To kick off the new season of 1v1 With Kelley O'Hara presented by RBC Wealth Management, O’Hara sits down with USWNT legend Abby Wambach to discuss the sometimes rocky road to retirement.

First, the former USWNT teammates talk candidly about Wambach's decision to hang up her boots and how she prepared for life after soccer. Then the all-time leading US goalscorer opens about learning to build a life off the pitch, before sharing some lasting bits of wisdom picked up along the way.

"It's important to figure out what is enough," Wambach reflects. "So often we can get lost in our lives because we don't talk about it."

Ultimately, Wambach says, it's about facing one question: "What kind of a future do you really want and how are you going to spend the rest of your life?"

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After completing a perfect 2023/24 season with Barcelona FC, Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won her second-straight Ballon d’Or award on Monday.

"I always say this is not something that you can do alone," the 26-year-old said, crediting her teammates in her acceptance speech. "I'm so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful players who help me to keep growing into a better player."

Only one other women's footballer has won the award twice: Bonmatí's teammate for club and country, Alexia Putellas, who clocked in 10th in this year's final tally. The two now hold a combined four-year streak in winning soccer's top honor.

The only other recipients in the award's six-year history are USWNT star Megan Rapinoe and Norway's Ada Hegerberg.

It's Barcelona or bust at Ballon d'Or

Barcelona’s 2024 triumphs — winning a historic quadruple of Liga F, Champions League, Supercopa, and Copa de la Reina titles — earned the team Club of the Year honors last night.

That success was mirrored on the individual level, as well. Barça players owned the award's Top 3 spots, with forwards Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo just behind Bonmatí in the final vote.

Olympic gold earns USWNT stalwarts votes

Of the five USWNT players on the Ballon d'Or's 30-athlete shortlist, four landed in the Top 10, buoyed by their gold medal performance at the 2024 Paris Games. USWNT captain Lindsey Horan finished at No. 5 alongside the "Triple Espresso" strike squad of No. 4 Sophia Smith, No. 6 Mal Swanson, and No. 9 Trinity Rodman. 

The lone goalkeeper on the list, USWNT star Alyssa Naeher, came in at No. 17. The Ballon d'Or does not include a separate individual award for women's football's top goalkeeper.

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Meanwhile, USWNT boss Emma Hayes brought home historic hardware of her own.

After leading Chelsea FC to a fifth-straight WSL title before winning Olympic gold with the USWNT, Hayes received the first-ever Women’s Coach of the Year award last night.

"I just want to say a big thank you to all the staff and players from both teams," Hayes said after receiving the inaugural honor.

"Football is a team game and I’m very grateful to have led some amazing teams this year, so this award is for everyone who has been a part of the US team and Chelsea."

Hermoso's advocacy honored

Former Barcelona forward and Spanish national Jenni Hermoso — who now plays for Tigres in Mexico's Liga MX — became the third person and first woman to win the humanitarian Socrates Award in last night's ceremony.

The award recognizes Hermoso's efforts advocating for the advancement of the women's game, equality at all levels of soccer, and her fight against sexual harassment in sports ignited by the nonconsensual kiss from ex-Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales during the 2023 World Cup trophy ceremony.

"Women's football deserves a place for new and future generations," the 34-year-old urged in her speech before imploring further action from the global soccer community.

"I'd like to ask all of you to get together and work together in order to make a better world possible and to make football become what little girls deserve for the future."

Ballon d'Or ceremony spurs conversation about persisting inequities

While the Ballon d'Or has made strides by instituting a women's football award in 2018, the ceremony continues to be fall during a FIFA women's international window. The scheduling makes it near-impossible for many women's football nominees to attend what is arguably the sport's biggest night.

Last night, only a handful of European-based players were able to make the Paris event.

Even more, the Ballon d'Or ballot only honors one individual woman footballer, while the men's night bestows three additional trophies: the Yashin for best goalkeeper, the Gerd Müller for top goalscorer, and the Kopa for best U-21 player. Plus, while 100 journalists vote for the final men's tally, only 50 are tapped to weigh in on the women's award.

In today’s episode of the Late Sub, host Claire Watkins talks through the USWNT's second-straight 3-1 win over Iceland while shedding light on Sunday's comeback victory. Watkins digs into how the USWNT struggled slightly with coach Emma Hayes's roster rotation at first, before a second-half stabilization perfectly showcased their underlying strengths.

