Thousands of Moldovans cut off from water after Russian strike on Ukrainian hydropower plant

BALTI, Moldova (AP) — Tens of thousands of Moldovans have been left without water after a Russian strike on a hydroelectric plant in neighboring Ukraine resulted in oil polluting a major river that flows through both countries.

Moldova Pollution

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has blamed Russia for the pollution on the Dniester River following an attack on Ukraine's Novodnistrovsk hydropower plant on March 7, saying it's "threatening Moldova's water supply" in the European Union candidate country.

The Ukrainian plant is situated about 15 kilometers (9 miles) upstream from Moldova's northern border with Ukraine and supplies water to about 80% of Moldova's population of about 2.5 million. Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, such as dams and river ports, since it fully invaded the country in 2022.

"Russia bears full responsibility," Sandu said on Sunday in a post on X.

Moldova declares environmental alert

Moldova's environment ministry on Sunday declared an environmental state of alert for 15 days, giving the authorities a legal mechanism to boost technical interventions and impose temporary restrictions on water supplies.

"We are taking this decision to make sure we prevent any risk to the population's health," it said. "Because of the continuous wave of pollution with oil products, the risk of the pollution spreading, and the exceedance of contaminant levels in the northern area of the Dniester River."

While oil pollutants have been confirmed in the river following the strike, the exact source of the pollutant is not yet clear.

The situation has forced the authorities to cut the water supply to several districts, including Moldova's second-largest city of Balti, which has a population of about 90,000 people. As well as humanitarian aid from neighboring Romania, Moldova's military stepped in this week to distribute drinking water in the northern city from a 10-tonne tanker.

Water shortage impacts residents

"It's very hard, very hard," said 84-year-old Balti resident Liuba Istrati, who has been carrying buckets of water up to her apartment. "We live on the fifth floor, it's just the two of us, old people, my husband is sick in bed."

The water shortage has also forced some schools to close and move learning online.

"It's a complicated situation, I have to come every day to get water," said Irina Mutluc, a teacher living in Balti. "Even for one person you need quite an amount of water to consume, for the bathroom and so on, so it's really complicated."

The authorities are now racing to clean up pollution and analyze and monitor the river water. Neighboring Romania, which has close relations with Moldova, has dispatched teams and equipment, such as absorbent materials for dams, to aid cleanup efforts.

Tests show improvement in water

"The latest samples taken show an improvement in the water indicators, which confirms the effectiveness of the filters and barriers for the capture and disposal of pollutants," the Ministry of Environment said on Wednesday.

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The ministry added that the authorities are "working at an accelerated pace" to resume water supplies, "but this decision will be made exclusively on the basis of at least two consecutive sets of analyses, taken on two different days ... Protecting the health of citizens remains the absolute priority."

Moldova's environment minister Gheorghe Hajder said Wednesday at a press briefing that for the first time since the crisis began, three critical monitoring points on the river "reached the admissible limit" of oil pollution.

He added that if the analyses show the same results or improve in the next 48 hours, authorities will consider reopening a pumping station on the northeastern border with Ukraine, which supplies several districts and Balti.

"It is clear evidence that upstream oil diversions have been greatly mitigated, and the absorbing dams have had their effect," he said.

The Dniester River originates in southwestern Ukraine and spans more than 1,300 kilometers (846 miles), continuing downstream through Moldova, back through southern Ukraine and empties into the Black Sea.

"Although at some points values may temporarily return within acceptable limits, matter continues to come in waves, making it difficult to accurately anticipate evolution," the environment ministry said.

Moldova plans criminal case

Moldova's General Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday that it will open a criminal case to investigate the matter, while Moldova's foreign ministry summoned Russia's ambassador to Chisinau, Oleg Ozerov, who was presented with a bottle of brownish water.

In an online statement on Wednesday, the Russian embassy in Moldova argued that the Moldovan authorities have not presented any evidence of Russia's complicity, aside from "a container with an unknown murky liquid, with no markings regarding where and when it was obtained," and that "by definition cannot be proof of anything."

The statement claimed that Moldovan authorities "publicly claim a lack of precise information about the nature of the incident, the type, and the amount of pollutants," putting forward "conflicting theories."

Ilya Trombitsky, a biologist at Eco-TIRAS, an umbrella of nongovernmental organizations in Moldova and Ukraine, says that while it's difficult yet to determine the short or long-term consequences of the pollution, the fact that "several cities are without water is an evident social damage."

