The college basketball talent pool is as deep as ever this 2022-23 season, despite a few star players going down with injuries in the offseason, including UConn’s Paige Bueckers and Oregon’s Sedona Prince.

Before the games tip off Monday, Just Women’s Sports ranks the top 25 players in the women’s game. Get ready for the season with our experts’ picks for individual awards, national champion and other categories here.

1. Aliyah Boston, senior, F, South Carolina

Last year’s Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Final Four Most Outstanding player is the most impactful player in college basketball. Boston’s ability to control a game on both sides of the floor led the Gamecocks to the national championship last season and makes them the favorites once again. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 16.8 points and 12.5 rebounds a game last season while shooting 54 percent from the field. Boston is an offensive asset both when she has the ball and when she doesn’t. The senior’s footwork and strength allow her to score at will, and her dominance on the offensive glass means the rest of the Gamecocks can be aggressive, knowing their star forward will be there to clean up misses.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Boston is the way she performs in high-pressure situations. See her impressive 2022 NCAA Tournament as an example. Who could forget how she scored 28 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to lead her team past a pesky North Carolina squad and into the Elite Eight?

2. Caitlin Clark, junior, G, Iowa

Boston and Clark are basically the 1A and 1B players on this list, and the two will likely lead the Player of the Year race this season, just like they did in 2022. Clark is a sniper when it comes to shooting the ball. Nowhere on the floor is off limits to her (hello, logo 3s), and I’ve yet to see a defender or even double team that can slow her down. At 6-foot, Clark is long-limbed and strong, so she is able to finish through contact, which is sometimes the only strategy to stopping the dynamic scorer. And when she gets to the line, Clark hits 88.1 percent of her free-throw attempts.

The Hawkeyes star led the nation in scoring (27) and assists (eight) per game last season, marking the first time in history a player ranked first in both categories. She also grabbed eight rebounds per game, meaning she was dangerously close to averaging a triple-double.

3. Haley Jones, senior, G, Stanford

As a truly positionless player, Jones is defining basketball for the younger generations as the game trends in that direction. Her ability to break down opponents off the dribble allows her to score on bigger defenders, and her post skills make her a mismatch for guards. Jones led Stanford to a national title two years ago and a Final Four last season, showing tremendous poise in high-pressure situations. Her one flaw is 3-point shooting, but if she devoted time this offseason to improving from long range, Jones will be an even bigger problem for opposing defenses.

4. Diamond Miller, senior, G, Maryland

The basketball world didn’t get a true look at Miller last season, as a knee injury limited the guard to 18 games and a drop in production. But those who saw Miller play during her sophomore season (when she averaged 17.3 points and 5.8 rebounds a game) and at the end of the 2022 season (when she had 23 and 24 points in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament) know that she’s an elite talent.

At 6-3, Miller is a tall guard who knows how to use her body. She’s excellent on the fast break, with or without the ball, and is skilled at finding cutting lanes to the rim. A big chunk of Miller’s cohort transferred in the offseason, so the Terrapins will be her team this season. Expect big things from the lanky combo-guard.

5. Ashley Joens, senior, G/F, Iowa State

Iowa State fans rejoiced when Joens announced she was returning for a fifth year. The two-time Cheryl Miller award winner is Iowa State’s all-time leading scorer, a mark she reached last season against Texas. She averaged 20.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during her junior season and recorded 18 doubles-doubles. That rebounding number is particularly impressive when you take into account that the 6-1 Joens is undersized for a forward.

She has a high-basketball IQ and a versatility that allows her to score from a multitude of positions. Joens is particularly impressive in the paint, where she uses a series of pivots and up-and-unders to score around bigger defenders.

6. Cameron Brink, junior, F, Stanford

Stanford wouldn’t have won the 2021 national title without Cameron Brink, whose six blocks and overall defense helped the Cardinal secure a close win over Arizona. Brink’s talent was clear then, and she was even better last season, averaging 13.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. The 6-4 Brink covers more ground than almost any other post in the game. The one concern with the forward is foul trouble, but if Brink can increase her minutes, she’s going to be a top player this season. Offensively, she has a soft touch around the rim and can extend to the midrange. Her 3-point shot is improving, which means more openings for her teammates.

