To the greatest coach I’ve ever had, THANK YOU!! Enjoy retirement ❤️@MuffetMcGraw pic.twitter.com/oVOxIvKejG

— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) April 22, 2020

Other Irish alums likewise echoed the sentiment:

thirty-three @ndwbb seasons of fearless, competitive, and compassionate leadership. congratulations on your retirement... but you will forever be my ‘Coach’. ???????????? @MuffetMcGraw pic.twitter.com/6wcUhASIwe

— Natalie Achonwa (@NatAchon) April 22, 2020

. @MuffetMcGraw thank you for everything ☘️ so proud to have been able to play under you. The women’s college basketball world won’t be the same without you on the sideline. But you deserve this retirement, finally won’t have a bunch of 18-22 year olds stressing you out ???? pic.twitter.com/Cs18bLkI15

— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) April 22, 2020

One of the best decisions of my life was to attend the University of Notre Dame to play for @MuffetMcGraw. You have impacted my life in so many ways. Congrats on an amazing career coach. The greatest to ever do it. Welcome to retirement ???????????? pic.twitter.com/2N5CR3yChn

— Devereaux *casual fan* Peters (@MsPeters14) April 22, 2020

To a legend—
Thank you. For believing in me. For always pushing me during my three years at Notre Dame. For still checking in on me. For everything. Happy Retirement ☘️ @MuffetMcGraw pic.twitter.com/ILNLbbErLI

— Jackie Young (@JackieYoung3) April 22, 2020

Fellow coaches, at Notre Dame and beyond, also took a moment to share their kudos:

Amazing run @MuffetMcGraw
One of the great coaches in ANY sport.
You have been and will continue to be a great friend and inspiration. pic.twitter.com/k4bnjOQMAA

— Mike Brey (@NDMikeBrey) April 22, 2020

@MuffetMcGraw thank you for your tireless work in serving our game. Your voice. Your activism for female coaches coaching in our game. Your knowledge. Your winning ways. You are appreciated. And thank you for giving us @IrishCoachIvey! @ndwbb

— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) April 22, 2020

It was honor @MuffetMcGraw to be by your side for so many years!!! #frienship #mentor #memories @ndwbb #goat pic.twitter.com/5B0GT6MQ2W

— Carol Owens (@GoIrishCoachO) April 22, 2020

Wow- legend! Congrats on an incredible career and thank you for everything you’ve done for the game, @MuffetMcGraw https://t.co/sLrPdO2JJQ

— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) April 22, 2020

Congratulations on your retirement @MuffetMcGraw #ThankYouMuffet pic.twitter.com/w8X4onYXnc

— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 22, 2020

Former South Bend Mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg acknowledged the tremendous impact McGraw had on both college basketball and her local South Bend community.

Muffet McGraw has earned legendary status for her tremendous national impact on college basketball—as well as the deep respect and affection of our local community in South Bend. Thank you for your leadership! https://t.co/2rCFb5Juk0

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) April 22, 2020

And more than a few professional teams reached out to say congrats:

Congrats to @MuffetMcGraw on a fantastic career! ????????????

Enjoy retirement! ???? pic.twitter.com/1E0Jp0C4AM

— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 22, 2020

After a Hall of Fame career, two national championships and a lifetime commitment to empowering women, @MuffetMcGraw steps down as the head coach of @NDwbb.

Thank you, Coach.

???? https://t.co/GyUAW4RvHF#ThankYouMuffet pic.twitter.com/lHB8v96mFH

— The Fighting Irish ???? (@FightingIrish) April 22, 2020

SB Nation wants us to remember: McGraw could get down.

Muffet McGraw, forever a legend pic.twitter.com/2X7u8mNEsB

— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 22, 2020

While WSLAM doesn’t want you to forget: she won a whole lot of games.

2 NCAA titles
9 Final Four appearances
5 ACC Championships
4x AP Coach of the Year
2017 @Hoophall Inductee

Thank you for everything, coach. @ndwbb @MuffetMcGraw pic.twitter.com/kKxx5pU6Fe

— WSLAM (@wslam) April 22, 2020

But no matter how many trophies she accumulated in her career, its speeches like these that we will miss the most. Thank you, Coach McGraw.

She'll be remembered as a women's basketball pioneer and legend – and beyond the hardwood, as a voice for women in sports.#ncaaW | @MuffetMcGraw @ndwbb pic.twitter.com/sxsQE3Mt4i

— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) April 22, 2020

Team USA's U-20 World Cup​ run has come to an end after Wednesday's 1-0 semifinal loss to tournament favorites North Korea (DPRK).

The result marks the U-20 USWNT's best showing since their 2016's fourth-place finish, when they similarly fell to DPRK in the semis before the North Korean side advanced to win the Cup.

DPRK outshot the US 18-7 last night, but 17-year-old Choe Il-Son was the lone player to find the back of the net, securing the eventual game-winner in the 22nd minute. With five goals on the tournament so far, Choe is now in a three-way tie atop the competition's Golden Boot race.

Japan tops the Netherlands in second semifinal

While the US gave DPRK arguably their toughest match of the World Cup, Japan overwhelmed the Dutch with their attacking prowess last night, outshooting the Netherlands' 24-1 to notch the 2-0 win.

