Lindsey Horan provided the emotional fire and the equalizer for the U.S. women’s national team in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in the World Cup group stage.

The USWNT captain found herself knocked to the ground after a physical challenge from Danielle van de Donk, much the way her team found itself stunned by the Netherlands’ first-half lead. But Horan responded immediately, first getting into a verbal sparring match with van de Donk and then smashing in the equalizer with a header off a corner kick in the 62nd minute.

The Netherlands had grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the 17th minute, as Jill Roord put a shot past six USWNT defenders and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Before that goal, the USWNT had not trailed in a World Cup match since 2011.

Both teams had won their opening matches, with the USWNT posting a 3-0 scoreline against Vietnam and the Netherlands securing a defense-minded 1-0 win against Portugal. But the USWNT has recent history on its side heading into Wednesday’s match, with a 2-0 win against the Netherlands at the 2019 World Cup and a 3-2 win on penalty kicks in the 2021 Olympic quarterfinals.

So the battle for the top spot in Group E will come down to the third and final group-stage matches. The USWNT will face Portugal at 3 a.m. ET Tuesday, and the Netherlands will face Vietnam at the same time.

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FINAL: USWNT 1, Netherlands 1

The USWNT trailed in a World Cup match for the first time since 2011 after an early Netherlands goal, but a Horan header saved the day.

Just Women’s Sports writer Claire Watkins questioned the bench usage (or lack thereof) from USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski. The team’s inability to counter the 3-5-2 Dutch formation, particularly the packed midfield, also stood out as an area of concern.

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67′: Offside call wipes out go-ahead goal for USWNT

Trinity Rodman found Alex Morgan streaking into the box, and then Morgan hammered her shot home. But the would-be go-ahead goal was ruled offside.

Alex Morgan finds the back of the net for what would have been the go ahead goal for the @USWNT, but is called back 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/cnc2xrI3Cl

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023

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62′: Lindsey Horan ties score for USWNT

The USWNT captain tangled with Lyon teammate Danielle van de Donk, who knocked Horan to the ground with a physical challenge — and then felt Horan’s wrath as soon as she found her feet. But Horan got the best revenge, scoring the equalizer with a header off a corner kick.

WHO ELSE BUT HORAN?!

What a finish to level the score for the @USWNT 🎯🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/N9Tq3eiox1

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023

D.C. GOING NUTS FOR THAT @USWNT GOAL BY @LINDSEYHORAN ‼️🇺🇸 #WorldCupWatchParty pic.twitter.com/LNmwBaoa98

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023

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51′: Rose Lavelle picks up quick yellow card on illegal tackle

Just five minutes after entering the match, the 28-year-old midfielder receives the first yellow card of the match for a slide against Jackie Groenen.

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46′: Rose Lavelle replaces Savannah DeMelo

While Lavelle was cleared to start, she was utilized off the bench for the second consecutive match. She is recovering from a knee injury, and she played her first minutes since April as a substitute in the World Cup opener against Vietnam. She entered in the 61st minute against Vietnam, but the USWNT brought her on earlier here, perhaps to inject some energy into the midfield.

Aniek Nouwen replaced Stefanie van der Gragt for the Netherlands.

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HALF: Netherlands 1, USWNT 0

Despite USWNT pressure early and late in the first half, the Netherlands dominated the middle minutes and the middle of the pitch.

The U.S. held a 9-2 advantage in shots. But for Just Women’s Sports writer Claire Watkins, the inability to capitalize on those chances almost could be considered a bigger indictment than not getting those chances at all — if the USWNT can’t get back into the game in the second half.

The Netherlands held USWNT captain Lindsey Horan limited to 22 touches in the first half, and the Fox cameras caught her throwing up her hands in the midfield.

“I want to see more fight, more urgency,” Fox Sports analyst and USWNT legend Carli Lloyd said of the first-half performance. “They started off the game really well, they were high pressing, but now you’re getting picked apart.”

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36′: USWNT comes up empty despite two consecutive corners

The U.S. took two corner kicks in a row in the 35th and 36th minutes but did not score on either opportunity.

Fox Sports analyst and USWNT legend Carli Lloyd pointed out the team’s struggle to finish its chances against Vietnam, which she called a “worrying” trend under head coach Vlatko Andonovski. The USWNT finished its 3-0 win against Vietnam with 28 shots, seven of them on target.

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29′: Netherlands sends shot just over crossbar

Dominique Janssen sends a shot inches over the crossbar. The ball lands in the top of the net, a warning to the USWNT of just how close the Netherlands came to extending the lead. The Dutch team has controlled 55% of possession since scoring the first goal.

