Five-time Olympic medalist and USA track star Gabby Thomas will miss this month's 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo due to a lingering Achilles injury, the 28-year-old sprinter announced on Tuesday.
Thomas, who captured a full trio of gold medals at the 2024 Paris Games, has been dealing with the injury since May, going on to re-aggravate it in July prior to August's 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships, in which she placed third in her favored 200-meter race — narrowly booking her spot at the World Championships by a mere one-thousandth of a second margin.
"I understand that it will be disappointing for some track fans to hear this news, but I've finally come to the realization that it's OK to be human and take care of myself," she said in a statement.
"As an athlete you always want to keep grinding, but sometimes you simply can't outwork an injury," Thomas explained. "Sometimes it's about patience and making the right decision for the long term. All the best to my Team USA teammates fighting for medals in Tokyo."
As one of Team USA's top talents in the 200-meter dash as well as the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays, Thomas plans to return to competition in 2026.
Bay FC forward Asisat Oshoala is on the move, finalizing a transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal this week after making 38 appearances for the 2024 NWSL expansion team.
"Asisat has been an incredibly important part of Bay FC history, not only with her impact on the pitch but also through the energy, professionalism, and kindness she brought every day," Bay FC sporting director Matt Potter said in a Tuesday statement. "She is a world-class player and an even better person, and we are grateful for everything she contributed to our club."
One of Bay FC's splashiest signings ahead of their inaugural season, the former Barcelona star led the franchise with seven goals during its debut campaign — including the club's first-ever goal in the team's initial match.
However, the 30-year-old Nigerian national and six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year has since seen her NWSL playing time drop, logging just 12 appearances in 2025 so far.
Oshoala isn't the first high-profile NWSL player to transfer to the 10-team Saudi Women's Premier League since its 2022 debut — the same year that the Middle East country founded its women's national team.
Following the Orlando Pride's 2024 Shield and Championship-winning season, Brazilian star Adriana joined Saudi side Al Qadsiah FC for a then-club-record $500,000 transfer fee.
Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball is doubling down on NIL, spotlighting the offseason league's deep roster of NCAA talent in its "Future Is Unrivaled" (FIU) collection drop on Tuesday.
The new merch line features FIU-branded sports apparel and accessories alongside one-offs like pleated skirts, button-ups, and jackets, all backed by a social media campaign starring college stars Lauren Betts (UCLA), Sienna Betts (UCLA), Madison Booker (Texas), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Azzi Fudd (UConn), MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU), Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina), Olivia Miles (TCU), Kiki Rice (UCLA), Sarah Strong (UConn), Syla Swords (Michigan), and JuJu Watkins (USC).
After first signing NCAA stars Paige Bueckers and Flau'Jae Johnson in late 2024, Unrivaled added more than a dozen of college basketball's biggest names to its "Future is Unrivaled" Class of 2025 earlier this summer.
While they cannot play in the upstart league prior to turning pro, the NIL signees did participate in July's Unrivaled Summit, a multi-day event in Miami that focused on skill development, content creation, brand building, social media strategy, and community service.
Unrivaled basketball's investment in the next generation of superstars underlines the 3×3 venture's growing influence in the sport, as it becomes a wedge issue in the WNBA's ongoing CBA negotiations while prepping to tip off a second season in January.
How to purchase from the "Future Is Unrivaled" collection
The full merch collection is available now online at Unrivaled.
The No. 5 New York Liberty finally punched their ticket to the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, as the 2024 champs secured a postseason berth thanks to a Tuesday night loss by the No. 8 Indiana Fever — despite their own 66-58 defeat at the hands of the surging No. 6 Golden State Valkyries.
With star guard Sabrina Ionescu still sidelined with injury, the Liberty only scored 26 first-half points in the matchup, becoming just the second reigning title-holders to fall to a first-year expansion team in WNBA history.
"We just lost a game," New York head coach Sandy Brondello said afterwards. "Obviously, we're in the playoffs, but we still lost a game. Liked the second half, didn't like the first half that much."
With the Fever falling 85-79 to the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury, tension in the WNBA standings has hit a new high as four teams — No. 6 Golden State, No. 7 Seattle, No. 8 Indiana, and No. 9 Los Angeles — battle for the last three playoff spots.
Golden State is hot on the heels of New York, shooting to become the first-ever expansion team to make the playoffs in their debut year as their magic number dwindles down to two — with four games left on the Valkyries' regular-season docket.
"We're in playoff mode right now!" Golden State center Temi Fagbenle, who put up a team-leading 16 points in Tuesday's win, told the Valkyries' crowd.
