It's safe to say Kelley O'Hara is enjoying retirement.
Check her social media and you’ll see that the two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist has been traveling. She's been hitting the slopes, jetting to Miami for Unrivaled's opening day, and even got a chance to celebrate former USWNT teammate Heather O'Reilly's 40th birthday in Los Angeles.
And for the first time, there wasn't a voice in the back of her mind telling her she needed to get back to work. "The holiday season has never been relaxing for me," she tells Just Women's Sports. "I think people really don't realize the extent to which you have to prepare for preseason, and how little of a break we get as footballers."
That’s not to say that she didn't love playing soccer. O'Hara cherished every moment of her final season on the pitch with 2023 NWSL champs Gotham FC — one that was unfortunately shortened due to injury. But she's also very happy with the life she's created on the other side.
"Obviously, [playing] comes with its pitfalls or obstacles or annoyances, but I really loved it," she says. "So I'm surprised with how much I'm not missing it."
Lingering injury prompted O'Hara's retirement
O'Hara admits that some of her decision to retire was out of her hands prior to hanging up her cleats. She spent much of her prestigious career holding lingering injuries at bay, and the physical toll finally caught up to her. And with a full trophy case and little room for regrets, it felt like the right time to step away.
"I'm trying to sort out my knee. Unfortunately, it's pretty far gone," she continues. "So just managing it and figuring out how to do all the things I want to do, and enjoy life the way I want to enjoy it."
The sacrifice that led to success is still front of mind. O'Hara has already accepted that she will eventually have to undergo a knee replacement sooner rather than later.
But she also knows her second act is only just beginning.
O'Hara trades the pitch for the studio with 'Sports Are Fun!'
This week, the 36-year-old is diving headfirst into a new venture. After hosting multiple podcasts with JWS and trying her hand at broadcast commentary, O'Hara is stepping back into the studio to debut Sports Are Fun!, a new weekly women's sports show launching its first episode today.
O'Hara brings a championship-level of consistency to the podcast, set to run through the end of 2025. While the women's sports media space is used to player-hosted seasonal one-offs centered around major events, Sports Are Fun! is filling a significant gap: the regular, everyday coverage that’s long dominated the men's sports landscape.
"I'm looking forward to having this week-in and week-out show, to be able to connect with our fans, cover the sports, and have fun," she says. "Sports are fun!"
The show sets itself apart from long-form interview or analysis podcasts, shifting the format by focusing on real-life living room conversations women’s sports personalities are currently having. To bring that idea to fruition O'Hara will be joined by journalist and content creator Greydy Diaz as co-host in addition to a rotating cast of some of women’s sport’s biggest names. All that plus JWS intern BJ, there to add his own takes as the group's requisite Gen-Zer.
"Obviously we're gonna have guests come on that are relevant for whatever's happening in the world of sports, but it really is going to feel like a group hang," says O'Hara, noting that the show will draw just as heavily from pop culture as it will from the games on TV.
Tuning into the fun without losing the facts
"I love reality television, which is probably why I love sports, too — or maybe I love reality television because I love sports," O'Hara laughs. She personally enjoys podcasts that discuss the shows she's watching episode by episode, and thinks that same collaborative chatter can translate perfectly to the sports world.
"I'm not the be-all, end-all or the final word on women's sports," she says. "I might think one thing, and my guest co-host is gonna think another thing. To me, that just sparks more conversations."
For O'Hara, the idea is to lean into those conflicting perspectives, mirroring the way real sports fans engage with the week's biggest stories.
However, as a former athlete with close ties to many active players, O'Hara knows there's a fine line between having honest conversations and being condescending. She hopes that her first-person knowledge lends some weight to whatever thoughtful criticism Sports Are Fun! stirs up.
"You have to comment on your friends at times, and that's hard," she says. "But it's really good when you have people who have done it doing that, because they've been there."
O'Hara is all in on being a sports fan
While her playing career obviously influences her perspective as a sports commentator, O'Hara is also excited about just being a fan. "It's so funny, now that I am not having to play and work weekends, I'm like, 'Oh, I can go see all the things,'" she says.
And she really means all the things. In addition to hitting up Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball in Miami, she’s also getting into winter sports like Aspen's Snow League and she’s looking forward to making it down to Tampa for March Madness. She wants to experience it all.
"I'm a sports fan — put sports on and I'll pick a team," she says. "And I'll seem like I've been a lifelong fan, all in one game."
While fandom isn't exactly the same as playing in the pros, O'Hara is eager to tackle Sports Are Fun! with the same energy that fueled her soccer career.
