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The 2023 NWSL draft is here: Everything you need to know

Alabama’s Reyna Reyes is a player to watch in the 2023 NWSL draft. (John Blackie/USA TODAY NETWORK)

The 2023 NWSL Draft is here.

From when and how to watch to which players could make waves, Just Women’s Sports breaks down everything you need to know.

When and where will the draft take place?

The NWSL draft is set for 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 12. The event will be held during the United Soccer Coaches Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

How can I watch?

Fans can watch the draft on CBS Sports Network from 6-7 p.m., then on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ from 7-11 p.m. ET.

How many rounds are in the draft?

The draft includes four rounds of 12 picks each, with a total of 48 players selected.

Who has the first overall pick?

After a blockbuster trade, Angel City FC now holds the first overall pick (and intends to select 18-year-old phenom Alyssa Thompson), followed by Gotham FC. The North Carolina Courage have three first-round picks.

The Portland Thorns have the last pick of each round after winning their third NWSL championship to cap the 2022 season.

Which players are available in the draft?

Over 250 players have registered for the draft, with these prospects standing out as first-round talents. The NWSL has a full list available.

Who are players to watch?

Alyssa Thompson

The presumptive No. 1 pick will turn pro after originally committing to play college soccer at Stanford. Thompson earned her first cap with the U.S. senior national team in October after playing for the U-20s at the World Cup in August as the only high schooler on the roster.

Messiah Bright, TCU forward

Bright scored 49 career goals in five years with the Horned Frogs, including 10 in her final season. She also played for the U.S. U-23 women’s youth national team in summer 2022.

Michelle Cooper, Duke sophomore

The USWNT U-20 captain finished the 2022 college season with 19 goals and 11 assists for the Blue Devils.

Izzy D’Aquila, Santa Clara forward

D’Aquila finished second in scoring in the NCAA with 19 goals in 2022 and posted 50 career goals in 78 games across three seasons for the Broncos.

Emily Madril, BK Häcken FF midfielder

Madril starred for Florida State during its 2021 title run, then signed a contract with the NWSL to maintain her draft eligibility while she played for Swedish club BK Häcken FF. She also played for the U.S. U-23 women’s youth national team in the summer of 2022.

Reyna Reyes, Alabama defender

Reyes scored a career-high eight goals in 2022. She also led the Crimson Tide defense to 12 shutouts in 2022 en route to the SEC defender of the year award.

Alexa Spaanstra, Virginia forward

Spaanstra made a name for herself as a pass-first player but contributed eight goals and five assists for the Cavaliers in 2022. She also played for the U.S. U-23 women’s youth national team in the summer of 2022.

What is the full draft order?

First round

  1. Angel City FC
  2. NJ/NY Gotham FC
  3. Orlando Pride
  4. NJ/NY Gotham FC (acquired from Louisville via trade)
  5. Portland Thorns FC
  6. North Carolina Courage
  7. Chicago Red Stars
  8. Houston Dash
  9. North Carolina Courage
  10. Kansas City Current
  11. North Carolina Courage
  12. Portland Thorns FC

Second round

  1. San Diego Wave (acquired from Gotham via trade)
  2. Chicago Red Stars
  3. Kansas City Current
  4. Racing Louisville FC
  5. Racing Louisville FC
  6. Kansas City Current
  7. Chicago Red Stars
  8. Houston Dash
  9. Orlando Pride
  10. Houston Dash
  11. OL Reign (acquired from Kansas City via trade)
  12. Portland Thorns FC

Third round

  1. Orlando Pride
  2. Washington Spirit
  3. Angel City FC
  4. Racing Louisville FC
  5. Orlando Pride
  6. North Carolina Courage
  7. Racing Louisville FC
  8. OL Reign
  9. San Diego Wave
  10. Orlando Pride
  11. Kansas City Current
  12. Portland Thorns FC

Fourth round

  1. Washington Spirit
  2. Kansas City Current
  3. Orlando Pride
  4. Racing Louisville FC
  5. Orlando Pride
  6. Kansas City Current
  7. Chicago Red Stars
  8. NJ/NY Gotham FC
  9. San Diego Wave
  10. OL Reign
  11. Kansas City Current
  12. Portland Thorns FC

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2025 Women’s Euro Set to Break Tournament Attendance Record

An official 2025 UEFA Women's Euro soccer ball rests on the ground in front of a lake in Switzerland.
Over 570,000 tickets have been sold for Euro 2025. (Chris Ricco - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

UEFA's 2025 Euro tournament is already knocking on the door of history, as the European Championship is on track to shatter the competition's overall attendance record — despite not kicking off until next week.

This year's Switzerland-hosted edition has sold more than 570,000 of the 673,000 tickets available as of Thursday.

Given that tally, England's 2022 Euro record of 574,875 is likely to fall in the coming days.

In addition to the tickets already on sale, stadiums will release another 32,000 to accommodate the knockout stages in the coming weeks.

While Switzerland is poised to claim the Euro's total attendance title by the competition's July 27th finale, England's single-game record crowd of 87,192 — set at the 2022 championship match — will be safe, as no Swiss venue matches the capacity of London's iconic Wembley Stadium.

The 2025 Euro final will be a much more elite affair, as only 34,250 seats are available at Basel's St. Jakob-Park — the largest of the tournament's eight venues.

That said, this summer's European Championship will have more eyes on it than ever before, and not just from the stands.

The 2022 edition shattered viewership records worldwide, but the 2025 Euro has a chance to level up even more, as the tournament has seen its global broadcast footprint expand — particularly in the US.