7. Elizabeth Kitley, senior, C, Virginia Tech

The Hokies senior has perfected the art of the seal and score. Kitley has great body control, footwork and awareness under the basket, and she doesn’t overuse the dribble — something that leads to turnovers for bigs. She scores in a variety of ways, from turn-and-face jumpers to slicing between defenders with a well-placed step or around them with a pivot. Last season, she averaged 18.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game for a near double-double and ended her season with a school-record 42 points in an NCAA Tournament loss to Florida Gulf Coast. At 6-6, she already has the physical skills to block shots, but Kitley’s body control and awareness mean she’s able to do it without fouling, averaging 2.4 blocks per contest.

8. Azzi Fudd, sophomore, G, UConn

The 2021 No. 1 recruit didn’t get a chance to show off her full skill set last season as injuries limited her playing time. But coach Geno Auriemma says she’s “as good as anybody we’ve had at this point,” which is quite the statement when you consider the plethora of talent that’s come out of UConn. Last year, Fudd averaged 12.1 points per game while shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc and 91.2 percent from the free-throw line.

The sophomore has picture-perfect shooting form, with a quick release and a high-release point. And though her 3-point shooting was a highlight last season, Fudd is much more than a long-range shooter — she’s an athletic playmaker whose decision-making off the dribble is outstanding. Fudd’s potential this season is virtually limitless, and the Huskies will count on her to lead the offense in the absence of the injured Paige Bueckers.

9. Olivia Miles, sophomore, G, Notre Dame

As a freshman, Miles took Notre Dame to the Sweet 16 and led her team in both points per game (13.7) and assists per game (7.4). That assist mark was also second in the country, behind Iowa’s Clark. Even more impressive was Miles’ near 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Fighting Irish have already counted on Miles to make the right decisions, and that skill will only improve this season. The rising sophomore is a true floor general, whose ability to read defenses and create for herself and others make her difficult to contain both on the fastbreak and in a halfcourt setting. Expect more of the same from Miles this time around.

10. Aneesah Morrow, sophomore, F, DePaul

As a freshman, Morrow led the country in rebounding with 13.8 per game and led DePaul with 21.9 points per game. The 6-1 forward attacks the paint with equal parts strength and speed. Her first step is quick, allowing her to beat defenders off the dribble or off a post move with her back to the basket. Her understanding of spacing and body control makes her an ideal target for guards when she’s in the paint or when she dives off a screen. Morrow was dominant against tough competition last season, including a 30-point, 14-rebound performance against Connecticut in January. With a season of experience under her belt, basketball fans should expect the Second Team All-American to be even better this year.

11. Ashley Owusu, senior, G, Virginia Tech

After three seasons at Maryland, the senior guard found a new home in the offseason. Last year, Owusu’s production dipped from 17.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore to 14.3 points, 3.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds a game. Now, with a fresh start, all eyes will be on the 6-foot guard to reach her potential. Owusu’s unique build and athleticism make her a force on the attack. She’s powerful but also speedy, with a combination of finesse and pure strength around the rim that makes her tough to guard. When she’s at her best, Owusu is also an excellent playmaker and floor general, which should be even more evident this season with Kitley as her teammate in the post.

12. Rori Harmon, sophomore, G, Texas

Texas plays a fast-paced, intense style on offense and defense, and at the heart of that system is Harmon. The guard wasted no time establishing herself as Texas’ floor general last season, playing 30 minutes a game and averaging 11.4 points, five assists and 4.4 rebounds per contest. Her 5:2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio was particularly impressive for a first-year player. The Big 12 Freshman of the year has top-level speed and athleticism and is effective going to the rim because of the way she changes speeds. Harmon is difficult to contain off the dribble and is a pesky on-ball defender, something that pushed Texas to the Elite Eight last season.

