No. 2 South Carolina aims to even the score against No. 4 Texas

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South Carolina aims to even the score against Texas

Tonight’s NCAA conference action spotlights the SEC, as No. 2 South Carolina hosts No. 4 Texas in a rematch of November’s non-conference Player’s Era Championship.

• The Longhorns got the better of the Gamecocks 66-64 in Las Vegas, but the tide has shifted, with South Carolina riding a 10-game winning streak while LSU served Texas a season-first loss on Sunday.

• “I’m really disappointed in the league for putting us in that position, but we play whoever is in front of us,” Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer said of his team’s grueling road trip. “It’s one monster after another.”

Big picture: The pair’s sole 2025/26 conference matchup could preview the SEC regular-season title — after South Carolina and Texas tied for the 2024/25 honor before advancing to the Final Four.

• While injuries have impacted both sides, the Gamecocks anticipate a roster boost by way of 6-foot-7 French international Alicia Tournebize, who recently joined the team after playing pro ball in Europe. (Read more)

• “She looked good,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said of her team’s midseason addition. “She’ll play, she’ll definitely play.”

Tune in: South Carolina tips off against Texas tonight at 7 PM ET, live on ESPN2.

NWSLPA files grievance against ‘High Impact Player’ rule

The NWSL Players Association is speaking out, filing a grievance against the league’s new “High Impact Player” rule after claiming it violates both the CBA and US labor laws.

• “Player compensation is a mandatory subject of bargaining,” the union said in Wednesday’s statement. “…the League has no authority to unilaterally create a new pay structure that bypasses negotiated rules.”

• The union requested “immediate rescission of the HIP Rule, an order requiring the League to bargain in good faith over any proposed Player compensation rules prior to implementation, and to make-whole relief for any Players impacted by the League’s unilateral actions.” (See full statement)

Big picture: With the future of stars like Trinity Rodman hanging in the balance, the HIP rule allows clubs to exceed the salary cap by up to $1 million — if certain criteria is met.

• The NWSLPA suggested raising the overall salary cap by $1 million, with the NWSL going on to institute the rule despite union objections.

• “We want to make sure everybody has a level playing field,” NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke told The Athletic in December. “If the league can come in here and put their thumb on the scale… they can put their thumb on the scale of any player’s contract negotiation.” (Read more)

Stay tuned: With free agency heating up, players making moves, and NWSL preseason kicking off, pressure is mounting for both sides to figure out a lasting fix.

Sam Coffey makes its official in Manchester

USWNT star Sam Coffey has sealed the deal, as WSL side Manchester City announced Wednesday that they’ve signed the 27-year-old through 2029.

• City reportedly paid $875,000 in transfer fees for the midfielder, after Coffey led the Portland Thorns to a NWSL title over four years with the US club.

• “Sam’s reputation as one of the world’s best speaks for itself, and we’re delighted she’s chosen to come here ahead of other potential suitors,” Man City director of football Therese Sjögran said. (See full statement)

Big picture: The news underlines City’s rising ambitions, sitting six points clear atop the WSL standings thanks to global stars like Bunny Shaw and Vivianne Miedema.

• The move also continues to tip the USWNT’s scales away from the NWSL, with over half the Olympic gold medal match’s starting XI now in Europe.

• “For as long as I’ve kicked a ball, I’ve always dreamed of playing professional soccer in Europe,” Coffey said on social media. “I would never forgive myself if I didn’t go try.” (Watch full video)

Up next: Man City takes on Bournemouth in FA Women’s Cup action on Sunday at 8 AM ET (not televised), though the club hasn’t yet confirmed Coffey’s participation.

Netflix’s ‘99’ers’ casts Emily Bader as Mia Hamm

Netflix’s upcoming USWNT film landed a lead, as Deadline confirmed the streaming giant cast actress Emily Bader as forward Mia Hamm in The 99’ers.

• The 29-year-old most recently starred in Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation, after debuting in Prime’s historical drama My Lady Jane.

• “Growing up playing soccer and being so inspired by @miahamm. This is a dream come true,” Bader posted to Instagram Stories on Wednesday.

Stay tuned: Netflix acquired the rights to writer Jeré Longman’s The Girls of Summer: The US Women's Soccer Team and How It Changed the World in 2020, with the project officially going into development in May 2025.

• Nicole Kassell, known for Netflix’s Sirens and HBO’s Watchmen, is set to direct the film, working off a script from Katie Lovejoy (Love at First Sight, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 3), Dana Stevens (The Woman King, Fatherhood), and Peter Hedges (Ben Is Back). (See full report)

Project B announces 2027 Tokyo tip-off

New offseason league Project B is making moves, with the global 5×5 basketball upstart announcing plans to tip off in Tokyo in April 2027.

• The Japanese capital will host one of Project B’s seven circuit-style tour stops running from November to April, with each city showcasing a 10-day mini-tournament feeding into a season-long title race.

• “Tokyo sits at the intersection of global culture, innovation, and basketball, with a fan base that truly understands and loves the game,” said head of Project B Japan Keisuke Mitsui. (See full report)

Stay tuned: Project B’s multimillion dollar salaries are shaking up women’s basketball, with big-name stars Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, and Jewell Loyd already signing on.

• The men’s and the women’s tournaments plan to field 66 players each, offering compensation that outpaces both the WNBA and Unrivaled — while potentially conflicting with the WNBA’s schedule.

Quote of the day

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
on the Huskies winning four consecutive NCAA titles from 2013 to 2016.