A state championship and unbeaten season on the line, Gretna (Neb.) did Monday what it had done all season: win in dominating fashion.

The Dragons capped a 21-0 season with a 6-1 win in the Class 1A state championship, scoring three goals in the first 20 minutes and dismantling a team that had lost just one of 17 games heading into the final. That performance was in line with what Gretna had produced all year, having outscored their opponents 118-6.

The Dragons won 19 of their 21 games by two goals or more, all while facing the pressure that comes with being defending state champions. Gretna handled those expectations with aplomb and didn’t miss a beat under first-year head coach Chance Hutchison.

Gretna did it with a balanced attack, too. Sophomore Allison Marshall led the team with 15 goals, as one of five players with 10 or more goals. Fittingly, the forward scored the first goal in the state title game, opening the floodgates.

With the emphatic championship victory, and a 42-1 record over the last two years, Gretna solidified its spot as the No. 3 team in the latest JWS high school soccer rankings.

(Note that these rankings do not include teams from Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina.)

🌀 No one is forgetting Allison Marshall 🌀@_allisonmarsh @GRETNAHSGSOCCER#nebpreps #neprepsoccer

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— Nebraska Soccer Talk (@nebraska_talk) May 17, 2022

1. Valor Christian (Colo.), 16-0

The Eagles survived penalty kicks to win their second-round matchup and then cruised to a 4-0 victory Tuesday to advance to the state semifinals.

2. South County (Va.), 13-0-1

The Stallions just keep winning, as their unbeaten streak has now surpassed 30 games.

3. Gretna (Neb.), 21-0

Gretna’s future looks just as bright with plenty of talent returning. Only one of the six goals in the state championship game was scored by a senior.

4. Colonial Forge (Va.), 15-0

The Eagles beat Massaponax last week for the second time this season. Massaponax’s other 15 games have all been wins.

5. Valley (Iowa), 16-0

The reigning Class 3A state champions capped a perfect regular season with a 10-0 victory Tuesday. Next up: a regional semifinal.

6. St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.), 13-0-2

The Saints opened the postseason with an emphatic 11-0 win to remain undefeated.

7. Liberty North (Mo.), 19-0

The Eagles’ last loss came on May 19, 2021.

8. Wando (S.C.), 18-1

All-state selection Kylie Cino scored the game-winner in overtime as Wando won a second consecutive Class AAAAA state championship Saturday, beating T.L. Hanna 2-1. It’s the Warriors’ 12th state title in program history.

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9. Colgan (Va.), 16-1-1

The Sharks won a district title on Wednesday and now have over a week to prepare for the regional tournament.

10. Yorktown (Va.), 14-1-1

Senior Shay Montgomery, a University of South Carolina commit, scored two goals as the Patriots opened their district tournament with a 3-0 win Wednesday.

11. Fort Zumwalt South (Mo.), 23-1

With Missouri State commit Brooke Cattoor and sophomore Audrey Smith leading the way with 29 goals each, the Bulldogs clinched a district crown and are looking to repeat as Class 3 state champions.

12. James Island (S.C.), 20-1-2

The Trojans have won back-to-back Class AAAA state championships, cruising to a 5-0 win in the title game Saturday.

13. Grandview (Colo.), 15-1-2

The Wolves knocked off Legacy, No. 9 in last week’s rankings, in the Class 5A state quarterfinals thanks to two goals and an assist from Naomi Clark. It doesn’t get any easier from here; next up is a matchup with No. 1 Valor Christian.

14. Triad (Ill.), 18-1

Gina Catanzaro leads the Knights with 19 goals as they aim to repeat as 2A state champions.

15. O’Fallon (Ill.), 19-1

Illinois’ reigning Class 3A state champions opened the postseason with an 8-0 win Tuesday.

16. Broomfield (Colo.), 15-2

The Eagles have rebounded from a poor finish to the regular season, when they lost two of their last four games, to advance to the Class 5A state semifinals.

17. Hudsonville (Mich.), 13-0-2

A pair of 1-1 draws are the only blemishes in an otherwise perfect season.

18. Lyons Township (Ill.), 18-1

The Lions showed no rust coming off a week of rest, winning their playoff opener 9-0.

