Less than a week after the conclusion of the NWSL Fall Series, and with the Louisville expansion draft looming in November, the first of what may be a series of blockbuster trade deals went down yesterday. When the dust had settled, North Carolina Courage midfielder Crystal Dunn was on her way to the Portland Thorns, where her husband is the team’s athletic trainer.

The USWNT stalwart’s cross country flight had a layover by way of Tacoma, with OL Reign sending Casey Murphy and allocation money to North Carolina in exchange for Dunn, before trading her to Portland for an international spot for the 2021 season, the Thorn’s first round NWSL draft pick (2022), as well as some additional allocation money, some of which depends on Dunn’s future in the NWSL.

Needless to say, some members of the women’s soccer world were shocked while others rejoiced. One thing is for certain: next month’s expansion draft could get quite interesting, as Portland, among other clubs, now has some tough decisions to make regarding which which players to protect.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the deal:

 

PORTLAND THORNS: RECEIVE CRYSTAL DUNN

????️????

Coming soon to the Rose City… #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/UnERQbkwTq

— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) October 22, 2020

All about this. https://t.co/5NvFs5eLsc

— Lindsey Horan (@LindseyHoran) October 22, 2020

I think fans had a sense of this possibility the more Crystal Dunn seemed to be living her best life in Portland with her husband her 5 chickens and her cat, chopping wood and doing DIY, but it’s nice to see it happen for real https://t.co/xBmelGLggZ

— Steph Yang | Horrible Soccer Goose (@thrace) October 22, 2020

It’s fun to get in the weeds with transactions like these but my main feeling is that Crystal Dunn set the world on fire in 2019 and got exactly what she wanted in 2020 and that’s how all of this is supposed to work and I’m very happy for her

— Claire Watkins (@ScoutRipley) October 22, 2020

North Carolina probably got the 'worst' of the trade, but 100K and a world class keeper (arguably their biggest need) is nothing to sniff at--especially if you had no leverage.

— Charles Olney (@olneyce) October 22, 2020

Crystal Dunn moving from NC to Portland has the potential to take with it the balance of power in the #NWSL Long way to go through until we see what actual 2021 rosters are going to look like. This is a big one though

— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) October 22, 2020

this is so freakin exciting @crysdunn_19 https://t.co/0izRVA0ZkX

— Sophia Smith (@sophsssmith) October 22, 2020

 

OL REIGN: ONE INTERNATIONAL SPOT FOR 2021; PORTLAND’S 2022 NATURAL FIRST ROUND NWSL DRAFT PICK; ALLOCATION MONEY ($250,000), $50,000 OF WHICH IS CONDITIONED UPON DUNN’S FUTURE NWSL PLAYING STATUS

Thank you to @CaseyMurph for the brilliant performances over the last two seasons and for the joy you brought to all our supporters. pic.twitter.com/MQpQBpoUdI

— OL Reign (@OLReign) October 22, 2020

You know greatness when it walks in the room.
.@caseymurphy11 it was an honor to document your journey the last couple years. I can't even describe how excited I am for your future, but bummed it won't be here with us. I guess I'll have to get some photos of the away team.… pic.twitter.com/0teUaqncbv

— JaneG. Photography (@JaneGPhoto) October 22, 2020

Reign basically traded Casey Murphy for a 1st round pick, a one-year international slot, and $110 in aggregate allocation money. They likely need a starting keeper, but that is not a bad haul just for stepping in to facilitate a trade between two other teams#NWSL

— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) October 22, 2020

 

NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE: RECEIVED CASEY MURPHY, ALLOCATION MONEY ($140,000) PAID OVER 2021 ($65,000) AND 2022 ($75,000)

Thrilled to welcome Casey! Fantastic, young player. Can’t wait for you to join us in #CourageCountry https://t.co/W7eNKWJSAV

— Curt Johnson (@curtjohnson17) October 22, 2020

Three things #CourageCountry should know about @CaseyMurph

1. Drafted 13th in the 2018 NWSL Draft.
2. Named the 2018 Goalkeeper of the Year in Division 1 Feminine in France.
3. Her NWSL career-high 11 saves came in the 2019 NWSL Semifinal against the Courage#NoFinishLine pic.twitter.com/gxpSFvPQxc

— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) October 22, 2020

Going to miss photographing you Casey Murphy ???? pic.twitter.com/ySadcL8vgb

— Nikita (@kryptobanana) October 22, 2020

@CaseyMurph you’re a legend https://t.co/wbuXx0QELr

— Rosie White (@rosiewhite13) October 23, 2020

Uh, @OLReign, what the actual???

WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?

Casey Murphy?! Our brilliant, young, reliable keeper? Jesus.

I... wow.

Why?

WHY?

Why.

I am not having a good day.
Today is A Bad Day. https://t.co/VnmO3ZKYJo

— Gen Williams (@genwilliams) October 22, 2020

The 2024 Solheim Cup tees off on Friday, with US golf stars looking to topple three-time defending champs Europe in the team tournament's 19th iteration.

Alternating between European and US host courses each edition, teams compete in three days of match play, collecting one point for every win and a half-point for every tie. The US needs a total of 14.5 points to take this year's Cup outright, while Europe needs just 14 to retain it. 

