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NWSL Challenge Cup: Taking stock of every team as the games begin

Trinity Rodman and the 2021 NWSL champion Washington Spirit are the team to beat. (Jesse Louie/Just Women’s Sports)

We have rosters, we have a schedule, and on Friday the NWSL will officially kick off Year 10 with the third annual Challenge Cup. Almost every team underwent excessive change over the last three months, as two expansion sides joined the league and front office shake-ups prompted more player movement than we’ve ever seen before.

The 2022 Challenge Cup will likely bring unpredictable chaos, but if you’re looking for a rundown on what to watch for as we get our first taste of club soccer in the U.S. in 2022, Just Women’s Sports has you covered.

West Division

Angel City FC

Is their coach brand new: Freya Coombe was named Gotham FC interim manager in September 2019. She then led the club without the interim tag through 2020, and much of the 2021 season before Angel City poached her in August.

Players you may know: Angel City’s star is Christen Press, who makes her return to the league after spending time in England and away from the sport. Dani Weatherholt will likely anchor the midfield, and watch for former Thorns forward Simone Charley.

Players you get to meet: Angel City has brought in several exciting new faces to the league, including Stefany Ferrer Van Winkel of UANL Tigres, Jun Endo of Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza, and Vanessa Gilles, formerly of Bordeaux but best-known internationally for her play with Canada at the Tokyo Olympics.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: Don’t underestimate having a coach that understands the NWSL. Angel City has the element of surprise on their side and has assembled a nicely balanced squad. Expansion clubs sometimes play their best games before their opposition has a chance to adapt.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: The preseason injuries to Sarah Gorden and Paige Nielsen are really unfortunate. For a side that had the setup for a quick transition three-back formation, the losses of two starter-level center backs force the team into Plan B before they’ve ever even played a game.

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Abby Dahlkemper will look to anchor San Diego Wave FC's backline. (Courtesy of San Diego Wave FC)

San Diego Wave FC

Is their coach brand new: Casey Stoney is well-known in England as both a former player and the manager who brought the Manchester United women’s side to life in 2018.

Players you may know: USWNT defender Abby Dahlkemper has been the face of the team as their first official signing. Alex Morgan will be joining her, getting a fresh start after many years with the Orlando Pride. In terms of a big three, the addition of goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan is huge for the squad as they try to establish a sturdy defense.

Players you get to meet: San Diego came out of the offseason with a couple of really exciting college draft picks, though not of the same year. In a pre-draft trade with the Chicago Red Stars, the Wave acquired Santa Clara standout Kelsey Turnbow. The team then selected Stanford defender Naomi Girma as the first overall pick of the 2022 draft.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: Good vibes? San Diego still has some serious positional pieces to work out, but signs from camp indicate that the players are gelling in ways they might not have experienced on their former club teams.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: San Diego still has holes to fill in the midfield, and it’s very hard to succeed in the NWSL without a strong one. If the Wave have to resort to long-ball tactics, opponents will likely find them predictable enough to get stuck in and disrupt their style of play.

Portland Thorns

Is their coach brand new: Rhian Wilkinson is a former NWSL player and Canadian international who finished her playing career with the Thorns. Since then, she’s coached the Canada U-20 team and served in an interim position with the England national team.

Players you may know: You can’t talk about Portland without captain Christine Sinclair. Veteran Emily Menges will hold down the backlin in the absence of Becky Sauerbrunn, who recently had surgery for a torn meniscus. Portland will hope for a breakout tournament from third-year forward Sophia Smith, who’s been in great form during preseason.

Players you get to meet: Portland has some tinkering to do in the midfield without Lindsey Horan and Crystal Dunn. Yazmeen Ryan and Sam Coffey, both selected in the 2021 College Draft, will both get playing time as a result. Fans might also see more of Olivia Moultrie; the 16-year-old had a very good U-20 World Cup qualifying tournament this month.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: They won it last year, albeit with a very different group. Portland’s excellence on the backline will make it difficult for other teams to penetrate, and if they play with a more methodical approach in the midfield and let Smith loose up top, they could be one of the most lethal teams early on.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: Lindsey Horan and Crystal Dunn are irreplaceable. Wilkinson will also have a natural learning curve in her first games as an NWSL manager, though signs point to the team taking on a more defensive shape to compensate.

