Surely you can't be serious.

NWSL lands in Columbus for record $205M fee

The NWSL is officially on the move, tapping its 18th team on Wednesday after accepting a record expansion bid from Columbus, Ohio.

• Haslam Sports Group — which controls the Crew (MLS), Browns (NFL), and Bucks (NBA) — is behind the franchise, with additional backing from Nationwide and Drs. Christine and Pete Edwards.

• The club will share ScottsMiracle-Go Field with its MLS counterpart, with a dedicated training facility in the works ahead of its 2028 launch. (See full report)

Big money: Columbus's $205 million expansion fee marks a new high for the NWSL, surpassing the $165 million incoming 17th club Atlanta paid in 2025.

• The city of Columbus and Franklin County will each contribute $25 million toward infrastructure, passing the measure despite local pushback over plans to build the facilities on public parkland.

• “Columbus is that next chapter,” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement. “This is a city that has long been at the heart of American soccer, a community that understands the power of sport and the power of community.” (See full release)

USWNT draws El Salvador in World Cup qualifier

The USWNT’s World Cup qualifying path is taking shape, setting a Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal clash with No. 8 El Salvador this November — with a trip to Brazil on the line.

• The No. 1 US already qualified for the eight-team quarterfinals based on current Concacaf rankings, only needing a semifinal berth to secure a spot at the 2027 World Cup.

• No. 2 Canada, No. 3 Costa Rica, No. 4 Mexico, No. 5 Jamaica, No. 6 Panama, and No. 7 Haiti also made the cut. (See full rankings)

How it works: The three-round tournament spans championship and third-place matches, with the top four teams qualifying for the World Cup while the four losing teams compete for two tickets to the World Cup’s Play-Off Tournament.

• The tournament’s top three finishers also qualify for the 2028 LA Olympics, with the US already holding an automatic bid as host.

• The tournament marks the first of three major centralized competitions in Concacaf’s new women’s national team calendar, set to run through 2029. (See full rules)

Stay tuned: The tournament kicks off November 27th in Mansfield, Texas before moving to Houston for the championship and third-place matches.

Season’s 1st LPGA major tees off in Houston

The first major of the 2026 LPGA Tour has arrived, as the Chevron Championship tees off tomorrow in Houston armed with an elite field and a $9 million prize pool.

• Last year’s tournament featured a five-player playoff — the largest in LPGA major history — with Japan's Mao Saigo emerging as the eventual winner.

• World No. 14 Saigo returns to Texas to defend her title, alongside No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, No. 2 Nelly Korda, and No. 3 Hyo Joo Kim. (See full field)

Big money: Beyond the $1.35 million winner’s purse, several elite golfers are also eyeing career milestones on one of the LPGA’s biggest stages.

• In Gee Chun, Minjee Lee, and Anna Nordqvist are all staring down a Career Grand Slam, with three of five major titles under their belts.

• Thitikul is hunting her first major win, after finishing second at last year’s Amundi Evian Championship.

• “I think I focus on every tournament,” Thitikul told Golf Channel. “But I mean, obviously major is the one that every people want… Hopefully one day.” (See full clip)

Tune in: The Chevron Championship tees off Thursday at 8:15 AM ET on Golf Channel.

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Don’t miss ‘Time Wasting’ with Kelley O’Hara & Ali Riley

Soccer icons Kelley O’Hara and Ali Riley are back, as all-new episode of Time Wasting presented by Amazon Prime serves up another jam-packed helping of tactical breakdowns, behind-the-scenes stories, and insider perspectives.

• In the episode, Kelley and Ali break down the last two USWNT friendlies against Japan, from inexperience costing the US in Game 2 before storming back for a shutout Game 3 performance.

• “I literally was jumping up and down on the couch, just so elated to be a fan and former player,” Kelley said of the win. “If this is what we have the potential of doing for 90 minutes, this is going to be a fun lead-up to the World Cup in 2027.”

Tune in: Catch Time Wasting on YouTube.

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Team USA learns World Cup group stage draw

Team USA is inching closer to defending its World Cup title, as FIBA drew all 16 participating teams into four groups this week — marking the largest field in event history.

• 11-time winner USA Basketball joins China, Czechia, and Italy in Group D, with the top three teams advancing to the knockout stages.

• The US remains undefeated against China and Czechia in World Cup matchups, while suffering just one loss to Italy — though the pair hasn’t met in World Cup competition since 1979. (See full release)

How it works: After expanding from 12 to 16 nations, this year’s four round-robin group-stage winners advance directly to the quarterfinals.

• Duke’s Kara Lawson will serve as Team USA’s head coach, overseeing a 12-player team selected by USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird.

• The tournament runs September 4-13, with the WNBA planning a regular-season break to allow top US and international talent to participate.

Jess Fishlock announces NWSL retirement

Seattle mainstay Jess Fishlock is hanging up her boots, as the Reign announced the Welsh international will retire at the end of the 2026 NWSL season.

• Fishlock spent her entire NWSL career with Seattle, winning three NWSL Shields (2014, 2015, 2022) while earning 2021 NWSL MVP honors in a run dating back to the league’s 2013 inception.

• “It’s hard to put into words what Seattle and this club mean to me,” Fishlock said. “This is where I’ve grown, where I’ve fought, where I’ve experienced some of the best moments of my career.” (See full post)

Tipping its hat: The Reign will officially honor its decorated captain during its second annual Queen’s Match on October 2nd.

• “She has carried this club on her shoulders at times and has always done it with pride,” Seattle head coach Laura Harvey said. “Her impact on this team, this city, and sport as a whole is immeasurable.” (See full release)

Number of the day

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The Minnesota Lynx announced that star forward Napheesa Collier will remain sidelined for six more weeks after undergoing a second offseason ankle operation.