Mikyla Grant-Mentis signed a record-breaking deal Monday that makes her the highest-paid professional women’s hockey player in history.

The one-year contract with the Buffalo Beauts of the Premier Hockey Federation will see Grant-Mentis earn $80,000 for the upcoming season. The deal prompted responses from former PHF players as they reflected on the growth of the sport.

Blake Bolden, the first African-American player to compete in the PHF (then called the NWHL), called it “no small feat.”

“I remember making $8k per season with the Buffalo Beauts,” she wrote. Bolden played in the league from 2015-17 with the Boston Pride and from 2018-19 with the Beauts.

I remember making 8k/season with the @BuffaloBeauts , this is no small feat. Congratulations, @GrantMentis https://t.co/eeVnMsQx51

— Blake Bolden (@SportBlake) May 9, 2022

Kelley Steadman, a two-time IIHF world champion with Team USA, said she remembers making $250 per game and spending the majority of the money driving herself to games. Steadman played for the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League from 2012-13 and for the Beauts from 2015-17.

“Awesome to see how much the PHF has grown,” she wrote.

I’ll do you one better @SportBlake
I remember making $250 per game and spending 3/4 of it on gas to drive myself to games 😂
Awesome to see how much the @PHF has grown. League is in good hands with @reagan_carey too 👍🏼 https://t.co/GuH5bHl0Fu

— kelley steadman (@ksteadman9) May 9, 2022

Anya Packer played for the Connecticut Whale from 2015-18, served as the NWHLPA executive director from 2018-21 and spent the 2021-22 season as the general manager of the Metropolitan Riveters.

She pointed to Grant-Mentis’ contract as a sign of the league’s progress.

“Every single player got us here,” she wrote. “It’s crazy to see the progress. I remember Season 1 when I only got paid when I dressed in a game…to see players signing living wage deals, multi-year deals…it’s impactful.”

This part. Every single player got us here, and it’s crazy to see the progress. I remember Season 1 when I only got paid when I dressed in a game… to see players signing living wage deals, multi year deals… it’s impactful. https://t.co/IsA7oxnxkD

— Anya Packer (She/Her) (@battaglinoa) May 9, 2022

Grant-Mentis’ deal is worth $80,000 and includes a PHF-maximum 10 percent bonus, the Associated Press reported. The record contract comes after the league upped the salary cap to $750,000 per team for the upcoming season.

When the league first began in 2015, the salary cap sat at $270,000 before salaries were slashed midway through the second season. The third and fourth seasons, from 2017-19, saw the salary cap decrease to $100,000.

Player salaries sat between $5,000 and $7,000 during the 2017-18 season – which included two preseason games, two practices a week, 16 regular season games and “up to two” playoff games.

The league increased the salary cap to $150,000 for the next two seasons before doubling it to $300,000 last season.

The salary cap increased again for the upcoming season, with a salary cap floor of $562,500 also being implemented. It’s unclear if there is an individual salary minimum.

Stanford University reached a settlement with the parents of Katie Meyer, ending a wrongful death lawsuit filed after the former Cardinal soccer star’s death by suicide in March 2022. The agreement caps more than three years of legal proceedings regarding the university’s disciplinary actions.

Steven and Gina Meyer filed suit in late 2022, alleging that Stanford’s actions "negligently and recklessly" contributed their daughter’s distress. The legal challenge focused a late-night disciplinary notice sent to the 22-year-old goalkeeper that "contained threatening language regarding sanctions and potential 'removal from the university.'"

The notice was addressing an incident in which Meyer allegedly spilled coffee on a football player accused of sexually assaulting her teammate.

While the financial terms remain confidential, the settlement closes a high-profile case that drew national attention to student-athlete mental health. The Meyer family argued that Stanford failed to provide adequate support or a safe environment after initiating the high-stakes case.

Before her death, Katie Meyer was a standout athlete who captained Stanford to the 2019 NCAA championship. Following her passing, her parents founded Katie’s Save, an initiative advocating for Katie Meyer’s Law supporting students facing university policy violation allegations. The policy allows students to designate a trusted adult to notify during any disciplinary or mental health crisis.

