Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), caused a stir when he kissed Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the team’s World Cup celebration Sunday. Spain defeated England 1-0 for the country’s first Women’s World Cup title.

In the hours after the celebrations, Hermoso, Spain’s all-time leading goal scorer, downplayed the incident.

“It was a mutual, totally spontaneous gesture because of the huge joy of winning a World Cup,” she said in a statement to news agency EFE. “The ‘presi’ and I have a great relationship. … It was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.”

Jenni Hermoso recreated Lionel Messi's World Cup dream 💭🏆 pic.twitter.com/QHeyQP2EQm

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 21, 2023

Hermoso’s remarks come amid widespread criticism over the incident. During Spain’s medal presentation, players approached Rubiales one by one. Rubiales hugged and kissed many of the players on the cheek. When Hermoso approached, he hugged her, and then grabbed her head and kissed her on the mouth.

He at first called those upset with the gesture “idiots,” but has changed his tune amid growing backlash. Spain’s minister for culture and sport, Miquel Iceta, for instance, described Rubiales’ kiss as “unacceptable.”

“I made a mistake, for sure,” Rubiales said in a video released to the media. “I have to accept it. In a moment of such emotion, without any bad intention or bad faith, what happened, happened, in a very spontaneous way. [There was] no bad faith from either side.

“Here we saw it as something natural and normal. But on the outside it has caused a stir, because people have felt hurt by it, so I have to apologize; there’s no alternative. I have to learn from this and understand that a president of an institution as important as the federation — above all in ceremonies and that kind of thing — should be more careful.”

Hermoso had previously said she “didn’t like” the kiss during an Instagram livestream on Sunday.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of turmoil within RFEF. Head coach Jorge Vilda selected only three of 15 players for the World Cup team who had expressed concerns with his leadership in a written letter to RFEF.

Tennis star Alexandra Eala delivered a masterclass in her professional home debut today, defeating Russia’s Alina Charaeva 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the second round of the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open.

In front of a packed crowd at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, the 20-year-old Filipina star — currently world No. 49 in the WTA rankings — showed why she is the tournament's second seed. Eala needed just over an hour to dismantle Charaeva, avenging her 2020 W15 Melilla Open loss to the Russian.

The match began with Eala using her signature aggressive forehand to dictate rallies and secure the first set 6-1. Shortly afterwards, Charaeva went on to jump to a 2-0 lead in the second set, as Eala appeared to struggle with movement, eventually calling for a medical timeout to treat cramping in her right thigh.

Returning with her leg taped, Eala roared back to win six consecutive games. She subsequently closed out the match with a powerful down-the-line winner. (See full highlights)

"I just want to thank everyone for being here," Eala told fans during her post-match interview. "I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a long time. Playing at home is a highlight of my career."

The Philippine Women’s Open marks the first time the country has hosted a WTA 125 event, a milestone largely attributed to Eala’s recent international success. Her victory in Manilla provides a boost to the growing local tennis community.

Eala now moves into the Round of 16, where she will face either Japan’s Nao Hibino or Himeno Sakatsume. The Filipina ace remains the favorite to contend for the historic title on her home court.

How to watch Alexandra Eala at the Philippine Women's Open

The WTA 125 tournament continues through the week, streaming live on WTA Unlocked’s 125Live.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has once again merged high fashion with elite athletics, debuting a custom "jellyfish-inspired" kit during the opening rounds of the 2026 Australian Open.

The outfit, a collaboration between Nike and London-based designer Robert Wun, immediately went viral following the world No. 17's first-round victory over Croatia's Antonia Ružić.

The avant-garde walk-on look featured a turquoise and green tie-dye palette, characterized by organic, wavy ruffles designed to mimic the movement of jellyfish tentacles. The multi-piece configuration included a zip-up jacket with cascading tendrils, a pleated miniskirt layered over wide-leg trousers, and a dramatic wide-brimmed hat complete with a sheer white veil and matching parasol.

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Osaka later revealed her two-year-old daughter Shai inspired the concept. While reading a marine life storybook together, Osaka noticed her daughter's interest in a jellyfish illustration. That led her to translate the visual into her 2026 tournament aesthetic.

"It felt symbolic of energy, transformation, and excitement," Osaka told reporters. She went on to describe the design as representing "the birth of something new" in both her career and journey as a mother.

