The NWSL MVP race is heating up. With half of the regular season in the books, competition for the league’s top individual honor has started to take shape, with a handful of favorites emerging.

As national team players return from Olympic duty, here’s who to keep an eye on for the remainder of the 2021 NWSL season.

Sydney Leroux, Orlando Pride

Sydney Leroux is on a tear. The Pride striker currently leads the league’s Golden Boot race with seven goals in 13 appearances, and she also has the most attempted shots so far this season, with 42.

The veteran forward has powered a resurgent Orlando offense, stretching opponents’ backlines and exploiting seams wherever she can. Though her attacking presence can’t be understated, Leroux is also known to put in the work on defense. The 31-year-old often tracks into midfield or all the way back to Orlando’s box in order to break up an opponent’s play, triggering the Pride’s counterattack.

Leroux’s standout year marks the striker’s first full season back on the pitch since having her second child in 2019. The biggest question may be whether the Pride can keep their form following the departure of Marc Skinner.

Syd called game 😌#CHIvORL | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/21SF0Uel1M

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 8, 2021

Ashlyn Harris, Orlando Pride

Ashlyn Harris has long been a dominant presence in goal, but the veteran keeper seems to have tapped into a new mindset this year.

Harris has stopped five straight penalty kicks from the line, making her the only goalkeeper to stop multiple PKs so far this season.The 35-year-old sits third in the league’s goalkeeper rankings, with 39 saves in 990 minutes on the pitch.

👉😠👈@Ashlyn_Harris' penalty stop is your @Verizon Save of the Week winner 👏 pic.twitter.com/aN2TI4ic00

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 8, 2021

Harris’s ability to come up clutch and keep Orlando in close games has propelled the club to fourth in the NWSL standings with half the season left to play.

Bethany Balcer, OL Reign

Second only to Leroux in the Golden Boot race, Balcer has been a consistently energizing force for the OL Reign.

Bethany Balcer strikes first 💪@OLReign | @NWSL pic.twitter.com/pqbQ8QT8JS

— CBS Sports Soccer (@CBSSportsSoccer) July 18, 2021

The 2019 Rookie of the Year is lethal in the club’s attack, employing strategic movement off the ball to create a flurry of chances in the final third. Whether or not the 24-year-old is scoring–and she often is–Balcer’s mere presence and ability to create space rattles defenses, complicating opponents’ game plans.

Simone Charley, Portland Thorns

Simone Charley is having a moment. Making her mark during the Olympic break, Charley’s third year with the Thorns is proving to be her breakout season.

The 26-year-old is currently tied with Sophia Smith as the club’s leading scorer, recording four goals in 13 appearances. The Portland striker has emerged as a fixture for Portland’s offense, creating ten chances and powering the team to the top of the NWSL table. If Portland can stay there, and Charley can keep scoring, she’ll remain a dark horse candidate for league MVP.

NBD, just @SimoneCharley soarin' ✈️#ORLvPOR | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/L4ttzgkR4c

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 26, 2021

Lynn Williams, North Carolina Courage

Williams has momentum on her side. The Courage striker is coming off an impressive Olympic debut, notching a goal and an assist in the USWNT’s win over the Netherlands in Tokyo.

Make that two braces in two games for Lynn Williams! She doubles to lead for the Courage!#NCvPOR | 2-0pic.twitter.com/qGRiqclykt

— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) June 27, 2021

Williams was on a scoring streak before leaving for the Games, netting four goals in four days in her final NWSL matches before heading to Tokyo. If Williams can keep up that type of offensive output for the Courage, she could be in contention for her second NWSL MVP award, having won the honors in 2016 with the Western New York Flash.

Fever rookie Caitlin Clark rocketed to the upper tiers of Sportico's annual highest-paid women's sports athletes report on Wednesday, landing in 10th place with an estimated $11 million in yearly earnings.

