The World Athletics Championships begin Friday, taking place on American soil for the first time ever in Eugene, Oregon.

In the 100-meter dash, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson are once again the ones to watch. Fraser Pryce has run the three fastest times this season, including a 10.67 in Nairobi and Paris. 

She faltered at Jamaica’s nationals, though, failing to qualify for the final. She had to be named to the world championships as a wild card, but she enters as a four-time world champion in the event and the defending Olympic silver medalist. 

Thompson-Herah is the defending Olympic gold medalist in both the 100m and 200m, having won both events in 2016 and 2020. But she has yet to win an individual gold medal at the world championships. She’s fast in Eugene, though, having won the last two editions of the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon with a 10.54 in 2021 and a 10.79 in 2022. 

Both the decorated sprinters, though, need to watch for Jackson coming up behind them.

Jackson won the Jamaican trials in 10.77. An Olympic bronze medalist in the 100m, she could find herself in the winner’s circle in Oregon. And she’ll have an even better chance in the 200m, where she’ll go up against American Abby Steiner. 

At 22 years old, Steiner will be making her Team USA debut at the world championships. Her best time this season is a blistering 21.77, which she ran in Eugene. Jackson, though, enters worlds with a 21.55 – the fastest time this year and the third-fastest in history. 

Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin will once again look to break the world record in the 400m hurdles after doing so at the U.S. championships in June with a time of 51.41. The only record she hasn’t owned in the event is the world championships record; she’ll have to beat a 52.16 set in 2019 by fellow countrywoman Dalilah Muhammad. 

Muhammad will feature at worlds after earning a bye. She did not compete at last month’s U.S. championships due to a hamstring injury, but as the defending champion, she was permitted to use her bye by USATF.

Allyson Felix will be competing in her last world championships, having been named to the 4x400m mixed relay team.

Here are the key finals to watch as the action goes down. (All times listed in ET.)

Friday, July 15:

• 4x400m mixed relay — 10:50 p.m. on NBC Sports

Saturday, July 16:

• 10,000m — 3 p.m. on NBC

Sunday, July 17:

• 100m — 10:50 p.m. on NBC

Monday, July 18:

• Marathon — 9:15 a.m. on USA 
• 1,500m — 10:50 p.m. on Peacock (delayed broadcast at 11:30 p.m. on USA)

Wednesday, July 20:

• 3,00om steeplechase — 10:45 p.m. on USA

Thursday, July 21:

• 200m — 10:35 p.m. on USA

Friday, July 22: 

• 400m — 10:15 p.m. on USA
• 400m hurdles — 10:50 p.m. on USA

Saturday, July 23:

• 5,000m — 9:25 p.m. on NBC
• 4x100m relay — 10:30 p.m. on NBC

Sunday, July 24:

• 800m — 9:35 p.m. on NBC
• 100m hurdles — 10 p.m. on NBC
• 4x400m relay — 10:50 p.m. on NBC

Chelsea FC is once again looking across the pond to bolster their roster, with the six-time reigning WSL champions reportedly aiming to make a deal with NWSL side Angel City to acquire ACFC and USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson, per The Guardian this week.

Though the two clubs have yet to reach terms, Chelsea would need to have the deal signed before the WSL transfer window closes next Thursday.

Any agreement for Chelsea to snag Thompson from Angel City will likely feature yet another historic transfer fee, with cost projections topping former Tigres UANL star Lizbeth Ovalle's record $1.5 million transfer to the Orlando Pride earlier this month.

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The 20-year-old phenom is currently under contract with ACFC through the 2028 season after inking a three-year extension this past January.

With six goals and two assists in her 16 regular-season appearances in 2025 so far, the 2023 NWSL Draft No. 1 pick is trailing only rookie Riley Tiernan's seven goals on this year's Angel City scoresheet.

Should the transfer go through, Thompson would be the third ACFC player in a week to be moving to the UK, with the NWSL club transferring defender Alanna Kennedy and midfielder Katie Zelem to the newly WSL-promoted London City Lionesses on Wednesday.

As for Chelsea, the Blues have been a major player in recruiting US players over the last few seasons, with Thompson potentially joining her USWNT teammates Catarina Macario and Naomi Girma in suiting up for the WSL side's upcoming 2025/26 season.