19. Nerinx Hall (Mo.), 18-2-1

Nina Preusser scored the game-winning goal in overtime, her team-leading 13th goal of the season to go along with 13 assists, as the Markers won a 3-2 thriller Tuesday to keep their state title hopes alive.

20. Metea Valley (Ill.), 16-2-1

Since losing two games in as many days in mid-April, the Mustangs have reeled off eight consecutive victories.

21. Oregon (Wis.), 14-0-1

The Panthers have posted shutouts in 12 of their 15 games.

22. Marshall (Mich.), 17-0

With an 8-0 win Tuesday, Marshall recorded its 11 shutout of the season and enters the rankings for the first time.

23. Deer Creek (Okla.), 15-2

The Antlers claimed their seventh state title in program history, and first since 2015, avenging one of their two regular-season losses in the championship game. Deer Creek defeated Norman North to claim the 6A crown, thanks to three saves from junior Cam Hasselwander in the shootout.

24. Brookfield East (Wis.), 12-0-2

The Spartans have reeled off 12 straight wins after tying their first two games.

25. Fayetteville (Ark.), 17-3-2

Lauren Marge scored two goals and added an assist as the Bulldogs avenged an early-season defeat to Bentonville, No. 13 in last week’s rankings, with a 4-3 win in the state semifinals. Fayetteville now has a chance to win back-to-back Class 6A state championships.

Phillip Suitts is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. He has worked at a variety of outlets, including The Palm Beach Post and Southeast Missourian, and done a little bit of everything from reporting to editing to running social media accounts. He was born in Atlanta but currently lives in wintry Philadelphia. Follow Phillip on Twitter @PhillipSuitts.

The NWSL is continuing to roll out end-of-year awards this week, with the league's top performers taking home honors in the lead-up to the 2024 Championship.

Joining Rookie of the Year (ROTY) Croix Bethune and Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga in earning 2024 hardware is Gotham's Ann-Katrin Berger. The German international subsequently became the first European player to win Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday, snagging the award in her first NWSL season.

In her 22 matches, Berger logged eight clean sheets. She conceded a league-low 16 goals and posted a save percentage above 80%.

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Hines wins Coach of the Year

Also earning a trophy is Orlando Pride boss Seb Hines, who became the 2024 Coach of the Year​ this week.

A former assistant, Hines was​ elevated to interim coach in June 2022 after Orlando placed former head coach Amanda Cromwell​ on administrative leave. Now in his second full year as manager, Hines is already Orlando's winningest coach with a career record of 31-30-12.

After steering his team to a record 24-match unbeaten streak and first-ever NWSL Shield win, Hines ended the regular season with an overall record of 18-2-6 en route to the club's first playoff berth since 2017. Adding onto that 2024 campaign, Hines led the Pride to their first-ever postseason wins.

Orlando also set NWSL records with the most single-season points (60), victories (18), and the longest win streak (eight matches) under Hines.

The 36-year-old beat out Kansas City's Vlatko Andonovski and Gotham's 2023 winner Juan Carlos Amorós to take this year's honor.

Three more NWSL end-of-season awards await

Lastly, the final trio of 2024 NWSL awards will drop in the upcoming days, including Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, and MVP. As fans await those announcements, more than a few finalists are gearing up to play in Saturday's Championship.

Pride defenders Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Spirit center back Tara McKeown are up for Defender of the Year. Meanwhile, Washington's Rookie of the Year Bethune could double-down as Midfielder of the Year.

On top of that, three of the NWSL's MVP candidates — Spirit winger Trinity Rodman and Orlando attackers Marta and Barbra Banda — will feature on the championship pitch.

All eyes are on Kansas City, as the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit take the pitch one last time in Saturday's 2024 NWSL Championship.

Both teams led the league in regular-season play after missing the 2023 NWSL Playoffs entirely. Now, the No. 1 Pride are staring down their first-ever title, while the No. 2 Spirit will look to add a second star to their crest to join their 2021 win.

As the only squad to defeat Washington twice this season, Orlando holds the pair's head-to-head advantage. The Pride's second win over the Spirit also served as​ their 2024 Shield coronation — a match that saw Washington captain Andi Sullivan's season end in an ACL tear. 

