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USWNT veteran goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher retires from global play

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USWNT veteran goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher retires from global play

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The GIST: The No. 1 USWNT is back in the spotlight this week, gearing up for Saturday’s friendly against No. 2 England. But ahead of the first leg of the Americans’ Euro tour, veteran goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher announced her upcoming retirement from the international game. *sobs*

Naeher leaves the USWNT on top: Her club days aren’t over just yet, but the red, white, and blue’s next two friendlies will be Naeher’s last in a 15-year tenure. The penalty kick (PK) queen will hang up her global boots as a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) winner and Olympic gold medalist.

  • Naeher ascended to the starting keeper spot in 2016, tallying 88 wins, 14 draws, and just six losses for the U.S. in the eight years that followed.

Anticipate a fresh lineup Saturday at 12:20 p.m. ET at Wembley Stadium: While Naeher will likely make at least one more USWNT appearance, either during Saturday’s friendly or in next Tuesday’s game against the No. 11 Netherlands, fans can expect to see many new faces in Europe.

  • Forwards Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman — aka Triple Espresso — are staying stateside to recuperate from the NWSL season, meaning head coach Emma Hayes could opt for young talent like Alyssa Thompson or newcomer Ally Sentnor up top.
  • Eyes will also be on the midfield, with hopes of seeing Lily Yohannes take the pitch in her first game since committing to the USWNT earlier this month. She shoots, she scores.



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NCAAW: UCLA slays South Carolina, snapping 43-game successful streak

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NCAAW: UCLA slays South Carolina, snapping 43-game successful streak

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The women’s college basketball season is starting to get wild, with several ranked teams, including No. 1-ranked South Carolina, falling in the season’s third week. Here’s a look back at the biggest and best happenings:

Irish, Bruins secure statement wins in Southern California

This weekend, four teams ranked in the top six nationally met in Los Angeles, with USC hosting Notre Dame on Saturday and UCLA welcoming South Carolina on Sunday.

In both games, the lower-ranked team made a statement. First, as Edwin Garcia recounted, the Fighting Irish invaded a sold-out Galen Center and took down the Trojans, 74-61, fueled by the guard tandem of sophomore Hannah Hidalgo and senior Olivia Miles.

Then, the Bruins not only defended their Southern California turf, but also became the first team to defeat the defending national champion Gamecocks in 44 tries. No. 1 South Carolina went down—hard.

UCLA raced out to a 15-2 advantage and never looked back, winning 77-62 for the program’s first victory over a No. 1-ranked team. While the Bruins benefitted from a hot shooting afternoon, with the team shooting 47.6 percent from behind the arc and junior guard Londynn Jones, who entered the game shooting 24 percent from 3, going 5-for-5 from deep, it was a complete victory for the home team. As South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley put it, “That was beautiful basketball by UCLA, beautiful on both sides….We ran into a buzzsaw today.”

UCLA made the visitors uncomfortable, not only preventing South Carolina from flexing their traditional interior advantages but also forcing the Gamecocks’ bigs into major scoring struggles. Conversely, South Carolina couldn’t do the same to UCLA junior center Lauren Betts, who finished with an 11-point and 14-rebound double-double, along with four assists and four blocks. Jones led the Bruins with 15 points, while freshman guard Elina Aarnisalo scored 13 points through fearless-yet-steady play.

The outside shooting of sophomore guard Tessa Johnson and senior guard Te-Hina Paopao was the only saving grace for an otherwise stagnant South Carolina offense. Johnson scored 14 points from off the bench, while Paopao went 4-for-4 from 3 as she led the team with 18 points. The Gamecocks could never get their feedback machine—where defensive stops turn into easy scores—going. As such, the South Carolina run that most observers expected never materialized. UCLA pushed the margin to 21 points at the break and never allowed South Carolina to threaten in the second half.

Don’t forget what Northern Iowa did

Three weeks into the 2024-25 season, Northern Iowa owns the nation’s biggest upset, toppling No. 8 Iowa State on Wednesday night. It was the program’s first top-10 win.

Fifth-year senior guard Maya McDermott was the engine driving the Panthers’ upset. She scored 37 points, shooting 66.7 percent from the field and 75 percent from behind the arc. She also added five boards, four assists and three steals. Fellow fifth-year senior guard Kayba Laube was her co-pilot, draining five triples as she scored 21 points.

