Go best friend, we killin’ ‘em.

Olympics expands women’s events

The International Olympic Committee approved a proposal to expand the Olympic women’s soccer tournament from 12 to 16 teams ahead of the 2028 LA Games, solidifying the event’s international importance for the women’s game.

• “We wanted to do something to reflect that growth, and equally with the United States being the home of the highest level of popularity of women’s football,” IOC sports director Kit McConnell said on Wednesday.

Big picture: Soccer isn’t the only women’s event seeing expansion, as yesterday’s shifts push the total number of women’s sports athletes participating in the 2028 Games over the 50% line.

• The women’s water polo field will grow from 10 to 12 teams to align with the men’s side, while 3×3 basketball expands from eight to 12 teams.

• Women’s boxing is gaining an additional weight category, with the IOC also incorporating new mixed events across several other Olympic sports.

Bottom line: Increasing parity can only up the competition, with the Olympics striving to stay ahead of the game as the demand for women’s sports continues to rise.

• “The message of gender equality is a really important one for us,” added McConnell.

2025 WNBA Draft: Who’s in and who’s out?

With Monday’s WNBA Draft looming, eligible NCAA basketball standouts are still deciding whether to make the leap to the pros or stick around for their final year of college.

• Unlike the men’s one-and-done model, women’s college basketball players must either graduate from a four-year college within three months of the draft, turn at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft, or be four years removed from high school graduation to qualify for the WNBA.

Who’s in: It looks like UConn star Paige Bueckers still has a lock on 2025’s No. 1 pick — currently held by Dallas — despite some speculation the Wings might not be her preferred destination.

• Other projected first-rounders include Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron, USC’s Kiki Iriafen, LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, South Carolina’s Te-Hina PaoPao, Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore, Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers, and TCU’s Hailey Van Lith, with Van Lith boosting her odds after a breakthrough March Madness performance.

Who’s out: This year’s senior class also features a host of returning players, with Texas’s Rori Harmon, UConn’s Azzi Fudd, South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, and recent TCU transfer Olivia Miles all declining to declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft.

• Draft eligible juniors like LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson and UCLA’s Lauren Betts have also decided to stay in school for their final year of college.

Who else: International players could make a splash on Monday, with some mock drafts placing French prodigy Dominique Malonga as high as the No. 2 pick.

• Slovenian forward Ajsa Sivka and Lithuanian shooting guard Justė Jocytė have also been mentioned as possible WNBA prospects.

Bottom line: With NIL money flowing and the transfer portal reshaping the NCAA landscape, the decision to go pro has never been more complex — and for some top student-athletes, the call will likely come down to the wire.

LOVB enters the postseason

The first-ever League One Volleyball (LOVB) finals tip off later today, with all six teams competing to lift the pro league’s inaugural trophy.

• Building on years of success at the youth level, LOVB’s pro arm is capitalizing on volleyball’s surging popularity by stocking rosters with Olympians and NCAA champions.

• The four-day postseason follows a classic tournament format, with single elimination quarterfinals, semifinals, and a winner-take-all final scheduled for April 13th.

How it works: Play-in teams Austin, Salt Lake, Omaha, and Madison will battle for a ticket to the semis tonight, with No. 1 seed Atlanta and No. 2 seed Houston waiting in the wings.

• Atlanta is the clear frontrunner, captained by 2025 LOVB MVP and Olympic gold medalist Kelsey Cook and featuring Outside Hitter of the Year McKenzie Adams and Coach of the Year Paulo Coco.

• After finishing the regular season as the league’s overall points leader, Cook’s Olympic teammate Jordan Thompson leads fellow tournament favorite Houston.

Tune in: The LOVB finals start today at 4:30 PM ET, with live coverage on ESPN+.

The Late Sub returns

Hit JWS podcast The Late Sub is back in action, kicking off a brand new season with staff writer Claire Watkins’s expert takes on the world of women’s soccer.

• In this week’s episode, Watkins talks through the USWNT’s youth movement, coach Emma Hayes’s quest to find Alyssa Naeher’s successor in goal, Trinity Rodman’s splashy return, and so much more.

• “McGlynn stresses me out sometimes — she’s a player with a high upside, and also sometimes she does have those mental moments,” Watkins says of USWNT goalie prospect Mandy McGlynn. “I like Tullis-Joyce, I would love to see a lot more from her. I think she deserves more call-ups.”

Listen now: “The USWNT’s Youth Movement Hits a Bump in the Road” on The Late Sub with Claire Watkins

Kelsey Plum drops Dawg Class roster

Two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum dropped her 2025 Dawg Class roster on Wednesday, inviting another generation of college talent to an Under Armour training camp designed to help student-athletes transition to the pros.

• 2025 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Azzi Fudd, NCAA champ KK Arnold, and Kentucky standout Georgia Amoore are returning for the camp’s third iteration, while South Carolina’s Tessa Johnson, Harvard’s Harmoni Turner, and other top NCAA athletes across all grade levels will make their Dawg Class debut this year.

Takeaway: “Dawg Class is all about changing the game for the next generation of women’s basketball players,” said Plum. “All of these athletes have extraordinary talent and skill, and it is my mission to help them with that transition to the next level by cultivating that ‘dawg’ mentality — the grit, self-confidence, and work ethic — to continue to succeed and evolve in their careers.”

NWSL eyes further expansion

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman voiced confidence in the league’s ability to execute “ambitious plans” at last week’s SheBelieves Summit, telling the crowd that expanding to as many as 32 teams was not out of the question.

• “Our board believes that we can be the size of the NFL, there is nothing that stands in the way of us doing that, other than having access to top talent,” she said. “There’s certainly not a problem with the supply, given the size of our country and the level of talent that exists, we just need to figure out how to develop them strategically and intentionally.”

Future plans: Berman later told ESPN that while the league is not currently in an expansion round after recently green-lighting bids from Boston and Denver, she is continuing to conduct conversations with interested ownership groups.

• Berman also noted that the NWSL is expected to play through next year’s US-based men’s World Cup despite anticipated venue conflicts, though “everything’s on the table” when it comes to finding solutions.

Number of the day 

17

In her first 20 matches at the helm, USWNT coach Emma Hayes saw 17 players earn their first senior cap — the second-most in team history during the same timespan.