As Russian troops continue to march into Ukraine, some athletes have begun to speak out in support of the sovereign nation, which has since declared marshal law. Included amongst them are Ukrainian tennis players Elina Svitolina, Dayana Yastremska and Marta Kostyuk.

Svitolina took to Twitter, tweeting out in Ukrainian that she is “proud to be Ukrainian.”

“Let us unite in this extremely difficult time for the sake of peace and the future of our state,” she wrote. “Glory to Ukraine.”

Пишаюся тим, що я українка. Єднаємося у цей надскладний час заради миру та майбутнього нашої держави. Слава Україні 💙💛🇺🇦

Video made by: dorosh.raw pic.twitter.com/PFz6LqYYRa

— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) February 23, 2022

She later tweeted out the words “I can’t…” with crying and heartbroken emojis.

I can’t…..😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 #Україна #Ukraine

— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) February 24, 2022

Yastremska revealed in an Instagram post that there is “so much pain and fear,” but that she is staying in her hometown of Odessa with family. Home to a naval base, Odessa is a port city in the Ukraine that was one of the cities bombed by Russian soldiers.

“I haven’t left home to do my favorite job,” Yastremska continued. “There’s a war in Ukraine! I love you all and I genuinely believe that peace will be restored soon! Stay safe!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dayana Yastremska (@dayana_yastremskay)

Kostyuk shared a message on her Instagram stories declaring Ukraine’s sovereignty.

“Ukraine is not a ‘part of Russia,’” it reads. “It wasn’t and it never will be.”

Marta Kostyuk shares a message on her Instagram stories: Ukraine is not a "part of Russia", it wasn't and it will never be pic.twitter.com/pd3i6q0H3y

— Diego Barbiani (@Diego_Barbiani) February 23, 2022

Other tennis players and athletes have taken to social media to post messages of support. Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka tweeted out that she “can’t believe what I’m seeing.”

“I hope you know we’re thinking of you and praying for you,” she said.

Sitting here looking at the news and I can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s crazy to me that we live in a world that’s so extremely “out of sight out of mind”, I hope you know we’re thinking of you and praying for you 💛💙 #Ukraine

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) February 24, 2022

Arella Guirantes, a basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks who has also spent time playing with BC Budivelnyk in Kyiv, Ukraine, said that her “heart is so heavy right now.”

“I’ve only been there for a couple of months but my experience there in Kyiv was amazing and I hold that city and the people I met there dear to my heart.”

In a statement, the International Paralympics Committee president Andrew Parsons called it “a truly horrible situation.” The Paralympics are set to begin next week in Beijing. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a direct breach of the Olympic Truce, which was adopted on December 2, 2021 and is co-sponsored by Russia. It lasts until March 20.

“We are greatly concerned about out National Paralympic Committee and Para athletes from Ukraine,” he said. “Our top priority right now is the safety and well-being of the Ukrainian delegation, with whom we are in regular dialogue. Earlier today I spoke with Valeriy Sushkevych, the President of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, who informed me that his Para athletes wish to compete in Beijing, however getting the team to Beijing is going to be a mammoth challenge.

“One key aspect of the Truce is ensuring the safe passage, access and participation of athletes, officials, and all accredited persons taking part in the Games. We need to find a solution for this as soon as possible so that the Ukrainian delegation can travel to and from the Games safely. World leaders must observe their commitment to the Olympic Truce, in particular those Member States who are a co-sponsor of the resolution.”

The Tour de France Femmes confirmed its course for 2026 this week, setting up next year's event as the longest iteration of the race in the women's tour history.

The 2026 course will run in nine stages starting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on August 1st and continuing through the finish line in Nice, France, on August 9th.

Cyclists will cover a total of 1,175 kilometers, with 18,795 meters of climbing.

The course will feature three flat stages and three hilly stages as well as two mountain stages and one individual time trial, with riders tackling Mont Ventoux — an iconic climb from the men's event — for the first time.

