The NWSL’s playoff picture has begun to take shape, but with one week of the regular season remaining, a lot is still left up in the air.

Three of the league’s six postseason spots are up for grabs, with four teams still in the playoff hunt. Also on the line is a first-round bye, which goes to the top two seeds and guarantees a direct path to the semifinals. The Thorns have already clinched a first-round bye and a semifinal match at home by locking up the NWSL Shield.

Portland, OL Reign and Washington have secured their playoff spots. On the other end of the table, Orlando, Kansas City and Racing Louisville have all been eliminated from playoff contention. That leaves Chicago, Gotham FC, Houston and North Carolina fighting for the remaining three spots.

League Standings - Game Day 23 📶

Nothing changes in the position of any team, but Gotham FC inch closer to securing their place in the playoffs.

(@FotMob) pic.twitter.com/ML26IsHlVS

— NWSL Field of Vision (@NWSLFieldVision) October 23, 2021

Playoff scenarios

The Chicago Red Stars, currently in fourth place in the NWSL standings, control their own postseason destiny. A win or tie against the Orlando Pride on Friday would secure the club a place in the playoffs. A loss, however, could make things interesting. If the Red Stars fall to the Pride, they will need one of the three teams remaining on the bubble to lose in order to punch their postseason ticket.

NJ/NY Gotham FC, in fifth, also controls its own path. After failing to clinch a playoff spot against Kansas City on Friday night, Gotham needs a win in one of its two remaining games, both against Racing Louisville FC, to advance.

The Houston Dash will keep their eye on North Carolina, whose outcome will determine their playoff future. Houston will look to win against Washington on Sunday, but a Dash loss and a Courage loss would still send Houston to the playoffs.

The North Carolina Courage, in seventh place heading into their regular season finale against the Thorns on Saturday, have to do the heaviest lifting to stay in postseason contention. If the Courage win and the Dash lose or tie, North Carolina will advance. A tie and a Houston loss would also likely be enough to push the Courage over the edge.

Tiebreakers: In the case of a tie, goal differential will be used to determine playoff spots. Gotham leads the pack at plus-8, while the Courage are plus-5. The Dash come in third at plus-1, and the Red Stars bring up the rear as the only team still in contention with a negative goal differential.

The final playoff push begins on Thursday as Gotham FC faces Racing Louisville FC at 7:30 pm ET on Twitch.

J.Crew is hitting the slopes with Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics, dropping a limited-edition retail collection in collaboration with US Ski & Snowboard this week.

The apparel giant tapped six members of Team USA to model the capsule, including 2018 and 2022 Olympic snowboarder Hailey Langland, 2018 Olympic mogul skier Tess Johnson, and freestyle skier Rell Harwood, who is aiming to make her Olympic debut this year.

The move comes after the brand announced a three-year deal with the winter sports' national governing body, with J.Crew signing on as an official partner of US Ski & Snowboard.

"We're proud to elevate the sport and its athletes at a moment when excitement around snow sports is higher than ever," said J.Crew Group CEO Libby Wadle.

Using themes, patterns, and patches from both the governing org's and J.Crew's historic archives, the inaugural 26-piece collection features knitwear, winter accessories, loungewear, and — in conjunction with US Ski & Snowboard partner Kappa — technical ski jackets.

With items for all ages, the capsule collection will not factor into Team USA's official Olympic uniform, but will provide retro "après-ski-style" flair for both athletes and fans.

How to purchase the Team USA x J.Crew Winter Olympics collection

The full US Ski & Snowboard collection from J.Crew will hit the retailer's online store on Thursday, though fans can sign up for the official drop notification today.

The Australian Open is raising the bar for 2026, with the first Grand Slam of the tennis season boosting its total prize pool to a record $74.9 million — a 16% increase over the 2025 tournament.

Top-finishers in both the women's and men's competitions will now receive checks worth $2.79 million — 19% more than 2025's champions — while a player exiting in the main draw's first round will earn approximately $101,000, a 14% year-over-year increase.

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The annual competition has long been a pioneer in promoting equal pay, following the US Open's 1973 move by becoming the second Slam to guarantee a 50-50 breakdown between the WTA and ATP in 2001.

"This 16% increase demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level," said Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley in the governing body's Tuesday announcement. "From boosting qualifying prize money by 55% since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we're ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors."

"This investment strengthens tennis's foundation, ensuring the sport's long-term health and commercial growth," added Tiley. "By supporting players at all levels, we're building deeper talent pools and more compelling storylines for fans."

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open

US star and world No. 7 Madison Keys will look to defend her trophy when the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open kicks off at 7 PM ET on Saturday, January 17th.

Live coverage of the season's first Slam will air across ESPN platforms.

LPGA stars will soon be hitting the virtual links, as the pro women's tour is teaming up with TMRW Sports to launch the all-new WTGL next winter.

The indoor team golf platform will build off the success of the second-year men's venture Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL) — a 2025 upstart co-founded by PGA stars Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy — which merges traditional golf with simulated play to provide avenues for offseason competition.

"I've seen how new formats can engage audiences while showcasing both athlete personality and performance, and WTGL brings that spirit of innovation to the women's game," said commissioner Craig Kessler in the LPGA's Tuesday press release. It creates another global stage for our athletes — one that helps fans connect more deeply with them and continues to elevate the visibility and growth of women's golf."

US fan favorite Lexi Thompson unveiled the news on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday, promising a star-studded roster of LPGA standouts, with WTGL participants and teams dropping in the upcoming months.

"It just brings a whole different fan base to the game of golf," said the 2022 Women's PGA Championship runner-up. "[Fans can] see the personalities of the guys, and now the women. So, it's just amazing for the game of golf in general, but especially the women's side."

Professional volleyball is back in action this week, with both League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Major League Volleyball (MLV) kicking off their 2026 seasons as the sport's pro landscape continues to grow.

Featuring an Olympian-heavy player pool, LOVB is returning with its six inaugural teams as reigning champion Austin looks to run the title back this season before the second-year league adds three new clubs in 2027.

Meanwhile, following a blockbuster merger with the two-season-old Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF), MLV will start serving with eight teams as 2025 PVF champs Orlando Valkyries embarks on their own title defense, all while the new conglomerate eyes more future expansion.

As NCAA volleyball continues to dominate the fall calendar, multiple pro leagues — each armed with top talent and broadcast deals — are forming in response to demand from both players and fans.

How to watch the 2026 season starts of LOVB and MLV

LOVB hits the 2026 court first with a rematch of the league's 2025 championship, with defending title-winners Austin facing runners-up Nebraska at 6 PM ET on Wednesday, airing on USA Network.

Then on Thursday, MLV enters the fray as the Atlanta Vibe hosts the Columbus Fury at 7 PM ET before the San Diego Mojo visits the Omaha Supernovas at 8 PM ET. Both MLV matches will stream live on YouTube.