13. Shaylee Gonzales, grad, G, Texas

Texas already had a strong backcourt with Rori Harmon leading the way, and the Longhorns lucked out even further when they signed BYU transfer Gonzales. The 2021-22 WCC Player of the Year averaged 18.3 points (third in the WCC), 5.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists (second in the WCC) and 2.3 steals last season. Gonzales is a dynamic scorer who, despite being 5-10, thrived for BYU in the post. The guard could beat defenders in the paint with her understanding of space and body control and her slew of acrobatic moves. She’s also strong for her size and able to finish through contact or get to the line, where she makes 83 percent of her attempts.

14. Hailey Van Lith, junior, G, Louisville

The Louisville guard averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while leading the Cardinals to the Final Four last season. Van Lith, who averaged 31 minutes per game, is the ultimate competitor whose fiery nature drives her team. The 5-7 lefty is craft going to the rim and quick off the bounce, with excellent handles. Van Lith has also mastered the mid-range jumper, a skill that helps her avoid bigger defenders when necessary. The guard is a shot hunter who also understands how to run an offense and make her teammates better.

15. Grace Berger, grad, G, Indiana

The fifth-year guard does a little bit of everything for her team, averaging 16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game last year. The past two seasons were two of the most successful in Indiana’s recent history, and much of that has to do with Berger. The dynamic player recorded an NCAA-high three triple-doubles in 2020-21, further cementing her status as a player who can do it all. But where she really shines is off the dribble and going to the basket. Berger reads what the defense gives her and isn’t afraid to use back-to-back dribble moves to get to the rim. She also thrives in the midrange, adding another element to her already strong attack.

16. Angel Reese, sophomore, F, LSU

After a stellar sophomore season at Maryland, during which she averaged 17.8 points and 10.6 rebounds a game, Reese made the decision to transfer to LSU. At 6-3 with long limbs, Reese has the ideal body type for s stretch forward. She spent most of her time in the paint at Maryland, but she is also capable of playing on the perimeter and running the floor. Reese has a nose for the ball on the boards and finishes well around the rim. That lanky frame also allows her to block shots (1.1 per game last season) and get her hands in passing lanes (1.7 steals per game).

17. Maddy Siegrist, senior, F, Villanova

A 6-1 forward with guard skills, Siegrist was second in the country in scoring last season, averaging 25.3 points per game. The senior is a creative scorer who’s strong inside and deft at cutting to the hoop, always moving to find the best angle to catch the ball. Siegrist can shoot from outside, too — making 34.6 percent of her attempts last season — and is equipped with a strong step-back jumper. She also contributes on the glass, averaging 9.2 rebounds per game, a number that has been consistent over her three seasons with the program.

18. Zia Cooke, senior, G, South Carolina

South Carolina is stacked with talent, and Cooke is a key piece to that puzzle. Her numbers decreased last season, from 15.9 points per game to 10.7 (her lowest number in three seasons), but her talent remains. Cooke was playing alongside Boston in a year when the POY exploded offensively and the guard took a secondary role. Still, Cooke is a major offensive weapon who shows up when her team needs her, such as scoring 15 points against North Carolina to help the Gamecocks advance to the Elite Eight last year. Cooke is aggressive off the dribble and understands how to use angles to create scoring opportunities for herself. She’s also smart enough to defer to Boston, because she knows that’s how her team wins big games.

19. Monika Czinano, grad, C/F, Iowa

As positionless basketball becomes more common, Czinano is a true center, and that works perfectly for Iowa. Her 21.1 points per game were 12th in the country last year, but it’s her efficiency that is most impressive. Czinano is selective, making an NCAA-leading 67.9 percent of her attempts last season. The 6-3 center has textbook positioning and good hands, making her an ideal target for Clark and the other Iowa guards. Her best performance last season came in the Big Ten tournament title game, when Czinano had 30 points and 10 rebounds to help Iowa top Indiana, and she is capable of that every time she steps on the court.