The pair’s performance was all the more impressive as, just the day before, they learned that their teammate and roommate, senior forward Grace Boffeli, would be out for the season with a torn ACL.

Peak performances

These players joined Maya McDermott, Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles, Londynn Jones and Lauren Betts in authoring some of the most excellence efforts from the past week:

  • Florida State junior guard Ta’Niya Latson did her thing—and then some—on Monday. She not only showed off her scoring bag, scorching NC Central with a season-high 34 points, but she also put on a passing clinic, tossing a career-high 10 assists for her first career double-double. The Seminoles won 119-57. She followed that up with 25 points, five rebounds and five assists as FSU downed in-state rival Florida, 98-74. Latson also has assumed the nation’s scoring lead, averaging 26.8 points per game.
  • LSU senior wing Aneesah Morrow is the nation’s leading rebounder, grabbing 13 boards a game. (We would say she learned from former teammate Angel Reese, yet she led the nation in boards as a freshman and sophomore at DePaul.) Morrow tallied a pair of double-doubles on Monday and Wednesday. In the Tigers’ 98-59 win over Troy on Monday, it was 23 points and 12 boards; in Wednesday’s 85-74 win over Tulane, it was 23 points and 16 boards. Morrow has a double-double in four of five games. She’s automatic!
  • Illinois grad forward Kendall Bostic also had a big week. On Monday, the Fighting Illini thrashed LeMoyne, 94-25, behind a 25-point and 12-rebound double-double from Bostic. Against somewhat tougher competition on Friday, Bostic’s 31 points and eight boards helped Illinois take care of Oregon State, 85-66.
  • A former Fighting Illini also turned in a loud performance on Friday. Now at Miami (Ohio), junior guard Camille Jackson had a hyper-efficient and career-high 27 points, shooting 81.8 percent from the field. The Red Hawks rolled over Hiram, 97-41.
  • Beckett Harrison said to keep an eye on UCF. On Friday, senior guard Kaitlin Peterson exploded for 35 points, leading the Knights over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 81-71. On Sunday, UCF enjoyed an easier 80-55 win over Florida A&M, with Peterson scoring 21 points.
  • Creighton grad guard Lauren Jensen unleashed her second game of the season of more than 30 points, dropping 31 as the Bluejays took down Nebraska on Friday, 80-74. Jensen drained four 3s and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the line.
  • Last week, Murray State and sophomore forward Haven Ford gave LSU a scare. On Saturday, they knocked off Memphis, 87-83. Ford powered the win with a career-high 31 points and 11 boards.
  • Junior guard Kaylene Smikle continues to kill it for Maryland. Having scored at least 20 points in five of the Terrapins’ six games, she scored a season-high 25 points on Sunday in just 19 minutes as Maryland crushed St. Francis, 107-35. Smikle also added five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
  • After a rough start to the season, Indiana has rebounded to win three-straight games over solid opponents. The latest was a 73-65 win over ranked Baylor on Sunday at the Battle 4 Atlantis, where the Hoosiers were boosted by a season-high 34 points from junior guard Shay Ciezki. A transfer who spent the first two seasons of her college career at Penn State, Ciezki was 3-for-4 from 3 and 12-for-13 from the line.
  • Ohio State freshman guard Ava Watson announced her presence on Sunday, coming off the bench and drilling six 3s as the Buckeyes beat Bowling Green, 95-53. Watson finished with a team-high 20 points.
  • Drake senior guard Katie Dinnebier tried to deal Iowa State a second-straight loss to an unranked opponent. She ignited from behind the arc, going 8-for-10 from 3 to score 39 points. However, the Cyclones held off the Bulldogs behind a season-high 33 points from sophomore center Audi Crooks, with her final two points, dropping just before the buzzer sounded, allowing ISU to sneak out the 80-78 win.
  • Have a day, Hailey Van Lith! The grad guard, who has found her groove at TCU, powered the Horned Frogs past Idaho State, 86-46, with a season-high 27 points, including four 3-pointers. She also grabbed five boards and dished four assists.