Dominique Janssen's volley from outside the area doesn't miss by much 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/3LHPwjEbjZ

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023

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17′: Netherlands takes 1-0 lead courtesy of Jill Roord

From the top of the box, Roord shot past six USWNT defenders and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to score the first goal of the match. While Trinity Rodman followed with a shot of her own almost immediately, goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar made the stop to preserve her team’s 1-0 lead.

Before this goal, the USWNT had not trailed in a World Cup match since 2011, holding opponents scoreless across a record 17-match stretch.

NETHERLANDS STRIKES FIRST 🇳🇱

Jill Roord fires it into the bottom corner of the net! pic.twitter.com/E3eWRb3GmL

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023

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6′: USWNT establishes early pressure

The speed up the left side of the field (particularly Crystal Dunn and Sophia Smith) created early chances for the USWNT, including this ball that dribbled all the way to the Dutch goalkeeper. Alex Morgan just missed the chance to tap it into the net.

Crystal Dunn's ball rolls all the way to Daphne van Domselaar 👀 pic.twitter.com/gL6ph3zzna

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023

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Starting XI: USWNT sticks with same lineup

• United States
  • Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
  • Defenders: Emily Fox, Julie Ertz, Naomi Girma, Crystal Dunn
  • Midfielders: Andi Sullivan, Lindsey Horan, Savannah DeMelo
  • Forwards: Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman
• Netherlands
  • Goalkeeper: Daphne van Domselaar
  • Defenders: Stefanie van der Gragt, Dominique Janssen
  • Midfielders: Jill Roord, Sherida Spitse, Danielle van de Donk, Jackie Groenen, Victoria Pelova
  • Forwards: Katja Snoeijs, Lieke Martens, Esmee Brugts

The USWNT is sticking with the same starting lineup it used against Vietnam, which makes this the first time since 1999 that the team is repeating a lineup in consecutive group-stage matches. Four of the players also started against the Netherlands in the 2019 final: Naeher, Dunn, Ertz and Morgan.

Your XI in Wellington 🇺🇸#USWNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/eP4SAPB0Qx

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 26, 2023

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What to know about the Netherlands

• The Netherlands is two coaches removed from its 2019 run to the World Cup final. Sarina Wiegman, who led the team in 2019, now coaches for England, and her successor Mark Parsons exited after a disappointing Euros run in 2022. Andries Jonker is now at the helm.
• Star striker Vivianne Miedema is missing the World Cup due to an ACL tear, so other Dutch players will need to step up in her absence.
• Stefanie van der Gragt scored on a header to provide the lone goal in the team’s 1-0 win against Portugal. The Netherlands did not allow any shots to Portugal until the 82nd minute.

What to know about the USWNT

• USWNT legend and Fox Sports analyst Carli Lloyd underlined what she called a “worrying” trend for the team: the inability to finish their chances, especially under pressure.
• Sophia Smith scored a brace in the opening victory against Vietnam. Keep up with every USWNT goal from the World Cup.

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When and how to watch

• Wednesday, July 26 — 9 p.m. ET (Fox, Peacock, Telemundo)
  • United States vs. Netherlands (Wellington Regional)

The USWNT will play three group-stage matches at the World Cup, one against each of its opponents in Group E. After opening the tournament with a 3-0 win against Vietnam, the USWNT will face the Netherlands and then close the group stage against Portugal at 3 a.m. ET Tuesday.

The 2019 World Cup rematch against the Netherlands is available to watch on Fox and Telemundo. It also can be streamed on the Fox Sports app and on Peacock.

With recent transfers Talia von Oelhoffen and Kiki Iriafen joining first-team All-American JuJu Watkins and the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class at USC next season, the Trojans look to transition from an up-and-coming squad to a legitimate title contender. 

Former Oregon State graduate student von Oelhoffen is the latest collegiate talent to commit to the program, announcing her transfer Monday via ESPN. She follows ex-Stanford leading-scorer Iriafen in the jump to the pair’s one-time Pac-12 rival.

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The 5-foot-11 Washington native was a two-time All-Pac-12 guard during her time at Oregon State. But after the recent dissolution of the Pac-12, the Corvallis side found themselves without a permanent home conference going forward. Many big name players opted to take their skill elsewhere as a result, with von Oelhoffen’s fellow ex-Beaver Raegan Beers announcing her own departure to Oklahoma on Monday.

According to DraftKings, USC is now tied with UConn for the second-best betting odds to win the 2025 NCAA women’s tournament. Dawn Staley’s tested South Carolina side, poised for a repeat performance, holds down the number one spot.

Last year, LSU loaded up in the transfer portal after beating Iowa to win the 2023 national championship. The Tigers were clear favorites coming into the 2023-24 season, but were bounced in the Elite Eight by Caitlin Clark’s Hawkeyes. Shortly thereafter, star transfer Hailey Van Lith opted to transfer a second time, this time signing with TCU. 