UEFA inked a media deal with Fox Sports in late May, ensuring that audiences Stateside will have live access to at least 20 of the Euro's 31 matches next month.

While the overall tournament chases new attendance and viewership records, the 16 teams bound for Switzerland will be battling toward the 2025 Euro trophy when the competition kicks off next Wednesday.

NCAA Stars Represent Team USA at FIBA AmeriCup in Chile

TCU basketball star Olivia Miles celebrates a play during a 2025 USA Basketball training session.
Current NCAA stars — including TCU's Olivia Miles — will feature for Team USA at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup competition. (USA Basketball)

The 2025 FIBA AmeriCup 5×5 basketball tournament tips off Saturday in Santiago, Chile, where a youthful Team USA will battle nine other countries from North and South America for both this summer's trophy and a ticket to the 2026 FIBA World Cup.

After falling to reigning champions Brazil in 2023, Team USA will aim to avenge the loss by winning a fifth all-time gold medal at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup final on July 6th.

Led by Duke head coach Kara Lawson, this 12-player US squad follows the federation playbook by tapping top college talent, with the NCAA's finest looking to gain international experience and hone their skills against pros like Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, who leads Brazil's AmeriCup roster.

Full of familiar faces, the USA AmeriCup lineups includes March Madness stars Olivia Miles (TCU), Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Madison Booker (Texas), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Raegan Beers (Oklahoma), and Joyce Edwards (South Carolina).

Also taking the FIBA court for Team USA are NCAA standouts Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt), Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA), Kennedy Smith (USC), Hannah Stuelke (Iowa), and Grace Vanslooten (Michigan State).

"[W]e haven't seen the level of physicality and experience we're going to see down there," Lawson said this week. "So that remains to be seen if we're going to be able to impose that athletic, physical play. But there's no doubt we're going to try."

Hannah Stuelke and Flau'Jae Johnson high-five during a Team USA training session at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup in Santiago, Chile.
Team USA will tip off their 2025 FIBA AmeriCup campaign on Saturday. (USA Basketball)

How to watch Team USA at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup

The 2025 FIBA AmeriCup group stage runs from Saturday through Wednesday, with the knockouts tipping off on July 4th in a run-up to the July 6th championship game.

Team USA will open their AmeriCup campaign against hosts Chile at 8:25 PM ET on Saturday, then face Colombia at 8:10 PM ET on Sunday.

Arguably the toughest Group B contest for the US will be their Monday matchup against Puerto Rico at 8:10 PM ET, before the collegiate stars finish up the tournament's group play against Mexico at 2:10 PM ET on Wednesday.

All 2025 FIBA AmeriCup games will stream live on Courtside 1891.

Runner Faith Kipyegon Beats Her Own World Record, Falls Short of 4-Minute Mile

Kenyan star Faith Kipyegon races in a bid to run a sub four-minute mile on Thursday.
Faith Kipyegon fell just short of the four-minute mile record on Thursday. (EMMA DA SILVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Three-time 1,500-meter Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon fell just short of making running history on Thursday, as the middle-distance star clocked a time of 4:06.42 in her attempt to become the first woman to break the four-minute mile.

"It was the first trial. I have proven that it's possible and it's only a matter of time. I think it will come to our way," said Kipyegon following Thursday's race. "If it's not me, it will be somebody else."

Still the fastest mile-runner of any woman in history, the Kenyan icon did beat her own previous world record of 4:07.64 by 1.22 seconds, though the time won't count as a new record as the race came during Nike's unofficial Breaking4 event.

With full support from the sportswear giant — the 31-year-old's partner for 16 years — Kipyegon had the benefit of multiple pace-setters, as well as an aerodynamic suit, 3D-printed Nike FlyWeb sports bra, and spiked shoes made specifically for the much-hyped four-minute mile attempt at Paris's Stade Charléty.

"Faith didn't just make history, she proved the future of sport is faster, stronger, and more inclusive than ever," noted Nike president Amy Montagne after Kipyegon's race.

"It was tough, but I am so proud of what I've done, and I'm going to keep on trying, dreaming and pursing big goals," said Kipyegon. "I want to show the world, and especially women, that you have to dare to try."

USWNT Tops Republic of Ireland 4-0, Readies for Sunday Rematch

USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson celebrates a goal during a 2025 friendly against Ireland.
USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson scored the team's fourth goal on Thursday. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

The world No. 1 USWNT topped the No. 25 Republic of Ireland 4-0 on Thursday, dominating the first of two friendly matchups against the Girls in Green this week.

Veteran midfielder Rose Lavelle notched a goal and an assist in her first appearance for the US in 2025, with defender Avery Patterson, midfielder Sam Coffey, and forward Alyssa Thompson also finding the back of the net to round out the scoresheet.

Despite relative inexperience, this USWNT lineup claimed control of the match from the very first whistle, holding 68% of possession while keeping Ireland from registering a single shot on goal.

The US also saw new faces step up, as defenders Lilly Reale and Jordyn Bugg as well as goalkeeper Claudia Dickey all earned their first caps without a hitch.

While USWNT boss Emma Hayes is still figuring out her player pool, her team has been busy racking up the results.

"Being able to trust my teammates around me, trusting Emma — she's helped me a lot," Thompson said after the game. "Just the coaching staff in general, I feel like I've learned so much."

"My natural instincts are to go into the attack more," Patterson told media after tallying her first-ever senior team goal. "I think it's a little bit of that, and also the backing of my coaches."

How to watch the USWNT vs. Ireland this weekend

The USWNT and Ireland will clash again in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 3 PM ET on Sunday.

Coverage of the friendly will air live on TNT.

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