Many were surprised when the Los Angeles Clippers announced that Chris Paul was no longer with the team, including his teammates James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, who expressed surprise at learning Paul had been sent home.

The Clippers decided to part ways with Paul after a reported three-hour discussion between Lawrence Frank, the president of basketball operations, and Paul at the team hotel in Atlanta before their game against the Hawks on Wednesday.

Frank emphasized that the decision to let Paul go was not due to a single incident; however, ESPN reported that the ongoing tension between Paul and head coach Ty Lue has been cited as a potential significant contributing factor, given how disruptive the relationship has been to the team.

‘I’m just as confused and shocked as everyone else in the world,’ Harden said after the Clippers defeated the Hawks on Wednesday, Nov. 3. ‘It definitely took me by surprise. It’s not just about Chris; there were many things we were dealing with. However, that’s out of my hands. I need to focus on what I can control. I suppose the front office believed that was the best decision for the organization.’

‘It was shocking to me,’ Leonard said. ‘I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision.’

Paul announced on social media earlier this month that he would retire from the NBA after 21 seasons.

Terence Crawford won more than a fight when he stunned Canelo Alvarez.

He won over the boxing community and sports fans who hardly knew him. Not just for the skill he showed in the boxing ring during the Sept. 13 mega-fight, but for the engaging personality he showed while making the rounds after becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion.

What a shame he decided to sully his reputation Wednesday, Dec. 3.

From inside a car, Crawford spewed profanity and delivered low blows in a rant against Mauricio Sulaimán, president of the WBC, one of boxing’s four sanctioning bodies.

Crawford fumed after the WBC stripped him of the championship belt he won from Alvarez. But it seemed like a very reasonable thing to do considering Crawford acknowledged he had not paid the WBC its $300,000 sanctioning fee.

The four sanctioning bodies charge a fee of about 3% of the purse. In turn, the bodies sanction fights with their respective championship belts at stake. In cases such as the fight between Crawford and Alvarez, several or all four of the sanctioning bodies can sanction the same fight, which allows boxers to fight for the undisputed championship.

Crawford and other boxers have questioned where the money goes. In a 2022 interview with Boxing Scene, Sulaimán cited overhead expenses, humanitarian work and developments in women’s boxing as reasons the WBC charges 3% for sanctioning fees. “What we do, everything goes back to boxing,” he said then.

This is not a blanket defense of the sanctioning bodies. But Crawford’s behavior can’t be defended, either.

It’s his right to object to a fee or even negotiate something lower. But for a boxer regarded as honorable, he handled it in disappointing fashion.

The clearly better option: to acknowledge before the fight he had no intention of paying the fees – and suffer the consequences.

It’s highly unlikely the WBC would have sanctioned the fight and made its belt available to Crawford without his agreeing to pay the fee.

That might seem inconsequential, especially the way Crawford degraded Sulaimán and the WBC belt during his rant. But Crawford wanted the undisputed super middleweight championship, and he captured it by winning all four belts – from the IBF, WBA, WBO and, yes, WBC.

But there he was Wednesday, behind the wheel of his truck, spewing venom in a shockingly different way than we’d come to know the easy-to-root-for-boxer, who proved charming outside of the ring.

At 38, Crawford is in the twilight of his career and no longer needs the WBC.

But there was no need to taint his own reputation.

The United States and Canada are fierce rivals on the Olympic ice hockey stage.

Since the NHL first allowed its players to participate in the Olympics in 1998, the two nations have faced off in the knockout stages three times and the gold medal game twice: 2002 and 2010.

When you think of epic Olympic hockey moments by Team Canada players, I’d be shocked if your mind doesn’t immediately turn to Sidney Crosby and his 2010 accomplishment in Vancouver.

Crosby was on Canada’s Olympic squad for the first time in 2010 after being snubbed for the Torino Olympics in 2006, when the Canadians finished seventh, just ahead of the Americans in eighth.

Both teams had a much better tournament in Vancouver, with Canada and the United States facing off in the gold medal game.

Team USA forward Zach Parise tied the game with 24 seconds left in regulation, setting the stage for Crosby’s heroics in overtime. More on that later.

While Crosby is a shoo-in for having the best tournament on the international stage, other unforgettable Olympic performances by Team Canada NHL players involved key games against Team USA.

Top 5 Olympic performances by Team Canada players

5. Mario Lemieux, 2002

Mario Lemieux had six points in five games en route to Canada’s 2002 Olympic gold. While he didn’t put the team on his back as so often happened throughout his illustrious career, Lemieux came to life in the medal rounds.

The ‘Magnificent One’ posted three assists in the quarterfinal and semifinal victories over Belarus and Finland before setting up Paul Kariya in the gold medal game against Team USA. He finished one point behind Joe Sakic, Canada’s leading scorer at the tournament, despite playing one less game. 

4. Jarome Iginla, 2002

Jarome Iginla accomplished a lot during his storied career, but nothing, not even the Calgary Flames’ fairytale run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, compared to his exploits at the 2002 Olympics. 

Iginla scored four points in six games, three of which came in the 5-2 victory over Team USA in the final.

If you look up the definition of clutch, don’t be surprised if you see Iginla’s performance against the Americans as a supporting case study. As a caveat, his performance at the 2010 Olympics was equally impressive.

3. Joe Sakic, 2002

Sakic saved the best for last in 2002, scoring four of his seven points in the final against Team USA. The Hall of Famer put on a show on the world’s most prominent and high-pressure stage, setting up both of Iginla’s goals and scoring a pair, including the game-winner. 

