Teenage standout Alyssa Thompson, who played for the U.S. youth national team at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in August, received her first senior call-up Thursday.

U.S. women’s national team coach Vlatko Andonovski named her to the 24-player roster for a European tour that will begin Friday, Oct. 7, with a match against England at Wembley Stadium in London.

The 17-year-old is the youngest player to earn a call-up for a full national team camp since Sophia Smith was tabbed at 16 years old back in April 2017.

“We are very excited about her potential and qualities, and we are looking forward to seeing how she is going to turn out in our environment,” Andonovski said.

Andonovski added that Thompson has a “good understanding of the game,” and said he is excited to see how she will fit into the USWNT’s system.

Thompson, a high school senior from Studio City, California, was named the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2020-21.

Thompson plays for the U17 Total Futbol boys team in MLS NEXT, and along with her younger sister, Gisele, is committed to play college soccer at Stanford.

As part of the USYNT, the forward scored a goal and recorded an assist in a U20 World Cup matchup against Ghana in August.

Cooper ➡️ Thompson 🇺🇸

The @USYNT doubles their lead over Ghana 👏 pic.twitter.com/NoE2GUoh0F

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 11, 2022

Absent from the USWNT roster for October’s international window is star forward Alex Morgan, who was left off due to a knee injury, per the team news release. Morgan’s absence gives Thompson a roster spot and a chance to make an impact during the friendlies against England and Spain.

Thompson’s first Senior National Team camp is not “make or break” for her future on the team, Andonovski said. Rather, her the call up will provide her with a solid foundation moving forward.

“This is the first experience for her,” he said. “This is something that she shouldn’t even worry about. I think it’s a great experience, great exposure for her. And it’s a good experience for us to have the opportunity to work with her. What happens from there, we will see.”

In addition to making history as the first player born in 2004 to receive a call-up, Alyssa and Gisele became the first high-schoolers to sign an NIL deal with Nike back in May.

J.Crew is hitting the slopes with Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics, dropping a limited-edition retail collection in collaboration with US Ski & Snowboard this week.

The apparel giant tapped six members of Team USA to model the capsule, including 2018 and 2022 Olympic snowboarder Hailey Langland, 2018 Olympic mogul skier Tess Johnson, and freestyle skier Rell Harwood, who is aiming to make her Olympic debut this year.

The move comes after the brand announced a three-year deal with the winter sports' national governing body, with J.Crew signing on as an official partner of US Ski & Snowboard.

"We're proud to elevate the sport and its athletes at a moment when excitement around snow sports is higher than ever," said J.Crew Group CEO Libby Wadle.

Using themes, patterns, and patches from both the governing org's and J.Crew's historic archives, the inaugural 26-piece collection features knitwear, winter accessories, loungewear, and — in conjunction with US Ski & Snowboard partner Kappa — technical ski jackets.

With items for all ages, the capsule collection will not factor into Team USA's official Olympic uniform, but will provide retro "après-ski-style" flair for both athletes and fans.

How to purchase the Team USA x J.Crew Winter Olympics collection

The full US Ski & Snowboard collection from J.Crew will hit the retailer's online store on Thursday, though fans can sign up for the official drop notification today.

The Australian Open is raising the bar for 2026, with the first Grand Slam of the tennis season boosting its total prize pool to a record $74.9 million — a 16% increase over the 2025 tournament.

Top-finishers in both the women's and men's competitions will now receive checks worth $2.79 million — 19% more than 2025's champions — while a player exiting in the main draw's first round will earn approximately $101,000, a 14% year-over-year increase.

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The annual competition has long been a pioneer in promoting equal pay, following the US Open's 1973 move by becoming the second Slam to guarantee a 50-50 breakdown between the WTA and ATP in 2001.

"This 16% increase demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level," said Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley in the governing body's Tuesday announcement. "From boosting qualifying prize money by 55% since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we're ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors."

"This investment strengthens tennis's foundation, ensuring the sport's long-term health and commercial growth," added Tiley. "By supporting players at all levels, we're building deeper talent pools and more compelling storylines for fans."

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open

US star and world No. 7 Madison Keys will look to defend her trophy when the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open kicks off at 7 PM ET on Saturday, January 17th.

Live coverage of the season's first Slam will air across ESPN platforms.

LPGA stars will soon be hitting the virtual links, as the pro women's tour is teaming up with TMRW Sports to launch the all-new WTGL next winter.

The indoor team golf platform will build off the success of the second-year men's venture Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL) — a 2025 upstart co-founded by PGA stars Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy — which merges traditional golf with simulated play to provide avenues for offseason competition.

"I've seen how new formats can engage audiences while showcasing both athlete personality and performance, and WTGL brings that spirit of innovation to the women's game," said commissioner Craig Kessler in the LPGA's Tuesday press release. It creates another global stage for our athletes — one that helps fans connect more deeply with them and continues to elevate the visibility and growth of women's golf."

US fan favorite Lexi Thompson unveiled the news on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday, promising a star-studded roster of LPGA standouts, with WTGL participants and teams dropping in the upcoming months.

"It just brings a whole different fan base to the game of golf," said the 2022 Women's PGA Championship runner-up. "[Fans can] see the personalities of the guys, and now the women. So, it's just amazing for the game of golf in general, but especially the women's side."

Professional volleyball is back in action this week, with both League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Major League Volleyball (MLV) kicking off their 2026 seasons as the sport's pro landscape continues to grow.

Featuring an Olympian-heavy player pool, LOVB is returning with its six inaugural teams as reigning champion Austin looks to run the title back this season before the second-year league adds three new clubs in 2027.

Meanwhile, following a blockbuster merger with the two-season-old Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF), MLV will start serving with eight teams as 2025 PVF champs Orlando Valkyries embarks on their own title defense, all while the new conglomerate eyes more future expansion.

As NCAA volleyball continues to dominate the fall calendar, multiple pro leagues — each armed with top talent and broadcast deals — are forming in response to demand from both players and fans.

How to watch the 2026 season starts of LOVB and MLV

LOVB hits the 2026 court first with a rematch of the league's 2025 championship, with defending title-winners Austin facing runners-up Nebraska at 6 PM ET on Wednesday, airing on USA Network.

Then on Thursday, MLV enters the fray as the Atlanta Vibe hosts the Columbus Fury at 7 PM ET before the San Diego Mojo visits the Omaha Supernovas at 8 PM ET. Both MLV matches will stream live on YouTube.