The 2023 Women’s World Cup is underway in Australia and New Zealand.

The knockout stage kicks off Saturday. The U.S. women’s national team, which is looking to defend its 2015 and 2019 titles, faces world No. 3 Sweden at 5 a.m. ET Sunday in the Round of 16.

What is the World Cup format?

The 32 teams are split into eight groups of four countries each. The two highest-finishing teams from each group will advance to a 16-team bracket for the knockout rounds.

What is the complete World Cup schedule?

New Zealand and Australia kicked off the tournament as hosts on July 20. All times listed below are in Eastern Time.

Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland

• Thursday, July 20
  • New Zealand 1, Norway 0
• Friday, July 21
  • Switzerland 2, Philippines 0
• Tuesday, July 25
  • Philippines 1, New Zealand 0
  • Switzerland 0, Norway 0
• Sunday, July 30
  • Switzerland 0, New Zealand 0
  • Norway 6, Philippines 0
• Group winner: Switzerland
• Group runner-up: Norway
• Eliminated: New Zealand, Philippines

Group B: Australia, Ireland, Nigeria, Canada

• Thursday, July 20
  • Australia 1, Ireland 0
  • Canada 0, Nigeria 0
• Wednesday, July 26
  • Canada 2, Ireland 1
• Thursday, July 27
  • Nigeria 3, Australia 2
• Monday, July 31
  • Australia 3, Canada 0
  • Nigeria 0, Ireland 0
• Group winner: Australia
• Group runner-up: Nigeria
• Eliminated: Canada, Ireland

Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan

• Friday, July 21
  • Spain 3, Costa Rica 0
• Saturday, July 22
  • Japan 5, Zambia 0
• Wednesday, July 26
  • Japan 2, Costa Rica 0
  • Spain 5, Zambia 0
• Monday, July 31
  • Japan 4, Spain 0
  • Zambia 3, Costa Rica 1
• Group winner: Japan
• Group runner-up: Spain
• Eliminated: Zambia, Costa Rica

Group D: England, Denmark, China, Haiti

• Saturday, July 22
  • England 1, Haiti 0
  • Denmark 1, China 0
• Friday, July 28
  • England 1, Denmark 0
  • China 1, Haiti 0
• Tuesday, Aug. 1
  • England 6, China 1
  • Denmark 2, Haiti 0
• Group winner: England
• Group runner-up: Denmark
• Eliminated: China, Haiti

Group E: United States, Netherlands, Portugal, Vietnam

• Friday, July 21
  • United States 3, Vietnam 0
• Sunday, July 23
  • Netherlands 1, Portugal 0
• Wednesday, July 26
  • United States 1, Netherlands 1
• Thursday, July 27
  • Portugal 2, Vietnam 0
• Tuesday, Aug. 1
  • United States 0, Portugal 0
  • Netherlands 7, Vietnam 0
• Group winner: Netherlands
• Group runner-up: United States
• Eliminated: Portugal, Vietnam

Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, Panama

• Sunday, July 23
  • France 0, Jamaica 0
• Monday, July 24
  • Brazil 4, Panama 0
• Saturday, July 29
  • France 2, Brazil 1
  • Jamaica 1, Panama 0
• Wednesday, Aug. 2
  • France 6, Panama 3
  • Jamaica 0, Brazil 0
• Group winner: France
• Group runner-up: Jamaica
• Eliminated: Brazil, Panama

Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina

• Sunday, July 23
  • Sweden 2, South Africa 1
• Monday, July 24
  • Italy 1, Argentina 0
• Thursday, July 27
  • Argentina 2, South Africa 2
• Saturday, July 29
  • Sweden 5, Italy 0
• Wednesday, Aug. 2
  • Sweden 2, Argentina 0
  • South Africa 3, Italy 2
• Group winner: Sweden
• Group runner-up: South Africa
• Eliminated: Italy, Argentina

Group H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, South Korea

• Monday, July 24
  • Germany 6, Morocco 0
  • Colombia 2, South Korea 0
• Sunday, July 30
  • Morocco 1, South Korea 0
  • Colombia 2, Germany 1
• Thursday, Aug. 3
  • South Korea 1, Germany 1
  • Morocco 1, Colombia 0
• Group winner: Colombia
• Group runner-up: Morocco
• Eliminated: Germany, South Korea

