The World Athletics Championships begin Friday, taking place on American soil for the first time ever in Eugene, Oregon.

In the 100-meter dash, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson are once again the ones to watch. Fraser Pryce has run the three fastest times this season, including a 10.67 in Nairobi and Paris. 

She faltered at Jamaica’s nationals, though, failing to qualify for the final. She had to be named to the world championships as a wild card, but she enters as a four-time world champion in the event and the defending Olympic silver medalist. 

Thompson-Herah is the defending Olympic gold medalist in both the 100m and 200m, having won both events in 2016 and 2020. But she has yet to win an individual gold medal at the world championships. She’s fast in Eugene, though, having won the last two editions of the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon with a 10.54 in 2021 and a 10.79 in 2022. 

Both the decorated sprinters, though, need to watch for Jackson coming up behind them.

Jackson won the Jamaican trials in 10.77. An Olympic bronze medalist in the 100m, she could find herself in the winner’s circle in Oregon. And she’ll have an even better chance in the 200m, where she’ll go up against American Abby Steiner. 

At 22 years old, Steiner will be making her Team USA debut at the world championships. Her best time this season is a blistering 21.77, which she ran in Eugene. Jackson, though, enters worlds with a 21.55 – the fastest time this year and the third-fastest in history. 

Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin will once again look to break the world record in the 400m hurdles after doing so at the U.S. championships in June with a time of 51.41. The only record she hasn’t owned in the event is the world championships record; she’ll have to beat a 52.16 set in 2019 by fellow countrywoman Dalilah Muhammad. 

Muhammad will feature at worlds after earning a bye. She did not compete at last month’s U.S. championships due to a hamstring injury, but as the defending champion, she was permitted to use her bye by USATF.

Allyson Felix will be competing in her last world championships, having been named to the 4x400m mixed relay team.

Here are the key finals to watch as the action goes down. (All times listed in ET.)

Friday, July 15:

• 4x400m mixed relay — 10:50 p.m. on NBC Sports

Saturday, July 16:

• 10,000m — 3 p.m. on NBC

Sunday, July 17:

• 100m — 10:50 p.m. on NBC

Monday, July 18:

• Marathon — 9:15 a.m. on USA 
• 1,500m — 10:50 p.m. on Peacock (delayed broadcast at 11:30 p.m. on USA)

Wednesday, July 20:

• 3,00om steeplechase — 10:45 p.m. on USA

Thursday, July 21:

• 200m — 10:35 p.m. on USA

Friday, July 22: 

• 400m — 10:15 p.m. on USA
• 400m hurdles — 10:50 p.m. on USA

Saturday, July 23:

• 5,000m — 9:25 p.m. on NBC
• 4x100m relay — 10:30 p.m. on NBC

Sunday, July 24:

• 800m — 9:35 p.m. on NBC
• 100m hurdles — 10 p.m. on NBC
• 4x400m relay — 10:50 p.m. on NBC

Five-time Olympic medalist and USA track star Gabby Thomas will miss this month's 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo due to a lingering Achilles injury, the 28-year-old sprinter announced on Tuesday.

Thomas, who captured a full trio of gold medals at the 2024 Paris Games, has been dealing with the injury since May, going on to re-aggravate it in July prior to August's 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships, in which she placed third in her favored 200-meter race — narrowly booking her spot at the World Championships by a mere one-thousandth of a second margin.

"I understand that it will be disappointing for some track fans to hear this news, but I've finally come to the realization that it's OK to be human and take care of myself," she said in a statement.

"As an athlete you always want to keep grinding, but sometimes you simply can't outwork an injury," Thomas explained. "Sometimes it's about patience and making the right decision for the long term. All the best to my Team USA teammates fighting for medals in Tokyo."

As one of Team USA's top talents in the 200-meter dash as well as the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays, Thomas plans to return to competition in 2026.

Bay FC forward Asisat Oshoala is on the move, finalizing a transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal this week after making 38 appearances for the 2024 NWSL expansion team.