Then, Watkins interviews star Team USA sprinter Gabby Thomas about her whirlwind summer after earning three Olympic gold medals in Paris, as well as her off-track interest in global health advocacy.

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

In today’s episode of the Late Sub, host Claire Watkins breaks down the USWNT and their 3-1 win over Iceland, including shouting out the match's top performers before examining where the US could still improve. Plus, Watkins chats about how head coach Emma Hayes is continuing to put her stamp on the team.

Then, Watkins gives her take on the Chicago Red Stars' rebrand, and how the NWSL is shedding some of its history in a bid toward the future.

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

Three more WNBA teams dropped their head coaches in the last week, leaving more than half of the league's 12 current squads without a sideline manager.

On Monday, the Connecticut Sun announced a reportedly mutual parting of ways with head coach Stephanie White, one day after the Indiana Fever announced the ousting of head coach Christie Sides. The news comes after the Washington Mystics dropped both head coach Eric Thibault and head coach-turned-GM Mike Thibault last Wednesday.

White took Sun to two straight WNBA semifinals

In just two seasons at Connecticut's helm, White led the Sun to two straight WNBA semifinals before ultimately falling to New York in 2023 and Minnesota in 2024.

The 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year departs Connecticut with an impressive 55-25 regular-season record, and is rumored to be the top candidate for Indiana's now-vacant head coach job.

If White does sign on to lead the Fever, it will be a homecoming. The Purdue alum played for the WNBA team from 2000 to 2004, and later spent six years on Indiana's sideline, first as an assistant coach before taking the reins for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

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Sides led Fever to first WNBA postseason in eight years

In her two seasons at the helm, Sides led the Fever to a 33-47 record, including a impressive 20-20 record this year.

After a 1-8 start through the league's toughest pre-Olympic break schedule, Indiana found its stride, finishing the regular season in sixth place. With a roster that boasts the last two Rookies of the Year, Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, Sides took her 2024 team to the franchise's first WNBA playoffs since 2016.

Fever president of basketball operations Kelly Krauskopf, who called Sides "a resilient leader" and "a culture builder" in a seeming vote of confidence just a few weeks ago, said in a statement on Sunday that it's "imperative that we remain bold and assertive in the pursuit of our goals, which includes maximizing our talent and bringing another WNBA championship back to Indiana."

As for Sides, she addressed her ousting with a simple post on X, saying "Leave it better than you found it."

Between Krauskopf's September hiring, the addition of GM/COO Amber Cox earlier this month, and now the release of Sides, Indiana faces a 2025 season under entirely new leadership.

Washington Mystics show Thibaults the door

Washington's Thibault era has officially come to an end. With the ousting of the father-son leadership pair, the Mystics will face its 2025 campaign without a Thibault pacing the sideline for the first time since 2012.

After 10 years backing his father, Mike, as an assistant, Eric Thibault led the Mystics to a 33-47 record over two seasons as head coach. Washington advanced to the postseason in 2023, falling to New York in the first round. After a 0-12 start this year, the Mystics finished just below the postseason cutoff line in ninth place.

Before handing his head coaching role to his son, Mike Thibault led Washington as a dual coach and GM for 10 seasons. The 2013 WNBA Coach of the Year took the Mystics to eight postseasons and helped earn the franchise's first championship in 2019. He exits as the winningest coach in WNBA history with a 379-289 record over 20 seasons — 10 with Washington and 10 leading Connecticut.

"Coach Mike elevated the Mystics program to its proud status as a league leader in innovation, the standard bearer in player care, and a model franchise," Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger said in a team statement. "His fingerprints are all over this franchise and will be for years to come."

The WNBA's current flood of firings

Of the WNBA's 12 teams, seven have now parted ways with their head coaches. The LA Sparks and Chicago Sky bid adieu to Curt Miller and Teresa Weatherspoon, respectively, in September, with the Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings following suit earlier this month, handing pink slips to Tanisha Wright and Latricia Trammell.

Personnel changes haven't been limited to the sidelines, either. Like Washington, the Las Vegas Aces and Dallas Wings also let their GMs go.

Between head coaches and GMs, only the Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, 2024 runners-up Minnesota Lynx, and reigning champions New York Liberty have maintained their 2024 leadership.