite Basketball League, ECHL, Professional Women's Hockey League, Federal Prospects Hockey League, Arena Football One, The Arena League, Canadian Football League, Major League Volleyball, Athletes Unlimited Softball League, Northwoods League Softball, South Atlantic League, Southern League, Midwest League, National Lacrosse League, and Premier Lacrosse League.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer announced that Larry Berg has been named the league's next Commissioner. Berg, Co-Managing Owner of Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and Co-Chair of Major League Soccer's Sporting and Competition Committee, was selected following a comprehensive succession planning process led by the MLS Board of Governors, with Korn Ferry, CAA and The Miles Group serving as advisors throughout the search. Berg will be officially introduced on Aug. 4 at MLS headquarters in Midtown Manhattan and assume the role of Commissioner on Jan. 1, 2027. Garber will continue to serve as Commissioner through the end of 2026 before transitioning to the role of Chairman in 2027, ensuring a seamless leadership transition as MLS enters one of the most significant periods in its history. "I'm honored to lead Major League Soccer into its next era," said Berg. "Thanks to the vision and commitment of so many people, Major League Soccer has achieved tremendous success, but I believe our greatest opportunities are still ahead. We have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the quality of our competition, develop more world-class players, deepen our connection with supporters, and continue elevating Major League Soccer's place in the global game. Together with our owners, clubs, players, partners, supporters, and league staff, I could not be more excited for what comes next."

Larry Berg joins SportsCenter to discuss becoming the third commissioner in MLS history and his vision for the league moving forward.

Austin FC Myrto Uzuni FIRST-HALF HAT TRICK with free kick banger and golazo volley!

United Soccer League Championship

Oakland Roots return to Coliseum under 'pay or don't play' agreement. The financial strain is largely driven by dwindling attendance, which has drained much-needed revenue. Securities and Exchange Commission investor disclosures show continued operating losses for the club.

United Soccer League One

The Portland Hearts of Pine have plans to build a new soccer stadium on the city's waterfront.

BASKETBALL

Women's National Basketball Association

Introducing the Cleveland Sirens. New WNBA franchise's identity is unveiled. Cleveland Sirens President of Business Operations Allison Howard joins SportsCenter to talk about the WNBA's newest franchise.

Watch the full sequence between DiJonai Carrington and Sophie Cunningham that led to Carrington receiving a Flagrant 2 and being ejected in the first quarter of the Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky

Canadian Elite Basketball League

Top 10 Plays of the Week

HOCKEY

ECHL

The Wheeling Nailers have announced that they have signed an affiliation agreement with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets and the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. This is a two-year agreement, which will begin with the 2026-27 season. The Blue Jackets are entering their 26th season in the NHL, and are coming off back-to-back 40-win seasons. The Monsters are entering their 20th season and are coming off three consecutive trips to the Calder Cup Playoffs. Cleveland reached the North Division Final this past season and went all the way to game seven of the Eastern Conference Final in 2024. The geographical layout of the affiliation will be a major advantage for the three teams, as Wheeling is located just 166 miles from Cleveland and 128 miles from Columbus. Cleveland is the closest AHL city to Wheeling, while Columbus is the second closest NHL destination to the Friendly City. Additionally, the 166 miles between Cleveland and Wheeling creates the sixth shortest distance between current AHL and ECHL affiliates. "We are excited to begin our new partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters," said Nailers President & Governor Brian Komorowski. "Geographically, this makes all of the sense in the world for us. When transactions occur, the travel for the players will be extremely convenient. This also gives us an excellent opportunity to expand our growing fanbase deeper into Ohio, as we look forward to welcoming fans from Columbus and Cleveland to WesBanco Arena. We had amazing conversations with Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell and Assistant General Manager Chris Clark, which makes us that much more eager to officially get things started."

Wheeling Nailers announce new NHL Affiliate

Professional Women's Hockey League

Brodie Brazil sits down with Maddi Wheeler from PWHL San Jose to talk about moving to California, creating this new team, and more.

Federal Prospects Hockey League

Professional Hockey coming to Oceanside. The Oceanside Shock will debut at Frontwave Arena in October.

Ontario Hockey League

The Barrie Colts announced that John Winstanley will join the organization as President of Hockey Operations, effective ahead of the upcoming season. Winstanley brings extensive hockey management experience to Barrie, including several years as a General Manager within the Ontario Hockey League. He also spent time with the Toronto Junior Canadians of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), and has served in an executive capacity with the GTHL itself, giving him a well-rounded background in player development, scouting, and organizational leadership at both the junior and major junior levels. Winstanley shared the following remarks on joining the organization:

"I'm incredibly excited and honoured to join this organization" said Winstanley. "This is a tremendous opportunity to be part of a franchise with a proud history, passionate supporters, and a commitment to developing young athletes both on and off the ice. From my conversations with ownership and the leadership group, it was clear that we share the same vision for what this organization can become. Our goal is to build a championship-caliber program through strong leadership, elite player development, thorough scouting, and a culture that demands accountability, professionalism, and excellence every day."

FOOTBALL

Arena Football One

The Nashville Kats captured the AF1 Arena Crown championship with a 59-53 win over the Albany Firebirds before a sell-out crown of 4,066 at F&M Bank Arena. On the final play of the game, Nashville's Roderick Perry stopped Albany quarterback Sam Castranova short of the goal line on a quarterback sneak to secure the win for the Kats.

