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NWSL Challenge Cup: What We’ve Learned so Far

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After six games, we have a solid idea of what the tournament will look like, and it could not be more of a treat.

Notwithstanding fake crowd noise, which will always be contentious, the opening days have been a fantastic showing for the league. Beginning with 572,000 viewers on CBS for the opening matchup, the NWSL has basked in its spotlight.

With that spotlight, however, came contention. As the first league back, one of the biggest stories heading into the tournament was how teams would comport themselves during the national anthem. The Cup began on the right track with a unified message in support of Black Lives Matter. As games went on, more of the conversation turned to individual players and the choices they made. The league has since decided it will allow players to remain in the locker room during the national anthem. Needless to say, this will continue to be a story moving forward, as the individual actions continue to be treated as emblematic of a broader, national discussion.

Surprisingly, the rust that was expected for players that have only had limited time to train and few preseason opportunities in game-like situations never seemed to materialize. From the first game, fans have been shown world-class soccer. Every game has been competitive, and never before has the league displayed such widespread, high-level parity.
With a two day respite before games resume, let’s check in and see what we’ve learned from each team so far.


North Carolina Courage: There are wins that are perfect, like when North Carolina beat Portland 6-0 last year in Providence Park. Other wins fall into the category of “gritty not pretty,” which is how you’d have to describe the Courage’s opening match win over Portland in this Cup. Nonetheless, Paul Riley’s team still established itself as that team in their opening victory. This is a team that knows how to win and has all the pieces to do so, and the roommate connection between Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis for the game-winning goal was picture perfect.

North Carolina exhibited its pedigree once again on Wednesday as they took advantage of the Washington Spirit’s mistakes in possession, winning 2-0. Patience and pressure on the backline paid off, and being able to sub in Sam Mewis and Crystal Dunn at halftime is what a coach’s dreams are made of.

Moving ahead, the two-time defending champs are still the team to beat. Williams is an elite scorer, Debinha is involved in every build-up play, the defense is humming, and the midfield consistently asserting itself.

Portland Thorns: With just one point after two games, the Thorns may be disappointed in their showing thus far, but there is little reason to be. Certainly, the loss in stoppage time to North Carolina was heartbreaking. At the same time, it was a sign of good things to come. Bella Bixby had a fantastic debut in goal and was in position to make a stop on the winning score. Adjusting to Becky Sauerbrunn at center back was not immediate, but grew over the course of the game.

Against Chicago, Portland was certainly hoping for a breakthrough goal, but it only became more clear that their direct style of play was not going to work without a finisher up top. In the midfield, Lindsey Horan seems stranded without outlets. Even before she left the game with a bloodied shin, her frustration was showing. Christine Sinclair is alone and is no longer a singular force. For a team with the Thorns’ prestige, learning on the job is frowned upon. In this tournament, however, Portland would be wise to look at Chicago’s model to try out some new lineups, especially offensive pairings, to find the best fit. After all, through their first games they have shown that even with a depleted roster, the squad can still compete.

Washington Spirit: The youngest team in the tournament entered the Challenge Cup with a lot to prove. The broadcast has highlighted it well, but part of the Spirit’s ongoing culture shift has been to approach each game as a must-win. Rose Lavelle has proven she’s the key to any winning strategy, but she is not alone, as many other young players have stepped up. Aubrey Bledsoe has been a beast in the net, making several phenomenal saves, including the Save of the Match against Chicago.

Still, there is considerable room to grow for a side that has upped its level of play considerably. That was on display against North Carolina. The tactical decision to try and out-possess the Courage was the right one, and was even suggested by Haley Kopmeyer on Just Women’s Sports’ IG live with David Copeland Smith of Beast Mode Soccer ahead of the match. Nevertheless, the Spirit’s back line was not playing high enough up the pitch with or without possession, putting unnecessary strain on the midfield. When North Carolina brought in its reinforcements, the Spirit defense crumbled.

