The Cascadia rivalry headlines the NWSL’s weekend matchups as teams fight to knock San Diego from the top of the table.

Portland Thorns vs. OL Reign

Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network

The Cascadia rivalry is heading to Portland, with the Thorns and OL Reign set for a Friday night showdown at Providence Park.

OL Reign enter the matchup on the heels of a 2-2 draw with Racing Louisville — and after a hectic start to the season, in which they played the Spirit in their regular-season opener and the Challenge Cup semifinals in the span of three days.

The Thorns, on the other hand, haven’t played a game in two weeks and will enter Friday well-rested.

Portland’s Sophia Smith has been on a tear this season, lighting up the attack for club and country. OL Reign will look to slow Smith down while executing their own chances in the box against a solid Thorns backline.

Sophia Smith is THAT GIRL. And will always be THAT GIRL. 😤#BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/AC4R7UgkkV

— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) March 31, 2022

Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current

Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET on Paramount+

Kansas City will travel to Orlando on Saturday in search of the club’s first win of the season.

After surging to the Challenge Cup semifinals, the Current has failed to score in their first two regular-season contests. Kansas City will need to get its offense going against the Pride, who are coming off a 1-0 win over Angel City.

At just over two minutes, @sydneyleroux's goal against Angel City was our third fastest in Club history 💪#PrideOfOrlando | #AdAstra pic.twitter.com/7uD8WGR1Ex

— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) May 11, 2022

NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. North Carolina Courage

Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on Paramount+

Gotham FC needs a solid home performance against a tough North Carolina side after the club’s harrowing 4-0 loss to San Diego Wave. The New Jersey/ New York team has struggled to find consistency at the start of the season, with Gotham’s attack appearing disjointed.

The Challenge Cup champion Courage will test Gotham with their lethal attack and organized midfield.

First of many for our Kero 💙 pic.twitter.com/r5UsTGsmpH

— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) May 7, 2022

Racing Louisville vs. Houston Dash

Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on Twitch

Racing Louisville and the Houston Dash already faced each other twice in the Challenge Cup, with the clubs each taking home a win.

The Dash notched their first shutout of 2022 in last Sunday’s matchup against Kansas City as Houston looks to shore up its defensive woes. The Dash will have their hands full against a lively Louisville side as they hope to improve upon their defensive performances.

JANE CAMPBELL ISN'T MESSING AROUND Y'ALL pic.twitter.com/7ixgir9wyf

— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) May 8, 2022

San Diego Wave FC vs. Chicago Red Stars

Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on Paramount+

The San Diego Wave lead the NWSL standings heading into the weekend after notching a 1-0 shutout against Houston and a 4-0 blowout over Gotham FC to open the season. The expansion club’s backline looks solid as Alex Morgan goes on a tear up top, making the Wave hard to contain.

The Red Stars are unbeaten so far this season as well after winning their opener against Louisville, even with their lengthy injury list, which includes star Mallory Pugh.

San Diego and Chicago both feature solid backlines and impressive keepers, meaning Sunday could turn into a defensive battle.

⚽⚽ Need We Say More?! ⚽⚽

Cheers to @alexmorgan13 for taking home @budweiserusa Player of the Week honors 🍻 pic.twitter.com/qaNPqtwACr

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 11, 2022

Washington Spirit vs. Angel City FC

Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on Paramount+

The Washington Spirit will host Angel City on Sunday after a grueling Challenge Cup final loss to North Carolina.

The Spirit’s attack appears to be firing on all cylinders, with Ashley Hatch, Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez gelling in the final third.

With some defensive issues still to be worked out, Angel City’s backline will be tested by Washington’s relentless press.

The assist. The finish. @trinity_rodman | @ash_hatch33 pic.twitter.com/0rRlJivYh5

— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) May 7, 2022

World No. 5 Germany is heading to the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League Final, advancing with a narrow 3-2 aggregate advantage after surviving a semifinals comeback bid from No. 6 France in Tuesday's 2-2 draw.

The German women will next face reigning Nations League champions and world No. 1 Spain in this winter's two-legged finale, after the perennial titans quickly dispatched No. 3 Sweden by adding a 1-0 Tuesday victory to advance on a lopsided 5-0 aggregate score.

The two-match 2025 Nations League championship will kick off on November 28th in Germany, before Spain hosts the second leg on December 2nd.

While Germany's international prowess isn't new — with the program's resume boasting two World Cup wins (2003, 2007), an Olympic gold medal (2016), and eight of the 14 total Euros titles — the German Federation is doubling down on the national team's future by making a landmark €100 million investment into the country's top-flight domestic league: the Women's Bundesliga.

The German Football Association (DFB) announced the plan last week, with the DFB General Assembly readying to vote on the funds at next month's meeting.