With tournaments like the US Open guaranteeing equal purses across men's and women's events, tennis players dominated the findings, accounting for nine of the 15 entries. This includes first-place Coco Gauff, who, with $9.4 million in prizes plus $21 million in endorsements, tops the list for the second year in a row.

Skier Eileen Gu came in second, complementing her individual earnings with the list's highest-estimated endorsement profits at $22 million. Gymnast Simone Biles came in at No. 9 with an estimated $11.1 million in total income.

Golfers Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko also made the cut, mirroring the LPGA Tour's expanded purses.

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Report highlights endorsements in women's sports

The report underlines the continued importance of endorsements in the women's game — particularly within team sports, where many athletes rely on supplemental income to boost relatively small pro salaries.

However, 2024's estimated $221 million in total earnings is up 27% over last year, with 11 athletes making at least $10 million compared to six in 2023.

Sportico's 15 highest-paid women's sports athletes

1. Coco Gauff: $30.4 million
Prize money: $9.4 million | Endorsements: $21 million

2. Eileen Gu: $22.1 million
Prize money: $62,000 | Endorsements: $22 million

3. Iga Świątek: $21.4 million
Prize money: $8.4 million | Endorsements: $13 million

4. Zheng Qinwen: $20.6 million
Prize money: $5.6 million | Endorsements: $15 million

5. Aryna Sabalenka: $17.7 million
Prize money: $9.7 million | Endorsements: $8 million

6. Naomi Osaka: $15.9 million
Prize money: $870,000 | Endorsements: $15 million

7. Emma Raducanu: $14.7 million
Prize money: $671,000 | Endorsements: $14 million

8. Nelly Korda: $14.4 million
Prize money: $4.4 million | Endorsements: $10 million

9. Simone Biles: $11.1 million
Prize money: $135,000 | Endorsements: $11 million

10. Caitlin Clark: $11.1 million
Salary/bonus: $100,000 | Endorsements: $11 million

11. Jasmine Paolini: $10 million
Prize money: $6.5 million | Endorsements: $3.5 million

12. Jeeno Thitikul: $9.1 million
Prize money: $7.1 million | Endorsements: $2 million

13. Jessica Pegula: $8.2 million
Prize money: $4.2 million | Endorsements: $4 million

14. Elena Rybakina: $7.9 million
Prize money: $3.9 million | Endorsements: $4 million

15. Lydia Ko: $6.7 million
Prize money: $3.2 million | Endorsements: $3.5 million

The 2024 NCAA DI volleyball tournament officially kicks off on Thursday, when 64 teams will gear up to battle for postseason glory in this weekend's first and second rounds.

The college court's best have their sights set on competing in the December 22nd national championship match in Louisville, Kentucky.

Along with the 31 conference champions who automatically received postseason invites, the NCAA committee revealed its 33 selectees in Sunday's selection show. The top 32 teams are seeded one through eight in their respective bracket quadrants, and teams are guaranteed to only face non-conference opponents through the tournament's second round.

Leading the field with nine teams each are the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC, followed by the Big 12 with six squads selected.

The four teams who finished atop the national rankings — Pitt, Louisville, Nebraska, and Penn State — all earned No. 1 seeds.

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ACC powerhouses take aim at first national title

Sitting atop the rankings for most of the season, overall No. 1 seed Pitt showcases the ACC's immense depth, despite the conference having yet to produce a champion. The Panthers, who finished with Division I's best record at 29-1, have come achingly close over the last three seasons, falling short in the national semifinals each year.

Pitt's only loss this season came courtesy of ACC newcomer No. 2 SMU, a team they could face in the regional finals after landing in the same bracket quadrant.

Similarly, Louisville has been a consistent contender for the conference, becoming the ACC's first-ever team to make the championship match in 2022. Last year, the Cardinals failed to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2020, stumbling in a five-set quarterfinal thriller against conference rival Pitt.

