Voices from around the women’s sports world are reacting to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, which for nearly 50 years had established access to abortion as a constitutional right.

The reversal of Roe v. Wade leaves the right up to individual states, with more than 20 states set to reduce or ban access to abortions.

The Supreme Court voted 6-3 to uphold a Mississippi law to ban almost all abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Five justices signed the majority opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade; Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. did not, writing that he would have upheld the Mississippi law but would not have overturned the 1972 precedent.

Following the ruling, athletes, teams and others connected to women’s sports took to social media to share their responses to the news, among them tennis legend Billie Jean King, U.S. women’s national team star Megan Rapinoe and more.

“This decision will not end abortion,” King wrote on Twitter. “What it will end is safe and legal access to this vital medical procedure. It is a sad day in the United States.”

The Supreme Court has struck down Roe v. Wade, which for nearly 50 years has protected the right to abortion.

This decision will not end abortion.

What it will end is safe and legal access to this vital medical procedure.

It is a sad day in the United States.

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 24, 2022

U.S. women’s national team star Megan Rapinoe spoke for 10 minutes before taking questions at the team’s press conference Friday. She said of the Supreme Court’s decision, “I think the cruelty is the point.”

Rapinoe’s USWNT teammate Lindsey Horan also spoke about the decision at the press conference. “I’m still a little bit shocked and trying to take it all in, but I do feel like this is just a step backwards for our country,” Horan said.

Several NWSL teams released statements after the decision, including NJ/NY Gotham FC. The club wrote in a statement it “vehemently objects” to the rollback and that “reproductive rights are human rights.”

“Abortion must not only remain legal, it must be made affordable and accessible nationwide,” the club wrote. “Restricting individuals’ bodily autonomy by requiring patients to travel hundreds of miles to overcome inequitable barriers will have a disproportionately harmful impact on communities of color and other marginalized groups already facing obstacles to healthcare.”

Club Statement. pic.twitter.com/PE7ZauaEzR

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) June 24, 2022

The Kansas City Current wrote on social media that the team is “heartbroken” at the decision.

“Any act against women is an act against our values, our pride and our mission as a club,” the statement reads. “We stand in solidarity with women everywhere and will work to protect the rights of not only our players but women globally.”

The club later amended its initial statement to “acknowledge that this affects all who can reproduce, not just women. Reproductive rights are human rights.”

USWNT and Kansas City Current midfielder Sam Mewis re-posted to her Instagram stories a message from Barack Obama that calls for action to help protect abortion.

More NWSL teams, including OL Reign, Orlando Pride, Angel City FC and Racing Louisville, all came out against the Supreme Court ruling as well, underscoring the importance of access to reproductive health care.

“Kentuckians requiring an abortion will be forced to drive an average of 245 miles for proper healthcare in the wake of today’s Supreme Court decision,” Racing Louisville said in a statement. “This development leaves us especially concerned about marginalized members of our community and future Supreme Court decisions that could impact them.”

pic.twitter.com/mNc5iVyosk

— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) June 24, 2022

The NWSL itself later issued a statement on behalf of the league and Commissioner Jessica Berman.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling today denies individuals in this country the full liberty and equality that is the cornerstone of a just society,” the statement said. “Reproductive rights are human rights.

“The NWSL is more than just a soccer league; we are a collective who will stand up every day for what is right.”

Statement from Commissioner Berman and the NWSL: pic.twitter.com/MX1dkRMKUM

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 24, 2022

Athletes Unlimited, which hosts softball, lacrosse, basketball and volleyball leagues, also issued a statement.

“At the core of Athletes Unlimited is the belief that athletes should have control of their careers on and off the field, and a voice in decisions — large and small — that affect them,” the statement said. “All women should have the same rights to be decision-makers on issues that affect them, especially in matters that have as profound an impact on their lives as pregnancy.”

The Supreme Court’s decision negates the rights of women to control their own bodies, and as such is counter to Athletes Unlimited's core values. pic.twitter.com/KrOLozQ23y

— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 24, 2022

Oklahoma softball star Jocelyn Alo, who recently signed with the new Women’s Professional Fastpitch league, also commented. “What a sad day to be a woman,” she wrote on Twitter.

The WNBPA issued a statement decrying the Supreme Court’s decision, saying it “provides a treacherous pathway to abortion bans that reinforce economic, social and political inequalities.”

The statement also included this pointed question: “Are we in a democracy where guns have more rights than women?”

This ruling provides a treacherous pathway to abortion bans that reinforce economic, social and political inequalities and could lead to higher rates of maternal mortality while eviscerating rights to reproductive freedom for everyone. #BansOffOurBodies pic.twitter.com/ND8kcx3viL

— WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) June 24, 2022

Phoenix Mercury forward Brianna Turner questioned whether the Supreme Court should hold so much power, writing on Twitter, “There’s gotta be a better way.”