"Anything I do, I want to win, and this is no different," she adds. "And winning is getting as many people as possible tuning in and creating this community that loves women's sports and loves talking about it."
Just Women's Sports alongside Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Cup champion Kelley O'Hara are proud to announce the debut of Sports Are Fun!, a new studio show premiering February 4th.
Presented by Intuit TurboTax, Sports Are Fun! features O'Hara and co-host Greydy Diaz discussing anything and everything from the world of women's sports with help from a rotating cast of co-hosts and guests. Production runs through 2025.
Everything you love about women's sports — with a little extra fun
"This is a show that will remind fans why they fell in love with sports," O'Hara said ahead of the show's launch. "That means tapping into all the stories, big or small, that get the group chat going. You'll feel like you’re there with us, talking about your favorite games, teams, and athletes."
O'Hara retired from professional soccer in 2024 after a legendary career that included winning two World Cups, an Olympic gold medal, and two NWSL Championships. She also helped secure equal pay for the US women's national soccer team.
"The next step in the evolution of women’s sports is building out a media ecosystem that can keep fans connected around-the-clock," said Just Women's Sports founder and CEO Haley Rosen. "This show closes the gap when it comes to innovative, personality-driven coverage, and we're thrilled to be partnering with Intuit TurboTax as they make a splash in the women’s sports space."
O'Hara takes to the screen in her post-retirement era
O'Hara and JWS have worked extensively together over the years. They first launching the Just Women's Podcast with Kelley O’Hara back in 2020. Later shows included The Players Pod, 2024 Paris Olympics favorite The Gold Standard, Fast Friends with Kelley O'Hara and Lisa Leslie, as well as digital hits Kelley on the Street and 1v1 with Kelley O'Hara.
Sports Are Fun! is by no means O’Hara's first foray into media. But it does mark the official beginning of her second career as a full-time on-air personality and content creator.
The first episode of Sports Are Fun! will debut February 4th, 2025. Catch every episode via Just Women’s Sports' YouTube page, as well as across all audio podcast platforms.
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes dropped her first roster of 2025 today, tapping 26 players for this month's week-long January camp ahead of February's SheBelieves Cup.
The camp takes place outside an official FIFA international window. Subsequently, the roster was limited to athletes who play their club soccer Stateside.
In a look to the future, Hayes invited 13 players with three or fewer caps, including six uncapped players.
Star forwards Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Sophia Smith — AKA Triple Espresso — were left off to continue their offseason rest and recovery efforts. Midfielder Rose Lavelle was also sidelined after a recent ankle surgery.
After missing a series of fall friendlies, defender Crystal Dunn returns to camp. She is the roster's most experienced player with 155 caps.
This year's opening training camp will run from January 14th to 21st at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
USWNT Futures Camp focuses on player development
January's lineup will train alongside a 24-player Futures Camp of young US prospects. The twin camps promote cross-collaboration and development as well as provide in-person scouting opportunities for Hayes and her staff.
"I almost feel like we've had a little bit of a lost generation that might not have had some of the exposures that some of the top nations [have]," Hayes said. "We can't wholeheartedly just rely on domestic play."
"This is really the last window where I expect that I would have seen the vast majority of the playing pool," she added.
The Futures Camp roster is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 8th.
Hayes talks whirlwind USWNT tenure
"I'm doing the job the other way around," Hayes said of her brief tenure. "I had 75 days then Olympics, and now I'm getting the opportunity to build the program and develop the playing pool."
Hayes officially joined the team in May 2024. Since then, the USWNT remain unbeaten, with a record of 13-0-2 across all competitions.
2024 was a big year for Hayes outside of her national team duties, too. In addition to her Olympic gold medal, the coach's sideline efforts were recognized with several major awards, including the Best FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year for 2024 and the 2024 Ballon d’Or for Women's Soccer Coach of the Year.
USWNT January camp roster by position (club; caps/goals)
GOALKEEPERS: Angelina Anderson (Angel City FC; 0), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 0), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 1), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 20)
DEFENDERS: Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 65/3), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 155/25), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 44/2), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 1/0), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 18/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 103/2), Ryan Williams (North Carolina Courage; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS: Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 28/1), Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC; 7/0), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 3/0), Nealy Martin (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 28/3), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; 2/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 21/8)
FORWARDS: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 22/5), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 3/1), Ella Stevens (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 13/1), Morgan Weaver (Portland Thorns FC; 2/0), Lynn Williams (Seattle Reign FC; 75/21)
For the first time, USWNT and Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman is opening up in unprecedented detail about her famous father, NBA legend Dennis Rodman, discussing him on Wednesday’s episode of the popular podcast "Call Your Daddy."
