A week after unveiling the final high school soccer spring rankings, Just Women’s Sports has new honors to bestow upon the nation’s top high school student-athletes.

JWS is proud to announce its inaugural All-American girls soccer teams, honoring 22 of the top high school players in the nation, including seven seniors on the first team.

Learn more about these outstanding athletes below, including what college they plan to attend, and look out for our selection of JWS Player of the Year next week.

First Team

Elise Evans, Woodside (Calif.), Sr. | D/F

18 goals, 4 assists
Stanford

Evans did it all for Woodside. Normally a defender, Evans played up top when needed and averaged over a goal per game in 12 appearances. But she was just as comfortable defending a one-goal lead, guiding the Wildcats to a 15-2-1 record.

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Juliauna Hayward, Legacy (Colo.), Sr. | M

17 goals, 22 assists
Colorado

A top-10 player in her recruiting class, according to Top Drawer Soccer, Hayward controlled the midfield and led the Lightning to a state quarterfinal appearance.

Riley Jackson, Blessed Trinity (Ga.), Soph. | M

14 goals, 18 assists
Uncommitted

Jackson put up those numbers despite missing significant time while leading the U.S. U17 national team to the Concacaf championship, where she was named the tournament’s best player.

Four years ago, Riley Jackson was cut from her local ODP tryouts.

Yesterday, she captained the #U17WYNT and dished out three assists in the win over Puerto Rico at the #CWU17 🇺🇸⚽️

Everyone has their own journey.
This is Riley’s ⤵️

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) April 26, 2022

Molly Martin, Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School (Mass.), Sr. | D

6 goals, 9 assists
Penn State

Before enrolling at Penn State, Martin anchored a defense that allowed just two goals in 21 games, leading the Knights to a 21-0 record and the Class A tournament championship.

Shay Montgomery, Yorktown (Va.), Sr. | M

24 goals, 8 assists
South Carolina

Montgomery led the Patriots to the 6A state title and a No. 3 spot in the season-ending JWS rankings.

Allie Montoya, Mountain View (Cal.), Sr. | F

28 goals, 11 assists
Stanford

A constant presence on U.S. youth national teams, Montoya scored over a third of the Spartans’ goals and was involved in nearly half of them.

Jordan Nytes, Grandview (Colo.), Sr. | GK

5 goals against, 15 shutouts, 75 saves
Oklahoma State

Nytes was the backbone of the Class 5A state champions, giving up just five goals in 20 games and recording a .938 save percentage.

Melina Rebimbas, Rutgers Preparatory School (N.J.), Jr. | F

40 goals, 31 assists
North Carolina

Rebimbas recorded a hat trick in eight games this season, more than a third of the Dragons’ 23-match schedule.

Ella Sanchez, Ballard (Ky.), Jr. | F/M

64 goals, 14 assists
Uncommitted

Behind Sanchez’s jaw-dropping numbers, Ballard advanced to the region tournament semifinals.

Evelyn Shores, Westminster (Ga.), Jr. | D/F

27 goals, 24 assists
North Carolina

Another player that did a little bit of everything, Shores led Westminster to a state title and the No. 1 spot in JWS’ final rankings.

Amelia White, Homestead (Ind.), Sr. | F/M

25 goals, 15 assists
Penn State

Thanks to White’s contributions, Homestead went 22-0 and won the Class 4A state championship.

Congratulations to our very own Amelia White, named Miss Soccer of Indiana today by the ISCA! https://t.co/T3uQULipSs

— Homestead Athletics (@Spartytweets) November 7, 2021

Second Team

Samantha Allen, Noble (Okla.), Sr. | F

56 goals, 15 assists
Oklahoma State

Allen scored 169 goals throughout her high school career, widely believed to be the most in state history.

Lindsey Antonson, Wilsonville (Ore.), Sr. | F

52 goals, 9 assists
Oregon State

Antonson scored 13 goals over four postseason matches, including a hat trick in the state championship game, to lead the Wildcats to a state championship and an undefeated season.

Autumn Cayelli, T.L. Hanna (S.C.), Jr. | M/F

49 goals, 4 assists
South Carolina

Cayelli’s prodigious goal-scoring record propelled T.L. Hanna to an appearance in the 5A state championship game.

Olivia Curry, Spring-Ford (Pa.), Sr. | D

Wisconsin

A United Soccer Coaches All-American selection, Curry is one of the top defenders in the Class of 2022.

Halle Engle, Mechanicsburg (Pa.), Sr. | F

50 goals, 11 assists
Liberty

Engle scored in 23 of the Wildcats’ 24 games, leading them to the state quarterfinals and ending her prep career with 132 goals and 47 assists.

Kennedy Fuller, Southlake Carroll (Texas), Fr. | M

26 goals, 15 assists
Uncommitted

Despite her youth, Fuller did not shy away in the big moments, recording a hat trick in Southlake Carroll’s 4-0 state championship win.

