We Speak Sports

Iga Swiatek Ends Her Season Early With Thigh Injury, Will Miss the WTA Finals

Iga Swiatek has shut down her 2026 season because of a left thigh injury, withdrawing from Ningbo and missing the WTA Finals for the first time since 2021.

Published

6 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Iga Swiatek’s season is over. The six-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from this week’s Ningbo Open on Tuesday because of an ongoing left thigh injury and will miss the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, bringing one of the most demanding years of her career to an early end.

The decision also settled the last WTA Finals qualifying spot. Swiatek, the world No. 9, needed to reach at least the quarterfinals in Ningbo to have any chance of overhauling Karolina Muchova in the Race. Her withdrawal — followed by Marta Kostyuk’s retirement in Ningbo on Wednesday — confirmed Muchova as the eighth and final qualifier for the November 8-15 event.

The thigh problem has troubled Swiatek for weeks and visibly hampered her in Wuhan, where she took a medical timeout and played with heavy bandaging during a 7-5, 6-1 semifinal loss to eventual champion Maja Chwalinska.

‘I’ve been experiencing an ongoing problem with my left thigh over the past weeks and I feel that giving myself the time to rest and recover is the right decision,’ Swiatek said. ‘This has been one of the most demanding seasons of my career and after careful consideration with my team, I have decided to conclude my season here.’

She finishes 2026 with a 39-15 record and one title, the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Toronto. She failed to advance past the quarterfinals at any of the four majors, her ranking slipped from No. 2 at the start of the year to No. 9, and the season included a coaching change, from Wim Fissette to Francisco Roig in April.

Swiatek had played every WTA Finals since 2021 and won the title in 2023, so this is her first absence in five years. She was replaced in the Ningbo draw by alternate Anastasia Zakharova, and she could still travel to Indian Wells as an alternate if she recovers in time.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Up Next

Djokovic Takes Basel Wild Card in Push for Title No. 103 and Another ATP Finals

Don't Miss

Davidovich Fokina Rallies Past Jodar to Win First Masters 1000 Title in Shanghai

Royal Jones

We Speak Sports

Angel Reese’s Historic Night Powers Dream Past Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 Finals Lead

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Angel Reese high-fives Jordin Canada during WNBA Finals Game 3

The Atlanta Dream turned their first home game of the WNBA Finals into a statement. Behind another commanding performance from Angel Reese, Atlanta blew out the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and setting a franchise record for points in a Finals game.

Watch the official Game 3 highlights:

Atlanta’s defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Dream held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, and the Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye’s hook shot with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 after one and 46-40 at halftime.

Golden State made its push early in the third quarter, tying the game at 49. Reese answered personally, fueling an 8-0 run and capping it with a coast-to-coast driving layup. After the Valkyries trimmed the margin to 59-55, the Dream closed the quarter by scoring 12 of the final 14 points to carry a 71-57 lead into the fourth, then outscored Golden State 26-14 the rest of the way. Atlanta has now outscored Golden State 63-35 in third quarters across the series.

Angel Reese celebrates with Rhyne Howard during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. (AP Photo)

Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. She is the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, the youngest player ever with three straight double-doubles in the Finals, and she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games. She also went 2-for-2 from three-point range; Atlanta is 14-0 this season when Reese makes a three.

“Time to take over. Do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said. “Everybody was just playing together. It’s fun when you win and you play with a great group. So it makes my job super easy.”

Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history with five steals in consecutive Finals games. Naz Hillmon scored 15, Isobel Borlase added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and eight assists. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent from the field, hit nine three-pointers and owned the paint, 44-20.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 14, and Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 apiece. But the Valkyries shot just 34.8 percent and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 22 points. “Sometimes, promises aren’t kept,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said.

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Atlanta, playing in its first Finals since 2013, is now two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.