While having previously discussed their estranged relationship in brief, the 22-year-old enters "new territory" in sharing this amount of detail.
Speaking to host Alex Cooper, Rodman described a financially controlling, partying alcoholic who was mostly absent after her parents’ divorce, and at one time left his children and their mother to briefly live in their car.
"I think he's an extremely selfish human being," Rodman told Cooper. "I think everything has always been about him."
An NWSL breaking point
In 2021, Dennis unexpectedly showed up to Rodman’s NWSL quarterfinal match — the first and only he ever attended — causing the then-19-year-old to become emotional.
"I was so mad. I was like 'You took this happy moment from me. You f***ed with my head again,'" Rodman said. "I’m walking over [to him] so mad... he grabs my head and I just start bawling into his arms as if it’s a daddy-daughter [moment]."
That embrace was captured in a viral photo that was misconstrued as familial joy, rather than anger and overwhelm.
After Dennis expressed that he wanted to see her more in what Rodman calls a "wholesome" post-match catchup, she once again grew optimistic about building a relationship, but instead received total "radio silence" that lasted until late 2023.
"I think after that was when I lost hope in ever getting him back," she said. "Even at that game, I don’t think that was for me. I think he wanted to have a good conscience and then be like, headline, Dennis Rodman showed up to his daughter's game."
Today, Rodman has almost no relationship with her father, though she does answer when he calls.
"If something does happen, God forbid, I want to know that I did that. Or if he needed to hear my voice," she said. "That’s why I answer the phone, not for me."
"He's not a dad. Maybe by blood but nothing else. Hearing his voice is painful."
Two-time World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and three-time NWSL champion Becky Sauerbrunn announced her retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday.
"This isn't the end. I'll be around. I love this game too much to leave it for good," the 39-year-old legendary USWNT center back wrote. "But for the first time in sixteen years I'm going to find a quiet moment and close my eyes for a bit."
Leading from the back
A titan on and off the field, Sauerbrunn's 16-year professional career is littered with trophies earned for club and country.
Sauerbrunn, who notably opened her senior national team account with a broken nose in her January 2008 first cap, leaves the international pitch with 219 appearances, making her the USWNT's 10th all-time most-capped player.
Across the three World Cups and three Olympic Games in which she competed, Sauerbrunn helped the USWNT to a runners-up finish in the 2011 World Cup before snagging back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2019. In addition to 2012 Olympic gold and 2021 Olympic bronze, her US resume boasts eight straight Concacaf championships.
As part of a generation of players that founded the league, there has never been an NWSL season without Sauerbrunn logging minutes. The four-time NWSL Defender of the Year also earned annual Best XI selection seven times, more than any other player in league history.
Sauerbrunn began her 11 NWSL seasons with FC Kansas City, snagging a pair of championships in 2014 and 2015. She later spent two seasons with the Utah Royals before spending the last five on Portland's pitch, helping the Thorns to both the 2021 NWSL Shield and 2022 championship.
While executing her role as a fierce defender, the backline behemoth also served as captain of both the USWNT and Portland Thorns. A quiet leader, Sauerbrunn's calm, steady presence grounded her teams, anchoring them to trophy-lifting success.
A legacy of activism and equal pay
Though her on-field prowess is impressive, Sauerbrunn's true legacy can be found off the pitch, where the defender consistently tackles social justice issues. Along with combatting racial and gender inequities, Sauerbrunn's activism includes fighting legislation that bans transgender girls and women from competing in women's sports.
Most tangibly, however, is how she helped change the game for current and future USWNT players. In 2016, Sauerbrunn and four other USWNT athletes kicked off the fight for equal pay by filing a federal complaint against US Soccer.
One 2019 class-action gender discrimination lawsuit and years of litigation later, Sauerbrunn and her teammates secured a landmark settlement with the federation in 2022, cementing equal compensation for both the USWNT and USMNT as a contractual rule. As the president of the player's association, Sauerbrunn was one of the athletes to physically sign the historic agreement — a document that sparked similar battles for equality worldwide.
The end of an era
With her Tuesday announcement, Sauerbrunn adds to the wave of soccer stars officially exiting the professional game in 2024. She follows Portland teammate and Canadian legend Christine Sinclair in hanging up her boots, and joins USWNT standouts Alex Morgan, Kelley O'Hara, and Alyssa Naeher in retirement.
Still offering sage reflections, the captain told US Soccer, "I learned early on that we were all just renting our jerseys. That I got to wear the US Soccer crest once was an honor and privilege for which I’m forever grateful. The fact that I got to do it over 200 times is truly humbling."
