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Trinity Rodman on Spirit ownership saga: ‘There was no structure’

Kelley O’Hara, Michele Kang and Devon Kerr celebrate the Spirit’s NWSL championship last season. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

The Washington Spirit went through one of the most contentious ownership fights in NWSL history during the 2021 season, with Michele Kang eventually buying the team from former majority owner Steve Baldwin in March.

The battle for control over the club was highly publicized as the back-and-forth unfolded throughout the year. Amid the chaos, the Spirit players wrote an open letter urging Baldwin to sell the team to Kang in October and placing their trust in the entrepreneur.

“I just feel like everyone felt like there was no control, like we had no control over anything,” Trinity Rodman told Spirit teammate Kelley O’Hara on the latest episode of The Players’ Pod. “That was the most frustrating thing is like, we were just going to practice every day, then going on Twitter. There was no structure.”

Emily Sonnett, who joined Rodman and Andi Sullivan on the podcast, shared in her teammate’s frustration.

“How are all these other people getting this information, and we just can’t get a stinkin’ email?” Sonnett said of last season’s front-office turmoil. “I have never been on a team that operates like this. It’s just an email. You don’t even have to come to training and look me in the face. You can just send me an email.”

Despite the off-field drama, the Spirit persevered, winning the first NWSL championship in franchise history.

Rodman, named the NWSL’s Rookie of the Year days before the championship game, was still visibly anxious entering the game.

“I was nervous. I was freaking out,” Roadman said. “I threw up before the game. I’ve never had thrown up off being nervous. I literally was so nervous.”

Sonnett, a veteran with plenty of experience in big games, would not let the season end in horror as her teammates’ nerves took over.

“I looked at Kelley, and I go, ‘We did not come here, to the last game, for everyone to fall apart.’ I go, ‘This is not happening.’ I go, ‘Everyone relax, throw up, relax. We are about to go play soccer, enough you guys,’” Sonnett recalled telling the team.

O’Hara, who scored the game-winning goal in extra time of the championship game, remembered thinking, “I can’t believe this is,” as she walked out on the field. Rodman and Ashley Sanchez were nowhere to be found.

The rookies ultimately regained their composure and helped their team to a title-clinching win. Now fresh off an appearance in the Challenge Cup final, the Spirit are looking to reach new heights in 2022.

“For Michele (Kang), the sky’s the limit,” Rodman said. “I feel like she wants top for us with everything, and I didn’t feel that way before. She shoots for the stars.”

“I think Michele is hungry to learn about soccer and how the operations work and how can you make this the north star for soccer — not just women’s soccer, but soccer,” Sullivan added.

Listen to the full episode of The Players’ Pod for more on the Spirit’s championship season.

Chicago Sky Star Angel Reese Hits the Runway for Victoria’s Secret

WNBA star Angel Reese poses for press before the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
WNBA star Angel Reese will become the first-ever pro athlete to walk the Victoria's Secret runway later this month. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is staying busy, announcing yet another high-profile partnership as she gears up to become the first-ever professional athlete to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show next week.

The WNBA star will take to the lingerie company's catwalk in New York on Tuesday, October 15th.

"Stepping into a dream: From Angel to a Victoria Secret ANGEL," Reese posted to Instagram on Thursday. "I'm finally getting my wings — I'll be walking the Victoria's Secret 2025 runway show for the first time, and it feels like destiny. Wings on, heels ready."

Hitting the runway is just the latest entry on Reese's growing resume, with the 23-year-old most recently stepping in as the new face of Juicy Couture and launching a signature shoe with Reebok while becoming the cover star of the WNBA edition of NBA 2K26.

Even more, she'll soon make her feature film debut, playing herself in a cameo in the upcoming political thriller A House of Dynamite, which drops on Netflix on October 24th.

But first, Reese will make Victoria's Secret Fashion Show history.

"Angel Reese, welcome to the runway," Victoria's Secret wrote in a promotional post on Thursday. "The first professional athlete angel... major is an understatement."

How to watch Angel Reese in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

The 2025 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will air live on at 7 PM ET on Tuesday, October 15th on Prime.

USWNT Legends Alex Morgan, Mia Hamm to Host The Goal Cup Charity Soccer Match

Alex Morgan reacts during her San Diego Wave jersey retirement at a 2025 NWSL match.
Retired USWNT legends Alex Morgan and Mia Hamm will feature in January's The Goal Cup. (Meg McLaughlin/NWSL via Getty Images)

Two of women's soccer's biggest stars are teaming up, with retired USWNT icons Alex Morgan and Mia Hamm joining forces to launch The Goal Cup, a new celebrity charity soccer match benefitting both the Alex Morgan Foundation and the Mia Hamm Foundation.