20. Deja Kelly, junior, G, North Carolina

Kelly lived up to her potential as the No. 4 guard in the Class of 2020, leading her team to the Sweet 16 last year. She was a consistent play-maker for the Tar Heels all season, showing poise uncharacteristic of a sophomore. Kelly averaged 16.5 points, 2.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game, while showcasing her vision and court awareness at the guard spot. The All-ACC player shot 36 percent from beyond the arc and 85 percent from the free-throw line. She ran the show for the Tar Heels and will take on the same responsibilities this time around.

21. Charisma Osborne, senior, G, UCLA

As a junior, Osborne led UCLA in scoring with 16.4 points per game despite battling a nagging ankle injury. She had nine 20-point games and was a steadying force on an inconsistent team. Now a senior, Osborne is healthy and ready to take her game to the next level. The 5-9 guard’s skill set starts on the defensive end, where she uses her quick hands to frustrate ball-handlers and her speed and high-IQ to get in passing lanes. Her 3.9 assists per game also led her squad, and despite being undersized, Osborne grabbed 5.1 rebounds per game. The Bruins have plenty of young talent coming in this season, but Osborne will bring the maturity and experience that this team needs to be successful.

22. Jordan Horston, senior, G, Tennessee

Tennessee was without Horston for a good chunk of the season after she suffered an elbow injury on Feb. 17, and the Vols clearly missed her in the postseason. The 6-2 guard averaged 16.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and four assists per game, emerging quickly as the team’s top player. Horston is an athletic guard who can elevate and finish around the rim. The senior takes Tennessee to another level, making everything happen for the Vols when she drives to the hoop and finds space for herself or for an open teammate. Horston is also a strong defender who plays with contagious energy.

23. Charlisse Leger-Walker, junior, G, Washington State

Having played for the New Zealand national team since she was 16 years old, Leger-Walker isn’t afraid of big moments. She was the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2021 and put up similar numbers last year, averaging 16.1 points per game to lead Washington State. She saw her shooting percentages dip because of increased defensive pressure, but the rising junior is too skilled not to bounce back. She’s fearless going to the basket, with a slew of acrobatic moves that help her finish around the rim.

24. Jacy Sheldon, senior, G, Ohio State

Coming off a season in which she averaged 19.7 points and 4.2 assists per game, Sheldon did more than her fair share for Ohio State. The rising senior dictates the Buckeyes offense, knowing when to speed up on the break or when to slow the attack. She gets to the rim with urgency and knows how to use her body to shield shot blockers. An excellent passer, Sheldon also knows how to set up her teammates, making everyone around her better. And she still finds enough energy to play elite defense — Sheldon was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and the All-Big Ten Defensive Team last season.

25. Kaitlyn Chen, junior, G, Princeton

Princeton lost leading scorer Abby Meyers to the transfer portal, but they are in good shape with Chen, who is poised for a breakout season. She averaged 10.5 points, 3.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds a game and really hit her stride in the Ivy league tournament, where she was named Most Outstanding Player. The junior has one of the best pull-up jumpers in the country and uses it frequently after she beats the initial defender off the dribble. Because the Ivy League didn’t play in 2020 due to COVD-19, last year was Chen’s first season of action. With Princeton ranked 24th to start the season, expectations are high for the Tigers. They will need Chen to be at the top of her game.

Honorable mentions

Lauren Betts, freshman, C, Stanford
Kiki Rice, freshman, G, UCLA

I didn’t include any freshmen on this list because, despite how well they might have played at the high-school level, they have yet to prove anything in college. But as the No. 1 and 2 recruits, respectively, Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice have enough talent to make a top-25 list, and I expect them to be there next season.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

Looking back, UCLA coach Cori Close has mixed emotions about her team’s 2024/25 campaign.

Featuring one of the most talented starting fives in the sport, the team made historic strides all the way to a program-first Final Four appearance. But last season also served up a bittersweet ending.

The Bruins saw their dream postseason unceremoniously ended by eventual national champions UConn in an 85-51 rout. Highly touted but inexperienced on the big stage, UCLA nearly reached the mountaintop before a rough tumble, stirring up questions about the team’s ability to hang with the NCAA’s blue chip establishment.

