Tobin Heath will miss rest of NWSL season after knee surgery
Tobin Heath signed with OL Reign in June. (Stephen Brashear/USA TODAY Sports)
Tobin Heath will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after undergoing surgery on her left knee Monday.
OL Reign announced Friday that Heath has been placed on the season-ending injury list, with her recovery timeline expected to extend beyond the 2022 campaign.
Forward Tobin Heath Placed on Season Ending Injury List
“Although this wasn’t an easy decision, we know this was the right decision,” OL Reign coach Laura Harvey said. “We always want to be mindful of our athletes and their health, so we wanted to be sure that Tobin will have the proper time needed to fully prepare for a successful return on the pitch. Despite missing time this season, Tobin has helped our younger players tremendously with her veteran mindset and experience.”
Heath had missed the last two OL Reign matches. She posted a photo and message to her Instagram on Tuesday after her surgery. “No one said it would be easy,” her caption read.
A mainstay for the U.S. women’s national team through the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Heath received an outpouring of support from fellow stars, including USWNT teammates Ashlyn Harris, Rose Lavelle and Sofia Huerta.
Since joining OL Reign in June, Health has appeared in five games with the club, notching one goal.
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Angel City Remains Unbeaten As NWSL Weekend Brings Big Wins
Angel City is one of three unbeaten NWSL teams. (Meg Oliphant/NWSL via Getty Images)
While the NWSL’s Big Three — Orlando, Kansas City, and Washington — still sit above the pack after weekend wins, an unexpected fourth club has been hanging tough alongside last year’s contenders.
LA side Angel City is one of just three remaining unbeaten clubs going into this week’s international break, alongside Orlando and Kansas City.
Angel City finished in 12th place last NWSL season. (Harry How/NWSL via Getty Images)
Angel City rights the ship after a losing 2024
Entering 2025 on uncertain footing, Angel City is still without a permanent manager after former coach Becki Tweed’s offseason departure.
Under interim manager Sam Laity, the club managed two 1-1 draws before earning their first win against Seattle on Sunday, behind goals from rising star Alyssa Thompson and rookie Riley Tiernan.
The turnaround is noteworthy. ACFC finished the 2024 season in 12th place — far below playoff contention. Today, they sit in fourth place.
“This is the foundation of this young, energetic team, and we are going to have enormous growth and the most potential,” Laity said after Sunday’s victory.
In a season still searching for unexpected storylines, Angel City’s early success could lay the foundation for some serious standings shakeups to come.
Ashley Hatch scored both Washington Spirit goals on Friday. (Hannah Foslien/NWSL via Getty Images)
Top three NWSL teams also score big weekend wins
The Washington Spirit, Orlando Pride, and Kansas City Current also saw key weekend wins, maintaining their hold on the NWSL standings' top three spots.
Washington kicked things off on Friday, topping visitors Bay FC 2-0 behind an Ashley Hatch brace. Orlando followed on Saturday with a 2-1 win over San Diego, with Brazilian star Marta notching the game-winner with a penalty kick in the 76th minute.
That same day, Kansas City triumphed 3-0 over a struggling Utah Royals. Temwa Chawinga, Michelle Cooper, and Debinha all contributed to the final score, with each goal coming in the match's first half.
2025 NWSL Standings: Week Three
1. Orlando Pride (3-0-0) 2. Kansas City Current (3-0-0) 3. Washington Spirit (2-1-0) 4. Angel City FC (1-0-2) 5. San Diego Wave FC (1-1-1) 6. Seattle Reign FC (1-1-1) 7. Houston Dash (1-1-1) 8. Bay FC (1-1-1) 9. Racing Louisville FC (1-1-1) 10. North Carolina Courage (0-1-2) 11. Portland Thorns FC (0-1-2) 12. Gotham FC (0-1-2) 13. Utah Royals (0-2-1) 14. Chicago Stars FC (0-3-0)
Claire Watkins
Mar 31, 2025
TCU Ousts Notre Dame, USC Faces UConn in March Madness Action
Hailey Van Lith lifted TCU over Notre Dame. (Elaina Eichorn/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
While chalky on paper, the victory was indeed a bracket-buster, setting the Horned Frogs up for tonight’s showdown against No. 1 seed Texas after the Longhorns’ 67-59 Sweet 16 win over No. 5 seed Tennessee.
“Hailey’s a dog,” said TCU senior Madison Conner of Van Lith, who set the school’s single-season scoring record en route to her fifth Elite Eight appearance. “Regardless of if it’s on the offensive end or on the defensive end, she’s going to do anything it takes to win.”
“Going into this game, I was really just going to go and have no regrets,” said Van Lith. “I wasn't going to put any pressure on myself to necessarily win. I was going to go out there and have fun and play with the joy that God gave me.”
USC will face UConn without star JuJu Watkins in tonight's March Madness Elite Eight matchup. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
USC faces UConn in highly anticipated Elite Eight rematch
Tonight’s blockbuster Elite Eight rematch between No. 1 seed USC and No. 2 seed UConn will look different without injured superstar JuJu Watkins. But the Trojans aren’t done fighting.
USC lost Watkins to a season-ending ACL tear in the tournament’s second round. Nevertheless, a determined USC took down No. 5 seed Kansas State 67-61 in Saturday’s Sweet 16 clash. Freshmen Avery Howell and Kennedy Smith combined for 37 points on the night.