Round of 16

• Saturday, Aug. 5
  • 1 a.m. — Switzerland vs. Spain
  • 4 a.m. — Japan vs. Norway
  • 10 p.m. — Netherlands vs. South Africa
• Sunday, Aug. 6
  • 5 a.m. — Sweden vs. United States
• Monday, Aug. 7
  • 3:30 a.m. — England vs. Nigeria
  • 6:30 a.m. — Australia vs. Denmark
• Tuesday, Aug. 8
  • 4 a.m. — Colombia vs. Jamaica
  • 7 a.m. — France vs. Morocco

Quarterfinals

• Thursday, Aug. 10
  • 9 p.m. — Round of 16 winners
• Friday, Aug. 11
  • 3:30 a.m — Round of 16 winners
• Saturday, Aug. 12
  • 3 a.m. — Round of 16 winners
  • 6:30 a.m. — Round of 16 winners

Semifinals

• Tuesday, Aug. 15
  • 4 a.m. — Quarterfinal winners
• Wednesday, Aug. 16
  • 6 a.m. — Quarterfinal winners

Third-place match

• Saturday, Aug. 19
  • 4 a.m. — Semifinal losers

Championship match

• Sunday, Aug. 20
  • 6 a.m. — Semifinal winners

What are the tie-breaking procedures?

What happens in the event of a draw in a match?

Teams can draw in the group stage, with each team taking a singular point from the game in the event of a tie after 90 minutes.

During the knockout rounds, a 30-minute extra period will be added, split into two 15-minute halves. If, after the extra period, the teams are still tied, the match will be decided via penalty shootout.

A coin toss will determine which team takes the first penalty, which each team taking five shots each. Each penalty shot must be taken by a different player. Once each team has taken its five penalty shots, the team in the lead will win the match. If the same amount of penalties have been scored by either side, the shootout will continue in a sudden-death format.

What happens if there is a tie in points in the group stage?

If two or more teams are tied on points in their group at the end of the three games, the team with the greatest goal differential (goals scored minus goals conceded) will finish higher. If the teams are still tied, then the team with the most goals will finish higher.

If the above qualifiers don’t break the tie, then the teams’ head-to-head record will be the deciding factor.

If two teams have the same amount of points and tied in their match against each other, fair play will be the deciding factor. Fair play is determined by how many cards the teams have been shown during the group stage, using the following point values:

• Yellow card: -1 point
• Indirect red card (two yellow cards): -3 points
• Direct red card: -4 points
• Yellow card then direct red card: -5 points

While the last-place Connecticut Sun aren't exactly making a strong 2025 postseason run, they are playing spoiler, securing their fourth season victory in a 95-64 blowout win over a hungry No. 9 Golden State side on Sunday.

Eight-time All-Star Tina Charles — the WNBA's all-time top rebounder and second-best career scorer — led the game with 24 points, as the 36-year-old veteran continues to showcase her value.

"This season hasn't been the same as it always has for the Sun, but [fan] loyalty has really fueled us and we know that they're going to show up for us," said Connecticut guard Marina Mabrey after the win.

Monday's WNBA slate will see the Sun shoot for their first winning streak of the 2025 season, with Connecticut taking on a Seattle side they’ve humbled once already:

• No. 5 Seattle Storm vs. No. 13 Connecticut Sun, 7 PM ET (ESPN3): The Storm is hunting consistency after splitting their last 10 games 5-5 — ceding ground in the WNBA standings — while the Sun aims to repeat their July 9th upset victory over Seattle.

• No. 2 New York Liberty vs. No. 12 Dallas Wings, 8 PM ET (ESPN): Injuries could impact Monday's showdown in Texas, as the Wings aim to benefit from a rested Paige Bueckers while the Liberty deal with a knock to star Breanna Stewart.

Higher ranked squads will always look to rebound, but Connecticut's trajectory proves that the underdogs can have their say on any given day.

