Plenty of new faces are heading Down Under with the U.S. women’s national team for the World Cup. Just Women’s Sports is taking a look at a few of the newcomers and introducing them to fans new and old.

Trinity Rodman

Age: 21 years old
Position: Forward
USWNT debut: February 17, 2022 vs. Czech Republic
Total caps: 18

How has she looked in her NWSL season?

The 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Rodman has not slowed down in her third club season. She has four goals and two assists through 13 appearances for the Washington Spirit, who sit just two points out of first place at the World Cup break. She also has had 43 successful take-ons, which is tied for the league lead.

In the last year, she has averaged 1.07 interceptions per 90 minutes, as well as 2.01 blocks and 2.06 aerials won, high marks for a forward and evidence of her skill in gaining possession for her team.

What does she bring to the USWNT?

Quite simply? Goal-scoring. She made that obvious in the USWNT’s 2-0 win against Wales on July 9, becoming the youngest USWNT player to score a brace.

While the broadcast described her as a “15-minute player” when she came into the World Cup send-off match as a substitute, she made an immediate impact on the run of play. Almost instantly, the USWNT started creating solid chances, which Rodman converted — twice.

TRINITY RODMAN WITH AN ABSOLUTE BANGER FOR THE BRACE 🔥

(via @USWNT)pic.twitter.com/ptyRAFZ6xc

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 9, 2023

“I think Trinity came in and had a task to fulfill,” head coach Vlatko Andonovski said after the game. “She was one of the players that went in but had a task to raise the pace and raise the tempo a little bit and we saw that changed dramatically. … The second goal, I think that’s a world class goal.”

The World Cup first-timer brings a take-no-prisoners mindset that should prove dangerous for opposing teams. The absence of Mallory Swanson due to injury leaves the USWNT in search of a player to provide the extra grit that made Swanson stand out. Rodman could fill that hole.

“My expectations are that we’re the most ruthless team, we’re never going to give up and we’re going to get the title,” she told ESPN’s “Fútbol Americas.”

Rodman made her USWNT debut in 2022, but since then she has 18 international appearances and four goals to her name. Expect more explosiveness and power from the young star, who could very well be a starter when the USWNT takes the pitch for its World Cup opener against Vietnam.

What have USWNT and NWSL coaches and teammates said about Rodman?

Alex Morgan, forward: “I mean, you look at Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma — like, those are just a couple of the players that have already shown that they belong and will be here for many, many years. So it’s exciting to see what they can do in a world Cup and how they can really be a huge factor in us being successful this summer.”

Vlatko Andonovski, head coach: “Ever since she came in the league, we could see the energy and the creativity and the intensity that she brings. I feel like every time when she gets the ball, it’s almost like there is a little expectation of, something will happen, something will transpire off of it.”

Becky Sauerbrunn, defender: “She’s a special player and her ability to create chances is truly a gift. I think she has a bright career in front of her.”

Mark Parsons, Washington Spirit head coach: “Trin has had a lot of expectation. I also disagree with that, and I think that’s unfair. I think that this is a 21-year-old that things are coming thick and fast. She’s taken everything in her stride. I think she’s doing a wonderful job at trying to stay focused on what is most important, which is being a good person, being a good teammate and developing as a soccer player.

“With Trin, she defends and chases and runs and sprints and presses people like no one else. She knows how to beat people 1 v. 1 and run in behind and finish and create goals. They’re the things that make her special.”

Casey Stoney, San Diego Wave head coach: “Trinity Rodman is probably one of the hardest-working forwards I’ve ever seen live. Obviously she’s got pace, she’s got ability to run with the ball. But she tracks back. That woman works hard.

The USA Women's Eagles still have a shot at a 2025 Rugby World Cup knockouts run thanks to a dramatic 31-31 draw against Australia on Saturday — putting all the pressure on next weekend's group-stage finale.

After falling to host nation — and world No. 1 — England in the tournament's record-breaking opener, the now-No. 8 US squad kept their World Cup dreams alive by pulling level with the No. 7 Wallaroos.

Saturday's thrilling draw brought drama to the competition's mostly lopsided pool-play results so far, and spoiled what would have been a guaranteed spot in the quarterfinals for Australia.

"The mood is disappointment because we were so close [to a win]," said US star Ilona Maher following the game. "But also excitement because there is more to play for in that we're not going home just yet. We're definitely proud of the fight."

With England officially clinching the top spot in Pool A, Team USA now needs a blowout win over No. 15 Samoa with at least four tries scored (called a bonus point), as well as an Australian loss to England without a bonus point — plus a positive score differential over the Wallaroos — to advance.

