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NWSL Challenge Cup: Semifinals Preview

ROB GRAY/ISI PHOTOS

A compressed preseason. Two weeks with games every four days. All knockout games going straight to penalties without extra time.

In retrospect, the defensive-minded quarterfinals shouldn’t have been much of a surprise.

Goalkeepers reigned supreme on Friday, much to the delight of #GKUnion. Britt Eckerstrom had what may be the performance of the Cup in her first start for the Portland Thorns. Houston Dash’s Jane Campbell erased doubts from earlier games. Sky Blue’s Kailen Sheridan was sturdy in the run of play and in penalties. And Alyssa Naeher reminded everyone she is the best — and that the Chicago Red Stars keeper has been here before.

Still, the almost-total lack of offense was surprising. Whether it was an Orlando curse extended to the rest of the league, or a product of the situation, few fans expected to see three goalless draws. Things should open up in the semis, as all four remaining teams are more than capable of playing exciting, inspired soccer.

After three big upsets in the quarterfinals, predictions may seem a bit silly. While I’m prepared to be surprised again, here are my best guesses as to what comes next.

PORTLAND THORNS VS. HOUSTON DASH, 12:30PM EST

After an emotional win over North Carolina, Portland has to do everything possible to ensure there is no subsequent trap game. Houston, on the other hand, like a wounded animal after an overly physical game, should come out on the offensive in an effort to set the tone.

I think the Dash can mentally reset. After becoming the early darling of the Cup with a high-scoring affair against Utah and a convincing 2-0 win over the Reign, Houston crashed back to Earth with two straight losses to Sky Blue and Washington. The team’s forwards began to look frustrated with their lack of opportunities, and goalkeeper Jane Campbell made several uncharacteristic mistakes.

But after topping Utah in penalties, Dash coach James Clarkson praised Campbell’s turnaround, reaffirming his belief in her ability moving forward.

“I think she’s the best goalkeeper in the league,” Clarkson said. “She’s had a couple of rough moments in the competition. But I said to her when she’s had those moments that she’s going to win us more things than lose us, and we’ve got complete faith in her.”

If Rachel Daly can take her made penalty and recapture the same confidence she displayed in the tournament opener — and the same confidence Campbell showed before, during and after the shootout — Portland’s defense once again will be on the back foot. While Britt Eckerstrom showed that she is more than capable of withstanding a barrage, it’s fair to say that she would prefer her defense make life a bit easier next time.

To Portland’s credit, they forced North Carolina into taking multiple shots from distance. Kelli Hubly and Meghan Klingenberg continue to anchor the backline while Lindsey Horan does seemingly everything, from the most shots on frame to the second most tackles won. Crucially, however, both Horna and Klingenberg are listed as questionable on the injury report for their clash with Houston.

Portland was able to take down the tournament favorites without Horan for much of the second half, vanquishing the foe they built their team to beat. The team now has its usual swagger, after looking lost at times during a winless group stage effort. The question still remains, who’s going to step up next?

Last game, playoff Morgan Weaver showed up in a big way. Can she do it again? Does Horan have another wonder goal in store? Can the team’s minutes leader and the world’s all-time international goal scorer Christine Sinclair create more magic? Or does Tyler Lussi, who has more attempts per 90 than any other player on the roster, find the back of the net?

It’s impossible to know ahead of time, but this unpredictability is precisely why I think Portland will ultimately come on top, riding the effort of another as-yet-unsuspected hero.

Prediction: Portland 2, Houston 1

SKY BLUE FC VS. CHICAGO RED STARS, 10:00PM EST

Both teams advanced on penalties. Both teams have scored just twice all tournament. Chicago probably outplayed its last opponent, while Sky Blue probably did not. Regardless, both sides will meet in the semi finals at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Sky Blue’s goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan has been under siege all Cup. She has faced 23 shots, but has conceded just three goals. American Soccer Analysis had her expected goals conceded at 6.59 for the tournament, which means she has performed a full 3.59 goals better than predicted. Both metrics are tops in the league. With this in mind, it is no surprise that Sheridan led Sky Blue to victory in penalties.