“There’s nothing like having a historic season, and falling a little bit short,” head coach Cori Close told JWS in October. “The hunger to do it better, but also the attention to detail that it really takes.”

“It’s one thing to know things in your head, it’s a whole other thing to have them in your heart,” she continued. “And I think our team has a higher degree of these things in our heart.”

With renewed focus and deepened experience — plus an even more complete roster that can run the court against just about anyone — the Bruins just might reach the mountaintop again in 2026.

Following another strong offseason recruiting cycle, UCLA currently sits fourth in the AP Top 25 Poll after ranked wins over No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 19 Ohio State, and No. 23 Tennessee. And now the reigning Big Ten Tournament champions are setting their sights on conference play — with Saturday’s showdown with Southern California rivals No. 17 USC front of mind.

From here on out, attention to detail could make all the difference in how this season’s story ends.

UCLA is on a mission to reduce turnovers and own the glass

Before the 2024/25 season even began, coach Close already knew exactly where her team needed to improve.

The Bruins played a fast-paced style last year, facilitating ball movement inside and out with skill players at every position. This year, Close believed her squad could excel in terms of discipline, rather than sheer talent.

“We went back and studied the last five national championship teams and talked about trends that we see that they all have, that maybe we’ve fallen short in,” she said. “We figured that we need to turn the ball over three fewer times a game.”

Defense also plays a factor. “When you really trace championship teams, they have to be dominant in their rebounding,” she added. “We have a goal to get 70 to 75% of the misses.”

13 games into the season, UCLA hasn’t quite achieved all their goals. But they are showing potential. They’re slightly up in average rebounds with 44.1 per game, while lowering average turnovers by more than three per game.

But the team’s limitations against top talent reared its head in their November 26th loss to No. 2 Texas. UCLA grabbed only 32 rebounds while committing 20 turnovers — nearly double their season average.

“I was really honest with [the players],” Close said after the 76-65 defeat. “There’s some things we’ve been talking about that haven’t gotten enough change. Maybe this will get us to change some things that led to this.”

The threat of not sizing up against the best of the best fresh in their minds, UCLA has subsequently looked stronger. They reduced their turnovers even more against then-No. 14 Tennessee in late November, before dominating the boards against No. 19 Ohio State last Sunday.

“We have an abundance of growth opportunities, we have an abundance of opportunities to invest in each other,” Close told JWS.

“We have an abundance of ways in which we can improve week by week. We’re going to just stay focused on those.”

The Lauren Betts blueprint: Efficiency over minutes

Reaching UCLA’s goals relies on team-wide commitment — and figuring out the best way to utilize the team’s biggest star.

The Bruins have a wealth of elite guards, with upperclassmen like Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez running the backcourt. But it’s no secret that the team’s attack and defense runs through 6-foot-8 All-American center Lauren Betts.

The senior is a global talent. She made her USA Basketball debut in December, and is shortlisted to become the 2026 WNBA Draft No. 1 pick once her decorated college career comes to an end.

One of the most dominant two-way bigs in the college game, Betts averaged a near-20-point, 10-rebound double-double last season. She’s an attention magnet on the court, disrupting play at the rim with the motor needed to finish the work back up the court.

Ironically, though, to get the most out of Betts, Close has found she has to actually limit her time on the floor.

“When Lauren and I had our exit evaluation meetings last year, we both agreed that she needs to have less minutes,” said Close. “And honestly maybe even less shots, but more efficiency.”

“As a 6-foot-8 player, you get beat up so much before she even touches the ball,” Close continued. “I think it’s important that we protect her wherever we can.”

Betts is aware that physicality can sometimes throw her off her game. She’s now pushing to hone her tenacity at the rim while leveraging her size through double- or triple-teams.

“Just playing the game, making the right read, is something that’s really important for me, trusting that I know what to do on the floor,” Betts at reporters from USA Basketball training camp last month.