Seattle Storm star Sue Bird retweeted several posts urging people to fight for abortion rights, but she kept her own initial reaction to just one word: “Gutted.”

Maybe in the next election we should have a vote to eliminate the Supreme Court. 9 people with the power to make generational decisions for 330 million people. There’s gotta be a better way.

— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) June 24, 2022

Gutted 💔

— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) June 24, 2022

The Washington Mystics and Seattle Storm added their voices to the chorus of WNBA teams and players speaking out on the decision, with both teams emphasizing their commitment to fight for human rights.

“Now we have come to this: people have won the freedom to buy guns with impunity while women have lost the freedom to decide their own future,” Seattle Storm tweeted. “Furious and ready to fight.”

Furious and ready to fight. pic.twitter.com/6fdEHUd4pM

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) June 24, 2022

We stand with all women and their right to choose.
#DistrictofChange // #TogetherDC pic.twitter.com/oEBOj3POKU

— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) June 24, 2022

Echoing the Seattle Storm’s statement, Nikki Stanton of OL Reign questioned the Supreme Court’s decisions on gun laws and Roe v. Wade.

“How can we possibly live in a world where one day we overturn a law to make it EASIER to carry guns in public, and the next day BAN abortions? The world can be so cruel,” Stanton wrote. “Hoping for change, and sending extra love to those who need it.”

Heartbroken 💔. How can we possibly live in a world where one day we overturn a law to make it EASIER to carry guns in public, and the next day BAN abortions? The world can be so cruel. Hoping for change, and sending extra love to those who need it 💜

— Nikki Stanton (@GutiNikki7) June 24, 2022

Metropolitan Riveters captain Madison Packer called out elected officials for protecting gun rights but not abortion rights.

“We have elected officials who feel women can’t make decisions for their own bodies so we overturned Roe v. Wade,” she wrote. “Officials who are so afraid of the LGBTQ+ community that they are banning and threatening its existence. But you can still carry a gun. Who you vote for matters.”

We have elected officials who feel women can't make decisions for their own bodies so we overturned Roe v. Wade. Officials who are so afraid of the LGBTQ+ community that they are banning and threatening it's existence. But you can still carry a gun. Who you vote for matters.

— Madison Packer (@madison_packer_) June 24, 2022

Glennon Doyle, author and investor in Angel City FC, offered words of encouragement to her Twitter followers.

“Comfort to every human being who feels afraid right now. I feel afraid too. it is okay to feel afraid and tender now,” Doyle wrote. “Soon, the anger returns and we fight like bloody hell.”

comfort to every human being who feels afraid right now. i feel afraid too. it is okay to feel afraid and tender now. soon, the anger returns and we fight like bloody hell. first the pain, then the mother fucking rising.

— Glennon Doyle (@GlennonDoyle) June 24, 2022

A draft opinion from the Supreme Court leaked in early May had telegraphed the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and many from the women’s sports world shared their anger and dismay at that time.

US swimming icon Katie Ledecky is back on top, earning her 22nd world title with a gold medal-winning 1,500-meter freestyle performance at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships on Tuesday.

Finishing with a time of 15:26.44, Ledecky now owns 25 of the top 26 times in the event's history and holds six World Aquatics Championships titles at that distance.

"Each one has meaning, and I love every race that I've had at Worlds over the years," the 28-year-old swimming star told broadcasters following her Tuesday victory.

That 22nd title brought Ledecky's combined Worlds total to an overall 28 medals, lifting the star to second on the all-time most decorated list where she trails only retired US men's star Michael Phelps's 33 podium finishes.

Earlier in the week, the Team USA standout took bronze in the 400-meter freestyle, coming in third behind China's silver-medalist Li Bingjie and Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh, who won the race with a time of 3:56.26.

Gold medals have been hard to come by for Team USA at this year's World Championships.

Other than Ledecky's win and the 100-meter butterfly title snagged by Gretchen Walsh on Monday, the US women have struggled to claim gold medals as they push to recover from the acute gastroenteritis that hit several team members at their pre-meet training camp in Thailand.

That stomach bug inhibited multiple US swimmers from traveling with the team to the Singapore meet, and saw contenders like 100-meter butterfly Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske pull out of initial heats.

"We're taking it a day at a time," said Team USA head coach Greg Meehan about the impact of the illness. "Obviously, this is not how we thought the first few days of this competition would go. But I'm really proud of our team."