Since she was drafted by Sky Blue in 2017, Sheridan has seen the low points in the franchise’s history. Now, the team is on the rise with Sheridan serving as a defensive cornerstone.

For a while, Chicago has known it can rely on its defense. Last season, Chicago kept a clean sheet in eight regular season games, tied for fourth in the league while allowing the fifth most goals. In this tournament, Chicago has conceded three goals with three shutouts. Zoey Goralski’s 10 tackles are the fourth most among all players, while Sarah Gorden’s 11 interceptions rank second.

The biggest difference between last year’s team and this year’s is on the offensive end. Last year’s team could be counted on to reliably put the ball in the back of the net, while this year’s has struggled to find its rhythm.

It feels weird to say, but Sky Blue may have the more dynamic attack in this game, or at least be trending in that direction. Both teams have just two goals and nine shots on target, but Sky Blue is putting more of its shots on frame and are getting contributions from a more diverse group of players.

Kealia Watt’s 11 shots are tied for the most of any remaining player in the tournament, but she does not have a goal to show for it. Vanessa DiBernardo’s 18 crosses are third, but none have been an assist. Yuki Nagasato, Tierna Davidson and Morgan Gautrat will all miss the game with injuries. As always, Julie Ertz will fill in with a ridiculous looking heatmap. But for Chicago to return to a championship game, there will need to be a higher gear.

On Wednesday, I’m predicting the Red Stars offense will click, even if it’s only for a short burst.

Score: Chicago 1, Sky Blue 0 


 

LOOKING TO 2021

North Carolina is obviously an immensely talented team, and they leave the tournament as the only squad with a goal differential above 0 (+5) or an average of over 1 goal per game (1.4). Lynn Williams further cemented her reputation as a world class striker, and at the current rate, she may still win the Golden Ball with three goals. Debinha often looked like the most dangerous player in the Cup.

This is a team with both a bright past and a bright future. In retrospect, plenty of people will criticize Paul Riley not rotating his midfield, but this seems unfair. Many applauded Riley for playing his best XI against Sky Blue in what was a meaningless final game of the preliminary round, and for good reason. The franchise is programmed from top to bottom to never let up. The midfield was not the problem.

After the game, Riley compared this loss to the 2017 finals. If the comparison is apt, the rest of the league better watch out: after losing to Portland in the 2017 championship, North Carolina went on to win the next two. Expect the Courage to be on a similar mission with the next season rolls around.

Utah Royals

Not only fantastic hosts for the tournament, Utah was also one of the most fun teams to watch in the Challenge Cup. It started with Amy Rodriguez up top, and it will be sad to not get to see more of her this tournament. Another player who defied age, Vero Boquete, exits the tournament as the only player with two assists.

The adjustment to a 3-5-2 was always going to be a challenge, but now Utah can regroup with another year to practice as head coach Craig Harrington seems wedded to the formation. Over the last four games, Utah scored once and conceded twice, so the offense the formation is intended to generate never manifested, but neither did the defensive holes.

Utah also got contributions from all over its roster. Of the 22 players to appear in a game, 21 got the opportunity to start once. The only player not to start was Tziarra King, who appeared in four games and scored a goal. Of the 73 players in the Cup with at least two shots, 12 played for Utah, tied with OL Reign for the most of any club.

“I saw a lot of team growth and you could see it,” Rodriguez said. “We used a lot of players and we have a lot of talent on this team and in such a short span of time to try and get everything to click together I thought we did what we could.”

OL Reign

Although the Reign never put all of the pieces together offensively, there was a lot to like. While most first time coaches in the NWSL struggle for a whole year, Farsi Benstiti can now take an extended offseason to digest the lessons of his first five games at the helm.

Despite the coaching change, the Reign once again seemed to overperform. Last year, the side made the playoffs as the fourth seed with a 0 goal differential, and this year was the third seed in the knockout round despite sitting on a -1 goal differential.

Seeing Jessica Fishlock in the starting lineup for the first time since tearing her ACL in a game last July was one of the biggest positives of the tournament. Another was seeing Bethany Balcer, the reigning Rookie of the Year, coolly bury her penalty kick after previously discussing her panic attack in the prior game.

