The 2023 Australian Open begins Monday, with top American players Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula both set to take the court on the first day of action.

Just Women’s Sports highlights Gauff, Pegula and two more players who should have your attention at the year’s first major tournament.

Coco Gauff

Gauff had a year to remember in 2022, including her first major final appearance at the French Open. And she’s off to a strong start in 2023 with a title win in Auckland. While just the third title of her career, she sits at No. 7 in the world.

“Honestly it’s been a fantastic week for me despite the rain, I can’t ask for a better start to the season,” Gauff said after the win in Auckland.

At the Australian Open, she’ll face off against world No. 48 Katerina Siniakova on Monday, though the match will begin at 7 p.m. ET Sunday in the United States, with Iga Swiatek potentially waiting in the quarterfinals.

waited my whole life for this 💀😭@FTiafoe https://t.co/5QR8o2ieg4

— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) January 11, 2023

Ons Jabeur

Ons Jabeur also had a standout 2022, reaching her first two Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. In doing so, she became the first African woman and the first Tunisian and Arab player – man or woman – to make a Grand Slam final.

While she didn’t come out on top in those matches, Jabeur did rocket up to a career-high world No. 2 ranking.

She’ll start her Australian Open run Tuesday against Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek.

I hope to have inspired Tunisia, the African continent and the Arab world throughout my Wimbledon journey. I'll be back on Centre Court! Keep dreaming young girl 🍓

Eid Mubarak to all muslims around the world ✨ pic.twitter.com/gj1dRWPDlo

— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) July 9, 2022

Iga Swiatek

Last year, Swiatek made the Australian Open semifinals, but she fell to Madison Keys, who then lost to Ash Barty in the championship match. Barty retired immediately after that tournament, which clears the path between Swiatek and the title.

After the 2022 tournament, Swiatek went on a historic 37-match winning streak to cap off her ascent to the world No. 1 ranking.

She also won two majors on the year, including the US Open. At the US Open, she faced off against Jule Niemeier, who will be her first-round opponent at the Australian Open. Swiatek won their meeting in Flushing Meadows in three sets.

“It’s nice also that we played not so long ago, so I can take a lot from that match,” she said. “Now I know how her ball feels on the racquet. But she has the same.”

🎾 Time for the @AustralianOpen. 1st round tomorrow
🎾 Czas na #AustralianOpen. Jutro o 9.00 rano mój mecz pierwszej rundy pic.twitter.com/v16tue33MO

— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) January 15, 2023

Jessica Pegula

Historically, Jessica Pegula has done well Down Under. In her past two appearances in the Australian Open, Pegula has made the quarterfinals. To open the year, she went 4-1 at the United Cup, which included a straight-set win over world No. 1 Swiatek.

She currently sits at No. 3 in the world, which is a career high. She’s the highest-ranked American, male or female, after only just cracking the top 100 in 2019. Last year, she made three quarterfinal appearances in the Grand Slams, including the US Open.

A month after the year’s final major, she won her first WTA 1000 title in Guadalajara, defeating four consecutive Grand Slam champions to do so.

Ticket prices are skyrocketing across the WNBA, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressing the surge after several New York Liberty fans wore T-shirts in protest of the increase.

Donning orange shirts emblazoned with the phrase "We've been priced out," New York fans came together to express their frustrations at a recent game.

The WNBA fans' custom shirts referred to season ticket price jumps of more than 250%, saying the Liberty is asking upwards of $30,000 for 2026 renewals.

Some New York season ticket holders noted that their 2026 renewal more than triples the cost they paid for the team's 2024 championship-winning campaign.

The exponential increase isn't just occurring in the New York market, however — it points to an overall rise in ticket prices across the WNBA.

The WNBA's recent ticket surge has seen seats across the league jumping by an average cost increase of 43% in the last year alone.

"In order to fund all these investments that owners are making, and obviously paying the players more which we will do in this next CBA cycle…that's the reality," Engelbert said on Thursday's episode of In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams. "That's our responsibility as a league and team owners."