"It depends on the nature of the pollutant … we still do not know either the source or the substance of pollution," he told The Associated Press. "It is evident that it is not healthy for birds, wetland birds. It is evident that some invertebrates were killed, especially upstream … crustaceans, but small ones, (which) can be food for fish."

"Moldova does not have experience in such spills," he added.

McGrath reported from Leamington Spa, England.

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March 18, 2026

Thousands of Moldovans cut off from water after Russian strike on Ukrainian hydropower plant

BALTI, Moldova (AP) — Tens of thousands of Moldovans have been left without water after a Russian strike on a hydroelectr...

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Drone drops knives, 'green leafy substance' in NY prison, staff says

A drone flew over the grounds of an upstate New York prison over the weekend in an attempt to smuggle contraband and released a package that contained knives and a "green leafy substance," among other items, officials said Wednesday, March 18.

In anews release, theNew York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervisionsaid staff at the Marcy Correctional Facility detected a drone flying above the facility grounds at around 1 a.m. local time on Saturday, March 14. The drone released a package between dormitory buildings inside the facility's secure fence.

The package was quickly recovered by staff, who then notified the department's Office of Special Investigations and the New York State Police, according to the news release. The package had wires protruding from it, which prompted the New York State Police Bomb Squad to respond to the scene to "ensure the package did not pose an immediate threat," the news release states.

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After the package was determined to be safe, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said it was opened, and authorities discovered contraband inside. The items included two double-edged knives that were 8 inches long, and over a pound of a "green leafy substance" that appeared to be wrapped with plastic and balloons.

The package also contained five "full pieces of paper saturated in intoxicating chemicals," a cell phone, two hair clippers with chargers and accessories, and four bandanas, according to the department.

The drone was recovered outside the facility, located in the town of Marcy, about 54 miles east of Syracuse, New York. The department said the investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and authorities have not identified who was responsible for sending the contraband.

"Contraband introduced into correctional facilities fuels violence and puts both staff and the incarcerated population at risk," Daniel F. Martuscello III, commissioner of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, said in a statement.

"The use of drones to deliver weapons, drugs, and cell phones is an evolving but imminent threat that our correctional system is facing as we continue to close off other means of introducing contraband into our facilities," Martuscello added.

Contraband incident prompts calls to 'criminalize the use of drones'

Following the incident, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said it supported Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to strengthen the state's ability to address illegal drone activity by banning the unlawful use of drones and limiting their activity over sensitive areas, such as correctional facilities.

The governor's proposal would also establish new criminal offenses for illegal drone activity and expand the authority of law enforcement agencies to detect, intercept, and disable drones that pose a threat to public safety, according to the department. In addition, the proposal would create a registry to identify approved drones and drone mitigation technology that may be bought by the state.

"The use of drones for illegal activities, such as smuggling contraband into correctional facilities, has become a growing threat to the safety of everyone inside our prisons," Chris Summers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, said in a statement.

"This trend poses a serious risk to the safety of both staff and inmates," Summers added. "We fully support the governor's proposal to criminalize the use of drones within 500 feet of correctional facilities, and we urge the State Legislature to stand behind this critical initiative."

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Using drones to smuggle contraband into prisons is not a new tactic, and authorities across the country have beengrappling with the issue for years. TheNational Institute of Correctionssays that contraband — such as drugs and weapons — pose a "significant risk in correctional environments, where the potential for violence and drug abuse is high."

A 2023 report from theNational Institute of Justicefound that between 2015 and 2019, the Department of Justice reported 130 drone incidents in federal prisons. But the report noted that the number of documented drone incidents is "almost certainly low."

Several incidents in recent years have made national headlines, including in December 2025 when crab legs, steak, and drugs were sent to aSouth Carolina prison. In March 2024, Georgia authoritiesarrested and charged 150 peoplefor their roles in an elaborate contraband-smuggling scheme that involved using drones to deliver drugs to prisons.

Sepsis is 'very treatable.'For inmates, it's often a death sentence.

Upstate New York prison has been under scrutiny

The Marcy Correctional Facility has faced scrutiny in recent years over allegations of rampant abuse by staff, retaliatory actions at the facility, poor conditions, and inadequate health care and services, according to reports from theCorrectional Association of New York.

