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.

After a dramatic 3-0 win over crosstown rival Manchester United on Saturday, Manchester City is now leading the WSL, sitting three points clear atop the 2025/26 league table while notably extending their advantage over second-place powerhouse Chelsea FC.

The home side scored all three of their goals in the first half, with defender Rebecca Knaak putting City ahead in the 26th minute before attacker Khadija "Bunny" Shaw added to the lead in the 43rd minute.

Returning from injury with a vengeance, forward Lauren Hemp sealed the deal for the Citizens with the final goal in first-half stoppage time.

"It's so nice to be back," Hemp said postgame. "Today we showed the mentality that I said at the start we needed to show."

While reigning six-time WSL champions Chelsea have yet to lose a match this WSL season, a trio of 2025/26 draws has the Blues now trailing the current eight-win, one-loss record held by Manchester City.

As for United, the WSL third-place Red Devils were without star goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce in Saturday's loss, after the USWNT net-minder suffered a fractured eye socket in November 8th's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.

"She should be fine, it's just trying to make sure she doesn't get another knock in that area," said United manager Marc Skinner, noting that Tullis-Joyce could return as soon as the club's 2025/26 Champions League match against VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

One of this season's NWSL Coach of the Year finalists is moving on up, with Kansas City manager Vlatko Andonovski leaving his position as the Current's head coach to become the club's full-time global sporting director.

Andonovski has been juggling both jobs since joining the Current in October 2023, with the 49-year-old coming off what was arguably his most successful managerial season, leading Kansas City to a first-ever NWSL Shield amidst a record-shattering 2025 campaign.

In his new role, Andonovski will "implement the long-term vision for the club's technical and athletic success, as well as be responsible for player recruitment, roster strategy and scouting."

"It's vital to move into this role to keep growing this club with the aim of being a perennial contender on the global stage and a top developer of talent," Andonovski said in Friday's club announcement.

With the administrative switch in the works prior to last weekend's playoff upset, Andonovski will now join the hiring committee tasked with appointing his successor, while continuing his head coaching duties until Kansas City secures its new manager.

In another front office shift, the Current's head of soccer operations Ryan Dell will immediately take over as the club's GM, with former GM Caitlin Carducci departing the club after one year at the helm.

Michigan women's basketball is on the rise, as the then-No. 14 Wolverines avenged their early 2025 NCAA tournament exit with a stunning 93-54 blowout win over then-No. 18 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Michigan sophomore guard Olivia Olson led the game in scoring with 20 points as the Wolverines put together a true team effort, with six bench players combining for 38 points in the win.

The Big Ten team also dominated defensively, limiting the Fighting Irish bench to just two points while keeping Notre Dame star guard Hannah Hidalgo to a mere 12-point performance.

"We knew exactly what Michigan was going to do," said Notre Dame basketball head coach Niele Ivey afterwards. "We did not have any type of fight defensively, and that's where we have to start."

The Wolverines' victory was especially sweet after Notre Dame ousted Michigan from last season's national tournament with a 76-55 second-round Irish win.

Saturday's fallout also affected this week's AP Top 25 poll, with Notre Dame falling six ranks to No. 24 while Michigan earned an eight-spot bump to No. 6.

After quietly recruiting five-star talents like Olson and Syla Swords in 2024, Michigan — a program that has yet to earn a title at the NCAA or conference level — proved over the weekend that they are entering the 2025/26 season with added depth and experience.

"That's why I committed to Michigan," Swords told JWS at October's Big Ten Media Day. "That's why so many of us came there, because we wanted to be part of something new, part of something that's never been done."

Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman is back in action, subbing into her team's 2025 NWSL semifinal win in Saturday's 90th minute as she continues to rehab a sprained MCL — with questions still remaining surrounding her future with the club.

"It felt amazing," she said afterwards. "If I get 30 seconds, or if I get 90 minutes, it feels great to be out there."

Rodman will hope for more involvement in next weekend's NWSL Championship game, taking the pitch for the Spirit in her final match under contact before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

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The USWNT standout's extension negotiations have apparently made it all the way up to the NWSL commissioner, with Rodman garnering interest from multiple UK clubs willing to outspend the US league's salary cap restrictions.

The NWSL's most recent collective bargaining agreement sets each club's current salary cap at $3.3 million, which will titrate up to $5.1 million by 2030.

"Right now, my head's completely down. It's been so distracting being injured, and that's all I can really think about," Rodman said on Saturday, addressing the reports. "Once we get this championship, then I can start making decisions and figuring out what next year looks like for me."

With rumors swirling around Rodman and her future with the Spirit, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman defended the salary cap this week, telling CBS Sports that the parity the cap fosters is "the reason our league is the most competitive league in the world."