Paige x Panini

UConn superstar and presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft Paige Bueckers, who may or may not become a Dallas Wing, has signed an exclusive, multi-year deal with Panini America. On the partnership, Bueckers said:

Growing up, I used to collect cards of all my favorite players, to know that my teammates and I will have our own Panini trading cards and that fans are going to go collect it is really special. I can’t wait to collaborate on projects that give collectors and fans more ways to celebrate our game.

Recruiting recap

The early signing period has closed, but the women’s college basketball recruiting landscape remains unsettled. Two of the top five recruits from the class of 2025 have yet to announce their decisions: No. 1-ranked Aaliyah Chavez and No. 4-ranked Agot Makeer. Chavez, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Lubbock, TX, has narrowed her list to Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina and UCLA. Makeer, a 6-foot-1 wing from Ontario, Canada, is deciding between South Carolina, UConn, Kentucky and Michigan State.

For now, however, LSU claims the nation’s best class, according to Shane Laflin of ESPN and Premier Basketball. At Tennessee, new head coach Kim Caldwell appears to have made a quick, positive impression on the next generation of potential stars, with the Lady Vols rising to No. 2 in the rankings. The Pauldo twins—guards Mia (No. 11) and Mya (No. 56)—headline a group of five top-60 prospects headed to Rocky Top next fall. Stanford, North Carolina and UConn round out the top-five classes.

A look ahead

A number of Thanksgiving tournaments are the menu, beginning with the Baha Mar Tournaments and Ball Dawgs Classic on Monday. Check in with Swish Appeal to keep up with all the Feast Week action.

Monday, Nov. 25

Baha Mar Pink Flamingo and Women’s Championships begin

Ball Dawgs Classic begins

Tuesday, Nov. 26

Acrisure Series begins

Thursday, Nov. 27

Cayman Islands Classic begins

Fort Myers Tip Off begins

Friday, Nov. 28

Gulf Coast Showcase begins



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Colorado Mammoth: 2024-25 Season Preview

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Colorado Mammoth: 2024-25 Season Preview

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Nick Pietras

Nick Pietras has been coaching lacrosse in the city of Detroit since 2019. He currently serves as the assistant creative director creating content and helping manage the image of Detroit United. He is currently attending Lourdes University pursuing a double major in marketing and business administration. Over the course of his senior year, Nick would tear both of his ACL’s leaving him to miss his senior season. He would play for the Lourdes University Gray Wolves for one year before his lingering knee injuries would abruptly end his college career. This is where his coaching career officially began as he became the offensive coordinator for his alma mater, Cousino High School. He would be one of the main influencers in the creation of Warren Consolidated Schools joint high school program and would oversee fundraising, marketing, and design endeavors. Six months later, Nick would be brought to Detroit to join the Cass Tech High School men’s lacrosse coaching staff as the defensive coordinator.

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Heavy on ACC Groups, NCAA Football Units Up Faculty Quarterfinals

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Heavy on ACC Groups, NCAA Football Units Up Faculty Quarterfinals

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Headlining an NCAA basketball weekend rife with upsets, South Carolina lost for the first time since the 2023 Final Four on Sunday. The Gamecocks fell 77-62 to then-No. 5 UCLA, snapping a 43-game winning streak in the largest loss by an AP No. 1 team since 2020.

“I thought our kids fought, but we ran into a buzzsaw today,” said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley after the game.

After rocketing to a 43-22 lead at the half, UCLA’s defense stepped up to combat the defending champions’ second-half surge and secure the victory. The Bruins forced the Gamecocks to commit the same number of turnovers as assists at 13, all while out-rebounding them 41-34.

South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao led all scoring with 18 points, but UCLA put together a true team effort, with five Bruins draining double-digits in their first-ever program win over the Gamecocks.

Notre Dame tips off the NCAA basketball upset party

Underdogs earned wins in both of the weekend’s Top-10 matchups, with then-No. 6 Notre Dame defeating then-No. 3 USC 74-61 on Saturday.

Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo put together a game-leading performance of 24 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and five steals. Together with star teammate Olivia Miles, who added 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, the Irish quieted a stacked USC lineup featuring stars JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen.

