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Lauren Barnes’ Eco-Friendly Gift Guide

Lauren Barnes is a defender for OL Reign of the NWSL. A two-time NWSL Best XI selection and the 2016 NWSL Defender of the Year, Lauren is also a proud sustainability activist. During the 2020 Challenge Cup, she led an effort to make the bubble experience plastic-free, and she will be continuing this work in the 2021 NWSL regular season with a player-led sustainability initiative.

Below, she walks us through the eco-friendly brands she’ll be shopping this holiday season.


JAS IT UP

One of my favorite people and OL Reign’s very own Jasmyne Spencer is behind this great company. Jas It Up is a sustainable lifestyle brand offering a range of clothes and accessories, all made from eco-friendly and recycled materials. The focus is on “designs that emphasize versatility and longevity for long-lasting clothes that never go out of style.”

Use code JWS15 for a holiday discount.


NORDIC OIL

I recently started working with this great company and am so excited to include them on this list. Nordic Oil has a great line of CBD products, and this winter they made the decision to invest a portion of their profits into cleaning our oceans. They’ve teamed up with the ReSea Project, a Danish organization committed to cleaning up the oceans and reducing the negative impact of human activity on the natural environment. For any of your friends or family who are fans of CBD, I highly recommend checking this company out 🙂

Learn more about Nordic Oil here.


NUZEST

As an athlete, my nutritional intake is always top of mind. With Nuzest, the nutritional value is clear and the company prioritizes sustainable methods. They are a plant-based nutritional supplement company that works exclusively with a supplier that uses no chemicals in the production process of their supplements. Plus, all waste from production is turned into biofuel and animal food, and all of their products are packaged in HDPE, one of the world’s most recyclable plastics. You even have the option to make your order 100% carbon neutral when purchasing through their website.

Hit this link for a sweet holiday discount.


JLAB

This company really sets the bar on ways that audio companies can be sustainable. They made a commitment to ditching plastic in their packaging and have done it through an eco-friendly case. Even the box the case arrives in is completely recyclable. They’ve also eliminated metal foil printing, switched to using durable paper pulp hang tag instead of plastic, and have even spearheaded a recycle program for recycling any electronics.

Use code ‘Lauren15’ for a holiday discount 🙂


CRAZYCAP

Clean water shouldn’t be a luxury. That’s CrazyCap’s mantra and they follow through on it. Their water bottles eliminate the need for plastic water bottles completely and includes a water purification system within the cap that sanitizes unclean water to make it safe to drink. If you ask me, everyone should be drinking water from these bottles.

Tap water is unsafe in 25 countries. Globally, 200 billion plastic bottles are discarded each year. Make the change to a bottle like this one. You won’t regret it.

Learn more about CrazyCap here.


ALBATROSS

Albatross is on a mission to eliminate plastic from shaving with their high-polished stainless steel razors. And they take it one step further than that. With their Take Back program, you can mail your used razor back so that it can be recycled and turned into another useful, environmentally-friendly product, such as a stainless steel utensil set. Their Take Back program helps reduce stainless steel production energy by up to 67% and CO2 emissions by roughly 70%.

Learn more about Albatross here.


DENTAL LACE

Yes, even floss contributes to the plastic pollution disaster we’re all living in. But thanks to companies like Dental Lace, you can floss plastic-free. Their floss is a 99% zero waste, refillable and eco-friendly. You can choose from silk or plant-based vegan floss (both are biodegradable!). And it comes with refills all packaged in an eco-friendly way 🙂

Use code ‘NWSL’ for a sweet 10% discount for the holidays.


LUNCHSKINS

I recently discovered this company and am so glad I did. For the past 12+ years, Lunchskins products have replaced 2.8 billion plastic bags with Lunchskins bags while helping to keep over 2.6 million plastic straws out of our landfills. They’re on a mission to eliminate single-used plastic and are making it easy and affordable for all of us to do it with them.

Learn more about Lunchskins here.

