Go long.

USWNT adds Lo’eau LaBonta in October roster shuffle

The USWNT is changing things up this month, announcing key roster changes as injuries shake up the player pool ahead of this window’s three-friendly slate.

• Reign midfielder Sam Meza has withdrawn from camp due to a mild hamstring strain, with Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta getting her second USWNT call-up as Meza’s replacement.

• As expected, Spirit forward Trinity Rodman has been officially ruled out after spraining her MCL last week, though she won’t be replaced.

Big picture: LaBonta’s addition raises the NWSL-leading Current’s USWNT roster count to four, with midfielder Claire Hutton and forwards Ally Sentnor and Michelle Cooper rounding out the list.

• The 32-year-old earned her first senior team cap earlier this year, taking the field against China PR on May 31st.

• “Every player on [the Current] has a case to be on our team, and that door definitely isn’t closed,” USWNT manager Emma Hayes told media last week.

Tune in: The USWNT welcomes Portugal to Chester, Pennsylvania this Thursday at 7 PM ET, live on TNT.

Houston ends KC’s unbeaten streak as Chawinga exits with injury

No. 1 Kansas City hit an unexpected skid on Saturday, with the 2025 NWSL Shield winners suffering a 1-0 upset loss to No. 10 Houston — and losing their star striker along the way.

• Despite leading the match in shots, shots on goal, and possession, the defeat snapped the Current’s 17-game unbeaten streak, leaving the club one result short of setting a new franchise record.

• “Sometimes things like this will happen,” head coach Vlatko Andonovski said postgame. “You’re going to dominate, you’re going to do everything well, but you’re not going to score a goal and you’re going to get punished… I’m glad it happened now and not two games from now.” (Watch full highlights)

Big picture: The loss stings, but with the top postseason berth already secured, Kansas City’s concern turns to 2024 MVP Temwa Chawinga after the Malawi international exited the match with a non-contact injury.

• Chawinga was wheeled off the pitch in the 29th minute with a knock to the right leg, with Andonovski later clarifying that it was not a knee injury.

• Considered a frontrunner to repeat as both NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner, the 27-year-old leads the league in scoring this season with 15 goals over 23 appearances.

Bottom line: Time could be on KC’s side, with this week’s international break giving Chawinga a moment to rest before the Current open their NWSL playoff campaign.

Four teams clinch playoff berths in high-stakes NWSL weekend

Just one NWSL postseason ticket remains unpunched, after four different clubs clinched playoff berths in the regular season’s penultimate matchday.

• With No. 1 Kansas City, No. 2 Washington, and No. 3 Orlando having already secured spots, No. 4 Seattle clinched with a 2-1 win over No. 12 Utah, No. 5 San Diego slammed the door with a 6-1 drubbing of No. 14 Chicago, and No. 6 Portland joined the party with a 2-0 win over No. 11 Angel City.

• No. 7 Gotham’s tense 2-2 draw with No. 8 Louisville propelled the Bats to their third consecutive postseason appearance last night, while Racing can earn a club-first playoff spot with a post-international break win.

Big picture: Only one team can challenge Louisville for the eighth and final berth, after No. 9 North Carolina took down No. 12 Bay FC 4-1 on Friday, while Angel City and Houston were eliminated.

• The Courage can steal eighth place with a Decision Day win over Gotham plus a Louisville loss or draw.

• “The reality is we are still in control of our destiny with one game to go,” Louisville captain Janine Sonis said on Sunday. “[It’s] not like to us not to keep things interesting.”

Bottom line: With one playoff spot and most seeding still up for grabs, the NWSL is gearing up for yet another game-changing Decision Day on November 1st.

Anonymous WNBA insiders address leadership concerns

With the WNBA’s October 31st CBA deadline looming, ESPN surveyed anonymous team owners, executives, players, and other insiders on simmering tensions in the wake of Lynx star Napheesa Collier’s viral exit interview.

• “Once you have that kind of fighting with your best players, it’s a death spiral,” a team executive told ESPN, after fans booed commissioner Cathy Engelbert at this year’s WNBA Finals.

• “Change is a must,” another said. “Either Cathy has to change how she relates to the players, or there has to be a change in that role.”

• Though not everyone agreed, with one owner saying, “If you fire her now, it’s admitting weakness. It’s a terrible look for the league. I can’t stand what [Collier] did. That was a private conversation.”

Big picture: CBA negotiations have also remained frosty, with the threat of a work stoppage next season hanging over the stalled proceedings.

• “I don’t think it’s going to be done by Halloween,” a league source told ESPN. “[But] in the end, a work stoppage doesn’t benefit anybody.”

USC icon Cheryl Miller headlines AP All-Time First Team

The AP Women's College Basketball Poll turns 50 next year, with the publication celebrating its run by asking 13 former players and AP sportswriters to name the NCAA’s all-time best.

• First Team honors went to USC legend Cheryl Miller, UConn greats Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi, all-time leading NCAA scorer Caitlin Clark, and position-defining Tennessee forward Candace Parker.

• Standout Huskies Sue Bird and Maya Moore earned Second Team nods, alongside Dawn Staley (Virginia), Chamique Holdsclaw (Tennessee), and Lusia Harris (Delta State).

• Lynette Woodard (Kansas), Anne Meyers Drysdale (UCLA), Lisa Leslie (USC), Sheryl Swoopes (Texas Tech), A’ja Wilson (South Carolina), and Brittney Griner (Baylor) featured as reserves.

Starting five: “Being named an AP All-American is one of the most storied honors in college sports,” Clark said in response. “It means a lot to be named to this all-time list alongside players I looked up to. It’s fun to think about what it would have been like if we all played together.”

Number of the day 

22,938

USL Super League team Dallas Trinity faced Liga MX Femenil’s Club América in front of 22,938 fans on Saturday — the largest pro women’s sports crowd in Texas history.