“Big-time player, big-time stage,” said Fighting Irish head coach Nielle Ivey about Hidalgo. “Not at all shocked what she did today.”

UCLA became the 26th program to earn an AP No. 1 ranking on Monday. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NCAA upsets shake up AP poll

Fueled by their historic win over 2024 champions South Carolina, UCLA claimed the No. 1 spot in Monday’s AP Top 25 for the first time in school history. At the same time, the Gamecocks fell to No. 4 after holding the top position for 61 of the last 62 polls.

“We came here saying we want to be an elite basketball program and to be in that company as the 26th program ever to be a No. 1 team is significant,” UCLA coach Cori Close commented after the AP standings were released. “I’m grateful.”

Notre Dame and USC fully swapped their rankings after the Irish victory, entering Week 4 of the NCAA season at No. 3 and No. 6, respectively.

Elsewhere, stellar defense earned WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s alma mater Iowa its AP poll season debut at No. 22 while state rival Iowa State suffered the largest rankings fall, plummeting seven spots to No. 15 after dropping 87-75 to unranked Northern Iowa last week.

While the bulk of college basketball’s elite 25 teams saw minor one-spot shifts, No. 2 UConn was one of only four squads to hold steady, with the Huskies recently celebrating their program’s sustained dominance behind the now-winningest NCAA basketball coach in history, Geno Auriemma.



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WBB: Lyndsey Whilby on recommendation that has guided school, professional profession

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WBB: Lyndsey Whilby on recommendation that has guided school, professional profession

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Lyndsey Whilby’s basketball career was influenced by COVID-19.

After playing for Texas Tech (2017-18) and Purdue (2018-20), she took a break from basketball for safety reasons in 2020 and returned to her family in Georgia. After two years, she was back at it, playing for Kennesaw State (2022-23).

Currently in Romania, Swish Appeal talked to Whilby about her mom, who also played Division basketball, her pro career so far and her plans for the future. Highlights from the talk include:

On the best basketball advice her mom, a former Division-1 player at Iona College, gave her:

She just always reminded me, “Next play.” You can’t go back and change anything, obviously. So just remember, try to remind me, “Next play, you have to move on. What are you going to do next? Have short term memory.” I try to forget it, no matter if it’s good or bad. Forget it. You got to do the next play, so that’s something I always try to keep in my head. Just just try to forget it. You just gotta move on, the game keeps going.

On her decision to put her college basketball career on hold due to COVID-19:

[It was] just safety. Honestly, I didn’t want to risk it for myself and my family, and I wanted to just sit down, take a year to really refocus and get prepared for the next one, because I know I wanted to continue playing basketball. Since we had that opt-out year, that’s when I decided to go to Kennesaw, which is in Georgia. So I got to go back home, restart and got to play in front of my family and my friends, so that was great as well. So just taking that year to really refocus, figure out how I want to spend this last year. What do I want from it? What are my goals? And stuff like that. That was really good.

A special thank you to Dragan Milic and Darko Pekic of Alfa Globe for arranging the interview.

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Thanksgiving Blessings – Lacrosse All Stars

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Thanksgiving Blessings – Lacrosse All Stars

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Take a moment and reflect. Be thankful for your blessings. I could argue that I’m the luckiest man in lacrosse. Most of the blessings in my life have a direct correlation to the sport. 

I’m appreciative of the relationships that the game of lacrosse has provided me. For example, this summer with PLL players and current D1 head and assistant coaches. I continue to be fascinated by tactics and strategy, and have been immersed in the learning business. That never stops. 

I’m thankful that my family carved gorgeous Halloween pumpkins in October and I fed the excess seeds to the birds and squirrels in the backyard. I’m thankful for my garden and the nourishment and solace it offers.  

This fall I continued my work ESPN College Football with friends and people I care about. We all come from different places but unite each week to produce and cover a CFB game. It’s our differences that make us stronger. The lessons I learned as a lacrosse teammate are applied in life. 

I’m thankful for the dedication of collegiate SID’s like Ernie Larossa, John Stark, Robbie at ND, Stacie Michaud, Art Chase, Allysa at Maryland, Niko, Meredith at Duke, Patrick at UVA, Ryan at Loyola and countless others who help us cover lacrosse and storytell. Their work too often goes without mention. 

