Only the most cherished memories make the phone screensaver.

NWSL champions get USWNT opportunity in Italy friendlies

The USWNT has reconvened in Florida ahead of the team’s final two 2025 friendlies, with more than a few NWSL standouts hoping for playing opportunities against Italy on Friday.

• Seven players on the US’s 26-player roster just played in Saturday’s NWSL Championship game, which USWNT manager Emma Hayes watched in person.

• Washington’s Croix Bethune and Kate Wiesner will be joined by five Gotham players: Lilly Reale, Emily Sonnett, Jaelin Howell, Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw.

Big picture: One 2025 NWSL champion facing a big opportunity is Howell, who got her first USWNT call-up in over three years last week.

• “Obviously it’s a huge blessing,” Howell said. “Those were two of my main goals this year. I’m very excited, but huge credit to Gotham and what they've invested in me and my amazing teammates — I love them so much."

Tune in: The USWNT takes on Italy on Friday at 7 PM ET, live on TNT.

College basketball titans meet at Players Era Championship

NCAA basketball action is heating up over the holiday, as No. 2 South Carolina, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 UCLA, and Duke will meet in this week’s Players Era Championship in Las Vegas.

• The non-conference mini tournament will see the Longhorns take on the Bruins in the season’s first Top 5 matchup this afternoon, followed by the Gamecocks playing the Blue Devils.

• The four teams will then rotate opponents, with a winners championship matchup on Thursday, followed by a third-place game, guaranteeing a Top 5 matchup for the Gamecocks as well before the week is over.

Big picture: There were hopes that preseason No. 7 Duke might also be in the Top 10 this week, but the Blue Devils have already suffered upset losses to No. 15 Baylor, No. 21 West Virginia, and unranked South Florida to fall unranked.

• “We just need to be more consistent,” said head coach Kara Lawson. “It's supposed to be hard, and our schedule is unrelenting… You have to handle it, and you have to take your licks, and you have to keep fighting.”

Tune in: The Players Era Championship tips off at 2 PM ET today, live on TruTV and HBO Max.

Iowa’s post-Clark era keeps delivering

A full season removed from their back-to-back runs to the Final Four, No. 11 Iowa women’s basketball refuses to go away, having already notched one Top 25 win so far in the young NCAA season.

• The still-unbeaten Hawkeyes took down No. 15 Baylor 57-53 on Thursday, boosted by 28 combined points from post players Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden.

• “We have nice pieces,” said head coach Jan Jensen this week. “But it’s knowing when to play which pieces and with whom, and we’re six games in.”

Big picture: The Hawkeyes have been finding their new identity under Jensen after a transformative period in which superstar guard Caitlin Clark graduated from the program and longtime head coach Lisa Bluder retired.

• “Jan’s been amazing,” Stuelke told JWS at Big Ten Media Day in October. “She stepped up like she needed to, and she's been growing every day since she's been the head coach… It's a great environment for all of us.”

• “I have a year under my belt,” Jensen echoed. “I know what this chair feels like now, and I have a little better of understanding of what that first road trip feels like, what that first big win feels like, or the tough loss feels like.”

What’s next: Iowa’s next ranked matchup will be an in-state rivalry, as they take on No. 10 Iowa State on December 10th.

’SPORTS ARE FUN!’ PRESENTED BY AMAZON PRIME

Recap the NWSL Championship with Kelley O’Hara & crew

On this week's all-new Sports Are Fun! presented by Amazon Prime, Kelley O’Hara, BJ Beckwith and Merritt Mathias recap an exhilarating NWSL Championship Weekend and Gotham’s 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit.

• The trio discusses all the onsite activities, including the Sports Are Fun! LIVE show presented by Prime, and a legendary night at the JWS party.

• They also break down Rose Lavelle’s game winner and how Gotham was able to seal the deal with their second NWSL Championship in three seasons.

Watch the full episode: Sports Are Fun! with Kelley O'Hara

Shopping. Streaming. Celebrating. It’s on Prime.

More WNBA talent joins Project B

More big WNBA names signed on to Project B this week, as the startup plans to begin play in multiple continents in 2026.

• Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham have both publicly signed with the new offseason league.

• They join previously announced talent including New York center Jonquel Jones, Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas, and Aces guard Jewell Loyd.

Big picture: With WNBA CBA negotiations nearing an upcoming extension deadline, player signings for Project B will have an impact on other offseason leagues like Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited.

• The new league is reportedly offering players seven-figure salaries right away, a large multiple of the current WNBA maximum salary.

NWSL Championship tops record 1 million viewers

The NWSL championship passed an important milestone on Saturday, as Gotham’s 1-0 win over Washington recorded the league’s first-ever match to hit an average of over one million viewers.

• The CBS broadcast averaged 1.184 million viewers, marking the match as the most-viewed NWSL game of all time.

• The average viewership marks a 22% increase from Orlando’s win in 2024, which held the previous viewership record, and a 45% gain from 2023.

Spain goes for second Nations League title

The Spain women’s national team will be attempting a second-straight Nations League title this week, taking on Germany in a two-legged final on Friday and Tuesday.

• Spain enters the final having dismantled Sweden 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinal round, while Germany advanced after a tense 3-2 aggregate win against France.

• Germany will be at a disadvantage on Friday, as they’ll be missing leading scorer Lea Schüller due to family reasons.

Big picture: By reaching the Nations League knockout rounds, all four semifinalists will remain in the top group of nations battling for 2027 World Cup qualifying, set to begin in 2026.

Number of the day

15

Gotham FC defender Jaelin Howell won 15 duels in the NWSL championship game on Saturday, tying for the most for any player in an NWSL title match.