The U.S. women’s national team achieved equal pay with the men’s team under new labor deals reached between both national teams and the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The agreement makes the United States the first country to close the pay gap between its men’s and women’s soccer teams, according to the USSF. After the landmark achievement was announced Wednesday, cheers rung out across the sports world.

“The accomplishments in this CBA are a testament to the incredible efforts of the WNT players on and off the field,” USWNT Players Association president Becky Sauerbrunn said in a statement posted to the organization’s Twitter account.

Sauerbrunn also posted a thread on her own Twitter account, thanking “the women who led and continue to lead the fight for equal pay across sports and in everyday day life.”

She also gave particular thanks to her USWNT teammates.

“If there was ever a group of women who know they can do hard things, it’s this one,” Sauerbrunn wrote. “We try to set a new standard for ourselves every time we step on the field[;] well, we just set a new standard off the field, too.”

A quick thread, because I just want to say, “thank you.”

“Thank you,” to the women who led and continue to lead the fight for equal pay across sports and in everyday day life. This work stretches long in to the past and will continue well in to the future. I’ve said it before… https://t.co/bJMQrRNy31

— Becky Sauerbrunn (@beckysauerbrunn) May 18, 2022

USWNT Players Association vice president Crystal Dunn marked the accomplishment on Twitter. “We have achieved equal pay for equal work!” she wrote.

I’m extremely proud of @USWNTPlayers for their tireless effort to make this happen! We have achieved equal pay for equal work!!
☑️🤩👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/3mncbkFoXw

— Crystal Dunn | Soubrier | (@Cdunn19) May 18, 2022

Alex Morgan, a member of the USWNT’s bargaining committee, expressed a similar sentiment.

Equal pay for equal work with US Soccer ✅
Such a historic moment for this team, so proud of all the work put in to make this happen. https://t.co/BNTDz06nvx

— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) May 18, 2022

Midge Purce, another member of the bargaining committee, applauded everyone who had worked on the new collective bargaining agreement, but she tempered her enthusiasm.

“One thing my dad always said is, ‘You don’t get rewarded for doing what you’re supposed to do,’ and paying men and women equally is what you’re supposed to do, so I’m not giving out any gold stars,” Purce told USA Today.

Several NWSL clubs celebrated the milestone for the women’s national team, including the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC.

To quote the great @lizzo…

𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) May 18, 2022

A historic day for our sport. https://t.co/jqvGkgoBXd

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) May 18, 2022

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman called the news “historic progress not just for soccer but for all of sport.”

Historic progress not just for soccer but for all of sport. Keep moving the needle forward. #uswnt #usmnt @ussoccer #nwsl https://t.co/oXBhkNbA7g

— Jessica Berman (@JessicaBerman1) May 18, 2022

Voices from outside of the soccer world chimed in as well, among them Premier Hockey Federation commissioner Reagan Carey. “Great example of what happens when right people are at the table to champion equity & pave a path forward,” she wrote on Twitter.

Landmark precedent, historic day for all in sport. Great example of what happens when right people are at the table to champion equity & pave a path forward. Kudos to decades of #uswnt players, staff determined to leave soccer better than they found it! https://t.co/0secSjNacg

— Reagan Carey (@reagan_carey) May 18, 2022

The WNBPA also expressed its support, writing: “Did you feel that?!! That was another GROUNDBREAKING CBA!”

🗣Whoa! Did you feel that?!!

That was another GROUNDBREAKING CBA!
Keep pushing us forward @USWNTPlayers #LaborStrong#PlayersSupportingPlayers#ItsAboutTime #BetOnWomen https://t.co/DRTVKKvpO7

— WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) May 18, 2022

Even the President of the United States gave his congratulations. “This is a big deal, @USWNT,” President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter.

This is a big deal, @USWNT. I’m proud of you for never giving up and I commend @ussoccer for agreeing to do the right thing.

Let’s keep up the fight until we close the gender pay gap in every industry. https://t.co/5ZTuHal4eb

— President Biden (@POTUS) May 19, 2022

The 2025 NWSL Championship claimed a major viewership milestone on Saturday, as Gotham FC's 1-0 title win over the Washington Spirit became the first-ever league match to record an average of more than one million viewers.

The CBS evening broadcast averaged an impressive 1.184 million fans and peaked at 1.55 million viewers, making it the most-watched NWSL match of all time.

