When the United States women’s national team released its roster for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup on Thursday, Trinity Rodman was listed only as a training player.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s decision raised questions, considering the 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year was fresh off of a breakout season and had signed a four-year, $1.1 million contract with the Washington Spirit the day before — the richest deal in NWSL history.

“First, I want to say she did well in camp,” Andonovski said on Wednesday. “She was very competitive, her mindset fits well in it. But I want to say for her, she’s looking really good in the league, but the national team is a completely different animal and we don’t want to put her out.”

Squad ready ≫ https://t.co/jAf7XIBeiP
#SheBelievesCup x @Visa https://t.co/Zf3G6uSvn5 pic.twitter.com/uDeAaWdgvl

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 3, 2022

Rodman, 19, forewent college to enter the 2020 NWSL Draft, where the Spirit selected her at No. 2 overall. Leading the NWSL with seven assists and tied for sixth with seven goals, Rodman played a critical role in the Spirit’s nine-game, undefeated run to the 2021 NWSL championship. She often set the tone for the team with her pace and ability to turn games in their favor with a bullet off the crossbar or a fast dribble from end line to end line.

The season ended with Rodman’s star play in the championship game, when she lobbed the ball into the Chicago Red Stars’ box in overtime right to Kelley O’Hara, who headed in the game-winning goal.

“We want to give her a chance to slowly accommodate or adjust herself to the system, to the structure, to absorb information slowly step-by-step instead of throwing everything out,” Andonovski said of the USWNT environment. “That’s why anytime we have a chance to have her in camp where she can train and be around and adjust to it, we’re going to use that opportunity to do so.”

Six of Rodman’s Spirit teammates were named to the SheBelieves Cup roster, including Ashley Hatch, Ashley Sanchez, Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonnett, Andi Sullivan and Aubrey Kingsbury.

O’Hara, Sonnett and Sullivan are seasoned USWNT veterans, while Hatch, Sanchez and Kingsbury have just six caps between them but have been invited to multiple senior national team camps. January camp marked Rodman’s first USWNT call-up after she declined her invitation to Australia in November for undisclosed reasons.

NEWS | Six Spirit Players Called Up to USWNT for SheBelieves Cup

— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) February 3, 2022

Andonovski has called first-time players into games before, with Bethany Balcer and Morgan Weaver each getting their first caps during the USWNT’s friendlies against Australia, despite Weaver having never been to a camp and Balcer only to one. He might not have been as willing to do that for an official tournament like the SheBelieves Cup, especially after Rodman didn’t get any game experience in Australia.

Rodman has the talent alone to become a core USWNT player, and the potential to be one of the most dominant players in the world. If her seamless transition from high school to the pros is any indication, she’s primed to seize the opportunity when she gets it.

Jessa Braun is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports covering the NWSL and USWNT. Follow her on Twitter @jessabraun.

The NWSL is expanding its footprint across ESPN, with the broadcaster signing on to carry 16 additional regular-season games in both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, upping the platform's total to 33 matches per year.

ESPN will also introduce a season-long "Match of the Week" centerpiece series, as well as live coverage of NWSL Decision Day, when eight concurrent matches will close out the season on the same day. 

"The NWSL showcases some of the best athletes in the world," ESPN EVP of programming and acquisitions Rosalyn Durant said in a press release. "We are proud to increase our commitment on ABC and ESPN, and to further elevate women's sports and the athlete stories."

This media rights extension builds on the league's ongoing blockbuster four-year, $240 million TV deal with ESPN, adding inventory for the final two seasons of the November 2023 agreement.

The deal expansion comes in light of the league's significant growth this season, with the NWSL seeing gains across both attendance and viewership, including a 72% year-over-year ratings rise on ESPN.

"This supplemental agreement underscores the growing demand for women's soccer and ensures our players and clubs receive the visibility they deserve on some of the most prominent sports platforms," said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman in a statement.