How to watch Ledecky at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships runs through Sunday, and US star Ledecky has two events left to swim at the meet.

On Thursday, she'll compete in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, before facing another showdown with rival McIntosh in the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday.

Preliminary heats kick off the night before at 10 PM ET, with finals seeing staggered starts beginning at 7 AM ET.

Live coverage of the meet airs on Peacock.

UEFA Women's Euro 2025 made a splash across the pond, drawing an average of 458,000 US viewers per match across FOX platforms to mark a 97% viewership increase over the 2022 edition — making this year's tournament the most-watched English-language Women's Euro on record.

Building off the 2025 competition's previously reported record-breaking numbers, Sunday's grand finale between defending champs England and 2023 World Cup winners Spain averaged 1.35 million US viewers — a 53% increase in viewership over the last Women's Euro championship match.

Even more, the broadcast ultimately peaked at 1.92 million fans tuning in, making it the most-watched English-language Women's Euro Final on record.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

The historic viewership is a major win for broadcaster FOX, who secured the women's tournament's first-ever US media deal back in May.

Initially committing to live coverage of 20 of the tournament's matches, record returns motivated the broadcast giant to quickly pivot and air all 31 matches live as part of its FOX Sports Summer of Soccer campaign.

"More and more people are tuning in to watch soccer in the US," FOX Sports commentator and UWSNT vet Carli Lloyd told The Athletic. "There's just been an incredible amount of soccer on display, which has been fantastic for the sport."

As the NWSL preps for this weekend's return from an extended summer break, No. 4 Washington Spirit star forward Trinity Rodman is also hoping to re-take the pitch for the first time since April.

Rodman is currently back training with the team, rejoining her club after undergoing extended treatment overseas for chronic back issues.

"I'd never really dealt with something like that," Rodman admitted after an open practice earlier this week. "So, for me, mentally, it was very difficult."

"[I was] trying to function through pain, and kind of gaslight myself to thinking it was fine every day, when it wasn't," she said. "I can now kind of openly say, I was in pain all the time."

Rodman also admits that stepping away was, though difficult, the right call to make for her healing.

"Obviously, it sucks being away from the team and being away from soccer in general," she added. "But I got to work on things that I wouldn't have gotten to work on if I was in the team environment all the time, so I think that was a positive."

Rodman's availability fluctuated after she earned an Olympic gold medal with the USWNT in Paris last summer, with the soccer superstar featuring in just four Spirit games this season — and none since stepping away in April.

Now functioning pain-free, Rodman's next on-pitch challenge is balancing her competitive intensity with her newly found health.

"It's really understanding my body and acknowledging [when] it's in pain," she explained. "And not pushing through things that I shouldn't."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Rodman eyes new contract amid NWSL return

On top of navigating her return to play, Rodman is also actively negotiating with the Washington Spirit for a contract renewal.

Her current deal expires at the end of 2025, and with interest in the US standout reportedly mounting from overseas clubs, the 23-year-old could eventually field multiple offers.

Considering her lack of minutes so far this season, the star called the assumed interest "a weird situation."

"I'm trying not to stress about it or put too much pressure on it," she said of the ongoing talks. "At the end of the day, I'm worried about health first.... Everything else can come next."

Wednesday's WNBA bill puts a heavyweight battle in the spotlight, as 2024 finalists and 2025 league leaders Minnesota will host reigning champion No. 2 New York in their first face-off of the season — with the Liberty hoping to rattle both the Lynx and the standings.

"I think common sense would say that those two teams probably should have played earlier in the season," Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve told media this week, referencing the apparent scheduling idiosyncrasies that delayed the championship rematch.

"It doesn't feel like a Finals rematch anymore, honestly," Lynx forward Napheesa Collier echoed. "It's a new year for us. And it's been so long, it's almost August, so it's just the two top teams going against each other."

Both squads enter the clash on uncharacteristic skids, as Minnesota and New York look to avenge recent losses while other WNBA teams jockey for positioning during the league's Wednesday night slate:

• No. 3 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever, 7 PM ET (ESPN3): The Fever must continue to contend without injured star guard Caitlin Clark, as Indiana faces a newly healthy Mercury side striving to steal back the No. 2 spot with a win.

• No. 5 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 11 Dallas Wings, 8 PM ET (ESPN3): After a disappointing Tuesday upset loss, the will Dream close out a back-to-back against a bolstered Dallas squad fresh off a big victory over New York.

• No. 2 New York Liberty vs. No. 1 Minnesota Lynx, 8 PM ET (ESPN): With a four-game lead in the standings, the Lynx aren't in danger of giving up their perch at the top, but a strong performance from the Liberty could provide a much-needed boost to the ailing title-holders.