Scrutiny of the facility intensified following several high-profile incidents, including the 2024 death of inmate Robert Brooks, whichsparked public outrageand prompted community protests. Hochul later orderedprison reformsand theimmediate dismissalof more than a dozen corrections employees involved in the attack.

Brooks, 43, was beaten bymultiple officersinside the Marcy Correctional Facility in December 2024 and died at a hospital. Officers had not activated their body cameras, butvideo takenwhile the devices were in standby mode showed them punching, kicking, and choking Brooks while his hands were handcuffed behind his back.

Ten corrections officers were indicted in the case, including seven whopleaded guilty to manslaughteror lesser charges, according to reporting byUtica Observer Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network. One was convicted of murder, and two were acquittedlast fall.

The incident renewed calls for accountability and reform within New York's prison system. Advocates for criminal justice reform also highlighted previous incidents of alleged misconduct and abuse by staff at state prisons.

Brooks joined a list of state inmates who have died after run-ins with New York prison guards in recent years, the USA TODAY Network's New York State Teampreviously reported. Over the past 20 years, civil rights attorney Katie Rosenfeld has filed several lawsuits against the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for mistreatment of inmates at the Marcy Correctional Facility and elsewhere.

In another lawsuit filed in 2023, civil rights attorney Amy Jane Agnew said Marcy Correctional Facility officers retaliate against inmates by meting out assaults during van rides when they're alone with officers.

Contributing: Casey Pritchard,Utica Observer Dispatch; Thomas C. Zambito, USA TODAY Network - New York State Team

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NY prison staff intercept drone delivering knives, 'leafy substance''

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March 18, 2026

Drone drops knives, 'green leafy substance' in NY prison, staff says

A drone flew over the grounds of an upstate New York prison over the weekend in an attempt to smuggle contraband and rele...

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Tehran intensifies attacks on Gulf energy facilities after Israel hits Iranian gas field

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran intensified its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbors' energy infrastructure Thursday, setting Qatari liquified natural gas facilities ablaze as it hit back following an Israeli attack on its main natural gas field, a major escalation in the Mideast war that has sent global fuel prices soaring.

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A ship burned off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and another was damaged off of Qatar, underscoring the ever-present danger facing vessels due to Iran's stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar, a key source of natural gas for world markets, said firefighters had put out a blaze at a major LNG facility after it had been hit by Iranian missile attacks. Production had already been halted there after earlier attacks but it said the latest wave of missiles caused "sizeable fires and extensive further damage."

Damage to the facility could delay Qatar in getting its supplies to the market even after the Iran war ends.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said the country had been forced to shut down operations at its Habshan gas facility and Bab field, calling Iranian overnight attacks on the sites a "dangerous escalation" of the war.

Gulf states condemn Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure

Missile alert sirens sounded in multiple other areas around the Gulf, and Israel warned of incoming Iranian fire.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all denounced the Iranian attacks, with Saudi Arabia's top diplomat saying assaults on the kingdom meant "what little trust there was before has completely been shattered."

In morning trading, Brent crude oil, the international standard, was above $110 a barrel, up more than 50% since Israel and the United States started the war Feb. 28 with strikes on Iran.

Iran strikes back after Israel hits critical gas field

The wave of Iranian attacks came after Israel hit South Pars, the world's largest gas field located offshore in the Persian Gulf and owned jointly by Iran and Qatar.

With some 80% of all power generated in Iran coming from natural gas, according to the Paris-based International Energy Agency, the attack directly threatens the country's electricity supplies. Natural gas is also used to supply household heating and cooking across the Islamic Republic.

Hitting the gas field is a "clear expansion of the conflict," the New York-based Soufan Center said in a research note.

"Israel's target selection in this war has heavily focused on the institutions, leaders and infrastructure ..." the think tank said. "It now seeks to inflict additional pressure on the regime by making the living conditions for civilians intolerable."

Iran condemned the strike onSouth Pars, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of "uncontrollable consequences" that "could engulf the entire world."

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In Washington, President Donald Trump said that Israel would not attack South Pars again, but warned on social media that if Iran continued striking Qatar's energy infrastructure, the U.S. would retaliate and "massively blow up the entirety" of the field.

"I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran," Trump said on social media.