I’m thankful for Joe Tsai, who graciously and quietly has become the sports greatest benefactor. His generosity is fueling growth at the World and Professional levels. 

Last winter I got to work the Iowa at Iowa State wrestling match. For a kid who grew up wrestling in grade school, this was like visiting Mecca. In December listened to the fantastic HBCU bands in Atlanta. Before Christmas, I flew out to Hollywood and acted a small role in a Hollywood movie “Unstoppable”, the story of wrestler Anthony Robles, which comes to theatres on December 6 and to Amazon Prime on January 16. I worked the Rose Bowl. I’m thankful for all of these experiences. 

I’m thankful for lacrosse rivalries like Army-Navy, UNC-Duke, Hopkins-Maryland and Ohio State-Michigan that can lure and appeal to non-endemic fans. These games are a hook on campuses and in college communities to drive attendance and attention. 

We are indebted to the athletic trainers, doctors, sports medicine professionals and physical therapists who work to heal the current day players, who seem to be somewhat besieged by overuse injuries. I’m lucky to have made it through 22 years of action without significant physical residual damage. 

In the spring I helped coach girls varsity lacrosse at Garrison Forest School in Reisterstown, Maryland. My daughter is a relative newcomer to the sport and a sophomore goalie. Every Tuesday night during the Off-season we shoot and dodge and pass in a small group for an hour, working on our skills, having fun and connecting. The benefits of small group training are gigantic. It’s time well spent. The game, the stick and ball, can help young people navigate through their challenges. To get them off their phones for an hour is a blessing. And I’m thankful for these moments in the sun, wind and rain. Being a part of a team each spring is renewal. 

I’m in awe of pioneers like Kyle Harrison, JT Giles-Harris, Lyle and Jeremy Thompson, Nakeie Montgomery, Chazz Woodson, Romar Dennis, Trevor Baptiste and Jules Heningburg who raise awareness and push for diversity.

I’m so lucky to work with friends like Paul, Chris, Anish, Mark Dixon, and Kettering. I’m proud of the next wave of announcers like Evan, Jay, Drew, Sheehan, Dana, Charlotte, Dana, Rachael and Boyle who all raise the bar.  

I’m grateful to the hundreds of people who work on our television shows behind the scenes – who don’t get the notoriety they deserve.  When I started there were three lacrosse games on television a year. Now you can watch thousands each spring and summer. I’m also appreciative of the advocates in Bristol and Charlotte – who have elevated lacrosse content during the last two decades. 

I’m fortunate to have run shifts and learned from JV, Ed Placey, Bill Tanton, Howard Mash, Leif Elsmo, Dave Ryan, Joe Beninati and Eamon McAnaney. I’ve taken a little part of their game with me. 

I’m thankful for my mom’s health (she watches most games), my sister Kyle’s honesty and the patience of my older brother Pace. I miss my brother Wes everyday. Please don’t drink and drive. 

I’m thankful for quiet time spent at my cabin in the woods to work outside, read and reflect. 

We should all be thankful for the shot clock. 

I’m blessed and grateful to travel America promoting and covering lacrosse – been to 44 states and 8 countries on this journey. Play the game for as long as you can. Stay in it as a coach. Attend games. And let lacrosse bring you new friends and life experiences. 

I’m encouraged by the PLL – Paul and Mike Rabil are disruptive innovators who refuse to sit still, pushing and advancing lacrosse with new age sophistication. And I’m fortunate to watch the players first-hand – doing things on the field we never thought possible. The coaches in the league have been nothing short of amazing to work with. I cherish my interactions with people like Bill Tierney, Brian Holman, Chris Bates, Jim Stagnitta, Tim Soudan and Andy Towers. Holman and Tierney have been leadership figures in my life since the mid 80’s. 

I’m grateful for Dr. Nick Z, my teammate at LaxAllstars, who works tirelessly on my articles and podcast.  Thank you Dr. Z.  

This month, I got to meet Virginia Tech women’s coach Kristen Skiera in Blacksburg and also spent a morning at a BYU lacrosse practice in Provo. I’m energized by these interactions. 

I’m thankful for the referees – who toil in obscurity outside of Matty P, Hollywood and Bronze Wittelsberger. 