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Lauren Barnes, Jess Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe are the veteran leaders of OL Reign. (Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

OL Reign

Is their coach brand new: You don’t get more OG than Laura Harvey, who coached the Reign in their first four NWSL seasons. She spent time away from the club, first at the Utah Royals and then within the USWNT youth system, but she returned in 2021.

Players you definitely know: OL Reign’s original three of Jess Fishlock, Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Barnes illustrate how one the Reign’s biggest strengths is their veteran core. Sofia Huerta is poised for another big step forward, and Bethany Balcer will be tasked with helping generate an attack that is missing a few big names from last season.

Players you get to meet: Defender Phoebe McClernon joined the squad by way of the Orlando Pride, while Ally Watt will get a chance to reintroduce herself after a few lost years due to injury.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: OL Reign have one of the most consistent rosters going into 2022 and are stacked in many areas of the field. They also have the benefit of Harvey’s steady hand as a coach, which could give them a serious edge in the West division.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: They should be one of the top contenders for the trophy, but the Reign haven’t made a Cup or championship final since 2015. It will take shaking off whatever has held them back in recent years to seal the deal. This might be just the right group to get over that hump.

Central Division

Chicago Red Stars

Is their coach brand new: Chicago hired former SMU coach Chris Petrucelli weeks into preseason. He has experience coaching at the USWNT youth levels and has maintained a steady program within the college ranks, but he has no professional level experience.

Players you may know: Expect Morgan Gautrat’s role as midfield maestro to expand. Tierna Davidson may have the most difficult task in the early going, anchoring a defense that will look very different than the group that led the Red Stars to the 2021 NWSL championship game.

Players you get to meet: Second-year defender Tatumn Milazzo will likely take on even more responsibility in the absence of Casey Krueger. Likewise, 2020 draft pick Ella Stevens will have an expanded role in the team’s attack, and 2022 draft pick Ava Cook could also get a look.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: The Red Stars have always been full of surprises. The midfield’s play gives the team a chance at success in every game, and if they advance to the knockout stages, there’s no reason to think they can’t make another final.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: Chicago lost a lot of talent in the offseason and didn’t get much back in return. While the remaining veterans can compete with anybody, depth is a big issue and doesn’t necessarily bode well for getting out of the group stage.

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Racing Louisville has high hopes for forward Ebony Salmon in 2022. (Daniel Bartel/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Racing Louisville

Is their coach brand new: Kim Bjorkegren, the Swedish manager who has coached in China and in Cyprus, was hired early in the offseason. Subsequently, he has had more of a hand in Louisville’s roster operations than most other new coaches.

Players you may know: Defenders Gemma Bonner and Emily Fox were named to the team’s captaincy group this week, alongside Nadia Nadim — who, while injured, will be a major presence as a leader. Louisville will also look for further growth from Ebony Salmon, who showed flashes of brilliance last year.

Players you get to meet: Jessica McDonald playing in lavender is a big deal, and she’s going to be key when it comes to linking with Salmon and helping a young group develop behind her. Jaelin Howell, the team’s 2022 No. 2 pick, will be tasked right away with filling in at the No. 6, a space Racing left exposed too many times in 2021.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: In these sorts of Cup competitions, youthful fearlessness can go a long way. Fox has been known to set the tone as a roving outside back/midfielder, and if her energy can make its way to the rest of the squad, they might have a few surprises up their sleeve.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: Louisville is in the process of improving from a 2021 season that started strong and faded over time. It might be in their best interest not to chase results this time around, and take the pressure off the players to build for the long-term future.

Houston Dash

Is their coach brand new: James Clarkson is currently one of the longest-tenured NWSL coaches, having served in the role since 2019. Clarkson has turned the club around with his approach, but he has yet to lead the team past the high of their 2020 Challenge Cup win.

Players you may know: Canadian veteran Sophie Schmidt will pair with Katie Naughton on Houston’s backline. 2020 Challenge Cup hero Shea Groom will be key in the midfield, namely forming connections with England international Rachel Daly.

Players you get to meet: All eyes are on Maria Sánchez, who rejoins the league after a very successful stint in Liga MX Femenil. She’ll be tasked with filling the space left by Kristie Mewis and providing a spark Houston will need to make it out of the group stage.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: When the Dash are at their best, they’re unbeatable. What they struggled with most in 2021 was consistency, but the nice thing about Challenge Cups is a surge of form can make all the difference.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: We aren’t going to know what Houston looks like without Kristie Mewis until we see it, and a new defensive partnership takes time. Depth will be a concern hanging for the Dash.