The 2025 WNBA season is over for Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, but the 23-year-old star is still making headlines, with Reebok set to drop her signature Angel Reese 1 sneakers on Thursday.

The Angel Reese 1 is a cornerstone of Reebok's re-entry into the basketball market, with the sportswear giant engineering the signature shoe for on-court performance by including features like responsive cushioning and added upper support.

Inspired by the brand's classic Mobius line, the shoes will hit the shelves in three colorways — an iridescent white "Diamond Dust," a bold pink "Mebounds," and a black and white "Receipts Ready" — with Reese's personal logo incorporated into the design.

Reese first signed with Reebok as an NIL athlete at LSU in 2023, a little over six months after winning the NCAA championship with the Tigers.

This week's rollout follows the July sneak peek of the signature sneakers worn by Reese on the cover of NBA 2K26's WNBA Edition.

"This isn't just a shoe, it's my style, my story, and my stamp on the game," Reese said in Reebok's press release. "I wanted to design a basketball shoe that elevates performance, innovation, style, and creative expression, all at once."

"Reebok and I built something that's true to who I am, and I hope it pushes others to stand in their power too."

How to buy the Angel Reese 1 Reebok sneakers

All three colorways of the Angel Reese 1 sneakers will be available for a retail price of $120 beginning at 10 AM ET on Thursday at Reebok.com as well as in select stores.

No. 5 New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart isn't letting Sunday's left knee knock take her off the 2025 WNBA Playoffs court, with the forward planning to compete in Game 2 against the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night.

An emotional Stewart finished Game 1 on the bench, going down with a knee injury in overtime of the Liberty's 76-69 upset win over the Mercury on Sunday.

"What I felt in that moment scared me more than anything," Stewart told reporters on Wednesday morning.

A Monday MRI revealed a sprained MCL, and though the two-time WNBA MVP did not practice on Tuesday, she participated in the team's Wednesday shootaround and said her pain had diminished to a three out of 10.

"[As long as] I don't wake up from my nap and feel like s—t," said Stewart, "I'm willing to take that [chance of re-injury] because I want to be out with my team, and they told me that structurally everything looks OK."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Even when the game-day status for Stewart was still unknown, New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello promised that the defending champions would give their star "as much time as we can."

"We know what's at stake," Brondello told reporters on Tuesday. "We don't want to go back to Phoenix [for Game 3], but they're going to come in hungry."

Stewart echoed that sentiment on Wednesday morning, saying "We want to finish it here. Not having to go back to Phoenix is our main priority."

How to watch the Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty in Game 2

No. 5 New York will look to oust No. 4 Phoenix from the 2025 WNBA Playoffs with a first-round sweep on Wednesday night, when the Liberty host the Mercury for Game 2 at 8 PM ET.

The matchup will air live on ESPN.

Star sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is reaching new heights, setting a new US record for the 400-meter race in the event's Tuesday semifinals at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist finished the flat event in 48.29 seconds, shaving more than 0.40 seconds off the previous US record of 48.70 seconds set by track legend Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006.

Both her personal best and the fastest time in the world for that event this year, McLaughlin-Levrone's performance also makes her the seventh-fastest woman of all time in the 400-meter dash — elevating expectations that she could challenge the long-standing world record of 47.60 seconds, set by then-East German sprinter Marita Koch in 1985.

Known for her dominance in the 400-meter hurdles, the 26-year-old made the decision to focus on the flat 400-meter event ahead of this year's competition. 

"I definitely wasn't expecting that time," she said afterwards. "It just shows the fitness is there. I'm excited for the finals and grateful to have taken down a record by an amazing woman."

How to watch McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400-meter final

McLaughlin-Levrone will take aim at the 2025 World Athletics Championships' 400-meter podium — and, perhaps, another record time — during the event's final on Thursday.

The US star will race against 2024 Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and silver medalist Salwa Eid Naser when the final begins at 9:24 AM ET.

Live coverage will air on USA Network.