The Washington Spirit’s Saturday night game against the Portland Thorns was postponed due to four positive COVID-19 tests among Spirit players.

The NWSL announced the news via social media on Saturday, stating that the match would be rescheduled and that details would be released in the coming days.

Statement regarding the #PORvWAS match set for 9.4.2021: pic.twitter.com/Agn4JQv73j

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 4, 2021

Later, it was reported that up to eight players on the Spirit are unvaccinated against COVID-19.

BREAKING: Multiple sources telling me that tonight’s match between the Washington Spirt and Portland Thorns has been called off.

Spirit have 4 positive COVID cases; multiple sources also tell me that the club has “multiple” unvaccinated players. One source said # as high as 8.

— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) September 4, 2021

Thorns owner Merritt Paulson apologized to fans on Twitter, writing, “We expected one of the biggest Thorns crowds of the season tonight. Hopefully we are cleared to play Tues.”

Later, Paulson said the game wouldn’t be played on Tuesday and that the NWSL was working on the schedule.

I personally apologize to our fans. We expected one of the biggest Thorns crowds of the season tonight. Hopefully we are cleared to play Tues.

Frustration level is very high given the facts as I understand them. Will work w the NWSL to sort this/prevent similar issues. https://t.co/vhEEFfUEbz

— Merritt Paulson (@MerrittPaulson) September 4, 2021

The COVID-19 outbreak comes at a tense time for the Spirit as the club’s co-owners reportedly fight for control of the team. The conflict between Y. Michele Kang and Steve Baldwin is said to be tied to former coach Richie Burke’s controversial departure from the club. The Spirit announced Burke was stepping down in early August due to health reasons, but soon after it was reported he was fired after allegations of verbal and emotional abuse surfaced.

Baldwin, along with Larry Best, the Spirit’s president of sporting operations, was directly involved in hiring Burke in 2018.

According to another report Saturday, the COVID-19 outbreak can be tied to a party hosted by minority owner Kang.

Per sources, minority owner Michele Kang hosted a dumpling making party this week that involved players at their apartments early this week, that is believed to have led to the #COVID out-break for @WashSpirit players forcing cancellation of tonight's game.

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 4, 2021

Meg Linehan of The Athletic has since confirmed that Best has filed a complaint against Kang to the NWSL.

Multiple sources have confirmed that Larry Best filed a complaint to the #NWSL under the anti-harassment policy concerning owner Michele Kang.

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) September 4, 2021

League policy states that a player who tests positive for COVID-19 must quarantine for 10 days and be symptom-free for a week before returning to play.

The Spirit’s next game is against OL Reign on Sept. 12.

Young USWNT standout Ally Sentnor is on the move in the NWSL, exiting the last-place Utah Royals in a midseason trade to the league-leading Kansas City Current on Friday.

According to ESPN, Utah received a record-$600,000 transfer fee in return, as well as a future sell-on fee and performance add-ons in lieu of players.

"Thank you to the Royals for drafting this small town girl, and giving me the opportunity to start a lifelong dream of playing professional soccer," Sentnor said in a statement.

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The 2024 NWSL No. 1 draft pick scored three goals in her rookie season, and has one goal and one assist in her 13 matches starting for Utah in 2025.

Friday's deal now sends the 21-year-old Sentnor to the very top of the NWSL table, as the 2024 Young US Player of the Year gears up for a cultural reset — and a reunion with best friend Claire Hutton — as part of the NWSL-leading attack in Kansas City.

"Ally is a dynamic player who's tenacious on both sides of the ball and will be yet another threat on our roster," Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski said in the club's announcement. "She's a fun and exciting player to watch. Ally has continued to elevate her game year after year, and we're eager for her to make her mark in Kansas City."

Olympic hurdles legend Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is making strides on the flat track, winning the 400-meter race at this weekend's 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships to book a spot representing Team USA at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

Following her winning finish just two-tenths of a second shy of the US record of 48.70, McLaughlin-Levrone is fast closing in on the mark set by track icon Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006.

Notably, the four-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion opted to skip her signature 400-meter hurdles to focus on the 400-meter flat event, choosing to sit out her career-making race in order to chase a new goal.

"This is a challenge — I want to challenge myself," McLaughlin-Levrone explained. "I felt like this year, I wanted to step out of the box and really push myself in a different way."

"I think this year, and this event, has taught me patience," McLaughlin-Levrone said following her Saturday win. "I've learned a lot about myself…. Every day it's stepping on the track, being the best I can be, figuring out a race that is very foreign to me, and taking on new challenges and being comfortable doing it."

The newly minted US 400-meter champion will next hunt the event's world title at next month's 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo — the city where McLaughlin-Levrone earned her first two Olympic gold medals.

"That's a very daunting task in and of itself," she said about competing in the 400-meter race at Worlds. "It's a very competitive field.... I want to make sure I can give my all."

World No. 4 Brazil lifted the Copa América Femenina trophy for a record-extending ninth time on Saturday, winning the 2025 final by topping No. 18 Colombia in penalties after the Conmebol titans finished extra time in a hard-fought 4-4 draw.

Drama ran through the final from start to finish, as Colombia took aim at a first-ever continental title by snagging the lead three times — forcing Brazil to trail for the first time in a Copa América match since 2014.

The physical, often chippy game saw Colombian defender Jorelyn Carabalí narrowly avoid a red card in first-half stoppage time after head-butting Brazil forward Gio Garbelini in the box — the most egregious of the match's combined 36 fouls and eight yellow cards.

While several players on both teams had star turns, Brazil legend and tournament MVP Marta shone the brightest, keeping hopes alive for the defending champs by using the last kick in regulation to net a long-range equalizer that sent the final into extra time at a 3-3 draw.

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The second-half sub then handed Brazil their first lead of the match, masterfully tapping in the squad's fourth goal in the 105th minute — though fellow NWSL star Leicy Santos bent in a stellar 115th-minute free kick to keep Colombia in contention.

An NWSL player also reigned supreme in the ensuing seven-round penalty shootout, as Brazil goalkeeper Lorena blocked Carabalí's sudden-death shot to seal the championship win.

With the 2025 Copa América now in their trophy case, Brazil is eyeing their next major tournament appearance as hosts of the 2027 World Cup, though 39-year-old Marta's future with the team remains uncertain.

The Minnesota Lynx made headlines on Sunday, as the league leaders finalized a trade to acquire 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington from the No. 11 Dallas Wings.

In return for sending Carrington to Minnesota, Sunday's trade saw Dallas receive forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and a second-round pick in the 2027 draft.

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Minnesota's move to secure Carrington comes in the wake of No. 2 New York successfully signing 2019 WNBA champion Emma Meesseman, with the Belgium international logging 11 points in her Liberty debut — an 87-78 win over the last-place Connecticut Sun on Sunday.

"She made the wrong choice," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said of Meesseman's decision, after the 2025 EuroBasket champ reportedly considered joining Minnesota for her WNBA return.

As for the Wings, Dallas now appears to be shifting gears.

After stocking up on veteran talent like Carrington and forward NaLyssa Smith during the offseason, this weekend's trade — alongside the Sunday waiving of veteran Wings center Teaira McCowan — has Dallas seemingly undertaking a more methodical, youth-focused rebuild around their 2025 WNBA Draft No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers.

In addition to this weekend's roster refresh, the Wings previously dealt Smith away to the No. 7 Las Vegas Aces earlier this summer, snagging a 2027 first-round draft pick in return.

Before grabbing top talent in 2027, however, Dallas could be on track to snag a second straight No. 1 pick, as the Wings are currently skidding toward a shot at securing the top 2026 draftee.