The WNBA free agency period opened Wednesday, signings will begin Saturday, and the draft will take place Monday night. In today\u2019s newsletter, a primer on all the upcoming WNBA business. Plus, an Arsenal-focused preview of this weekend\u2019s Premier League action.<\/p>\n
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The Masters continue through the weekend, too. We\u2019ll be live-blogging the final round<\/a> on Sunday \u2014 the real tradition unlike any other. Come hang with us then, and check the NBC News website<\/a> for more coverage.<\/p>\n WNBA Free Agency<\/p>\n Balloon artist Scott Nichols and his company, Amazing Balloons MN, unexpectedly helped break some WNBA free agency news on the first day of negotiations. Social media lit up on Wednesday when users noticed an Instagram reel posted by the Minnesota balloon company showing off its collaboration with the WNBA\u2019s Minnesota Lynx.<\/p>\n A large display of glowing white, all-caps letters spelling \u201cWELCOME NNEKA\u201d stood surrounded by oversized green and blue balloons. This was in reference to WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike, who, according to multiple reports<\/a>, was on a free agency visit in Minneapolis to meet with head coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve and her staff.<\/p>\n Just moments later, the Instagram reel was deleted, but it was too late. \u201cBalloon Gate\u201d was born. Too bad for the Lynx: today, Ogwumike posted on social media<\/a> indicating she would be signing with the Los Angeles Sparks, the team with which she started her career.<\/p>\n WNBA free agency expects to be particularly frantic this year. Due to the prolonged negotiations<\/a> over the league\u2019s collective bargaining agreement, the whole schedule will be condensed. Particularly the designation period, the first phase when front offices send contract offers to players based on their years of service, and the negotiation period, which started on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s this year\u2019s accelerated timeline:<\/p>\n Designation period: Two days (normally about 10)Negotiation period: Three days (normally about a week)Free agent signings begin: Saturday, April 11WNBA draft: Monday, April 13Training camp opens: Sunday, April 19 (eight days after signing day) \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a bit of a whirlwind,\u201d free agent forward Alanna Smith said<\/a>. \u201cTeams will be reaching out to players, negotiations will begin, and I think the league is going to look very different this year. It\u2019s going to be an interesting space to be in.\u201d<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s this: A whopping 80% of the league is currently unsigned. The last time a new collective bargaining agreement was introduced, five All-Stars changed teams <\/a>in what was lauded as one of the buzziest free agency periods in league history. That was all relative, because in every year following 2020, more and more players changed teams.<\/p>\n What can we expect this year? Read Jackie Powell\u2019s full NBC Sports WNBA free agency breakdown<\/a>. <\/p>\n Premier League Preview<\/p>\n A terrifying sense of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu is creeping in for the Arsenal faithful.<\/p>\n With seven games to go, Arsenal has a 9-point lead over Manchester City atop the Premier League table. After three consecutive second-place finishes for Arsenal, surely this is the season they end their 22-year wait for the title, right?<\/p>\n Second-place Man City is hitting top form, and they host Arsenal 10 days from now. So, if Arsenal slip up this weekend at home to Bournemouth<\/a> and City take care of business at Chelsea and then beat Arsenal next weekend, the gap could be reduced to just 3 points, and City would have an extra game to play.<\/p>\n Before the international break, Arsenal lost the League Cup final to Man City in shocking fashion<\/a>. Last weekend, they were stunned at second-tier Southampton and dumped out of the FA Cup<\/a> at the quarterfinal stage.<\/p>\n They had goalkeeper David Raya to thank as they won 1-0 late on at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday to put one foot in the UEFA Champions League semifinals. But doubts about their mentality continue to creep in and injuries to key players are piling up. And Bournemouth isn\u2019t the kind of team you want to face with doubts creeping in.<\/p>\n Andoni Iraola\u2019s side is nasty to play against. They make you uncomfortable and are fully rested after 22 days without a game. They are dangerous on the counter and have won two of their last three games against Arsenal, so they will have no fear.<\/p>\n There are still plenty of twists and turns ahead, but make no mistake about it, Arsenal\u2019s home game against Bournemouth tomorrow is absolutely pivotal for their hopes of winning the title. Arsenal have to prove they have stopped the rot that has set in over the last few weeks.<\/p>\n The Sports Desk newsletter has been back for a few weeks now and we want to hear from you, gentle reader. How\u2019re we doing? What do you like about the newsletter? What can we do better? Send your comments to SportsDesk@nbcuni.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n What We’re Reading<\/p>\n Joel Embiid had an appendectomy<\/a> and his availability for the playoffs is in doubt.<\/p>\n Masters gnomes<\/a> are a hot commodity over fears this is their final year.<\/p>\n FIFA created a new World Cup ticket<\/a> category.<\/p>\n U.S. men\u2019s national team star Tyler Adams spoke with NBC Sports<\/a> about the World Cup and his life in England.<\/p>\n The NFL announced 16 players<\/a> who will attend the 2026 NFL draft.<\/p>\n What We’re Watching<\/p>\n![\"WNBA:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/260410-alanna-smith-ew-1224p-3eb42f.jpg\")
Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) scores on Phoenix Mercury forward Kathryn Westbeld (24) and forward Alyssa Thomas (25) in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at PHX Arena on Sept. 28, 2025.Rick Scuteri \/ Imagn Images file<\/p>\n![\"Image:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/260410-Arsenal-Kai-Havertz-ew-1102a-0cb5b1.jpg\")
Arsenal’s German midfielder #29 Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Sporting CP and Arsenal at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on April 7, 2026. Patricia De Melo Moreira \/ AFP – Getty ImagesNewsletter Feedback<\/p>\n