The U.S. women’s national soccer team kicked off its Concacaf W Championship campaign with a 3-0 win over Haiti on Monday in Monterrey, Mexico.

World Cup and Olympic qualifying are on the line as the USWNT looks to reassert its dominance on the world stage. Just Women’s Sports has three takeaways from the opening victory:

Alex Morgan shines with brace

Alex Morgan has been on a tear for club and country, showing that her scoring hot streak isn’t exclusive to the NWSL in Monday’s USWNT win. The veteran forward got the start at the No. 9 position over Ashley Hatch and immediately made an impact on the game.

In the 16th minute, Morgan notched the team’s breakthrough goal in stylish fashion, flicking on a crafty touch at the near post to put the USWNT up 1-0. Then, in the 23^rd minute, Morgan doubled her side’s lead with a perfectly-executed header, getting on the end of a well-placed cross from Kelley O’Hara.

Her brace marks Morgan’s first multi-goal game since the USWNT’s 13-0 thrashing over Thailand in the 2019 World Cup.

Morgan was the bright spot of a USWNT attack that, at times, looked stagnant and out of sync.

This time, it’s a header from @alexmorgan13! ✌️

pic.twitter.com/HroYY3Qqg9

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 4, 2022

No doubt about this one, @100Purcent 🇺🇸

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— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 5, 2022

Defensive woes

The USWNT’s defense was tested by a Haiti side that was sharp on the counterattack. Holes were plentiful throughout the backline but particularly down the spine of the field, where plays appeared to break down between the center-back duo of Becky Sauerbrunn and Alana Cook and defensive midfielder Andi Sullivan.

The United States’ defensive unit has been in transition due to the absences of left outside back Crystal Dunn and defensive midfielder Julie Ertz, both out on maternity leave. Center back Abby Dahlkemper has also been sidelined due to injury.

Monday’s starting backline boasted a range of experience, with starting goalkeeper Casey Murphy holding just six national team caps, while Cook and starting left back Emily Fox have 11 and 15, respectively, compared to Sauerbrunn with 204 and O’Hara with 155.

“I don’t know if there was a miscommunication or anything between our center backs,” USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski told reporters following the match. “I would say it was the very good play of the attackers of the opposing team… world-class players, and you can’t give them a little space.”

VAR changes the game

VAR’s inaugural appearance in the Concacaf W Championship caused controversy, with three calls changing the face of Monday’s game.

The first-ever VAR decision surely was one for the history books, with the referee overturning a red card against Haiti’s Roselord Borgella. Going into a challenge with a high boot, Borgella raked Kelley O’Hara, leaving an apparent mark on her side. The initial red card call on the field was downgraded to a yellow upon review, causing uproar online.

The first ever VAR decision in CONCACAF Women's World Cup qualifying history overturns a red card for Roselord Borgella and Haiti. 👀 pic.twitter.com/6HnZGHAQ01

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) July 4, 2022

The game official turned to VAR again in the 58th minute after Mallory Pugh was taken down inside the box, upholding the no-call on the field, seemingly because the USWNT forward was offside at the time of the foul.

VAR came into play for a final time when Megan Rapinoe was ruled offside in her assist to what would’ve been a Margaret Purce goal. Purce put the ball in the net for a good goal soon after to seal the 3-0 win.

The USWNT will continue its World Cup and Olympic qualifying quest Thursday when the squad takes on Jamaica at 7 p.m. ET on Paramount+.

Ticket prices are skyrocketing across the WNBA, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressing the surge after several New York Liberty fans wore T-shirts in protest of the increase.

Donning orange shirts emblazoned with the phrase "We've been priced out," New York fans came together to express their frustrations at a recent game.

The WNBA fans' custom shirts referred to season ticket price jumps of more than 250%, saying the Liberty is asking upwards of $30,000 for 2026 renewals.

Some New York season ticket holders noted that their 2026 renewal more than triples the cost they paid for the team's 2024 championship-winning campaign.

The exponential increase isn't just occurring in the New York market, however — it points to an overall rise in ticket prices across the WNBA.

The WNBA's recent ticket surge has seen seats across the league jumping by an average cost increase of 43% in the last year alone.