Billed as "two star-studded teams...coming together to benefit [the two] foundations through a day of competition, entertainment, and community impact," The Goal Cup will see Hamm and Morgan captain the rival squads in an "LA vs. San Diego" showdown at USC Rawlinson Stadium in Los Angeles on January 17th, 2026.

The charity match will boost both Morgan's and Hamm's foundations — nonprofits that work to increase opportunities and access for women and girls in sports, among other core tenets.

"The Goal Cup is about celebrating the game we love while creating real impact for girls and women," Morgan said in a statement. "I'm proud to team up with Mia, to launch the SoCal rivalry, and ensure soccer continues to be a force for good beyond the field."

How to attend Hamm and Morgan's The Goal Cup

Pre-sale access to the January 17th charity match opens at 1 PM ET on Tuesday before tickets become available to the general public on Wednesday.

Fans can sign up for early access and pricing at The Goal Cup.

Sabalenka, Gauff Cruise to 2025 Wuhan Open Semifinals as Świątek Falls

Top-ranked tennis star Aryna Sabalenka preps her return during the 2025 Wuhan Open quarterfinals.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is two wins away from claiming a fourth straight title at the 2025 Wuhan Open. (WUHAN OPEN OFFICIAL 2025/VCG via Getty Images)

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is back like she never left, following up her brief post-US Open championship recovery break and booking a spot in the 2025 Wuhan Open semifinals by blowing past the tournament's competition with a straight-set victory over No. 9 Elena Rybakina on Friday morning.

With the last three Wuhan Open titles under her belt — 2018, 2019, and 2024 — Sabalenka extended her career tournament record to 20-0 on Friday, as she gears up to take on US star No. 6 Jessica Pegula in the semifinals early Saturday morning.

"Honestly, that's just crazy," Sabalenka said of her success at the WTA 1000 event. "I feel a really great connection with the Chinese fans, I guess. I feel like at home playing in this stadium."

Sabalenka and Pegula aren't the only big names advancing this week, as No. 3 Coco Gauff cruised past unseeded Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-0 to book her own semifinal appearance on Friday.

While the US star had little trouble dispelling her quarterfinals opponent, Polish phenom No. 2 Iga Świątek wasn't so lucky, falling to Italy's No. 8 Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-2 to set up a tight Saturday semifinals clash between Gauff and Paolini.

Sabalenka and Pegula's semi could also go the distance — Pegula is coming off six straight three-set matches dating back to the 2025 China Open, emerging victorious from five of them.

How to watch the 2025 Wuhan Open semifinals

Gauff and Paolini will kick off the 2025 Wuhan Open semifinals at 5 AM ET on Saturday, with Sabalenka taking on Pegula shortly after the first match.

The semifinal winners will then battle for the championship trophy on Sunday.

Live coverage of the semifinals and final will air on the Tennis Channel.

Racing Louisville Re-signs Emma Sears, Shoots for 2025 NWSL Playoffs

Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears warms up before a 2025 NWSL match.
Racing Louisville signed USWNT forward Emma Sears to a new contract this week. (Soobum Im/NWSL via Getty Images)

As No. 7 Racing Louisville zeroes in on a franchise-first berth to the NWSL Playoffs, the 2021 expansion team locked down a big part of their future on Thursday when they signed USWNT forward Emma Sears to a new contract through 2028.

"I'm so proud to be continuing my career with Racing Louisville FC — a club and city that have truly become home for me," Sears said in Thursday's team statement. "We've built something special here."

Drafted out of Ohio State by Louisville in 2024, Sears claimed the club's rookie scoring record with five goals last season before setting a new single-season scoring record for Racing this year, with the 24-year-old registering 10 goals so far in 2025.

"In her two years here in Louisville, Emma has quickly become a foundational player for this club, and she's only scratching the surface of her potential," said Racing GM Caitlyn Flores Milby.

With their star secured, Louisville's full focus is on climbing further above the postseason cutoff line, with Racing aiming to keep their current momentum going against the No. 14 Chicago Stars on Friday night.

Entering the weekend on a two-match winning streak, Louisville holds the edge over Chicago and the Stars' four-game winless run.

Even more, every point helps the narrow race to the 2025 NWSL Playoffs, as only four points separate Nos. 3 through 8 in the NWSL standings — with all but two postseason tickets still on the table.

How to watch Racing Louisville vs. the Chicago Stars on Friday

No. 7 Louisville will host No. 14 Chicago at 7:30 PM ET on Friday, with live coverage streaming on NWSL+.

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