"Unattached" Trinity Rodman returns to USWNT action

You may say I'm a dreamer…

Trinity Rodman headlines USWNT’s January roster

The USWNT is getting the band back together, as coach Emma Hayes named her 26-player roster ahead of this month’s friendlies against Paraguay and Chile.

• Her club designation listed as “unattached,” star forward Trinity Rodman will join the team for the first time since April 2025, after an MCL sprain limited her NWSL postseason availability last fall. (See full roster)

• “When it comes to the playing front, I don’t know where she’s at [physically],” Hayes told reporters yesterday. “But if she gives me the thumbs-up, which she has done, to say, ‘I’m good, I’m in a good place,’ I have to take that at her word.”

Big picture: With camp taking place outside an official FIFA window, only NWSL-based players were available for selection, with Gotham’s W Champions Cup-bound players also getting a pass.

• Averaging just 6.6 caps per player, the lineup features four first-timers: Maddie Dahlien (Seattle), Reilyn Turner (Portland), Riley Jackson (North Carolina), and Sally Menti (Seattle).

• “Once again, our roster presents opportunity, for the coaching staff to evaluate players and for some NWSL players we haven’t seen as much in the National Team environment, as well as for some first-time call-ups, to show they can contribute in 2026, 2027, or beyond,” said Hayes. (See full release)

Stay tuned: See how things shake out when the US takes on Paraguay on January 24th at 5:30 PM ET, live on TNT.

CBA remains unsettled as WNBA’s extension expires

The WNBA and WNBPA remain in a deadlock, with New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart telling reporters the two parties will not reach a CBA resolution before tonight’s extended deadline expires.

• “We are not coming to an agreement by tomorrow, I can tell you that,” Stewart said yesterday from Unrivaled’s Miami campus. “We’re just going to continue to negotiate in good faith.”

• The league will now enter a status quo period under the old CBA, which allows negotiation to continue beyond the formal deadline.

Big picture: The WNBPA voted to give union leadership permission to strike if necessary, with players still viewing a work stoppage as a last resort.

• “[A strike is] not something that we’re going to do right this second, but we have that in our back pocket,” Stewart clarified.

• The league and its players remain far apart on revenue sharing, among other issues, as the union pushes for more equitable gross distribution while the league looks to offset expenses with a net sharing mechanism.

Back-up plans: While things are still up in the air, the union does seem to be taking precautions, announcing the launch of WNBPA Player Hubs yesterday in an effort to provide resources “when team facilities are off-limits.”

• Described as “training facilities offering WNBA players continued access to courts, weight rooms, and recovery spaces throughout the offseason,” the global network of university gyms and other spaces are meant to help athletes stay fit “regardless of league operation.” (Read more)

SEC heavy-hitters headline weekend NCAA action

This weekend’s SEC slate brings the heat, as the stacked NCAA conference gears up for more than one high-profile ranked matchup.

• Undefeated No. 2 Texas will visit Baton Rouge on Sunday to take on No. 12 LSU, with the Tigers battling back after starting conference play 0-2.

• “This year, the [SEC] is every bit as good as last year — when you really think about it, it’s probably way better,” Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer told the Austin American-Statesman. “The big thing right now is we’ve got to get better.”

• “We think we’re just going to go in there and out-jump, out-leap somebody,” said LSU boss Kim Mulkey after last week’s loss to No. 7 Vanderbilt. “You’re not going to do that in this league.”

SEC juggernaut: Texas’s clash with LSU opens a tough stretch for the Longhorns, as they face AP Poll headliners No. 3 South Carolina, No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 6 Kentucky, and No. 7 Vanderbilt in the coming weeks. (See full rankings)

• The weekend’s other blockbuster sees the Sooners take on the Wildcats, with Oklahoma coming off Thursday’s upset loss to No. 18 Ole Miss.

Tune in: Texas faces LSU on Sunday at 3 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Report: Sam Coffey set to sign with Manchester City

This month’s USWNT roster featured one notable gap, as Portland Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey’s absence stirred up rumors that the 27-year-old is finalizing a move to WSL frontrunners Manchester City.

• ESPN reported Thursday that Coffey’s base transfer fee will come in around $800,000, though the number might rise once the deal is done.

• However, the national team stalwart is still under contract with Portland until 2027, having signed an extension in 2024.

Across the pond: Coffey has been a mainstay for the Thorns since being drafted in 2021, but the UK league’s pull could persuade her to join US teammates Alyssa Thompson, Emily Fox, Phallon Tulles-Joyce, and Naomi Girma in making the leap.

• Currently sitting six points clear of reigning champion Chelsea atop the WSL table, sources told ESPN that City had been searching for “the right defensive midfield option” as they pursue their first league title since 2016.

Record-breaking figure skating routines light up US Nationals

US women’s figure skating is lighting up the ice, performing record-breaking short programs at Wednesday’s US Nationals while competing to represent Team USA at February’s Winter Olympics.

• 26-year-old Amber Glenn is on top after posting the highest short program score in event history, beating out teammate Alysa Liu’s previous record set just minutes before.

• “I think that was one of my most enjoyable experiences competing ever,” Glenn said afterwards. (Watch full program)

Big picture: With Liu and Glenn leading the charge, the US is aiming to end a 20-year women’s singles Olympic medal drought in Milan — and they’ve got depth on their side.

• Six of the world’s Top 17 skaters are from the US, with Liu entering the competition as the reigning champion.

Tune in: See which three athletes can make their Olympic dreams come true as US Nationals continue today at 3 PM ET, live on Peacock.

Panini debuts Unrivaled 3×3 trading cards

Unrivaled and Panini are teaming up, launching the 3×3 league’s first officially licensed trading cards this week as part of a new multi-year agreement.

• Panini is debuting the Instant Cards alongside the start of the 2026 season, with plans to launch a Rewind set celebrating Season 1, among other future drops.

• “Unrivaled’s 3-on-3 format makes for exciting and compelling game play and continuing to work with the best players in the world in this format made this partnership make perfect sense,” said Panini America SVP of marketing Jason Howarth. (See full release)

Big picture: Tipping off Season 2 on Monday, Unrivaled continues to form strategic partnerships as the offseason pro league grows in popularity.

• “We want to meet fans where they are, and Panini’s history in this space makes them an ideal partner to highlight the biggest moments for women’s basketball’s biggest stars,” said Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell.

Get yours: Check out the Unrivaled’s full Instant Card set at Panini America.

Quote of the day

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
on junior KK Arnold after she registered three steals in 40 seconds against St. John’s on Wednesday.