Calling the price hikes a result of "simple economics" and "high demand," Engelbert acknowledged the effect on fans, though did not address potential solutions.

"I realize there's some concern out there, certainly that we don't price out our kind of core fan base," she noted.

Chelsea FC is playing it close to the chest, with big-name new signing Alyssa Thompson and previously injured superstar Sam Kerr waiting in the wings as manager Sonia Bompastor teases a 2025/26 WSL season debut for the pair.

Kerr joined the 18-player game-day roster for Chelsea FC's opening-day victory over Manchester City last Friday, but saw her season debut delayed as the Australian remained an unused sub while Thompson greeted fans from the stands.

This Sunday's matchup against Aston Villa provides another chance for the standouts to take the pitch, as the six-time reigning WSL champs hunt another result.

"With Alyssa, we are looking for her to be able to play. We don't have the confirmation yet, but we are hoping for her to be able to play in this game," Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said earlier today. "I think she has already shown some good things this week in training, and we can see what she can bring to the team."

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Bompastor went on to call last week's decision to keep Kerr on the bench "my choice," saying "She's doing everything she can to be available for the squad and available to start…. The next step for her is to be involved in a short game in the league, and maybe we'll see that on Sunday."

USWNT fans will not get a glimpse of defender Naomi Girma, however, as the January 2025 Chelsea addition sat out last Friday's clash with a calf injury and remains unavailable.

How to watch Aston Villa vs. Chelsea FC this weekend

With the possibility of Thompson and Kerr taking the WSL pitch, Chelsea will visit Aston Villa at 7 AM ET on Sunday, with live coverage of the match streaming on ESPN+.

Splashy new Gotham FC addition Jaedyn Shaw is returning West, as the No. 6 NY/NJ club preps for a Friday night clash against the No. 3 San Diego Wave — Shaw's original NWSL team — days after signing the USWNT prospect from the No. 11 North Carolina Courage.

"I'm so excited to be a part of this incredible club and community," the 20-year-old said after her NWSL-record $1.25 million transfer to Gotham. "I'm looking forward to playing alongside world class players and giving my all to help the team win another championship."

After finding immediate success with the Wave in 2023, Shaw requested a trade to the Courage in January 2025, initiating what turned out to be a short stint in Cary, NC.

"I've grown so much just over the past few months, being at the Courage," Shaw told ESPN on Thursday. "I feel like I've matured a lot. I've had to experience things that I haven't necessarily experienced in my career and having to deal with those things."

Gotham and Shaw are currently "working toward an updated and extended contract," per a team release on Thursday, with the young attacker looking to boost Gotham's offense while adding to her 16-goal and five-assist NWSL career tally.

How to watch the San Diego Wave vs. Gotham on Friday

Shaw could take the pitch for No. 6 Gotham in her new club's Friday night visit to the No. 3 San Diego Wave.

The match kicks off at 10 PM ET, with live coverage airing on Prime.

The No. 1 Kansas City Current are closing in on the 2025 NWSL Shield, gearing up for a Saturday night showdown against the No. 2 Washington Spirit that could inject insurmountable distance between the Current and the rest of the league.

With a 14-point lead at the top of the NWSL standings, Kansas City has already clinched a postseason berth, and the Current only need only a few more results to secure a franchise-first league trophy.

Even more, KC enters Saturday's match on an 11-game unbeaten streak, with the Current hosting the Spirit at their home CPKC Stadium — a pitch where Kansas City has yet to drop a match this year.

Despite that dominance, it may not be smooth sailing for the Current, as Washington's future is beginning to take shape behind recently returned star Trinity Rodman, whose brace lifted the Spirit over the No. 7 Seattle Reign last Sunday.

"She's not back, because she's a different player," Washington head coach Adrián González told reporters about Rodman's level of play. "After her injury, she's more prepared mentally. She's having enough time to get the minutes, the training, and the exposures that she needs with no pressure."

How to watch the Kansas City Current vs. Washington Spirit

The No. 1 Kansas City Current will host the No. 2 Washington Spirit on Saturday, with the top-tier match kicking off live at 7:30 PM ET on ION.