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MVP candidates lead championship charge

With three of the 2024 NWSL MVP candidates on Saturday's title-defining pitch, both Orlando and Washington will look to their superstars to lead them to glory.

The Pride's strength lies in Brazilian icon Marta and Zambian striker Barbra Banda, who've proven unstoppable in the attack throughout the postseason. Scoring five of Orlando's seven playoff goals between them, Banda has now netted 16 NWSL goals in 2024, with Marta notching 11.

Leading the Spirit's offensive charge is potential MVP Trinity Rodman. With eight league goals on the year, Rodman has yet to find the back of the net in the postseason, though she's been key to Washington's fight by creating scoring opportunities throughout the playoffs.

Alongside Rodman, NWSL newcomers have been stepping up for the Spirit all season. Most recently, Hal Hershfelt propelled Washington to the final with a rocket of a header in last weekend's semifinals. The Spirit's young core could be the difference-maker in Saturday's showdown.

Explosive offense to decide 2024 NWSL Champion

The old adage that defense wins championships is likely to be challenged on Saturday as offense takes centerstage.

Subsequently, fans can expect the NWSL Final to come down to whichever team manages to score at-will. With Washington's 51 regular-season goals good for second in the NWSL and Orlando sliding in third with 46, the pair's attacking prowess is set to determine who lifts the league's luxury hardware.

How to watch the 2024 NWSL Championship

Hosted at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium, the 2024 NWSL Championship kicks off at 8 PM ET on Saturday. Live coverage will air on CBS and Paramount+.

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma is on the brink of becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, with the No. 2 Huskies hosting Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday night.

Should UConn win, Auriemma will surpass retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer after pulling even with her 1,216 career wins with last Friday's victory over No. 16 UNC. Unlike VanDerveer, who had stints leading Idaho and Ohio State prior to Stanford, Auriemma's entire head coaching career has been his 40 years at UConn.

Forty seasons of UConn excellence for Auriemma

Already a bonafide legend of the game, Auriemma has helmed UConn's women's basketball program since 1985, inheriting a team that had only seen one winning season prior to his arrival.

"We started at ground zero, at nothing — we didn’t have the advantage of location, the advantages of the reputation of the school, we didn’t have the luxury of a big-time league that could elevate us," Auriemma explained. "We started at the absolute ground level and it has evolved into this.”

Of course, Auriemma is referring to the program's stacked resume. That success stems from his high standards, recruiting prowess, and the work ethic and selflessness he demands from his players.

In total, the nine-time AP Coach of the Year boasts a record 11 national championships, including a stranglehold on the NCAA title from 2013 to 2016. His Huskies have completed six undefeated seasons and featured in 23 Final Fours — more than any other NCAA team, men's or women's.

Rightfully sharing in Auriemma's record is his veritable partner-in-crime, associate head coach Chris Dailey, who has served UConn alongside Auriemma all 40 seasons.

UConn's unmatched legacy of world-class athletes

Wednesday's sold-out game will include dozens of Auriemma's former players in attendance. At least 63 — from superstars Sue Bird to Diana Taurasi to Maya Moore — are expected to make the trip to Storrs to celebrate the milestone.

Subsequently, Athletes are Auriemma's true legacy. The 70-year-old is responsible for shaping the players who arguably put not just UConn, but women's basketball on the national map.

The Huskies' first-ever Final Four appearance in 1991 allowed Auriemma to take serious aim at the country's top high school recruits. And it was center Rebecca Lobo who first took a chance on the program.

Despite her parents' protests, Lobo chose the relative unknown over established dynasties specifically to learn from Auriemma.

"He was the selling point. The reason to go there was to play for him. That has stayed consistent, but especially in the early years," Lobo recently told reporters. "He could be the one to usher you into the best version of yourself."

Coach Auriemma's UConn-to-WNBA pipeline

That "best version" has turned many UConn players into stellar pros. Including Lobo, who became UConn's first WNBA player during the league's 1997 formation, a total of 47 Huskies have featured in the WNBA. Last season, 17 former UConn players were on the league's rosters, with at least one on all 12 teams.

Current star Paige Bueckers is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, putting Auriemma on the verge of sending a sixth top pick to the league. Previously, other No. 1 picks include Bird, Taurasi, Moore, Tina Charles, and Breanna Stewart.