Kansas City Current

Is their coach brand new: Matt Potter was hired by the team in the offseason after Huw Williams stepped back into a front-office role. Potter has experience as a college coach and was an assistant in the USWNT system.

Players you may know: This is not the Utah Royals roster Kansas City inherited last year. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch will provide a steady presence in goal, and Desiree Scott will be key as an anchor in the midfield.

Players you get to meet: It’s hard to imagine Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis playing for any team other than North Carolina, but the “Snacks” duo will provide a huge boost to Kansas City’s ability to move the ball and finish chances.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: Kansas City’s stats looked pretty good by the end of the 2021 regular season, and if they can match results with what they’re generating between the lines, they have a chance to become a real contender.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: An expansion team in spirit if not in name last year, Kansas City reminded us that these kinds of projects take time, and might not be finished ahead of the regular season.

East Division

Gotham FC

Is their coach brand new: Scott Parkinson has more experience than most. He was an NWSL assistant in both Utah and Chicago, and he steered Gotham to the playoffs in 2021.

Players you may know: Gotham held onto many of their stars in the 2021 offseason. Midge Purce and Ifeoma Onumonu will continue their partnership up top, and Caprice Dydasco will look to back up her 2021 Defender of the Year campaign.

Players you get to meet: Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris, welcome to New York. The connections Kristie Mewis forms with Purce and Onumonu will be critical for Gotham’s attack.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: Gotham’s moves this offseason look good on paper, in terms of both positional need and veteran leadership. They’ll want to go for every available trophy with this group, and they have a prime opportunity to improve upon their Cup final appearance in 2021.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: Similar to Mewis’ place in Houston, I don’t know what Gotham’s defense looks like without Kailen Sheridan. They had a method to their madness last season that led to an outsized ability to block shots. Harris’ ability to gel with Gotham’s established backline will be key.

North Carolina Courage

Is their coach brand new: As a head coach, yes. Sean Nahas is a longtime North Carolina assistant coach who had the support of the player pool in the wake of Paul Riley’s dismissal last year.

Players you may know: North Carolina is Debinha’s team now. The Brazilian wunderkind will have to take over a midfield that is now permanently missing Sam Mewis, and score goals with a frontline that no longer features Jessica McDonald and Lynn Williams. The Courage will rely on Abby Erceg and Casey Murphy to steady the defense.

Players you get to meet: This will hopefully be fans’ first real look at 2021 draft pick Brianna Pinto, who never fully settled in at Gotham before joining North Carolina in the offseason. Malia Berkely and Kiki Pickett could also prove to be savvy pick-ups.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: The Courage are underdogs in this competition, and that could prove to be a galvanizing force. The Courage have also built a roster of undervalued talent that might shock a few opponents.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: This is as close to a full rebuild as the Courage have ever attempted, and trying to force the whole package together this early in the year might be a risky strategy. North Carolina will benefit from the new players getting minutes and learning from them.

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Amanda Cromwell left her post at UCLA to lead the Orlando Pride's rebuild. (Courtesy of the Orlando Pride)

Orlando Pride

Is their coach brand new: To the professional game, yes. Amanda Cromwell took something of a leap of faith this year, jumping from a very comfortable position as UCLA’s longtime coach to guide the Pride through their rebuild.

Players you may know: Sydney Leroux returns after a resurgent 2021 season, and Marta will continue to make things happen in the midfield.

Players you get to meet: Not as many as the Pride might have liked. They picked up Megan Montefusco (née Oyster) from the Houston Dash, and the 29-year-old will be an anchor on their defense, alongside Celia Jimenez Delgado. The larger story of the offseason was Orlando’s loss of top 2022 draft pick Mia Fishel, who chose to play for Tigres instead.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: The Pride actually played quite well in a direct style in the early stages of the 2021 regular season, and they might be able to pull off a few upsets using that same style this year.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: The Pride are mid-rebuild, and not every break has gone their way in player retention. The group will get valuable experience before preseason begins, and the goal has to be as much about evaluation as results.

Washington Spirit

Is their coach brand new: Not anymore. Kris Ward joined the Spirit on an interim basis midseason last year after the removal of Richie Burke. In something of a miraculous run, the team has yet to lose under his tenure, and his interim tag was removed in the offseason.

Players you may know: The Spirit have retained almost every player from their 2021 NWSL championship team. Kelley O’Hara, Sam Staab and Emily Sonnett all return to the backline. The midfield and attack are similarly stacked: Andi Sullivan leads the team from the No. 6 position, and Trinity Rodman, Ashley Sanchez and Ashley Hatch are all in peak form after stints with the national team.

