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Carli Lloyd says USWNT culture became ‘toxic’ after 2015 World Cup

(Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Carli Lloyd took to Instagram on Wednesday to expand on her recent comments regarding the USNWT’s culture.

On “Hope Solo Speaks,” a new podcast hosted by former USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo, Lloyd said she “hated” playing for the team in recent years due to a perceived change in culture.

In a video posted to her social media, she declined to name specific names but called out both teammates and the USWNT’s management.

“If there’s no collective one, if there’s no collective goal, no team or business can be successful with a poor culture. In every successful team, nothing becomes bigger than winning,” she said. “And when things and other things become bigger than performing and the will to win, that is when the culture is no longer good enough.

“By culture, I am referring to mentality. Respect for coaches, teammates, support staff. I’m also talking about the drive, the desire, the hunger, the fight, the accepting a role and doing it to the best of your ability. Giving it your all every time you step on the field, giving it your all in training, and giving it your all whether it’s five minutes on the field, 10 minutes on the field, 60 minutes on the field or 90 minutes on the field. It doesn’t matter.

“You represent the crest and you represent your country with pride because there are millions of other people who would love to be in our shoes playing on the national team, and so you can never take it for granted.”

Lloyd also spoke with “The State of the Union” podcast on Tuesday, saying that she saw a change in some of the focus after the USWNT won the 2015 World Cup. The culture afterward, she said, was “toxic,” with some players opting to focus more on building their own brands than winning as a team.

“In 2015, winning a World Cup obviously put us on a really big, big stage, and endorsements started coming, and the spotlight started coming, and I just saw a shift in people’s mindsets,” Lloyd said. “It became more about ‘what can I do to build my brand off the field? What can I do to get an endorsement deal,’ and less about what we have to do when we step in between those lines.”

Lloyd retired from the national team in 2021 after logging 316 caps, the second most all-time.

J.Crew Launches Winter Olympics Collection with U.S. Ski & Snowboard

US Ski & Snowboard athletes Colby Stevenson, Rell Harwood, Tess Johnson, Hailey Langland, River Radamus, and Zach Miller pose in J.Crew gear for the retailer's 2026 Olympics collection.
Six members of the US Ski & Snowboard team bound for the 2026 Winter Olympics were tapped for the apparel collection. (J.Crew)

J.Crew is hitting the slopes with Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics, dropping a limited-edition retail collection in collaboration with US Ski & Snowboard this week.

The apparel giant tapped six members of Team USA to model the capsule, including 2018 and 2022 Olympic snowboarder Hailey Langland, 2018 Olympic mogul skier Tess Johnson, and freestyle skier Rell Harwood, who is aiming to make her Olympic debut this year.

The move comes after the brand announced a three-year deal with the winter sports' national governing body, with J.Crew signing on as an official partner of US Ski & Snowboard.

"We're proud to elevate the sport and its athletes at a moment when excitement around snow sports is higher than ever," said J.Crew Group CEO Libby Wadle.

Using themes, patterns, and patches from both the governing org's and J.Crew's historic archives, the inaugural 26-piece collection features knitwear, winter accessories, loungewear, and — in conjunction with US Ski & Snowboard partner Kappa — technical ski jackets.

With items for all ages, the capsule collection will not factor into Team USA's official Olympic uniform, but will provide retro "après-ski-style" flair for both athletes and fans.

How to purchase the Team USA x J.Crew Winter Olympics collection

The full US Ski & Snowboard collection from J.Crew will hit the retailer's online store on Thursday, though fans can sign up for the official drop notification today.

Australian Open Announces Record Prize Pool for 2026 Grand Slam

US tennis star Madison Keys kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the 2025 Australian Open.
US tennis star Madison Keys won the 2025 Australian Open. (Fred Lee/Getty Images)

The Australian Open is raising the bar for 2026, with the first Grand Slam of the tennis season boosting its total prize pool to a record $74.9 million — a 16% increase over the 2025 tournament.

Top-finishers in both the women's and men's competitions will now receive checks worth $2.79 million — 19% more than 2025's champions — while a player exiting in the main draw's first round will earn approximately $101,000, a 14% year-over-year increase.

The annual competition has long been a pioneer in promoting equal pay, following the US Open's 1973 move by becoming the second Slam to guarantee a 50-50 breakdown between the WTA and ATP in 2001.

"This 16% increase demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level," said Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley in the governing body's Tuesday announcement. "From boosting qualifying prize money by 55% since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we're ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors."

"This investment strengthens tennis's foundation, ensuring the sport's long-term health and commercial growth," added Tiley. "By supporting players at all levels, we're building deeper talent pools and more compelling storylines for fans."

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open

US star and world No. 7 Madison Keys will look to defend her trophy when the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open kicks off at 7 PM ET on Saturday, January 17th.

Live coverage of the season's first Slam will air across ESPN platforms.

LPGA and TMRW Sports Launch WTGL Women’s Indoor Golf League

A general view of the indoor green during a 2026 Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL) match.
The WTGL will merge traditional golf with simulated play. (Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)

LPGA stars will soon be hitting the virtual links, as the pro women's tour is teaming up with TMRW Sports to launch the all-new WTGL next winter.

The indoor team golf platform will build off the success of the second-year men's venture Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL) — a 2025 upstart co-founded by PGA stars Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy — which merges traditional golf with simulated play to provide avenues for offseason competition.

"I've seen how new formats can engage audiences while showcasing both athlete personality and performance, and WTGL brings that spirit of innovation to the women's game," said commissioner Craig Kessler in the LPGA's Tuesday press release. It creates another global stage for our athletes — one that helps fans connect more deeply with them and continues to elevate the visibility and growth of women's golf."

US fan favorite Lexi Thompson unveiled the news on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday, promising a star-studded roster of LPGA standouts, with WTGL participants and teams dropping in the upcoming months.

"It just brings a whole different fan base to the game of golf," said the 2022 Women's PGA Championship runner-up. "[Fans can] see the personalities of the guys, and now the women. So, it's just amazing for the game of golf in general, but especially the women's side."

Pro Volleyball Leagues LOVB, MLV Kick Off 2026 Seasons

An overhead view of LOVB Austin huddling on the court during the 2025 championship game.
LOVB Austin won the inaugural League One Volleyball title in 2025. (Emilee Chinn/LOVB/Getty Images)

Professional volleyball is back in action this week, with both League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Major League Volleyball (MLV) kicking off their 2026 seasons as the sport's pro landscape continues to grow.

Featuring an Olympian-heavy player pool, LOVB is returning with its six inaugural teams as reigning champion Austin looks to run the title back this season before the second-year league adds three new clubs in 2027.

Meanwhile, following a blockbuster merger with the two-season-old Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF), MLV will start serving with eight teams as 2025 PVF champs Orlando Valkyries embarks on their own title defense, all while the new conglomerate eyes more future expansion.

As NCAA volleyball continues to dominate the fall calendar, multiple pro leagues — each armed with top talent and broadcast deals — are forming in response to demand from both players and fans.

How to watch the 2026 season starts of LOVB and MLV

LOVB hits the 2026 court first with a rematch of the league's 2025 championship, with defending title-winners Austin facing runners-up Nebraska at 6 PM ET on Wednesday, airing on USA Network.

Then on Thursday, MLV enters the fray as the Atlanta Vibe hosts the Columbus Fury at 7 PM ET before the San Diego Mojo visits the Omaha Supernovas at 8 PM ET. Both MLV matches will stream live on YouTube.