Energy infrastructure targeted around Gulf region

Qatar Energy said on X that it was a missile hit on its massive Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility that caused the blaze early Thursday.

A ship was also hit off the country's coast, according to the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. It was not clear whether it was deliberately targeted of was struck by falling debris as Qatar fired off missile interceptors at incoming Iranian barrages.

Saudi Arabia also reported downing Iranian drones targeting its natural gas facilities overnight, and authorities in Abu Dhabi said it had been forced to shut down its Habshan gas facility and Bab field after interceptions over the sites.

Another ship was set ablaze early Thursday off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. It was also unclear whether it was targeted or hit with debris, the UKMTO said.

It said the vessel was just off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the UAE, near the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil is normally shipped.

More than 20 vessels have been attacked during the Iran war so far as Tehran has kept a tight grip on shipping traffic through the waterway, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.

Iran insists the waterway is open, just not to the U.S. or its allies, and while some vessels have sailed through, it has only been a trickle.

Death toll climbs in third week of war

More than 1,300 people in Iran have been killed during the war. Israeli strikes have displaced more than 1 million Lebanese — roughly 20% of the population — according to the Lebanese government, which says 968 people have been killed.

In Israel, 14 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire. At least 13 U.S. military members have been killed.

Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, and Rising from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Julie Watson in San Diego and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.

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March 18, 2026

Tehran intensifies attacks on Gulf energy facilities after Israel hits Iranian gas field

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran intensified its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbors' energy infrastructure Thu...

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Reports: Bucks want to sit Giannis Antetokounmpo for rest of season

The Milwaukee Bucks' injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn't want to be shut down for the rest of the season, putting him at odds with the team, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

Antetokounmpo, 31, is currently sidelined by a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise, the latest in an injury-plagued season that has caused the two-time MVP to miss a career-high 32 games.

The Bucks (28-40) are currently 6 1/2 games behind the 10th-place Charlotte Hornets (35-34) for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.

With only 14 games remaining, Milwaukee's hopes to play beyond the regular season are dwindling. However, the lower the Bucks sink in the standings, the better their prospects for what is regarded as a top-heavy first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.

The team, which had rebuffed trade offers for its superstar, has argued that it's best for Antetokounmpo's future as well as for the organization that he cut short the season, but he wants to keep playing, per the reports.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday that recent imaging revealed no structural damage, with Antetokounmpo reportedly to be re-evaluated in one week.

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Antetokounmpo missed 15 games due to a calf strain before returning on March 2, then sat out another two games when the team went 2-6 (0-2 without him). A left ankle sprain was cited as the cause of his absence from the 122-99 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 14.

He exited during the third quarter after landing awkwardly on a dunk during a home victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Then he missed Tuesday's 123-116 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Milwaukee is 11-21 without the 10-time All-Star and 17-19 with him this season.

He is averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 36 games and already is set to play the fewest games of his 13 seasons with the Bucks. His previous low was 61 games during the shortened 2020-21 campaign.

Antetokounmpo has career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 895 games (830 starts).

--Field Level Media

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Reports: Bucks want to sit Giannis Antetokounmpo for rest of season

The Milwaukee Bucks' injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn't want to be shut down for the rest of the ...

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WNBA fans, star players are big winners in CBA. But Cathy Englebert is among the losers

WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said thenew collective bargaining agreementthe players' union and the WNBA agreed to in principle on Wednesday "redefines what it means to be a professional in this league."

"We always told you we were going to stand on business, and that's what this looks like," Ogwumike wrote onsocial media, adding: "For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars."

The deal is expected to increase player salaries nearly fourfold from last season,according to ESPN, with the new salary cap expected to be $7 million. The average player salary is expected to be in range of $600,000 for the 2026 season, which is set to tip off on May 8.

Big-name players and incoming college stars who will greatly benefit from the deal, highlight USA TODAY's list of winners, while expansion teams round out of our list of losers due to the league's expedited timeline.

