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USWNT falls to Japan in 2nd April friendly

Japan got the best of the US last night, as the world No. 5 Nadeshiko snapped the No. 2 USWNT’s 10-game winning streak with a 1-0 win in rainy Seattle.

• Despite maintaining the lion’s share of possession, the US struggled to advance the ball past Japan’s counter-press, conceding Maika Hamano’s first-half strike before failing to net the equalizer.

• “When you can push yourself to play against the very best opponents in every situation, that is how you improve,” USWNT manager Emma Hayes said postgame. (Watch full highlights)

Big shoes: After a veteran group secured Saturday’s opening win, Hayes opted to give a younger set some experience by swapping out her entire starting XI.

• 20-year-old midfielder Claire Hutton became the youngest player to wear the captain’s armband since 2001, with Tuesday’s lineup averaging 23.9 caps — compared to the weekend’s 56.3.

• “When you’ve got eight seniors on the field, these things are a little easier,” said Hayes. “But I’m a developer of players and they need to go through these things.” (See full roster)

Tune in: The series now moves to Colorado, as the rubber match kicks off on Friday at 9 PM ET, live on TNT.

International rookies take WNBA by storm

Women’s basketball is flexing its global muscles, as the league ushered in the latest batch of international rookies at Monday’s 2026 WNBA Draft.

• No. 3 pick Awa Fam Thiam (Spain) will join 2025 No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga (France) in Seattle, after both European recruits started their pro careers at just 15-years-old.

• WNBA newcomer Portland picked up Fam Thiam’s Spain teammate Iyana Martín Carrión at No. 7, before Connecticut drafted French forward Nell Angloma at No. 12. (See full order)

How it works: While US prospects must either graduate, be four years removed from high school, or turn 22 within the year to be draft-eligible, international players are eligible the year they turn 20 — creating another avenue for young talent. (See full rules)

• Current 19-year-olds Fam Thiam and Angloma and the newly 20 Martín Carrión all arrive with years of professional and national team experience.

• “[The WNBA] was always my dream,” Fam Thiam told Slam Magazine. “If I am there, I will keep improving… seeing the best players in the world, seeing what they’re doing each day, how they approach the game, and competing against them.”

England downs Spain in WWC qualifiers

UEFA is gearing up for the 2027 World Cup, as national teams compete for one of four automatic berths at this week’s Women’s European Qualifiers.

• England landed the first blow against reigning champion Spain on Tuesday, defeating its continental rival 1-0 behind a Lauren Hemp strike to sit atop the league stage’s Group A4.

• “Against Spain, you need to defend as a team really well, because their individual qualities are so high,” said Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman. “We tried to annoy them a little bit and let them make mistakes.” (Watch full highlights)

How it works: Four-group League A features Europe’s Top 16 teams — with each group’s winner earning a direct path to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

• League A’s remaining 12 teams advance to end-of-year playoffs fielding UEFA’s seven additional berths, with second- and third-place finishers facing lower-ranked nations via top seeding.

• Tuesday’s other winners include Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany, with three league-stage matchdays to go. (See full results)

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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 discuss what it means to wear your country’s crest before recapping the first of the USWNT’s three friendlies against Japan — with a special shoutout to goal-scoring hero Rose Lavelle.

• “She is so unique and such an incredible player because she can do things that no one else can do or no one else even thinks of doing,” Kelley said of her former US teammate. “I love that about her.”

Tune in: Catch Time Wasting on YouTube.

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WNBA eyes international games in 2027

The WNBA is looking abroad, with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announcing the league’s interest in staging international games as women’s basketball booms worldwide.

• “We’re heavily looking at that,” Engelbert said of moving either preseason or regular-season matchups overseas. “Next year we expect that we’ll do something outside of North America as a true global game.” (See full report)

Building steam: The WNBA has set preseason games outside the US, but hasn’t leaned into the practice as aggressively as other leagues like the NFL and NBA.

• Detroit and San Antonio met for a 2004 preseason matchup in Mexico, Atlanta took on Team GB in England in 2011, and Minnesota and Chicago tested the Canadian waters in 2023.

• The Atlanta Dream and Seattle Storm played the first regular-season international game in Vancouver in 2025, setting the stage for 2026 expansion team Toronto’s debut.

Brianna Turner speaks out against IOC gender policy

WNBA star Brianna Turner is speaking up, as the league veteran and WNBPA treasurer criticized the IOC’s new sex verification testing in a USA Today op-ed entitled “I'm a WNBA player. Don't use athletes like me to exclude trans women.”

• The IOC’s policy effectively bans transgender and potentially intersex athletes from participating in Olympic women’s sports ahead of the 2028 LA Games.

• “In more than 15 years of organized basketball, I’ve played with and against people who are transgender and undoubtedly people with intersex variations, and I've never experienced any unfair advantages,” Turner wrote.

Big picture: A key member of the WNBA’s recent CBA negotiations, Turner notes that higher salaries, improved travel and health protections, and familial support are the policy interventions strengthening women’s sports — not bans.

• “If we really want to protect the integrity of sport, let’s invest in fairness, opportunity and safety for every athlete,” she said. “Let’s build a future where sport belongs to everyone.” (See full op-ed)

Number of the day

2

2026 No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd and her mom Katie are the second mother-daughter duo to be drafted into the WNBA, after Pamela McGee and Imani McGee-Stafford.