For the first time since the NWSL Championship on Nov. 20, NWSL games are back. The third annual Challenge Cup kicks off Friday with a pair of evening matches between Racing Louisville FC and Kansas City Current, followed by OL Reign and defending tournament champions Portland Thorns FC.

Adding two expansion clubs this offseason resulted in numerous trades, an expansion draft and more college players. Other than the Washington Spirit, the 2021 regular season champions, almost every team has a new look this year.

All eyes will be on new commissioner Jessica Berman when she takes office midway through the tournament on April 20. The former NHL executive has promised to build a strong relationship with the NWSL Players Association and earn the players’ trust after multiple coaches were fired last year amid accusations of abuse.

Most teams share the mindset that the Challenge Cup is an opportunity to evaluate the roster and smooth out tactics before the regular season begins. At the same time, they all want to win the championship on May 7. To get there, they need to finish as the top team in their division, or the top overall second-place team, to earn a ticket to the semifinals on May 4.

Get ready, the NWSL returns 🔜@_poppymiller previews the #NWSLChallengeCup ahead of Friday's opener on @paramountplus ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/IwgS1NejHI

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 14, 2022

Divisions and predictions

This year, the clubs are split into three groups: West (OL Reign, Portland Thorns FC, Angel City FC and San Diego FC), Central (Houston Dash, Racing Louisville FC, Kansas City Current and Chicago Red Stars) and East (NJ/NY Gotham FC, Washington Spirit, North Carolina Courage and Orlando Pride).

Based on the 2021 regular season standings (below) and our understanding of how teams have gelled through the preseason, we look at which squads are trending up, trending down or staying the same and offer up some predictions.

1. Portland Thorns FC (13-6-5)
2. OL Reign (13-8-3)
3. Washington Spirit (11-7-6)
4. Chicago Red Stars (11-8-5)
5. NJ/NY Gotham FC (8-5-11)
6. North Carolina Courage (9-9-6)
7. Houston Dash (9-10-5)
8. Orlando Pride (7-10-7)
9. Racing Louisville FC (5-12-7)
10. Kansas City Current (3-14-7)

West Division

Trending up: Reign

Led by 2021 Coach of the Year Laura Harvey, the Reign have always been a team of balance, with experience and skill at every position. The team will run through defenders Alana Cook and Sofia Huerta, who have recently had breakout performances with the U.S. women’s national team, midfielder and 2021 league MVP Jess Fishlock and forward Bethany Balcer, who can score goals with her head and both feet. A championship title has been a long time coming for this team. They’ll be hungry for it.

The same: Portland

The Thorns’ personnel hasn’t changed enough for them to fall too far from the top of the standings. Under new coach Rhian Wilkinson, they’re trying a new formation, and considering they concluded their three-game preseason tournament without surrendering a goal, it seems to be working.

Expansion teams: Angel City, San Diego

Angel City and San Diego will come in eager to prove themselves as expansion clubs. Taking advantage of offseason trades versus high college draft picks, Angel City has an experienced, balanced lineup that will give established NWSL teams like Portland and Reign tough competition. In what is sure to become a California rivalry, Angel City and the Wave will meet in their first-ever game game Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.

West winner: Reign

On 🔁 today and v ready to see YOU at @LumenField with us this season 🙌

➡️ https://t.co/fHSmxAXUxO

🎟🎟 https://t.co/Gzgtevo4FI#olreign #boldtogether pic.twitter.com/IxOLMRA9Vc

— OL Reign (@OLReign) March 14, 2022

Central Division

Trending up: Louisville, Kansas City

The Current’s new core of rookie defenders, who helped the team to 6-0 and 0-0 preseason shutouts of Washington and Orlando, respectively, are promising for the club’s future. Kansas City finished last season with 36 goals against, the second most in the league. They’ve since acquired a group of stars from the two-time NWSL champion North Carolina Courage — Sam Mewis, Kristen Hamilton, Hailie Mace and Lynn Williams, who’s second all-time in NWSL goals.

Racing Louisville will be an underrated team this tournament, but defender and 2021 No. 1 overall pick Emily Fox and star forward CeCe Kizer could lead them into contention sooner than expected. The club’s additions of World Cup champion Jess McDonald and 2022 No. 2 overall pick Jaelin Howell will only help.

Trending down: Chicago

The Central division will be the most balanced and, therefore, the most unpredictable. Last year, Houston, Louisville and Kansas City had less-than-ideal seasons, while Chicago made the league final. After losing Sarah Gorden to Angel City and Katie Johnson to San Diego, the Red Stars, under new coach Chris Petrucelli, will likely have adjustments to make during this Challenge Cup.

