The NWSL 2021 Best XI teams, presented by Mastercard, have officially dropped.

It’s the first time the league has presented a Best XI First and Second teams, recognizing the top 22 players in the league.

As part of Mastercard’s partnership with the NWSL and in celebration of the Best XI and Best XI Second Team, athletes will receive a cash bonus for their achievements this season.

This season's best 🤩

Your @Mastercard Best XI's for 2021 ⤵️

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 17, 2021

“Congratulations to all of the winners represented on this year’s Best XI teams. The skill, determination and resilience on the field of play this season was absolutely inspiring to watch,” NWSL interim CEO Marla Messing said in a league release. “I’d also like to thank Mastercard for investing in NWSL players, and for helping to lead the way as we continue to build a league as exceptional as the players on the pitch.”

“We’re excited to honor these extraordinary players with this well deserved recognition,” said Alison Giordano, VP, Global Sponsorships, Mastercard.

“Unlocking the potential in every person across all parts of their life — this is what Priceless is all about. Because a world that works better for women creates limitless possibilities for us all.”

During the press conference leading up to the championship game, Mastercard’s junior reporter Kayla Klaus was able to pose questions to her favorite players and coaches from both teams and to Messing.

“We’re thrilled to create opportunities for young passionate women like Kayla — she and young women are our future,” Giordano added.

OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC lead the way on the First Team with three players apiece. The 2021 NWSL MVP Jess Fishlock is featured on the First Team alongside Defender of the Year Caprice Dydasco. The Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman is the lone rookie on the First Team, while Racing Louisville’s Emily Fox is featured on the Second Team.

The Best XI First Team and Best XI Second Team were based on a weighted voting scale comprised of players (50%), owners/GMs/coaches (20%), media (20%) and fans (10%).

2021 Best XI First Team

• Kailen Sheridan, NJ/NY Gotham FC
• Caprice Dydasco, NJ/NY Gotham FC
• Alana Cook, OL Reign
• Sarah Gorden, Chicago Red Stars
• Carson Pickett, North Carolina Courage
• Angela Salem, Portland Thorns FC
• Eugenie Le Sommer, OL Reign
• Jessica Fishlock, OL Reign
• Trinity Rodman, Washington Spirit
• Margaret Purce, NJ/NY Gotham FC
• Ashley Hatch, Washington Spirit

2021 Best XI Second Team

• Bella Bixby, Portland Thorns FC
• Emily Fox, Racing Louisville FC
• Sofia Huerta, OL Reign
• Meghan Klingenberg, Portland Thorns FC
• Emily Menges, Portland Thorns FC
• Mallory Pugh, Chicago Red Stars
• Rachel Daly, Houston Dash
• Lindsey Horan, Portland Thorns FC
• Bethany Balcer, OL Reign
• Ifeoma Onumonu, NJ/NY Gotham FC
• Sydney Leroux, Orlando Pride

Volleyball made headlines this week, with Sportico reporting on Monday that a merger will see the two-season-old Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) join with the incoming Major League Volleyball (MLV) for a joint 2026 launch.

Though originally separate ventures, the eight-team PVF will now adopt MLV branding, setting up a unified league valued at over $325 million.

Investors include owners from the NBA and MLS, as well as three-time US Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings.

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With an anticipated 10 teams set to hit courts for the inaugural 2026 season, MLV already expects to add franchises in Washington, DC, and Northern California in 2027, with further expansion to 16 total teams planned by 2028.

Likely spurred in part by the previously planned MLV defection of the PVF's marquee team, the Omaha Supernovas, the volleyball merger keeps both the 2024 champions and the 2025 title-winning Orlando Valkyries in the same league.

Other established PVF teams in Atlanta, Columbus, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, and San Diego will reportedly join Omaha and Orlando in continuing play under the new MLV banner, as will 2026 PVF expansion side Dallas.

Besides keeping top talent in-house, the consolidation of the two leagues also partially addresses the increasingly crowded women's volleyball landscape — one in which four different leagues aimed to compete in the upcoming year.

As for the remaining pro leagues — Athletes Unlimited Volleyball and 2025 debutant League One Volleyball (LOVB) — they'll continue to stand alone.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has found her stride at the 2025 Canadian Open, with the 27-year-old fan favorite advancing to the Montréal tournament's quarterfinals as she prepares to chase a third US Open title later this month.

After parting ways with coach Patrick Mouratoglou just 10 days ago, world No. 49 Osaka will contend in her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal in three years on Tuesday, when she'll face off against Ukraine's No. 13 Elina Svitolina for a spot in the semifinals.

"I think I need to pace myself and go for the mini goals, and they'll eventually turn into the big goals," the Japanese star said after topping Latvia's No. 26 Jeļena Ostapenko in the third round on Friday.