Ultimately, Sauerbrunn leaves the game better than she found it, stepping off the field with no regrets.
"Of course I’d do it all again," she writes. "In a heartbeat.”
The USWNT is challenging Brazil to an Olympic rematch in the form of two April 2025 friendlies, with the 2024 gold medalists kicking off against their silver counterparts on April 5th in Los Angeles before closing out the two-match series in San Jose on April 8th.
The rivals' opening LA clash will be SoFi Stadium's first-ever women's professional sporting event. The state-of-the-art NFL venue, which opened in 2020, is gearing up to host the 2026 Men's World Cup and will test its first natural grass installation in March, prior to the USWNT's visit.
"These are matches against a top team in fantastic stadiums that will be as fun for the players as they are for the fans," US boss Emma Hayes said in a statement. "To play the first ever women’s professional match at Sofi Stadium is a great honor and one worthy of this team."
USWNT writes next chapter in a deep history
The USWNT has a long history with the 2027 World Cup hosts, and April's matches will mark their 42nd and 43rd meetings with the world No. 8 team.
That said, the No. 1 US hasn't lost to Brazil since 2014, and holds a 33-3-5 all-time record against the South American powerhouse.
Their two 2024 bouts both ended in 1-0 US victories, each in a title-clinching final. First, the USWNT claimed the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup off a game-winning Lindsey Horan header in March, before Mal Swanson's lone goal snagged August's Olympic final win.
How to buy tickets to see the USWNT vs. Brazil
Tickets for both of April's matches are available now via presale, with general sales opening at 1 PM ET on Friday.
The April 5th LA match will kick off at 5 PM ET, with live coverage on TNT. San Jose's game is set for 10:30 PM ET on April 8th, and will air on TBS.
The USWNT ended 2024 with an unlikely win, overcoming a Dutch shooting barrage to earn a 2-1 comeback victory in Tuesday's Euro trip closer.
The world No. 1 squad looked overrun for much of the first half as the No. 11 Netherlands outshot the US 14-1. Oranje rookie Veerle Buurman ultimately broke through with a 15th-minute goal off of a corner kick to give the Netherlands a well-earned lead.
That said, the USWNT held tight, equalizing in the 44th minute when Buurman headed in Tierna Davidson's free kick for an own goal.
Subs made all the difference in the game's second half, taking back enough control to mount an impressive US comeback. In just her fourth cap, forward Yazmeen Ryan produced her first international assist, finding her Gotham FC teammate Lynn Williams streaking into the penalty area to put away the 71st-minute sliding goal that allowed the US to gut out the win.
"I thought today we demonstrated by not being at our best, both in and out of possession, that finding a way to win is a sign of a great team," commented US boss Emma Hayes after the match.
SWNT keeper Alyssa Naeher's epic final match against he Netherlands
Longtime starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher earned Player of the Match honors with six stunning saves in her final USWNT performance on Tuesday. The now-retired star finishes her international career with 89 wins, 69 clean sheets, and 112 starts in her 115 caps.
Reflecting on her final year in goal for the States, Naeher said after Tuesday's match, "I think part of why I've been able to play with so much extra joy and smiles and really enjoy it this year even more, is I really felt like it was the last the whole time."
A golden 2024 to fuel 2025 USWNT success
With Saturday's draw against No. 2 England and Tuesday's victory over the Netherlands, the USWNT ends 2024 on a 20-match unbeaten streak that included their 16th Concacaf title and fifth Olympic gold medal.
After taking the US reins in May, head coach Hayes caps the year with a 13-0-2 record, with eight of those wins coming against FIFA-ranked Top-15 teams.
The momentum Hayes has built sets the stage for continued success next year. The USWNT will kick off 2025 with a mid-January training camp to run concurrently with a "Futures Camp," designed to identify and develop young talent for the senior squad.
The first matches on the USWNT's 2025 schedule will come in February, when the team hosts No. 7 Japan, No. 15 Australia, and No. 21 Colombia in the 10th annual SheBelieves Cup.
On today's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins wraps up a banner year for the USWNT. She starts by diving into how Tuesday's dramatic 2-1 win over the Netherlands, discussing how it showcased just how far the team has come and what they’ll need to do to continue to grow in 2025.
Later, Watkins chats through the lessons learned from the USWNT midfield's recent performances, plus the differences in player form between their clubs and national team.
Finally, she dishes about Alyssa Naeher's epic final performance, underlining how much the starting goalkeeper will be missed as she officially retires from the USWNT.
The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.
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Saturday's hotly anticipated matchup between the world No. 1 USWNT and No. 2 England at London's Wembley Stadium was short on fireworks, as the two international powerhouses settled for a 0-0 draw.