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka is looking like her old self this week, as the world No. 24 advanced to the 2025 New York Grand Slam's third round for the first time since 2021 with a straight-set win over the US's No. 47 Hailey Baptiste on Thursday.

"I don't make it my business to know anymore, I kind of just leave it up in the air," said the fan favorite following questions about a possible fifth Grand Slam title run. "I've trained really hard. I practiced really hard. If it happens, it happens."

After taking her lumps on the WTA Tour since returning from pregnancy in 2024, the 2025 US Open marks Osaka's first seeded entry into a major tournament since 2022 — and she appears to be embracing her competitive boost in style, complete with eye-catching outfits and a matching Labubu.

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The 27-year-old Japanese national next faces No. 18 Daria Kasatkina in the pair's third career meeting, with Osaka getting the best of the Australian in both previous matchups — most recently at the 2024 Italian Open.

Should Osaka advance to Sunday's Round of 16, she could be on a collision course toward a date with No. 3 Coco Gauff, after the US star advanced past her own emotionally challenging second-round battle on Thursday.

How to watch Naomi Osaka at the 2025 US Open

With times still to be announced, Osaka will next battle Kasatkina during the second day of 2025 US Open third-round play on Saturday.

Live coverage of the New York Grand Slam airs across ESPN platforms.

The No. 1 Kansas City Current have been unstoppable this season, riding a 10-match unbeaten streak into Saturday's game against the No. 9 North Carolina Courage and inching closer to claiming a franchise-first NWSL Shield.

The Current's dominant 12-point advantage over the No. 2 Washington Spirit marks the league's largest top-table margin since the Courage finished 15 points ahead in 2018.

Even more, Kansas City tops the NWSL in goals scored (34) while also registering the fewest goals allowed (10), entering the league's 18th weekend of play with a record-tying five consecutive shutouts.

After coming in fourth in 2024, the Current's defense has continued to improve under manager Vlatko Andonovski, while another MVP-level year from star forward Temwa Chawinga has bolstered Kansas City's offense.

Chawinga currently leads the 2025 NWSL Golden Boot race with 11 goals through 17 games, while sitting in the league's Top 3 for both shots and shots on goal.

"I think because we have such a powerful offense, the defensive things, maybe people don't notice as much," Kansas City forward Michelle Cooper said earlier this week. "I think something absolutely important to us is our entire back line and the commitment to get little touches in, to take [advantage] of angles, and block shots."

How to watch the Kansas City Current this weekend

No. 1 Kansas City will host No. 9 North Carolina — one of just two teams to defeat the Current all season — at 7:30 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage airing on ION.

The No. 5 New York Liberty are creeping back up the ladder, as the defending WNBA champions continued reversing their recent skid with Thursday's 89-63 win over the No. 10 Washington Mystics — all while the race to the 2025 WNBA Playoffs reaches its boiling point.

While Washington rookie Sonia Citron's 18 points led the game, New York pulled together a true team effort to secure Thursday's victory, with five Liberty players scoring double-digits — including a season-high 16 points off the bench from forward Isabelle Harrison in her return from concussion protocol.

"We're not looking at the other teams at this point," Liberty forward Emma Meesseman said after the game. "We're just looking at ourselves, to maybe send a message to ourselves."

Despite that focus, New York is still contending with injury woes that have overshadowed much of the Liberty's season, taking Thursday's court without starters Sabrina Ionescu (toe), Jonquel Jones (illness), and Natasha Cloud (nose), while leaning on recently returned forward Breanna Stewart.

"We need to win the rest of our games," acknowledged Stewart, with the team gearing up for visits to the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury, No. 8 Golden State Valkyries, and No. 7 Seattle Storm over the next week. "We need to go and be road warriors."

The Liberty will have their hands full against the Mercury this weekend, with Phoenix coming in hot off a three-game winning streak with postseason-clinching top-of-mind.

"It's like a playoff matchup," Stewart added. "It's a big game, big implications, and [we're] not shying away from that."

How to watch the New York Liberty this weekend

No. 4 Phoenix will host No. 5 New York at 10 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage airing on NBA TV.