Kelsey Smith, McDonogh (Md.), Sr. | F

19 goals, 3 assists
Maryland

When Smith returned to the field in September after missing more than a year with an ACL injury, she didn’t skip a beat, leading the Eagles to a state crown.

Kiera Staude, Westminster (Ga.), Jr. | D

3 goals, 2 assists
Georgia

Staude marshaled a defense that allowed just 11 goals all season en route to a seventh consecutive state title, including shutouts in four of the Wildcats’ five postseason games.

Taylor Suarez, Ardrey Kell (N.C.), Soph. | F

18 goals, 12 assists
Uncommitted

Suarez put up those numbers despite missing eight-regular season games while playing for the U.S. U17 national team. She also had five goals and six assists in six postseason appearances.

Tatum Thomason, Liberty (Ariz.), Sr. | M/F

39 goals, 20 assists
Washington

The prolific goal scorer had six hat tricks and 13 multi-goal games, leading the Lions to the 6A state semifinals.

Sydney Watts, St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.), Jr. | M/F

37 goals, 10 assists
Vanderbilt

One of the top juniors in the country, Watts led the Saints to an undefeated season and the Class 5A state championship, scoring both goals in the state final.

Phillip Suitts is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. He has worked at a variety of outlets, including The Palm Beach Post and Southeast Missourian, and done a little bit of everything from reporting to editing to running social media accounts. He was born in Atlanta but currently lives in wintry Philadelphia. Follow Phillip on Twitter @PhillipSuitts.

Two-time WNBA MVP and seven-time All-Star Elena Delle Donne is officially retiring from pro basketball, with the 2016 Olympic gold medalist calling the decision "one of the hardest parts of my career" in a Friday announcement.

After the Chicago Sky chose Delle Donne as the overall No. 2 pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft, she quickly established herself as a force on the court, winning her first MVP title with the Sky in 2015 before a trade sent her to the Washington Mystics in 2017.

Delle Donne thrived with Washington, earning her second MVP honor while leading the Mystics to their first-ever WNBA championship in 2019 — and recording the only 50-40-90 season (shooting over 50% from the field, over 40% from beyond the arc, and over 90% from the foul line) in league history along the way.

"She put us over the top," former Mystics head coach Mike Thibault told reporters on Friday. "We were trying to build to where we could have a team that somebody like her would want to play with and we could win the championship that she was seeking and that we were seeking."

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Injuries and illness fueled Delle Donne's decision

At the same time, however, Delle Donne struggled with injuries, later undergoing back surgery after competing in that 2019 title run with three herniated disks. Those injuries, plus a chronic Lyme disease diagnosis, eventually led Delle Donne to sit out the 2024 season — despite earning a core tag from the Mystics.

Taking last season off gave Delle Donne the space to come to terms with retirement, with the 35-year-old stating "my body seemed to make this decision before my mind accepted it."

Despite exiting the competitive court, however, Delle Donne will remain close to the game, with the Mystics announcing that the star will serve as a special advisor to the WNBA team's ownership group, Monumental Sports.

"This game has been my life, and I am grateful for the memories and how much it’s given me," Delle Donne said on social media. "It feels good to close this chapter knowing I gave it my all and I can’t wait for what’s next!"

Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang is going all in to grow US women’s soccer, announcing an additional investment of $25 million into US Soccer last Friday.

The move follows Kang's November 2024 initial gift of $30 million over the course of five years, earmarked for talent identification and increased youth competition opportunities for future USWNT players, as well as professional development for female players, coaches, and referees.

Friday's investment follows a slightly different, yet parallel path in that it aims to "accelerate advancements in the women’s game through science, innovation, and elevated best practices" by integrating Kang’s Kynisca Innovation Hub into US Soccer’s Soccer Forward Foundation.

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Kynisca, US Soccer collab aims to scale research and standards

Under the umbrella of Kang’s global multi-team organization Kynisca Sports International, the Innovation Hub is a science-based platform that aims to improve research and development for women’s sports athletes.

Similarly, the Soccer Forward Foundation aims to grow the game by expanding access, all while implementing the sport's latest research and guidelines.

Friday's partnership between the two organizations has two main goals: improving the sport's health outcomes via research and solution-oriented initiatives, and creating and implementing best-practice standards to grow the global game.

According to USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone, the new collaboration will "[help] ensure [the US will] remain at the forefront of progress as the sport continues to grow around the world" by "[driving] real change through research-backed standards that support players at every level."

Kang, who also owns top French side Lyon and second-tier UK club London City, noted that the collaboration "represents a major step forward in advancing research and setting new standards for women’s sports."

"By working together, we are ensuring that players at all levels benefit from innovative insights and best practices," Kang said in a statement. "Women’s soccer is experiencing historic growth, but there’s still work to be done to break down systemic barriers and secure the investment needed for female athletes."

The No. 2-seed UConn Huskies are atop college basketball once again, winning a record-extending 12th NCAA championship in a 82-59 blowout victory over No. 1-seed South Carolina on Sunday.

