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Where USWNT’s new players stand after first friendly against Australia

Goalkeeper Casey Murphy shined in her USWNT debut Friday. (Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images)

The U.S. women’s national soccer team traveled to Australia on a mission to give their less experienced players an opportunity against a world-class opponent.

On Saturday, the team accomplished that mission. Nine players with fewer than 10 caps saw the field, leading the USWNT to a 3-0 win over the Matildas in a friendly rematch of the Olympic bronze-medal game this past summer (a 4-3 win for U.S.).

As the USWNT prepares to face Australia again on Tuesday, head coach Vlatko Andonovski has plenty of talent to work with as he begins to build his 2023 World Cup roster. Despite stellar performances from the younger players in the Australia opener, it’s safe to assume only a few of those new faces will stick around since the USWNT still has a solid core of veterans — most of whom helped bring home the program’s fourth World Cup title in 2019.

If there’s one new player we should be confident about coming out of Saturday’s game, it’s goalkeeper Casey Murphy. The 25-year-old made eight saves in the win, including a few key stops in the final 10 minutes of the first half, earning her Player of the Match. Her ability to make those saves in front of a record-breaking Australian crowd of 36,109, and against strikers like NWSL all-time leading goal scorer Sam Kerr, shows she can rise to the occasion. Murphy stepped up in another high-pressure situation three weeks ago with her NWSL team, holding the Washington Spirit scoreless through regulation of their quarterfinal game until the eventual league champions scored in extra time.

Ashley Hatch, the player who buried the game-winner against Murphy in that quarterfinal, also rocketed onto the scene Saturday. In her third cap and first start with the USWNT, Hatch scored in the first 24 seconds to record the third-fastest goal in USWNT history. The 26-year-old has natural goal-scoring instincts, doesn’t take scoring opportunities for granted and has shown no signs of having a “weaker foot.” Of the 11 goals she scored in the NWSL this season, five were with her right foot, four were with her left and two came off her head.

If Andonovski is looking for goal scorers, Hatch is arguably the best option right now. But if he’s searching for goal scorers with versatility, that’s where Hatch will have to step up her game. Her ball distribution needs some work compared to other strikers in the mix for the USWNT.

While USWNT veterans Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan and Andi Sullivan started in the midfield on Saturday, the frontline had less experience, and it showed in their inability to connect with the midfielders at times.

One of those players was Midge Purce, who has a bright future on this team even if her ascent has been gradual. She missed a couple of key shots against Australia, but she made an impact on the game in other ways, most notably beating her defender down the right flank and finding Lavelle with a perfectly placed cross for the USWNT’s second goal. What makes Purce’s case even stronger is her versatility. With the experience of playing fullback, the 26-year-old often pressures opponents to make back passes out of the USWNT’s defensive third, a skill not all forwards can execute as well.

Forward Bethany Balcer subbed in for her first cap in the 78th minute as the first former NAIA player to appear for the USWNT. She was excellent off the ball, forcing Australia into pressure with her ball-hawking. On the ball, the 24-year-old should look to take her space more instead of trying to pass too early, which will likely come once she gets more comfortable with the team.

The other forward Andonovski subbed in Saturday was Morgan Weaver, a speedy and smart player who has a knack for setting up scoring opportunities with clever passes. Entering the game in the 74th minute, she brought energy to the frontline and became the lone forward as the team moved to a 5-4-1 formation in the last 10 minutes. Given Weaver’s high work rate, it would make sense for her to get more playing time on Tuesday.

On the backline, Sofia Huerta is another tireless player who earned her eighth cap against Australia. Subbing in as a fullback at the start of the second half, she quickly made an impact with her playmaking abilities, setting up Purce with a header that led to Lavelle’s goal just three minutes into the half. The next step for Huerta is making runs up the field herself to get involved in the attack.

Emily Fox looked more comfortable carrying the ball out of the back Saturday. That energy didn’t necessarily translate to the other end, where she was slow in defensive transition. Of the eight shots Australia had in the first half, Fox could have done a better job preventing at least three. For the sake of her development, Andonovski said he’s already told her she’ll be invited to January camp.

Alana Cook earned her third cap at center back next to Tierna Davidson, but played like anything but one of the USWNT’s newcomers. While the experienced U.S. midfield struggled to shut down the middle of the park in their own half, Cook was an expert at reading Australia’s runs. And once the ball was at her feet, she stayed composed, consistently threading good balls through the middle while opposing players clawed at her back. The OL Reign defender lets the ball do the work, which is the kind of calmness the team needs to build up the attack.

This match didn’t offer much of an opportunity to evaluate midfielder Ashley Sanchez, who subbed on for her first cap in the 84th minute, when the USWNT’s main focus was keeping the ball out of their third and the play had turned sloppy. She brought good energy as the U.S. held on for the shutout, but if she gets more time Tuesday, she’ll need to deliver better first touches and quicker, simpler passes. She likes to carry the ball and find space for herself, which works when teammates aren’t providing options, but an easy pass is usually there instead.