I’m eager for the 2025 season – it’s one that promises to be unlike anything we’ve witnessed before with a deep cast of title contenders and star power in the likes of CJ Kirst, Joey Spallina, Owen Duffy and Chris Kavanagh, and Coulter Mackesy. 

But I’m most thankful for the fans – the viewers, the listeners, the readers and the ones who show up to games and cheer. The fans who email me or send me notes from across the globe. It’s the fans that make it all worthwhile. So Happy Thanksgiving to you. And thank you. 

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The NFL is investigating the newest sexual attack lawsuit filed in opposition to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson

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The NFL is investigating the newest sexual attack lawsuit filed in opposition to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson

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Content warning: This section contains mention of sexual assault and battery.

The GIST: The NFL is investigating a new lawsuit filed on Monday accusing Cleveland Browns quarterback (QB) Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and battery. Of note, this suit is unrelated to the other 26 civil suits filed against Watson in 2021 and 2022, accusing him of similar sexual misconduct. So horrible.

The context: Watson was first accused of sexual misconduct in 2021 and was inactive for his then-squad, the Houston Texans, that entire season due to these allegations as well as an ongoing contract dispute with the Texans.

  • But in March 2022, very aware of the multiple, public lawsuits plaguing the QB, the Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230M deal — the league’s biggest guaranteed contract at the time. Hmm.
  • In August 2022, Watson was suspended from the NFL for 11 games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. At that time, Watson was facing allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment from two dozen women, largely massage therapists in the Houston area. Watson settled 23 out of 24 of the civil lawsuits filed against him that year.

The latest: On Monday, an anonymous woman filed a civil suit against Watson for sexual assault and battery under Texas’ five-year statute of limitations. She claims that Watson asked her on a date in October 2020 and agreed to come to her home for dinner, but he called her before his arrival angrily screaming because he could not find her apartment.

  • After she finished putting on her makeup, the woman left her bathroom and found Watson naked, lying face down on her bed and demanding a massage before sexually assaulting her.
  • No criminal charges have been filed and Watson has not publicly addressed these new allegations.

What’s next: The NFL will investigate and decide if Watson’s alleged actions (yet again) violate their personal conduct policy and will consider disciplinary action from there. As per his contract, Watson is still owed more than $130M from the Browns.

Zooming out: As discussed on the latest episode of The GIST of It, many pundits believe Watson has underperformed since being picked up by the Browns, causing some to speculate that the organization might leverage this suit to remove themselves from their five-year contract with Watson.

  • Unfortunately, this case may perfectly illustrate a sad reality in sports: Entities exploit off-field factors to their advantage — protecting top players while using it as a pretext to cut underperformers. When will it end?



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NCAAW: No. 6 USC appears to be like to bop again in opposition to Seton Corridor, St. Louis

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NCAAW: No. 6 USC appears to be like to bop again in opposition to Seton Corridor, St. Louis

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Palm Springs will have some exciting basketball this week, with the Acrisure Classic starting on Tuesday and the Acrisure Holiday Invitational beginning on Wednesday.

The Acrisure Classic will feature the California Golden Bears (6-0), Michigan State Spartans (6-0), Arizona Wildcats (6-1) and the Vanderbilt Commodores (6-0), while the No. 6-ranked USC Trojans (4-1) will play the Seton Hall Pirates (4-1) and St. Louis Billikens (2-4) as part of the Acrisure Holiday Invitational.

Battle of the unbeatens

The first game of this tournament features Cal taking on Michigan State. Both teams are unbeaten with identical 6-0 records. So, we’ll be seeing some elite hoops from the jump. This is the first big test for both teams, as neither has faced a ranked opponent yet.

The Golden Bears are led by sophomore guard Lulu Twidale, who is currently averaging 18.3 points per game. The Spartans have an impressive backcourt of grad Julia Ayrault and junior Theryn Hallock, who are scoring a combined 26.4 points.

Can Vandy keep it going?

The 6-0 Commodores will take on the Wildcats immediately following the first game and are also looking to remain undefeated. For Vanderbilt to accomplish that, they’ll need freshman guard Mikayla Blakes to continue racking up points and sophomore forward Khamil Pierre to keep on getting double-doubles.

