USWNT takes on Portugal in tonight's 2023 World Cup rematch

It wasn’t over. It still isn’t over.

USWNT takes the pitch in Pennsylvania tonight

The USWNT kicks off against Portugal tonight, taking the pitch for the first time in nearly four months for the first of three October friendlies.

• The Chester, Pennsylvania matchup marks the first meeting between the two nations since the tense 0-0 group-stage finale that saw USWNT narrowly advance to the 2023 World Cup knockouts.

• “[Portugal] is a very good team,” US midfielder Lindsey Heaps said earlier this week. “Many times that we’ve played them before, we get a tough game and a tough matchup.”

Gearing up: The game also provides a glimpse of an evolving USWNT roster, bringing together NWSL standouts and European club stars ahead of next fall’s World Cup qualifiers.

• “That’s the key right now — we need to finalize [the roster] in the next two years, and obviously leading up to qualification,” continued Heaps. “That’s an exciting process right now.”

• “It’s just getting everyone together, everyone on the same page and know what the standards and levels are,” she added. “What it takes to qualify for a World Cup.”

Tune in: The US faces Portugal tonight at 7 PM ET, live across TNT, Peacock, and HBO Max.

Report: Toronto Tempo hires ex-Liberty boss Sandy Brondello as first coach

The Toronto Tempo have apparently landed a head coach, after The IX Sports reported the WNBA expansion side tapped ex-New York boss Sandy Brondello ahead of their 2026 debut.

• The Liberty parted ways with Brondello following New York’s first-round playoffs exit last month, less than a year after she led the team to their first-ever WNBA championship.

• Toronto is expected to make things official in the next few days, as soon as the terms of Brondello’s contract have been finalized.

Big picture: Brondello reportedly fielded significant interest from several WNBA teams, opting instead to join the upstart squad as the Tempo continues to build out their front office.

• Toronto brought on WNBA champion Monica Wright Rogers as GM in February 2025, later appointing longtime LA Sparks assistant GM Eli Horowitz as assistant GM and senior VP of basketball strategy.

• Three vacancies remain in the WNBA’s coaching carousel, with New York, Seattle, and Dallas all searching for their next leader.

What’s next: The Tempo — and the Portland Fire — will now hope for clarity on the WNBA’s ongoing CBA negotiations, in order to prep for an expected expansion draft and free agency period in early 2026.

Storm rookie Dominique Malonga abruptly exits Euroleague contract

Seattle Storm star Dominique Malonga is causing a stir overseas, abruptly withdrawing from her offseason deal with Turkish club Fenerbahçe this week — with the club disputing the move as a breach of contract.

• Malonga signed a three-year deal with the two-time Euroleague champions, before she “unilaterally terminated her professional player contract with our club without any just cause,” according to a Fenerbahçe social media post.

• “We inform the public that we will exercise all our legal rights to seek compensation for any material and moral damages incurred by our club during this process,” the team continued.

• While she didn’t disclose a reason for remaining in Seattle, the 19-year-old did reveal that she recently required surgery to repair a dislocated tendon in her wrist, estimating she’d be in a cast for six weeks.

Big picture: The No. 2 WNBA draft pick finished her debut season averaging 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, earning herself a spot on the 2025 All-Rookie Team.

• Should the dispute remain unresolved, Fenerbahçe might attempt to disrupt Malonga’s second season in Seattle due to a longstanding “letter of clearance” rule requiring approval from both the WNBA and Europe’s FIBA before athletes can move between leagues.

• Front Office Sports reported that while the WNBA signed off on the 19-year-old’s Turkish contract, Fenerbahçe could deny her ability to return to the US league “under the condition that she violated the terms of her contract.”

Stay tuned: “If the season tips off in May as it did in 2025, this would give Fenerbahçe and Malonga about six months to rectify any potential dispute and clear her for a WNBA return,” warned FOS.

Caitlin Clark headlines 2025 Forbes Most Powerful Women in Sports

Forbes tapped the most powerful women in sports this week, ranking the top 25 players, executives, and others pushing the needle in the ever-growing sports — and women’s sports — sector.

• Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is the highest-ranked athlete at No. 4, joined by Unrivaled founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart at No. 9, tennis stars Serena Williams (No. 11) and Coco Gauff (No. 13), reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson at No. 15, gymnastics titan Simone Biles at No. 18, and world No. 2 golfer Nelly Korda at No. 21.

• Women’s sports multi-team owner Michele Kang came in at No. 5, with NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman (No. 7), Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai (No. 10), US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone (No. 14), and more representing the off-field lineup. (See full list)

Giving flowers: According to Forbes, the new annual list honors leaders “transforming one of the world’s most influential industries, shaping strategy, driving innovation, and expanding the role of women across the sports economy.”

ACL injuries rip through the global soccer landcape

As the 2025/26 European club season shifts into full gear, a spike in ACL injuries is shedding new light on the increasingly dense women’s football calendar.

• Germany and Bayern Munich star Lena Oberdorf ruptured her right ACL on Sunday, just weeks after returning to play from rehabbing the same injury.

• “To now face a second such setback is incredibly hard,” said Bayern Munich director of women's football Bianca Rech. “We are fully by Lena’s side, will support her as best we can in her recovery and be there for her in every way.”

Growing concern: Oberdorf isn’t alone, with over 20 ACL injuries impacting multiple leagues across the world in the last three month alone.

• Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger went down with an ACL tear last week, joining standouts like Sarah Zadrizil (Bayern Munich), Sophie Román Haug (Liverpool), and Maite Oroz (Tottenham) on the injury’s mounting hit list.

Big picture: ACL injuries have long plagued the women’s game, with FIFPRO recently developing the Project ACL initiative to investigate and alleviate the issue.

Quote of the day

USWNT manager Emma Hayes
reflecting on Morgan’s legacy as the US preps to honor the retired striker this week.