1. A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson had one of the best seasons in WNBA history and earned the top spot on our list. Wilson led the Aces to their third title in four years after sweeping nearly every major award in the calendar year. She earned her second WNBA scoring title, third Defensive Player of the Year award, an unprecedented fourth MVP and her second Finals MVP, becoming the first player in WNBA or NBA history to accomplish it all in a single season. Becky Hammon said it best: Wilson is "Everest. There is no one else around." Wilson isn't ready to be in the GOAT conversation just yet. "I still got a little bit more winning to do before you put me in that conversation. When you're compared to greats, when you're compared to legends, that means you're doing something right and I'm so grateful," she said after sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 WNBA Finals.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2. Mikaela Shiffrin, Olympic alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin is in a league of her own. The two-time Olympic gold medalist owns the most World Cup wins of any alpine skier and is the only skier, male or female, to surpass the 100-victory milestone after reaching triple-digit World Cup victories in February. She's been on a tear ever since. Shiffrin has won five consecutive slalom races, including her win at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, in March and four wins to start the 2025-26 season. She's up to 105 World Cup wins, extending her own record, and is in great form ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where she's a heavy favorite to medal.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 3. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings Bueckers' prolific resume at UConn included everything but a national championship. That changed in April, when Bueckers led the Huskies to the program's 12th title. The win kicked off a whirlwind year for Bueckers. She was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings and was a bright spot in the franchise's otherwise dismal 10-34 season. She was named the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year and earned an All-WNBA second-team nod, the only rookie selected to an All-WNBA Team. Bueckers told USA TODAY Sports she recently had the opportunity to catch her breath and process her achievements and what's ahead: "On my birthday (on Oc. 20), I reflected on the year 23 itself and how much of a journey it was. I stayed the most present and it ended up being one of the most fun, joyful, just peaceful years of my life. Just embracing everything that kind of came my way."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 4. Aryna Sabalenka, tennis Sabalenka spent the entire year at the top of the WTA rankings. Although the year got off to a rough start with back-to-back losses to Madison Keys and Coco Gauff in the Australian Open final and French Open final, respectively, Sabalenka rebounded to win the U.S. Open and clinch the fourth major title of her career. She finished the year with the most finals appearances (nine), most titles (four), most match wins (63) and set a single-season prize money record by taking home $15,008,519. She was named the WTA Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, the seventh player in WTA history to repeat and third in the past 25 years.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 5. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx Collier joined Elena Delle Donne in the exclusive 50-40-90 club, finishing the regular season with a 53.1% field goal percentage, 40.3% 3-point percentage and 90.6% free throw percentage. She led the Minnesota Lynx to the league-best 34-10 record, but Collier's accolades stretched far beyond the court. She's a vocal leader in the players' push for higher compensation in ongoing CBA negotiations with the WNBA and used her exit interview to publicly criticize league commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Collier also co-founded Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league that's drawn praise for prioritizing player amenities and paying competitive salaries. Unrivaled has provided an alternate avenue to earn money outside of the WNBA, which will be paramount as players are prepared to strike if CBA negotiations with the league remain at a standstill.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, track All Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone does is win. The four-time Olympic gold medalist won two gold medals at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. McLaughlin-Levrone won gold in the 400m flat with a time of 47.78 seconds, which broke the 42-year-old North American record with the second-fastest time by a woman in the distance. With the win, McLaughlin-Levrone became the first athlete to win world titles in both the 400m flat and 400m hurdles, an event for which she owns the world record (50.37 seconds). The 26-year-old has been so dominant she hasn't lost in a 400m or 400m hurdles race in two years. "I knew there were a lot of people doubting me with making the switch from 400m hurdles to the flat 400m, but ultimately, I had faith in my training," McLaughlin-Levrone said after winning World Athletics WomenÕs World Athlete of the Year. "For me, 2025 was a year of stepping outside of the comfort zone and pushing the bounds of what was mentally and physically possible. I want to continue pushing boundaries in 2026."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 7. Catarina Macario, USWNT Catarina Macario has been on fire. Macario led the U.S. women's national soccer team with eight goals this season, including a brace in Team USA's 3-0 win over Italy in late November. Macario is the first U.S. player to score in three straight games since Mallory Swanson scored six in a row from November 2022 to February 2023. Macario now has 16 total goals and five assists in 29 national team appearances. Macario's brilliance extended past the USWNT. The Chelsea FC midfielder is up to two assists in nine league matches so far and scored two goals in Chelsea's 6-0 UEFA WomenÕs Champions League win over St. Polten last month.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 8. Hilary Knight, hockey Hilary Knight is synonymous with Team USA hockey. She led the Americans to the top of the podium at the 2025 Women's World Championships to claim her 10th gold medal, the most of any hockey player. She also holds world championship records for the most goals, assists and points. Knight led Team USA to the first sweep of Canada in the 2025 Rivalry Series with five goals and two assists across four games. Knight also had a PWHL-leading 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 30 games for the Boston Fleet. She's set to appear in her fifth Olympics next year, which will mark the most for a U.S. hockey player, male or female.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 9. NiJaree Canady, softball Texas Tech may have lost to Texas in the 2025 Women's College World Series, but pitcher NiJaree Canaday emerged as the face of college softball. The reigning national player of the year transferred from Stanford to Texas Tech and earned a seven-figure payday from the school's collective, marking the largest NIL deal for a college softball player. It was well deserved. Canady finished the season with a 1.11 ERA (second-best in the nation) and a team-high 11 home runs. She led Texas Tech to a school-record 54 wins, a Big 12 regular-season and tournament title and the program's first WCWS appearances. Even Texas Tech alum Patrick Mahomes came to see what all the hype was about and attended Game 2 of the WCWs.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Kyndal Stowers, Texas A&M volleyball Just last year, Kyndal Stowers was medically retired after suffering four concussions in a matter of months. She didn't know if she would ever play volleyball again. By December 2025, Stowers was named the most outstanding player in the 2025 NCAA women's volleyball tournament after leading Texas A&M to their first national championship in program history with a sweep of SEC rival Kentucky. Stowers finished with 10 kills on .304 hitting, plus six digs, two service aces and one block. The Aggies shocked the world by defeating No. 1 overall seed Nebraska in five-sets, before sweeping No. 1 Pitt and No. 1 Kentucky in the Final Four.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Ranking the top 10 women athletes of 2025

