Curt Miller is a builder. That’s what newly appointed chief administrative officer and general manager Karen Bryant liked about him as a candidate for the Los Angeles Sparks head coaching job.

Bryant helped hire the two-time WNBA Coach of the Year away from the Connecticut Sun in October as Sparks interim president at the time.

“He is known for sustained success, not one-off successes,” Bryant said in an introductory press conference Wednesday. “And he very quickly emerged as the right person for this role and the right person to help lead the transformation of the Sparks, to really put us in position to have sustainable success.”

Miller built a program first at Bowling Green. In his 11 years at the helm, he elevated the women’s basketball team from winning 41 percent of its games and zero titles in his first three seasons, to a 72 percent win rate and five conference regular-season and tournament championships by the time he left.

Then, came the Sun job, where Miller helped the team rebound from a four-year playoff drought to earn trips to two WNBA Finals and two semifinals in his final four seasons with the franchise.

But between his years as a college and WNBA head coach, there was a pit stop as an assistant. L.A. was the city that introduced Miller to the WNBA, and the Sparks the team that prepared him to coach in it.

In 2015, Miller spent one season on the Sparks staff, and it had a profound effect on his career.

“My first year in the league was such a special experience that I thought, if the opportunity to return ever presented itself, it would be too good to pass up,” Miller said. “It was a dream opportunity. It’s an iconic franchise.”

It’s also a franchise in need of some help, but with a solid foundation upon which to build.

After multiple playoff disappointments and a 5-7 record to start the season, Los Angeles parted ways with coach and GM Derek Fisher in June and endured roster upheaval, including the departure of Liz Cambage via contract divorce. Fisher had previously faced criticism for his inability to re-sign key free agents Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray — both of whom went on to win WNBA Championships with their next teams — and for focusing too much energy and salary-cap space on Cambage and third-year guard Chennedy Carter.

Miller knows he has a lot of work to do, and quickly. The Sparks, an original WNBA franchise and the owners of three WNBA championships, expect to win.

“As a coach, you want to be with an organization that has high expectations,” he said. “That is where you desire to be.”

With the drama-filled 2022 season behind them, Miller is turning his attention to the Sparks’ locker room.

“Culture creation is paramount,” he said. “We are not going to cut corners. We are excited about building a culture, and for me, culture starts with preparation. That is always our first pillar.

“Championships are won in the locker room before they are won on the court.”

That process starts with re-signing Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, who are both free agents this offseason. Chiney came to the Sparks in 2019, and then sat out the 2020 season due to health concerns during the pandemic but returned in 2021. Her sister, Nneka, has been with the Sparks since she was drafted by the franchise in 2012.

Nneka was one of the lone highlights during a difficult 2022 season for the Sparks. The veteran was named to the All-WNBA Second Team and earned All-Star honors. After the season, she said she would like to stay with the Sparks but lamented that “being the one that scores all the points is a heavy cross to bear.”

“I’m excited about speaking with them in free agency,” Miller said. “They are important pieces. They are both so talented. But more importantly, they are great leaders by example. They are tremendous in the locker room, and players around the league gravitate toward them and want to play with them.”

The Sparks plan to be aggressive when free agency begins. Miller and Bryant both acknowledged that former Sparks star Candace Parker is on their radar, though no official talks will take place until free agency negotiations begin on Jan. 21.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman is gearing up to debut her Adidas Player Edition cleats this weekend, marking her return to the field by rocking the all-new F50 SPARKFUSION PE — a boot built by and for women athletes.

"Growing up as a kid in California, I could never have imagined a day where there would be a cleat literally inspired by me," the 2024 Olympic gold medalist said in a press release. "I can't wait to wear them."

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According to Adidas's Thursday release, designers worked to specifically engineer the boots to "excel with the speed and agility demands of the modern women's game."

To do so, the sportswear company researched the unique anatomy of the female foot to address the discomfort reported by women athletes when competing in unisex cleats.

Consequently, the F50 SPARKFUSION PE boasts key design adjustments to improve fit, arch support, stability, and comfort for women athletes. The boots also contain features to boost players' agility across multiple pitch surfaces.

In addition to the performance improvements, Rodman's Player Edition boots come in the 23-year-old USWNT star's favorite colors.

Grounded by a pearlescent white base alongside vibrant light blue details and bold pink stripes — an homage to Rodman's signature pink hair — the attacker's cleats aim to create "a dynamic look that captures Trinity's energy and personality."

Rodman will sport her Adidas Player Edition boots for the first time on Sunday, when her Washington Spirit host the Portland Thorns at 12:30 PM ET on ABC.