Stanford pens joint statement addressing Katie Meyer settlement

In Monday’s joint statement, Stanford agreed to "adopt the principles" of Katie Meyer’s Law. Additionally, they plan to launch a new initiative dedicated to student-athlete mental health and establish a scholarship in Meyer’s name. Sanford women's soccer will also retire Meyer's no. 19 jersey.

"While Katie’s passing remains devastating and tragic, the memory of her accomplishments and the uplifting influence she had on those who knew her lives on," the statement reads.

"Stanford and the Meyer family believe that working together on these initiatives will both honor Katie’s indelible legacy and help current and future students in meaningful ways."

While the university did not publicly admit liability, the case prompted widespread action regarding student disciplinary processes and mental health.

Team USA is coming in hot, releasing their full 232-player 2026 Olympic roster as the largest US contingent in history gears up for February's Winter Games in Italy.

"Right and left, we have just so many people able to get on the podium at these Games," said speed skater Erin Jackson, as she gears up to defend her 500-meter gold medal in her third Olympic appearance. "I'm really excited."

Between the men's and women's events, 98 of the participating US athletes are returning Olympians, including 33 previous podium finishers — 18 of them gold medalists.

Even more, seven members of Team USA are entering their fifth Winter Games, including decorated alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, hockey captain Hilary Knight, snowboarder Faye Thelen, and bobsled teammates Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor.

"I think my age is a big advantage actually," Vonn told reporters. "I have been in that start gate more than anyone else that's in the starting gate."

Meanwhile, the 134 fresh faces will look to have an immediate impact on the Olympic medal table for Team USA, including athletes like 20-year-old Stanford soccer defender and US cross-country skiier Sammy Smith and 15-year-old halfpipe freestyle skiier Abby Winterberger — the youngest member of the 2026 US roster.

How to watch Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics officially kick off in Italy on February 6th, though a few events — including curling and women's hockey — will get underway on February 4th and 5th.

Full live coverage of the 2026 Olympic Games will air in the US across NBC platforms.

The world No. 2 USWNT returns to action on Tuesday night, taking the pitch for the first time in Santa Barbara, California, to close out the team's January friendlies against No. 47 Chile.

Tuesday also marks the final match before US manager Emma Hayes begins narrowing her player pool ahead of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup in March, with competition mounting in the lead-up to the 2027 World Cup qualifiers in November.

"I have a really good idea of the pool," Hayes told reporters prior to Tuesday's friendly. "I know which group of players we're going to be building around."

With a roster comprised entirely of NWSL players, Hayes will also be managing fitness as the team gears up for their second game in four days.

"One thing I have almost agreed to do, knowing where the players are at this stage of the season with their NWSL club, is to not start a player for two games," Hayes said.

"I'm putting together a whole new lineup," she continued. "Which itself will bring another set of challenges, whether that be first caps, whether that will be inexperience, [or] collectively playing together."

Three January call-ups remain uncapped, as North Carolina Courage midfielder Riley Jackson, Denver Summit defender Ayo Oke, and Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz look to make Tuesday night's starting XI.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Chile

The No. 2 USWNT will close out their January friendlies against No. 47 Chile at 10 PM ET on Tuesday, with live coverage airing on TBS.

WNBA star Breanna Stewart is making her voice heard, with the New York Liberty forward launching her Syracuse-focused Breanna Stewart Foundation one day after protesting Saturday's ICE shooting in Minneapolis on the Unrivaled 3×3 court.

First acknowledging the platform that basketball gave her, the Unrivaled co-founder said in her Monday social media post "my responsibility goes far beyond the game."

"This foundation starts where I'm from, Syracuse, and grows through New York because real impact has to begin at home," Stewart explained.

In partnership with Athletes for Impact, the Breanna Stewart Foundation aims to build "long-term, sustainable systems for women and youth in the community" to combat poverty through initiatives like healthcare services, education and mentoring opportunities, and sports programs.

The news came after Stewart held up a hand-written sign reading "Abolish ICE" during Sunday's Unrivaled introductions, with the Mist BC star calling attention to this month's fatal shootings at the hands of federal immigration agents in Minnesota.

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"I wanted to have a simple message of 'Abolish ICE,' which means having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence," Stewart said after Mist BC's win.

"All day yesterday, I was just disgusted from everything that you see on Instagram and in the news," she added. "It's scary.... You see it splitting up families and dissecting communities.... It's the worst in all ways."

"We're so fueled by hate right now instead of love."