World No. 5 England are bringing football home once again, lifting their second straight UEFA Women's Euro trophy after defeating reigning World Cup champs No. 2 Spain in the 2025 championship match on Sunday.

Leading for a total of four minutes throughout the entirety of the knockouts, Sunday's win marked England's third consecutive comeback victory this tournament, as the Lionesses bested La Roja in a penalty shootout to become the first back-to-back European champions since 2013.

Armed with more confident knockout-stage results, Spain came out swinging in the first half, going up 1-0 behind Mariona Caldentey's 25th-minute strike.

However, England would not be denied, equalizing off a header from Alessia Russo in the 57th minute to eventually force extra time at a 1-1 deadlock.

The stalemate held through the additional 30 minutes, invoking yet another penalty shootout in true 2025 Euro fashion.

Spain struck first, but three uncharacteristic missed shots from Caldentey, reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, and 2023 World Cup breakout star Salma Paralluelo handed England control of the shootout.

Forward Chloe Kelly — the 2022 title-winning scorer — came through for the Lionesses again, sinking the final shot from the spot to secure England's second major tournament title.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Sunday's victory also added to Sarina Wiegman's personal perfect Euro record, as the England manager emerged from her third European Championship with a third straight title — two with the Lionesses and one with the Netherlands in 2017.

"She's amazing," Kelly said of Wiegman. "She is an incredible woman. What she's done for this country, we should all be so grateful."

Despite Spain's edge, England showcased the mentality it takes to cap an unlikely run with a fairytale ending — one that could fuel them down the path to another trophy as attention shifts toward the 2027 World Cup.

The top WNBA titans showed some weakness this weekend, as both the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx and No. 2 New York Liberty suffered unexpected upset losses at home.

First on Saturday, the No. 10 LA Sparks staged a 101-99 upset win over reigning WNBA champions New York, notching their fifth straight victory thanks to a dramatic buzzer-beater from guard Rickea Jackson.

Liberty standout Sabrina Ionescu led the game with 30 points, stepping up in the loss after star Breanna Stewart exited with a leg injury less than four minutes into the game.

Similarly, despite perennial MVP candidate Napheesa Collier putting Minnesota on her back with a 32-point performance on Sunday, the league-leading Lynx couldn't contain the No. 4 Atlanta Dream, falling 90-86 in their first home loss of the season.

The win helped the Dream shoot up the WNBA standings, overtaking fourth place from the Seattle Storm, whose 69-58 Saturday loss to the No. 8 Washington Mystics sent them stumbling into the No. 5 spot.

The No. 7 Las Vegas Aces have also been pushing, leapfrogging the Mystics with a 106-80 win over the No. 12 Dallas Wings on Sunday.

"One of the toughest things is going through hard things and remaining optimistic and positive," Aces head coach Becky Hammon said of her team's battle-ready mindset. "My main focus was just to keep everybody upbeat."

While multiple squads have consistently impressed this season, no single team has remained unanswered above the rest — a nod to the league's growing depth and subsequent parity.

British golfer Lottie Woad saw her star skyrocket on Sunday, as the 21-year-old phenom took the 2025 Scottish Open trophy — becoming the second player in three years to win in their professional LPGA debut in the process.

"I think it's quite hard to do that, but very special to win in my first event," Woad said after the win. "Everyone was chasing me today, and [I] managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots."

The debut win places Woad alongside US star Rose Zhang, who opened her career by lifting the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open trophy at 20 years old.

After previously refusing purses to maintain NCAA eligibility, the rising Florida State senior's first pro payday totals $300,000 of the tournament's $2 million overall payout.

Woad made even more history along the way, as her 21-under-par performance tied 2022 Scottish Open champion Ayaka Furue's all-time record score at the tournament.

Second-place finisher Hyo Joo Kim — the world No. 8 South Korean star — capped her weekend performance a full three strokes behind Woad, who rose 38 spots to sit at No. 24 in the world rankings with her stunning victory.

Ultimately, with each of the 2025 LPGA Tour's 19 tournaments thus far claiming a different winner — the longest stretch of parity in the organization's 75-year history — the former world No. 1 amateur is arguably minting herself as this season's breakout star.