The title ends a nine-year drought for the dynasty program — the longest stretch without hoisting the trophy since the Huskies' first-ever national championship in 1995.

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Trio of Huskies fuel UConn's championship grab

After dominating overall No. 1-seed UCLA 85-51 on Final Four Friday, UConn earned a season finale face-off against the defending champion Gamecocks, who punched their spot in Sunday's championship showdown by taking down No. 1-seed Texas 74-57 — South Carolina's third win over their SEC rival this season.

The big day, however, belonged to the Huskies, as UConn’s "Big Three" of star senior Paige Bueckers, standout guard Azzi Fudd, and freshman phenom Sarah Strong posted a combined 65 points to outscore South Carolina.

Fudd and Strong led the game's stat sheet by scoring 24 points each, helping Fudd snag the tournament's Most Outstanding Player honor — and earning Strong a new NCAA record.

After finishing March Madness with 114 total points across UConn's six-game run, the newly crowned 2024/25 Freshman of the Year broke the NCAA tournament's freshman scoring record, as Strong surpassed 2011 WNBA MVP Tamika Catchings, who posted 111 points in Tennessee's 1998 championship run.

As for graduating superstar Bueckers, her 17 points made her the Huskies' all-time NCAA tournament scoring leader, while Sunday's title cements her legacy, capping her college career by adding her name to the litany of UConn greats in the Storrs rafters.

"It's been a story of resilience, of gratitude, of overcoming adversity and just responding to life's challenges," said Bueckers after her last game as a Husky.

"This is one of the most emotional Final Fours and emotional national championships I've been a part of since that very first one," echoed head coach Geno Auriemma.

All in all, UConn overcame years of close calls, injury woes, and buzzer-beating heartbreak to restore their March Madness dynasty. With Fudd returning next season alongside Strong, the Huskies' future looks brighter than ever.

Final Four teams eye 2026 return

On the other side of the championship coin, the Gamecocks never quite hit their stride on Sunday, falling one game short of a back-to-back title after snagging a spot in their third championship game in four years.

"We lost to a very, very good basketball team," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said after the defeat. "They beat our ass, but they didn't make us like it. There's a difference."

Though Sunday’s loss stings, South Carolina's youthful core means the Gamecocks — like the young squads from Final Four teams UCLA and Texas — will be back, packing both March Madness experience and a hefty dose of vengeance next year.

"I hope they're crying," Staley said of her returning players. "I hope they're boo-hoo-ing because from crying they have emotion about losing, makes you work hard in the offseason."

It's a sentiment echoed by the 2024/25 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, UCLA star Lauren Betts.

"We have the same team coming next year," Betts said of the Bruins' underclass core after Friday's Final Four loss. "I hope this fuels us, and I hope that we come out angry after this."

After faltering in their own Final Four matchup on Friday, Texas head coach Vic Schaefer offered a similar silver lining.

"It won't be easier tonight or tomorrow, but it will be easier knowing them three are around," Schaefer said of Longhorn underclassmen Madison Booker, Bree Hall, and Jordan Lee. "They are competitors. And again, they’re kids that invest in their craft."

The Final Four squads unable to seal the deal this season will rue an opportunity lost, but with another year of development, expect the same names to dominate the news cycle next March.

It didn’t take long for USWNT star Trinity Rodman to re-introduce herself on Saturday, finding the back of the net just five minutes into her first national team appearance since last August’s Olympic gold medal-winning match.

Rodman’s point came off a quality assist from Alyssa Thompson, with the attacking pair eventually leading the USWNT to a 2-0 win over 2024 Olympic silver medalists Brazil in the first of the pair's two April friendlies.

US captain Lindsey Heaps doubled the scoreline in the second half, striking home a bullet of a penalty kick after 17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes drew a foul in the box.

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Hayes' development strategy proves impact of young talent

As familiar names netted goals, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes still managed to continue testing less experienced players, evaluating fresh faces against Brazil's high-flying offense.

Making an impact in her US debut was goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who earned a clean sheet with six saves to put herself firmly in the running to replace now-retired starting keeper Alyssa Naeher.

Hayes' developmental aim is, in part, to bolster the USWNT pipeline should future injuries limit the team's veteran stars — a tactic that Rodman's own recent struggles prove is an increasingly smart move.

Though Rodman’s impact is undeniable, the veteran is still rehabilitating a lingering back issue that the 22-year-old has admitted she doesn’t think "will ever be 100%."

That said, Rodman knows she brings more to the table than just her on-pitch prowess.

"I wanted to be a provider of energy and to be able to charge everyone’s batteries. I think I did that pretty well today," Rodman told TNT on Saturday.

Ultimately, as the USWNT’s slow build continues, Rodman showed exactly the team can hope to achieve once the roster is more whole down the line.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Brazil friendly on Tuesday

The USWNT's second friendly against Brazil will take place in San Jose at 10:30 PM ET on Tuesday. Live coverage will air on TBS.