Goalkeeper Bella Bixby and defender Imani Dorsey were the only other uncapped players on the roster who didn’t make an appearance Saturday. Expect them to get time Tuesday.

Andonovski has some tough roster decisions to make in the coming months as the U.S. gears up for the 2023 World Cup. The opening match with Australia allowed him to assess players’ technical abilities on the high-stakes international stage. Tuesday should give him a better opportunity to evaluate tactics now that the new players are more familiar with each other.

Kickoff of the second match between the U.S. and Australia is Tuesday at 4:05 a.m. ET on ESPN.

Jessa Braun is an editorial intern for Just Women’s Sports. She is also the Head of North American Content for the Women’s Sports Alliance. You can find her on Twitter @jessabraun.

Upsets Rule as College Basketball Preps for NCAA Weekend Showcase

JuJu Watkins leads USC basketball onto the court for a game.
Watkins set a USC single-game three-point record with nine made shots. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images)

The 2024/25 NCAA basketball season continues to impress, as stunning upsets took over college courts this week.

Kicking off the drama was Trojan superstar JuJu Watkins, who set a new USC three-point record​ in Tuesday's 94-52 win over Cal Baptist, going 9-11 from behind the arc en route to a 40-point performance that led the Big Ten newcomer to a 7-1 season record.

"The goal is to have fun always," Watkins said after the game. "I shoot my best when I'm not really thinking."

Hannah Hidalgo celebrates No. 10 Notre Dame's overtime upset women's college basketball win against No. 4 Texas.
Hannah Hidalgo scored 30 points in No. 10 Notre Dame's upset win over No. 4 Texas. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Chaos reigns on Thursday's NCAA basketball courts

Watkins's big night set the stage for a stellar week of college hoops, with Thursday's slate serving up Top-10 matchups, upsets, and overtime thrillers.

While No. 3 South Carolina dispatched No. 8 Duke 81-70 behind Chloe Kitts' career-high tying 21 points, No. 10 Notre Dame snapped their two-game losing streak by handing No. 4 Texas their season's first defeat.

Even more impressive about the 80-70 overtime victory is that the Fighting Irish clinched it with an injury-hampered roster. Only six Notre Dame players took the court, battling 11 total Longhorns.

Sophomore star Hannah Hidalgo, who competed all 45 minutes, led the Irish with 30 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Guards Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron also contributed 18 points apiece. That said, defense clinched the upset win by holding Texas to just two overtime points while Notre Dame drained 12.

"They played with their hearts," Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey noted after the win. "They played with passion and fire. I'm just really proud of this group."

Also shaking up higher ranked teams on Thursday was NC State and No. 16 UNC, who downed No. 18 Ole Miss and No. 14 Kentucky, respectively. On the West Coast, Cal humbled No. 19 Alabama 69-65, sending the Tide home with their first season loss to end Bama's first 9-0 start in 24 years.

Narrowly escaping Thursday's upset party was No. 5 LSU, who needed overtime to take down unranked Stanford 94-88. Cardinal sophomore Nunu Agara impressed with a 29-point, 13-rebound double-double, but the Tigers bit back with Mikaylah Williams, Kailyn Gilbert, and Flau'jae Johnson combining for an astounding 78 points to keep LSU undefeated on the season.

UConn's Paige Bueckers dribbles past Louisville's Eylia Love in a 2023 women's college basketball game.
UConn will play Louisville in the first-ever Women's Champions Classic. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)

Top NCAA teams take over Barclays in new Champions Classic

The madness continues on Saturday with the first-ever Women’s Champions Classic. Four college basketball powerhouses will hit the court at Brooklyn's Barclays Center — home to the 2024 WNBA champion NY Liberty.

Saturday's doubleheader sees eight-time NCAA champs Tennessee take on No. 17 Iowa in their first clash since 1993, when the Hawkeyes registered their only win over three matchups with the Vols.

The nightcap between 11-time title-winners No. 2 UConn and No. 22 Louisville has an even deeper history, with legendary coach Geno Auriemma's Huskies holding a 19-3 all-time record over the Cardinals.

Unlike the 13-year-old men's Champions Classic, which features the same four teams (Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, and Michigan State) each year, the new annual women's edition will always include UConn alongside three other rotating teams.

"There's never been a higher level of interest in women's basketball," Auriemma said ahead of the games. "The Champions Classic will give fans exciting, marquee matchups early in the season."

How to watch UConn college basketball at the Women's Champions Classic college basketball event

Saturday's action starts with No. 17 Iowa vs. Tennessee at 7 PM ET. No. 22 Louisville vs. No. 2 UConn follows at 9 PM ET. Both games will air live on Fox.