“Basing a game off of PKs is not ideal,” Sofia Huerta said after the game, and what was surely a common sentiment among the players of all three teams who kept a clean sheet yet still lost. “I don’t think it’s fair.”

Expect the club to enter 2021 with a renewed vigor as Megan Rapinoe rejoins the squad and Benstiti further acclimates.

Washington Spirit

The youngest team in the tournament will get another year to regroup. Without Andi Sullivan, and with both Rose Lavelle and Jordan DiBiasi nursing injuries, the midfield was listless against Sky Blue. Like North Carolina the day before, the Spirit grew impatient, and without their usual playmakers, the possession-based system broke down.

In the last few seasons, Washington has completely rebuilt its roster from the back line forward. All of the draft picks still with the team from the 2018 and 2019 drafts are either defenders or midfielders: Andi Sullivan, Bayley Feist, Dorian Bailey and Jordan DiBiasi in the midfield. Sam Staab and Tegan McGrady on the back line. (All were taken in the first round except Feist, who was a 2019 second round pick.)

Since then, Washington has looked for its long term solution at striker, whether it’s a replacement or a partner for Ashley Hatch. Washington used its first three picks of the 2020 on forwards before taking Kaiya McCulough, a defender who did not appear in the Challenge Cup. Those three were Ashley Sanchez, Averie Collins and Katie McClure, all of whom had their moments, but will need to grow in the offseason. If Washington can put together that last piece of the puzzle, and if Sullivan and her linemates can come back fully healthy, the Spirit should enter 2021 as serious contenders.

2025 NCAA Softball Kicks Off as Oklahoma Hunts 5th-Straight World Series Win

Oklahoma and Texas line up on the softball field before the second game of the 2024 Women's College World Series.
Oklahoma will pursue their fifth-straight NCAA softball title this season. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

College softball is back, with a new-look Oklahoma team kicking off the 2025 NCAA season in pursuit of a fifth-straight Women's College World Series win.

Despite Oklahoma's ongoing dominance, 2025's lineup does promise significantly higher parity than seasons past.

Having graduated a number of last year's stars — including a senior class that snagged four straight national titles — the Sooners enter the season ranked third.

Instead, 2024 runner-up Texas takes the top spot, followed by perennial contenders Florida at No. 2. Both teams enter 2025 with the majority of their rosters from last season intact, earning them an edge over the revamped Sooners.

Texas star catcher Reese Atwood blasts a double during a 2024 NCAA Softball Regional game against Northwestern.
Star slugger Reese Atwood is back to lead the Texas softball offense. (David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Texas on top as SEC looms

Still hunting a first national championship, Texas returns with six starters and four of their five 2024 pitchers — including then-freshman phenom Teagan Kavan, who led the team with 20 wins last year.

Meanwhile, last season's Big 12 Player of the Year, junior catcher Reese Atwood, is back to lead the Longhorn offense.

After joining rival Oklahoma in flipping to the SEC this year, Texas is gearing up to meet their new conference foes with the No. 1 target on their backs.

"It's a great honor, to tell you the truth," Texas head coach Mike White said about the preseason ranking. "And now we got to back it up. We’ve had a team that's been called young in the years past, and now we're a little more mature."

"We have a tough slate of games ahead of us, and then, of course, the gauntlet of the SEC is ahead of us," White noted. "We’ve really just got to go play good softball now."

The impact of conference realignment will extend beyond the SEC this season. The sport's historic dynasty No. 6 UCLA is now competing in the Big Ten while No. 4 Oklahoma State is taking over the top spot in the Big 12 rankings.

Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady winds up from the circle during a 2024 NCAA Softball Super Regionals game against LSU.
A $1 million NIL deal convinced 2024 National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady to transfer to Texas Tech. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

2025 NCAA softball season takes the field

As multiple teams travel to warm-weather destinations to start the season, the first week of competition showcases a slate of top-ranked matchups.

With a top-tier win already in the books, No. 4 Oklahoma State opened their 2025 campaign with a bang at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on Thursday. Buoyed by a trio of home runs, the Cowgirls handed No. 12 Florida State a 9-6 loss.

Waiting on deck at this week's NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, are two ranked games featuring superstar pitchers.

