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USWNT all-time assists leaders: Megan Rapinoe retires at No. 3

Megan Rapinoe retires at No. 3 in USWNT history. (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Alex Morgan moved into the top 10 in U.S. women’s national team history in assists in 2023, while Megan Rapinoe ends her career at No. 3.

Check out the full leaderboard, which also features Tobin Heath and Christen Press.

15. Lauren Holiday — 37

The 2015 World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist will be inducted to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2023.

T-13. Tobin Heath — 42

The 2015 and 2019 World Cup champion made her first appearance with the senior national team in January 2008. Later that year, at 20 years old, she earned a spot on the Olympic roster and helped the team to a gold medal.

T-13. Aly Wagner — 42

As a midfielder for the USWNT from 1998 to 2008, Wagner appeared in 131 matches. While she won two Olympic gold medals, she was not a member of a World Cup-winning squad.

12. Christen Press — 43

Also ranked No. 9 in goals in USWNT history with 64, Press served as a key member of the 2015 and 2019 World Cup teams. The 34-year-old forward tore her ACL in June 2022 and is sidelined for the 2023 tournament as she continues to recover.

10. Carin Jennings-Gabarra — 49

A 2000 inductee of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Jennings-Gabarra played for the USWNT from 1987 to 1996. She won the the Golden Ball Award as the best player at the 1991 World Cup.

9. Shannon MacMillan — 50

MacMillan won the 1999 World Cup with the USWNT. She also appeared at the 2003 World Cup even after tearing her ACL just four months before the tournament.

8. Alex Morgan — 52

One of three finalists for 2023 Best FIFA Women’s Player, Morgan has excelled for the USWNT after her eight-month absence from the squad, which ended in early 2022. The 34-year-old forward notched an assist in the USWNT’s 2023 World Cup opener, and she also ranks fifth in USWNT history in goals with 121.

T-7. Julie Foudy — 55

A member of the USWNT from 1988 to 2004, Foudy played in four World Cups, winning two — in 1991 and 1999. She also played in three Olympic Games, winning the gold medal in 1996.

T-7. Heather O’Reilly — 55

O’Reilly first joined the senior national team as a high schooler in 2002, and she played for the USWNT until her retirement in 2016. She won three Olympic gold medals (in 2004, 2008 and 2012) and one World Cup (in 2015).

T-5. Carli Lloyd — 64

After 17 years with the USWNT, Lloyd retired in 2021 with the fifth-most assists and the third-most goals (134) in team history.

T-5. Tiffeny Milbrett — 64

A member of the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning squad and the 1999 World Cup-winning squad, Milbrett also ranks among the top goal scorers in USWNT history, sitting at No. 7 with an even 100.

T-3. Abby Wambach — 73

Wambach’s prolific career spanned from 2001 to 2015. The 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, she played in 255 matches for the USWNT, breaking the all-time goals record of 184. She capped her career with the 2015 World Cup victory.

T-3. Megan Rapinoe — 73

The 38-year-old forward played in the fourth World Cup of her career in 2023 after playing a starring role at the 2015 and 2019 tournaments.

Not only did she create chances for her teammates throughout her career, she got on the scoreboard herself. She ranks 10th on the USWNT all-time goals leaderboard with 63.

2. Kristine Lilly — 106

The most-capped player in the history of international soccer, men’s or women’s, Lilly appeared in 354 games for the USWNT. Her first came in 1987 and her last in 2010, and between her first kickoff and her last whistle she accumulated 130 goals (fourth-most in USWNT history) and 106 assists.

1. Mia Hamm — 147

Hamm averaged 0.53 assists per game in her career, easily the best mark on this list. She recorded 41 more assists than Lilly in 78 fewer caps.

In 276 matches for the USWNT, she won two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals. She also ranks No. 2 in goals in USWNT history with 158 in her career.

USC’s Aaliyah Gayles Opens Up About Her Journey Back to Basketball

USC Basketball - Aaliyah Gayles

As part of our 1-v-1 video series, USC’s India Otto sat down to interview her teammate Aaliyah Gayles. Here are five things to know from our conversation with the redshirt freshman guard from Las Vegas.

#1 Aaliyah suffered from a near-death act of violence in 2022.

The incident taught her a lot about herself and the support around her. “[USC] Coach Lindsay [Gottlieb] was one of the first people to fly out there and come see me. That means a lot to me off the court.” 

#2 Her favorite USC memory is when she surprised her teammates after getting out of the hospital.

She left her walker at the door to show she was on the road to returning to the court. “That was my favorite memory because it was family. It was my first time being able to walk to you guys and see you practice.”

#3 There's a reason she wears #3.

#3 was her grandpa’s favorite number and a golden number in her life. Plus, AG3 has a nice ring to it. 

#4 She has a list of basketball GOAT’s:

Candace Parker, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Cason Wallace.

#5 There have been many celebrity appearances at USC’s games over the years, especially this season.

Aaliyah’s favorites include Will Ferrell, Kehlani, and Saweetie. And she hopes Lil Durk will come to watch a game soon.

Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.

Gotham, USWNT forward Midge Purce out with ACL tear

(Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Midge Purce announced on Wednesday that she has torn her ACL. 