2024 College Cup Makes NCAA History with All-ACC Final Four

Duke celebrates making their fifth College Cup after last weekend's NCAA quarterfinal.
Overall No. 1 seed Duke is seeking a program-first national title at the 2024 College Cup. (Duke Athletics)

The 2024 NCAA College Cup kicks off on Friday with four ACC semifinalists, making the newly realigned coast-to-coast league the first conference in the Cup's 43-year history to field every Final Four team.

Even more, with WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina hosting for the 12th year, three of the four squads will have a home-state advantage. Overall No. 1 seed Duke, No. 2 Wake Forest, and No. 2 UNC all hail from the Tar Heel State.

Joining that local trio of ACC veterans looking to book a spot in Monday's championship match is conference rookie No. 3 Stanford.

Alongside UNC, the Cardinal hold championship experience advantage over Duke and Wake Forest, who are both hunting first-ever national titles. The Tar Heels' historic dynasty leads the NCAA with 21 trophies, though they haven't lifted one since 2012. Stanford has three, the most recent from 2019 when a roster of future superstars including USWNT icons Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma, and Catarina Macario brought the Cup back to Palo Alto.

NCAA Stanford women's soccer players celebrate booking their ticket to the 2024 College Cup.
Three-time champs Stanford is seeking their first title as an ACC team. (Lyndsay Radnedge/ISIPhotos/Stanford Athletics)

Wake Forest kicks off 2024 College Cup against Stanford

The first of Friday's two semifinals will see Wake Forest fight to extend their record-setting season by logging a fourth all-time win over Stanford.

The Demon Deacons handed the former Pac-12 team losses in 2000 and 2006 before clashing for the first time as conference foes this September. In then-No. 1 ranked Stanford's first-ever ACC matchup, they fell 1-0 to Wake Forest, who earned their first win over a top-ranked team in program history in the process.

The road to the 2024 College Cup required grit and some penalty kick luck for both squads. The Cardinal needed a shootout to advance past No. 2 Arkansas in the tournament's third round before shutting out No. 4 Notre Dame 2-0 in their quarterfinal to punch their ticket to Cary.

As for Wake Forest, they narrowly defeated No. 3 Ohio State 1-0, then used PKs to oust No. 1 USC to secure entrance to their second-ever College Cup.

UNC's Kate Faasse celebrates her golden goal with her teammates in the NCAA soccer quarterfinal.
UNC attacker Kate Faasse is tied atop the NCAA with 19 goals so far this season. (Andy Mead/UNC Athletics)

Rivals Duke and UNC to square off in second semifinal

The nightcap sees rivals Duke and UNC battle for the fourth time this season, as the Blue Devils look to avenge their lone 2024 loss to the Tar Heels by ousting the 21-time champs en route to a first-ever national title.

The Tar Heels lead the series by a mile with a 44-6-5 record against the Blue Devils but, as the nation's top team, Duke has been the team to beat this season — something UNC has only done once.

After the Blue Devils took both of the pair's regular-season meetings — a program-first home win on September 5th and a Halloween season finale victory — UNC booted Duke 2-1 from the ACC tournament's semifinals on the WakeMed pitch.

In their NCAA-leading 32nd College Cup appearance on Friday, UNC will look to become the first team all tournament to break through Duke's brick-wall backline. Previously, the Blue Devils have yet to concede a goal in the NCAA bracket.

The two rivals are also currently standing on opposite sides of historic coaching legacies. The preseason departure of 45-season leader Anson Dorrance has UNC hungry to prove that their dominance is not Dorrance-dependent. On the other hand, Duke is hoping to gift a program-first national title to head coach Robbie Church, who will retire post-College Cup after 23 seasons at the helm.

How to watch the 2024 College Cup NCAA soccer tournament

The 2024 College Cup contenders begin battle on Friday. First, No. 2 Wake Forest takes on No. 3 Stanford at 5 PM ET, with No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 UNC following at 7:30 PM ET.

Both semifinals as well as Monday's 7 PM ET championship match will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

‘The Late Sub’ Tackles NCAA Basketball, PWHL Hockey, and College Volleyball

Iowa State's Addy Brown tries to dribble past South Carolina's defense.
A massive win over No. 20 Iowa State helped put defending NCAA basketball champs No. 3 South Carolina back on track. (Kelly Gavin/Getty Images)

On today's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins takes a break from the soccer beat to catch up on other women's sports action, starting with the state of NCAA basketball, which has already seen big upsets this season, before moving onto look at some recent upheaval in the WNBA.

Later, Watkins chats about PWHL stars and how conference dominance is shaping the 2024 NCAA volleyball tournament.

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.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

Sportico Report Taps Highest-Paid Women’s Sports Athletes

Highest-paid women's sports athlete Caitlin Clark smiles during a game.
Clark is the only basketball player to make Sportico's highest-paid women's sports athletes list. (Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)

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.

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.

Highest-paid female athlete US tennis star Coco Gauff poses with her 2024 WTA Finals trophy
Tennis star Coco Gauff is 2024's highest-paid women's sports athlete. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

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

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