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‘A gut feeling’: Michelle Cooper’s big decision leads to Kansas City

Michelle Cooper went No. 2 to the Kansas City Current after a trade at the NWSL Draft on Thursday night. (Kyle Ross/USA TODAY Sports)

PHILADELPHIA — Even with Angel City’s No. 1 pick already turned in, Duke sophomore Michelle Cooper found herself in the middle of the biggest bombshell moment of the 2023 NWSL Draft.

The MAC Hermann trophy winner went No. 2 on Thursday, selected by the Kansas City Current after a league-shaking trade that sent U.S. women’s national team forward Lynn Williams to Gotham FC. Cooper is joining one of the most ambitious sides in the league, which acquired a number of high-profile players in the offseason, including Brazilian superstar Debinha and two-time USWNT world champion Morgan Gautrat.

Those kinds of big moves build a level of excitement and expectations that can threaten to swallow a young prospect whole. But on one of the biggest days of her young soccer career, Cooper made sure to keep things in the family.

“I don’t think I’ve completely digested quite yet that my life is gonna do a 180 as of today,” the 20-year-old told Just Women’s Sports the morning of the draft from a hotel room in Philadelphia, as she and her family and coaches prepared for the next step in her career.

The decision to go pro and leave Duke University two years early wasn’t an easy one, especially as many players still choose to exhaust their college eligibility before jumping to the NWSL and beyond. It’s only been four years since Tierna Davidson became the first player to forgo her final year of college and become the first non-senior to enter the NWSL draft.

Cooper’s move reflects both a personal decision and a shifting of norms.

“I made sure to talk with my mom, my sister, especially, and kind of get their viewpoints on it,” Cooper said. “And once I ultimately decided the dreams that I want to chase, going pro would help chase those dreams.”

She’s gotten nothing but support from her coaches at Duke, who have been with her every step of the way, but the final decision ultimately had to be hers.

“It’s definitely like a gut feeling, and that’s something that I trusted,” she said.

Once a top prospect decides to go pro, moving on to the NWSL isn’t a guarantee. Cooper has been tested at the U.S. youth levels and is coming off a season in which she recorded a team-high 19 goals and 11 assists for Duke. Increasingly, homegrown talent have the opportunity to join a growing global market, with past top prospects like Catarina Macario and Jessie Fleming making the choice to go to Europe instead.

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(Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

When Cooper announced she’d be turning pro, she had to make another personal decision, and again she kept things close to home.

“Ultimately, I’m really close with my family, my mother and my sister, and I didn’t want to be too far away from them, and make sure that they can still visit me and I can still be in close contact with them,” she said. “And that was a lot easier if I stayed in the NWSL.”

Cooper admits entering the draft is daunting, but she went into the process with an open mind. After she had been selected Thursday night, Kansas City general manager Camille Levin Ashton confirmed that Cooper had trained with the Current during Duke’s offseason and had gotten a feel for their environment.

Even before her name was called, Cooper had high praise for the project the Current are building in Kansas City, saying their investment in facilities is one of the greatest examples of league progress, and she described their vision as one other clubs now have to follow.

Current head coach Matt Potter said at the draft that the feeling is mutual.

“The one common denominator is [Cooper and others] have all said, ‘We promise we’ll work hard.’ And the fact that they can follow through with that with the environment we have, the facilities and resources we have, that’s all a top, top player wants,” Potter said.

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(Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

With her focus now 100 percent on soccer, Cooper also began to field offers from apparel brands, something she didn’t feel she always had time for in college even with the opportunities that came from Name, Image and Likeness rights.

“I honestly didn’t have a lot of experience with NIL (Name, Image and Likeness),” she said. “I was always making sure that I was just focused on doing my part on the field and staying present with my teammates off the field, and obviously making sure that the classroom part is staying up to par as well.”

When the time did come to choose a brand, she followed her instincts once again, signing with New Balance.

“It was a no-brainer for me,” she said. “It’s a private, family-owned company. And that’s honestly what I’m all about, like I said earlier, just being close to my family.”

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(Photos courtesy of New Balance)
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With the draft finally over, Cooper has the entire world of professional soccer in front of her, joining a league she’s been watching for a long time. When asked if there are current NWSL players she’d like to emulate, she had a typically well-rounded answer.

“Diana Ordoñez, who likes to score headers, that’s one thing I want to do,” she said. “There’s people like Debinha who are just super creative and savvy on the ball, something else that I want to do. And then there’s people like Ali Krieger, who makes slide tackles and puts in the hard work.”

For a player who says she enjoys a game-winning assist as much as a goal, it’s not surprising that, as she transitions into the NWSL, she’s most excited about the connections she’s going to make.

