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Christine Sinclair puts pressure on Canada Soccer after men’s star inks jersey deal

Christine Sinclair criticized Canada Soccer for its “culture of secrecy and obstruction.” (Silvestre Szpylma/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Christine Sinclair is putting the pressure on Canada Soccer.

Earlier this week, the sport’s governing body in Canada reached a licensing agreement with men’s national team star Alphonso Davies, TSN’s Rick Westhead reported. As a result, Davies will receive royalties for the sale of his jersey.

No other men’s or women’s national team player has such an agreement, but a source told Westhead that Davies’ deal could have positive implications for other players.

“The federation today is all about equality and equity,” the source said. “Christine Sinclair has carried this program for more than a decade and not made a cent off of jersey sales. Both national teams have overperformed and Canada Soccer really has no choice but to offer the same deal Alphonso got to all other national team players, so that’s good news for everyone.”

But Sinclair has yet to hear from Canada Soccer regarding licensing rights, she said in response to the report.

“I’m waiting to hear from the CSA…” she tweeted.

The 39-year-old serves as the captain for both Canada and for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, who will compete in the NWSL championship match at 8 p.m. ET Saturday against the Kansas City Current. She spoke recently with Just Women’s Sports about the push for equality at the national team level.

“It’s just been a struggle to get from Canada Soccer what we as successful women’s players think we deserve,” she said.

According to Canada Soccer general secretary Earl Cochrane, the women’s team has a sponsorship agreement related to name, image and likeness that uses the “global standard.” Under that contract, additional compensation is not required “if you use an image of four or more athletes in a group image.”

Both the men’s and women’s national teams are embroiled in contract negotiations with Canada Soccer, and the women’s team is continuing to push for equal pay in the vein of the landmark collective bargaining agreements reached by the U.S. men’s and women’s national team earlier this year.

“The Women’s National Team will not accept an agreement that does not offer equal pay,” the Canadian women’s national team said in June.

Back in September, Canada Soccer had made a new offer to the men’s and women’s players, Sportsnet reported. So far, though, no agreements have been reached on either side.

“The veterans on the national team said that one of our goals is to leave the program in a better place,” Sinclair told Just Women’s Sports. “Hopefully this is one fight that our young players on the national team won’t have to have again, and that once there’s equal pay and equal compensation structures in place, there’s no going back from that.”

2025 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson Hosts New Nike X LEGO Series ‘Clicked In’

An animated image of WNBA star A'ja Wilson as a LEGO character holding a basketball.
Four-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson will host a new digital shorts series for LEGO. (Nike x The LEGO Group)

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson is hitting the small screen, teaming up with apparel sponsor Nike and LEGO to host the Danish toymaker's new YouTube Shorts series Clicked In.

According to a Saturday announcement for the series, "Wilson is getting together her closest LEGO Minifigure friends to talk sport, style, and tell unbelievable stories from her real life."

The 2025 WNBA MVP first joined the two brands' new multi-year partnership in May, teaming up to help "inspire kids everywhere to play both on and off the court."

"I have loved playing with LEGO bricks since I was a kid, and know that my creativity and play helped me not only in sports but also at school and in life," Wilson said in a press release last May. "I'm thrilled to be part of this partnership with Nike and the LEGO Group and know we can help to make a positive impact with kids and adults alike."

With new episodes dropping every Sunday through mid-November, LEGO is calling Wilson's upcoming YouTube Shorts series "the biggest mini sports show ever."

In addition to the streaming series, Nike and LEGO will also release the third installment of their kids' clothing and accessories line in less than two weeks, with the full collection set to drop on October 11th.

NBA star Chris Paul Invests in Angel City, Joins NWSL Team Ownership Group

Angel City defender Savy King and LA Clippers star Chris Paul pose while exchanging jerseys on the NWSL pitch.
NBA player Chris Paul has invested in the LA NWSL club. (Angel City FC)

Angel City welcomed four new owners on Monday, as NBA star Chris Paul headlines four high-profile investors buying into the 2022 NWSL expansion side under the leadership of controlling owner Willow Bay.