“Also aggressiveness, I think that’s something that I can always grow into.”

UCLA enters 2026 with fresh faces — and family ties

Close sees Betts at her best with nothing to prove individually and a little extra help under the basket. And they worked hard over the offseason to get her that support, shaking things up via both traditional recruiting and the transfer portal.

Take senior transfer Gianna Kneepkins, for example. The former Utah standout is giving the Bruins a scoring boost with 14.3 points per game while carrying minutes alongside more established starters.

“She’s been a pivotal puzzle piece for us in terms of having a 50/40/90 player that’s really able to stretch the floor. She’s making everybody better around her,” Close said of Kneepkins, as the newcomer provides a tall outside presence in the paint.

Close also credits second-year transfer Charlisse Leger-Walker. She’s bolstered the team off the bench after sitting out last season to rehab her ACL.

Betts’s biggest supporter, however, stems from a little closer to home. Lauren’s little sister Sienna, the No. 2 recruit in her class, joined the Bruins this season. And she shares many of her older sister’s attributes on the court.

Listed at 6-foot-4, the freshman can stretch defenses even without her big sister on the court, strengthening UCLA’s reach through negative runs while forcing opponents to game-plan for even more frontcourt power

“[I’m] just trying to help her as much as I can,” Lauren said of her sister prior to the season start. “Especially because we’re playing kind of the same position. Just trying to help her with the plays, help her with tough practices, kind of helping her move on.”

Unfortunately, a lower leg injury delayed Sienna’s college debut by 10 games. The younger Betts missed the loss to Texas, slowing down some of the flow Close is looking to build against a big-heavy lineup. But the plan for the Betts sisters is still very much in motion, even with limited playing time.

Reverse engineering success, one UCLA game at a time

Entering the new year with a healthy roster, UCLA will now have to balance expectations both inside and outside the locker room. Because regardless of how the season ends, significant change looms on the horizon.

“I think it’s really tempting to be championship or bust, and that could not be further from our mission,” Close explained.

“I am such a big believer that you talk about your end goal one time. And then you reverse engineer the process and habits it’s going to take to get there.”

“Just staying present, recognizing that this is also a new team,” senior Kiki Rice told JWS in October. “After what happened last year, there’s lessons in the past. [But we] really just focus on being our best versions of ourselves every day.”

UCLA might have fallen short against Texas last month. But they maintain faith that increased depth, veteran leadership, and a refreshed detail-oriented outlook can guide them all the way through the postseason.

“There were certain levels of preparation, certain ways that we needed to minimize distractions, certain ways we needed to handle all of the ways that are going to be pulling on our attention,” Close said of the team’s Final Four journey, noting that she also learned some major lessons herself.

For now, UCLA is enjoying the moment — and the process — with the hope that the wins keep coming this spring.

“This is probably the most complete team I’ve ever coached,” Close added. “If we can stay healthy and stay focused, we’re going to have big things ahead.”

As the world of women’s soccer approaches 2026, the last year may well be remembered for its dynasties.

Chelsea won a sixth straight WSL title, Euros champion England and Copa winner Brazil retained their continental crowns, and Gotham FC lifted a second NWSL trophy in three years.

The winds of change also began to blow in new directions, with Arsenal upsetting Barcelona to win the Champions League final, top NWSL talent departing the US for opportunities overseas, and Kansas City reminding everyone what happens when regular-season dominance meets playoff vulnerability.

Through it all the game continued to grow, with increasingly interesting results on both sides of the pond, as the ramp-up to the 2027 World Cup and a new slate of regional competitions coincide with an ever-shifting economic landscape

So instead of looking back, we’re keeping the spirit of progress alive by presenting five bold predictions for women’s soccer in 2026.

Sophia Wilson’s return: A top contender for 2026 NWSL MVP

News of USWNT Sophia Wilson’s impending return to the Portland Thorns gave NWSL fans a boost earlier this month, with the Triple Espresso forward signing a single-year extension with her original club team.