The same: Houston

After finishing 2021 in seventh place, the Dash lost star midfielder Kristie Mewis in the expansion draft, but acquired Mexican national player Maria Sánchez, who should make an immediate impact.

Division winner: Kansas City

This Friday, a new chapter begins.

3️⃣ days 'til #NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/TIkUFaZ8B2

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) March 15, 2022

East Division

Trending up: Gotham

As most teams trend up or down by at least a smidge every year, Gotham FC has catapulted right to the top. Offseason acquisitions Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris, Kristie Mewis and Kumi Yokohama solidify a lineup that made it to a shootout with the Thorns in last year’s Challenge Cup final.

Trending down: Orlando, North Carolina

The Pride and Courage are in rebuilding mode after losing multiple stars during the offseason. The Courage traded away Sam Mewis, McDonald and Williams, and Amy Rodriguez retired. They picked up five rookies in the 2022 draft and signed them all at the beginning of preseason. Orlando lost U.S. national team players Krieger, Harris and Alex Morgan, as well as New Zealand international Ali Riley. Both teams will be figuring it out as they go.

The same: Washington

The 2021 league champions are clearly content with their title-winning roster, having not made any significant moves in the offseason. Tegan McGrady (traded to San Diego) and Paige Nielsen (traded to Angel City) filled important fullback roles for Washington last season, but they also shared that spot with Julia Roddar, who’s still around.

East winner: Gotham FC

“Welcome to New Jersey” - @parkinson_scott 😂 pic.twitter.com/9vgmYZkMOn

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) March 16, 2022

Top overall second place: Angel City

The fourth semifinal spot should belong to the West, considering the level of competitiveness expected from that division. Angel City’s roster is talented enough to make the cut, even in the club’s first season on the field.

Challenge Cup champion: Gotham FC

Catapulting to the top means the very top.

How to watch

Most NWSL Challenge Cup matches will be streamed on Paramount+ in the U.S. and internationally on Twitch.

Games on CBS (also on Paramount+; all times ET)

• April 2: San Diego Wave FC vs. Angel City FC at 4 p.m.
• April 23: North Carolina Courage vs. Washington Spirit at 1 p.m.
• May 7: Championship game at 1 p.m.

Games on CBS Sports Network

• April 15: Kansas City Current vs. Houston Dash at 8 p.m.
• April 17: OL Reign vs. Angel City FC at 6 p.m.
• April 24: Houston Dash vs. Racing Louisville FC at 6 p.m.
• May 4: Semifinals at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Jessa Braun is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports covering the NWSL and USWNT. Follow her on Twitter @jessabraun.

UConn basketball will celebrate one of its most consistent stars Wednesday night, when WNBA standout and UConn alum Aaliyah Edwards becomes the latest Huskies of Honor member before the women's team hosts Xavier at Gampel Pavilion.

Edwards epitomized reliability throughout her career at UConn, missing just three games in four seasons while steadily improving her game. She earned BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year in 2021 and BIG EAST Most Improved Player in 2023. In her final year, she collected 2024 All-BIG EAST, Wooden Award All-American, and WBCA All-American honors.

The Kingston, Ontario native racked up 1,861 points and 1,020 rebounds through her four years, finishing 16th in program history in total career points and eighth in rebounds. The Washington Mystics took Edwards No. 6 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, before a midseason trade saw her join the Connecticut Sun last year.

Legendary UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma praised Edwards's approach, celebrating both her improvement and her drive during a rough run for the now-No. 1 team.

"Sometimes careers go smoothly; sometimes it's rocky," said Auriemma. "[Edwards] managed to make the best out of a very difficult situation."

Her No. 3 jersey will be added to the wall at Gampel Pavilion during tonight's ceremony.

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Of course, today's reigning NCAA champions enter the Xavier rematch on a perfect 21-0 record, having won 16 consecutive victories by at least 25 points. The Huskies routed the unranked Musketeers 104-39 in their first meeting back in late November, hitting a season-high 18 three-pointers while forcing 31 turnovers.

Despite their odds, Auriemma emphasized that UConn basketball must avoid complacency going forward. The team already faced challenges against Seton Hall in Saturday's weather-impacted matchup, overcoming an early deficit to win 92-52.

How to watch UConn basketball in this week's NCAA slate

UConn tips off against Xavier on Wednesday at 7 PM ET, live on Peacock.