Tuesday's other quarterfinal sees US star and 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys on the Canadian court, as the world No. 8 takes on No. 19 Clara Tauson after the Danish national upset reigning French Open champion No. 3 Iga Świątek in straight sets on Sunday.

Already punching their tickets to the semifinals are Kazakhstan's No. 12 Elena Rybakina and 18-year-old phenom No. 85 Victoria Mboko — the youngest home-grown semifinalist in Canadian Open history — who each advanced with straight-set victories on Monday.

How to watch Osaka at the Canadian Open quarterfinals

Keys and Tauson will kick off Tuesday's quarterfinals action at 6 PM ET, with Osaka clashing with Svitolina shortly afterward.

Live coverage of the 2025 Canadian Open will continue to air on the Tennis Channel.

Denver Summit FC scored its first-ever player this week, with ESPN reporting Monday that the 2026 expansion side has landed 2024 NWSL champion and Colorado product Ally Watt from the Orlando Pride.

The 28-year-old forward has logged one goal and one assist in her 13 matches so far this season, and posted three goals and four assists in Orlando's record-breaking 2024 campaign.

"One thing that makes us really unique is this talent pool of Colorado players," Denver Summit GM Curt Johnson told ESPN about the club's aim to welcome homegrown athletes. "Colorado has been fertile ground for this sport for a long time. We're going to dig into that, and we're going to hire people that have made their names as a result of their upbringing in soccer in Colorado."

In return for Watt, Orlando will receive $75,000 in expansion allocation money and $37,500 in transfer funds.

While the trade is a done deal, the Denver Summit immediately loaned Watt back to the Pride for the rest of the 2025 season, with Orlando also gaining additional salary cap relief with the temporary loan.

Such intra-league loans are new to the NWSL, introduced in part to help incoming teams Denver and fellow 2026 addition Boston Legacy FC build out their rosters without an expansion draft.

Both franchises have a cache of over $1 million in allocation money available to add players beyond the league's salary cap and transfer thresholds.

With that in mind, the Boston Legacy has opted to stock up on both international signings as well as up-and-coming US talent in recent weeks.

The 2025 NWSL regular season returned this past weekend after a month-long international break, and the San Diego Wave are already ahead of schedule.

Because after a tumultuous end to 2024 followed by offseason roster and front office shakeups, the club has so far exceeded the soccer world's — and possibly even their own — expectations.

San Diego entered the second half of the year in third place in the NWSL standings, having lost only one of their last nine games before play suspended in late June. Along the way, the club produced a legitimate 2025 MVP candidate in forward Delphine Cascarino while also leaning hard into the league's youth movement, becoming the first NWSL club to start three 17-year-olds in the same match.

But as the second season starts to rev up, there are still lingering questions about the team's ability to create consistency on the pitch — not to mention the club's big picture plans. 

The Wave know they don't have everything figured out just yet. But it's safe to say the light at the end of the tunnel showed up far sooner on the field than expected for a young team riding out a game-changing season.

Veteran Kailen Sheridan sees San Diego start anew

At the end of 2024, all San Diego Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan wanted was a break from soccer.

A member of the Wave since their inaugural 2022 season, Sheridan saw her team abruptly plummet down the NWSL table after winning the shield in 2023, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in club history. 

And the trouble wasn't contained to the field. Amid the skid, the Wave parted ways with head coach Casey Stoney, dealt with allegations of front office toxicity† linked to club president Jill Ellis, and saw USWNT legend and founding Wave star Alex Morgan's surprise retirement.

"I remember at the end of last season being kind of bombarded with everything, and not sure how we were moving forward," Sheridan told Just Women's Sports. "I want to be the best version of myself on the field and off the field. The people who were left felt that as well, and we needed some time away."

After a disappointing finish, San Diego saw further roster shifts dominate the offseason headlines. USWNT defender Naomi Girma transferred to WSL side Chelsea for a then-record transfer fee, while star-in-the-making Jaedyn Shaw requested a trade to the North Carolina Courage. Change appeared to be chasing the Wave whether the club's remaining players were ready or not.

"Honestly, it was a really rough couple of weeks," Sheridan continued. "But once we got out, we could turn our focus onto what this year could look like, how we could have a really strong year but also focus on our growth."

The growing pains hurt. But as more changes brought a shift in leadership and perspective, a blank slate also began to emerge. The team entered 2025 under new ownership. Ellis left for a role at FIFA while former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall took over as head coach, setting a fresh tone across the franchise.

"For me, it was coming in with less expectation," said Sheridan. "More just being ready to work and put in the effort to create a new culture."

Young Wave star Trinity Armstrong takes a leap of faith

After winning a national championship in her first season with UNC, then-17-year-old Trinity Armstrong was looking for a challenge.

She decided to turn professional in 2025. She then entered the NWSL under the U18 mechanism — a legal process that allows underage players to pick their pro teams. The wide-open nature of San Diego's rebuild spoke to her.