First, No. 16 Nebraska ace Jordy Bahl — a two-time NCAA champion with Oklahoma — will likely take the circle against No. 5 Tennessee on Thursday. If she gets the start, it will mark her first game in nearly a year, as the Cornhusker transfer suffered a season-ending ACL injury in last year's opener.

Then on Friday, a revamped No. 10 Texas Tech side will face No. 25 Mississippi State, with former Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady likely leading the charge.

The 2024 National Player of the Year transferred after her sophomore season with the Cardinal, as Texas Tech sealed the deal via a record-shattering $1 million NIL contract.

Oklahoma softball pitcher Jordy Bahl winds up during the 2023 Women's College World Series against Florida State.
Star transfer Jordy Bahl is back with Nebraska softball after missing 2024 play with an ACL tear. (Grace Bradley/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

How to watch this week's Top 25 NCAA softball games

Look for Bahl to lead No. 16 Nebraska against No. 5 Tennessee at 7 PM ET on Thursday, before No. 25 Mississippi State will contend with Canady and No. 10 Texas Tech at 5 PM ET on Friday.

Both games will stream live on the GameChanger app.

Unrivaled Basketball Drops 1v1 Tournament Bracket

Napheesa Collier and Stefanie Dolson tip off an Unrivaled basketball game.
The winner of the Unrivaled 1v1 tournament will earn $200,000 in prize money. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball's 1v1 tournament is fast approaching,​ with the offseason league dropping the competition's official bracket on Wednesday.

The head-to-head showdown tips off on Monday, February 10th, with the semifinals and three-game final series all tipping off on Friday, February 14th. 

Fan votes determined the seeding for the debut league's first-ever in-season tournament. Those ballots gave the Mist's Jewell Loyd and Vinyl's Arike Ogunbowale first-round byes, moving them straight into Tuesday's quarterfinal round.

Meanwhile, the other 28 competitors have four rounds to overcome to claim the trophy — not to mention $200,000 in prize money.

Breaking down the Unrivaled 1v1 bracket

Some early battles will be tougher than others, as Unrivaled co-founder and current scoring leader Napheesa Collier takes on fellow UConn alum Katie Lou Samuelson. The winner of that matchup then faces either Jackie Young or Rickea Jackson.

Collier's fellow co-founder Breanna Stewart — also a UConn product — drew 2024 UConn standout Aaliyah Edwards in Monday's first round. The winner subsequently earns a second-round date against either Marina Mabrey or Kate Martin.

Despite her first-round bye, Ogunbowale's bracket quadrant appears to be a gauntlet.

The guard will first battle either fellow Notre Dame alum Skylar Diggins-Smith, who has four game-winners under her belt so far this season, or Vinyl teammate Dearica Hamby.

The Olympic 3×3 bronze medalist trails only Collier and Laces star Kayla McBride on Unrivaled's score sheet, averaging 21.2 points per game. Additionally, Hamby's 10.4 rebounding average has her sitting fourth in the league.

Should they advance, either McBride or Satou Sabally will await Ogunbowale in the quarterfinals.

Ultimately, every matchup is stacked considering the star-studded league's depth.

"I just want the top dawgs to knock each other out," joked Courtney Williams ahead of her own first-round clash with Tiffany Hayes, with the winner set to square off against either Rhyne Howard or Lexie Hull.

"[If] your shot's falling, really anyone can win 1v1," she continued. "It's all about who figured it out in that moment."

An official game ball rests on the Unrivaled basketball court in Miami, Florida.
The three-day 1v1 tournament will tip off on Monday. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

How to watch next week's Unrivaled 1v1 tournament

The inaugural contest's first round tips off at 2 PM ET on Monday, with live coverage on truTV. The evening session begins at 7 PM ET on TNT.

Both the second round and quarterfinals will air on truTV starting at 7 PM ET on Tuesday, with the semifinals and finals taking over both truTV and TNT on Friday beginning at 7:30 PM ET.

No. 1 UCLA Downs No. 8 OSU in Top 10 NCAA Basketball Action

UCLA center Lauren Betts lifts a shot over Ohio State during Wednesday's Big Ten basketball game.
UCLA center Lauren Betts registered 19 points and 14 rebounds in Wednesday's win. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

No. 1 UCLA added another Top 10 NCAA basketball win to their 2024/25 resume on Wednesday, tallying their second of the season after holding off Big Ten foe No. 8 Ohio State 65-52.