Though 2026 will only by the fifth edition of the modern Tour de France Femmes, the race will make its debut in a standalone time slot one full week after the men’s race ends, with recent record viewership fueling the move to separate the races rather than continue the previous tactic of scheduling the two events back-to-back.

"We no longer need men for the Tour de France Femmes to exist,"  said race director Marion Rousse at Thursday's course unveiling. "There's no need to have the men's race as a platform to launch the women's race. Now people are waiting to see us."

"People have embraced us," Rousse continued. "The new dates, separate to the men, prove it."

This weekend's slate of international soccer features more than one blockbuster matchup, as some of the summer's top performers, including England and Brazil, begin the long process of preparing for the 2027 World Cup.

Reigning UEFA Women's Euro champions England will be hosting 2025 Copa América Femenina winners Brazil at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Saturday, when the Lionesses officially kick off their four-game Homecoming Series to close out 2025 play.

The match between world No. 4 England and No. 7 Brazil will serve as the first of the series of friendlies that will span the final two international breaks of the year, with the Lionesses closing out the opening pair of games against No. 15 Australia on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, while England fans will be enjoying the team's victory lap after their second-straight Euro title, other top UEFA competition are honing in on 2025 Nations League play.

Behind a long-range goal from winger Klara Bühl, No. 5 Germany snagged a narrow 1-0 victory over No. 6 France on Friday morning, taking the lead in the pair's two-leg semifinal.

The second Nations League semifinal round kicks off at 2 PM ET on Friday, when No. 1 Spain faces No. 3 Sweden live on Prime.

How to watch England vs. Brazil this weekend

England takes on Brazil at 12:30 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage streaming on Prime.

The Wings have found their next sideline leader, as multiple reports on Thursday linked longtime University of South Florida (USF) head coach Jose Fernandez to the open position in Dallas.

Fernandez is still finalizing his contract with the WNBA team, with the 53-year-old exiting USF having led the Bulls for 25 years, making 10 NCAA tournament appearances along the way.

Calling his impact "profound," USF athletics CEO Rob Higgins acknowledged that Fernandez is leaving for a WNBA position in a Thursday statement.

"While this is a bittersweet moment for our program, it is a well-deserved opportunity for Jose," said Higgins. "We are incredibly proud of him."

Replacing Chris Koclanes after one year, Fernandez will become the fifth Dallas head coach in seven seasons, with the Wings trying to build a title-contending roster around 2025 WNBA Draft overall No. 1 pick and reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers.

Fernandez will also be the third WNBA hiring out of the college ranks in the last two years, joining Atlanta Dream boss Karl Smesko (FGCU) and LA Sparks manager Lynne Roberts (Utah).

Hoping to improve on a 13th-place 2025 finish — and make the WNBA Playoffs for the first time since 2023 — Dallas could claim a second straight No. 1 draftee next year, with the Wings entering 2026 with the highest odds to snag the top pick in the league's draft lottery.

The WNBA league office and the Players Association (WNBPA) exchanged escalating public statements this week, as both sides dispute terms surrounding a key issue in the ongoing CBA negotiations: revenue sharing.

"When the players opted out [of their CBA] a year ago, they made it clear they wanted a salary system that values their labor and allows them to grow with the business they are very clearly driving," WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson told ESPN in a statement this week, citing the vast disparity in revenue sharing percentages between the WNBA and the NBA.

Jackson continued by claiming that the WNBA intends to "run out the clock" and double down on a model that "intentionally undervalues the players."

Days ago, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said publicly that "[Revenue] share isn't the right way to look at it," pushing instead for salary increases in "absolute numbers."

WNBA leadership, however, denied that their current offer to players omits all revenue sharing, with the league calling the WNBPA's claim "incorrect and surprising," while indicating that an uncapped revenue sharing model "directly tied to the league's performance" is on the table.

"It is frustrating and counterproductive for the union to be making misrepresentations about our proposals while also accusing the league of engaging in delay," the WNBA's statement continued. "That is simply not true."

With both parties not seeing eye to eye, a resolution before the October 31st CBA deadline appears unlikely, though a formal request for an extension on negotiations is not currently in the cards.