Injuries and extended absences have taken a toll on the U.S. women’s national team as the reigning world champions prepare for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

As head coach Vlatko Andonovski continues to evaluate players before naming a final roster next summer, we take a look at recent USWNT mainstays on the outside looking in and where they stand in the run-up to the biggest tournament in women’s soccer. Next up: AD Franch.

Position: Goalkeeper
Total caps: 10
Most recent USWNT appearance: Oct. 21, 2021 vs. South Korea (Friendly)

What is her track record with the USWNT?

The 31-year-old is no stranger to the USWNT. She earned her first cap in 2019, and she joined the squad as a backup goalkeeper at the 2019 World Cup.

She was called in again at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, and she even started in the team’s bronze medal game against Australia after a knee injury curtailed regular starter Alyssa Naeher’s Games.

Her last national team appearance came in October, when she posted a clean sheet in a friendly against South Korea.

What is keeping her off the roster?

It’s unknown what is keeping Franch off the roster, although her absence has been noticed as she’s gone on a tear in the NWSL this season.

The goalkeeper has helped the Kansas City Current to an NWSL Championship appearance, and she also has earned a nomination for Goalkeeper of the Year. While the Golden Gloves still have yet to be awarded, Franch is a frontrunner, and she showed why in Sunday’s semifinal as she tied the NWSL career record for playoff shutouts.

The current goalkeeping rotation for Andonovski features Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy and Aubrey Kingsbury. When Franch wasn’t named to the team’s Concacaf qualifying roster back in July, she spoke briefly on the snub to The Athletic.

“I’m not putting anything on the record. The only thing that I can give you is, the best thing for me to do is to continue focusing on my team here [in Kansas City],” Franch said. “And, that’s just enjoying what I do. I get to play the beautiful sport. Go out and try to be better every single day, and give whatever I can to this team. That’s what I’m doing right now.”

Andonovski has talked about the depth of the NWSL goalkeeping pool, which he acknowledged has made his roster decisions increasingly difficult.

“I feel like we’ve talked more about the goalkeeper sometimes than some of the other positions but it is important and we were excited about it because ultimately that’s what we want,” Andonovski said in September. “We do want good competition. We want the last in each position to push each other as much as possible and get better with it.”

When will she be back?

Unclear. But the goalkeeper is making it increasingly difficult to justify keeping her off the roster. In the regular season, French recorded five clean sheets, averaged 3.4 saves per 90 minutes and helped the Kansas City Current to a 10-6-5 record. 

She’s been just as good in the playoffs, allowing just one goal over two matches and making 11 total saves to become the league’s all-time leader in postseason saves.

In short? Expect more pressure on Andonovski to answer questions as to why Franch isn’t on the roster – especially if she doesn’t earn a call-up for the November friendlies against Germany.

Wimbledon is leveling up, as the annual London-based Grand Slam announced Thursday that it's increasing its purse by 7% across the board in 2025, pushing the total prize money to £53.5 million ($72.59 million) ahead of tennis tournament's June 30th kick-off.

Both the 2025 women's and men's singles champions will earn winner's checks in the amount of £3 million ($4.07 million) — an 11.1% increase over the amount won by 2024 champ Barbora Krejčíková.

With increases across all Slam events, from singles and doubles to wheelchair competitions, even athletes who stumble early will see a raise over last year's competition.

For example, singles players ousted in this year's first round will take home 10% more than in 2024, earning deposits of £66,000 ($89,530).

The 2025 total purse now doubles the prize money offered by the tournament a decade ago, and makes Wimbledon the biggest potential payday across all four of the sport's Grand Slams.

"We're immensely proud of the fact that, if you look back 10 years, you can see the increase over that period and 7% this year," said All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club chair Deborah Jevans. "And we have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players."

Teen swimmer Summer McIntosh made a major splash at the 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials, shattering three world records in just five days of competition in Victoria, BC.

First on Saturday, the Toronto swimmer shaved 1.2 seconds off the Australian Ariarne Titmus's 400-meter freestyle mark to set a new world record time of 3:54.18.

Then on Monday, McIntosh took down a decade-old record in the 200-meter individual medley (IM), becoming the first woman swimmer to complete the race in less than 2:06.00.

Just two days later, the 18-year-old McIntosh broke her own 400-meter IM world record, besting her 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials time by 0.73 seconds with a 4:23.65 race Wednesday.

View this post on Instagram

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

With her unstoppable week-long performance, McIntosh became the first swimmer to set three new world records in different individual events at one meet since US legend Michael Phelps's historic run at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Going into tonight, I knew I could do something really special because this has probably been the best meet of my career," McIntosh told reporters after Wednesday's race.

That said, the young star is already eyeing new times — and new records.

"Overall, [I'm] happy with the time, but I know I can go faster," said McIntosh following her 400-meter IM performance. "The faster I swim, the happier I am."

The NWSL Championship is on its way back West, with the league announcing on Friday morning that the 2025 title match will kick off from PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

Hosted at the home pitch of 2024 expansion team Bay FC, the game will take place on Saturday, November 22nd.

In addition to the championship match, the 2025 NWSL season's final weekend will include a variety of supporting events like Fan Fest and the annual Skills Challenge competition.

"We're thrilled to bring the NWSL Championship back to the West Coast and to a region with as rich a history in women's soccer as the Bay Area," said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman in a league statement.

Citing a long list of former USWNT stars with local ties, including Julie Foudy, Kelley O'Hara, and Alex Morgan, Bay FC co-founder Brandi Chastain — a US legend herself — called the Bay Area "the place women's soccer calls home."

"Our community's fabric is woven with the greatest the game has to offer," explained Chastain.

"This community's passion for the game, combined with the excitement surrounding one of our newest teams in Bay FC, makes it the perfect setting to celebrate the league's top talent and crown our next champion," said Berman.

View this post on Instagram

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

How to attend and watch the 2025 NWSL Championship

Like last year, the 2025 NWSL Championship will air in primetime, with CBS set to broadcast the match live at 8 PM ET on November 22nd.

Tickets to the game will be available for purchase beginning in August, though interested fans can sign up for presale access online now.

The NWSL and WNBA Players Associations teamed up to release a joint statement on Thursday, with the unions expressing their solidarity with "all people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity" after the recent ICE raids and ensuing protests in Los Angeles.

The move comes after Angel City published their own social media post addressing the ICE raids last Saturday, with the Los Angeles NWSL club noting "We know that our city is stronger because of its diversity and the people and families who shape it, love it, and call it home."

ACFC also directed immigrants in need of assistance in the wake of the ICE raids to two community organizations: the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights and the LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Calling the WNBA Players Association "leaders in this space," NWSL Players Association executive director Meghann Burke told The Athletic that the basketball union initiated their joint statement.

"It's important to stand together as workers' unions," she noted.

View this post on Instagram

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

NWSL and WNBA unions speak to families impacted by ICE raids

"It's not lost on us that this country and the world are in turmoil right now," wrote the NWSLPA and WNBPA. "Across the country, families are facing fear, hardship, and uncertainty tied to immigration."

The athlete unions then crystallized their position, saying, "We stand with all people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity, no matter where they come from or where they hope to go."

"Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect," they continued. "We know not every situation is simple. But offering compassion should never be up for debate."