The outfit also featured two delicate white butterflies — one fixed to her hat and another to her parasol. These served as a reference to the 2021 Australian Open, when a butterfly famously landed on Osaka’s face during her title-winning run.

On the court, Osaka has backed the bold style with strong performances. She secured a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Antonia Ružić in her opening match on January 20th, followed by a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory against Sorana Cirstea on January 22nd.

How to watch Naomi Osaka at the 2026 Australian Open

Osaka is scheduled to face Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis in the Australian Open's third round. The pair will meet early Saturday morning at 4:40 AM ET.

All 2026 Australian Open matches air live across ESPN platforms.

Minnesota native and Unrivaled Basketball standout Paige Bueckers is returning to her roots to support local families.

After winning the first-ever Unrivaled free throw contest this week, the Breeze BC guard has pledged to match up to $50,000 in donations to the #HopkinsStrong Relief Fund. The initiative was established to ensure food security for students within the Hopkins Public Schools District — Bueckers's alma mater.

The #HopkinsStrong Relief Fund is a collaboration between the Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF) and the ICA Food Shelf. It addresses the urgent needs of families in the western Minneapolis suburbs facing economic uncertainty.

By leveraging her platform, the Unrivaled Basketball star is helping the foundation move toward its $250,000 fundraising goal. It aims to supply emergency food bags and assistance with essential costs like rent and utilities.

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"Community is how opportunity begins. When Hopkins families are supported with food and care, our young people can thrive," Bueckers said in a statement. "That’s why my foundation is committed to supporting the youth and families of Hopkins."

The contribution continues a long-standing tradition of community support from the former Hopkins High School standout.

Since 2023, Bueckers has partnered with the ICA Food Shelf to support local initiatives like the Hopkins West Middle School Food Market in Minnesota.

Minnesota native Bueckers lends a hand during uncertain times

The athlete's contribution is even more significant now, as Minneapolis deals with widespread unrest following a series of high-profile ICE raids.

"At this very moment, we have students and families who are afraid to leave their homes," says Hopkins Public Schools Superintendent Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, addressing the recent ICE raids in Minneapolis and the surrounding area.

"We are grateful to the Hopkins Education Foundation not only for supporting innovation in our classrooms but also for supporting Hopkins families during radically uncertain times."

"We want to be there for all of our students during this challenging time," added HEF executive director Emily Wallace-Jackson. "It’s our mission to enhance education for Hopkins students, and that starts with making sure that our children are fed so they have energy to learn."

As of late January, the fund has already presented an initial $50,000 to the ICA Food Shelf. With the matching period open, organizers are calling on the local community to contribute.

The NWSL is adding fan fashion to matchday this season, teaming up with Washington, DC-based design label Dead Dirt to launch an exclusive preseason collection of jerseys this week.

Dead Dirt dropped the colorful knit merch for all 16 NWSL franchises, with initial jersey inventories for multiple clubs — including incoming 2026 expansion teams Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC — selling out within hours of the Thursday night release.

Showcasing a collared, V-necked, rugby shirt aesthetic, each kit includes nods to the club's color and crest throughout the design.

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Named the Spirit's first-ever creative director in March 2024, Dead Dirt founder Domo Wells dropped multiple collections with the Washington club over the last two seasons — from 2024's "New Growth" collection to 2025's "Cherry Blossom" and "Fast Track" capsules — before the NWSL tapped Wells to expand her design footprint league-wide.

"You have to truly understand the team's culture and region. That's why my first full season with the Washington Spirit mattered," Wells told The Cut last month. "That's when the conversation shifted from one team to the entire league."

Additionally, this week's launch is the first of many future NWSL collaborations, with Wells detailing a "layered" plan for cohesive league-wide drops "with the option for teams to go deeper if they want more."

As for what NWSL fans can expect from upcoming Dead Dirt collections, Wells sees her role as "reframing merch as storytelling."

"My goal [is] always to design pieces that live outside the stadium," she explained. "If it doesn't live in [a fan's] closet after game day, it's not worth the spend."

How to buy NWSL x Dead Dirt knit jerseys

The entire NWSL x Dead Dirt jersey collection is available online now at the NWSL Shop and the Dead Dirt store.