Notably, both goals by "the Young Nadeshiko" were scored by North Carolina Courage midfielder Manaka Matsukubo, the only NWSL player on Japan's roster.

Where to watch the U-20 World Cup final and third-place match

On Saturday, the US will battle the Netherlands for third-place hardware, with live coverage on Fox Soccer Plus.

Then on Sunday, the World Cup championship match will mirror March's U-20 Asian Cup final, where DPRK forced six-time champs Japan to relinquish the title for the first time since 2013. The final will air live on FS2.

Should DPRK emerge victorious on Sunday, they'll join the US and Germany as the only nations with three U-20 World Championships.

San Diego attacker María Sánchez lit up Snapdragon Stadium last night, leading the Wave to a 3-2 home victory over Portland in Concacaf W Champions Cup play. 

Goals from Sophia Smith​ and rookie Reilyn Turner gave Portland a 2-0 lead entering the 67th minute, but Sánchez’s hat trick — which included two converted penalty kicks — secured San Diego's dramatic comeback win.

Calling Sánchez "an incredible human being...[who's] a pleasure to coach," Wave boss Landon Donovan told the post-match press corps that his entire team was "awesome" last night. "To go down two goals and just continue to believe and keep playing and putting them under pressure was awesome. I'm just really proud of them."

Portland Thorns' team woes continue

Last night's result — though not counted toward the NWSL season — marked Portland's fifth straight loss against league opponents. The sixth-place Thorns have yet to earn a point on the NWSL table since returning from the Olympic break.

When asked about the usually dominant Thorns’ recent downfall, Portland's new permanent head coach Rob Gale said "We need to get healthy bodies available for 90 minutes."

With forward Morgan Weaver on limited minutes as she works back to full form following a May knee surgery, and Smith joining her in being pulled at halftime last night with what Gale called "some lower body problems," Portland's attack suffered in the tilt.

That said, the lopsided affair also saw mental errors, with the Thorns scrambling for possession and excessively fouling — mistakes Portland hopes to eliminate before hosting San Diego in NWSL play in nine days.

Where to watch Concacaf W Champions Cup group play tonight

Halfway through the international club tournament’s four-match group stage, the Wave now leads Group B while Portland sits in third. The top two teams in each group will advance to May’s semifinals.

As for the third NWSL team competing for the inaugural Cup, Group A's Gotham FC will host Liga MX club Monterrey in their second group match at 7 PM ET tonight, with live coverage on the CBS Golazo Network.

"Let's just say A'ja has been in her bag all season, like there's really not a player that can stop her," WNBA icon Lisa Leslie said in the debut episode of Just Women's Sports' weekly digital series Fast Friends with Kelley O'Hara and Lisa Leslie.

"This is what I love about A'ja Wilson: A'ja has gotten better, significantly better, every single season."

Coming off the success of JWS's Olympic commentary show The Gold Standard, Fast Friends features two legendary athletes serving up insider insights and unique takes on the biggest stories in women's sports.

In today's episode, O'Hara and Leslie cover A'ja Wilson's historic season, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese's rookie campaigns, Alex Morgan's recent retirement, and the NWSL MVP race.

Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.

On Wednesday morning, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the WNBA would be adding a 15th team to its roster, with the league awarding Portland, Oregon its own expansion franchise.

Portland joins Golden State and Toronto as the latest WNBA additions, as the league capitalizes on this season's surging popularity. Golden State will begin play next season, with Toronto and Portland set to tip off in 2026.

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The Rose City was an obvious choice to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who said, "Portland has been an epicenter of the women’s sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans."

Notably, this is not Portland's first WNBA team. The city originally hosted the Fire, which competed for three seasons before folding in 2002.

The expansion team will be primarily owned by the Bhathal family, who also recently purchased the NWSL's Portland Thorns.

A'ja Wilson adds WNBA rebound record to 2024 stats

Aces superstar A'ja Wilson added yet another feat to her 2024 WNBA MVP campaign on Tuesday, breaking sidelined Chicago rookie Angel Reese's single-season rebounds record in Las Vegas's 85-72 win over Seattle.

Wilson, who didn't know she'd claimed the record until asked about it in the post-game press conference, reacted with nonchalance. "That's cool," she told reporters. "I don't hunt rebounds, so it's not something that's always on my mind... I'm focused on putting the ball in the hoop."

Her explanation had head coach Becky Hammon visibly rolling her eyes, saying she's had to remind Wilson that "the other half of [her] job is to freaking rebound."

Ultimately, Wilson acknowledged that the record is "a blessing," saying "this league is tough, so if my name can be in the record books in some sort of way, it's a blessing."

Rebound record is Wilson's third WNBA feat in one week

Wilson's written her name in the WNBA record books three times in the last six days. Her latest rebound accomplishment comes just two days after Wilson became the first-ever WNBA player to score 1,000+ points in one season, and less than one week after she shattered the league's single-season scoring record.

Tuesday's win also handed the defending back-to-back champion Aces at least the fourth playoff seed. That top-four spot secures them home court advantage for their first postseason round.