Once approved, the move will mark the largest single investment in German women's football history.

"We want to ensure that the women's Bundesliga can stand on its own two feet: economically, structurally, and in terms of visibility," DFB president Bernd Neuendorf told German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau. "It is an investment in the future — in equality, in opportunity, and in the growth of the women's game."

The broadcast reach of Athletes Unlimited got even stronger this week, as the pro women's sports organization scored a blockbuster media rights extension with ESPN on Wednesday, ensuring three more years of basketball, volleyball, and softball coverage.

"The growth we've seen across Athletes Unlimited's leagues speaks to the power and appeal of women's sports," said ESPN EVP of programming and acquisitions Rosalyn Durant. "We're excited to deepen our partnership and bring even more of these moments and athletes to fans everywhere."

As part of the extended partnership, ESPN will exclusively air 50 Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) games annually, including 47 regular-season matchups and the AUSL Championship Series, with the company's titan channel ABC also committed to airing the first-ever pro softball game on network television.

The broadcast giant already has a vested interest in softball's future, with the most recent Women's College World Series Finals delivering a record-high 2.2 million viewers across ESPN networks last June.

AU's basketball and volleyball footprints are also growing, with all 24 games from each competition's season now set to air live each year.

"This renewed and expanded partnership affirms the strength of our properties and reflects the growing enthusiasm for women's professional sports," said AU chief broadcast officer Cheri Kempf.

Reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers is branching out, with Deadline reporting Wednesday that the Dallas Wings guard has signed on to star in an upcoming Apple Original Film.

Dubbed Jess & Pearl, the sports drama is based on an original idea by Zahir McGhee, whose resume includes writing and producing on the hit TV series Scandal.

"Set in the world of women's basketball, the film follows two phenoms who forge an extraordinary bond as teammates until fame, competition, and the ruthless business of college athletics threaten to turn their friendship into an epic rivalry," stated Deadline.

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Middle Child Pictures will produce the film with White Lotus executive producer David Bernad at the helm along with Wasserman's Lindsay Kagawa Colas and Tommy Alter.

Along with stepping in front of the camera, Bueckers will also serve as an executive producer on the project.

Bueckers isn't the first WNBA player to dive into the world of cinema this year, after enterprising Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese made her own feature film debut with a cameo in Netflix's A House of Dynamite earlier this month.

The UConn alum is facing a packed offseason, with Bueckers adding her new Hollywood venture to a schedule that includes the star guard making her Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball debut in January.

UConn basketball continues to pile on the preseason accolades, with ESPN's annual Top 25 women's NCAA player rankings listing star Sarah Strong at No. 1 ahead of her sophomore season with the Huskies.

Even more, UConn emerged as the only program with two Top 10 players, as ESPN put Strong's teammate Azzi Fudd at No. 8 entering her final NCAA season.

New UConn transfer Serah Williams also made the cut at No. 18, as the preseason AP No. 1 Huskies attempt to repeat their 2024/25 title despite losing superstar Paige Bueckers to the WNBA.

Last season's Final Four participants No. 2 Lauren Betts (UCLA), No. 4 Madison Booker (Texas), No. 11 Joyce Edwards (South Carolina), and No. 17 Kiki Rice (UCLA) round things out, accompanied by more individual standouts like No. 3 Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) and No. 5 Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU).

The lineup also featured big-name offseason transfers, including highly touted newcomers No. 6 Olivia Miles (TCU), No. 7 Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina), No. 14 Gianna Kneepkins (UCLA), and No. 19 MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU).

Freshmen were not eligible for ESPN's preseason rankings, though NCAA debutants can make the updated list as it shifts throughout the year.

How to watch the ESPN Top 25 players in action

The NCAA basketball elite will tip off the 2025/26 season on Monday, with a full slate of games beginning at 11 AM ET.

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The ESPN 2025/26 NCAA basketball preseason Top 25 players

1. Sarah Strong (UConn)
2. Lauren Betts (UCLA)
3. Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame)
4. Madison Booker (Texas)
5. Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU)
6. Olivia Miles (TCU)
7. Ta'Niyah Latson (South Carolina)
8. Azzi Fudd (UConn)
9. Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt)
10. Audi Crooks (Iowa State)
11. Joyce Edwards (South Carolina)
12. Mikaylah Williams (LSU)
13. Raegan Beers (Oklahoma)
14. Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA)
15. Kymora Johnson (Virginia)
16. Zoe Brooks (NC State)
17. Kiki Rice (UCLA)
18. Serah Williams (UConn)
19. MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU)
20. Yarden Garzon (Maryland)
21. Talaysia Cooper (Tennessee)
22. Khamil Pierre (NC State)
23. Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss)
24. Toby Fournier (Duke)
25. Maggie Doogan (Richmond)