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Undefeated Liberty North rise to No. 3 in latest soccer rankings

(Courtesy of Shalyn Person)

Liberty North (Mo.) didn’t make history when it won a district championship last week. But the reward for that achievement was historic: The Eagles will make their first state quarterfinal appearance on Saturday.

It’s been a magical season for the 20-0 Kansas City-area team. At the end of the regular season, the Eagles had won 17 games, a feat they hadn’t achieved in an entire season since 2017.

Juniors Megan Hinnenkamp, a Florida commit, and Ekaterina Theoharidis power the offense, and the defense has given up just 11 goals all season and hasn’t conceded since May 3.

Liberty North cruised through the district tournament, outscoring its opponents a combined 16-0. The Eagles now look to ride that momentum and achieve some more firsts in the state tournament.

Thanks to their postseason dominance, the Eagles have risen four spots to No. 3 in the latest JWS high school soccer rankings.

(Note that these rankings do not include teams from Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina.)

1. South County (Va.), 16-0-1

The Stallions have scored two or more goals in all but three of their games this season while posting seven shutouts.

2. Grandview (Colo.), 16-1-2

Naomi Clark capped a stellar postseason with a hat trick in the state final, propelling the Wolves past defending 5A champion Broomfield, 3-1. Days earlier, Clark scored the game-winning goal in overtime to knock off then-No. 1 Valor Christian in the state semifinals. The title is Grandview’s fifth since 2015.

3. Liberty North (Mo.), 20-0

With the second district title in program history, the Eagles advanced to the state quarterfinals.

4. Gretna (Neb.), 21-0

The Dragons are still celebrating last week’s Class A state title.

5. Valley (Iowa), 17-0

Anna Van Wyngarden had a goal and an assist as the Tigers opened the postseason with a 7-1 win, bringing her season totals to 17 goals and 15 assists.

6. Saint Thomas Aquinas (Kan.), 15-0-2

In three postseason matches, the Saints have outscored their opponents 26-0.

7. Wando (S.C.), 18-1

Wando won the state championship on May 14 in South Carolina’s highest classification, their first title since 2014 and 11th in program history.

8. Colonial Forge (Va.), 15-1

Three times proved one too many for Colonial Forge, which lost to Massaponax in the district final after winning the first two matchups between the teams. The Eagles’ season is not over, though.

9. Colgan (Va.), 16-1-1

The Patriots have yet to allow a goal in three postseason matches.

10. Fort Zumwalt South (Mo.), 23-1

The Bulldogs have over a week to prepare for their state quarterfinal matchup.

11. James Island (S.C.), 20-1-2

The future is bright for the back-to-back state champions. Sophomore Alexis Spivey scored two goals in James Island’s 5-0 state championship rout on May 14.

12. Triad (Ill.), 21-1

The Knights haven’t allowed a goal since April 28.

13. O’Fallon (Ill.), 20-1

More than half of O’Fallon’s 102 goals have been scored by two players: Western Kentucky commit Avery Christopher (39 goals) and sophomore Becca Koenig (23 goals).

14. Hudsonville (Mich.), 15-0-2

Hudsonville has posted three consecutive shutout victories.

15. Lyons Township (Ill.), 20-1

In three playoff games, the Lions have outscored their opponents 14-0.

16. Valor Christian (Colo.), 16-1

The Eagles’ season ended with a 1-0 double-overtime loss to Grandview in the state semifinals.

17. Broomfield (Colo.), 16-3

The No. 1 team in the inaugural JWS rankings, Broomfield lost two of its final three regular-season games before rebounding to advance to the state championship game, falling just short in its quest for back-to-back 5A titles.

18. Northfield (Colo.), 19-0-1

Freshman goalkeeper Chloe Rhodes saved the decisive fifth penalty kick in a shootout as Class 4A Northfield won its first state championship, completing an undefeated season in the process.

19. Nerinx Hall (Mo.), 19-1-2

Consecutive 2-1 overtime victories catapulted the Markers to a district championship and a state quarterfinal appearance.

20. Metea Valley (Ill.), 18-2-1

The Mustangs won a second straight regional title Friday and followed that up with a 2-0 win Tuesday.