How to watch Golden State, New York in action this week
The No. 6 Valkyries have a chance to close in on history during their Thursday date with the last-place Dallas Wings, which tips off at 10 PM ET on WNBA League Pass.
Meanwhile, the No. 5 Liberty will look to regroup during their Friday visit to the No. 7 Seattle Storm, which airs live at 10 PM ET on ION.
The 2025 season is nearly over for the No. 13 Dallas Wings, but they're banking on the future as the struggling WNBA team locked in the best odds to grab the 2026 overall No. 1 draft pick earlier this week.
After Monday's loss to the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx, Dallas — who drafted UConn superstar Paige Bueckers No. 1 overall at the 2025 WNBA Draft — now have a 40% chance of winning first dibs via the 2026 lottery, as well as a near-30% shot at snagging the No. 2 or No. 3 pick.
In an attempt to deter single-season tanking, the lottery uses combined two-year records to determine which team has a shot at a high draft pick.
This year's trades will complicate next season's lottery order, with No. 12 Chicago's natural first-round pick belonging to top-seed Minnesota, while the early selection owned by the No. 11 Connecticut Sun — heavily weighted due to the team's 2024 success — will likely go to Chicago by way of a pick swap involving the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury.
Even more, as the league expands, so must the lottery: The 2026 edition will feature the first five-team lineup in WNBA history, with next season's incoming franchises — the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire — projected to claim picks No. 5 and No. 6.
As for Dallas, after successfully transitioning Bueckers to the pros, the Wings are going all in on NCAA talent as next year’s projected top picks prep for their final college tour.
Leading the 2026 WNBA Draft class is UCLA center Lauren Betts, followed closely by Bueckers's former UConn teammate (and current girlfriend) Azzi Fudd as well as offseason TCU transfer Olivia Miles.
Every lottery is a gamble by definition, but back-to-back losing records in Dallas could spell a silver lining in 2026.
The USA Women's Eagles still have a shot at a 2025 Rugby World Cup knockouts run thanks to a dramatic 31-31 draw against Australia on Saturday — putting all the pressure on next weekend's group-stage finale.
After falling to host nation — and world No. 1 — England in the tournament's record-breaking opener, the now-No. 8 US squad kept their World Cup dreams alive by pulling level with the No. 7 Wallaroos.
Saturday's thrilling draw brought drama to the competition's mostly lopsided pool-play results so far, and spoiled what would have been a guaranteed spot in the quarterfinals for Australia.
"The mood is disappointment because we were so close [to a win]," said US star Ilona Maher following the game. "But also excitement because there is more to play for in that we're not going home just yet. We're definitely proud of the fight."
With England officially clinching the top spot in Pool A, Team USA now needs a blowout win over No. 15 Samoa with at least four tries scored (called a bonus point), as well as an Australian loss to England without a bonus point — plus a positive score differential over the Wallaroos — to advance.
How to watch Team USA at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup
The No. 8 USA will close out their group-stage run by taking on No. 15 Samoa at 8:30 AM ET on Saturday, before awaiting their fate when No. 7 Australia plays No. 1 England at 12 PM ET.
Live coverage of all 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup games streams on Paramount+.
The Naomi Osaka comeback tour continued on Monday, as the world No. 24 tennis star took down No. 3 Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in the pair's Round of 16 match at the 2025 US Open — booking her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2021 in the process.
"I'm a little sensitive and I don't want to cry, but honestly, I just had so much fun out here," Osaka said following the upset victory. "I was in the stands like two months after I gave birth to my daughter, watching Coco. I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play."
Already a two-time US Open champion, Osaka has been eyeing a deep tournament run since returning from maternity leave in January 2024 — and she managed to take advantage of Gauff's fluctuating form to achieve her goal.
"It's disappointing," Gauff said after Monday's loss. "For sure it was not the level that I wanted to bring, but it is a step in the right direction, I feel. I maybe was a little bit empty — she forced me to earn every point out there today."
Japan's four-time Grand Slam winner will next face No. 13 Karolína Muchová in a Wednesday quarterfinal, with Osaka most recently ousting the Czechia national from the 2025 Australian Open's Round of 64.
How to watch the US Open quarterfinals
The 2025 US Open quarterfinals kicked off on Tuesday, with US star and world No. 4 Jessica Pegula booking her second straight semifinals berth at the New York Slam by defeating Czechia's No. 62 Barbora Krejčíková in straight sets.
The quarterfinals will continue when defending champion No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces another Czech contender, No. 60 Markéta Vondroušová, at 7 PM ET on Tuesday.