Team USA spans 12 of the sport's top-ranked and most decorated athletes, including Nelly Korda, Allisen Corpuz, Lauren Coughlin, Megan Khang, Ally Ewing, Lilia Vu, Rose Zhang, and the soon-to-retire Lexi Thompson.

US golfers on a mission to reclaim Solheim Cup dominance

Team Europe​ has held the Cup since 2019, but the margins have been razor thin. The 2023 event actually ended in a 14-14 tie, but as reigning champions, Europe retained the title in what the team considers their eighth victory over the US.

While the US holds the advantage over Europe in overall Solheim Cup wins, they haven't raised the trophy in seven years. And unlike other competitions with continuously swelling prize purses, only international bragging rights are on the line here.

Neither team has ever won four consecutive titles, and the US will aim to keep Europe from claiming that historic victory on home soil in Gainesville, Virginia, this weekend.

Star US golfer Nelly Korda sees Solheim Cup as "unfinished business"

All eyes are now on Team USA's Korda, who's coming off a banner 2024 after winning six different LPGA Tour events, including her second major.

"Whenever you get to wear the red, white, and blue and stars and stripes, there's a different meaning to it," the world No. 1 golfer told the BBC earlier this week. "You're playing not just for yourself, but for your captains, for your teammates, and your country, and there's just nothing like it. We have got some unfinished business."

How to watch the 2024 Solheim Cup women's golf tournament

The Solheim Cup starts Friday, September 13th, at 7:05 AM, with live coverage across NBC, the Golf Channel, and Peacock.

In this week's episode of The Late Sub, Claire takes a moment to talk about the final few days of Alex Morgan’s professional career, how the soccer world has changed since Morgan’s debut, and how the star herself spoke about what’s next.

Then, she discusses what Angel Reese’s season-ending injury means for the WNBA playoff race, salutes the US Open, reflects on the 2024 Paralympic Games, and more.

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

The USYNT cruised to the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup knockout round in historic fashion on Saturday, routing Paraguay 7-0 in Bogotá, Colombia, thanks to stellar showings from young NCAA and NWSL standouts.

Armed with the most pros to ever feature on a US U-20 World Cup roster with eight NWSL rookies, the USYNT pulled off the largest U-20 WWC win in team history.

The US hasn't won a U-20 WWC in 12 years​, with 2024 marking the first time they've made it out of the tournament's group stage since 2016.

Young NWSL and NCAA players level up the U-20 game

Though long viewed as inferior to Europe and its club-based academy system, US players opting to turn pro at younger ages are making the USYNT increasingly competitive — a trend that's also pushing college programs to new heights.

In Saturday's win, Angel City defender Gisele Thompson​ and Utah Royals rookie Ally Sentnor both found the back of the net, while the youngest goal-scorer in Seattle Reign history, winger Emeri Adames, tied Heather O'Reilly's 2002 national record for most assists in a single U-20 World Cup game with three in the first half. 

Representing the NCAA, Princeton junior Pietra Tordin made her U-20 World Cup scoring debut count with a hat trick — the first US player to do so since Savannah DeMelo in 2018.

USYNT to face Mexico in U-20 knockout clash

Unlike previous editions, this year's expanded U-20 World Cup​ includes a Round of 16 for the first time. 

The USYNT will face regional rival Mexico tomorrow, a team they lost to in the 2023 Concacaf Championship​ final before settling two July friendlies with a draw and a win.

How to watch the US vs. Mexico at the U-20 World Cup

Catch the US women's youth national team take on Mexico in U-20 World Cup action at 9 PM ET on Wednesday, with live coverage on FS2.

Already one of the most popular women’s spectator sports in the US, the 2024 NCAA volleyball season is off to the races this month as the shifting lines of modern college sports plays out in real time​.

Thanks to major conference realignments, regional rivalries turned national storylines will drive the narrative all the way to December's NCAA tournament.

The Big Ten's big changes

At the forefront of these shifts is longtime volleyball powerhouse the Big Ten, which welcomed USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington from the Pac-12 this summer to bring the conference total to 18 teams​.

Added travel, raucous home crowds, and even fiercer competition will play into the conference's season storyline as Midwest heavyweights Wisconsin and Nebraska meet West Coast specialists in a quest to bring the Big Ten its first NCAA title since 2021.

"We knew the venues, everything was comfortable," Oregon head coach Matt Ulmer, speaking with JWS at last month's Big Ten Media Day​ in Chicago, said of his team’s former Pac-12 home. "I think we're going to [see] a lot of uncomfortableness this year, just with new change."

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Surprises and upsets already define the 2024 season

Mirroring that uncertainty, several 2023 heavy-hitters​ have already produced surprising results this season. Two-time defending champion Texas fell to Minnesota in early non-conference play and again to unranked Miami last weekend, while Wisconsin went 0-3 before picking up a pair of weekend wins.

Then last week, 2023 runners-up Nebraska suffered a historic upset loss to unranked SMU, though they also bounced back with weekend victories.

With Power 10 rankings already a rollercoaster, expect even more impressive performances, greater parity, and larger crowds as college volleyball rides its meteoric rise through 2024.