21. Oregon (Wis.), 17-0-1

The Panthers claimed a conference title with a 1-0 win Tuesday, their 15th shutout in 18 games.

22. Marshall (Mich.), 19-0

Marshall hasn’t lost since June 11, nearly a year ago.

23. Deer Creek (Okla.), 15-2

The Antlers are state champions for the seventh time in school history.

24. Bentonville West (Ark.), 18-6

After consecutive losses in mid-April dropped the Wolverines to 8-6, they reeled off 10 consecutive victories to win a state championship.

25. Kent Denver (Colo.), 18-1

With a goal differential of plus-107, the Sun Devils dominated en route to back-to-back Class 3A state championships. They did not allow a goal in five postseason matches, including a 3-0 victory in the state title game Tuesday.

Phillip Suitts is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. He has worked at a variety of outlets, including The Palm Beach Post and Southeast Missourian, and done a little bit of everything from reporting to editing to running social media accounts. He was born in Atlanta but currently lives in wintry Philadelphia. Follow Phillip on Twitter @PhillipSuitts.

USC enters superteam era with transfer portal gains 

Oregon State transfer and USC recruit Talia von Oelhoffen at 2024 NCAA women's tournament
Oregon State transfer Talia von Oelhoffen adds fuel to USC's 2025 NCAA title dreams. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

With recent transfers Talia von Oelhoffen and Kiki Iriafen joining first-team All-American JuJu Watkins and the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class at USC next season, the Trojans look to transition from an up-and-coming squad to a legitimate title contender. 

Former Oregon State graduate student von Oelhoffen is the latest collegiate talent to commit to the program, announcing her transfer Monday via ESPN. She follows ex-Stanford leading-scorer Iriafen in the jump to the pair’s one-time Pac-12 rival.

The 5-foot-11 Washington native was a two-time All-Pac-12 guard during her time at Oregon State. But after the recent dissolution of the Pac-12, the Corvallis side found themselves without a permanent home conference going forward. Many big name players opted to take their skill elsewhere as a result, with von Oelhoffen’s fellow ex-Beaver Raegan Beers announcing her own departure to Oklahoma on Monday.

According to DraftKings, USC is now tied with UConn for the second-best betting odds to win the 2025 NCAA women’s tournament. Dawn Staley’s tested South Carolina side, poised for a repeat performance, holds down the number one spot.

Last year, LSU loaded up in the transfer portal after beating Iowa to win the 2023 national championship. The Tigers were clear favorites coming into the 2023-24 season, but were bounced in the Elite Eight by Caitlin Clark’s Hawkeyes. Shortly thereafter, star transfer Hailey Van Lith opted to transfer a second time, this time signing with TCU. 

Yet while history proves that an excess of star power doesn’t always translate to on-court chemistry, on paper, USC sure looks ready to hold their own — in 2025 and beyond.

U.S., Mexico drop bid to host 2027 Women’s World Cup 

uswnt fans cheer at 2023 fifa women's world cup in australia
USWNT fans will have to settle for cheering on their home team from abroad in 2027. (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

The United States and Mexico have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, per a Monday afternoon release from U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation.

According to the statement, they will instead focus on developing a "more equitable" bid for the 2031 tournament, with the ultimate goal of "eliminating investment disparities" between the men’s and women’s tournaments.

The federations went on to cite the upcoming 2026 Men’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as an opportunity to build support for local infrastructure, improve audience engagement, and scale up media and partnership deals in preparation to "host a record-breaking tournament in 2031."

"Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking — and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximize its impact across the globe," said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. "Shifting our bid will enable us to host a record-breaking Women’s World Cup in 2031 that will help to grow and raise the level of the women’s game both here at home as well as across the globe."

The decision leaves just Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands in the running for the 2027 host spot. Brazil — the rumored frontrunner — has never hosted a Women’s World Cup, while Germany hosted the 2011 tournament as a solo venture. 

Furthermore, this postponement doesn’t mean the U.S. is a shoo-in for 2031, as it's been previously reported that 2022 UEFA Women's EURO host England is considering their own Women's World Cup bid. FIFA is scheduled to confirm the winning bid after the FIFA Congress votes on May 17th.