Naomi Osaka Debuts Jellyfish-Inspired Nike Outfit at 2026 Australian Open

Naomi Osaka of Japan walks out ahead of the Women's Singles First Round match against Antonia Ruzic of Croatia on day three of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia.
Naomi Osaka opened her 2026 Australian Open campaign in a custom, jellyfish-inspired Nike outfit. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has once again merged high fashion with elite athletics, debuting a custom "jellyfish-inspired" kit during the opening rounds of the 2026 Australian Open.

The outfit, a collaboration between Nike and London-based designer Robert Wun, immediately went viral following the world No. 17's first-round victory over Croatia's Antonia Ružić.

The avant-garde walk-on look featured a turquoise and green tie-dye palette, characterized by organic, wavy ruffles designed to mimic the movement of jellyfish tentacles. The multi-piece configuration included a zip-up jacket with cascading tendrils, a pleated miniskirt layered over wide-leg trousers, and a dramatic wide-brimmed hat complete with a sheer white veil and matching parasol.

Osaka later revealed her two-year-old daughter Shai inspired the concept. While reading a marine life storybook together, Osaka noticed her daughter's interest in a jellyfish illustration. That led her to translate the visual into her 2026 tournament aesthetic.

"It felt symbolic of energy, transformation, and excitement," Osaka told reporters. She went on to describe the design as representing "the birth of something new" in both her career and journey as a mother.

The outfit also featured two delicate white butterflies — one fixed to her hat and another to her parasol. These served as a reference to the 2021 Australian Open, when a butterfly famously landed on Osaka’s face during her title-winning run.

On the court, Osaka has backed the bold style with strong performances. She secured a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Antonia Ružić in her opening match on January 20th, followed by a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory against Sorana Cirstea on January 22nd.

How to watch Naomi Osaka at the 2026 Australian Open

Osaka is scheduled to face Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis in the Australian Open's third round. The pair will meet early Saturday morning at 4:40 AM ET.

All 2026 Australian Open matches air live across ESPN platforms.

Unrivaled Basketball Star Paige Bueckers Pledges $50K to Minnesota Nonprofit

Unrivaled Basketball star Paige Bueckers at the relaunch of Hopkins West Middle School’s Food Market in Minnesota, a partnership with ICA Food Shelf, that she has supported since 2023.
Unrivaled Basketball star Paige Bueckers Paige Bueckers has supported community organizations in Hopkins, Minnesota since 2023. (Hopkins Education Foundation)

Minnesota native and Unrivaled Basketball standout Paige Bueckers is returning to her roots to support local families.

After winning the first-ever Unrivaled free throw contest this week, the Breeze BC guard has pledged to match up to $50,000 in donations to the #HopkinsStrong Relief Fund. The initiative was established to ensure food security for students within the Hopkins Public Schools District — Bueckers's alma mater.

The #HopkinsStrong Relief Fund is a collaboration between the Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF) and the ICA Food Shelf. It addresses the urgent needs of families in the western Minneapolis suburbs facing economic uncertainty.

By leveraging her platform, the Unrivaled Basketball star is helping the foundation move toward its $250,000 fundraising goal. It aims to supply emergency food bags and assistance with essential costs like rent and utilities.

"Community is how opportunity begins. When Hopkins families are supported with food and care, our young people can thrive," Bueckers said in a statement. "That’s why my foundation is committed to supporting the youth and families of Hopkins."

The contribution continues a long-standing tradition of community support from the former Hopkins High School standout.

Since 2023, Bueckers has partnered with the ICA Food Shelf to support local initiatives like the Hopkins West Middle School Food Market in Minnesota.

Minnesota native Bueckers lends a hand during uncertain times

The athlete's contribution is even more significant now, as Minneapolis deals with widespread unrest following a series of high-profile ICE raids.

"At this very moment, we have students and families who are afraid to leave their homes," says Hopkins Public Schools Superintendent Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, addressing the recent ICE raids in Minneapolis and the surrounding area.

"We are grateful to the Hopkins Education Foundation not only for supporting innovation in our classrooms but also for supporting Hopkins families during radically uncertain times."

