Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund won ski cross gold on Thursday, ending Canada’s 12-year reign atop the podium.

Since the race’s debut at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, Canada had won gold in every single women’s version of the race. But on Thursday, Naeslund held off Canada’s Marielle Thompson to take gold.

Canada had won every women's ski cross gold medal in Olympic history... until today.

The first GOLD for Sweden and Sandra Naeslund! #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/FcajBJpXdU

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 17, 2022

Switzerland’s Fanny Smith originally finished in third before the bronze was awarded to Germany’s Daniela Maier. It was determined that Smith moved her left ski into Maier’s line, causing Maier to lose her balance and fall two body lengths behind. Smith was disqualified as a result.

It’s the second Olympic medal for Thompson, who won gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. For Naeslund and Maier, these are their first Olympic medals.

The next generation of tennis stars are on the rise, with youth-powered upsets rattling this week's third round of the 2026 Australian Open.

No. 8 Jasmine Paolini became the season's first fallen Top 10 contender, as the Italian standout fell 6-2, 7-6(3) to US 18-year-old and world No. 27 Iva Jović early Friday morning.

No. 14 Clara Tauson and No. 10 Belinda Bencic also bowed out of the Melbourne Grand Slam thanks to a pair of 19-year-olds, with Canada's No. 16 Victoria Mboko and Czechia's No. 126 Nikola Bartunkova ousting the Danish and Swiss stars, respectively, on Thursday to advance to this weekend's fourth round.

Even more, Mboko and Bartunkova were two of five teenagers featuring in the Grand Slam's third round, as the WTA establishment clashed with its future.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old star Coco Gauff survived a three-set scare against fellow US talent No. 70 Hailey Baptiste, with the world No. 3 eventually reaching her fourth straight Australian Open Round of 16 behind Thursday's 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 come-from-behind win.

"On the serve, I was just trying to be aggressive with my placement and not be too passive," Gauff said postmatch. "Honestly, I'm out there trying to figure out that balance along with everybody else."

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open

The third round of the 2026 Australian Open wraps on Friday night, with WTA stars like No. 2 Iga Świątek, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, and No. 17 Naomi Osaka all aiming to advance.

Friday's action kicks off with defending champion No. 9 Madison Keys taking on Czechia's Karolína Plíšková while fellow US standout No. 6 Jessica Pegula faces No. 101 Oksana Selekhmeteva at 6:30 PM ET.

All matches from the Melbourne Slam air live across ESPN platforms.

One of the two remaining undefeated Division I basketball teams could steal the SEC spotlight on Sunday, when No. 5 Vanderbilt takes on a No. 2 South Carolina team reeling from Thursday night's loss — just the second of the Gamecocks' 2025/26 NCAA season.

South Carolina fell 94-82 in overtime to No. 16 Oklahoma, with freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez putting up a game-leading 26 points to fuel the Sooners' upset victory.

"We ran into a team that actually wanted to win more, and they made winning plays, and we didn't," Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley said afterwards.

South Carolina won't have much time to reflect, however, as they prepare to take on a surging Vanderbilt with more than just strong conference records on the line.

Sophomore Mikayla Blakes leads the Commodores with 25.0 points per game, with the standout guard sitting second-overall in DI scoring as Vanderbilt continues their best start in team history.

"I'm having to remind myself that this makes us 20-0 and that's a great thing, right?" Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph said after her squad's 81-53 win over Auburn on Thursday. "The other thing is that I like being in this place where I'm pissed off after a win because we didn't play well today, especially in the first half. I like it because it says that I know how good this team can be."

How to watch Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina this weekend

Barring any additional meteorological disruptions this weekend, the No. 2 Gamecocks will host the unbeaten No. 5 Commodores at 3 PM ET on Sunday, with live coverage airing on ESPN.

A young USWNT will kick off in California on Saturday, as the world No. 2 takes on No. 46 Paraguay in the first of two January friendlies to open the 2027 World Cup qualifying year.

"It's really exciting to see the opportunity presented to a lot of players in this camp," said midfielder Olivia Moultrie prior to Saturday's match, which will pull from a 26-player USWNT January lineup that boasts an average age of just 24.1 years old. "It's players that I've played with on youth teams, and just seeing kind of start coming into the league."

This month's camp falls outside an official FIFA window, leaving the US without both European club players and Gotham FC's squad as the 2025 NWSL champs prepare to contend in the first-ever FIFA Women's Champions Cup in London next week.

"There is no question we will keep — I hope — improving what we're doing," said USWNT manager Emma Hayes. "You don't do that gradually, you don't do that by changing things all of the time."

Additionally, Saturday's match will honor two-time World Cup champion Christen Press with a pregame ceremony, after the star forward announced her pro soccer retirement at the end of last season.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Paraguay on Saturday

The USWNT will take on Paraguay at 5:30 PM ET on Saturday, kicking off live on TNT.

Trinity Rodman is officially staying in the NWSL, as the USWNT star announced a deal to return to the Washington Spirit in a high-profile press conference on Thursday night.

Signed through 2028, the 23-year-old forward's new contract is reportedly worth over $2 million per year, making her the world's highest-paid women's soccer player.

"I've made the DMV my home and the Spirit my family, and I knew this was where I wanted to enter the next chapter of my career," Rodman said in a club statement.

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The Rodman deal marks a major win for both the Washington Spirit and the NWSL, as USWNT standouts like former Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson and ex-Portland Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey leave the US league to pursue opportunities overseas.

Notably, the deal utilizes the new "High Impact Player" (HIP) rule allowing clubs to exceed the NWSL salary cap for top talent. It results in more balanced terms than Washington's previous back-loaded offer, which the league rejected.

"[Trinity] represents the future of this club and the future of women's soccer," said Spirit owner Michele Kang. "This agreement reflects our belief that elite talent deserves elite commitment."

While the HIP rule is still under arbitration due to an NWSLPA grievance, Rodman's re-signing could be the light at the end of the NWSL's tunnel.

How to watch Trinity Rodman in this weekend's women's soccer lineup

Trinity Rodman will suit up for the USWNT tomorrow, facing Paraguay in the first of two January friendlies. The match kicks off at 5:30 PM ET, live on TNT.