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NWSL Challenge Cup boosts player bonuses in move toward pay equity

Emily Sonnett of the Washington Spirit and teammates celebrate their NWSL Challenge Cup semifinal win. (Ira L. Black/Getty Images)

The NWSL announced Friday a partnership with UKG, which will serve as the first presenting sponsor of the Challenge Cup and will bring the tournament’s prize money in line with the equivalent men’s tournament.

As part of the three-year deal, UKG will help the league increase the prize pool available to teams, raising the bonuses to equal footing with the men’s U.S. Open Cup, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman told Sportico.

“We refuse to accept that one organization cannot make a difference in the fight for pay equity — just look at what these remarkable women have done with their collective voice to raise awareness on a national stage about a problem that has plagued our workforce for decades,” said Brian K. Reaves, UKG’s chief belonging, diversity and equity officer. “These worthy athletes are also champions on the field of equality. We are so proud to stand beside the NWSL and work toward bringing pay equity to a sport that, for too long unfortunately, reflected the working reality of many women.”

The NWSL’s CBA, which was ratified this year, outlines minimum bonuses of $1,000 for the winning team and $500 per runner-up, with the option for sponsors to help boost the overall prize money by funding some or all of the total.

According to Sportico, the bonus payouts for this year will be $10,000 per player for the winning team and $5,000 per player for the runner-up. Each semifinalist will receive $1,500.

In 2023, the total prize pool will nearly double, with payouts to match the men’s U.S. Open Cup. That tournament hands out $300,000 in prize money to split among the winning team, with another $100,000 going to the runner-up.

“Our partnership is purpose-driven, and we believe that will eventually lead to broader impactful change, not only for women in professional sports but for women and underrepresented groups worldwide who have advocated tirelessly for the equity they deserve,” Berman said in a statement.

In addition to partnering with the NWSL, UKG is partnering with Angel City’s Christen Press and Orlando’s Sydney Leroux to further advocate for equal pay.

“Every player in this league has worked their whole life to play professional soccer and have the means to support themselves and their families,” Leroux said in a statement. “Pay equity goes beyond the average 18 cents less that women are paid for every dollar that a man is paid — it is about people wanting to live the same quality of life, have the same opportunities, and live the same dreams as others doing the same work.”

2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League Kicks Off League Phase

Center back Laia Codina and her Arsenal teammates run across the pitch in celebration after winning the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League title.
Reigning UEFA Champions League winners Arsenal will open their title defense against OL Lyonnes on Tuesday. (Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

The 2025/26 UEFA Women's Champions League begins anew this week, as the European club competition kicks off its first-ever league phase with a blockbuster lineup.

Italian powerhouse Juventus sets the stage against Portugal's Benfica early Tuesday afternoon, before reigning champs Arsenal start their title defense against eight-time winners OL Lyonnes while 2023/24 champs Barcelona face Bundesliga standout Bayern Munich.

"Winning last year hasn't changed that mindset one bit," Arsenal and USWNT defender Emily Fox said this week. "We know that any team on their day is dangerous and, especially with the new format this season, it's not going to be easy."

The debut format Fox refers to replaces the previous group-stage setup, with the new league phase seeing all 18 clubs playing six matches each — three at home and three away — against six different opponents.

While the league phase will eliminate the bottom six teams, the top four finishers will automatically qualify for next spring's quarterfinal round.

As for the 5th- through 12th-place clubs, they must battle in a two-legged knockout playoff round next February in order to punch their quarterfinal tickets.

How to watch the 2025/26 Champions League matches

The league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League campaign opens on Tuesday when Juventus takes on Benfica at 12:45 PM ET.

Arsenal vs. OL Lyonnes and Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich will then snag the spotlight at 3 PM ET.

All UWCL matches will air live on Paramount+.

NWSL Clubs Stock Rosters Ahead of 2025 Playoffs, 2026 Season

North Carolina Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy puts the ball back in play after making a save in a 2025 NWSL match.
North Carolina Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy will reportedly join incoming NWSL expansion side Boston Legacy FC in 2026. (Grant Halverson/NWSL via Getty Images)

As the 2025 NWSL season winds down, top players are on the move as teams across the league look to stock their rosters in order to either boost their postseason odds or hit the ground running in 2026.