NCAA breakout star Kiki Iriafen confirms transfer to USC

Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Stanford Cardinal shoots n the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball tournament
Kiki Iriafen led Stanford to the Sweet 16 in last year's NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Former Stanford leading-scorer Kiki Iriafen is set to join star rising sophomore JuJu Watkins at USC next year, reported ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. 

The 6-foot-3 forward is coming off a breakout season with the Cardinal, where the then-junior led Stanford to the Sweet 16 with an average of 19.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Walking away with the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player award and a spot on the All-Pac-12 team, Iriafen entered the portal at the close of last season and was subsequently ranked second on ESPN’s 2024-2025 transfer ranking list.

At USC, Iriafen will play out her senior year alongside the Women's Basketball Coaches Association’s 2024 National Freshman of the Year JuJu Watkins, forming what could be an explosive partnership for the Trojans as they look to build momentum going into next season. The Southern California side advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994 this year, ultimately falling to UConn in a heated 80-73 battle.

Iriafen wasn’t the only one making choices this past week. LSU guard Hailey Van Lith officially announced her own transfer to TCU on Friday, while Princeton standout Kaitlyn Chen committed to UConn for her final year of college eligibility. Other big names still weighing their options are Oregon State's Talia Von Oelhoffen and Raegan Beers, as well as UNC's Deja Kelly.

With conference realignment on the horizon and team fit a contending factor, the NCAA women's basketball transfer portal has been busier than ever. And while transfers can bolster many types of college programs, this particular offseason has seen talent-rich programs growing even richer.

WNBA icon Candace Parker retires

Candace Parker #3 of the Las Vegas Aces looks on during a WNBA game with the Indiana Fever
The WNBA great retires a two-time league MVP, seven-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and two-time NCAA champion. (David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Legendary WNBA superstar Candace Parker announced her retirement from professional basketball on Sunday, effective immediately.

"I promised I'd never cheat the game & that I'd leave it in a better place than I came into it," she wrote in an Instagram post. "The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it's time. My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it."

The Las Vegas Aces forward was in the midst of rehabbing a right ankle injury and a left foot fracture after missing part of the 2023 season.

One of women's basketball's most prominent trailblazers, Parker popularized the play of a "big guard." A back-to-back NCAA National Championship winner with Tennessee, she was drafted No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008. She was named both WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year in her debut season with the league. 

Parker exits the pros a three-time WNBA champion, a two-time league MVP, seven-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and two-time NCAA champion, in addition to many more individual accolades. Throughout her 16-year career, she averaged 16 points, 8.5 rebounds, and four assists per game. She remains the only player in WNBA history to earn three WNBA titles with three different teams: LA in 2016, Chicago in 2021, and Las Vegas in 2023. 

In her announcement, the 38-year-old implied the physical toll of league play was a driving factor in her ultimate decision to walk away from the game, despite recently signing a one-year deal with Las Vegas.

"This offseason hasn’t been fun on a foot that isn’t cooperating," she wrote. "It’s no fun playing in pain (10 surgeries in my career) it’s no fun knowing what you could do, if only…it’s no fun hearing 'she isn’t the same' when I know why, it’s no fun accepting the fact you need surgery AGAIN.

"I’m grateful that for 16 years I PLAYED A GAME for a living & DESPITE all the injuries, I hooped," she continued. "I’m grateful for family, friends, teammates, coaches, doctors, trainers & fans who made this journey so special."

Fans weren’t the only ones shocked by Parker’s surprise retirement. In a reaction captured on video, Liberty forward Breanna Stewart responded to the news with a jaw-dropped, eyebrow-raised "What? Wow." 

Yet while the Naperville, Illinois native’s time on the court might be over, Parker says she isn't leaving the world of basketball anytime soon.

"This is the beginning," she wrote. "I’m attacking business, private equity, ownership (I will own both a NBA & WNBA team), broadcasting, production, boardrooms, beach volleyball, dominoes (sorry babe it’s going to get more real) with the same intensity & focus I did basketball."

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