Players you get to meet: By nature of a steady offseason, fewer than other teams. They did pick up some veteran depth in goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and defender Amber Brooks, and they signed 2022 14th overall pick Tinaya Alexander.

Why they’ll win the Challenge Cup: In my opinion, anything less is a disappointment in D.C. The Spirit are riding the momentum of their 2021 championship win, and that group remains almost completely intact, led by a coach whom they trust.

Why they won’t win the Challenge Cup: There was an element of magic to the Spirit’s unbeaten run last year, and they’re going to have to get used to being the favorites. They’ll also miss the playmaking ability of Tori Huster, forcing other players to step up.

Claire Watkins is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports covering soccer and the NWSL. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

USC Takes Down UConn as Upsets Rattle NCAA Basketball’s Top Ranks

JuJu Watkins of USC is defended by Paige Bueckers of the Connecticut Huskies
JuJu Watkins registered 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists in Saturday's win. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)

No. 7 USC took down No. 4 UConn on Saturday, winning 72-70 in a battle between two bonafide NCAA basketball championship contenders still figuring out a consistent flow of play.

USC led by as many as 18 in the first half. However UConn came storming back, briefly pulling ahead in the fourth quarter before the Trojans outlasted the Huskies to secure the narrow victory.

JuJu holds on to secure USC win

With UConn superstar Paige Bueckers tight on her heels, USC standout JuJu Watkins registered a game-leading 25 points, alongside six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks.

Bueckers and Huskies freshman Sarah Strong split scoring duties for UConn, notching 22 points each with Strong adding 11 rebounds.

After opening the season at No. 2, this highly touted UConn squad has dropped pivotal games against Notre Dame and now USC to go 0-2 in Top 10 matchups. It's a pattern legendary coach Auriemma will hope to correct before the Huskies face their next ranked opponent in early February.

"I thought the execution part in the first half was just as bad as I've seen in a few years here in Connecticut," Huskies boss Geno Auriemma said after the loss.

"This is a really significant win, and it's a really significant win because of the stature of UConn's program and what Geno Auriemma has done for our sport," commented USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb.

Reigan Richardson of Duke is introduced before an NCAA women's basketball game.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Weekend upsets shake top-ranked NCAA basketball teams

Elsewhere, upsets dominated the NCAA basketball conversation this weekend, with Top 25 contenders falling short as this season's undefeated list continues to shrink.

No. 15 Michigan State saw their first loss on Friday, falling to unranked Alabama 82-67 in a low scoring matchup. Afterwards, No. 9 Duke suffered their own unranked loss on Saturday, ceding a tough defensive battle to USF 65-56.

Seventeenth-ranked Georgia Tech remains undefeated with Saturday's ranked win over No. 23 Nebraska, while No. 14 West Virginia lost to unranked Colorado later that day.

Parity is the name of the game this season, with conference realignment, the transfer portal, and other recent shifts impacting a number of programs across the NCAA. And with conference play looming, teams will rely on regional rivalries and schedule strength to prepare them for heightened competition in the new year.

Penn State Revives Dynasty with 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship Win

Penn St. Nittany Lions celebrate after defeating the Louisville Cardinals to win the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship held at the KFC YUM! Center on December 22, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Penn State won their first volleyball championship in 10 seasons. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Penn State won the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship on Sunday, rising above Louisville's hometown advantage and a monster second set by the Cardinals to claim the program's eighth all-time title and first in 10 years.

In the victory, Penn State head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley became the first woman head coach in NCAA tournament history to win the championship — all while battling breast cancer.

Penn State tops Louisville in a back-and-forth matchup

Sunday's championship game drew a sell-out crowd of 21,860 to the KFC Yum Center in downtown Louisville, setting a new NCAA volleyball championship record. It was Louisville's second-ever title match, after finishing second to Texas in 2022.

After suffering an ankle injury in Thursday's semifinal upset against Pitt, however, Louisville entered the match without senior outside hitter Anna DeBeer. The absence ultimately proved too great to overcome.

The Nittany Lions won the first set 25-23, before Louisville saved 10 set points to dramatically take the second set 34-32.

But the Nittany Lions roared back, overwhelming the Cardinals to win the third set 25-20 before closing out the deciding set 25-17.

