Since its inception, Angel City FC have strived to be one of the more special places to play in the NWSL. And while some teams may talk about wanting to have a family atmosphere, the Los Angeles-based club is one of the places where those wishes have become reality.

From sold-out stadiums to programs meant to help players in their careers and beyond, Angel City FC have set a standard off the field while being one of the better-faring expansion teams on it. The club finished eighth in last year’s standings, just outside of a playoff spot in their first season.

“There are so many reasons why I think Angel City is special but for me I think it’s just given me a platform to talk about what’s important to me,” captain Ali Riley told Just Women’s Sports. “It’s given me so many resources, I’ve been able to connect with a community that’s given me so much. I’m just really proud to represent my city of LA and give back to the community.”

Such a stellar first year could be tough to beat – but not impossible.

“It’s really hard because last year exceeded all expectations, it was just one of the best years of my life,” Riley said. “But I really want to start to play even better soccer, score more goals and to make the playoffs.”

Sydney Leroux, who was traded to Angel City halfway through last season from the Orlando Pride, has enjoyed getting to experience her first preseason with the club. She adds that the family environment has been “amazing.”

The 32-year-old forward is focused on staying healthy this year after dealing with an ankle injury last season. She hopes to play a full season in Angel City’s frequently sold-out home stadium, she said.

“The moment that I stepped on the field for the first time, it was unbelievable. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life,” she said of her first game with Angel City. “It’s such a family environment, I love being part of this team, part of the club…

“The family vibe we have here, I think it’s amazing to be a part of. Our stadiums are full, and our fans really love us and we love them back.”

As the team looks the game from its debut campaign, it will be able to lean on new additions such as No. 1 overall pick Alyssa Thompson, who already made waves in her professional debut despite being just 18 years old. Other rookies also have been making an impact, Riley said, and she has noticed a higher level of play compared to last year.

“The rookies are great, Alyssa [Thompson] is a sensational player scoring her first goal in our first game back at BMO. And I think they’re just gonna push the level even higher, set the standard higher so that we can compete, and again have a better season this year,” she said.

Leroux concurred with Riley’s assessment.

“I think we stepped our game up a little bit, and I’m really excited to see what we put together on the field,” she said.

This year also likely will include some time away for the World Cup for Riley, who plays for the New Zealand women’s national team, and for other players. But Riley notes that her club team has been instrumental in helping with preparations for the upcoming tournament.

“It is a privilege to be splitting time because I am so excited for this World Cup, especially being at home [in New Zealand],” Riley said. “And I have the benefit of having such amazing Angel City teammates, so when I’m here training it’s preparing me for when I go away with the national team.”

World No. 18 Colombia secured their spot in the 2025 Copa América final on Monday night, when Las Cafeteras bested No. 32 Argentina in a penalty shootout to take the first of the continental tournament's two semifinals.

Despite dominating in both possession and attacking opportunities, Colombia failed to break through in regulation time, ending the Copa semifinal in a 0-0 stalemate.

However, the 2022 runners-up showed confidence from the spot, securing the victory with a narrow 5-4 penalty differential after six shootout rounds.

"We are finalists and we qualified for the Olympics in Los Angeles, that was our objective," said Colombia goalkeeper Katherine Tapia after the win. "We are prepared for the Final."

With Colombia hunting a first-ever Copa title in their fourth trip to the tournament's finale, they will either face underdog No. 63 Uruguay or reigning champions No. 4 Brazil in Saturday's 2025 title match.

Should Brazil soccer legend Marta and the rest of her team continue their run to a fifth straight — and ninth overall — Conmebol trophy, Colombia would find themselves facing As Canarinhas for a competition record-tying fourth time in the Copa América final.

On the other hand, a Uruguay semifinal victory over Brazil would set up the first-ever Copa América finale to not feature the continental powerhouse.

How to watch Brazil vs. Uruguay in the Copa América semifinal

Defending champ Brazil will take on Uruguay in the second Copa América semifinal at 8 PM ET on Tuesday, as each team aims for a spot against Colombia in Saturday's 5 PM ET tournament final.

Tuesday's semifinal will air live on FS1.

