Success never sounded so sweet.

USWNT honors retired greats in October slate

The USWNT laid out fall plans this week, announcing a series of October friendlies — including nods to recently retired stars Alyssa Naeher and Alex Morgan — in the team’s first return to the pitch since early July.

• The US will face Euros participant Portugal in the first two matches, opening the series on October 23rd at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania before meeting again on the 26th at Hartford, Connecticut’s Rentschler Field in a split doubleheader with the US Men’s Deaf National Team.

• The slate’s third game will take place at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City on October 29th, with an opponent yet to be announced.

• “Portugal is a growing team that will be highly motivated for these matches, but as always, these three games are more opportunities to work on us,” US head coach Emma Hayes said in Monday’s release [full details].

Big picture: In addition to building chemistry as the US pushes toward 2026’s World Cup Qualifiers, the matchups also allow the team to celebrate past legends.

• The Pennsylvania friendly will honor retired USWNT forward Alex Morgan inside the stadium where she scored her first-ever senior team goal.

• Hartford’s match pays tribute to Connecticut native and decorated goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, following her international retirement last fall.

Be there: Tickets for all three games go on sale on Friday at 10 AM local venue time.

Brink readies for a comeback

Second-year LA Sparks forward Cameron Brink is set to make a long-awaited return to the court tonight, after missing more than a year of action due to a June 2024 ACL injury.

• Brink will likely be on a minutes restriction as she works her way back into game fitness, easing into things with Tuesday’s matchup against Las Vegas.

• “It means the world,” Brink told the Long Beach Press Telegram this week. “I’m just very excited, very humbled by this experience. It’s no easy thing to come back from.”

What to watch: Brink’s return couldn’t come at a better time for the Sparks, as they continue to take serious aim at a postseason run after rattling off five wins in a row.

• No. 9 Golden State vs. No. 4 Atlanta, 7:30 PM ET (League Pass): After a hot start, the Valkyries have slid into a post-All-Star break free-fall, gearing up for yet another test as they face a gelling Dream side.

• No. 12 Chicago vs. No. 8 Washington, 7:30 PM ET (League Pass): The young Mystics are currently clinging onto the final playoff spot, with a chance to push ahead against injury-ridden Chicago.

• No. 7 Las Vegas vs. No. 10 Los Angeles, 10 PM ET (NBA TV): The Sparks are the shiniest team in the WNBA right now, but they’ll have their work cut out against an Aces team desperate to bust out of the mid-table doldrums.

Wings rock the Liberty

No. 11 Dallas spoiled the show on Monday, handing No. 2 New York their second straight loss behind a combined 40-points from guards Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.

• Dallas fueled the 92-82 upset with a season-best 63-36 first-half lead, holding off the reigning WNBA champs’ fourth-quarter comeback to earn their eighth win this year.

• Ogunbowale tallied 14 assists in the victory, becoming to first WNBA player to ever record 20+ points and 14+ assists in a single game while committing less than two turnovers.

Big picture: While the WNBA standings remained relatively stable, Dallas’s upswing brought further frustration for the Liberty, as they continue to struggle to keep all five of starters healthy at the same time.

• New York missed 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart on Monday, with the star forward sidelined after suffering a blow to the leg in weekend play.

• “Just understanding the urgency we need to play with, understanding nobody feels bad for us down some people, we have to come out with a little more purpose,” guard Sabrina Ionescu told reporters after the loss.

What’s next: The Liberty’s trek only gets steeper from here, as they take on the league-leading Lynx tomorrow at 8 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Basketball is so back. And whether it's smashing viewership records or dropping logo threes, there's never been a better time to highlight all the blockbuster moments that move the WNBA.

This major moment is presented by State Farm.

Talons lift first-ever AUSL trophy

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League has a champion, after the No. 1 seed Talons swept the No. 2 seed Bandits 2-0 in the weekend’s best-of-three Championship Series to lift the AUSL’s inaugural trophy.

• The Talons took the first game 3-1 on Saturday before closing out the series with a tight 1-0 victory behind former Alabama ace Montana Fouts.

• “​​I wouldn’t have wanted to do this anywhere else, with anybody else,” Fouts said after the win. “I feel like we really are family.”

Looking back: The AUSL saw plenty of success in its debut, selling out 14 of the first 29 games while averaging 117,000 viewers on ESPN2 — up 65% over last year’s truncated format, and enough to cause the broadcaster to upgrade the final series from ESPN2 to ESPN.

• “It’s really been, in some ways, eye-opening,” commissioner Kim Ng told Sports Business Journal earlier this month. “I don’t think that any of us thought that we would get this type of reception. But everyone here is so incredibly excited.”

Colombia shoots into Copa América final

Colombia booked a second straight trip to the Copa América Final last night, besting Argentina in a penalty shootout to take the first of two semifinals.

• Colombia failed to break through in regulation despite dominating possession and attacking opportunities, but later showed confidence from the spot as they continue to pursuit their first continental title.

• A 2022 Copa América Final rematch still hangs in the balance, with tonight’s remaining semifinal pitting Uruguay against reigning champions Brazil as Marta and As Canarinhas hunt their fifth straight — and ninth overall — Conmebol trophy.

Tune in: Brazil takes on Uruguay tonight at 8 PM ET, live on FOX.

Number of the day

2.70

The WNBA’s more condensed 2025 season averages just 2.70 days between games — a 33% decrease from 2021 and a key issue in this year’s CBA negotiations.