Incoming expansion side Boston Legacy FC is stocking up their 2026 debut roster, adding 18-year-old phenom Chloe Ricketts to their midfield and Brazilian international Amanda Gutierres — a 2025 Ballon d'Or nominee and two-time Golden Boot winner in Brazil's top-flight league — to their front line last week.

Along with that offensive firepower, Boston is on track to gain one of the NWSL's top veteran goalkeepers, with ESPN reporting last week that NC Courage net-minder Casey Murphy — a longtime USWNT backup to legend Alyssa Naeher — inked a deal to join the Legacy as soon as she becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025 season.

The NWSL newcomer isn't the only club making moves, however.

Angel City and Portland have also been busy, with the Thorns sending midfielder Hina Sugita to the LA club in exchange for defender MA Vignola and $600,000 in intra-league transfer funds last week.

While there's no deadline for finalizing 2026 free agent transactions, the 2025 NWSL trade window officially closes this Thursday, leaving playoff-hopeful teams scrambling to pad their rosters while other clubs shift to focus on the future.

Racing Louisville Tops NC Courage to Near Club-1st NWSL Playoffs Berth

Racing Louisville FC players celebrate a goal during a 2025 NWSL match.
Racing Louisville is currently on track to secure a franchise-first ticket to the NWSL Playoffs. (Grant Halverson/NWSL via Getty Images)

With just three matchdays left in the regular season, Racing Louisville FC is on the brink of franchise history, launching themselves into contention for a 2025 NWSL Playoffs berth at No. 7 on the table behind a 3-1 win over the No. 9 North Carolina Courage on Saturday.

Louisville forward and USWNT rising star Emma Sears notched a brace while midfielder Kayla Fischer — Sears's collegiate teammate — also found the back of the net in the victory, with the Ohio State alums helping lift Racing to sit four points above the postseason cutoff line.

"I'm so proud of this group," Louisville head coach Bev Yanez said post-game. "I think that's a very big win in a very crucial time."

Joining the league as a 2021 expansion team, Racing Louisville is still searching for a first-ever ticket to the NWSL Playoffs, with an October 19th clash against a surging No. 3 Gotham FC marking the club's toughest test still to come in the 2025 campaign.

Notably, No. 8 San Diego's ongoing skid helped Louisville climb the standings, with the Wave suffering their seventh consecutive winless match in a 2-1 loss to the postseason-bound No. 2 Washington Spirit on Sunday.

All in all, the battle for both spots and seeding in the 2025 NWSL Playoffs is tighter than ever, as only four points separate Nos. 3 and 8 on the table — meaning competition will only heat up as the league races toward Decision Day on November 2nd.

Explosive Offense Powers Las Vegas Aces to 2-0 2025 WNBA Finals Lead

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson high-fives guard Jackie Young during Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Finals.
Las Vegas Aces star and reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson is averaging 24.5 points through the first two games of the 2025 Finals. (Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)

The No. 2 Las Vegas Aces raced to a 2-0 series lead in the 2025 WNBA Finals over the weekend, opening with a close 89-86 Game 1 victory over the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury on Friday before pulling off a more dominant 91-78 Game 2 win on Sunday.

The Aces' offense ruled the court, with guards Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd putting up a momentum-shifting combined 39 points off the bench in Game 1 before Game 2 saw guard Jackie Young post 32 points — setting a WNBA Finals record with the most points by a player in a single quarter (21).

Young and 2025 WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson — who is averaging 24.5 points per game through the first two Finals matchups — also became the second-most prolific duo in a single Finals game in WNBA history by combining for 60 of Las Vegas's 91 points on Sunday.

"I am so proud of Jackie," Wilson said after Sunday's win. "I'm a pain in the ass sometimes when she's not doing her job, because I know that [potential] is there."

Hunting their third title in four years, Las Vegas veterans Wilson, Young, and guard Chelsea Gray are combining with new signings Evans and Loyd to make things difficult for the new-look Mercury.

"We have weapons," Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon said. "We want to use them all, because we're harder to guard that way."

"What gives me confidence is we've been down before," countered Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts. "We've been overlooked."

While no WNBA Finals team has ever bounced back from a 0-2 start, the league's new best-of-seven format gives the Mercury a little extra cushioning as the series travels to Phoenix for Game 3 on Wednesday.

How to watch Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals

The No. 4 Phoenix Mercury will hunt their first victory in the 2025 WNBA Finals on home court when they host the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces for Game 3 at 8 PM ET on Wednesday.

Live coverage will air on ESPN.

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