Alex Morgan is ready for what she thinks will be “the best World Cup that there’s ever been.”

In a conversation with ESPN FC, Morgan talked about what she’s had to endure being on the team since 2010 and how she’s seen the game change over the years. Morgan was recently named USWNT co-captain alongside Lindsey Horan, as the team seeks its third-straight World Cup title starting later this month.

“It means a lot, just being able to endure being on this team for 13 plus years — it’s hard, it’s challenging,” Morgan said about her career with the national team. “It really tests you mentally, physically. And to be alongside Kelley [O’Hara] and [Megan Rapinoe], this is our fourth, we wanna go all the way.

“It takes everything out of you. So to get to this moment now, I want to be able to enjoy this World Cup and enjoy every moment, knowing that I just worked so hard and sacrificed so much to get here.”

Morgan also put this summer’s tournament in the context of women’s soccer historically. From the increased visibility of the USWNT, to other national teams’ fights for equal pay, she believes this World Cup will represent how far the game has come — and how far it still has to go.

“I think just the amount of eyes on this team has just been so much more than you know [2011, 2015 and 2019],” she said. “It’s steadily just gone up and up. I think that the NWSL has helped with that. I think just the fight that we had for equal pay starting in 2016 until now, and advocating for other teams as well as they fight for equal pay and equal working conditions, we’re at a different spot now than we’ve ever been on this team.

“And going into this World Cup, I think it’s going to be not only the most competitive World Cup, but it’s going to be the most-watched World Cup, the most-attended World Cup. It will be the best World Cup that there’s ever been.”

Morgan, the most-capped player and leading goal scorer on the current USWNT roster, will enter this World Cup with at least one first.

She gave birth to daughter Charlie in 2020, one year after winning her second World Cup, and has gone on a unique journey as Charlie has grown up within the national team ranks. While Morgan has set the record for most goals scored by a USWNT mom, and others have joined her in the “mom club” (Julie Ertz and Crystal Dunn will both be bringing their children to the World Cup), being in this position still gives the veteran forward a new perspective.

“Going into this World Cup, I just feel way more at peace with where I am and just a sense of calmness more than the previous World Cups,” Morgan said. “I think that [being a parent has] really helped me, just knowing that I have my daughter to look up to so many incredible women in this environment.

“Everyone really loves having the kids around because we’re so ultra-focused on all the small details. We’re analyzing every little thing. And so just to have the kids around … it brings a little more happiness and lightheartedness into an environment that is so pressure filled.”

After a dramatic 3-0 win over crosstown rival Manchester United on Saturday, Manchester City is now leading the WSL, sitting three points clear atop the 2025/26 league table while notably extending their advantage over second-place powerhouse Chelsea FC.

The home side scored all three of their goals in the first half, with defender Rebecca Knaak putting City ahead in the 26th minute before attacker Khadija "Bunny" Shaw added to the lead in the 43rd minute.

Returning from injury with a vengeance, forward Lauren Hemp sealed the deal for the Citizens with the final goal in first-half stoppage time.

"It's so nice to be back," Hemp said postgame. "Today we showed the mentality that I said at the start we needed to show."

While reigning six-time WSL champions Chelsea have yet to lose a match this WSL season, a trio of 2025/26 draws has the Blues now trailing the current eight-win, one-loss record held by Manchester City.

As for United, the WSL third-place Red Devils were without star goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce in Saturday's loss, after the USWNT net-minder suffered a fractured eye socket in November 8th's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.

"She should be fine, it's just trying to make sure she doesn't get another knock in that area," said United manager Marc Skinner, noting that Tullis-Joyce could return as soon as the club's 2025/26 Champions League match against VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

One of this season's NWSL Coach of the Year finalists is moving on up, with Kansas City manager Vlatko Andonovski leaving his position as the Current's head coach to become the club's full-time global sporting director.

Andonovski has been juggling both jobs since joining the Current in October 2023, with the 49-year-old coming off what was arguably his most successful managerial season, leading Kansas City to a first-ever NWSL Shield amidst a record-shattering 2025 campaign.

In his new role, Andonovski will "implement the long-term vision for the club's technical and athletic success, as well as be responsible for player recruitment, roster strategy and scouting."

"It's vital to move into this role to keep growing this club with the aim of being a perennial contender on the global stage and a top developer of talent," Andonovski said in Friday's club announcement.

With the administrative switch in the works prior to last weekend's playoff upset, Andonovski will now join the hiring committee tasked with appointing his successor, while continuing his head coaching duties until Kansas City secures its new manager.

In another front office shift, the Current's head of soccer operations Ryan Dell will immediately take over as the club's GM, with former GM Caitlin Carducci departing the club after one year at the helm.

Michigan women's basketball is on the rise, as the then-No. 14 Wolverines avenged their early 2025 NCAA tournament exit with a stunning 93-54 blowout win over then-No. 18 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Michigan sophomore guard Olivia Olson led the game in scoring with 20 points as the Wolverines put together a true team effort, with six bench players combining for 38 points in the win.

The Big Ten team also dominated defensively, limiting the Fighting Irish bench to just two points while keeping Notre Dame star guard Hannah Hidalgo to a mere 12-point performance.

"We knew exactly what Michigan was going to do," said Notre Dame basketball head coach Niele Ivey afterwards. "We did not have any type of fight defensively, and that's where we have to start."

The Wolverines' victory was especially sweet after Notre Dame ousted Michigan from last season's national tournament with a 76-55 second-round Irish win.

Saturday's fallout also affected this week's AP Top 25 poll, with Notre Dame falling six ranks to No. 24 while Michigan earned an eight-spot bump to No. 6.

After quietly recruiting five-star talents like Olson and Syla Swords in 2024, Michigan — a program that has yet to earn a title at the NCAA or conference level — proved over the weekend that they are entering the 2025/26 season with added depth and experience.

"That's why I committed to Michigan," Swords told JWS at October's Big Ten Media Day. "That's why so many of us came there, because we wanted to be part of something new, part of something that's never been done."

Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman is back in action, subbing into her team's 2025 NWSL semifinal win in Saturday's 90th minute as she continues to rehab a sprained MCL — with questions still remaining surrounding her future with the club.

"It felt amazing," she said afterwards. "If I get 30 seconds, or if I get 90 minutes, it feels great to be out there."

Rodman will hope for more involvement in next weekend's NWSL Championship game, taking the pitch for the Spirit in her final match under contact before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

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The USWNT standout's extension negotiations have apparently made it all the way up to the NWSL commissioner, with Rodman garnering interest from multiple UK clubs willing to outspend the US league's salary cap restrictions.

The NWSL's most recent collective bargaining agreement sets each club's current salary cap at $3.3 million, which will titrate up to $5.1 million by 2030.

"Right now, my head's completely down. It's been so distracting being injured, and that's all I can really think about," Rodman said on Saturday, addressing the reports. "Once we get this championship, then I can start making decisions and figuring out what next year looks like for me."

With rumors swirling around Rodman and her future with the Spirit, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman defended the salary cap this week, telling CBS Sports that the parity the cap fosters is "the reason our league is the most competitive league in the world."