As the 2025 NWSL season nears, clubs are already racking up serious injuries with both preseason training and the concurrent FIFA international break now underway.

Portland announced a trio of roster losses on Wednesday, naming forward Morgan Weaver, defender Nicole Payne, and defender Marie Müller to the season-ending injury list.

Regional rival Seattle also made a tough announcement, sharing that veteran forward Veronica Latsko suffered a season-ending Achilles tear during the second half of the Reign's 1-0 preseason win over Bay FC at the Coachella Valley Invitational on February 16th.

"We’re absolutely gutted for Veronica," said Reign head coach Laura Harvey in the team's statement. "She has proven over her career to be resilient, diligent and hard working on the pitch, we know how much preparation she had put in for this season."

"While this is a tough setback, we have no doubt she’ll attack her recovery with the same determination and resilience she brings to the pitch every day. Our entire club will be behind her every step of the way."

Research gap persists as athletes continue suffering injuries

Injuries can be difficult to avoid as players ramp up their fitness ahead of the NWSL's March 14th Kickoff weekend, especially as athletes balance heavy workloads with the lack of preventative injury research specific to women.

Payne and Müller both went down with right ACL tears — Payne during the Thorns' 2-1 preseason loss to Angel City on February 16th and Müller while in training camp with Germany on February 19th — an all-too-common occurrence in among women’s footballers.

Weaver also suffered a preseason right knee knock in January, re-injuring the same knee she had surgery on last May.

All in all, while injuries are a part of the game, the sport's growing professionalization has exposed a gap in research and resources — particularly on the women’s pitch. As parity continues to rise worldwide, fending off another injury epidemic continues to be front of mind for both players and staff.

As the 2025 Final Four nears, the NCAA, Tampa Bay Sports Commission, University of South Florida, and ESPN jointly announced more details about the blockbuster basketball event on Tuesday.

The national Division I semifinals will descend upon Women’s Final Four host Tampa for the fourth time on Friday, April 4th, with the two games set to tip off at 7 PM ET and 9:30 PM ET. Both semis will air live on ESPN.

Then on Sunday, April 6th, the 2025 NCAA Championship game will begin at 3 PM ET, with ABC providing live coverage for the third year in a row.

"As we continue to build every year on the success of the women's basketball championship, we're thrilled that Tampa will host this year's Women's Final Four for a record fourth time," remarked NCAA VP of women's basketball Lynn Holzman in the governing body's Tuesday announcement.

Fan events return to bolster 2025 Final Four weekend

In addition to the Final Four matchups, the first weekend in April will also see the return of fan events like Tourney Town, the Super Saturday Concert, Party on the Plaza, and more.

"Our championship campus has transformed since the last time we hosted in 2019," said Tampa Bay Sports Commission executive director Rob Higgins. "We have a compact and walkable footprint ideal for this championship, and we can’t wait to roll out the red carpet for the student-athletes and fans."

Additionally, the NCAA is partnering with other sponsors and local leaders to positively impact the Tampa community through various initiatives in the lead-up to and throughout the 2025 Final Four weekend. These efforts include refurbishing an indoor court at a local rec center, further bolstering a local mentoring program, and sponsoring a literacy challenge in area elementary schools.

"The true legacy of the Women's Final Four goes far beyond the games — it's about the lasting impact on our community," Tampa Bay Local Organizing Committee executive director Claire Lessinger said about the NCAA's community initiatives.

"We create opportunities that inspire the next generation, foster inclusivity and leave a meaningful footprint in Tampa Bay. This event isn't just about celebrating elite basketball; it's about building a lasting connection between sport and community."

The world No. 1 USWNT is gearing up for the year’s toughest matchup to date, taking on No. 8 Japan in in pursuit of their eighth SheBelieves Cup title in Wednesday’s tournament final.

The US needs a win to lift the trophy, while a surging Japan can secure their first-ever SheBelieves Cup with a draw thanks to a steep goal differential advantage.

"It’s just the perfect game, it’s just what you want," USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said after Sunday’s win over Australia. "Japan, you can see on current form, scoring lots of goals, the quality of their play is so, so high."

Offense-heavy Japan to meet fresh-faced USWNT

Japan’s roster is led by Utah Royals forward and 2025 SheBelieves Golden Boot leader Mina Tanaka, who’s registered four goals and three assists over the Nadeshiko's first two tournament games — matches in which Japan dominantly outscored their opponents 8-1.

As for the USWNT, fans should expect more heavy roster rotation, following the history Hayes made against the Matildas by swapping out the team's entire starting lineup from their first-match victory over Colombia.

While the US is undoubtedly shooting for hardware, Hayes hasn’t lost sight of her plan to give less experienced players opportunities to develop against elite teams in a year without a major international tournament.