“With Ju going down, obviously it was a bit of adversity that we had to face,” Smith said after the game. “But just having her in our presence — we talked to her before the game and she was still rooting us on, things of that nature — [we're] just keeping her in our hearts and minds and playing for her as well as for each other.”
USC will subsequently have their hands full. Leading the Huskies to the Elite Eight, UConn star Paige Bueckers is fresh off a career-high 40-point Sweet 16 performance against Oklahoma.
“You try not to think about the stakes or the pressure or getting to the Final Four,” Bueckers said ahead of tonight's rematch. “Obviously that's there, so you try not to think about it and just go out and play every single game the same way like it's your last, like it's the most important 40 minutes of your life... We just want the season to keep going as long as possible. So leaving nothing up to chance, giving it our all for that 40 minutes to play for another 40 is our team mindset.”
USC will face UConn in an Elite Eight rematch tonight. (Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Where to watch Women's March Madness games tonight
TCU tips off against Texas tonight at 7 PM ET before UConn takes on USC at 9 PM ET. Both games will air live across ESPN platforms.
Claire Watkins
Mar 31, 2025
No. 1 Seeds UCLA, South Carolina Advance to NCAA Final Four
UCLA advanced to their first-ever NCAA Final Four on Sunday. (Tyler McFarland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
No. 1 seeds UCLA and South Carolina prevailed on Sunday, punching their tickets to the Final Four and putting a bow on a wild NCAA tournament weekend that nonetheless ended in chalk.
After surviving a surging No. 4 seed Maryland offense 71-67 on Friday, the Gamecocks took down No. 2 seed Duke 54-50 in Sunday’s Elite Eight, building a watertight defense to silence the Blue Devils.
Coming off Friday’s strong 76-62 win over No. 5 seed Ole Miss, the Bruins went on to blank No. 3 seed LSU 72-65, holding off the Tigers despite All-American center Lauren Betts’s early foul trouble.
“The game was lost in the second quarter,” said LSU coach Kim Mulkey. “That’s where the game was lost. We didn’t capitalize on Betts being off the floor.”
South Carolina, UCLA bring different strengths to Final Four
With both teams having topped this season’s AP Poll rankings, UCLA and South Carolina pose different physical threats fueled by similar mental resilience.
The Gamecocks will make their fifth straight Final Four appearance. As such, the reigning champs are managing to keep the repeat dream alive despite some shaky starts.
“We know that every night is going to be a battle, and we know that they’re going to come for us,” said senior Te-Hina PaoPao.
On the flip side, next weekend will mark UCLA’s first-ever NCAA Final Four.
“All season we’ve talked about how our talent is our floor and our character is our ceiling,” guard Kiki Rice said. “And to just be the tougher team every single day out there on the court is really the difference.”
Subsequently, maintaining poise down the stretch could be the key to winning this year’s NCAA title.
South Carolina will feature in Friday's NCAA Final Four. (Scott Wachter-Imagn Images)
How to watch Women's March Madness Final Four games
UCLA tips off the Final Four at 7 PM ET on Friday, April 4th, before South Carolina takes the court at 9:30 PM ET. Both games will air live across ESPN platforms.
Claire Watkins
Mar 28, 2025
NY Liberty Announce Dedicated State-of-the-Art Brooklyn Practice Facility
The Liberty will open their new practice facility in 2027. (New York Liberty)
“We are a player-first organization and investing in health and wellness has always been a priority for us. The New York Liberty deserve a facility of their own: one that reflects their tremendous talent, work ethic, and ambition,” said Liberty governor Clara Wu Tsai.
“This facility is a sign of our commitment to the team, to the city of New York, and to the advancement of women’s sports.”
“The New York Liberty strive to be the standard on and off the court and this facility will be a game changer as we continue our relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb.
“A key part of this process has been the active involvement of our players in creating a year-round home for themselves and their families, and the collaborative effort to redefine the standard of player care and experience. When our athletes step into what will be the crown jewel of the WNBA, they will see themselves and their insights reflected throughout.”
Instead of a traditional locker room, the Liberty will offer private player suites. (New York Liberty)
Liberty expand facility offerings beyond top-tier WNBA standards
In addition to common amenities like dining, workout, and recovery areas, the facility will forgo a traditional locker room and instead provide every player with a private suite. Each suite will be stocked with a wardrobe and sneaker storage, a vanity with face-illuminating lighting, and a seven-foot daybed.
In addition to interior comforts, the center also features an outdoor basketball court. The court will host both practicing players and community-based clinics, allowing for greater neighborhood integration.
The new Liberty practice facility will be located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. (New York Liberty)
“I am grateful to be a part of an organization who recognizes the power of investment in their players, and ensures we have everything we need to be at top of our game at all times,” said star Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu.
“It was amazing to sit down with Populous and walk through what is most important to us as athletes to be successful in all aspects of our lives. This facility is a massive next step for the New York Liberty.”
“One of the main things that drew me to the New York Liberty organization is the level of investment in us as athletes," added center Jonquel Jones. "We just won a championship, and in the same way they expect us to level up and step up our game, our ownership group and leadership continues to raise the bar, and this facility is a perfect example of that."
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