1. A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas AcesLas Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson had one of the best seasons in WNBA history and earned the top spot on our list. Wilson led the Aces to their third title in four years after sweeping nearly every major award in the calendar year. She earned her second WNBA scoring title, third Defensive Player of the Year award, an unprecedented fourth MVP and her second Finals MVP, becoming the first player in WNBA or NBA history to accomplish it all in a single season. Becky Hammon said it best: Wilson is "Everest. There is no one else around." Wilson isn't ready to be in the GOAT conversation just yet. "I still got a little bit more winning to do before you put me in that conversation. When you're compared to greats, when you're compared to legends, that means you're doing something right and I'm so grateful," she said after sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 WNBA Finals.

Winners

WNBA fans

As the league skyrockets in popularity with record viewership, attendance and merchandise sales, it was in everyone's best interests to strike a deal to capitalize on the growing momentum in women's sports. But as the CBA negotiations between the league and players' union stretched across 17 months, one question emerged: Will there be a 2026 season? That uncertainty grew as players voted in December to authorize the WNBPA's executive committee to "call a strike when necessary." But we finally have an answer. We will have a 2026 WNBA season and fans can officially rejoice.

Big-name players

Almost everyone who is anyone is a free agent and they are about to have piles of cash being thrown at them.

Once free agency is open, the race will be on to snap up the likes of three-time MVP A'ja Wilson,who reportedly is staying in Las Vegas, and three-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart, along with Napheesa Collier, Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu, Jackie Young … you get the picture. While the top teams will likely be able to keep their top free agents with the salary cap jumping to $7 million, that's not going to stop other teams from doing their best ATM impressions.

And because free agency is being compressed, these deals will have to get done quickly. That means stars and the next tier of players are going to be seeing a lot of dollar signs soon.

Incoming college stars

Olivia Miles was projected to be a top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, but she ultimately decided to enter the transfer portal due to the"volatility"of the league amid upcoming CBA negotiations. Her decision panned out. Not only is Miles projected to be the No. 2 overall pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft following a sensational season at TCU, Miles and fellow incoming rookies, including UConn's Azzi Fudd, UCLA's Lauren Betts, South Carolina's Ta'Niya Latson and LSU's Flau'jae Johnson, will benefit greatly from the new CBA.

The minimum salary is expected to be above $300,000 this season, up from $66,079. In comparison, WNBA rookie scale contracts paid out Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers $78,066 and $78,831, respectively, last season.

2026 WNBA MOCK DRAFT:Players to watch during Women's March Madness

WNBA players' 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' shirts

At the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, some of the league's biggest stars, including names like Caitlin Clark and A'ja Wilson wore black pregame T-shirts that read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us."