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The 2025 final marked a 22% viewership increase over the 967,900 fans who watched 2024's Orlando Pride victory — the previous NWSL viewership record-holder — and a 45% ratings gain over Gotham's 2023 championship win, which averaged 816,800 viewers.

Saturday's gains both matched the 22% viewership increase the NWSL regular season saw this year and also far exceeded the 2025 postseason's pre-final year-over-year increase of 5%.

Calling the one-million viewer mark "an extraordinary achievement" in Tuesday's league statement, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman also noted that the "record-setting audience demonstrates the deepening connection fans have with our players, our clubs, and the world-class competition on the field, and it underscores the growing demand for women's soccer on the biggest stages."

"We're incredibly proud of what this moment represents for the NWSL and for everyone who continues to invest in and believe in the future of our game," Berman added.

Incoming offseason league Project B scored more major WNBA signings this week, as the upstart venture continues stacking its roster ahead of a planned November 2026 launch.

Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham have both publicly signed on with Project B, joining already announced talent like Seattle Storm star Nneka Ogwumike and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones, and Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd.

Also inking deals to join the inaugural season of Project B are Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün, and Li Meng, a former Washington Mystics guard and current player in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association.

The multi-continent, Formula One-style traveling tournament circuit will ultimately sign 66 international stars, as Project B looks to field six 11-player teams in its debut 2026/2027 campaign.

Project B player signings will undoubtedly impact other offseason leagues like Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited, but the new venture is also looming large over the ongoing WNBA CBA talks.

With negotiations racing toward this Sunday's extended deadline, Project B is putting WNBA compensation offerings under increased pressure, as the new league is reportedly anteing up multimillion-dollar salaries to its signees — far exceeding the 2025 WNBA maximum as well as the $1.1 million-max currently on the negotiating table.

World No. 1 Spain will take aim at a second-straight UEFA Nations League title this week, as La Roja take on No. 5 Germany in the first leg of the 2025 tournament's final at 2:30 PM ET on Friday.

The defending Nations League champions booked their spot in the 2025 final by dismantling No. 3 Sweden 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinal round, while Germany advanced after a tense 3-2 aggregate win over No. 6 France.

Germany must also contend with availability issues during Friday's match, as 28-year-old Bayern Munich forward and senior national team leading scorer Lea Schüller will be out due to family reasons.

To overcome that disadvantage, German head coach Christian Wück is reinforcing the team's back line, adding Athletic Bilbao defender Bibi Schulze Solano to the roster on Wednesday.

Also aiming to shut down Spain's offensive firepower on Friday is new NWSL champion goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who joined her German compatriots late following Gotham FC's title celebrations in New York this week.

While Spain and Germany will contend for the 2025 Nations League trophy this week, the pair — along with ousted semifinalists Sweden and France — have already booked spots in the top group of teams battling for tickets to the 2027 World Cup, with UEFA qualifying set to begin in 2026.

A full 19 months removed from their back-to-back Final Four runs, No. 11 Iowa basketball refuses to go away, with the Hawkeyes already notching one Top-25 win in the young 2025/26 NCAA campaign so far.

The still-unbeaten Hawkeyes took down No. 15 Baylor 57-52 last Thursday, with Iowa starting post players Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden combining for 28 points while guard Taylor Stremlow added another 12 off the bench in the marquee win.

"We have nice pieces," said Iowa head coach Jan Jensen this week. "But it's knowing when to play which pieces and with whom, and we're six games in."

The Hawkeyes have been finding their new identity under Jensen after a transformative period saw Iowa's longtime head coach Lisa Bluder retire while superstar guard Caitlin Clark joined the WNBA.

"Jan's been amazing," Stuelke told JWS at the Big Ten Media Day in October. "She stepped up like she needed to, and she's been growing every day since she's been the head coach, which it's really cool to see she cares. And it's a great environment for all of us."

"I have a year under my belt," Jensen echoed. "I know what this chair feels like now, and I have a little better of understanding of what that first road trip feels like, what that first big win feels like, or the tough loss feels like."

Iowa's season heats up with a ranked rivalry matchup against No. 10 Iowa State on Wednesday, December 10th.

The state rivals will tip off at 7 PM ET, with live coverage airing on ESPN.