"It felt like the best environment for me. To not only try and earn a spot, but then be a consistent starter," she told JWS. After Girma's transfer, the team needed a new cornerstone center-back. Armstrong felt emboldened by conversations with Eidevall about the team’s developing defensive identity.

Armstrong was keenly aware of the legacy left by departed Wave superstars like Alex Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper. She liked the idea of adding to that history while also making her own mark as her star grew.

"It felt like they had their own successes in the past. But from what I was hearing coming in, it was basically a brand new team," she continued. "I was very excited to be a part of that young group to rebrand ourselves and push forward."

In January, Armstrong signed a three-year deal with the Wave. And she already has 11 starts under her belt this season. She's particularly effective in possession, completing nearly 90% of her passes with the ability to cut through lines to spring play forward.

Teen Wave stars write a new chapter

Armstrong became a key component to the Wave's rebuild. She joined fellow teen talents Melanie Barcenas and Kimmy Ascanio playing Eidevall's preferred style of purposeful possession. In Eidevall's game plan, San Diego holds the lion's share of the ball, executing plays at a tempo that sets defenses on their heels. 

The Wave relied on established internationals like Sheridan and Cascarino to propel them forward with consistency. But transitioning to quickly developing the team's youngsters also sets the club up for years to come.

"We were unsure of how they would gel at such a young age. And honestly, they've blown all of us away," Sheridan said of her new teammates. "We've been really impressed with their mentality — and their desire."

The respect is mutual. Armstrong credits Sheridan with helping her adjust while adopting the same emphasis on growth that's become the team's calling card.

"Kailen, coming in, she's been such a great mentor to me," Armstrong said. "She's been super encouraging. I can only speak good things about her."

San Diego finds its footing on the pitch

It's easy enough for confidence-building and good vibes to carry a team through preseason training. But once the regular-season whistle blew, both veterans and newcomers were happily surprised at how quickly they were able to produce.

"It was just so beautiful to see us connecting, seeing our midfield and our forward line have these great combinations and getting really good goals off of them," said Armstrong. "This could really be something that pushes us all the way to the championship."

"I honestly wasn't 100% confident in how successful we would be putting it all together right away," Sheridan recalled. "It's great to see that we've been able to get through those first couple hurdles of gelling and creating chemistry. We'll still hit a bunch of bumps going forward, but ultimately, I was confident in the individual talent."

Much of the credit goes to the homegrown focus Eidevall imparted on his new squad within his first few weeks.

"The drive was, how do I make each player better?" Sheridan said of her coach's approach. "That was humongous for us."

Eidevall made headlines during his time at Arsenal, where he won two FA Cups but could never seriously endanger Chelsea FC's dominant run. When the 42-year-old crossed over to the NWSL after mutually parting ways with the WSL last October, he arrived with a bottom-up perspective.

His players have responded in kind. 

"The mindset to want to grow, to want to develop, that's been great from the players and from the staff," he recently told reporters. "The commitment to the team and to the group, that's such an important aspect. And you can see that these players create something special between them."

Anchors of the central defense, Sheridan and Armstrong both enjoy playing technical football. They like the ball at their feet, connecting out of the back to set up the dynamic midfield, and setting their frontline free.

With half a season to go, San Diego has already scored more goals than they did in the entire 2024 season. It resulted in the third-best goal differential in the NWSL standings.

"It's a very tight team," added Eidevall. "We see that when players are coming on from  the bench. We see how the bench and the starting XI interact. And that's very important because at the end of the day, this is team sport."

Marching into the NWSL season's back half

July's break allowed players across the league the opportunity to reset. Armstrong spent her days caring for her rescue pit bull mix Mochi — adopted a few months ago from the local Humane Society — going on hikes and taking trips to the beach. She also celebrated her 18th birthday, graduating from the separate U18 locker room shared with Barcenas and Ascanio to join the rest of the team.

But while the Wave's turnaround looks to be in full swing, the real tests might still lie ahead. No longer a surprise, their opponents can now review tape on the team's first-half successes. They're able to better counter San Diego's new form.

On Saturday, the Wave restarted their 2025 campaign with another positive result, though one tempered with missed opportunities. Despite both out-possessing and generating more attack than the North Carolina Courage, San Diego settled for a scoreless draw. The outcome pointed to a strong performance from the defense, while also showcasing yet another opportunity for growth.

Sheridan doesn't appear to be too rattled. Returning refreshed, she's confident in her team's ability to recapture the continuity they so fluidly created at the beginning of the season. Just so long as they stick together.

"We've started with a mindset of 'Okay, we're back at zero,'" Sheridan said. "How do we want this to look, and how do we want to go forward from here?"

†An October 2024 lawsuit filed by five former club employees alleging the Wave of workplace misconduct remains active and unresolved.