Chicago Red Stars: Their outlook on this tournament is perfect. With every team making it to the knockout round, there is little incentive to overexert in the seeding stage. The worst that can happen is an early meeting with one of the league’s top teams, but as the 2019 Runner-Up, Chicago believes it can match up with any team.

The quality of coaching was on full display as the Red Stars worked in an entirely different starting XI in the second game. In their first game, beside the noticeable absence of Tierna Davidson on the backline, Chicago played a solid game against Washington. The team will need to grow into its methodical style of play, but has the talent to do so. The moment between Casey Short and Julie Ertz drew a lot of national attention, and for good reason. Judging by the statement they put out as a pair, it’s clear this team is building deep cohesion through tough, honest, and necessary conversations.

Houston Dash: In case it wasn’t already known, Rachel Daly is legit. Copeland believes she should have had a hat trick against the Royals, and I would tend to agree.

That finishing ability is exactly what Houston needs from its top scorer. The entire complexion of the game changed with a first half stoppage time goal and a goal right out of the second half gates. The reverberations from Shea Groom’s strike are probably now just being felt in Houston.

There is a lot to clean up for the Dash, with the two set piece goals they allowed, one of which being the late-game equalizer. Still, their performance against the Royals both electrified fans and gave the team reasons to be optimistic about the chances of a deep tournament run.

Utah Royals: In the most exciting game of the tournament to this point, depending on your perspective, the Royals played either the hero or the villain. Mostly, the brilliant comeback says a lot about the team’s mentality. Letting a lead slip away with three unanswered goals is crushing, but then coming back with a perfect free kick and rookie Tziarra King scoring her first career goal? Priceless. In recent memory, goals have never been a given for Utah. Seeing them put up a trio of scores had to be a welcome sign for Royals faithful.

Lo’eau LaBonta had the best pass in the tournament so far, putting the entire Houston team out of position to set up Amy Rodriguez’s assist on the first goal. Later, she expertly cleared a ball off the goal line. Utah will not want another singular player beating them again, but facing Rachel Daly and learning from the tape is part of growth.

OL Reign: Their look is definitely different this year, and it’s not just the logo and uniforms. Still, OL Reign’s mentality is defense first. New head coach Farid Benstiti kept his plans for the team close to the vest, then put out a defensive minded starting lineup in their game against Sky Blue FC.

As is often the case in a scoreless game, the back line looked solid, but the Lauren Barnes-led group made plays and even shut down the second half attack. Alana Cook, on loan from PSG, slotted alongside at center back comfortably. As was clear with some late substitutions, there was a lot of attacking flair on the bench. Now, the puzzle becomes how to incorporate that half of the roster. It will take some time, but the pieces are coming together.

Sky Blue FC: Although their game against OL Reign was low on action, it was fun to see the debut of Midge Purce and McCall Zerboni. With the lack of an attack, however, many people will call for Purce to be moved up the pitch into the attack. There are many systems in which a right back can be an extra winger, but Sky Blue is not quite there.

As a team that was not tested much and did not do much probing, there is not much to be learned about Sky Blue from their opening performance. Except to say that whenever Kailen Sheridan was tested in goal, she was more than up to the task.

UConn Skids, Notre Dame Soars in Latest AP Poll Top 25 NCAA Basketball Rankings

The Notre Dame basketball bench celebrates a basket during a game.
The Irish were awarded their highest AP Poll ranking since 2019 this week. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

A recent string of Top 10 upsets made its mark on Monday's updated AP Top 25 Poll, as undefeated No. 1 UCLA continues holding court above the shifting chaos.

Notre Dame rose to No. 2 for the first time since 2019, buoyed by strong performances against Stanford and then-No. 21 Cal last week.

Climbing to No. 3 was Texas, who claimed the boost by ending South Carolina's multi-year SEC unbeaten streak on Sunday. As a result, the defending champion Gamecocks fell from No. 2 to No. 4.

On the other hand, No. 15 Tennessee is on the upswing, as last Thursday's upset win over UConn lifted the Vols four spots while sending the Huskies skidding from No. 5 to No. 7.