However, bigger tests are looming as the Huskies prepare to face SEC mainstay No. 15 Tennessee this Sunday at 12 PM ET, live on FOX.

Tennis legend Serena Williams publicly defended Coco Gauff following the young US star's viral racket-smashing moment at the Australian Open, offering support and advice to the world No. 3.

After Gauff suffered a 6-1, 6-2 quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina in just 59 minutes on Tuesday, cameras captured her smashing her racket in frustration while walking through the Rod Laver Arena tunnel. The 21-year-old had intentionally left the court hoping to avoid public view, but the TV broadcast chose to air the moment live.

Serena Williams quickly came to Gauff's defense on social media, echoing sentiments shared by her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The 44-year-old assured Gauff that passion and caring matter, and there's nothing wrong with hating to lose.

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Serena Williams then playfully offered to teach Gauff how to demolish a racket in one swing, referencing her own history with similar outbursts during her legendary career.

Gauff responded to the criticism by emphasizing she deliberately avoids breaking rackets on court and only did so in what she believed was a private space. She called for increased privacy for players, noting that the locker room serves as the Melbourne tournament's only truly private area.

Williams faced similar scrutiny throughout her decorated career, garnering attention for emotional displays including racket-smashing incidents resulting in fines. Despite occasional controversies, she became one of the greatest athletes of all time, winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles and holding the No. 1 ranking for 186 consecutive weeks.

Jessica Pegula and Iga Świątek also voiced support for Gauff, agreeing that cameras have become too intrusive at tournaments. The incident subsequently sparked broader conversations about player privacy and mental health in professional tennis.

USWNT forward Trinity Rodman created a viral moment with coach Emma Hayes during Tuesday's 5-0 US victory over Chile, as the star striker convinced her manager to join her sideline dance at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, California.

Rodman found the net for the second straight match in the friendly, capping a dominant USWNT performance that extended the team's winning streak to six games. After her goal, Rodman ran to meet Hayes on the edge of the pitch to perform a viral "Sexy Dexy" celebration dance — fulfilling a promise they made before the match.

Hayes revealed postgame that Rodman had brought up the celly idea earlier that day. The USWNT coach admitted she doubted the 23-year-old would score in the crowded attacking situation, making the moment even more memorable when Rodman delivered.

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The USWNT dominated the contest, with Croix Bethune, Jameese Joseph, Emily Sams, and Emma Sears all adding their names to the score sheet before Rodman subbed on the 64th minute. Hayes fielded a young starting lineup averaging just 5.2 national team appearances — the fewest since 2001.

The coach praised Rodman not only for her exceptional playing ability, but also for bringing joy to the USWNT camp and fanbase, stressing how she maintains high standards while creating positive energy.

Rodman recently made headlines by signing a record-breaking contract with the Washington Spirit, becoming the highest-paid women's soccer player in history. On Saturday, she captained the USWNT to a 6-0 victory over Paraguay, opening the year's friendly calendar in style.

What's next for Trinity Rodman and the USWNT?

The USWNT will next compete in March's SheBelieves Cup before focusing on November's 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers.

The first two matches will air live on TNT, with TBS broadcasting the final game against Colombia.

Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala advanced to the quarterfinals of the inaugural Philippine Women's Open with a commanding 6-4, 6-0 victory over Japan's Himeno Sakatsume on Wednesday.

The win marks a significant turnaround for Eala, who previously lost to Sakatsume 6-0, 6-3 at the 2023 Japan Open. Playing on home soil, the Philippines native delivered a dominant performance that showcased growth and depth since the pair's last meeting.

The opening set proved competitive, with both players swapping holds and breaks through the first eight games. Eala broke through with power in the ninth, claiming the game and serving out the set to take a one-set lead.

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Despite taking another medical timeout before the second set, Eala never lost momentum. The 20-year-old closed out the match with a 6-0 second set, dropping just four games in the WTA 125 tournament's Round of 16.

With top seed Tatjana Maria eliminated in the Round of 16, Alexandra Eala now holds the highest ranking among remaining competitors. The world No. 84 faces Colombia's Camila Osorio in Thursday's quarterfinal match.

The Philippine Women's Open represents a homecoming for Eala, who continues building steam in her professional tennis career.

How to watch Alexandra Eala in the Philippine Women's Open quarterfinals

Eala takes on Colombia's Camila Osorio on Thursday at 6 AM ET, streaming live on WTA Unlocked’s 125Live.