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Is USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski on the hot seat?

Brad Smith/ ISI Photos

The United States women’s national team will not be playing for gold after losing to Canada 1-0 in the Olympic semifinal on Monday. Canada eked past the USWNT on a VAR-reviewed penalty, defeating the U.S. for the first time in 20 years.

The national team’s lackluster semifinal performance against Canada was indicative of their play all tournament.

“I feel like we haven’t had our joy,” Megan Rapinoe said after the loss.

Attention now turns to coach Vlatko Andonovski, who came into the tournament unbeaten during his year and half as the USWNT head coach. A pre-tournament New York Times profile even referred to him as “The Coach Who Can’t Lose.” But in his first real test at the helm of the USWNT, Andonovski’s squad drastically underperformed, leaving the new coach exposed to some heavy (and legitimate) criticism.

Here are the three questions Andonovski will have to answer after the Tokyo Olympics.

1. Was the roster too old? 

Andonovski’s decision-making first faced scrutiny after the final Tokyo roster was announced in June. The Olympic squad relied heavily on an aging veteran core, with 17 of the 18 players a part of the 2019 World Cup-winning team. The average age of the team was 30 years old. Detractors immediately questioned Andonovski’s commitment to experience and his reluctance to include new talent, especially in a tournament as physically grueling as the Olympics.

Lynn Williams, who was initially named to the Tokyo roster as an alternate, only joined the full team after the International Olympic Committee approved the expansion of soccer rosters to 22 players. The North Carolina Courage striker proved to be one of the only bright spots in the USWNT’s attack, notching a goal and an assist in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands. Had the Olympic organizers not granted roster expansion, Williams wouldn’t have even taken the field in Tokyo.

Williams started her second game in a row against Canada, an implicit admission of error in Andonovski’s initial scouting.

2.  Why was the USWNT’s subbing such a mess?

Andonovski’s rotation of players also drew consistent criticism throughout the tournament. The coach sometimes opted for wholesale line changes, swapping out the front three of Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath and Lynn Williams for Carli Lloyd, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe in the 60th minute of Monday’s semifinal, even as Williams was starting to create chances. The hockey-like line changes up top also left a struggling midfield sub-less until the 80th minute, when Sam Mewis finally checked into the game against Canada.

Andonovski’s rotation cycles added to questions of chemistry, attacking consistency and continuity, as the USWNT never seemed to find its rhythm.

Many observers, us included, were clamoring for Press and Williams to play up top together. The two wingers are key to the USWNT’s high press and ability to stretch opponents’ backlines. But Williams and Press never took the pitch together, leaving an opportunity to overload Canada’s defense unexploited.

3. What happened to the offensive innovation?

With Andonovski’s hire came the promise of new and innovative offensive tactics. There was a lot of talk leading up to the Olympics about a sophisticated offensive approach, a deviation from the USWNT’s more direct style of play. That promise, however, never came to fruition. The United States was shut out of three games in their five Olympic contests, and the team’s attack never fully clicked.

Part of the issue stemmed from a disjointed midfield that failed to facilitate offensive chances. Against Canada, the USWNT’s first shot on goal didn’t come until the 65th minute.

NWSL Analitica pointed to another shortcoming: The USWNT relied too heavily on its flanks. Most of the team’s chances came from frantic crosses into the box that didn’t connect with any runners.

Andonovski will surely have to address the breakdown of the team’s offense and the lack of strong build-up play through the midfield after the tournament.

Whether or not Andonovski remains in the hot seat may be determined by the team’s performance in the upcoming bronze-medal match. A loss could add to the mounting pressure on the USWNT coach, while a win may buy him some time.

The USWNT will face Australia on Thursday for a spot on the Olympic podium.

Chicago Sky Star Angel Reese Hits the Runway for Victoria’s Secret

WNBA star Angel Reese poses for press before the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
WNBA star Angel Reese will become the first-ever pro athlete to walk the Victoria's Secret runway later this month. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is staying busy, announcing yet another high-profile partnership as she gears up to become the first-ever professional athlete to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show next week.

The WNBA star will take to the lingerie company's catwalk in New York on Tuesday, October 15th.

"Stepping into a dream: From Angel to a Victoria Secret ANGEL," Reese posted to Instagram on Thursday. "I'm finally getting my wings — I'll be walking the Victoria's Secret 2025 runway show for the first time, and it feels like destiny. Wings on, heels ready."

Hitting the runway is just the latest entry on Reese's growing resume, with the 23-year-old most recently stepping in as the new face of Juicy Couture and launching a signature shoe with Reebok while becoming the cover star of the WNBA edition of NBA 2K26.

Even more, she'll soon make her feature film debut, playing herself in a cameo in the upcoming political thriller A House of Dynamite, which drops on Netflix on October 24th.

But first, Reese will make Victoria's Secret Fashion Show history.

"Angel Reese, welcome to the runway," Victoria's Secret wrote in a promotional post on Thursday. "The first professional athlete angel... major is an understatement."

How to watch Angel Reese in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

The 2025 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will air live on at 7 PM ET on Tuesday, October 15th on Prime.

