Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are sharing the spotlight as the Sporting News’ Athletes of the Year for 2023.

The honor caps off a banner year for both players, which included a run to the national championship game. Reese and the LSU Tigers won the title over Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, but the Iowa guard swept the national player of the year awards.

Of course, much of the discussion after the championship game centered around Reese’s hand-waving “you can’t see me” gesture, which mimicked Clark’s own celebration from earlier in the tournament.

Reese also pointed to her ring finger. Men’s athletes have done so as well, including Joe Burrow after winning the College Football Playoff with LSU in 2020 and Aaron Donald after winning his first Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. But Reese received widespread vitriol on social media.

“I don’t think I was really surprised, you see, because I had been criticized a lot during the year for a lot of things I did,” Reese told TSN. “Because I’m a trash talker. That’s what I do. And a lot of people aren’t really used to that. I think people don’t expect that from women in sports. If it was flipped, and it was a man, you know it wouldn’t have been talked about or said or anything.”

At the time, Clark came to the defense of Reese. She and Reese are cool, and she thought the LSU star shouldn’t have been criticized “at all.”

After all, they are both fierce competitors. And they respect one another (Reese even said in October that she “loves” Clark, who she’s competed against since AAU, and hopes they can be teammates in the future).

In Tuesday’s TSN article, Clark once again reiterated her respect for Reese and advocated for her competitive fire to spread throughout college basketball.

“I think Angel’s great. I think that’s why so many people tuned into to watch the game, because there were so many great players,” Clark told TSN. “Honestly, it wasn’t just me and Angel that were great on the court. Neither one of us would have been in the national championship game if it was that way. I had really great teammates. She had really great teammates – that really went off in the national championship game, and that’s why we struggled to guard them.

“I admire her game. I think it’s great for the game. That’s what you need. You need that competitive fire. And I hope that spreads not only from Iowa and LSU, but to many other teams. I hope it’s the same way with all those top teams, that people can continue to show emotion.”

The NWSL salary cap is back in the headlines, as ESPN's annual anonymous GM survey surfaced widespread concerns about the cap's impact on attracting and retaining talent on Tuesday.

A full 85% of executives from 15 of the 16 league franchises in the survey said the $3.5 million salary cap — even with its CBA-mandated yearly increase — is holding the NWSL back, as big-name players continue to seek out more lucrative European contracts.

"Right now, top talent is going only one way," one GM said. "We're not seeing players that are in top clubs in their prime coming this way…. If that becomes a trend, then that will be an issue."

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The GMs also weighed in on commissioner Jessica Berman's performance as well as league expansion, the player development pipeline, other domestic and international leagues, the NWSL's strongest and weakest teams, and more.

While over half (54%) of those interviewed gave Berman's performance three to three-and-a-half stars out of a possible five, just 40% voiced support for the commissioner's longterm plan to grow the NWSL to 32 teams.

As for individual clubs, the majority said that the 2025 NWSL Shield-winning Kansas City Current are elevating the league the most, while 40% said this year's last-place Chicago Stars are "holding the league back," with one GM stating, "The ones at the bottom of the standings are there for a reason."

The world No. 2 USWNT is stocking up to close out 2025, with head coach Emma Hayes dropping her 26-player roster on Wednesday morning ahead of a set of year-end friendlies against rising European star No. 12 Italy.

Hayes selected a blend of both Europe-based and NWSL talent, calling up formerly injured Chelsea standout Naomi Girma for the first time since July as well as Gotham FC standouts Jaedyn Shaw and Jaelin Howell — with Howell returning to the squad for the first time since 2022.

After an up-and-down October window, the US will look to finish the year strong against Le Azzure in Florida, taking on Italy in Orlando on November 28th before the pair square off again in Fort Lauderdale on December 1st.

Notably left out of the player pool are a pair of injured stars in Washington Spirit striker Trinity Rodman (MCL strain) and Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce (fractured eye socket).

On the other hand, Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz, Chicago Stars forward Jameese Joseph, and Washington Spirit defender Kate Wiesner all head to training camp uncapped.

The roster's seven Spirit and Gotham FC players will have the tightest turnaround, jetting off to camp immediately following Saturday's 2025 NWSL Championship clash.

"We've accomplished a lot of goals, expanded the player pool, and made strides in our game model, so this camp will be an extension of that, but it will also set the groundwork for 2026, which will be our World Cup qualifying year," Hayes said in a statement. "Games against top European teams are so valuable… I know our players with embrace that challenge."

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The year-end 2025 USWNT roster

• Goalkeepers: Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC)

• Defenders: Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (Chelsea), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Gotham), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave), Kate Wiesner (Washington Spirit)

• Midfielders: Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes), Jaelin Howell (Gotham), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Rose Lavelle (Gotham), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes)

• Forwards: Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars), Catarina Macario (Chelsea), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea)

How to watch the USWNT vs. Italy friendlies

Both the Friday, November 28th, and Monday, December 1st friendlies will kick off at 7 PM ET, with live coverage airing on TNT and HBO Max.

With the puck dropping on the expanded third PWHL season on Friday, the league announced its 2025/26 broadcast schedule on Tuesday — with games now set to reach more than 96 million homes.

While all US games will continue to stream on the league's YouTube channel, national coverage will now also be available across FOX, Paramount, Scripps Sports, Gray Media, and TEGNA this season, in addition to previous regional partners like NESN, MSG Networks, KONG, and FanDuel Sports Network.

"The PWHL's broadcast strategy isn't about exclusivity — it's about accessibility," said PWHL EVP of business operations Amy Scheer in a league statement.

"We're ensuring fans everywhere can experience the speed, skill, and intensity of PWHL hockey. This approach allows us to continue expanding our audience, strengthen local connections, and showcase our world-class athletes on the biggest possible stage."

The expanded broadcast footprint of the PWHL mirrors the league's growth, with the 2025/26 season seeing both the addition of two franchises — the Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes — as well as an increase of 30 games, bringing the third campaign's total to 120 contests.

How to watch the 2025/26 PWHL season openers this week

The puck drops on the 2025/26 PWHL season with two games on Friday, beginning when the Toronto Sceptres visit the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost at 7 PM ET, airing live across FOX9+, FDSN, NESN, TSN, and YouTube.

The nightcap pits the league's incoming expansion teams against each other, with the Vancouver Goldeneyes hosting the Seattle Torrent at 10 PM ET, with live coverage across KONG, NESN, TSN, and YouTube.

Chelsea FC are vying for a bit of UWCL revenge this week, as the perennial Champions League contenders take on 2024/25 finalists Barcelona in the 2025/26 campaign's league-phase slate on Thursday.

Last season's runners-up have ousted Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals two years in a row, with Barcelona going on to win three of the last five tournament titles.

Unfortunately for the Blues, Barcelona have never lost at Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge home pitch — and they're one of just three 2025/26 Champions League clubs to maintain a winning record so far this season.

Chelsea won't be the only WSL titan to host a Spanish side this week, as reigning UWCL champs Arsenal look to bounce back from a frustrating 1-2 league-phase start against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

"I think it's easier to get to the top than staying at the top," Arsenal coach Renée Slegers said of her team's losing run. "We have high expectations on ourselves because we know what we're capable of. At the same time, I know that the squad is really good at being in the moment, taking it game to game, and preparing as well as possible to be able to execute."

How to watch Arsenal, Chelsea in 2025/26 Champions League play this week

In their fourth of six total league-phase matches, Arsenal will kick off against Real Madrid at 3 PM ET on Wednesday before Chelsea hosts Barcelona at the same time on Thursday.

All 2025/26 Champions League matches air live on Paramount+.