This summer, Lynn Williams realized a dream.

The 30-year-old forward made her World Cup debut on Aug. 1, in the U.S. women’s national team’s final game of the group stage, a 0-0 draw against Portugal. Lynn played again in the team’s penalty shootout loss against Sweden in the Round of 16.

Even with the USWNT’s early exit, the tournament was a big moment for Williams, and her fiancé Marley Biyendolo shared a tribute to her on Instagram.

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“What a moment in your career,” Biyendolo wrote. “You’re an inspiration to so many, the lives you have touched in this journey thus far, immeasurable. Like… think about that? You should (have) seen the love these beautiful fans throughout each stadium had for you. It’s hard to even comprehend.”

Williams did not play in the team’s first two games, triggering something of a groundswell of support from fans eager to see her contribute. She recorded six shots – four on target – in her debut game against Portugal. She came on as a substitute against Sweden and had another three shots, with two on goal.

For now, Williams will turn her attention to the remainder of NJ/NY Gotham FC’s season, but her international career is likely far from over. Biyendolo, a former Pepperdine basketball player, will be among the many cheering her on.

“Inspiring is who you are, and it’s what you’ve continued to do on this world stage your whole career, with always, a smile on your face” he wrote. “Thank you for inspiring the thousands of little girls that hold a dream in their hearts, thank you for inspiring your family to love and work hard, and thank you for inspiring me.”

Madison Keys was just 16 when she featured in her first US Open, and the home Grand Slam holds a special place in the now-29-year-old's tennis star's heart.

"It's truly the best, greatest feeling in the entire world," Keys told JWS last week. "I think there have been some of my most heartbreaking moments in front of a US Open crowd, but also some of my absolute most favorite, literally to the point of mid-match getting goosebumps."

Ahead of today's 2024 US Open kickoff, Keys commented on the power of the New York Slam's fans, saying, "The thing I've always loved about playing at the US Open is that, literally no matter how down and out you felt, the entire crowd was still there trying to get you through and push you through."

A chaotic 2024 sets up Keys's US Open appearance

The world No. 14 has had a rollercoaster 2024 season, missing the Australian Open due to injury before making solid finishes at WTA events in Miami, Madrid, and Strasbourg.

The Illinois product then suffered an injury at Wimbledon, withdrawing in the Round of 16 while in a winning position against eventual finalist Jasmine Paolini. "As devastating as that match against Jasmine was," detailed Keys, "it was also one of my favorite matches that I've played, just because I feel like we were both playing so well."

Her veteran perspective allowed Keys to calmly view the injury for what it was: a simple setback. "[Wimbledon] was really reassuring that I didn't do anything wrong," Keys said. "It wasn't this big thing that we had to worry about or manage. It was just really horrible timing."

Prioritizing health is vital to Keys's tennis career

The 2016 Rio Olympic semifinalist pulled out of the 2024 Paris Games in an effort to maintain her health and gear up for the season's final Slam — a decision she says was hard-won.

"It’s one of the greatest honors to be able to play for your country and play at an Olympics, and it was honestly one of my favorite tennis moments of my life," she said. "But I'm getting older — I've been on tour for a long time. They like to call me a veteran now, and I think you have to start shifting gears a little bit to prioritize the best schedule...to be able to maintain a high level and stay healthy."

Recognizing that pacing her seasons will help protect her health and, ultimately, her career, Keys is clear on her path forward. "At this point in my career, my biggest goal is I want to play tennis for as long as I want to play tennis," she said. "I don't want some outside force to be the reason that I have to step away from the game."

When it comes to her health, Keys says the details matter, like prioritizing nutrition and sleep in the run-up to another US Open and partnering with supplement companies to boost her conditioning along the way.

"I've started to change my perspective on success and goals," said Keys. "At the end of every day, being able to say, 'Okay, did I accomplish my goal? If not, what were the lessons learned? How can I move forward with them?' I think that's honestly the best way to go about success in tennis."

The tennis season’s final Grand Slam gets underway today, when the US Open takes the hardcourt in Queens, New York. Topping last year’s record-setting prize pool by $10 million, this year’s $75 million purse means the singles champion will walk away with $3.6 million.

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Led by Gauff, US women chase history

With 21 US women in this year's draw — including five ranked in the WTA’s Top 15 — domestic fans are eyeing another trophy after world No. 3 Coco Gauff became the first US teen since 1999 to win the Slam last year. This time around, Gauff is hunting more history: If she repeats, she’ll become the first back-to-back US title-winner since Serena Williams’s 2012-14 three-peat.

That said, Gauff's recent early exits from Wimbledon, the Olympics, and last week’s Cincinnati Open have placed other stars in the US Open spotlight.

