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Muchova Claims Final WTA Finals Spot as the Indian Wells Field Is Set

Karolina Muchova is the eighth and final qualifier for the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, clinching her place without hitting a ball after injuries ended the challenges of Iga Swiatek and Marta Kostyuk.

Published

6 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

The WTA Finals field is complete. Karolina Muchova was confirmed on Wednesday as the eighth and final singles qualifier for the season-ending championships at Indian Wells, which run November 8-15 in the event’s first year in California.

Remarkably, Muchova clinched her place without playing this week. The only two players who could still catch her both broke down in Ningbo: Iga Swiatek withdrew on Tuesday and ended her season with a thigh injury, and on Wednesday Marta Kostyuk — who needed to reach the Ningbo final to stay alive — retired from her second-round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova with a wrist injury after dropping the first set 6-4.

The Czech earned it across all three surfaces. She went 40-11 in 2026, winning the WTA 1000 title in Doha in February — remarkably, only the second title of her career and her first since 2019 — and the Bad Homburg title on grass. She also reached the Wimbledon final, losing to Linda Noskova, and the final in Stuttgart, and climbed to a career-high No. 6 in the world.

Muchova qualified for the WTA Finals once before, in 2023, but was forced to withdraw through injury. This will be her first time actually competing at the event.

She joins world No. 1 and defending champion Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Roland Garros winner Mirra Andreeva, Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina — a field with three former champions and three debutantes. ‘Earning a place at the WTA Finals is an extraordinary achievement,’ said tournament director Garbine Muguruza. ‘This is the ultimate stage, where the best play the best.’

Two doubles teams were also confirmed on Wednesday — Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko, and Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs — leaving one doubles place still open.

Photo credit: Jimmie48 Photography

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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

3 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.