Big Ten dynasties seek continued dominance

After battling through arguably the sport's toughest all-around conference, Big Ten behemoths Penn State and Nebraska will take aim at their eighth and sixth program titles, respectively. Only former Pac-12 team Stanford — now a No. 2 seed in their debut ACC season — boast more NCAA championships than the Nittany Lions or Huskers.

Both teams finished their 2024 regular season campaigns neck-and-neck, posting 29-2 overall records and going 19-1 in conference play to share the Big Ten title. Penn State holds the tournament edge, however, maintaining their streak as the only NCAA team to make all 44 championship brackets — one more than Nebraska.

Each faces an uphill battle in the 2024 championship field. The Huskers must contend with longtime rivals and 2021 champs No. 2 Wisconsin in their quadrant. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions find themselves in the same quadrant as reigning back-to-back champion Texas, who grabbed a No. 3 seed after a rollercoaster season. 

How to watch the 2024 NCAA DI Volleyball Tournament

The first and second rounds of the NCAA volleyball tournament will take place at 16 campus sites between Thursday and Saturday.

No. 5 BYU will kick off the action against Loyola Chicago at 3:30 PM ET on Thursday, with all 32 first-round and 16 second-round matches airing across ESPN platforms.

The USWNT ended 2024 with an unlikely win, overcoming a Dutch shooting barrage to earn a 2-1 comeback victory in Tuesday's Euro trip closer.

The world No. 1 squad looked overrun for much of the first half as the No. 11 Netherlands outshot the US 14-1. Oranje rookie Veerle Buurman ultimately broke through with a 15th-minute goal off of a corner kick to give the Netherlands a well-earned lead.

That said, the USWNT held tight, equalizing in the 44th minute when Buurman headed in Tierna Davidson's free kick for an own goal.

Subs made all the difference in the game's second half, taking back enough control to mount an impressive US comeback. In just her fourth cap, forward Yazmeen Ryan produced her first international assist, finding her Gotham FC teammate Lynn Williams streaking into the penalty area to put away the 71st-minute sliding goal that allowed the US to gut out the win.

"I thought today we demonstrated by not being at our best, both in and out of possession, that finding a way to win is a sign of a great team," commented US boss Emma Hayes after the match.

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SWNT keeper Alyssa Naeher's epic final match against he Netherlands

Longtime starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher earned Player of the Match honors with six stunning saves in her final USWNT performance on Tuesday. The now-retired star finishes her international career with 89 wins, 69 clean sheets, and 112 starts in her 115 caps.

Reflecting on her final year in goal for the States, Naeher said after Tuesday's match, "I think part of why I've been able to play with so much extra joy and smiles and really enjoy it this year even more, is I really felt like it was the last the whole time."

A golden 2024 to fuel 2025 USWNT success

With Saturday's draw against No. 2 England and Tuesday's victory over the Netherlands, the USWNT ends 2024 on a 20-match unbeaten streak that included their 16th Concacaf title and fifth Olympic gold medal.

After taking the US reins in May, head coach Hayes caps the year with a 13-0-2 record, with eight of those wins coming against FIFA-ranked Top-15 teams.

The momentum Hayes has built sets the stage for continued success next year. The USWNT will kick off 2025 with a mid-January training camp to run concurrently with a "Futures Camp," designed to identify and develop young talent for the senior squad.

The first matches on the USWNT's 2025 schedule will come in February, when the team hosts No. 7 Japan, No. 15 Australia, and No. 21 Colombia in the 10th annual SheBelieves Cup.

On today's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins wraps up a banner year for the USWNT. She starts by diving into how Tuesday's dramatic 2-1 win over the Netherlands, discussing how it showcased just how far the team has come and what they’ll need to do to continue to grow in 2025.

Later, Watkins chats through the lessons learned from the USWNT midfield's recent performances, plus the differences in player form between their clubs and national team.

Finally, she dishes about Alyssa Naeher's epic final performance, underlining how much the starting goalkeeper will be missed as she officially retires from the USWNT.

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.

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