The US snagged the stat sheet's edge on possession, overall shots, and shots on target, but the rival squads combined for just four shots on frame — three from the States and one from the Lionesses — throughout the cagey clash.
"Our mentality is that we have to be better than that," US boss Emma Hayes said after the match. "And that is what we will be demanding from the team."
A USWNT first cap and a possible final match
Hayes fielded an experienced backline and midfield on Saturday, with nine 2024 Olympic gold medalists in the USWNT's starting XI. The two starters not on last summer's Paris roster were forwards Alyssa Thompson and Emma Sears, who headed up a youthful frontline as the team's Triple Espresso trio took this camp off of international duty.
One of the Paris gold medalists may have made her final USWNT start. No. 1 goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher recorded her 69th international clean sheet in Saturday's draw after announcing her impending national team retirement last week.
On the other hand, USWNT youth star Ally Sentnor earned her first senior team cap on Saturday after entering late in the second half. The 20-year-old is now the eighth player aged 21 or younger to appear for the USWNT in 2024, the most in a calendar year since 2002.
Sentnor is now one of only two USWNT players to earn their first caps in London's iconic Wembley Stadium, joining Thompson, who earned her debut at 17 years old in October 2022.
How to watch the USWNT vs. the Netherlands international friendly
The USWNT rounds out their European trip against the Netherlands on Tuesday at 2:45 PM ET, with live coverage on TNT.
In a clash between the world's best, the No. 1 USWNT will face No. 2 England for the first time in two years on Saturday, kicking off in front of more than 80,000 fans at London's iconic Wembley Stadium.
The first of the USWNT's final two games of 2024, Saturday's US lineup will be without "Triple Espresso" forwards Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman.
The team will also will begin the process of replacing legendary goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who announced earlier this week that this international window will be her last in at US kit.
The USWNT and England's transatlantic rivalry
The history between the two standout international squads has fostered a fierce and friendly rivalry.
Saturday's match will be the 20th meeting between the pair, with the US holding the all-time with a 12-5-2 record. Their last showdown — a 2022 tilt at Wembley — ended in a 2-1 Lioness victory. However, the US won the pair's most recent world tournament battle by ousting England 2-1 from the 2019 World Cup.
"We’ve somehow created a rivalry across the ocean," England defender Lucy Bronze commented when the match was announced earlier this year. "We’re always excited when the US come over, the fans are as well.... I’m sure Wembley will be rocking."
Two of the best bosses in the business
While the top-ranked rosters will star on Saturday's pitch, the sideline will feature two women who are arguably the best head coaches in the women's game — England's Sarina Weigman and the USWNT's Emma Hayes. Even more, both have ties to each of the contending countries.
Former Dutch national team player Weigman, who later coached the Netherlands to the 2017 European Championship and the 2019 World Cup final, spent a season playing in the US for the University of North Carolina. Alongside USWNT legends Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly, she helped lead the Tar Heels to their 1989 NCAA Championship trophy.
England lured Weigman away from the Netherlands in 2021, making her the first non-British manager of the national team. She repeated the same success she had with the Dutch, with the Lionesses becoming 2022 Euros champs before advancing to the 2023 World Cup final.
USWNT boss Emma Hayes's triumphant return
As for Hayes, who grew up in London, her USWNT tenure is still only a few months old, but she cut her teeth stateside. Hayes coached in the US at the college and pro level, first with the USL and later in the folded WPS. After returning to England, she helmed Chelsea FC, building the club into the championship-winning behemoth it is today.
The return to her old stomping grounds is especially poignant for the 2024 Ballon d'Or Coach of the Year.
"Wembley’s like a second home to me, not just as a kid going there but as a manager [at Chelsea] I had a lot of success there," Hayes told reporters after the friendly was announced. "It’ll be amazing to go back, play 20 minutes from my house and play against some amazing players in England — I’m looking forward to it."
US, England eyeing future titles
Though the stakes in any friendly are always relatively low, a win on Saturday offers the victor a significant momentum boost as each look toward upcoming continental and world competitions.
Gearing up to defend their title in Switzerland next summer, the reigning European champs are aiming to bounce back after a 4-3 loss to Germany last month. Meanwhile, the US is already staring down the 2027 World Cup after earning Olympic gold in Paris last August.
"We're coming to win at the weekend," Hayes said ahead of Saturday's match. "But that’s not my overarching goal. I want to qualify for the World Cup and I want to win the World Cup."
How to watch the USWNT vs. England international friendly
The USWNT kicks off against England's Lionesses at 12:20 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage on TNT.