How to watch Team USA at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup

The No. 8 USA will close out their group-stage run by taking on No. 15 Samoa at 8:30 AM ET on Saturday, before awaiting their fate when No. 7 Australia plays No. 1 England at 12 PM ET.

Live coverage of all 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup games streams on Paramount+.

The Naomi Osaka comeback tour continued on Monday, as the world No. 24 tennis star took down No. 3 Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in the pair's Round of 16 match at the 2025 US Open — booking her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2021 in the process.

"I'm a little sensitive and I don't want to cry, but honestly, I just had so much fun out here," Osaka said following the upset victory. "I was in the stands like two months after I gave birth to my daughter, watching Coco. I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play."

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Already a two-time US Open champion, Osaka has been eyeing a deep tournament run since returning from maternity leave in January 2024 — and she managed to take advantage of Gauff's fluctuating form to achieve her goal.

"It's disappointing," Gauff said after Monday's loss. "For sure it was not the level that I wanted to bring, but it is a step in the right direction, I feel. I maybe was a little bit empty — she forced me to earn every point out there today."

Japan's four-time Grand Slam winner will next face No. 13 Karolína Muchová in a Wednesday quarterfinal, with Osaka most recently ousting the Czechia national from the 2025 Australian Open's Round of 64.

How to watch the US Open quarterfinals

The 2025 US Open quarterfinals kicked off on Tuesday, with US star and world No. 4 Jessica Pegula booking her second straight semifinals berth at the New York Slam by defeating Czechia's No. 62 Barbora Krejčíková in straight sets.

The quarterfinals will continue when defending champion No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces another Czech contender, No. 60 Markéta Vondroušová, at 7 PM ET on Tuesday.

Wednesday will cap the round, with Osaka battling Muchová and Poland's No. 2 Iga Świątek taking on No. 9 US star Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of the 2025 Wimbledon final.

Live coverage of the 2025 US Open airs across ESPN platforms.

Despite a season spent at the bottom of the table, the No. 13 Chicago Stars have quietly become the NWSL team to beat, racking up a five-game undefeated streak behind a slate of dramatic draws — including Sunday's 1-1 result against the No. 2 Washington Spirit.

Come-from-behind draws fueled all five of the Stars' most recent points, with striker Ludmila having a particularly impressive star turn as of late.

The Brazilian national scored five times across Chicago's last three matches, including Sunday's lone team goal as well as a sub-10 minute hat trick that pulled the Stars level with the No. 10 North Carolina Courage on August 22nd.

"I think we'd be doing a disservice to the league if we laid down just because we're in last place and felt sorry for ourselves," quipped Stars defender Sam Staab.

Chicago will continue trying to extend their unbeaten streak under new interim manager Anders Jacobson, who oversaw his first NWSL match on Sunday while the Stars await the arrival of incoming permanent boss Martin Sjögren.

"It'll be a lot of him getting to know us, and us getting to know him in this next week or so," Staab said of the team's temporary head coach. "This league moves fast. Everything happens fast."

The No. 1 Kansas City Current tightened their grip atop the league on Saturday, claiming a 2-0 victory over the No. 10 North Carolina Courage to become the first NWSL team to clinch a spot in the 2025 playoffs.

Still undefeated at home on the year, Saturday's win marked the Current's sixth straight regular-season shutout and extended their lead in the NWSL standings to a massive 14 points.

"Our goal is to come out as a group and be the best that we can possibly be every game we play," said KC head coach Vlatko Andonovski afterwards. "We celebrate tonight, we rest tomorrow, and we get ready for the next one."

Though Kansas City is reaching historic heights, the rest of the league is sparking more questions than answers: The No. 4 Orlando Pride and No. 5 Seattle Reign are now on multiple-game winless streaks, and the No. 6 Portland Thorns have managed just one win in their last five matches.

On the flip side, No. 9 Angel City is making a concerted effort, extending their unbeaten run to four games with Monday's 2-1 win over No. 12 Bay FC — all while star winger Alyssa Thompson sat out amid mounting midseason transfer rumors.

"This group, the way they play and how they can grow together, I'm so proud of them today," said LA head coach Alexander Straus. "It's not been easy with all these things, the speculation and stuff."

2025 NWSL standings: Week 18

1. Kansas City Current (15-2-1)
2. Washington Spirit (9-4-5)
3. San Diego Wave FC (8-4-6)
4. Orlando Pride (8-6-4)
5. Seattle Reign FC (7-5-6)
6. Portland Thorns FC (7-6-5)
7. Racing Louisville FC (7-6-5)
8. Gotham FC (6-6-6)
9. Angel City FC (6-7-5)
10. North Carolina Courage (5-7-6)
11. Houston Dash (5-8-5)
12. Bay FC (4-9-5)
13. Chicago Stars FC (1-9-8)
14. Utah Royals (2-11-5)