Injured Trinity Rodman ruled out for NWSL & USWNT matches

Don’t worry, be Happy.

Trinity Rodman ruled out for NWSL weekend, USWNT friendlies

USWNT and Spirit star Trinity Rodman has been sidelined, set to miss the rest of the NWSL regular season after exiting Washington’s 4-0 Concacaf W Champions Cup win over Monterrey with a knee injury on Wednesday — hours after getting her first national team call-up since April.

• The Athletic reported Rodman will be out for at least three weeks — including October’s USWNT friendlies — though Thursday’s scans showed she avoided long-term injury and could make a NWSL postseason return.

• Rodman’s knock interrupts a strong run, with the 23-year-old registering five goals and two assists since recovering from a lingering back injury in August.

Big picture: Sitting second in the NWSL standings, the Spirit already secured home field advantage for the upcoming playoffs, but the 2024 runners-up will see a potential postseason preview this weekend against a resurgent Orlando Pride.

• The reigning league champions earned two wins in their last three matches, rising to No. 3 after going winless through nine straight NWSL games.

• “I think home field advantage is massive,” Pride head coach Seb Hines said last week. “We experienced that last year. So if we can finish as high as possible, we can play here in front of our own fans.”

Tune in: The Spirit take on the Pride on Saturday at 12:30 PM ET, live on CBS.

2026 WNBA All-Star Game set for Chicago return

WNBA All-Star Weekend is returning to the Windy City, as the league announced plans to hold the 2026 All-Star Game in Chicago next summer.

• The game will tip off on July 25th inside the near 20,900-capacity United Center, while the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge will be held at 10,380-capacity Wintrust Arena, home to the Chicago Sky.

• “The WNBA is thrilled to bring AT&T WNBA All-Star back to Chicago, which will undoubtedly deliver unforgettable competition and community outreach,” said commissioner Cathy Engelbert in Thursday’s league statement.

Big picture: This marks Chicago’s second WNBA All-Star Game after hosting the 2022 event at Wintrust Arena, but next year promises a significant venue upgrade.

• The Sky played their first-ever games at the Bulls’ NBA arena this past season, taking on the Indiana Fever for two regular-season 2025 matchups.

• “We’re ecstatic to host the 2026 WNBA All-Star game and build on the two sell-out Chicago Sky games played at the United Center this year,” United Center VP of booking Jerry Goldman said.

Bottom line: The WNBA will be eager to showcase the league’s growth since its last All-Star visit, as investment — both internal and external — remains a hot topic heading into 2026.

NWSL teams face domino-effect playoff clinch scenario

As NWSL teams race towards November 2nd’s Decision Day, a single result could determine multiple postseason fates with playoff positioning on the line.

• Sitting four points outside of contention, No. 9 North Carolina visits No. 13 Bay tonight, with a Courage loss clinching berths for No. 4 Gotham, No. 5 Seattle, No. 6 San Diego, and No. 7 Portland.

• A loss in San Jose would also put No. 10 Angel City and No. 11 Houston in must-win scenarios if they want a shot at stealing the final playoff spot from No. 8 Louisville.

Big picture: The league reintroduced a simultaneous-kickoff Decision Day format after dramatic results in 2023, but this season’s slim margins plus a few scheduling idiosyncrasies could see the postseason door swing shut prematurely.

• North Carolina needs at least a draw and a Gotham win to survive elimination, while the five teams above the cutoff line — except Gotham and Louisville, who play each other — just need a win to secure their destiny regardless of tonight’s outcome, while Houston and ACFC drop out of play.

Don’t miss it: Bay FC hosts the Courage tonight at 10 PM ET, live on Prime.

Caitlin Clark returns to The Annika Pro-Am

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is hitting the links, returning to the LPGA’s The Annika Pro-Am to show off her golf game after a WNBA season rife with injuries.

• The annual event is set for November 12th at Tampa’s Pelican Golf Club, and will be open to the public.

• “I had an amazing time at The Annika last November and participating in the pro-am alongside Nelly Korda and Annika Sörenstam, two of the best in the game,” Clark said. (See full release)

Big picture: Presented by Gainbridge — one of Clark’s sponsors — The Annika is the penultimate stop on what’s shaped up to be an up-and-down 2025 LPGA Tour.

• “She added such a great dynamic to our event, and her passion for golf and competitiveness were fun to witness firsthand,” tournament namesake Annika Sörenstam said of the 23-year-old. “I look forward to having her back and continuing to introduce the great game of golf to the next generation.”

Manchester United stays perfect in UWCL debut

Champions League newcomer Manchester United is on a roll, becoming the only team to post two straight clean sheets while tallying six points through the first two UWCL matches.

• USWNT goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce played hero in yesterday’s 1-0 shutout against Atletico Madrid, notching five saves as both teams became shorthanded due to offsetting red cards.

• “Phallon and her experiences in England have really taken her game up a notch,” US national team boss Emma Hayes told reporters after dropping this month’s USWNT roster. “I really noticed she’s playing like a player that has gone through the various levels.”

Around the horn: Reigning champions Arsenal shook off last week’s loss to Lyonnes with a 2-0 win over Benfica, with goals from Alessia Russo and Beth Mead sealing the deal.

• Only five teams finished the European competition’s opening set with all six points, as titans Barcelona tops the UWCL table with a +10 goal differential.

Quote of the day

Former NWSL star Darian Jenkins
discussing WNBA fans’ unwavering support as players fight for investment on Sports Are Fun.