USWNT Legends Alex Morgan, Mia Hamm to Host The Goal Cup Charity Soccer Match

Alex Morgan reacts during her San Diego Wave jersey retirement at a 2025 NWSL match.
Retired USWNT legends Alex Morgan and Mia Hamm will feature in January's The Goal Cup. (Meg McLaughlin/NWSL via Getty Images)

Two of women's soccer's biggest stars are teaming up, with retired USWNT icons Alex Morgan and Mia Hamm joining forces to launch The Goal Cup, a new celebrity charity soccer match benefitting both the Alex Morgan Foundation and the Mia Hamm Foundation.

Billed as "two star-studded teams...coming together to benefit [the two] foundations through a day of competition, entertainment, and community impact," The Goal Cup will see Hamm and Morgan captain the rival squads in an "LA vs. San Diego" showdown at USC Rawlinson Stadium in Los Angeles on January 17th, 2026.

The charity match will boost both Morgan's and Hamm's foundations — nonprofits that work to increase opportunities and access for women and girls in sports, among other core tenets.

"The Goal Cup is about celebrating the game we love while creating real impact for girls and women," Morgan said in a statement. "I'm proud to team up with Mia, to launch the SoCal rivalry, and ensure soccer continues to be a force for good beyond the field."

How to attend Hamm and Morgan's The Goal Cup

Pre-sale access to the January 17th charity match opens at 1 PM ET on Tuesday before tickets become available to the general public on Wednesday.

Fans can sign up for early access and pricing at The Goal Cup.

Sabalenka, Gauff Cruise to 2025 Wuhan Open Semifinals as Świątek Falls

Top-ranked tennis star Aryna Sabalenka preps her return during the 2025 Wuhan Open quarterfinals.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is two wins away from claiming a fourth straight title at the 2025 Wuhan Open. (WUHAN OPEN OFFICIAL 2025/VCG via Getty Images)

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is back like she never left, following up her brief post-US Open championship recovery break and booking a spot in the 2025 Wuhan Open semifinals by blowing past the tournament's competition with a straight-set victory over No. 9 Elena Rybakina on Friday morning.

With the last three Wuhan Open titles under her belt — 2018, 2019, and 2024 — Sabalenka extended her career tournament record to 20-0 on Friday, as she gears up to take on US star No. 6 Jessica Pegula in the semifinals early Saturday morning.

"Honestly, that's just crazy," Sabalenka said of her success at the WTA 1000 event. "I feel a really great connection with the Chinese fans, I guess. I feel like at home playing in this stadium."

Sabalenka and Pegula aren't the only big names advancing this week, as No. 3 Coco Gauff cruised past unseeded Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-0 to book her own semifinal appearance on Friday.

While the US star had little trouble dispelling her quarterfinals opponent, Polish phenom No. 2 Iga Świątek wasn't so lucky, falling to Italy's No. 8 Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-2 to set up a tight Saturday semifinals clash between Gauff and Paolini.

Sabalenka and Pegula's semi could also go the distance — Pegula is coming off six straight three-set matches dating back to the 2025 China Open, emerging victorious from five of them.

How to watch the 2025 Wuhan Open semifinals

Gauff and Paolini will kick off the 2025 Wuhan Open semifinals at 5 AM ET on Saturday, with Sabalenka taking on Pegula shortly after the first match.

The semifinal winners will then battle for the championship trophy on Sunday.

Live coverage of the semifinals and final will air on the Tennis Channel.

Racing Louisville Re-signs Emma Sears, Shoots for 2025 NWSL Playoffs

Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears warms up before a 2025 NWSL match.
Racing Louisville signed USWNT forward Emma Sears to a new contract this week. (Soobum Im/NWSL via Getty Images)

As No. 7 Racing Louisville zeroes in on a franchise-first berth to the NWSL Playoffs, the 2021 expansion team locked down a big part of their future on Thursday when they signed USWNT forward Emma Sears to a new contract through 2028.

"I'm so proud to be continuing my career with Racing Louisville FC — a club and city that have truly become home for me," Sears said in Thursday's team statement. "We've built something special here."

Drafted out of Ohio State by Louisville in 2024, Sears claimed the club's rookie scoring record with five goals last season before setting a new single-season scoring record for Racing this year, with the 24-year-old registering 10 goals so far in 2025.

"In her two years here in Louisville, Emma has quickly become a foundational player for this club, and she's only scratching the surface of her potential," said Racing GM Caitlyn Flores Milby.

With their star secured, Louisville's full focus is on climbing further above the postseason cutoff line, with Racing aiming to keep their current momentum going against the No. 14 Chicago Stars on Friday night.

Entering the weekend on a two-match winning streak, Louisville holds the edge over Chicago and the Stars' four-game winless run.

Even more, every point helps the narrow race to the 2025 NWSL Playoffs, as only four points separate Nos. 3 through 8 in the NWSL standings — with all but two postseason tickets still on the table.

How to watch Racing Louisville vs. the Chicago Stars on Friday

No. 7 Louisville will host No. 14 Chicago at 7:30 PM ET on Friday, with live coverage streaming on NWSL+.

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