“I’m excited to get to know new people and play with big names, people who’ve made history in women’s soccer,” she said. “To learn from them, to get to know who they are as people, to make friends. That’s what I’m most excited for.”

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

England Goalkeeper Mary Earps Announces International Retirement

England goalkeeper Mary Earps looks on during a 2025 UEFA Nations League match.
England goalkeeper Mary Earps started in net throughout the Lionesses' 2022 Euro-winning run. (Fran Santiago - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Longtime England goalkeeper Mary Earps announced her retirement from international play on Tuesday, immediately ending her run just five weeks before the Lionesses begin their 2022 Euro title defense.

"My journey has never been the simplest, so in true Mary fashion, this isn't a simple goodbye — right before a major tournament," Earps said in a retirement post on Instagram. "Nonetheless, I know this is the right decision."

Despite the seemingly snap choice, Earps later clarified that she "spent a long time making this decision and it's not one I've made lightly. For me, ultimately this is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive."

Earps led England to their first-ever European Championship plus the 2023 World Cup final in her 53 international caps.

However, Lioness manager Sarina Wiegman told media earlier this year that the 32-year-old Earps would likely take a backseat to Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton at July's 2025 Euro.

"I had hoped that Mary would play an important role within the squad this summer, so of course I am disappointed," Wiegman said after Earps's retirement news broke.

England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton passes the ball during a 2025 UEFA Nations League match.
Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton is England's new No. 1 in net. (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Hampton to lead new-look England goalkeeping core

Hampton, who shared the 2024/25 WSL Golden Glove with Manchester United's Phallon Tullis-Joyce — a top USWNT keeper prospect — will now take over as England's No. 1 net-minder, though the 24-year-old still lacks experience in a major tournament.

Playing behind Hampton will be 20-year-old Manchester City goalie Khiara Keating and 30-year-old Orlando Pride keeper Anna Moorhouse — who owns the NWSL's single-season shutouts record. Both have been club standouts, though neither has logged a cap for England.

As for Earps, her football journey will continue at the club level with PSG, with the now-former Lioness promising that "There's so much to still look forward to, and I have so much energy to continue to strive for greatness, to continue to learn and push myself to maximise every last ounce of potential I have."

‘Sports Are Fun!’ Wants a Lynx-Liberty WNBA Finals Repeat

Cover image for Sports Are Fun! podcast featuring Caitlin Clark.
This week's 'Sports Are Fun!' looks back on the WNBA's early-season storylines. (JWS)

Welcome to another episode of Sports Are Fun!

Every week on Sports Are Fun! presented by Amazon Business, co-hosts soccer legend Kelley O'Hara, sports journalist Greydy Diaz, and JWS intern BJ serve up their hottest takes on the biggest women's sports headlines.

This week, the Sports Are Fun! crew is joined on the couch by retired NWSL star and frequent co-host Merritt Mathias. And to get things started, the sports fans in residence looked back on what was a blockbuster WNBA weekend.

The question on everyone's mind? Whether or not the league-leading Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty can run back their red-hot 2024 WNBA postseason run.

"Teams that are not having declines are the Lynx and the Liberty," O'Hara introduces, coming off a brief chat about the early-season shakeups over at the Indiana Fever. "Both are undefeated. Phee is off to an incredible start. Continuing her monster year from Unrivaled into the league, she's leading in points."

"Do y'all think that we're going to see Lynx-Liberty again in the finals this year?" she asks. "Do you think it's too early to make that assumption? Or are we're like, 'No this is what we're going to do.'"

"It's too early. But I I am hopeful that it happens again," says Mathias. "I thought it was an incredible matchup. When you watched in person, it was incredibly intense. There was competition to the very end of games. It was what you want from a championship series."

"And I think Phee deserves all the time in those moments," she adds. "So does Breanna Stewart. The players on those teams are just really fun to watch."

Along with predicting this year's WNBA finals matchup, the Sports Are Fun! hosts break down Caitlin Clark’s injury, the latest USWNT roster, and so much more!

'Sports Are Fun!' congrats Lo’eau LaBonta on her first USWNT roster call-up

Next up, the team subsequently hashes out the latest USWNT roster. More specifically, the surprise call-ups. And that includes a first-ever camp invitation for KC Current star — and celly queen — Lo’eau LaBonta.

"Moving from the court to the pitch, this past week the US women's national team announced their next camp's roster," O'Hara starts. "I want to shout out Lo’eau [LaBonta] — I'm super stoked about her call-up."

"I think this is just awesome, from a perspective of how your play in the NWSL matters," she continues. "And she's maybe the oldest player to ever get called in to a camp for the first time."

"She's 32," adds Diaz.

"I definitely did see on social media that she's the oldest," agrees BJ.