Despite Buckeye freshman Jaloni Cambridge's game-leading 21 points, Ohio State fell to a tough UCLA defense. The Bruins clamped down in the second and fourth quarters, relinquishing just 18 points to the Buckeyes across those two periods.

Meanwhile, UCLA junior Lauren Betts continued her National Player of the Year campaign, scoring a team-high 19 points plus 14 rebounds after clinching the double-double before the first-half buzzer.

Star junior guard Gabriela Jaquez narrowly trailed Betts, posting 17 points to help push UCLA over the line.

The victory marks a program-record 22nd consecutive win for the still-undefeated Bruins — their longest winning streak since 1978.

"I told the team after the game that these games are fun when they're close," Jaquez said afterwards. "This might have been one of the first games where it got close."

Top 10 NCAA upset rattles the Big 12

Wednesday didn't pan out as smoothly in the Big 12, where No. 12 Kansas State upset No. 9 TCU 59-50 in the Wildcats' first Top 10 win of the season. The victory broke the pair's tie atop the conference standings, putting Kansas State firmly in control of the Big 12.

While the Wildcat defense stifled TCU top scorers Sedona Prince and Hailey Van Lith, holding them to a respective 14 and 10 points, Kansas State senior Serena Sundell showed out on offense. The guard scored a season-high 27 points — 15 of which came during the Wildcats' third-quarter surge.

"[Sundell] lived at the rim," TCU head coach Mark Campbell told reporters after the game. "She absolutely destroyed us in the post. She just shot layups and layups and layups. That's what makes her unique is she's a 6-foot-2 versatile playmaker.... We didn't have an answer for that one."

UConn guard Azzi Fudd controls the ball against Tennessee during the rivals' 2022 basketball game.
Tennessee hosts historic rival UConn in a Top 20 matchup tonight. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

How to watch Top 20 NCAA basketball on Thursday

The NCAA action continues with historic rivals No. 5 UConn taking on No. 19 Tennessee at 6:30 PM ET tonight. That's when Paige Bueckers and the Huskies will take aim at Jewel Spear and the Vols, with live coverage on ESPN.

USWNT Star Midge Purce Signs One-Year NWSL Contract Extension with Gotham

Gotham winger Midge Purce holds the ball before a set piece during a March 2024 NWSL match.
Purce earned NWSL Championship MVP with Gotham in 2023. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

USWNT attacker Midge Purce re-signed with Gotham FC on a one-year deal Wednesday. The move quieted speculation about the star's future with the club.

The 29-year-old announced her return in classic fashion. She simply adding a two-word quote to Gotham's press release on Wednesday: "I'm back."

Purce played a major role in Gotham's 2023 title-winning run. She earned NWSL Championship MVP honors after assisting on both goals in NJ/NY's trophy-clinching match. However, she was sidelined for much of the subsequent season — her fifth at Gotham — after a late March 2024 ACL tear.

"Midge brings a number of great qualities to our team, and her dynamism and experience are great additions to our talented attacking group," Gotham GM Yael Averbuch West said in a statement. "We are very excited to welcome her back into the mix."

Purce signing helps ease Gotham's 2025 concerns

Securing the striker eases some fears about Gotham's plans for 2025. This offseason saw a number of high-profile exits including USWNT stars Lynn Biyendolo (née Williams), Crystal Dunn, Jenna Nighswonger, among others.

"We fully understand our journey won't always follow a straight path, and we are realistic about the time, fortitude, and effort required to achieve our goals," Averbuch West recently told fans in an open letter.

"I know this offseason has been a time of uncertainty for our fans, and I want you to know we've worked tirelessly to build a team you’ll be excited to stand behind in 2025 and every season after."

Ultimately, Purce's return rounds out a still-solid Gotham squad. Of course, the roster remains punctuated by USWNT mainstays Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, and Tierna Davidson.

The team is currently in Spain for preseason training. They'll play a pair of closed-door scrimmages before returning to New Jersey to kick off the 2025 NWSL season.

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