However, don’t expect the Arizona to be an easy mark for Vanderbilt. The Wildcats are a well-balanced team, but sophomore forward Breya Cunningham is their best player, leading the team in both points and rebounds.

Redemption for USC

The past few days have been rough for USC. Their loss to the Notre Dame ended the Trojans’ perfect record and dropped them from No. 2 down to No. 6 in the AP top 25 poll.

A win on Wednesday for USC would be a great way to shake off that loss and get back on track. With a stacked roster featuring sophomore star JuJu Watkins and senior forward Kiki Iriafen, along with some extra motivation after a tough result, fans should expect USC to make a statement in Palm Springs.

Tournaments schedule

All game held at Acriscure Arena in Palm Springs, CA

Acrisure Classic

Tuesday, Nov. 26

Cal vs. Michigan State (1:30 p.m. ET, truTV)

Vanderbilt vs. Arizona (4 p.m. ET, truTV)

Wednesday, Nov. 27

3rd Place Game (1:30 p.m. ET)

Championship Game (4 p.m. ET)

Acrisure Holiday Invitational

Wednesday, Nov. 27

USC vs. Seton Hall (6:30 p.m. ET, truTV)

Friday, Nov. 29

USC vs. St. Louis University (6:30 p.m. ET)



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Buffalo Bandits: 2024-25 Season Preview

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Buffalo Bandits: 2024-25 Season Preview

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Nick Pietras

Nick Pietras has been coaching lacrosse in the city of Detroit since 2019. He currently serves as the assistant creative director creating content and helping manage the image of Detroit United. He is currently attending Lourdes University pursuing a double major in marketing and business administration. Over the course of his senior year, Nick would tear both of his ACL’s leaving him to miss his senior season. He would play for the Lourdes University Gray Wolves for one year before his lingering knee injuries would abruptly end his college career. This is where his coaching career officially began as he became the offensive coordinator for his alma mater, Cousino High School. He would be one of the main influencers in the creation of Warren Consolidated Schools joint high school program and would oversee fundraising, marketing, and design endeavors. Six months later, Nick would be brought to Detroit to join the Cass Tech High School men’s lacrosse coaching staff as the defensive coordinator.

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UCLA Snaps South Carolina’s Streak in NCAA Basketball Disillusioned

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UCLA Snaps South Carolina’s Streak in NCAA Basketball Disillusioned

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Marta — the Brazilian footballing legend and eight-year Orlando Pride veteran — has played in big games before. An icon of the sport for decades, she’s taken the field in front of massive crowds, appeared in multiple World Cups, stood on Olympic podiums, and won numerous individual and team awards for both club and country.

But Saturday’s NWSL Championship game against the Washington Spirit feels different, she told reporters ahead of the event. And at 38, it’s one of the most significant moments in her career.

“Number one,” she replied immediately when asked where winning an NWSL title would rank in her mind should Orlando pull off the difficult task of winning both the Shield and the Championship in the same year. 

“It’s like the answer that I’m trying to have,” she said, shooting a finger into the air to emphasize her point. “Many, many, many years here — [that’s] why I’m still here.”

Marta has a number of Brazil national team teammates on the Pride in 2024, including Adriana and Rafaelle. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Marta has been on superteams before, dominating Sweden’s top league for years with Tyreso and FC Rosengard after winning WPS Championships in 2010 and 2011 with FC Gold Pride and the Western New York Flash. She’s also seen incredible success at the international level with Brazil, putting the USWNT and the entire world on notice during the 2007 World Cup before a second-place finish.

Having announced her retirement from international play last spring, the three-time Olympic silver medalist’s days of putting on the Brazil jersey for a major tournament are likely over. But picking up a trophy with Orlando would serve as the ultimate reward after a long journey with a club that for many years did not look even close to competing at a championship level.

“To look back and then see how many [things] we need to work for, to build this team, be strong,” she continued. “And then how many things we go through [to] have a season without losing any games at home, break their many records. It’s special.”