No. 20 Oklahoma State achieved the week's biggest win, however, as Saturday's 85-55 blowout victory over then-No. 12 Kansas Sate gave the Cowgirls a five-spot boost.

Texas guard Rori Harmon dribbles past South Carolina's MiLaysia Fulwiley during a 2025 NCAA basketball game.
Both Texas and South Carolina are projected NCAA tournament No. 1 seeds. (Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Teams jockey for AP Poll positions as March Madness looms

While a jump in the rankings certainly provides bragging rights, it also impacts both conference and NCAA tournament seeding as the regular season winds down.

ESPN's Bracketology currently has UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Texas taking the NCAA tournament's four No. 1 seeds. Notably, two of those teams — the Bruins and the Longhorns — are rookies in their respective conferences, showcasing significant dominance fresh out of the realignment gate.

Meanwhile, other major players like LSU, USC, and UConn still have time to pad their resumes en route to their conference showdowns, which will tip off in early March.

AP College Basketball Top 25: Week 15

1. UCLA (23-0, Big Ten)
2. Notre Dame (21-2, ACC)
3. Texas (24-2, SEC)
4. South Carolina (22-2, SEC)
5. LSU (25-1, SEC)
6. USC (21-2, Big Ten)
7. UConn (22-3, Big East)
8. Kentucky (19-3, SEC)
9. Ohio State (20-3, Big Ten)
10. NC State (19-4, ACC)
11. TCU (22-3, Big 12)
12. North Carolina (21-4, ACC)
13. Duke (19-5, ACC)
14. Kansas State (22-3, Big 12)
15. Tennessee (17-6, SEC)
16. Oklahoma (18-6, SEC)
17. Maryland (19-5, Big Ten)
18. West Virginia (19-4, Big 12)
19. Georgia Tech (20-4, ACC)
20. Oklahoma State (19-4, Big 12)
21. Alabama (20-5, SEC)
22. Michigan State (18-5, Big Ten)
23. Florida State (19-5, ACC)
24. Creighton (20-4, Big East)
25. Baylor (20-5, Big 12)

Napheesa Collier Talks the Future of Unrivaled on ‘Sports Are Fun!’ with Kelley O’Hara

Cover image for Sports Are Fun! with Kelley O'Hara showing Unrivaled co-founder and WNBA star Napheesa Collier.
WNBA star and Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier guest stars on this week's 'Sports Are Fun!'

Welcome to another episode of Sports Are Fun! presented by TurboTax.

The second episode of Sports Are Fun! dropped today, with soccer icon Kelley O'Hara, sports journalist Greydy Diaz, and JWS intern BJ professing their hottest takes all things women's sports — joined this week by WNBA superstar and Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball co-founder Napheesa Collier.

"It felt like everyone is making money off of women's sports except for the women in the sports," Collier said, reflecting on developing the offseason league's profit-sharing business model.

"And so, we offer the highest average team salary in women's sports, and we're giving equity to everyone who's playing."

In addition to chatting with Collier about all things Unrivaled, the crew also gets into even more WNBA offseason moves, Midge Purce's return to Gotham, Hope Solo's TST team, South Carolina and UConn's upcoming NCAA battle, and so much more.

Collier gives 'Sports Are Fun!' the inside scoop on Unrivaled

Guest star Napheesa Collier takes the group on a deep dive into offseason league Unrivaled. She talks through everything from dealing with injuries and living with teammates 24/7 to handling a business and going head-to-head in this week's 1v1 tournament.

"I mean, we're all in in one place, right? Our locker rooms are all in one hallway, we share food spaces, training spaces like cold tubs, saunas — all communal areas except for locker rooms." Collier says, describing the league's Miami campus. "It's really fun to see that behind-the-scenes stuff happening in real time."

"I have my own room, which is unlike what happened in college," she continues with a laugh. "I would compare it more to the Wubble, except, you know, we have free will this time around. But the the close proximity I actually really like — I think it's really fun. I think it's super convenient, just having everyone in one space. Cutting back on travel also is so, so nice."