"I think Lo’eau should have been called in awhile ago," says O'Hara. "But I really like that it's happening now. And she's not getting looked over because she is 32, because she's never been called in before. This shows Emma [Hayes] is watching the NWSL."

"Emma came out with a quote saying that they were agonizing over trying to decide if she should have called in Lo’eau for the Olympics last summer," says BJ. "But she ended up ultimately not going with it because they wanted more experience."

"I really think that she is a special player," says O'Hara. "How she's led Kansas City — I'm really excited to see her take that to the national team."

Sports Are Fun! podcast graphic featuring Kelley O'Hara.
'Sports Are Fun!' places Kelley O'Hara at the intersection of women's sports and fun. (Just Women's Sports)

About 'Sports Are Fun!' with Kelley O'Hara

'Sports Are Fun!' is a show that’ll remind you why you fell in love with women's sports in the first place.

Join World Cup champ, Olympic gold medalist, and aspiring barista Kelley O'Hara as she sits down with sports journalist Greydy Diaz and a revolving cast of co-hosts and friends. Together, they're talking the biggest, funnest, and most need-to-know stories in the world of women’s sports.

From on-court drama to off-field shenanigans, to candid (and silly) chats with the most important personalities in the space, this show screams "Sports Are Fun!"

Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.

At 2025 US Open, LPGA Stars Swing for the Biggest Purse in Women’s Golf

Japan's Yuka Saso eyes a shot at the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open.
2024 US Open winner Yuka Saso of Japan won a record $2.4 million last year. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

The LPGA Tour's largest purse is back on the line, as the 2025 US Women's Open hits the links at Wisconsin's Erin Hills Golf Course on Thursday.

The oldest of the Tour's five major championships, the US Women's Open is now in its 80th year.

In partnership with tournament sponsor Ally, the event's $12 million overall prize money makes it the most lucrative competition in women's golf, with a $2.4 million check going to the eventual winner.

World No. 35 Yuka Saso of Japan, the 2021 and 2024 US Women's Open champion, is back to defend her title alongside eight other former tournament winners, including 2023 victor and current No. 38 Allisen Corpuz (USA) and 2022 champ No. 22 Minjee Lee (Australia).

Also vying for this year's trophy are all 12 2025 LPGA Tour victors, headlined by world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand) and No. 3 Lydia Ko (New Zealand), as well as the two title-winners from the US — No. 11 Angel Yin and No. 18 Yealimi Noh.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda leads 24 of the sport's Top 25 players on the 2025 US Women's Open course, as the US star still searches for her first victory of the season.

How to watch the US Women's Open

The US Women's Open tees off at 6:45 AM ET on Thursday, with coverage of the LPGA major kicking off at 12 PM ET across USA Network and Peacock.

Sunday's championship-winning final round will air live beginnning at 2 PM ET on NBC.

2024 WNBA Championship Contenders Lynx, Liberty Take Early 2025 Leads

Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier celebrates a play during a 2025 WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun.
Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx currently lead the 2025 WNBA standings with a 5-0 record. (Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)

The 2024 WNBA Finals set the stage for this season in more ways than one, as last year's title contenders — the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty — carry their winning ways into 2025.

The undefeated Lynx cruised to a 5-0 record on Tuesday, downing a surging Seattle Storm 82-77 behind 23 points from guard Courtney Williams.

The reigning champion Liberty are keeping pace at 4-0, earning their fourth win with a 95-67 Tuesday night takedown of 2025 expansion side Golden State. Forward Breanna Stewart's 24 points led New York past the Valkyries.

2025 Liberty addition Natasha Cloud dribbles the ball during a WNBA game.
New York's 2025 roster add Natasha Cloud has made an immediate impact on the Liberty. (A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)

Liberty, Lynx standouts race up the 2025 WNBA stat sheet

While many WNBA teams spent the offseason instituting major coaching and roster shakeups, the Lynx and Liberty kept last year's lineups mostly intact.

Minnesota star forward Napheesa Collier currently dominates scoring on the WNBA stat sheet with 26.8 points per game, and her block and steal rates are in the league's Top-5.

Meanwhile, teammate Alanna Smith also tops the leaderboard thanks to a 62.5% field goal percentage, and sits in fourth for both block and three-point rates.

The Liberty's Kennedy Burke has also been lights-out, leading the league in three-point percentage at 63.6% while shooting 60.9% from the field — good for fourth on the stat sheet.

Proving New York's few offseason moves were effective is 2025 Liberty addition Natasha Cloud, who sits in second with 8.3 assists per game. At the same time, the team as a whole is outpacing the rest of the league in field goal percentage (49.8%), as well as points (94), assists (25.3), and blocks (6.0) per game.

The league's top dogs won't clash on the court until July 30th — but early odds of a 2024 WNBA Finals rematch closing out the 2025 season grow stronger by the day.

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