"This is the perfect game for where we are at, to learn a lot about ourselves," she told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s clash.

"I am certain we will have to suffer, because the way they dominate the ball, the way they progress up the pitch, with their rotations, with their dynamic advantages. I’m looking forward to watching."

The new-look national team has managed a perfect record so far this year, but contending with a highly clinical Japan side will take the competition to new heights — and make Wednesday's tournament title truly anyone’s to grab.

How to watch USWNT vs. Japan at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup final

The USWNT will kick off against Japan from San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium at 10:30 PM ET on Wednesday, with live coverage on TBS, Max, and Peacock.

The Washington Spirit are building out their 2025 roster with an international slant, signing Mexico and CF Monterrey captain Rebeca Bernal to a three-year deal on Tuesday.

Across her eight seasons with the top-flight Liga MX Femenil squad, Bernal has helped CF Monterrey to four titles and scored an impressive 65 goals as a defender.

"Rebeca is an exceptional talent in both the defending and attacking phases of the game," said Spirit GM and president of soccer operations Mark Krikorian in a team statement. "We expect her dynamic style of play to provide an immediate impact as we kick off this season with high expectations."

Spirit stacks roster with international stars

With Tuesday's signing, Bernal joins eight other players now occupying the Spirit’s allotted international slots. Fellow global newcomers to Washington's roster include Japan midfielder Narumi Miura, Nigeria midfielder Deborah Abiodun, Brazil forward Tamara Bolt, and Uganda defender Shadia Nankya.

Last season, the 2024 NWSL Championship runners-up saw success by relying on a mix of USWNT stars like Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune and key global talent like Colombia midfielder Leicy Santos, and forwards Rosemonde Kouassi and Ouleye Sarr, who hail from the Côte d'Ivoire and France, respectively.

Washington also looked abroad to fill their head coaching vacancy, with Spanish leader Jonatan Giráldez joining the Spirit midseason. Giráldez finished his decorated run with FC Barcelona by completing an elusive Quadruple — winning the UEFA Women's Champions League, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa, and Liga F in his final 2023/24 season.

Washington's global strategy begins at the top

Setting the tone for the increasingly international club is Spirit owner Michele Kang, who has similarly expanded her soccer portfolio beyond US borders by purchasing controlling interests in France's Olympique Lyonnais and second-tier UK team London City in recent years.

Kang has further banked on growing the global game by launching Kynisca Sports last July, creating the first international multi-team women's football organization of its kind.

All in all, with the elimination of the NWSL draft as well as soccer's rising parity around the world, domestic teams are pulling from a wider player pool. Following last season’s finish, the Washington Spirit appear to be betting on a modern, global philosophy to push them atop the NWSL in 2025.

Diana Taurasi is officially retiring from basketball, the WNBA legend told TIME Magazine on Tuesday, capping off a decorated and lengthy college and professional career.

"Mentally and physically, I’m just full," Taurasi said in the exclusive interview. "That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy."

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Taurasi's unmatched basketball career

Taurasi exits first and foremost as a winner, earning three straight NCAA championships with UConn before going as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft to Phoenix, where she led the Mercury to three league titles over the course of her 20-year tenure with the team.

The 42-year-old also picked up six consecutive Olympic gold medals along the way — more than any other athlete in the sport's history. Even more, she snagged all six without ever losing a single Olympic game.

In addition to her domestic efforts, Taurasi played a prominent role in the European game, winning six EuroLeague titles as well as multiple championships with teams in Russia and Turkey.

The 2009 WNBA MVP leaves the court as the league’s all-time leading scorer and three-point shooter, as well as a two-time WNBA Finals MVP, 11-time All-Star, and a two-time NCAA Most Outstanding Player, among other individual honors.

"She has a way of making people feel connected to her, but also like the best version of themselves," Taurasi’s UConn and Team USA teammate Sue Bird — who hung up her jersey in 2022 — told ESPN after the news broke.

In a statement, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert also weighed in, calling Taurasi "one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of basketball on any stage."

Taurasi leaves iconic legacy as she retires

Having helped build the WNBA into what it is today, Taurasi created a legacy defined not just by her resume, but by leaving the game better than she found it.

"Until someone comes along and eclipses what she’s done, then yes, she is [the GOAT]," UConn boss Geno Auriemma, who coached Taurasi both in college and on Team USA's 2012 and 2016 Olympic squads, said about the basketball superstar.

As for Taurasi, she fully expects a future player to surpass her stats, as the retiring legend continues to embody a competitor’s perspective on the game she leaves behind. 

"My scoring record or the six gold medals, someone’s going to come around that has the same hunger, the same addiction to basketball, and put those records in a different way, a different name," she told TIME.

"That’s what sports is all about. That’s going to be fun to watch. Hopefully not soon."