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) crowned its inaugural champion on Sunday, with the No. 1-seed Talons lifting the first-ever AUSL trophy after sweeping the No. 2-seed Bandits in the weekend's 2025 Championship Series.

Battling inclement weather all weekend, the Talons finished out Saturday's rain-delayed Game 1 to a 3-1 win early Sunday morning, before avoiding a winner-take-all Game 3 by claiming the AUSL title in a narrow 1-0 second victory on Sunday afternoon.

AUSL Pitcher of the Year Georgina Corrick and former Alabama ace Montana Fouts held the powerful Bandits offense at bay throughout the two wins, while infielder Sydney Romero — a former two-time NCAA champion at Oklahoma — secured the Talons' title with a Game 2 sixth-inning home run.

"I wouldn't have wanted to do this anywhere else, with anybody else," Fouts said after the championship win. "I feel like we really are family. That's what makes this so special. Obviously, winning is awesome, but I just feel like whenever you step on the field with people like this, you've already won." 

In addition to the Talons' 2025 championship trophy, AUSL at-large garnered plenty of success throughout its debut season, selling out 14 of the first 29 games while averaging 117,000 viewers per game on ESPN2 — a 65% increase over the 2024 Athletes Unlimited format.

That boost saw the broadcaster upgrade the final series from ESPN2 to ESPN.

"It's really been, in some ways, eye-opening," AUSL commissioner Kim Ng told Sports Business Journal earlier this month. "I don't think that any of us thought that we would get this type of reception. But everyone here is so incredibly excited."

The No. 11 Dallas Wings put on a show on Monday, handing the No. 2 New York Liberty their second straight loss behind a combined 40 points from star guards Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.

Rocketing to a season-best 63-36 first-half lead, Dallas held off the reigning WNBA champions' fourth-quarter surge to secure the 92-82 upset win — the Wings' eighth victory of the year.

Ogunbowale tallied 14 assists in the win, becoming to first WNBA player to ever record 20+ points and 14+ assists in a single game while committing less than two turnovers.

While the WNBA standings remained relatively stable, Dallas's upswing brought further frustration for the Liberty, as they continue to struggle to keep all five starters healthy at the same time.

While previously injured center Jonquel Jones is back in the mix, New York missed 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart on Monday, with the star forward sidelined after suffering a blow to the leg during Saturday play.

"Just understanding the urgency we need to play with, understanding nobody feels bad for us down some people, we have to come out with a little more purpose," guard Sabrina Ionescu told reporters after Monday's loss.

How to watch the Dallas Wings and New York Liberty this week

New York's next trek is significantly steeper, as the Liberty take on the league-leading Minnesota Lynx at 8 PM ET on Wednesday. A rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals, the clash will air live on ESPN.

Dallas will be in action at the exact same time, when the Wings will hunt a ninth season win against the No. 4 Atlanta Dream, airing live on ESPN3.

Second-year LA Sparks forward Cameron Brink is gearing up to make her long-awaited return on Tuesday night, stepping back on the WNBA court after missing more than a year of action due to a June 2024 ACL tear.

Brink's return couldn't come at a better time for LA, as the Sparks continue to take serious aim at a postseason run after rattling off five wins in a row.

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The 2024 No. 2 overall draftee will likely be on a minutes restriction as she works her way back into full-game fitness, with the Sparks easing her in during their Tuesday matchup against Las Vegas.

"It means the world," Brink told the Long Beach Press Telegram about her WNBA return earlier this week. "I'm just very excited, very humbled by this experience. It's no easy thing to come back from."

Brink's comeback will close out a trio of WNBA games on Tuesday:

• No. 9 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 4 Atlanta Dream, 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): After a hot start, the Valkyries slid into a free-fall, leaving Golden State hoping to improve on their 2-6 July record against a gelling Dream side.

• No. 12 Chicago Sky vs. No. 8 Washington Mystics, 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The young Mystics are currently clinging onto the final playoff spot, with a chance to push ahead against the injury-ridden Sky.

• No. 7 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 10 Los Angeles Sparks, 10 PM ET (NBA TV): The Sparks are the shiniest team in the WNBA right now, but they'll have their work cut out against an Aces team desperate to bust out of the mid-table doldrums.