Just Women's Sports

In a press release issued this morning, NJ/NY Gotham FC announced they will celebrate Kelley O'Hara and her legendary career on Sunday, October 20th, just after the team’s final regular-season match against the Orlando Pride at Red Bull Arena. O'Hara, who announced her plan to retire from professional soccer via an exclusive interview with Just Women's Sports this past May, is a soccer icon, having competed for both club and country and achieving incredible success on all levels. The two-time World Cup champion joined Gotham FC in 2023, making history as the NWSL’s first-ever free agent signing. She quickly played a pivotal role in Gotham FC's success throughout the season and in the playoffs while helping to lead the team to the club's first-ever championship. "Kelley is not just a phenomenal player; she is a true leader and an inspiration to everyone in our organization," said Gotham general manager and head of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West in the statement. "We are privileged to have her a part of our Gotham FC family, and to be part of this special celebration as she closes out her incredible career."

On Tuesday, Brazilian Paralympic swimmer Debora Borges Carneiro won silver in the women's 100-meter breaststroke SB14, only to be joined on the podium by her twin sister, bronze-medalist Beatriz Borges Carneiro. The 26-year-olds have often competed against one another in the pool, making today's Paralympic feat even sweeter — especially because it happened to fall on their father's birthday. "It's a gift for him as well," silver-medalist Debora said after the race. "I can't express this. It's a unique moment for me, it's very special to me with my sister, and (to) represent my friends, my family, my hometown. This is the most important thing."

Our very own Rachel Quon will be speaking at WIN: Women in Innovation's San Francisco event, 'Changing the Game and Building the Future of Women's Sports.'

Friday's final WNBA matchup between Angel Reese's Chicago Sky and Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena promises to be the hottest show in town, with ticket resale prices averaging north of $885 each according to resale site GameTime. On GameTime, tickets to the rookie vs. rookie showdown currently range from $151 up to $2,048 per person while demand continues to soar. The seventh-place Fever has played the eighth-place Sky has taken two of the pair's three previous meetings this season. The rookies are also living up to the hype. Clark leads the league in assists and has already broken the record for three-pointers made in a rookie season, while Reese — the current league-leader in rebounds — recently tied Tina Charles's rookie double-double record with 22.

In Wednesday's matchup with the Sun, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark sunk her 86th three-point shot, breaking the WNBA's record for most three-pointers made in a rookie season. Clark managed the achievement in just 31 games played. She surpasses fellow No. 1 draft pick Rhyne Howard, who set the bar at 85 three-pointers in 2022.

Looking decidedly dangerous, 2020 US Open champ Naomi Osaka — a wild card entry now ranked 88th in the world — beat No. 10 Jeļena Ostapenko in straight sets at the 2024 US Open on Tuesday. After stepping away from professional tennis for mental health reasons and the birth of her daughter, yesterday's victory marked Osaka’s first top-10 win in more than four years. "Last year, I was watching Coco play, and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again and I didn’t know if I could," an emotional Osaka told reporters after the first-round match. "Just to win this match and to be in this atmosphere means so much to me."

In the UK, a promising athlete's road to soccer stardom can start as young as five years old. The academy system was established to guide aspiring young players as they work towards an adult contract, complete with full-time coaches, training facilities, and matches. The goal is to nurture and sustain homegrown talent, with professional team academies producing football icons like Leah Williamson, Lauren James, Lauren and Mary Earps. Last week, JWS sat down with Arsenal Academy products 18-year-old Michelle Agyemang and 17-year-old Vivienne Lia in Washington, DC ahead of Arsenal’s friendly with crosstown rivals Chelsea to learn more about their journeys from childhood Gooners to academy superstars and beyond. https://lnkd.in/e37u3rkw

The Minnesota Lynx retired four-time WNBA champion Maya Moore's number on Saturday, moments after the team clinched a 2024 playoff spot with a win over Indiana and one year after Moore's official retirement "My life is an example of what it looks like when we love a little girl well," Moore told reporters after the event. "There is no way we're watching that [ceremony] without love. So many people having a hand in my life to show me what life is about. That's what I tried to bring every day: life and joy. Because I've been a recipient of life and joy." The 2014 league MVP's No. 23 jersey now hangs with the rest of Minnesota's 2017 starting five in the rafters.

The WNBA has officially returned from the Olympic break, and Sunday’s matchup between the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever became the most-watched WNBA game ever on ABC.

The NWSL Players Association and NWSL announced their new collective bargaining agreement today, laying out major implications for the league, its growth, and its players.   The most significant changes revolve around career choice, with the elimination of both entry and expansion drafts and a salary increase. The NWSL is the first pro US sports league to grant incoming athletes control over their placement, establishing a system more akin the college recruiting process. Players will also automatically become free agents once their current contracts expire, and can no longer be traded without prior consent. Given the league's $240 million media rights deal and record-breaking team valuations, this blockbuster CBA promotes equitable revenue sharing across the board.