Sixteen months ago, the San Diego Wave were created. On Sunday, with an overtime goal from Alex Morgan, they advanced to the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs.

In their first season of existence, the Wave have not eased in. Instead, the San Diego squad established itself as a contender early, and with Sunday’s win, that status was cemented.

Coach Casey Stoney got things going in San Diego by signing a pair of U.S. women’s national team stars in Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper. Then she drafted Naomi Girma out of Stanford and went about crafting a roster.

Yet while Stoney created a strong base, it’s been the camaraderie among players and the winning culture fostered by the coach that has made the difference.

Sunday’s overtime win got off to a rocky start when goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan made an uncharacteristic mistake that led to an early goal from Yuki Nagasato and a 1-0 lead for the visiting Chicago Red Stars.

The Wave responded by containing Chicago for the remainder of the match, getting an equalizer from Emily van Egmond in the 67th minute, and finally winning on a Morgan goal in extra time.

One down, two to go. #MakeWaves pic.twitter.com/jvtf6LrxJL

— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) October 17, 2022

According to Morgan, the way her teammates responded after Sheridan’s miscue highlights what has made the Wave special this season.

One by one, the Wave players approached Sheridan and put her mind at ease.

“We’ve got you. We are getting back in this game. Don’t even worry about it.” Those were the messages Morgan and her teammates conveyed to their goalie.

“I think that support of each other is something that maybe a lot of people don’t see,” she said. “And sometimes you don’t really get the opportunity to play on teams like that. So I think that’s really what sets this team apart.”

That attitude starts with Stoney, who is experienced as both a player and a coach. She spent nearly 20 years playing professional soccer and for her home country of England. Then Stoney moved into the coaching ranks, starting with Manchester United and then taking the job with San Diego.

Through her long and successful soccer career, Stoney learned what qualities matter in a coach and how those traits rub off on players.

“I think you have to show vulnerability yourself first as a head coach,” she told reporters Sunday. “You have to be prepared to show that you are gonna own your own mistakes. You have to create an environment every day where you live and breathe that, and you have honest conversations. And if you get it wrong – and I’ve got it wrong quite a few times with different players this year – you say sorry. … When I make mistakes I own it.”

Stoney’s ability to remain humble and vulnerable worked in the Wave’s favor throughout the season, and they entered the playoffs with the No. 3 seed and a home game against the Red Stars.

Next up, San Diego takes on the No. 2 seed Portland Thorns in the semifinals on Oct. 23 for a chance to play in the NWSL Championship game.

Five-time Olympic medalist and USA track star Gabby Thomas will miss this month's 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo due to a lingering Achilles injury, the 28-year-old sprinter announced on Tuesday.

Thomas, who captured a full trio of gold medals at the 2024 Paris Games, has been dealing with the injury since May, going on to re-aggravate it in July prior to August's 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships, in which she placed third in her favored 200-meter race — narrowly booking her spot at the World Championships by a mere one-thousandth of a second margin.

"I understand that it will be disappointing for some track fans to hear this news, but I've finally come to the realization that it's OK to be human and take care of myself," she said in a statement.

"As an athlete you always want to keep grinding, but sometimes you simply can't outwork an injury," Thomas explained. "Sometimes it's about patience and making the right decision for the long term. All the best to my Team USA teammates fighting for medals in Tokyo."

As one of Team USA's top talents in the 200-meter dash as well as the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays, Thomas plans to return to competition in 2026.

Bay FC forward Asisat Oshoala is on the move, finalizing a transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal this week after making 38 appearances for the 2024 NWSL expansion team.

"Asisat has been an incredibly important part of Bay FC history, not only with her impact on the pitch but also through the energy, professionalism, and kindness she brought every day," Bay FC sporting director Matt Potter said in a Tuesday statement. "She is a world-class player and an even better person, and we are grateful for everything she contributed to our club."

One of Bay FC's splashiest signings ahead of their inaugural season, the former Barcelona star led the franchise with seven goals during its debut campaign — including the club's first-ever goal in the team's initial match.

However, the 30-year-old Nigerian national and six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year has since seen her NWSL playing time drop, logging just 12 appearances in 2025 so far.

Oshoala isn't the first high-profile NWSL player to transfer to the 10-team Saudi Women's Premier League since its 2022 debut — the same year that the Middle East country founded its women's national team.

Following the Orlando Pride's 2024 Shield and Championship-winning season, Brazilian star Adriana joined Saudi side Al Qadsiah FC for a then-club-record $500,000 transfer fee.

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball is doubling down on NIL, spotlighting the offseason league's deep roster of NCAA talent in its "Future Is Unrivaled" (FIU) collection drop on Tuesday.

The new merch line features FIU-branded sports apparel and accessories alongside one-offs like pleated skirts, button-ups, and jackets, all backed by a social media campaign starring college stars Lauren Betts (UCLA), Sienna Betts (UCLA), Madison Booker (Texas), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Azzi Fudd (UConn), MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU), Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina), Olivia Miles (TCU), Kiki Rice (UCLA), Sarah Strong (UConn), Syla Swords (Michigan), and JuJu Watkins (USC).

After first signing NCAA stars Paige Bueckers and Flau'Jae Johnson in late 2024, Unrivaled added more than a dozen of college basketball's biggest names to its "Future is Unrivaled" Class of 2025 earlier this summer.

While they cannot play in the upstart league prior to turning pro, the NIL signees did participate in July's Unrivaled Summit, a multi-day event in Miami that focused on skill development, content creation, brand building, social media strategy, and community service.

Unrivaled basketball's investment in the next generation of superstars underlines the 3×3 venture's growing influence in the sport, as it becomes a wedge issue in the WNBA's ongoing CBA negotiations while prepping to tip off a second season in January.

How to purchase from the "Future Is Unrivaled" collection

The full merch collection is available now online at Unrivaled.

The No. 5 New York Liberty finally punched their ticket to the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, as the 2024 champs secured a postseason berth thanks to a Tuesday night loss by the No. 8 Indiana Fever — despite their own 66-58 defeat at the hands of the surging No. 6 Golden State Valkyries.

With star guard Sabrina Ionescu still sidelined with injury, the Liberty only scored 26 first-half points in the matchup, becoming just the second reigning title-holders to fall to a first-year expansion team in WNBA history.

"We just lost a game," New York head coach Sandy Brondello said afterwards. "Obviously, we're in the playoffs, but we still lost a game. Liked the second half, didn't like the first half that much."

With the Fever falling 85-79 to the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury, tension in the WNBA standings has hit a new high as four teams — No. 6 Golden State, No. 7 Seattle, No. 8 Indiana, and No. 9 Los Angeles — battle for the last three playoff spots.

Golden State is hot on the heels of New York, shooting to become the first-ever expansion team to make the playoffs in their debut year as their magic number dwindles down to two — with four games left on the Valkyries' regular-season docket.

"We're in playoff mode right now!" Golden State center Temi Fagbenle, who put up a team-leading 16 points in Tuesday's win, told the Valkyries' crowd.

How to watch Golden State, New York in action this week

The No. 6 Valkyries have a chance to close in on history during their Thursday date with the last-place Dallas Wings, which tips off at 10 PM ET on WNBA League Pass.

Meanwhile, the No. 5 Liberty will look to regroup during their Friday visit to the No. 7 Seattle Storm, which airs live at 10 PM ET on ION.