"In order to fund all these investments that owners are making, and obviously paying the players more which we will do in this next CBA cycle…that's the reality," Engelbert said on Thursday's episode of In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams. "That's our responsibility as a league and team owners."

Calling the price hikes a result of "simple economics" and "high demand," Engelbert acknowledged the effect on fans, though did not address potential solutions.

"I realize there's some concern out there, certainly that we don't price out our kind of core fan base," she noted.

Chelsea FC is playing it close to the chest, with big-name new signing Alyssa Thompson and previously injured superstar Sam Kerr waiting in the wings as manager Sonia Bompastor teases a 2025/26 WSL season debut for the pair.

Kerr joined the 18-player game-day roster for Chelsea FC's opening-day victory over Manchester City last Friday, but saw her season debut delayed as the Australian remained an unused sub while Thompson greeted fans from the stands.

This Sunday's matchup against Aston Villa provides another chance for the standouts to take the pitch, as the six-time reigning WSL champs hunt another result.

"With Alyssa, we are looking for her to be able to play. We don't have the confirmation yet, but we are hoping for her to be able to play in this game," Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said earlier today. "I think she has already shown some good things this week in training, and we can see what she can bring to the team."

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Bompastor went on to call last week's decision to keep Kerr on the bench "my choice," saying "She's doing everything she can to be available for the squad and available to start…. The next step for her is to be involved in a short game in the league, and maybe we'll see that on Sunday."

USWNT fans will not get a glimpse of defender Naomi Girma, however, as the January 2025 Chelsea addition sat out last Friday's clash with a calf injury and remains unavailable.

How to watch Aston Villa vs. Chelsea FC this weekend

With the possibility of Thompson and Kerr taking the WSL pitch, Chelsea will visit Aston Villa at 7 AM ET on Sunday, with live coverage of the match streaming on ESPN+.

Splashy new Gotham FC addition Jaedyn Shaw is returning West, as the No. 6 NY/NJ club preps for a Friday night clash against the No. 3 San Diego Wave — Shaw's original NWSL team — days after signing the USWNT prospect from the No. 11 North Carolina Courage.

"I'm so excited to be a part of this incredible club and community," the 20-year-old said after her NWSL-record $1.25 million transfer to Gotham. "I'm looking forward to playing alongside world class players and giving my all to help the team win another championship."

After finding immediate success with the Wave in 2023, Shaw requested a trade to the Courage in January 2025, initiating what turned out to be a short stint in Cary, NC.

"I've grown so much just over the past few months, being at the Courage," Shaw told ESPN on Thursday. "I feel like I've matured a lot. I've had to experience things that I haven't necessarily experienced in my career and having to deal with those things."

Gotham and Shaw are currently "working toward an updated and extended contract," per a team release on Thursday, with the young attacker looking to boost Gotham's offense while adding to her 16-goal and five-assist NWSL career tally.

How to watch the San Diego Wave vs. Gotham on Friday

Shaw could take the pitch for No. 6 Gotham in her new club's Friday night visit to the No. 3 San Diego Wave.

The match kicks off at 10 PM ET, with live coverage airing on Prime.

The No. 1 Kansas City Current are closing in on the 2025 NWSL Shield, gearing up for a Saturday night showdown against the No. 2 Washington Spirit that could inject insurmountable distance between the Current and the rest of the league.

With a 14-point lead at the top of the NWSL standings, Kansas City has already clinched a postseason berth, and the Current only need only a few more results to secure a franchise-first league trophy.

Even more, KC enters Saturday's match on an 11-game unbeaten streak, with the Current hosting the Spirit at their home CPKC Stadium — a pitch where Kansas City has yet to drop a match this year.

Despite that dominance, it may not be smooth sailing for the Current, as Washington's future is beginning to take shape behind recently returned star Trinity Rodman, whose brace lifted the Spirit over the No. 7 Seattle Reign last Sunday.

"She's not back, because she's a different player," Washington head coach Adrián González told reporters about Rodman's level of play. "After her injury, she's more prepared mentally. She's having enough time to get the minutes, the training, and the exposures that she needs with no pressure."

How to watch the Kansas City Current vs. Washington Spirit

The No. 1 Kansas City Current will host the No. 2 Washington Spirit on Saturday, with the top-tier match kicking off live at 7:30 PM ET on ION.