How to buy the Trinity Rodman F50 SPARKFUSION PE cleats

The Trinity Rodman Adidas F50 SPARKFUSION PE cleats are currently available for purchase online at adidas.com.

World No. 4 Brazil and No. 18 Colombia will take center stage on Saturday, when star-studded lineups full of NWSL talent will duke it out in the 2025 Copa América Femenina Final.

The Conmebol titans advanced to the continental tournament's grand finale via two distinctly different semifinals, as Colombia narrowly pushed past No. 32 Argentina in a penalty shootout on Monday before defending champions Brazil thrashed No. 63 Uruguay 5-1 on Tuesday.

Entering Saturday's match as the favorites, Brazil is led by reigning NWSL champion Marta, with the legendary attacker joined by fellow Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina as well as Gotham FC forward Gabi Portilho, Racing Louisville midfielder Ary Borges, and Kansas City Current goalkeeper Lorena.

Chasing a fifth straight and ninth overall Copa América title, there has never been a final in the tournament's 10 iterations to not feature Brazil.

On the other hand, Colombia is seeking their first-ever Conmebol crown behind a quartet of NWSL standouts: Washington Spirit midfielder Leicy Santos, Racing Louisville defender Ángela Barón, San Diego Wave defender Daniela Arias, and Utah Royals defender Ana María Guzmán.

Saturday's final will be the second straight and fourth overall to pit Colombia against Brazil, and comes just eight days after the pair faced off to a 0-0 draw in their final group-stage match — though notably, Brazil played the bulk of that game with 10 players after keeper Lorena earned a red card in the 24th minute.

How to watch the Copa América final

The 2025 Copa América Final kicks off at 5 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage airing on FS1.

With the US Open rapidly approaching — the WTA season's final Grand Slam — the tennis world's hardcourt titans are tuning up at the 2025 Canadian Open.

This year's tournament is in full swing up in Montréal, allowing players to hone their skills before next week's Cincinnati Open sets the tone for the annual New York City Slam.

Though stars like world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, No. 9 Jasmine Paolini, and No. 11 Emma Navarro stumbled out of contention in the tournament's first two rounds, many heavy-hitters are still in play, including all three 2025 Grand Slam winners: Australian Open champion No. 8 Madison Keys, French Open victor No. 2 Coco Gauff, and newly crowned Wimbledon champ No. 3 Iga Świątek.

Joining Gauff in punching her ticket to Saturday's Round of 16 is fellow US player No. 32 McCartney Kessler, while Keys and several others in the US contingent — No. 4 Jessica Pegula, No. 7 Amanda Anisimova, and No. 116 Caty McNally — will battle to advance from the Round of 32 on Friday.

Other fan favorites are also still in the mix, including Japan's No. 49 Naomi Osaka and the UK's No. 33 Emma Raducanu, while 18-year-old phenom No. 85 Victoria Mboko is impressing as Canada's last-standing contender in play.

Notably sitting out this week is world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, with the 2024 US Open champ prioritizing her mental and physical rest ahead of her title defense.

How to watch the 2025 Canadian Open

The 2025 Canadian Open's Round of 32 continues throughout Friday before the Round of 16 takes the Montréal court on Saturday.

Continuous live coverage of the tournament will are on the Tennis Channel.

Two of the toughest WNBA stars will square off this weekend, as Minnesota Lynx forward and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier will battle it out against Las Vegas Aces center and reigning MVP A'ja Wilson in a Saturday showdown.

As the league's top two scorers, the 23.8 points per game put up by Collier will meet the 22.1-point average posted by Wilson for the second time this season, with Saturday's rematch coming just over a week after the Lynx toppled the Aces.

"Our defense is so good…. We just make it hard, and when every shot is hard, eventually it wears a team down, and that's our goal every night," Collier said after Minnesota routed Las Vegas 109-78 last Friday.

With less than two games separating third from sixth place on the league table, the WNBA standings have never been tighter, sending the stakes of this weekend's games through the roof:

• No. 3 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 5 Atlanta Dream, Friday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): A mere half-game behind the Mercury, the Dream can leapfrog two teams to claim third with a win on Friday, as Phoenix aims to galvanize behind their own MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas.

• No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 7 Las Vegas Aces, Saturday at 3 PM ET (ABC): Facing this season's undisputed top dogs on a two-game winning streak, the Aces will look to blank the Lynx at home in Las Vegas.

• No. 6 Indiana Fever vs. No. 4 Seattle Storm, Sunday at 3 PM ET (ABC): The Fever have remained hot despite the absence of an injured Caitlin Clark, and a Sunday result against the Storm could push Indiana into the league's upper echelon.