A US player has yet to feature in a Grand Slam final in 2024, and contenders like world No. 6 Jessica Pegula, No. 11 Danielle Collins, and No. 14 Madison Keys are all looking to right that ship.

Top stars aim to avoid more 2024 upsets

In a season rife with upsets — from No. 26 Leylah Annie Fernandez beating No. 4 Elena Rybakina in Cincinnati to No. 24 Donna Vekić ousting Gauff at the Olympics — this Slam is anyone’s to take.

After missing Wimbledon and the Olympics, reigning Australian Open champ No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka is this year's favorite after falling to Gauff in the 2023 final, though No. 1 Iga Świątek could pose a problem in Sabalenka's hunt. The Polish phenom already knows how to win this Slam, having taken the 2022 US Open trophy. If victorious again, the 23-year-old will have six major titles to her name.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's No. 4 Elena Rybakina will aim to break her US Open curse of falling by the Round of 32, but a season wracked with illness, early exits, and personnel trouble could set her off course.

The field could also see a fresh face like Buffalo product Pegula or China’s 2024 Olympic gold medalist No. 7 Qinwen Zheng lifting hardware at Arthur Ashe next month.

How to watch the US Open

The 2024 US Open's main draw kicks off today at 11 AM ET, with live coverage across ABC and ESPN networks.

The NWSL saw a lively return to regular season play as the weekend brought a few shakeups to the standings as teams jockey for playoff positioning.

One of the most significant shifts featured the Kansas City Current, whose hot streak has officially cooled after going undefeated through their first 15 matches this season.

Spirit humbles Current with Sunday victory

Kansas City lost 4-1 to the Washington Spirit in their regular-season return on Sunday, weeks after falling 2-1 to league-leaders Orlando in their last pre-Olympics NWSL match. The final scoreline saw the Spirit leapfrogging KC to take second place while the Current dropped to third.

Four different goal-scorers got the job done for the Spirit, including returning Olympian Trinity Rodman. Also showing out was fellow gold medalist Croix Bethune, who's 10th assist tied Tobin Heath’s 2016 single-season record — one the rookie will likely break with nine matches left on the season.

Striker Temwa Chawinga notched KC's lone goal in the loss, breaking a tie with Orlando’s Barbra Banda to top the Golden Boot race with her 13th contribution this season.

Other noteworthy NWSL action

Earning their 18th victory with Friday's 1-0 win over Houston, Orlando has now laid claim to the longest regular-season undefeated streak in league history. Meanwhile, defending NWSL champs Gotham defeated Portland 2-0 on Friday, putting a seven-point margin between the fifth-place Thorns and the table's top four teams.

With Saturday's 3-1 win over the Red Stars, Racing Louisville moved above the postseason cutoff line into eighth place. Also on Saturday, 19-year-old Alyssa Thompson’s brace — the NWSL's second-ever registered by a teen — secured ninth-place Angel City’s 2-1 win over San Diego.

As the WNBA calendar counts down and teams jockey for a place in the postseason, the league-leaders will take centerstage this weekend when the playoff-bound Liberty host second-place Connecticut on Saturday.

Liberty aim for four-game season sweep

New York will try to complete their 2024 season sweep of the Sun in the pair's fourth and final meeting tomorrow after their tense 79-71 win over 10th-place Dallas on Thursday showcased just how clutch a sidelined Sabrina Ionescu can be for New York.

The Sun, fresh off a historic sellout in Boston, are hoping to maintain that momentum with a win over the Chicago Sky tonight before heading to Brooklyn tomorrow.

Middle-table WNBA teams eye race for the playoffs

A series of consequential weekend matchups could further determine the fate of middle-of-the-pack teams eyeing a top-eight playoff berth, including ninth-place Atlanta. The Dream haven't lost a post–Olympic break game yet, and tonight they'll face sixth-place Phoenix, who they bested 72-63 on Wednesday.

Eighth-place Chicago, however, has yet to beat their Friday opponent, Connecticut, this season — daunting circumstances considering they'll close out the weekend with a bout against reigning WNBA champs Las Vegas.

If the Dream win over the Mercury and the Sky drop both weekend games, Atlanta will leapfrog Chicago to claim the league's coveted eighth-place standing.

Other WNBA games to watch this weekend

Las Vegas will take on third-place Minnesota tonight, aiming for a win in the pair’s fourth and final season meeting to split their 2024 series. Then on Saturday, the Lynx will host the seventh-place Fever — a team they’ve yet to beat this year.

At the bottom of the table, 11th-place LA will face two other teams with 6-22 records: 10th-place Washington tonight and 12th-place Dallas on Sunday.