We got our first glimpse at NWSL games sans Olympic athletes this week and we learned… a lot.

I overestimated North Carolina without their Olympians. I underestimated Gotham FC. And most notably, I severely underestimated what an unreal season “Own Goal” is having. MVP candidate, and maybe even the favorite.

10. Kansas City —

Kansas City will hope a week off will be the reset their players needed to find themselves in the NWSL win column. They next play a North Carolina side who has struggled to win without it’s international stars. Could this be their chance?

9. OL Reign —

OL Reign didn’t make headlines for their play in last weekend’s 3-1 loss to Chicago. They did, however, give fans something to look forward to with the announcement that the club’s first head coach, Laura Harvey, would return after the Olympics. Until then, the Reign will try to find a win with a talented roster that lacks cohesion and consistency.

8. Racing Louisville —

Louisville was the other team without a game last weekend. They’re positioned to do well in this stretch, losing no international players (unless you count Christen Press and Tobin Heath, but it’s hard to say Louisville ever had them to begin with). The Olympic break was perhaps less welcome for them than for Kansas City. They face the Spirit this weekend, who they beat 2-0 earlier this year.

7. North Carolina Courage (-3)

The Courage without Abby Erceg and their midfield stars are a bit like a broken record. I feel like I keep seeing: A center back plays the ball into the midfield. The midfield turns it over 30 yards from goal. Counter attack. Goal. I know the Courage have a distinct style of play, but they don’t have the personnel to do so at the moment. I expect (or at least hope) to see some changes in style or lineup.

6. Orlando Pride (-4)

The Pride are another team that simply aren’t the unit they were when the stars are away. The Thorns deserved to win and dominated them last weekend. The Pride’s late, dramatic ties have put bandaids on some recent performances that haven’t been as good as their early season form, but there were no heroics in Portland. They face a struggling OL Reign this weekend as they look to get back on track.

5. Houston Dash (+2)

Two weeks ago, the Dash were victims to a breakout performance by aforementioned star “Own Goal.” This week, they made sure to not let it happen again. They tightened up their back line, capitalized on Courage errors and got the W. They host the Thorns on Saturday for a chance at a statement win.

4. Chicago Red Stars (+2)

All jokes about “Own Goal” aside, the Red Stars are a dangerous team. There’s a reason teams are scoring against themselves and it’s because the likes of Mallory Pugh and company are looking ridiculously dangerous around the goal and whipping balls in. I also like the looks of this non-Olympian Red Stars side.

3. Washington Spirit (-2)

I said the Spirit needed a win to keep the top spot. They were victim to a soft (and later rescinded) red card early in the game and still put up a hell of a fight before falling 3-2 to Gotham FC. If they could have sorted their set piece marking they likely would have won, even down a player.

2. Gotham FC (+3)

Gotham got the win last weekend and have to feel confident heading into their game against Chicago on Sunday. Imani Dorsey played a fantastic game and set up Midge Purce for a beautiful goal that was ultimately the winner. When those two link up, Gotham is hard to beat.

1. Portland Thorns (+2)

Another week. Another new No. 1. This league is chaotic, but as of late, the Thorns have been steady. Bella Bixby has come back from injury stronger than ever. The forward crew is finishing more of their chances. One lingering question? Who to put on PKs while Christine Sinclair is away.

For the first time in the NWSL's 12-year history, fans can now buy their own goalkeeper jerseys. And while replica goalkeeper jerseys representing all 14 NWSL teams hit the market on Wednesday, some didn't stick around for long. 

Fans across women's soccer have long vocalized their discontent over the position's lack of availability on social media, often comparing the shortcoming to the widespread availability of men’s goalkeeper jerseys. And as the NWSL has grown, so has demand — and not just from those in the stands. 

"To have goalkeeper kits available for fans in the women’s game as they have been for so long in the men’s game is not only a long-awaited move in the right direction, it’s just good business," said Washington Spirit goalie Aubrey Kingsbury in an team press release. "I can’t wait to see fans representing me, Barnie [Barnhart], and Lyza in the stands at Audi!"

just went looking at #nwsl goalkeeper kit stock out of curiosity — Alyssa Naeher's $145 kit already sold out S-XL (league announced GK jerseys on sale 3 hours ago)https://t.co/8bYA7tlwcx

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) April 17, 2024

Business does, in fact, appear to be booming. Alyssa Naeher’s Chicago Red Stars kit sold out less than three hours after the league's announcement. Jerseys for other keepers like DiDi Haračić, Abby Smith, Michelle Betos, Katelyn Rowland, and Bella Bixby aren’t currently available via the Official NWSL Shop, though blank goalkeeper jerseys can be customized through some individual team sites. Jerseys start at $110 each.

