Every morning Emily Baker pops in her headphones, closes her eyes and loses herself in the music of hip hop artist Lil Baby and country singer Morgan Waller. The artists have completely different sounds, but together they unlock the competitor inside Baker.

“I need to listen to a variety of music everyday in order to get into a rhythm,” Baker said. “It’s very different, but it’s what I like and it works for me.”

Baker, a junior forward for the Alton High School (Illinois) girls’ soccer team, has become a team leader this season. And she’s reached an even higher level over the past week, scoring eight goals as the Redbirds rolled to three straight wins.

It was a stretch Baker won’t soon forget, and it earned her JWS Player of the Week honors.

“Emily has become the player that I can go to and give her a job or a responsibility, and she takes that upon herself to make sure that the rest of the team follows,” coach Gwen Sabo said. “It’s been really nice to see her go from a freshman to a young adult who has become a leader.”

Emily Baker is the Alton High March Athlete of the Month selection. Emily is a member of the Redbird Girls Soccer team and is a two-year Varsity starter for the Redbirds who have started 3-0. Last week: 2 goals & 2 assists. https://t.co/jToCei78Ow @redbirdssoccer @AHS_Redbirds pic.twitter.com/8XTwZ0LFpN

— AltonAthletics (@AltonAthletics) March 21, 2022

In last Thursday’s game against Althoff Catholic, Baker scored two goals in near freezing temperatures and rainy weather to help Alton force overtime. In penalty kicks, she scored again. On the other side of the field, her twin sister Peyton, the Redbirds’ goalkeeper, made the necessary saves to secure the win.

Baker also shone in front of a sold-out crowd Monday in a 7-0 win against crosstown rival Marquette Catholic. She was subbed out with 24 minutes left in the contest, having already scored four goals, and was serenaded with cheers from the home fans. Baker’s request to remain in the game was denied by Sabo.

“I just wanted to compete in front of my parents, but I also understood that we had a big game the next day,” Baker said. “I was happy to see our crowd cheer me on, but to see the opposing team’s crowd sigh a breath of relief made me want to stay in.”

To end the three-game stretch, Baker scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Collinsville. But her work this season is hardly complete.

“My goal is to win the conference this year with my best friends and my sister,” Baker said.

Kevin Colindres is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. He has previously reported for the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News and El Tecolote. He enjoys film and comic books when he’s not playing basketball with his friends. Follow him on Twitter @kevinjcolindres.

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson is hitting the small screen, teaming up with apparel sponsor Nike and LEGO to host the Danish toymaker's new YouTube Shorts series Clicked In.

According to a Saturday announcement for the series, "Wilson is getting together her closest LEGO Minifigure friends to talk sport, style, and tell unbelievable stories from her real life."

The 2025 WNBA MVP first joined the two brands' new multi-year partnership in May, teaming up to help "inspire kids everywhere to play both on and off the court."

"I have loved playing with LEGO bricks since I was a kid, and know that my creativity and play helped me not only in sports but also at school and in life," Wilson said in a press release last May. "I'm thrilled to be part of this partnership with Nike and the LEGO Group and know we can help to make a positive impact with kids and adults alike."

With new episodes dropping every Sunday through mid-November, LEGO is calling Wilson's upcoming YouTube Shorts series "the biggest mini sports show ever."

In addition to the streaming series, Nike and LEGO will also release the third installment of their kids' clothing and accessories line in less than two weeks, with the full collection set to drop on October 11th.

Angel City welcomed four new owners on Monday, as NBA star Chris Paul headlines four high-profile investors buying into the 2022 NWSL expansion side under the leadership of controlling owner Willow Bay.

A 12-time NBA All-Star, Paul is joined by fellow NWSL investors philanthropist Solina Chau, organizational development consultant Ina Coleman, and entrepreneur Paul Bernon.

"Chris, Solina, Ina, and Paul exemplify the values and vision that define ACFC," said Bay in a club statement. "Their outstanding leadership across business, sport, advocacy, and social impact makes them ideal partners as we continue building a world-class club that is forward-thinking, inclusive, and ambitious."

"It's an incredible honor to join Angel City FC as an investor and owner," Paul said on Monday. "Being able to join ACFC is not only an amazing opportunity, it's a chance to support women's sports and help drive positive change."

Valued at upwards of $250 million, Angel City has long been a draw for celebrity co-owners. The investor roster includes tennis legend Billie Jean King, singer Christina Aguilera, and actors Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner, and America Ferrera.

Despite the big-name backers, ACFC currently sits 11th in the 2025 NWSL standings with just four matches left on the year. The team is in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

The WNBA Class of 2025 balled out this season, with the league naming every one of this year's top four draft picks to the All-Rookie Team on Monday — the first quartet to achieve the feat since 2014.

The 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers leads the first-year squad, with the Dallas Wings guard joined by Seattle Storm center and No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga as well as the Washington Mystics' Nos. 3 and 4 selectees — guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen, respectively.

One undrafted player rounds out this year's WNBA All-Rookie Team, with international signee and Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün making the cut after averaging 11.3 points per game for the 2025 expansion side — helping lead the Valks to a history-making playoff berth in their inaugural season.

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Three members of the 2025 WNBA All-Rookie Team — Bueckers, Citron, and Iriafen — also became All-Stars in their debut season, with each joining Salaün in logging double-digit point averages across their inaugural pro campaigns.

Bueckers claimed even more scoring history, with her 692 total points trailing only 2024's Caitlin Clark and 2006's Seimone Augustus for most points tallied in a WNBA rookie season.

As for Malonga, the 19-year-old made her own mark as the youngest-ever WNBA player to record 100 career points.

The NWSL is gearing up for the 2025 postseason, releasing this year's Championship Week schedule — including a brand-new end-of-season awards ceremony — on Monday.

Prior to the championship match on Saturday, November 22nd, the festivities in San Jose, California, will kick off with the first-ever NWSL Awards on Wednesday, November 19th.

Calling it a "landmark celebration of excellence in women's soccer," the live awards ceremony on ESPN2 will honor the season's Best XI as well as the 2025 NWSL MVP, Rookie of the Year, Golden Boot winner, Coach of the Year, and the top position players (Midfielder, Defender, and Goalkeeper of the Year).

In addition, the NWSL will announce the winner of the 2025 Lauren Holiday Impact Award during the program.

The league is also bringing back some fan favorite events to this November's Championship Weekend, including the NWSL Skills Challenge, in which players will face off for a cut of a $30,000 prize pool at San Jose State University on Friday, November 21st.

The following day will see the return of Fan Fest, with games, activations, food, and music counting down to kickoff of the 2025 NWSL Championship match, with an additional Post-Game Party wrapping the weekend's celebration at San Pedro Square Market on Saturday evening.