Yet while history proves that an excess of star power doesn’t always translate to on-court chemistry, on paper, USC sure looks ready to hold their own — in 2025 and beyond.

The United States and Mexico have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, per a Monday afternoon release from U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation.

According to the statement, they will instead focus on developing a "more equitable" bid for the 2031 tournament, with the ultimate goal of "eliminating investment disparities" between the men’s and women’s tournaments.

The federations went on to cite the upcoming 2026 Men’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as an opportunity to build support for local infrastructure, improve audience engagement, and scale up media and partnership deals in preparation to "host a record-breaking tournament in 2031."

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"Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking — and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximize its impact across the globe," said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. "Shifting our bid will enable us to host a record-breaking Women’s World Cup in 2031 that will help to grow and raise the level of the women’s game both here at home as well as across the globe."

The decision leaves just Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands in the running for the 2027 host spot. Brazil — the rumored frontrunner — has never hosted a Women’s World Cup, while Germany hosted the 2011 tournament as a solo venture. 

Furthermore, this postponement doesn’t mean the U.S. is a shoo-in for 2031, as it's been previously reported that 2022 UEFA Women's EURO host England is considering their own Women's World Cup bid. FIFA is scheduled to confirm the winning bid after the FIFA Congress votes on May 17th.

Former Stanford leading-scorer Kiki Iriafen is set to join star rising sophomore JuJu Watkins at USC next year, reported ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. 

The 6-foot-3 forward is coming off a breakout season with the Cardinal, where the then-junior led Stanford to the Sweet 16 with an average of 19.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Walking away with the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player award and a spot on the All-Pac-12 team, Iriafen entered the portal at the close of last season and was subsequently ranked second on ESPN’s 2024-2025 transfer ranking list.

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At USC, Iriafen will play out her senior year alongside the Women's Basketball Coaches Association’s 2024 National Freshman of the Year JuJu Watkins, forming what could be an explosive partnership for the Trojans as they look to build momentum going into next season. The Southern California side advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994 this year, ultimately falling to UConn in a heated 80-73 battle.

Iriafen wasn’t the only one making choices this past week. LSU guard Hailey Van Lith officially announced her own transfer to TCU on Friday, while Princeton standout Kaitlyn Chen committed to UConn for her final year of college eligibility. Other big names still weighing their options are Oregon State's Talia Von Oelhoffen and Raegan Beers, as well as UNC's Deja Kelly.

With conference realignment on the horizon and team fit a contending factor, the NCAA women's basketball transfer portal has been busier than ever. And while transfers can bolster many types of college programs, this particular offseason has seen talent-rich programs growing even richer.

Legendary WNBA superstar Candace Parker announced her retirement from professional basketball on Sunday, effective immediately.

"I promised I'd never cheat the game & that I'd leave it in a better place than I came into it," she wrote in an Instagram post. "The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it's time. My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it."

The Las Vegas Aces forward was in the midst of rehabbing a right ankle injury and a left foot fracture after missing part of the 2023 season.

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One of women's basketball's most prominent trailblazers, Parker popularized the play of a "big guard." A back-to-back NCAA National Championship winner with Tennessee, she was drafted No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008. She was named both WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year in her debut season with the league. 

Parker exits the pros a three-time WNBA champion, a two-time league MVP, seven-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and two-time NCAA champion, in addition to many more individual accolades. Throughout her 16-year career, she averaged 16 points, 8.5 rebounds, and four assists per game. She remains the only player in WNBA history to earn three WNBA titles with three different teams: LA in 2016, Chicago in 2021, and Las Vegas in 2023. 

In her announcement, the 38-year-old implied the physical toll of league play was a driving factor in her ultimate decision to walk away from the game, despite recently signing a one-year deal with Las Vegas.

"This offseason hasn’t been fun on a foot that isn’t cooperating," she wrote. "It’s no fun playing in pain (10 surgeries in my career) it’s no fun knowing what you could do, if only…it’s no fun hearing 'she isn’t the same' when I know why, it’s no fun accepting the fact you need surgery AGAIN.

"I’m grateful that for 16 years I PLAYED A GAME for a living & DESPITE all the injuries, I hooped," she continued. "I’m grateful for family, friends, teammates, coaches, doctors, trainers & fans who made this journey so special."

Fans weren’t the only ones shocked by Parker’s surprise retirement. In a reaction captured on video, Liberty forward Breanna Stewart responded to the news with a jaw-dropped, eyebrow-raised "What? Wow." 

Yet while the Naperville, Illinois native’s time on the court might be over, Parker says she isn't leaving the world of basketball anytime soon.

"This is the beginning," she wrote. "I’m attacking business, private equity, ownership (I will own both a NBA & WNBA team), broadcasting, production, boardrooms, beach volleyball, dominoes (sorry babe it’s going to get more real) with the same intensity & focus I did basketball."