Eight months later, it appears the striking visual of players collectively wearing the shirts could be viewed as one of the more pivotal moments of these CBA negotiations. The players communicated with one voice: give us better pay and benefits.

"That's something we wanted to make well known. In the bubble we always knew how to make a stand with some T-shirts, so we did that today," WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said in July at the All-Star Game. "We look forward to negotiating our fair share and our value."

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Ogwumike is referring to WNBA players wearing "Black Lives Matter" and "Vote Warnock" T-shirts in the WNBA bubble during the 2020 season. Ahead of a game in August 2020, the league came out in support of Rev. Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate in Georgia. Warnock went on to defeat incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler, who co-owned the Atlanta Dream before selling her stake in the team in February 2021 following controversial comments on the Black Lives Matter movement. Warnock credited the players support and activism with boosting his 2020 Senate runoff victory.

ESPN

That sign of relief you heard coming from the East Coast was ESPN executives in Bristol, Connecticut.

In addition to having the bulk of the WNBA's regular-season games, ESPN went all in on women's sports for its summer programming. It kicked "Sunday Night Baseball" to the curb and replaced it with"Women's Sports Sundays,"planning to show 12 NWSL and WNBA games across nine weekends.

Though the start date hasn't been announced, you can bet ESPN execs were eyeing the negotiations nervously. With the new CBA done in time to preserve the start of the season, ESPN can go back to its regularly scheduled programming.

Losers

Expansion teams

The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are set to join the league in 2026 as the 14th and 15th WNBA franchises, but the expansion teams will have less than two months to assemble their rosters before the season tips off on May 8. That's less than ideal for the two new teams that were essentially left in the dark as the rules and format of the expansion draft were negotiated in the new CBA.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebertnoted in October during negotiations that the expansion draft would be similar to the Golden State Valkyries' expansion draft held on Dec. 6, 2024, but the timeline will be much tighter. The league must squeeze in a two-team expansion draft, free agency that will feature over 100 players and the 2026 WNBA Draft before opening night.

The timeline was much more spaced out for the Valkyries. Golden State'sexpansion draftrules were released on Sept. 30, 2024 and teams were required to provide the league with a roster list of all their players by Nov 25, 2024, including six protected players that wouldn't be available for selection. Golden State then got to pick one player from each team, nearly two months before team-building continued through free agency in late January.

According to dates provided toESPN, the entire expansion draft process will be condensed to five days from April 1-6, which would include teams protecting their players, a coin flip between Portland and Toronto and the expansion draft. Free agency would begin the next day on April 7 and last until April 18. The WNBA Draft will be held on April 13 and WNBA training camp is scheduled to begin on April 19.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert

WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert said the new CBA deal agreed to on Wednesday "marks a transformative step forward for players and the league," but she has a lot of work to do to regain players' trust following a tense 17 months of negotiations. Things reached a boiling point in September whenMinnesota LynxforwardNapheesa Collieropenly criticized Engelbert's "tone-deaf and dismissive" leadership in a press conference.

Collier recalled a specific conversation she had with Engelbert in February 2025 about compensating young stars. "Her response was, 'Caitlin (Clark) should be grateful to make $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything. ... In that same conversation she told me players should be, 'On their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.'" Engelbert said she was "disheartened" by Collier's characterization of their conversation anddenied making a comment about Clark, saying there's "a lot of inaccuracy about what I said or what I didn't say."

"I think that the commissioner's reputation is damaged in a real way... when (Napheesa) Collier said what she said, and other players backed her up," American University's N. Jeremi Duru, professor of law, director of sport and society initiative, told USA TODAY Sports. "I think that (Engelbert's) reputation is going to remain a challenge for her going forward."

Role players

They're still going to get paid. It's just going to take a while.

Teams are likely to focus on the stars and their own free agents first. When those folks are taken care of, teams will turn their attention to the next tier of players. Only when all of those deals are done will teams fill out their rosters with role players.

This is what the kids call a first-world problem. Under the new CBA, the minimum salary is jumping to above $300,000, from less than $80,000, while the average will be around $600,000.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Who won WNBA CBA deal? Why star players, fans come out on top

byAdministrator

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March 18, 2026

WNBA fans, star players are big winners in CBA. But Cathy Englebert is among the losers

WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said thenew collective bargaining agreementthe players' union and the WNBA agreed to i...

