The Super Falcons are cleaning house, as the Nigeria Football Federation fired coach Justine Madugu and his technical staff after they failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in history.
Magdu took over on an interim basis in September 2024. He guided Nigeria to a record-10th WAFCON title in 2024 before the Super Falcons lost the 2026 WAFCON quarterfinals and missed a shot at FIFA’s inter-federation playoffs.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau launched a two-week fact-finding mission to investigate the team’s collapse. He appointed former General Secretary Fanny Amun as chair.
The committee includes Super Falcons legend Desire Oparanozie and ex-men’s team captain Mutiu Adepoju. Retired FIFA referee Alex Mana and Nigeria Football Coaches Association President Ladan Bosso round out the group.
The PWHL is doubling down, telling The Hockey News it expects no front office changes even as sole owner Mark Walter offloads major holdings amid an ongoing federal probe.
Walter sold the NBA’s Lakers and his stake in England’s Chelsea this month, sparking fears that the pro women’s hockey league could be next — before a spokesperson shot down that speculation.
"Absolutely no expected change to ownership of PWHL," the pro women’s hockey league told the publication.
The divestitures likely stem from needing to unwind billions in related-party loans from his insurance interests. This comes after financial inconsistencies drew regulators’ attention.
The business tycoon bankrolled the PWHL’s six-team launch in 2024. The league has since ballooned to 12 teams across the US and Canada ahead of the 2026/27 season.
AUSL’s top defender got her flowers, as OKC Spark shortstop Sydney Romero won the league’s first Rawlings Gold Glove Award honoring the year’s best fielder.
Romero anchored the Spark infield through a 13-12 season. She beat out fellow finalists Jadelyn Allchin (Utah) and Alyssa Brito (Carolina) after tallying 45 assists, five double plays, and a .974 fielding percentage.
“Sydney embodies everything the Rawlings Gold Glove Award represents,” said Rawlings CMO Mike Thompson. “Her instincts, athleticism, consistency, and leadership set the standard for defensive excellence.”
Launched in the MLB in 1957 before expanding to NCAA softball in 2022. Rawlings added the AUSL to its roster following the pro softball league’s explosive second season.
Katie Ledecky’s reign has ended, as Australia’s Lani Pallister upset the US swimming legend in two key freestyle races at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships.
After narrowly ceding the 1,500-meter freestyle to Ledecky, Pallister won the 400-meter before stealing the 800-meter rubber match to snap the Stanford product’s 14-year gold medal run.
“Katie’s such a dominant force,” Pallister said afterward. "Without her, we wouldn’t have women’s distance swimming in the place where it is.”
Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, and Simone Manuel staged an upset of their own, besting Australia in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay for the first time in nine years with a US-record time of 3:29.32.
Douglass also came up big solo, breaking the 50-meter freestyle world record twice in one day, while Gretchen Walsh swept the butterfly sprints.
Malawi’s 2026 Cinderella run fell just short, as Cameroon downed the WAFCON debutants 3-0 in yesterday’s final — while KC Current star Temwa Chawinga earned the Golden Boot for the Scorchers.
Marie Ngah Manga’s brace and a Naomi Eto strike sealed the shutout before the break, with the Indomitable Lionesses holding Temwa and sister Tabitha’s Malawi to just two shots on goal.
Chawinga claimed her individual honor by edging Orlando Pride standout Barbra Banda (Zambia) on assists after pulling level on goals, capping a campaign that carried the 153rd-ranked nation past 10-time champion Nigeria to a 2027 World Cup berth.
The back-to-back NWSL MVP now returns to No. 7 Kansas City, rejoining the US league’s Golden Boot race where she sits three goals behind Orlando’s Banda.
Project B made headlines this week, as the offseason league told Front Office Sports it will adhere to Olympic and FIBA gender eligibility guidelines, citing “consistency and confidence for players and stakeholders.”
The IOC effectively barred trans athletes from competing in Olympic women’s sports earlier this year, with FIBA following suit as it continues reviewing basketball-specific data through 2027.
The news arrives as the media storm surrounding gender eligibility reaches new heights, after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham spoke out against trans inclusion in women’s sports.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s recently formed task force found “no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA,” while the players union decried “hate, abuse, and demonization” directed at transgender people.
Project B has signed 15 players ahead of its January debut — including Cunningham and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike.
ESPN is betting on women’s college sports, as the network unveiled expanded coverage across volleyball and soccer ahead of the 2026 NCAA season.
The volleyball lineup marks the largest in ESPN history, listing more than 2,400 matches including 106 on linear TV. Everything kicks off with an August 21st showdown between Louisville and defending champion Texas A&M.
The network will air the entire NCAA volleyball tournament, culminating in December 20th’s final in San Antonio.
ESPN will carry 46 regular-season NCAA soccer matchups including 10 top-ranked clashes. ESPN+ will additionally stream 1,750+ games across 22+ conferences.
2025 champ Florida State headlines eight broadcasts. Georgia hosts its first-ever match inside Sanford Stadium, looking to break the women’s college soccer attendance record while subsequently honoring the USWNT’s 1996 Olympic gold-medal win.
World No. 153 Malawi rolls on, as the Chawinga sisters powered the tournament debutants past No. 74 Algeria 3-1 to meet Cameroon in Sunday’s WAFCON final.
OL Lyonnes’s Tabitha Chawinga opened the scoring with a bicycle kick off a corner in the 34th minute, before sealing the win with a 76th-minute strike.
KC Current star Temwa Chawinga netted her fifth goal of the tournament in first-half stoppage time, pulling level with Zambia’s Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) atop WAFCON’s Golden Boot race.
No. 71 Cameroon pulled off the bracket’s other upset, as goalkeeper Michaely Bihina made four saves to beat host No. 64 Morocco 3-1 on penalties after 120 scoreless minutes.
All four semifinalists already secured their 2027 World Cup berths, while the four losing quarterfinalists — Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria — battle for two tickets to FIFA’s inter-confederation playoffs this afternoon.
The 2026 WAFCON final kicks off Sunday at 3 PM ET (beIN Sports USA).
This year’s Champions League is taking shape, as Tuesday’s third qualifying draw unveiled 2026/27 paths for Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Hot off a busy transfer window, Chelsea drew Spanish side Real Sociedad, while Real Madrid pulled Dutch titan Ajax, PSG landed Bundesliga’s Eintracht Frankfurt, and two-time winner Wolfsburg got Serie A runner-up Inter.
The winners enter the 18-team League Phase alongside automatic qualifiers Barcelona, Lyon, Arsenal, and Manchester City, while the losing teams drop to the Europa Cup draw.
There’s financial incentive to advance in Champions League play. Each League Phase club earns a guaranteed €505,000, plus €60,000 for every win, €20,000 for each draw, and €10,000 to €180,000 based on final standings.
The Champions League third qualifying round kicks off August 26th (Paramount+).
US Soccer lost one of its brightest stars this week. NWSL and USWNT midfielder Olivia Moultrie landed on the season-ending injury list after tearing her ACL in training.
The 20-year-old was in the midst of a career-best league run. She’s tallied five goals and five assists to propel No. 5 Portland up the NWSL table.
“Olivia is one of the most driven players I have been around, and she will use that drive during her recovery and rehabilitation,” Thorns President & GM of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos said in a team statement.
The blow is likely to sideline Moultrie for November’s Concacaf W Championship. That’s when the US kicks off its 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympic qualifiers.
“Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to sum up all of the feelings right now,” Moultrie posted.
“I know there is a reason this path has been chosen for me and I can’t promise everything but I can promise I’ll be back and I’ll be better.”