Head Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley of the Penn St. Nittany Lions celebrates after defeating the Louisville Cardinals to win the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship.
Penn State's Katie Schumacher-Cawley is the tournament's first-ever woman head coach. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

A moving win for Penn State's women's volleyball coach

Penn State coach Schumacher-Cawley, who was diagnosed with cancer last fall, stayed with her team throughout the 2024 season.

"I'm very happy for Katie, and it's a big deal for this sport," Louisville head coach Dani Busboom Kelly said. "I'm thankful… that we can move on and that more women will be in this position in the future."

As for Schumacher-Cawley, she remained ever humble.

"I'm inspired by the young kids that are sick," she said after the win. "If I can be an inspiration, then I take that. But I feel good. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by so many great people."

New York Sirens Continue 2024/25 PWHL Surge

The New York Sirens celebrate a goal by Noora Tulus.
The Sirens dominated Toronto in their 2024/25 home opener on Wednesday. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The new-look New York Sirens continue to impress in the early stages of the 2024/25 PWHL season, most recently notching a big 4-2 win over Toronto in the the team home opener on Wednesday.

All four of New York's goals came in the second period — the most in a single period all season — and all were the first goals of the season by each scorer.

Finland international Noora Tulus opened the game's scoring with her first PWHL goal, with teammates Emmy Fecteau, Micah Zandee-Hart, and Jaime Bourbonnais following suit. Both Fecteau's goal and team captain Zandee-Hart's were the first of their PWHL careers.

Sirens rookie Sarah Fillier and teammate Alex Carpenter both assisted on Tulus's game-opening goal, with each booking a point in their fourth straight contest. Fillier remains in the PWHL's lead with two goals and five assists for a total of seven points, while Carpenter is just behind with six points — though her three goals make her the league's scoring leader.

As for the Sceptres, forwards Hannah Miller and former Siren Emma Woods each made a dent in the scoresheet with goals of their own in the third period, but it wasn't quite enough as Toronto failed to complete the comeback.

Last-place Toronto has now allowed their opponents to breach the scoresheet first in each of their 2024/25 matchups, ultimately losing their last three games in regulation.

New York Siren rookie Sarah Fillier skates against Toronto.
PWHL rookie Sarah Fillier will try to lead New York past reigning champs Minnesota on Sunday. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

New York Sirens to face Minnesota Frost in top matchup

New York's shifting fortune highlights the second-season league's rapidly growing parity. With only one loss through their first four games, the Sirens sit in second place to stake an early season claim on "most improved" after finishing last in the PWHL's inaugural season.

Just above New York on the league's table are the Minnesota Frost. The reigning Walter Cup champions are holding strong as the team to beat, but New York has already proved that it's possible after handing Minnesota an overtime 4-3 season-opening loss on December 1st.

The Sirens' will officially take aim at the top of the PWHL table on Sunday, when New York will try to gift Minnesota a second season loss in the league's pre-Christmas closer. This time, the Sirens will have the crowd on their side as the Frost visit New York's home ice.

How to watch New York Sirens vs. Minnesota Frost in PWHL action

The puck is set to drop on New York vs. Minnesota at 12 PM ET on Sunday, with live streaming coverage on YouTube.

Underdogs Triumph in 2024 NCAA Volleyball Final Four 

A wide view of Louisville's KFC Yum! Center packed with fans for the 2024 NCAA volleyball semifinals.
An NCAA volleyball semifinals record of 21,726 fans attended Thursday's matches. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Despite being populated by all four No. 1 seeds, Thursday's 2024 NCAA volleyball semifinals served up the bracket's biggest upsets, as heavily favored Nebraska and overall top seed Pitt were sent packing by their conference foes.

In front of 21,726 fans — a new record for college volleyball's postseason — Louisville shocked Pitt with a 3-1 victory before Penn State ousted Nebraska in a five-set instant classic.

Louisville volleyball players celebrate a play against Pitt in Thursday's NCAA semifinal.
Louisville could become the first ACC team to win an NCAA volleyball championship. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Louisville books second national championship ticket

After dropping their first set to Pitt on Thursday night, it seemed the deck was stacked against the Cards, who had already lost twice to the Panthers in the regular season.

However, buoyed by their raucous home crowd, Louisville surged back, sweeping the next three sets to book their first trip to the national championship match since 2022, when they became the first and only ACC team to ever compete in the collegiate final.