Expect Wilson to hit the ground running as she comes back from pregnancy. The 2022 NWSL MVP has been very consistent throughout her career, and she’ll be joined by other returning Thorns attackers to bolster her opportunities in front of goal.

Fellow extended Portland star Olivia Moultrie will be paramount to the 25-year-old’s MVP campaign, especially as Wilson looks to challenge two-time reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga.

Don’t bet against Wilson showing shades of Alex Morgan’s 2023 Golden Boot run. That's when the USWNT legend blew past expectations for what new mothers could achieve in their first season back on the pitch.

No repeat champs: Why the women's soccer guards are changing in 2026

Reigning WSL winner Chelsea’s repeat bid is already shaky, with Everton snapping their 34-game unbeaten streak earlier this month. And they’re preparing to enter the new year six points behind Manchester City in the league table.

Blues manager Sonia Bompastor has seemed to prefer a static roster rotation. Of course, she’s charged with managing players from two eras: ex-coach Emma Hayes’s success and the team’s modern iteration. If there was a time for a changing of the WSL guard, 2026 is the year.

Stateside, 2025 NWSL Shield winners Kansas City continue to navigate offseason changes. The Current will start 2026 under brand new leadership, after former head coach Vlatko Andonovski announced he’ll move to a Sporting Director role.

ESPN recently reported Kansas City’s plan to hire former MLS head coach Chris Armas in 2026. But without a formal announcement and the offseason clock ticking, the Current might run out of runway to set up a repeat bid.

2025 NWSL champion Gotham has both FIFA and Concacaf Champions Cup commitments this year, complicating their quest as they maneuver a jam-packed season. The club landed one major re-signing in Midge Purce, but forward Ella Stevens departed for expansion side Boston. Thus, the team is left relying on a title-winning core with an average age over 28.

Arsenal hasn’t looked too terribly far off their Champions League game yet. But the subsequent resurgence of Barcelona and OL Lyonnes could see the WSL on the outside looking in once the tournament reaches May's final.

Despite having a few worthy clubs — including strong newcomers Manchester United — the UK league’s chances of claiming another UWCL title appear overshadowed by mainland Europe’s renewed dominance.

Emma Hayes's USWNT: Expect major roster overhauls in 2026

USWNT coach Emma Hayes embraced change in 2025, giving 43 players their first national team cap this year — the most since 2001.

Though the approach came with some speed bumps. The US matching the single-year total loss record with three dropped matches.

Considering Hayes’s approach, it seems that the future of the USWNT has arrived much sooner than expected. And looking back, those losses actually made an emphatic argument for more lineup overhauls — not less.

The team’s November loss to Portugal showcased a veteran midfield trio in Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Heaps, and Sam Coffey. The lineup exposed the old guard’s weaknesses as the team looks to hold ground among the world’s elite.

Remember — Hayes made the call to leave Alex Morgan off the gold medal-winning 2024 Olympic roster. In doing so, she laid the groundwork for even bigger calls as the US gears up for a tough World Cup qualifying run in 2026.

The global talent war: NWSL salary cap faces European threats

The NWSL closes 2025 with flashy off-field headlines and waning on-field enthusiasm, as it attempts to grapple with a rash of overseas departures.

They’ve even gone so far as to institute a new “High Impact Player” rule allowing teams to exceed the salary cap for top talent. The move comes after rejecting the Washington Spirit’s blockbuster play for superstar striker Trinity Rodman.

Viewed as a half-measure to circumvent larger salary cap issues, the NWSL Players Association has come out against the newly approved mechanism.

The union is advocating for the league to raise the base salary cap across the board. This will help clubs keep up in an increasingly competitive global market without destroying parity.

Whether or not the two parties will reach a compromise remains to be seen. Meantime, it leaves NWSL fans to hope for a solution as wealthy European clubs continue to draw top free agents away from the US league.

Of course, money isn’t everything. Raising the salary cap won’t guarantee NWSL favorites remain Stateside, as another league’s pull features more than just a pay bump. Thoughugh should the NWSL figure things out in time, US clubs might bring in a few big names themselves.