The future pro is always quick to sing Auriemma's praises, summing up what so many players echo about the coach. "It means everything to play for UConn, and to play for him," Bueckers recently said.

As for Auriemma, who's currently contracted to continue his Huskies' dominance through 2029, Wednesday's likely milestone snuck up on him.

"I don’t think anybody goes into anything thinking that they're going to spend 40 years of their life at one place doing the exact same thing," Auriemma told reporters earlier this week. "The best way I can describe it, you know, it just caught up to me."

How to watch UConn vs. Fairleigh Dickinson women's college basketball

The star-studded sold-out game honoring UConn head coach Geno Auriemma will tip off in Storrs against Fairleigh Dickinson at 7 PM ET on Wednesday. Live regional coverage will air on SNY.

In the lead-up to Saturday's 2024 NWSL Championship final, the league is revealing the season's individual award winners, with Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune currently leading the charge.

After earning NWSL Best XI First Team honors on Monday, Bethune was named the 2024 Rookie of the Year (ROTY) on Tuesday.

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Record-breaking abbreviated season set Bethune apart

Despite only playing 17 of the NWSL regular season's 26 matches before tearing her meniscus in late August, Bethune's five goals and record-tying, league-leading 10 assists made her the unequivocal ROTY frontrunner.

The 23-year-old Georgia alum also won Rookie of the Month (ROTM) every single month she was eligible. Her season-opening three-month streak made Bethune the first-ever NWSL player to earn the honor in consecutive months. Plus, she returned from the 2024 Olympics with a gold medal just to add a record-setting fourth ROTM title to her debut campaign.

With her 2024 ROTY win, Bethune — who is also nominated for 2024 Midfielder of the Year — joins a star-studded list of past winners that includes Naomi Girma, Jenna Nighswonger, Bethany Balcer, and USWNT legend Julie Ertz.

Washington is also the current home to two previous ROTY winners. Ashley Hatch snagged the award as a North Carolina Courage rookie in 2017, with Trinity Rodman becoming the Spirit's first-ever ROTY in 2021. That same year, Washington, who will battle Orlando for the 2024 NWSL Championship this Saturday, took home it's first-ever league title.

Looking ahead, the ROTY landscape is likely to shift significantly, potentially as soon as next season. The league's latest CBA eliminated drafts, leaving the college-to-pro pipeline that Bethune — the 2024 NWSL Draft's third overall pick — followed in uncharted territory.

2024 NWSL Best XI Teams stacked with playoff standouts

Before Tuesday's ROTY reveal, the NWSL announced 2024's Best XI First and Second Teams on Monday, with a full 10 of the 22 honored players hailing from Saturday's title-contending clubs.

With five players apiece, finalists Orlando and Washington — plus semifinalist Gotham — lead the seven league teams represented across the two squads. NWSL semifinalist Kansas City followed with three athletes, while North Carolina's defense earned a spot on each list.

Additionally, first Team forward Sophia Smith was Portland's sole delegate. Second Team center back Naomi Girma was both San Diego's only selectee and the only non-playoff athlete on either list.

Washington's talented young roster supplied both of the rookies to make the Best XI cut. New ROTY Bethune was the lone debutant on the First Team roster, with the Spirit's star defensive midfielder Hal Hershfelt notching a spot on the Second Team.

While all five MVP nominees unsurprisingly received First Team honors, Monday's lineups did flip the script on Gotham's lack of individual awards. Four omitted NJ/NY field players, including defender Jenna Nighswonger and midfielder Rose Lavelle, joined goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger — Gotham's only position award nominee — in the Best XI.

The 2024 NWSL Best XI First Team

• Goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC)
• Defenders: Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Kaleigh Kurtz (NC Courage), Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC)
• Midfielders and Forwards: Temwa Chawinga (KC Current), Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride), Marta (Orlando Pride), Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)

The 2024 NWSL Best XI Second Team

• Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
• Defenders: Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit), Kerry Abello (Orlando Pride), Ryan Williams (NC Courage)
• Midfielders and Forwards: Vanessa DiBernardo (KC Current), Lo’eau LaBonta (KC Current), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Esther (Gotham FC), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Yazmeen Ryan (Gotham FC)