There’s been a lot of talk lately about the future of the United States Women’s National Team. Who will step up for the retiring Carli Lloyd? Are the up-and-coming stars ready to assume the mantle?

While spectacular goals from Catarina Macario and Sophia Smith in the USWNT’s September fall friendlies provided a glimpse into the team’s possible future, an under-covered talent pool exists in the NCAA today.

With conference play kicking off, here’s five current college stars who could be representing the USWNT at future World Cups:

Jaelin Howell, Florida State University

Heading into her senior year at Florida State, Howell has already captured nearly every award there is to win in collegiate soccer. The star midfielder is the reigning 2020-2021 Mac Hermann Trophy winner and 2020 ACC Midfielder of the Year. And with two USWNT caps already under her belt, there’s no doubt the future is bright for the 21-year-old.

In her last year at Florida State, the Seminoles are the heavy favorite to take home the national championship after falling to Santa Clara last season in a PK shootout. Howell’s defensive presence and ability to distribute balls through the midfield will be critical in Florida State’s run for the NCAA trophy. Her role as a defensive midfield is one the USWNT is looking to develop under the tutelage of Julie Ertz, making Howell a near lock as a prospect.

Naomi Girma, Stanford University

Girma, a Senior at Stanford University, has a long and likely growing resume. She previously captained the U.S. U20 Women’s National Team, was voted the 2020 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, and won the 2019 NCAA Championship with Stanford.

The 21-year-old faced some adversity earlier this year when she tore her ACL, forcing her to redshirt and miss the delayed 2021 season. Back on the pitch with Stanford, Girma brings a critical, technical presence to both sides of the ball. Her attacking mindset, combined with her defensive know-how, makes her a strong contender for a shot on the USWNT’s backline.

Mia Fishel, UCLA

Since she was a teen, Fishel has been making a name for herself, scoring the tournament-opener at the 2018 U-17 World Cup and winning the Golden Ball during the 2020 CONCACAF U-20 Championships. The 20-year-old has been equally successful in her collegiate career, leading the Bruins in goals during her freshman season and being named a Second Team All-American in 2020.

The junior now has a chance to make a title run with a top-10 UCLA squad. The Bruins started their season going undefeated in non-conference play, thanks in part to Fishel’s seven goals across eight games. No stranger to the USWNT’s developmental programs, Fishel is one to watch as she rises through soccer’s ranks.

Kelsey Turnbow, Santa Clara University

Turnbow returns to the pitch following a record-breaking 2020-2021 season, when she led the Santa Clara Broncos to their first national championship since 2001.

With an extra year of eligibility, Turnbow returns to Santa Clara after being selected 18^th overall in the 2021 NWSL draft by the Chicago Red Stars. Before going pro, Turnbow will look to defend the Bronco’s NCAA title, serving as the team’s offensive spark. An additional year in the NCAA and a spot in the NWSL could provide Turnbow the stage she needs to show her attacking skills are worthy of a National Team look.

Anna Podojil, Arkansas

Podojil enters her junior year with some distinguished credits to her name: 2021 First Team All-American, 2021 MAC Hermann Award semifinalist, 2020 SEC Forward of the Year, and 2019 Freshman of the Year.

The star forward now hopes to make a run at an NCAA title, and with five goals in her first eight games, Podojil is starting the season on the front foot. With the Razorbacks ranked in the top-20, a championship push isn’t out of the question. Trophy or not, Podojil is the real deal, and her accomplishments should already cement her place in a crowded list of potential USWNT forwards.

The LPGA is hitting the green in teams on Wednesday night, as some of the top golfers on Tour link up to represent their countries at the 2025 International Crown in South Korea.

This fifth edition of the match-play tournament will see seven teams from the USA, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Sweden, and China, as well as a mixed World Team taking on the reigning champion squad out of Thailand this week.

Comprised of the four top-ranked LPGA players from each nation, countries earn a team spot in the biennial International Crown based on the combined rankings of their best quartet of golfers — with those overall aggregates also determining tournament seeding.