"Asisat has been an incredibly important part of Bay FC history, not only with her impact on the pitch but also through the energy, professionalism, and kindness she brought every day," Bay FC sporting director Matt Potter said in a Tuesday statement. "She is a world-class player and an even better person, and we are grateful for everything she contributed to our club."

One of Bay FC's splashiest signings ahead of their inaugural season, the former Barcelona star led the franchise with seven goals during its debut campaign — including the club's first-ever goal in the team's initial match.

However, the 30-year-old Nigerian national and six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year has since seen her NWSL playing time drop, logging just 12 appearances in 2025 so far.

Oshoala isn't the first high-profile NWSL player to transfer to the 10-team Saudi Women's Premier League since its 2022 debut — the same year that the Middle East country founded its women's national team.

Following the Orlando Pride's 2024 Shield and Championship-winning season, Brazilian star Adriana joined Saudi side Al Qadsiah FC for a then-club-record $500,000 transfer fee.

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball is doubling down on NIL, spotlighting the offseason league's deep roster of NCAA talent in its "Future Is Unrivaled" (FIU) collection drop on Tuesday.

The new merch line features FIU-branded sports apparel and accessories alongside one-offs like pleated skirts, button-ups, and jackets, all backed by a social media campaign starring college stars Lauren Betts (UCLA), Sienna Betts (UCLA), Madison Booker (Texas), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Azzi Fudd (UConn), MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU), Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina), Olivia Miles (TCU), Kiki Rice (UCLA), Sarah Strong (UConn), Syla Swords (Michigan), and JuJu Watkins (USC).

After first signing NCAA stars Paige Bueckers and Flau'Jae Johnson in late 2024, Unrivaled added more than a dozen of college basketball's biggest names to its "Future is Unrivaled" Class of 2025 earlier this summer.

While they cannot play in the upstart league prior to turning pro, the NIL signees did participate in July's Unrivaled Summit, a multi-day event in Miami that focused on skill development, content creation, brand building, social media strategy, and community service.

Unrivaled basketball's investment in the next generation of superstars underlines the 3×3 venture's growing influence in the sport, as it becomes a wedge issue in the WNBA's ongoing CBA negotiations while prepping to tip off a second season in January.

How to purchase from the "Future Is Unrivaled" collection

The full merch collection is available now online at Unrivaled.

The No. 5 New York Liberty finally punched their ticket to the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, as the 2024 champs secured a postseason berth thanks to a Tuesday night loss by the No. 8 Indiana Fever — despite their own 66-58 defeat at the hands of the surging No. 6 Golden State Valkyries.

With star guard Sabrina Ionescu still sidelined with injury, the Liberty only scored 26 first-half points in the matchup, becoming just the second reigning title-holders to fall to a first-year expansion team in WNBA history.

"We just lost a game," New York head coach Sandy Brondello said afterwards. "Obviously, we're in the playoffs, but we still lost a game. Liked the second half, didn't like the first half that much."

With the Fever falling 85-79 to the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury, tension in the WNBA standings has hit a new high as four teams — No. 6 Golden State, No. 7 Seattle, No. 8 Indiana, and No. 9 Los Angeles — battle for the last three playoff spots.

Golden State is hot on the heels of New York, shooting to become the first-ever expansion team to make the playoffs in their debut year as their magic number dwindles down to two — with four games left on the Valkyries' regular-season docket.

"We're in playoff mode right now!" Golden State center Temi Fagbenle, who put up a team-leading 16 points in Tuesday's win, told the Valkyries' crowd.

How to watch Golden State, New York in action this week

The No. 6 Valkyries have a chance to close in on history during their Thursday date with the last-place Dallas Wings, which tips off at 10 PM ET on WNBA League Pass.

Meanwhile, the No. 5 Liberty will look to regroup during their Friday visit to the No. 7 Seattle Storm, which airs live at 10 PM ET on ION.