Regardless, expect more players to test their abilities in new environments when the transfer window opens back up in January. And it's especially pressing considering the looming World Cup and its national team implications.

The 2026 Men’s World Cup will transform women’s soccer

International soccer’s largest event lands in the US next year, as the 2026 Men’s World Cup promises to reshape football fandom in this country and beyond.

The NWSL remains bullish on the tournament’s ability to convert soccer fans across gender lines. Though the competition itself is subsequently bound to have a serious and immediate impact on the women’s game.

The NWSL plans to pause for the duration of next summer’s World Cup. This is in part due to infrastructural strains, as the tournament takes over venues shared between men’s and women’s club teams. The USWNT’s World Cup qualifying campaign will also hit the breaks, rendering the team’s summer international windows largely meaningless.

And with Concacaf qualifiers kicking off immediately after the 2026 NWSL Championship, top players will have to balance commitments at the end of a long year.

No matter how the 2026 World Cup ends up influencing US soccer culture, it will inevitably present some challenges as the domestic women’s game pushes to be more than an afterthought alongside the sport’s biggest stage.

No. 3 South Carolina basketball suffered a blow this week, as top transfer Ta'Niya Latson exited the Gamecocks' 96-55 win over Providence with a lower leg injury on Sunday.

"She's smiling," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said of Latson immediately following the game, offering an optimistic injury update. "She got treatment all through the second half."

The star senior guard, who turned 22 years old last Friday, joined South Carolina after leading Division I in scoring with Florida State last season.

This year, Latson's 16.9 points per game trails only sophomore forward Joyce Edwards's 21.4-point average on the Gamecocks' scoresheet.

While the full extent to Latson's injury and her potential time off the court is still unknown, any absence exacerbates the team's injury woes, as South Carolina lost standout forward Chloe Kitts to a season-ending injury before the 2025/26 campaign tipped off — with the Gamecocks battling additional availability limits throughout their roster all month.

That said, with the recent returns of forward Madina Okot and guard Agot Makeer from concussion protocol, the Gamecock bench is significantly less sparse, with both returnees impacting Sunday's South Carolina victory with a double-double.

Even more, Staley's squad will see additional roster relief when 18-year-old French center Alicia Tournebize joins the team midseason.

How to watch South Carolina basketball this week

The No. 3 Gamecocks will open the new year by tipping off their SEC slate on Thursday, when South Carolina hosts unranked Alabama at 2 PM ET.

The clash with the Crimson Tide will air live on SEC+.

The world's tennis stars are preparing to open 2026 play in Australia this weekend, with top WTA and ATP leaders on Team USA gearing up to defend their United Cup title starting this Friday.

The two-time champion US enters as the No. 1 seed in the fourth edition of the hard-court tournament, bolstered by the return of world No. 3 Coco Gauff to lead Team USA's six-player United Cup contingent.

With each tournament bout consisting of one WTA singles match, one ATP singles clash, and one mixed-doubles competition, Gauff notably claimed a straight-sets victory over Polish phenom No. 2 Iga Świątek to secure the 2025 title for the US.

"I'm super excited," the 21-year-old star said prior to this year's United Cup. "I had such a good time in my first year playing with the team, and I'm looking forward to going back."

With the 2026 Australian Open beginning in less than two weeks, the United Cup pits 18 national teams against each other as players from both the women's and men's tours tune up for next year's Slams.

Fellow WTA Top-10 stars Świątek and Italy's No. 8 Jasmine Paolini will join Gauff on the 2026 United Cup court, while fan favorite No. 16 Naomi Osaka will feature for tournament debutant Japan.

Also battling for national pride will be two winners of last season's WTA awards, with 2025 Newcomer of the Year No. 18 Vicky Mboko joining Team Canada and 2025 Comeback Player of the Year No. 11 Belinda Bencic competing for Switzerland.

How to watch the 2026 United Cup

The 2026 United Cup runs January 2nd through 11th, with live coverage airing on the Tennis Channel.