The US topped all teams to snag this year's No. 1 seed, though the squad suffered a significant availability blow earlier this month when world No. 2 Nelly Korda withdrew from the 2025 International Crown due to injury.

No. 28 Yealimi Noh will compete in Korda's place, with the 24-year-old joining No. 10 Angel Yin, No. 16 Lauren Coughlin, and No. 33 Lilia Vu on Team USA.

Led by another 24-year-old, LPGA Tour debutant No. 6 Miyu Yamashita, No. 2 seed Japan appears to be the team to beat, with the World Team's fourth-ranked Lydia Ko (New Zeland) and fifth-ranked Charley Hull (England) upping the stakes for the No. 7 seed squad.

How to watch the 2025 International Crown

The four-day 2025 International Crown will tee off at 10 PM ET on Wednesday night, with live coverage of each day of competition airing on the Golf Channel.

With the first-ever eight-team PWHL season fast approaching next month, the pro women’s hockey league unveiled the inaugural jerseys for incoming 2025/26 expansion sides Seattle and Vancouver on Tuesday.

The new teams will wear jerseys displaying their city names across the front, following suit after the six founding PWHL franchises debuted without original names or branding during their inaugural 2023/24 campaign.

Per this week's press release, Seattle's colors are "deep slate green and cream with a river blue accent," while Vancouver will sport "pacific blue and cream with an earthy bronze accent."

In addition to "allowing fans to immediately identify with their hometown's newest professional team," PWHL EVP of business operations Amy Scheer explained in a Tuesday statement that "These designs also connect our expansion teams to the league's foundation while they continue building their own traditions and ties to the community."

While the PWHL will reveal the full team identities — complete with names and logos — before the puck drops on the 2025/26 season on November 21st, Seattle and Vancouver will play in their generic branding until next season.

How to purchase PWHL Seattle and Vancouver jerseys

The dark-colored replica home jerseys for both Seattle and Vancouver are currently available for purchase alongside all PWHL merch at the league's online shop.

Women's professional baseball will soon be a reality, with the incoming WPBL announcing its four inaugural teams on Tuesday ahead of the league's November draft.

Kicking off with a coast-to-coast imprint, major sports hubs Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco will house the founding WPBL teams, with the quartet of cities tapped "because of their fan support, market size, media presence, and rich baseball histories."

"We are so excited to finally announce the WPBL's first four teams," WPBL co-founder Justine Siegal said in the league's Tuesday press release. "Each of these cities are storied sports cities and we can't wait to connect with the fans who live there and baseball fans across the country."

Originally developed as a six-team venture, the 2026 debut of the WPBL will mark the first pro women's league in the US since the legendary World War II-era All-American Girls Professional Baseball League folded in 1954.

Each of the four inaugural team will feature 15 players, with next month's WPBL draft drawing from the top 100 players coming out of August's open tryouts.

The league's first competitive cycle will include a regular season, a postseason, and an all-star competition held at a neutral venue.

Adam Silver is back in the headlines, with the NBA commissioner speaking out on the increasingly fraught WNBA CBA negotiations on Tuesday — and pushing for controlled salary increases rather than the revenue sharing model that players overwhelmingly want.

"I think [revenue] share isn't the right way to look at it because there's so much more revenue in the NBA," Silver told the Today Show. "I think you should look at absolute numbers. In terms of what they are making, they are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining, and they deserve it."

In response, the WNBPA posted a clip of Silver's interview to Instagram Stories, captioning it with "Don't want to share, @adamsilvernba?"

Tuesday's back-and-forth emphasizes a significant wedge issue within the CBA talks, as WNBA players argue for a salary cap determined by the total revenue generated from all basketball-related activities like ticket sales, media deals, sponsorships, and merchandise — the same model currently used in the NBA.

The WNBA — like Silver — wants salary cap growth to continue on a fixed scale, raising player salaries in the upcoming CBA while controlling revenue distribution at the stakeholder level.

"I think we all agree we're trying to return every dollar we possibly can to the players, but we also want to incentivize investment from owners," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said when addressing the issue earlier this month.

With less than 10 days remaining before the CBA's October 31st deadline, differences continue to outweigh common ground en route to an unlikely deal.