San Diego Wave FC plans to select Florida State midfielder Jaelin Howell with the first overall pick in the 2022 NWSL College Draft, sources tell Just Women’s Sports.

The 2020 MAC Hermann Trophy winner registered for the draft on Monday but is still exploring European options, sources say. The deadline for players to declare for Saturday’s NWSL draft is Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

Howell’s decision comes a week after she captained the Seminoles to a 4-3 shootout win over BYU in the College Cup final. Of Florida State’s three national championship teams in their 26-year program history, Howell was a part of two, with the first coming during her freshman year in 2018.

“We’re all excited to see what the next chapter holds for her,” said Florida State head coach Mark Krikorian. “She’s going to have a lot of options and choices in what it is she wants to do.”

A top recruit coming out of high school, Howell had her pick of top college soccer programs. She chose Florida State mainly because of Kirkorian’s emphasis on individual-based tactical and technical development.

Starting 21 games as a holding midfielder this season, Howell anchored a Florida State defense that recorded 23 shutouts and allowed just 13 goals. The senior, who added two goals and four assists this season, was named a First Team All-American and the ACC Midfielder of the Year for the second year in a row.

“When you take her physical and psychological tools and look at the whole package, she’s equipped with so many different elements that have allowed her to be successful and have helped us to be successful,” Kirkorian said.

“They’ve done so much for me, so it’s hard to even think about leaving,” Howell said. “I am ready for a new chapter in my life, but definitely this one is going to be sad when it comes.”

Howell would join a San Diego roster that already includes Abby Dahlkemper, Kailen Sheridan, Tegan McGrady and Alex Morgan. Ahead of their debut season in 2022, the Wave will fill out the rest of their roster during the NWSL Expansion Draft on Thursday and College Draft on Saturday. San Diego has two picks in the first round and six picks overall.

The 2027 Women's World Cup is taking shape, as FIFA introduced the tournament's official branding at a ceremony in host country Brazil on Sunday.

The first-ever iteration of the tournament in South America will adopt the slogan "GO EPIC," an imperative that "calls on fans everywhere to be part of an unforgettable adventure."

Additionally, the branding of the competition's 10th edition includes a sonic identity "inspired by Brazilian rhythms, samba-infused percussion, and Afro-Brazilian heritage."

"Brazil lives and breathes football, and you can feel the excitement here about welcoming the world and hosting a historic event," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the governing body's launch event in the famed Copacabana neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. "You can also feel something even more powerful, as this country is fully committed to making this a watershed moment for the women's game."

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The logo pays homage to the Brazilian flag as well as the shape of a soccer pitch, with the design featuring a letter W and its inversion, a letter M — uniting the English words "women" and "world" with their Portuguese counterparts "mulheres" and "mundo."

"Football is about love and Brazil loves football," said Brazil soccer legend Marta, the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, in a video message at Sunday's event. "Our country is ready to embrace the women's game with pride, emotion and belief."

Calling her country's hosting duties "a dream come true," fellow Brazil icon Formiga — the only athlete, man or woman, to compete in seven World Cups — said Sunday that "2027 will be about opening doors. This World Cup will show girls everywhere they belong on the biggest stage."

The US is flooding the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open, with half of eight women still standing in the Grand Slam representing the United States.

World No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, No. 6 Jessica Pegula, and No. 27 Iva Jović all advanced from the weekend's fourth round, joining No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 2 Iga Świątek, No. 5 Elena Rybakina, and No. 12 Elina Svitolina in Monday and Tuesday's quarterfinals.

"I'm just trusting the level that I have been able to put out and hopefully that will be enough," 18-year-old Jović said as she gears up for her Monday night clash with Sabalenka — a two-time winner (2023, 2024) of the Melbourne Slam.

Pegula's success, meanwhile, came at the expense of her US teammate and the reigning Australian Open champion, No. 9 Madison Keys, whom she ousted in straight sets in the Round of 16 on Sunday.

Even more, Pegula's quarterfinal matchup will again feature friendly fire as she takes on Anisimova on Tuesday night.

"Sucks that one American has to go out in the quarterfinals," Anisimova said. "Jess is such a great player, so I'm sure it's going to be a great battle."

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open quarterfinals

The Australian Open quarterfinals start at 7:30 PM ET on Monday, when No. 27 Jović takes on No. 1 Sabalenka before No. 3 Gauff's 3 AM ET Tuesday matchup with No. 12 Svitolina.

No. 6 Pegula's clash with No. 4 Anisimova, as well as No. 5 Rybakina vs. No. 2 Świątek will close out the quarterfinals early Wednesday morning.

All matches from the Melbourne Slam air live across ESPN platforms.

No. 2 South Carolina shut down No. 5 Vanderbilt in Sunday's top-tier NCAA basketball clash, ending the Commodores' undefeated 2025/26 season by handing the Nashville visitors a 103-74 defeat.

Senior guard Ta'Niya Latson led South Carolina with 21 points, as five Gamecocks finished in the double-digits to offset Vanderbilt star sophomore Mikayla Blakes's 23-point night.

"I'm really impressed that we played connected basketball on both ends," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said following the bounce-back win. "I'm happy we responded to our [Thursday] loss."

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The results could significantly impact the SEC standings, where No. 17 Tennessee currently sits in the lead — though six ranked conference opponents, including South Carolina, stand between the Vols and their regular-season finale vs. Vanderbilt.

"We didn't operate the way I know my team can operate," said Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph. "It doesn't get any easier.... This is the SEC."

"There just wasn't an answer today," Ralph continued. "There's a lot we can take from it, but it also doesn't negate the fact that we've been really good up to this point."

How to watch Vanderbilt, South Carolina in action this week

Both teams return to the NCAA court on Thursday, when the No. 5 Commodores will seek redemption against No. 18 Ole Miss at 7:30 PM ET before the No. 2 Gamecocks battle unranked Auburn at 9 PM ET.

Both matchups will air live on the SEC Network.

The No. 2 USWNT is stacking their 2026 dance card, as US Soccer announced three spring friendlies against No. 8 Japan on Saturday.

The series will kick off in San Jose, California, on Saturday, April 11th, before moving to Seattle on Tuesday, April 14th, with the teams closing out the trio of friendlies in Commerce City, Colorado, on Friday, April 17th.

"Playing the same opponent three times is unusual but it presents a great challenge and a chance to test ourselves against a top-quality opponent," said USWNT manager Emma Hayes in the federation's Saturday statement.

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The friendlies will follow the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, with the US set to face No. 30 Argentina, No. 10 Canada, and No. 20 Colombia starting on Sunday, March 1st.

The USWNT last met Japan at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup Final in San Diego, with the Nadeshiko beating the tournament hosts 2-1 — the second Japan victory over the US in their 42 all-time meetings.

"Japan is one of the best teams in the world," Hayes continued. "I'm a big admirer of how they play and I have tremendous respect for their team."

Notably, April's second friendly will see the USWNT return to Seattle for the first time since 2017, with Lumen Field swapping artificial turf for natural grass ahead of this summer's 2026 Men's World Cup.

How to buy tickets to USWNT vs. Japan friendlies

While ticket presales began on Monday morning, general sales for all three April friendlies will begin at 10 AM local venue time on Thursday.