"We want to be there for all of our students during this challenging time," added HEF executive director Emily Wallace-Jackson. "It’s our mission to enhance education for Hopkins students, and that starts with making sure that our children are fed so they have energy to learn."

As of late January, the fund has already presented an initial $50,000 to the ICA Food Shelf. With the matching period open, organizers are calling on the local community to contribute.

NWSL Drops Knit Jersey Line with DC Brand Dead Dirt

Models pose wearing knitwear jerseys from the new NWSL x Dead Dirt collection.
The NWSL and Dead Dirt dropped knit jerseys for all 16 league clubs on Thursday. (NWSL)

The NWSL is adding fan fashion to matchday this season, teaming up with Washington, DC-based design label Dead Dirt to launch an exclusive preseason collection of jerseys this week.

Dead Dirt dropped the colorful knit merch for all 16 NWSL franchises, with initial jersey inventories for multiple clubs — including incoming 2026 expansion teams Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC — selling out within hours of the Thursday night release.

Showcasing a collared, V-necked, rugby shirt aesthetic, each kit includes nods to the club's color and crest throughout the design.

Named the Spirit's first-ever creative director in March 2024, Dead Dirt founder Domo Wells dropped multiple collections with the Washington club over the last two seasons — from 2024's "New Growth" collection to 2025's "Cherry Blossom" and "Fast Track" capsules — before the NWSL tapped Wells to expand her design footprint league-wide.

"You have to truly understand the team's culture and region. That's why my first full season with the Washington Spirit mattered," Wells told The Cut last month. "That's when the conversation shifted from one team to the entire league."

Additionally, this week's launch is the first of many future NWSL collaborations, with Wells detailing a "layered" plan for cohesive league-wide drops "with the option for teams to go deeper if they want more."

As for what NWSL fans can expect from upcoming Dead Dirt collections, Wells sees her role as "reframing merch as storytelling."

"My goal [is] always to design pieces that live outside the stadium," she explained. "If it doesn't live in [a fan's] closet after game day, it's not worth the spend."

How to buy NWSL x Dead Dirt knit jerseys

The entire NWSL x Dead Dirt jersey collection is available online now at the NWSL Shop and the Dead Dirt store.

US Ski & Snowboard Taps Veterans, Rising Stars for 2026 Olympic Roster

US ski star Mikaela Shiffrin reacts to her giant slalom run at a 2026 FIS World Cup stop.
Ski star Mikaela Shiffrin will represent Team USA at her fourth Olympic Games next month. (Marco BERTORELLO / AFP via Getty Images)

Team USA will see 97 skiers and snowboarders representing the red, white, and blue in Milan next month, with US Ski & Snowboard tapping a wealth of veteran experience for the 2026 Winter Olympic roster on Thursday.

All-time winningest FIS World Cup skier Mikaela Shiffrin will compete in her fourth Winter Games, with the 30-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist hunting hardware in her preferred slalom event after failing to medal in Beijing in 2022.

At the same time, 41-year-old skier Lindsey Vonn is also mounting a dramatic comeback, participating in her fifth Olympics after winning multiple downhill medals on this season's World Cup circuit.

Also returning to the Olympic stage will be 25-year-old halfpipe star Chloe Kim, who is officially clear to return to competition after a recent shoulder dislocation put her Milan plans to become the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic gold medals in jeopardy.

Alongside the deep veteran talent on the roster, US Ski & Snowboard is sending 48 athletes to make their Olympic debuts next month, including 15-year-old halfpipe freestyle skiier Abby Winterberger and 20-year-old two-sport talent Sammy Smith.

Smith, a Stanford sophomore and starting defender for the 2025 College Cup runner-up Cardinal soccer team, will compete in cross-country skiing for Team USA in Milan.

Considering 15 of the 25 US Olympic medals at the 2022 Beijing Games came from ski and snowboarding, US snowboard program director Rick Bower noted that, "In many ways, making this team is even harder than [competing in] the Olympics themselves."