Everything came down to this. The Kats are your Arena Crown champions. From panic to party in seconds.

The Arena League

The Arena League - Championship (All Touchdowns) Saint Joseph Goats defeated the Arkansas Diamonds 52-30.

Canadian Football League

CFL Plays of the Week

United Football League

Orlando Storm running back Jashaun Corbin has signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. Corbin becomes the fourth Orlando player and 39th player from the 2026 UFL season to sign an NFL contract since the conclusion of the season. He joins defensive end Keshawn Banks (Atlanta Falcons), wide receiver Cam Camper (New York Jets), and cornerback D.J. James (New York Giants) as Orlando players to earn NFL contracts. Corbin played in all 10 games for the Storm in 2026, rushing for 438 yards on 131 carries with three touchdowns. He added 118 receiving yards and 322 kick return yards to finish with 878 total yards, ranking third in the UFL. His 438 rushing yards also ranked third in the league.

OTHER SPORTS

Major League Volleyball

Major League Volleyball is back in Las Vegas, as the Vegas Thrill has officially announced it will return to the court in 2027. The team will undergo a strategic reboot, marking a major step forward for professional women's sports and Major League Volleyball (MLV) in Nevada. Guided by a new operating framework and a commitment to long-term excellence, the franchise is prepared to elevate professional volleyball into a lasting fixture in the Las Vegas sports and entertainment landscape. Led by a locally rooted owner in Michael Landier, executive producer and founder of Landier Entertainment, team president Ruben Herrera and general manager Fran Flory, the organization is moving forward with a clear vision to build a first-class professional sports franchise defined by championship-caliber volleyball, unforgettable fan experiences, and a lasting impact throughout Clark County. "I've called Nevada home for nearly two decades and have had a front-row seat as Las Vegas has transformed into a major league sports market," said Landier. "As a fan of the Vegas Thrill and a longtime supporter of our sports community, bringing the team back is especially meaningful to me. We're ready to build something special for Vegas fans by delivering the elite competition, family-friendly atmosphere and memorable experiences that define Major League Volleyball."

Vegas Thrill Set to return for 2027 season under new ownership.

The Atlanta Vibe announced the return of inaugural roster cornerstone Shelly Fanning to a front office ambassador role as the first player in Major League Volleyball history to return to her team after becoming a mom. Fanning, who starred as a Middle Blocker in Atlanta's first season in 2024, gave birth to her daughter in March 2026 and returns in a new front office role as the Pro Vibe Associate. She will focus on community, sponsorship and ticketing initiatives to build the Vibe's resonance and connection to fans throughout Atlanta. "I am thrilled to be rejoining the Atlanta Vibe front office team and my home during the inaugural Major League Volleyball season in 2024," Fanning said. "I've had the privilege of experiencing the growth of professional volleyball in Atlanta firsthand, and I look forward to continuing that momentum by joining the front office in their efforts to expand our impact, deepen community engagement, and create exceptional experiences for our fans and partners."

Athletes Unlimited Softball League

Utah Talons Championship Cinematic Recap

Northwoods League Softball

The Madison Night Mares defeated the Wausau Ignite to win the 2026 Northwoods League Softball Championship for the second consecutive season, sweeping the two game series between the teams. The Night Mares took the lead in the second inning, as Trinity Kennemer (Metropolitan State University of Denver) hit a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. In the third, Madison added on. Tia Durst (University of Washington) hit a solo homer to make it 2-0, and Danielle Lucey and Ava Carroll (University of Washington) added run-scoring hits to stretch the advantage to four. The win marks the second title in championship history for the Night Mares, following the team's 2025 title. Madison broke a league record with 38 victories during the historic 2026 season.

Hilary Blomberg crushed her 21st home run of the summer to help lead the Madison Night Mares to another Northwoods League Softball crown.

BASEBALL

South Atlantic League

2026 No. 1 overall pick Roch Cholowsky swats his first pro homer en route to a five-RBI performance for High-A Winston-Salem Dash

Southern League

Braves No. 2 prospect Eric Hartman steals his 40th base of the season for Double-A Columbus Clingstones

Midwest League

Tigers prospect Cristian Santana delivers a three-homer performance for High-A West Michigan Whitecaps.

LACROSSE

National Lacrosse League

The Halifax Thunderbirds announced that the team has signed defender Graeme Hossack to a three-year contract extension. "Guys like Hossack don't come around very often, so you want to lock him up when you get the opportunity. At times, defence revolves around him. He's a pillar of this organization, and we're glad he's back for three more years," Thunderbirds Defensive Coach Andrew Suitor said. Hossack, 33, is a 10-year National Lacrosse League veteran, having spent all of those years as a member of the Thunderbirds' organization. The franchise originally selected him in the first round (second overall) of the 2015 NLL Draft. The Port Perry, Ontario product appeared in all 18 regular-season games for the Thunderbirds last season, posting four goals and 14 points along with 132 loose balls, 20 caused turnovers, and 19 blocks. In 174 career games, Hossack has registered 51 goals and 96 assists for 147 points in transition, as well as 1,319 loose balls, 262 caused turnovers, and 85 blocked shots.

Top 5 Plays 2025-26 - Buffalo Bandits.

Premier Lacrosse League

Top Plays of Week 12

Check out the Women's National Basketball Association Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 11, 2026


The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central