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Tonight: USWNT caps 2025 with 2nd Italy friendly

After a year of testing and experimentation, the USWNT will look to close out the year on a high note tonight, facing Italy in the second of two winter friendlies.

• “I’ve been very clear on the process to develop players and what we have to go through, so I’m not zoomed in on three losses,” manager Emma Hayes said of the team’s 2025 shortcomings. “If I was, I wouldn’t make changes.”

• “We work in an environment we’re really proud of,” she continued. “It’s a very inclusive environment, diverse environment, and all these things contribute to the culture that hopefully leads to long-term success.”

Big picture: In line with her usual rotational philosophy, Hayes indicated that fans in Fort Lauderdale could see a departure from the combination of players that defeated Italy 3-0 on Friday — plus new tactics from the 2025 Euros semifinalists.

• “My whole argument is that no matter who plays, the level of performance should still be high,” Hayes said.

• The US saw 16 players debut this year — the most since 1985 — with 51% of the team’s combined 39 goals and 26 assists featuring a player under 25.

Tune in: The USWNT kicks off against Italy at 7 PM ET, live on TBS and HBO Max.

US downs Italy in Friday’s penultimate 2025 friendly

The USWNT opened the year-end series in style, taking down Italy 3-0 on Friday behind leading 2025 scorer Catarina Macario’s second straight brace.

• The US once again struck early, scoring before the 10-minute mark for the fourth match in a row — this time courtesy of forward Olivia Moultrie.

• “We’ve often started fast and conceded just as quickly, so a clean sheet means as much to us this evening as the result and the performance,” head coach Emma Hayes said postgame. (Watch full highlights)

Big picture: Hayes opted for a veteran group to open the team’s final FIFA break of the year, working defender Naomi Girma back into the fold alongside mainstays like Rose Lavelle, Sam Coffey, and Emily Sonnett.

• The US did see two international debuts on Friday, as Chicago’s Jameese Joseph and Washington’s Kate Wiesner earned their first caps.

• “It can be tough when you have injuries, and you have a lot of rotation, but at the same time, it allowed us to tap into our depth and allowed a lot of people to get experience in really good, hard games,” Lavelle said after the win. “We can close out this year knowing we got all of that and then some.”

Stocking up: “I want to give opportunities to players that are not only deserving of it, but they develop the experiences that might be needed,” added Hayes, with Friday’s match bringing the total number of first caps under her leadership to 27.

Texas tops South Carolina to win Players Era Championship

No. 4 Texas is blowing past top-ranked teams, winning last week’s Players Era Championship behind back-to-back victories over No. 3 UCLA and No. 2 South Carolina.

• Fifth-year senior Rori Harmon was named tournament MVP, putting up 26 points against UCLA and breaking the Longhorns’ career assists record before hitting the game-winner to lift Texas over the Gamecocks 66-64 in Thursday’s title game.

• “I just read the vibe and flow of the game,” Harmon said afterward. “[Head coach Vic Schaefer] called the play at the end of the game, and I’ve been in this moment before, so it felt good coming out of my hands.”

Big picture: The win fueled the burgeoning SEC rivalry, with Texas and South Carolina squaring off five times in the last year — and the Gamecocks riding a 3-2 advantage.

• “I’m not upset at all,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said postgame. “This is going to help us because there are a lot of things to unpack in it.”

• “If you can give [Texas] a run for their money in that way, I mean, you’re on to something,” she continued. “I like our resiliency. We’ve just got to clean up some things at the end of the game.”

Up next: Texas faces another test on Thursday, tipping off against No. 12 UNC at 7 PM ET on ESPN.

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WNBA & WNBPA agree to 2nd CBA extension

The WNBA and WNBPA agreed to another CBA extension, officially pushing the deadline to January 9th, 2026 to allow for 40 more days of negotiations.

• Like the original extension from October 31st to December 1st, either party has the option to terminate the agreement with 48-hour notice.

• “We expect substantive movement from the league within this window,” the players union told Front Office Sports, while the league issued a statement saying both sides are “continuing to work toward a new agreement.”

Big picture: While total annual compensation offers have reportedly crossed the million-dollar mark, the WNBA’s salary model remains a core issue.

• According to sources, the league has proposed revenue-sharing after certain minimums are met, while the WNBPA continues to advocate for a bigger cut.

Clock’s ticking: With important offseason processes like the planned two-team expansion draft delayed until a new CBA is in place, pressure is approaching new highs on both ends of the table.

US taps 14 stadiums for 2031 World Cup

US Soccer submitted its World Cup bid book last week, naming 14 US stadiums among the 2031 tournament’s 20+ proposed North American host venues.

• The joint bid spanned cities across the US, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica, including Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Seattle, Arlington, Texas, and East Rutherford, New Jersey, among others.

• Atlanta was pegged to host the World Cup draw with Dallas serving as the international broadcast center, though final decisions will likely be made after the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. (Read full bid book)

Big picture: The bid includes both soccer and football venues, with secondary venues listed as possible options in eight US cities.

• “By proposing more than the required 20 sites, the joint bidders demonstrate a commitment to securing the best possible hosting conditions and ensuring the tournament represents the full diversity of our region on a global scale,” FIFA stated.

Number of the day 

16,014

PWHL expansion side Seattle’s home opener drew 16,014 fans to Climate Pledge Arena on Friday, marking the best-attended pro women’s hockey game in US history.