A 12-time NBA All-Star, Paul is joined by fellow NWSL investors philanthropist Solina Chau, organizational development consultant Ina Coleman, and entrepreneur Paul Bernon.

"Chris, Solina, Ina, and Paul exemplify the values and vision that define ACFC," said Bay in a club statement. "Their outstanding leadership across business, sport, advocacy, and social impact makes them ideal partners as we continue building a world-class club that is forward-thinking, inclusive, and ambitious."

"It's an incredible honor to join Angel City FC as an investor and owner," Paul said on Monday. "Being able to join ACFC is not only an amazing opportunity, it's a chance to support women's sports and help drive positive change."

Valued at upwards of $250 million, Angel City has long been a draw for celebrity co-owners. The investor roster includes tennis legend Billie Jean King, singer Christina Aguilera, and actors Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner, and America Ferrera.

Despite the big-name backers, ACFC currently sits 11th in the 2025 NWSL standings with just four matches left on the year. The team is in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

WNBA Names Top 4 Draft Picks to 2025 All-Rookie Team

A graphic displays the five members of the 2025 WNBA All-Rookie Team.
The WNBA named five standout first-year players to the 2025 All-Rookie Team on Monday. (WNBA)

The WNBA Class of 2025 balled out this season, with the league naming every one of this year's top four draft picks to the All-Rookie Team on Monday — the first quartet to achieve the feat since 2014.

The 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers leads the first-year squad, with the Dallas Wings guard joined by Seattle Storm center and No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga as well as the Washington Mystics' Nos. 3 and 4 selectees — guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen, respectively.

One undrafted player rounds out this year's WNBA All-Rookie Team, with international signee and Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün making the cut after averaging 11.3 points per game for the 2025 expansion side — helping lead the Valks to a history-making playoff berth in their inaugural season.

Three members of the 2025 WNBA All-Rookie Team — Bueckers, Citron, and Iriafen — also became All-Stars in their debut season, with each joining Salaün in logging double-digit point averages across their inaugural pro campaigns.

Bueckers claimed even more scoring history, with her 692 total points trailing only 2024's Caitlin Clark and 2006's Seimone Augustus for most points tallied in a WNBA rookie season.

As for Malonga, the 19-year-old made her own mark as the youngest-ever WNBA player to record 100 career points.

NWSL Adds End-of-Year Awards Ceremony to 2025 Championship Week in San Jose

The Orlando Pride's 2024 NWSL Championship trophy sits on display before a March 2025 match.
The 2025 NWSL Championship will kick off on November 22nd. (Alex Menendez/NWSL via Getty Images)

The NWSL is gearing up for the 2025 postseason, releasing this year's Championship Week schedule — including a brand-new end-of-season awards ceremony — on Monday.

Prior to the championship match on Saturday, November 22nd, the festivities in San Jose, California, will kick off with the first-ever NWSL Awards on Wednesday, November 19th.

Calling it a "landmark celebration of excellence in women's soccer," the live awards ceremony on ESPN2 will honor the season's Best XI as well as the 2025 NWSL MVP, Rookie of the Year, Golden Boot winner, Coach of the Year, and the top position players (Midfielder, Defender, and Goalkeeper of the Year).

In addition, the NWSL will announce the winner of the 2025 Lauren Holiday Impact Award during the program.

The league is also bringing back some fan favorite events to this November's Championship Weekend, including the NWSL Skills Challenge, in which players will face off for a cut of a $30,000 prize pool at San Jose State University on Friday, November 21st.

The following day will see the return of Fan Fest, with games, activations, food, and music counting down to kickoff of the 2025 NWSL Championship match, with an additional Post-Game Party wrapping the weekend's celebration at San Pedro Square Market on Saturday evening.

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