American soccer stars arrived at the second annual U.S. women’s national team Players Ball on Dec. 7 dressed to the nines and ready to celebrate. At the ball, the USWNT players association honored Ali Krieger and spotlighted her illustrious career. 

Krieger retired from professional soccer after her former NWSL team — NJ/NY Gotham FC — took home its first NWSL championship on Nov. 11. It was also Krieger’s first NWSL championship victory, and her medal sits among other impressive hardware in her trophy case, including the 2014 CONCACAF women’s championship and two World Cups with the USWNT. 

Krieger dazzled in a light blue, Gotham-esque dress and gave an emotional speech after she was honored by the players association. Much of Krieger’s speech was recorded and posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan. 

Another lovely moment for @alikrieger tonight, one of the retiring #USWNT players honored this year at the @USWNTPlayers Ball — with a very heartfelt (if unplanned) speech. pic.twitter.com/s7UlGZEnAQ

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) December 7, 2023

“To my former teammates, I don’t know how I would be where I am without you,” Krieger said. “You made me look so damn good on that field, you know who you are. Thank you for, just, carrying me through, this has been such a difficult year, but also a year that I cherish because I learned so much about myself.”

Krieger reminisced on her final season as a player and its challenges. Off the pitch, she went through a divorce with her ex-wife and former USWNT goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, and, two days before her NWSL championship victory, her father went into hospice care. As Krieger thanked her closest friends and teammates, her voice broke and her eyes welled with tears. 

“I’ve been through a lot this year and, thanks to you, Crystal is definitely one of the ones who reached out the most, Pinoe, Syd and all my former [teammates,] Midge. Obviously, I wouldn’t’ve — I’m going to get so emotional — I wouldn’t’ve been able to survive without you,” Krieger said. 

Krieger also shouted out the younger generation of USWNT players and discussed the future of the team. 

“To the younger players who are so effin’ talented, I love watching you play, you are gonna carry this team,” Krieger said. “You’re going to carry this team to championships, we will get on the right path because of you. You guys can do so much more than I ever could have done on this field.”

Krieger expressed her thanks for her past teammates and for the opportunities that professional soccer has given her, while saying she’s excited for what’s coming next. 

“Winning championships has been incredible, but what’s most important is the lifelong friendships that we’ll carry on throughout the rest of our time, and I’m so excited for that. I’m so excited for the next chapter. I’m so excited to share with all of you.” 

The WSL hit some opening day snags over the weekend, with a last-minute media deal causing broadcasts Stateside to generate confusion and widespread technical difficulties as the UK league's big-name US talent pool took the pitch.

First, in Friday's 2025/26 season kick-off match, ESPN+ served fans an error screen during the first 15 minutes of six-time defending WSL champion Chelsea's 2-1 win over Manchester City.

Then on Saturday morning, skips and lags continuously interrupted Arsenal's 4-1 victory over the recently promoted London City Lionesses.

Notably, the WSL media rights extension deal with ESPN+ — the 2024/25 US carrier of the top-flight UK league —came together at the very last minute.

As such, the WSL left fans in the dark by omitting US coverage details from all promotions in the lead-up to the 2025/26 season's opening weekend — possibly missing out on a big Stateside moment as USWNT stars like Naomi Girma, Catarina Macario, Emily Fox, and Alyssa Thompson kick off their club campaigns in the UK.

"The delays weren't about lack of interest so much as the sheer number of changes the league has been managing," former head of broadcast at WSL Football Andrea Ekblad told The Athletic this week.

"Of course, nobody wants a broadcast deal announced only hours before kickoff. That's not ideal," she continued. "But continuing the [ESPN] partnership makes great sense."

USWNT prospect Jaedyn Shaw is on her way to New York City, with ESPN reporting late Monday that the No. 11 North Carolina Courage is sending the rising NWSL star to No. 6 Gotham FC in an intra-league-record $1.25 million trade deal.

North Carolina's return nearly doubles the NWSL's previous $600,000 transfer record, set when the No. 1 Kansas City Current acquired forward Ally Sentnor from the last-place Utah Royals in early August.

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As for Shaw, this will be her second major move this year, after the attacker requested a trade to the Courage from the San Diego Wave last January — a deal in which the Wave received a combined $450,000 in allocation money and fees.

During her time in San Diego, Shaw shattered the NWSL record for most goals scored by a teenager, but the now-20-year-old has only logged three in her 10 starts for North Carolina this season.

With this trade to Gotham, Shaw will exit a Courage side sitting three spots below the postseason line as North Carolina regroups following the abrupt firing of head coach Sean Nahas.

She instead will join a NJ/NY side in the midst of a serious playoff push, with ESPN reporting that Gotham is going all in on Shaw with plans to sign the young talent through the 2029 season.

The No. 8 Seattle Storm are only one win away from making the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, shooting to oust the No. 9 LA Sparks from the postseason race by claiming a victory over the No. 6 Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday night.

"Our team has changed from the beginning of the season until now," Seattle head coach Noelle Quinn said earlier this week. "Part of that is finding some consistency with one another: minutes, reps, all of those things."

Should the Storm lose to the already-clinched Valkyries in their final 2025 regular-season game, Seattle will still have a shot at the playoffs: The Sparks must still win both of their remaining two games to secure a playoff berth and bounce Seattle from the postseason — starting with their own Tuesday night matchup against the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury.

"[We're] not talking about things we can't control," Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts said over the weekend. "Whether Indiana wins or loses or Seattle, we can't control that. We just have to focus on what we're doing and see how it all shakes out."

How to watch the Storm and Sparks on Tuesday

Both No. 8 Seattle and No. 9 LA will take the court at 10 PM ET on Tuesday, with the Storm battling No. 6 Golden State on WNBA League Pass while the Sparks face No. 4 Phoenix on NBA TV.

Bay FC is shifting gears as the NWSL's 12th-place team's postseason hopes slip away, with the 2024 expansion side announcing a plan to part ways with inaugural head coach Albertin Montoya at the end of the 2025 season.

"I have so much love for these players, staff, and fans," Montoya said in Monday's club release. "We've built a culture and a style of play that I believe will compete for championships for years to come."

Brought on in 2023, Montoya led Bay FC to 11 victories in 2024, setting a league record for wins by an expansion team in its debut season.

Under Montoya, Bay FC also became just the second expansion club to qualify for the NWSL Playoffs in their inaugural campaign, but the team has fallen down the table this year amid accusations of fostering a toxic work environment.

The team also recently lost a high-profile player in Nigerian star Asisat Oshoala, who signed with Saudi Premier League side Al Hilal last week.

Bay Collective CEO Kay Cossington and club sporting director Matt Potter stated that they will work together to hire a replacement for Montoya prior to the 2026 NWSL season.

"Bay FC's startup phase is ending and we're moving to our next phase of growth," Bay FC chair Alan Waxman added in the team's statement.