Of course, the future is bright for the first-year league. For its second season, Unrivaled is planning to take the show on the road, dropping into cities around the country to give fans a front-row seat to the 3×3 action.

"We are planning to do on-the-road games where we go to a city for a night and we basically play in a full arena and then we make it a whole event for the fans," Collier says, detailing Unrivaled's plans for a takeover tour similar to what the PWHL is currently staging around North America. "Definitely not all the games — just a couple. You can hit markets that aren't necessarily cities where you can bring [regular-season] basketball."

Sports Are Fun! graphic featuring soccer legend Kelley O'Hara.
'Sports Are Fun!' places Kelley O'Hara at the intersection of women's sports and fun. (Just Women's Sports)

About 'Sports Are Fun!' with Kelley O'Hara

'Sports Are Fun!' is a show that’ll remind you why you fell in love with women's sports in the first place. Join World Cup champ, Olympic gold medalist, and aspiring barista Kelley O'Hara as she sits down with sports journalist Greydy Diaz and a revolving cast of co-hosts and friends. Together, they're talking the biggest, funnest, and most need-to-know stories in the world of women’s sports.

From on-court drama to off-field shenanigans, to candid (and silly) chats with the most important personalities in the space, this show screams "Sports Are Fun!"

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

Unrivaled 1v1 Tournament Busts Brackets in First-Round Blowouts

Mist star Breanna Stewart looks on during an Unrivaled game.
Breanna Stewart fell 12-0 to Mist teammate Aaliyah Edwards in Monday's 1v1 tournament opener. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball launched its inaugural 1v1 tournament on Monday night, with a slate of first-round upsets already busting a few brackets.

The evening's biggest twist came courtesy of Unrivaled co-founder and No. 1 seed Breanna Stewart's matchup against No. 8 seed Aaliyah Edwards, with Edwards earning a marquee victory by shutting out her Mist teammate 12-0 in less than two minutes of gameplay.

Due to a spat of injuries affecting the 1v1 contest, a lone second-round bye emerged in the bracket just beyond the Stewart-Edwards matchup. Consequently, Monday's victory punched Edwards's ticket all the way into the tournament's quarterfinal round.

"Tough night for me but shoutout to my Mistie @AaliyahEdwards_!!! Keep that thing going and go get that bag 💰!!" Stewart posted in support after her loss.

Also claiming a massive upset win on Monday was the Lunar Owls' Shakira Austin, who ousted Rose BC's Chelsea "Point Gawd" Gray with a dominant 12-2 scoreline.

The significant margins of victory across the 1v1 contest are in large part due to the tournament's "make-it, take-it" rule.

In a break from traditional 5×5 play and Unrivaled's 3×3 format, the unique 1v1 rule rewards scoring with both points on the board as well as continued ball possession. Therefore, athletes can string together long scoring stretches as long as they don't relinquish the ball.

The Laces' Jackie Young tries to defend a shot from the Lunar Owls' Shakira Austin during and Unrivaled 3x3 game.
With Shakira Austin's Monday upset win, all five Lunar Owls remain in the 1v1 competition. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Lunar Owls show out as 15 players remain in 1v1 tournament

With a $350,000 total purse on the line, intensity on the Unrivaled court ramped up in the head-to-head competition.

Putting the first round behind them, 15 players remain in the running for the $200,000 first-place prize.

Notably, all five Lunar Owls players who entered the 1v1 competition — Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, and the aforementioned Austin — survived Monday's bouts.

This gives the squad, who also leads the 3×3 league as the only remaining undefeated team, the best shot at claiming the $10,000-per-teammate payout should one of them win the 1v1 title.

Rose BC's Kahleah Copper lays up a shot during an Unrivaled game.
Tuesday's Unrivaled 1v1 action will tip off with Kahleah Copper against Allisha Gray. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

How to watch Tuesday's Unrivaled 1v1 tournament

Tuesday's session includes both the second round and quarterfinals of the 1v1 competition.