The Gotham FC and USWNT forward went down with the injury on Sunday during Gotham’s 1-0 win after tweaking it earlier in the game. Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amorós did not have any immediate updates following the match, with further evaluation revealing the tear. 

“It’s a reality I’m still struggling with and has left me with not too much to say,” Purce wrote in a statement on social media. “I’m heartbroken to no longer be available for my season with Gotham FC or for Olympic selection with the USWNT – know I’m rooting for you both all year long. 

“Though you may not see it, I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field.”

Purce is just the latest women's soccer star to tear her ACL, and joins USWNT teammate Mia Fishel in having torn her ACL in the last couple of months. Other notable players include Catarina Macario and Christen Press, with Macario only just returning to the USWNT lineup after tearing hers in 2022. 

International stars such as Alexia Putellas, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Leah Williamson have also suffered ACL tears. 

Purce’s injury caused Amorós to call out the international schedule, which has been a growing point of concern as more players fall victim to injuries and the playing schedule becomes more packed. Kansas City’s Debinha suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s opening game, while both Lynn Williams and Rose Lavelle have yet to play for Gotham due to injuries picked up during the W Gold Cup. 

“We lost Midge during the game which for me is a bittersweet flavor,” Amorós told reporters after Sunday’s game. “By the way, it’s another player that came from the Gold Cup. Last week, it was Debinha. We are paying the consequences of a tournament that shouldn’t have happened.”

“We’re talking about protecting the players, [who shouldn’t] go to play an international competition after one week of preseason,” Amorós continued. “We’ve seen the consequences now. We’ve got Rose, Lynn, last week it was Debinha in Kansas [City] and now we have Midge. From my experience, the clubs are going to keep paying for that competition."

In her statement, Purce said that “so many friends, teammates and even players I’ve only ever competed against” reached out to offer support. 

“I am so blessed,” she wrote. “Your messages have meant so much to me throughout this process, you have consoled what, for a moment, felt inconsolable. Thank you for reminding me that our football world is not only full with incredibly talent but also, incredible kindness.”

Lauren Jackson included on Australia Olympics roster

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Lauren Jackson of Australia celebrates with team mates after playing her final Opals game during the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 3rd place match between Canada and Australia at Sydney Superdome, on October 01, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Lauren Jackson has come out of retirement once again to compete for a spot on Australia’s Olympic roster. 

Jackson was included on the 26-player roster named by coach Sandy Brondello on Tuesday that will take part in training camps, tours and games in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics. The roster will eventually be whittled down to just 12 players selected from the 26 named on Tuesday.

Jackson helped Australia qualify for the Olympics with a win over Germany in February. After that, she announced her retirement, revealing that she struggled to spend so much time away from her two young children. 

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that Jackson and the basketball federation had come to an agreement in which they would help cover costs for her children to travel with the team for training camps and the Olympics. 

She’s largely expected to make the Opals’ Olympic roster. 

"It's always an exciting time to announce an Olympic squad and I congratulate all the athletes," Opals coach Sandy Brondello said. "They all know what it means to play for Australia and they all want the opportunity to represent their country at an Olympics. Our squad is full of exceptional talent and they will make the decision to pick a final 12 very difficult."

At the 2022 FIBA World Cup, Jackson helped Australia win a bronze medal with 30 points against Canada. She had previously retired in 2016 due to knee injuries, but slowly made a return in a domestic Australian league the last few years.

Jackson has won four Olympic medals, including three consecutive silver medals starting with Sydney in 2000 when she was a teenager. 

First two rounds of NCAA tournament boast record attendance, viewership

(David K Purdy/Getty Images)

The first two rounds of the women’s NCAA tournament broke attendance and viewership records set just last year – and it wasn’t even close. 

The NCAA announced on Tuesday that attendance for the first two rounds of the tournament was more than 292,000 – up from last year’s record, when almost 232,000 fans attended the first two rounds.

Among the host sites, Iowa had the biggest crowds with nearly 29,000 fans packing Carver-Hawkeye Arena in the first and second rounds. 

"We expected the historic success and quality of play and high level of competition from the regular season would carry through into March Madness. Our championship is again delivering," NCAA vice president of women's basketball Lynn Holzman said in a statement. "Record crowds, ratings, incredible performances and evolving storylines will continue to make the next two weeks a must-see for fans across the world."

And for those that couldn’t attend the sold-out Iowa games, they watched on television. Monday’s matchup between Iowa and West Virginia drew 4.9 million viewers, setting a record for a women’s D-I tournament game prior to the Final Four. 

It is also the third most watched tournament game in the last 20 years, behind last year’s national championship between LSU and Iowa (9.92 million) and Iowa’s Final Four win over South Carolina (5.6 million).

Iowa’s game against Holy Cross in the first round drew 3.23 million viewers. 

But it wasn’t just Iowa drawing big viewership. ESPN’s five games on Monday averaged 2.25 million viewers. UConn and Syracuse drew 2.05 million viewers while LSU and Middle Tennessee on ABC drew 2.01 million viewers on Sunday. 

The full, 16-game slate for the second round averaged 1.4 million viewers – a 121% increase from last year and the highest average ever for the second round.

The full tournament so far is averaging 812,000 viewers per game, a 108% increase from last year.

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