As for Pitt, Thursday's loss was just their second all season, and not even 2024 AVCA Player of the Year Olivia Babcock's astounding 33 kills could extend their title chase. Notably, their national semifinal curse continues, with the Panthers now falling in the NCAA tournament's penultimate round for four straight years.

On the other hand, Louisville's victory was a true team effort, with three senior outside hitters — Anna DeBeer, Charitie Luper, and Sofia Maldonado Diaz — leading the offensive charge with 14 kills each.

The Cardinals' roster was also required to step up in unexpected ways. Just two points into the fourth set, Louisville star DeBeer crumbled to the court with an ankle injury and did not return to the match. The visibly shocked Cards looked to freshman Payton Petersen, who made a massive statement by recording two kills and four clutch digs to help seal the win.

"I wanted to do this for her," Petersen said of DeBeer. "She's meant so much to me."

Penn State volleyball celebrate their NCAA semifinal upset win over Nebraska in their locker room.
Penn State stunned Nebraska with a reverse sweep in the NCAA volleyball semifinals. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Penn State roars back to top Nebraska

In Thursday's battle between two Big Ten titans, the message was clear: Never count out the Nittany Lions.

After falling behind the Cornhuskers 2-0 in what increasingly looked like an inevitable Nebraska victory, Penn State emerged from the brink of defeat to pull off the first reverse sweep of the Huskers in the NCAA tournament since 1982.

Following a 5-0 run that helped the Nittany Lions stay alive with a third set win, they flipped a 22-16 deficit into a match-point battle that ended the fourth set 28-26 in Penn State's favor. With the match now equalized, Penn State took control in the fifth, holding off Nebraska 15-13 to clinch their first championship trip since winning their seventh title in 2014.

Star Jess Mruzik led the Nittany Lions' charge with a 26-kill, 12-dig double-double, putting together what Nebraska head coach John Cook called "one of the best performances [he's] ever seen by an outside hitter." 

Like Louisville's Petersen, freshmen also stepped up for Penn State, with Izzy Starck recording six key blocks and redshirt freshman Caroline Jurevicius hammering 20 kills against her former team, having transferred from Nebraska in December 2023.

As for the Huskers, their stacked roster showed out, with outside hitter Harper Murray leading the charge with a 20-kill, 15-dig double-double, plus three aces — the most by any player in either match on Thursday. Middle blocker Andi Jackson also had a standout night, putting together a near-errorless performance to finish with 19 kills.

Four-time All-American libero Lexi Rodriguez added program history to Thursday's mix, closing out her NCAA career as the Huskers' all-time digs leader with 1,896.

Penn State volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley gives player Jordan Hopp directions on the 2024 NCAA semifinals sideline.
Sunday's NCAA volleyball championship team will be the first led by a woman coach. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Sunday's court will make NCAA history

Louisville and Penn State's semifinal victories have guaranteed that Sunday's 44th NCAA volleyball championship match will go down in the history books.

With Dani Busboom Kelly leading the Cardinals and Katie Schumacher-Cawley coaching the Nittany Lions, a woman head coach will lift the national championship trophy for the first time.

Only two women have ever coached their teams into the college volleyball final, with Florida's Mary Wise doing so in 2003 and 2017 before Busboom Kelly followed in 2022.

For context, the last seven Division I basketball trophies came under women head coaches.

The fact that this glass ceiling still exists is partially due to volleyball having less women in head coaching positions than other NCAA sports. Less than half of Division I's 334 teams are led by a woman, while basketball boasts nearly 68% female leadership and softball claims almost 74%.

Busboom Kelly's ACC exceeds that 50% stat, but the Schumacher-Cawley remains one of only six women leading the Big Ten's 18 teams.

Both of Sunday's sideline leaders know what it takes to win the national championship, with Schumacher-Cawley taking the 1999 title while playing for Penn State and Busboom Kelly doing the same with Nebraska in 2006.

Even so, in some ways, this year's title will mean even more, as the coaches pave the way for future generations of volleyball leaders.

"[There’s] just honestly no better feeling than being led by a female because that could be me someday, that could be one of my teammates someday," Mruzik noted

How to watch the 2024 NCAA volleyball championship match

Sunday's final won't just make women's coaching history, it could see Louisville earn the ACC's first-ever NCAA volleyball title. But to do so, the Cardinals, who fell to Penn State 3-0 in early September, will have to deny the Nittany Lions an eighth national championship.

NCAA volleyball will crown its Division I champion in Sunday's 3 PM ET match, with live coverage on ABC.

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