The action tips off with a blockbuster 7 PM ET battle between Rose BC's Kahleah Copper and the Lunar Owls' Allisha Gray.

Live coverage will air on TruTV.

Hayes Taps Future USWNT Stars for 2025 SheBelieves Cup Roster

USWNT players Lily Yohannes, Cat Macario, Jenna Nighswonger, and Emily Fox hold the 2024 SheBelieves Cup trophy.
Lily Yohannes, Catarina Macario, Jenna Nighswonger, and Emily Fox are all returning to February's SheBelieves Cup. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes dropped her 23-player roster for February's 2025 SheBelieves Cup on Tuesday, showcasing a lineup that centers both the team's immediate future and Hayes's long-term strategy.

For their upcoming matches against No. 8 Japan, No. 15 Australia, and No. 21 Colombia in the 10th edition of the annual US-hosted tournament, the world No. 1 USWNT will be without several superstar veterans.

Absences include midfielder Rose Lavelle, who is still recovering from an offseason ankle surgery, and center-back stalwart Naomi Girma, who is working back from a calf injury.

The team will also miss the 'Triple Espresso' frontline trio of Sophia Wilson (née Smith), Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman. Rodman has yet to return to international play since earning gold at the Paris Olympics.

Roster allows young USWNT players to level up

The roster represents Hayes's first group for friendly competition since early December, as the US begins the long journey of preparing for their next major tournament: the 2027 World Cup.

For Hayes, the aforementioned injuries and absences offer an opportunity to bolster the team's depth by giving young players experience against top international teams.

"There's no point in me sitting in two and a half years time and saying actually, if there was an injury to key players, have I prepared the entire playing pool adequately?" Hayes said on Tuesday.

"We are facing three excellent teams with three very different styles and the tournament will be a great test to see who can perform against world-class players, but to see that, we need to give them opportunities," she explained in the US Soccer press release.

US defender Gisele Thompson passes the ball during the U-20 World Cup in September 2024.
Gisele Thompson is one of four uncapped players on the February USWNT roster. (Julian Medina/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Fresh faces to join USWNT vets at 2025 SheBelieves Cup

To that end, the upcoming camp includes 10 players with fewer than five senior team appearances. Four of those players are uncapped, including midfielder Claire Hutton, forward Michelle Cooper, and defenders Gisele Thompson and Tara McKeown. All four impressed Hayes during her January camps and all have experience in youth level World Cups.

"I want to see what they look like within the WNT setup to determine, do they have the necessary qualities right now to be in the WNT, or do they go back to the Futures [camp] come April," said Hayes.

On the other hand, the 2025 SheBelieves Cup roster does include 12 members of the 2024 Olympic squad, including captain Lindsey Heaps (née Horan), Crystal Dunn, and Emily Sonnett — the only players on Hayes's February lineup with more than 100 caps.

Also notably back in USWNT action is midfielder Catarina Macario, who has returned to form with her club, Chelsea FC, after an ongoing knee injury forced her to withdraw from last summer's Olympic roster.

Ultimately, the US is in the experimental stage of the long preparation for the 2027 World Cup, complete with the risks and rewards that accompany long-term roster development.

The USWNT's February roster

  • Goalkeepers: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals)
  • Defenders: Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (Arsenal), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC), Gisele Thompson (Angel City)
  • Midfielders: Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Lindsey Heaps (Olympique Lyonnais), Claire Hutton (KC Current), Jaedyn Shaw (NC Courage), Lily Yohannes (Ajax)
  • Forwards: Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign), Michelle Cooper (KC Current), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City)

How to watch the USWNT at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup

The No. 1 USWNT will first face No. 21 Colombia at 8 PM ET on Thursday, February 20th, before battling No. 15 Australia at 5 PM ET on Sunday, February 23rd.

They will complete their 2025 SheBelieves Cup play against No. 8 Japan at 10:30 PM ET on Wednesday, February 26th.

All of the tournament's USWNT matches will air live on TBS.

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