Marta stunned the USWNT their World Cup semifinal in 2007 en route to a second-place finish behind Germany. She’s earned 204 international caps in her illustrious career. (MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Starting from the bottom

Marta joined the NWSL in 2017, signing with the Pride and going on to lead Orlando to its last NWSL Playoffs appearance that same year. In the years that followed, the Pride became synonymous with competitive futility, evolving into a place of transition for superstars like Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris, and Ali Krieger who left after failing to lift the team out of the bottom of the league standings.

And yet Marta remained. And with the permanent addition of head coach Seb Hines in 2022 alongside astute signings by general manager Haley Carter, the Pride’s perception of themselves and their ability to climb the table began to shift.

In 2023, Orlando had one singular goal: Make the playoffs. It was a milestone they didn’t achieve after a chaotic regular-season decision day saw the Pride fall just short of the postseason contention. 

Then in 2024, Hines took a new approach. And Orlando has seen the dividends of keeping things simple pay off in droves.

“We started this season with a really different mentality,” said Marta. “We need to have goals, not only one, but step by step, and we’re looking for something big. Of course, our first goal was being in the playoffs. Then after that, win the Shield, and then being in this Final, and then win the Championship.” 

The Pride rattled off 23 consecutive games to start the 2024 regular season without a loss, culminating in their first-ever NWSL Shield earned in a 2-0 win over eventual Championship opponent Washington. 

“It’s unbelievable,” Marta said after that pivotal match. “Something that I, wow, I dreamed about, but to be honest, never believed that it was going to happen the way that it did.”

The 2024 NWSL Shield is the first league trophy earned by the Orlando Pride in its nine-year existence. (Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

A cherished presence on the field and off

Orlando has one more game left in 2024, and Marta is keenly aware that the team has to maintain their step-by-step mentality and keep the emotions at bay for just 90 more minutes. She also hasn’t shied away from this possibly being her last opportunity to win the league’s greatest honor.

Playing alongside powerhouse attackers like Zambian striker Barbra Banda and elite midfielders like fellow Brazil national Adriana has rejuvenated Marta’s style, with the seasoned veteran looking like her vintage self week in and week out this season. But the legend is much closer to the end of her career than the beginning, and she carries the hard-earned perspective of a player that has lived many lives in pursuit of her dreams.

“It’s something that I appreciate and I cherish,” Banda — an MVP candidate in her own right — said on Thursday. “Because it’s someone I’ve been looking up to far away, but now she’s closer to me. I’m able to get encouragement from her, I’m able to get the ideas that I want. So, yeah, it is an achievement.”

The Pride’s easy-going locker room culture has translated into joy on the pitch — both a product of captain Marta, who held court with the media on Thursday in Kansas City. Surrounded by a near-constant scrum of reporters, the football icon regaled reporters with stories about everything from post-game dust-ups to her bold lipstick choices.

When asked what advice she’d give teammates facing the biggest game of their careers, Marta focused on the bigger picture. “Enjoy the opportunity, you know, enjoy the moment,” she said. “Because we don’t know what is gonna happen next step, next year. We don’t know if every single player who we have in the roster here will be in the next year.”

“The moment don’t come back,” she added. “So you need to just enjoy, and then do your best to go as far we can.”

Marta discussed her career and legacy at length prior to Saturday’s NWSL championship game against the Washington Spirit (Kylie Graham-Imagn Images)

For Marta, the moment has arrived

This evening’s moment is expected to culminate in an incredible clashing of styles, as a young counter-attacking Washington Spirit side looks to upset the dominant, methodical Pride, therein denying one of the game’s all-time greats her full-circle moment. Marta’s teammates have been open about their desire to finish strong on her behalf, a sentiment she waves off in favor of fighting for her whole team. And it will take every single one of her teammates to unlock the happy ending so many didn’t expect they’d reach so soon.

After years of showing up for the Pride, the team has answered Marta’s efforts back in full. And whether or not they return to Orlando with a trophy in hand, the NWSL Championship will serve as a punctuation to an iconic career. The memory of Marta dancing through defenders before slotting the ball in the back of the net in this year’s semifinal match has no expiration date — an image she intends to hold onto far beyond this weekend.

“When I celebrate a goal with Brazil, and celebrate the last goal that I did with the Pride, it was the same,” Marta said. “I saw the picture and say, ‘Yeah, nothing changed.’ I have passion for this game, and that’s why I still play.” 

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