"This should be the benchmark," said Spirit Chief Operations Officer Theresa McDonnell. "The expectation is that all players’ jerseys are available to fans. Keepers are inspiring leaders and mentors with their own unique fan base who want to represent them... I can’t wait to see them all over the city."

Decorated gymnast Simone Biles took to the popular Call Her Daddy podcast this week to open up about her experience at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, revealing she thought she was going to be "banned from America" for her performance.

After Biles botched her vault routine due to a bout of the "twisties," she withdrew from the team final as well as the all-around final in order to focus on her mental health. She later reentered the competition to win bronze in the individual balance beam final.

In her interview with podcast host Alex Cooper, Biles admitted to feeling like she let the entire country down by failing her vault attempt.

"As soon as I landed I was like 'Oh, America hates me. The world is going to hate me. I can only see what they’re saying on Twitter right now,'" she recalled thinking. "I was like, ‘Holy s---, what are they gonna say about me?'"

"I thought I was going to be banned from America," she continued. "That’s what they tell you: Don’t come back if not gold. Gold or bust. Don’t come back."

Widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, Biles has hinted at a desire to join her third Olympic team in Paris, though her participation won't be confirmed until after the gymnastics trials in late June. She holds over 30 medals from the Olympic Games and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships combined, and if qualified, would be a sure favorite heading into this summer’s games.

Caitlin Clark is reportedly close to cementing a hefty endorsement deal with Nike.

The Athletic was the first to break the news Wednesday evening, commenting that the deal would be worth "eight figures" and include her own signature shoe. On Thursday afternoon, the publication tweeted that the deal would top $20 million, according to lead NBA Insider Shams Charania. Both Under Armour and Adidas are said to have also made sizable offers to the college phenom and expected future WNBA star.

The new agreement comes after Clark's previous Nike partnership ended with the conclusion of the college basketball season. She was one of five NCAA athletes to sign an NIL deal with the brand back in October, 2022. 

Considering Clark's overwhelming popularity and Nike's deep pockets, the signing's purported value doesn't exactly come as a shock. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu’s deal with the brand is reportedly worth $24 million, while NBA rookie and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama’s deal is rumored to weigh in at $100 million. And in 2003, LeBron James famously earned $90 million off his own Nike deal. 

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Clark’s star power continues to skyrocket, with the NCAA championship averaging 18.9 million viewers and the 2024 WNBA Draft more than doubling its previous viewership record. Following the draft, Fanatics stated that Clark's Indiana Fever jersey — which sold out within an hour — was the top seller for any draft night pick in the company’s history, with droves of unlucky fans now being forced to wait until August to get their hands on some official No. 22 gear.

In Wednesday's Indiana Fever introductory press conference, the unfailingly cool, calm, and collected Clark said that turning pro hasn’t made a huge impact on how she’s conducting her deals.

"If I’m being completely honest, I feel like it doesn’t change a ton from how I lived my life over the course of the last year," she said. "Sponsorships stay the same. The people around me, agents and whatnot, have been able to help me and guide me through the course of the last year. I don’t know if I would be in this moment if it wasn’t for a lot of them."

Former Oklahoma slugger Jocelyn Alo has signed on with Athletes Unlimited and will compete in the AU Pro Softball AUX this June.

The NCAA record holder in career home runs (122), total bases (761), and slugging percentage (.987), Alo was originally drafted by the league in 2022 but opted instead to join the newly debuted Women’s Professional Fastpitch. 

Alo currently plays for independent pro softball team Oklahoma City Spark, with team owner Tina Floyd reportedly on board with her recent AUX signing. AUX games are scheduled for June 10-25, while the Spark's season will kick off June 19th. Alo will play for both. 

Among those joining Alo on the AUX roster are former James Madison ace pitcher Odicci Alexander and former Wichita State standout middle infielder Sydney McKinney.

According to Alo, the decision to play in the Athletes Unlimited league was fueled by her desire to propel women's sports forward as well as provide more exposure to a sport that's given her "so many opportunities."

"Not only to challenge myself more, but just for the growth of the game," Alo said, explaining her reasoning to The Oklahoman. "I genuinely believe that professional softball can be a career for girls."

Joining AUX is also one more step in her plan toward representing Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I’m constantly thinking about how can I do these little things right in these four years to prepare me for the biggest stage of softball," she told The Oklahoman. "I definitely want to play in the Olympics, for sure."

Alo further expressed enthusiasm in the hope that the rise of other women’s sports, like women’s basketball and the NWSL, will push softball’s professional viability even higher.

"We’re seeing the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) get their stuff going, I see the WNBA starting to get hot," she continued. "I feel like the softball community is like, 'All right, it’s our turn and it’s our turn to just demand more.'"