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Lionel Messi scores 900th career goal in Concacaf Champions Cup

Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal during Inter Miami's Concacaf Champions Cup match Wednesday against fellow MLS side Nashville SC.

The Argentinean star found the back of the net in the seventh minute, sneaking the ball past multiple defenders off a feed from Sergio Reguilón.

Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem: Make your picks for $50K in total prizes

Messi's career goal total includes his time with Barcelona (672), Paris Saint-Germain (32), Inter Miami (81) and the Argentina national team (115).

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"Clearly, we don't fully grasp the magnitude of it; talking about him scoring 900 goals is insane, incredible for such a unique player," said Inter Miami manager and Messi's former teammate Javier Mascherano this week,via the Miami Herald. "The truth is, I always end up saying the same thing: Leo's numbers are amazing, but above all, statistics are the least important aspect.

"You can score a lot of goals, the key is how you do it, and he's managed not only to reach incredible numbers in terms of goals and assists, but also because of what he contributes to the game itself, which I believe is much more important than his stats."

His first goal came May 1, 2005 during a 2-0 win over Albacete. The nearly 18-year-old forward entered the match in the 88th minute and didn't need long to make an impact. He scored not long after coming on, but the goal was taken back for offside. Moments later, he took a flick pass from Ronaldhino and lobbed goalkeeper Raúl Valbuena.

Over 15 seasons with Barça, Messi won 10 La Liga titles, seven Ballon d'Ors, six FIFA World Player of the Year awards, four Champions Leagues, and three Club World Cups, among numerous team and individual honors. He left the Spanish giants in 2021 to join PSG where he spent two seasons before coming to MLS and signing with Inter Miami.

Could Messi reach 1,000 goals?

Messi's contract withInter Miami runs through the end of the 2028 MLS seasonwhen he will be 41 years old. He has averaged 36 goals over a season for Inter Miami and Argentina since 2023, so 1,000 isn't too much of a long shot. But injuries and load management have limited the soccer superstar over the past three seasons, something that will continue to be a concern for the duration of his current deal.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi's contemporary, has a much better chance to reach 1,000 goals. Currently sitting on 965, the Portuguese star is 41, but has netted over 30 goals in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr in each of the past two seasons and is on pace to do so again in 2025-26. He has said thatthe 2026 World Cup will be his last, meaning his international career will likely end this summer.

byAdministrator

in

March 18, 2026

Lionel Messi scores 900th career goal in Concacaf Champions Cup

Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal during Inter Miami's Concacaf Champions Cup match Wednesday against fellow ...

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California community ties all-time March temperature record in the US

NORTH SHORE, Calif. (AP) — A tiny desert community in Southern California reached 108 degrees on Wednesday, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the U.S.

Phoenix Record Heat

It came amid arecord-breaking winter heat wavein the Southwest that will stretch into the weekend and could produce even higher temperatures.

The record — first reached by Rio Grande City, Texas in 1954 and now shared by North Shore, California — could be broken in a number of cities and towns by week's end. The aptly named Thermal, California, was forecast to hit 110 degrees on Friday.

Triple-digit temperatures also came earlier than ever before in Phoenix when the Arizona capital hit 101 degrees Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record was set almost 40 years ago, on March 26, 1988, the only other time Phoenix temperatures have climbed into the hundreds during the month of March, according to the NWS.

Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the NWS, said this has been one of the most significant March heatwaves in recorded history.

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"We've broken so many records yesterday and even today we've broken quite a few so far," he said.

Several cities on Wednesday experienced their hottest March day in almost 40 years, according to the NWS.

Las Vegas hit 99 degrees, smashing its hottest March day on record, which was 93 degrees in 2022.

Downtown Los Angeles reached 94 degrees, beating its previous daily high of 87 degrees in 1997.

And the desert destination of Palm Springs, California, was 104 degrees, tying its hottest March day on record from 1966.

It will continue to be 20 to 30 degrees above normal March temperatures for the rest of the week in the Southwest before dropping slightly over the weekend. Many other cities in the region are expected to see their earliest 100-plus degree day on record, according to the NWS.

byAdministrator

in

March 18, 2026

California community ties all-time March temperature record in the US

NORTH SHORE, Calif. (AP) — A tiny desert community in Southern California reached 108 degrees on Wednesday, tying the hig...

Read More