Wednesday will cap the round, with Osaka battling Muchová and Poland's No. 2 Iga Świątek taking on No. 9 US star Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of the 2025 Wimbledon final.
Live coverage of the 2025 US Open airs across ESPN platforms.
Despite a season spent at the bottom of the table, the No. 13 Chicago Stars have quietly become the NWSL team to beat, racking up a five-game undefeated streak behind a slate of dramatic draws — including Sunday's 1-1 result against the No. 2 Washington Spirit.
Come-from-behind draws fueled all five of the Stars' most recent points, with striker Ludmila having a particularly impressive star turn as of late.
The Brazilian national scored five times across Chicago's last three matches, including Sunday's lone team goal as well as a sub-10 minute hat trick that pulled the Stars level with the No. 10 North Carolina Courage on August 22nd.
"I think we'd be doing a disservice to the league if we laid down just because we're in last place and felt sorry for ourselves," quipped Stars defender Sam Staab.
Chicago will continue trying to extend their unbeaten streak under new interim manager Anders Jacobson, who oversaw his first NWSL match on Sunday while the Stars await the arrival of incoming permanent boss Martin Sjögren.
"It'll be a lot of him getting to know us, and us getting to know him in this next week or so," Staab said of the team's temporary head coach. "This league moves fast. Everything happens fast."
The No. 1 Kansas City Current tightened their grip atop the league on Saturday, claiming a 2-0 victory over the No. 10 North Carolina Courage to become the first NWSL team to clinch a spot in the 2025 playoffs.
Still undefeated at home on the year, Saturday's win marked the Current's sixth straight regular-season shutout and extended their lead in the NWSL standings to a massive 14 points.
"Our goal is to come out as a group and be the best that we can possibly be every game we play," said KC head coach Vlatko Andonovski afterwards. "We celebrate tonight, we rest tomorrow, and we get ready for the next one."
Though Kansas City is reaching historic heights, the rest of the league is sparking more questions than answers: The No. 4 Orlando Pride and No. 5 Seattle Reign are now on multiple-game winless streaks, and the No. 6 Portland Thorns have managed just one win in their last five matches.
On the flip side, No. 9 Angel City is making a concerted effort, extending their unbeaten run to four games with Monday's 2-1 win over No. 12 Bay FC — all while star winger Alyssa Thompson sat out amid mounting midseason transfer rumors.
"This group, the way they play and how they can grow together, I'm so proud of them today," said LA head coach Alexander Straus. "It's not been easy with all these things, the speculation and stuff."
2025 NWSL standings: Week 18
1. Kansas City Current (15-2-1)
2. Washington Spirit (9-4-5)
3. San Diego Wave FC (8-4-6)
4. Orlando Pride (8-6-4)
5. Seattle Reign FC (7-5-6)
6. Portland Thorns FC (7-6-5)
7. Racing Louisville FC (7-6-5)
8. Gotham FC (6-6-6)
9. Angel City FC (6-7-5)
10. North Carolina Courage (5-7-6)
11. Houston Dash (5-8-5)
12. Bay FC (4-9-5)
13. Chicago Stars FC (1-9-8)
14. Utah Royals (2-11-5)
The reigning champion No. 5 New York Liberty blew their first shot at clinching a spot in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs on Saturday, falling 80-63 to the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury without star guard Sabrina Ionescu and center Nyara Sabally, who watched from the sidelines due to injuries.
The Mercury took aim at the Liberty's spotty defense, scoring 26 points off of 19 turnovers while registering 17 of the game's final 20 points.
"This is obviously a learning opportunity, but we're kind of running out of opportunities for growth at this point," star forward Breanna Stewart said after the loss. "We need to just actually be better."
The next chance for New York to secure their 2025 destiny will come during their Tuesday night visit to the No. 6 Golden State Valkyries, as the injury-plagued Liberty look to climb the WNBA standings and claim home-court advantage for their first playoff series.
"This is not championship-level basketball," Stewart added. "We need to get there, and that starts with the mindset and then putting it onto the court."
However, the Liberty face a Valkyries side on an upswing, as Golden State looks to extend their three-game winning streak and further their history-making campaign to clinch an inaugural postseason berth.
"The trust level that we have right now is pretty much unmatched," said Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase. "I can only go based on my first year, so it's pretty f—ing cool."
How to watch the New York Liberty vs. the Golden State Valkyries
The No. 5 Libs will tip off against the No. 6 Valks at 10 PM ET on Tuesday, with live coverage airing on WNBA League Pass.