He finished the tournament as Canada’s leading scorer, one point ahead of Lemieux and Steve Yzerman. His point haul was two points behind the tournament’s leading scorer, Mats Sundin of Sweden.

2. Carey Price, 2014

Canada has Carey Price to thank for its 2014 gold medal at the Sochi Olympics. In five games, Price was all but impenetrable, sporting a sensational 0.59 goals-against average and 0.972 save percentage. 

But it was his performances in the knockout stage that received heaping praise. Price secured back-to-back shutouts in the semifinal against Team USA and in the final versus Sweden to propel Canada to glory. He allowed just one goal in the 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Latvia.  

It will come as no surprise that Price followed up his otherworldly Olympics by winning the NHL’s Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Hart Trophy in 2014-15.

1. Sidney Crosby, 2010

Crosby’s overtime goal against the Americans to secure gold will forever be etched in the annals of Canadian hockey history. 

While he didn’t score a point in the quarterfinal or semifinal, Crosby showed up when it mattered most, ensuring Canada won its first Olympic gold medal since 2002.  

Crosby finished the 2010 Olympics with seven points (four goals and three assists), one behind Jonathan Toews for the team lead and three adrift of the tournament’s leading scorer, Pavol Demitra of Slovakia.

The Detroit Lions’ season of injuries continues to mount up.

The Lions are set to be without multiple key contributors when they host the Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) on ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Thursday, Dec. 4. The question remaining is whether star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will be among them.

St. Brown exited Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day game against the Green Bay Packers after suffering an ankle injury when a lineman rolled on his leg from behind. His availability has been in doubt since.

Detroit enters Week 14 with a 7-5 record – eighth-best in the NFC – leaving them on the outside looking in to the playoff picture. They are battling to stay in the race and Lions fans are hopeful their All-Pro wide receiver will be available today.

Here’s the latest on St. Brown before ‘Thursday Night Football’ kickoff against the Cowboys.

Amon-Ra St. Brown injury update

The Lions have not yet made a decision about St. Brown’s status for ‘Thursday Night Football.’ Detroit listed him as ‘questionable’ on its final injury report and is expected to make a game-time decision about his status.

St. Brown has only before missed two games during his five-year NFL career to date. The last one he missed was in 2023 when he suffered an abdominal injury in Week 3. He played through it before missing Week 5 due to the injury. Prior to that, he suffered an identical injury to this ankle sprain in Week 3 of 2022, which saw him miss Week 4.

St. Brown failed to participate in practice this week, but the Lions have no plans to place him on IR, which would require that he be out for at least four weeks. He was initially classified as ‘week-to-week’ after suffering the low ankle sprain, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

Pelissero also noted the Lions will have a mini-bye because of the ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup, which allows St. Brown extra time to recover if he can’t play against the Cowboys.

Detroit has been no stranger to playing without its stars on offense, with TE Sam LaPorta lost for the season.

Lions WR depth chart

The Lions have six receivers on their 53-man roster:

Amon-Ra St. Brown (injured)
Jameson Williams
Kalif Raymond
Isaac TeSlaa
Tom Kennedy
Dominic Lovett

Kalif Raymond and TE Brock Wright missed last week’s game, but they may be active for Thursday’s matchup against Dallas. Isaac TeSlaa and Tom Kennedy operated as the No. 2 and 3 WRs behind Jameson Williams after St. Brown exited on Thanksgiving.

Williams will be Jared Goff’s top target if St. Brown is sidelined. The 2022 first-round pick went off for 144 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions and a team-high 10 targets on Thanksgiving.

TeSlaa, a rookie third-round pick this season, could be more involved. His size at 6-4, 214 pounds makes him a legitimate red-zone threat.

Team owner Jimmy Haslam has previously admitted the 2022 trade for Watson was a ‘big swing and miss.’
The Browns are not expected to play Watson, instead focusing on rookie QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Opening the practice window is considered the next step in Watson’s rehabilitation, not a move to showcase him for a trade.

The Cleveland Browns have opened a 21-day practice window for injured quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s missed the entire 2025 season while rehabilitating from multiple ruptures to his right Achilles tendon. He originally tore it during Week 7 of the 2024 campaign and reinjured it three months later during the early stages of his recovery.

It’s natural to wonder what’s behind the move for a last-place team that’s been evaluating rookie passers Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders for most of this season and has already acknowledged how disastrous the trade for Watson was – the controversial former Pro Bowler with his sordid off-field baggage coming to Cleveland in 2022 for a boatload of compensation, including three first-round draft picks, before signing a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.

‘We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,’ Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said at the league’s spring meeting in March.

The Browns finished last in the AFC North in two of Watson’s first three seasons and only made the playoffs in 2023, when he was injured, thanks to an inspired run by Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco.

‘We thought we had the quarterback, we didn’t and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get (Watson),’ said Haslam. ‘So we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. (It) was an entire organization decision and it ends with (Haslam’s wife) Dee and I, so hold us accountable.’

Haslam’s mea culpa, the club’s decision to select Gabriel and Sanders in this year’s draft, the accumulation of multiple first-round picks for the 2026 draft and the restructuring of Watson’s deal all seem to be fairly clear indicators that the high-priced passer probably won’t play for Cleveland again.

So why open the practice window for Watson, who’s been on the reserve/physically unable to perform list all year? Let’s try to answer a few questions on that front.

Why are the Browns letting Deshaun Watson practice?

In the most basic sense, it’s the next waypoint on his rehabilitation road.

“Excited for him. His focus, my focus is obviously getting him back to playing football, practicing football, which he hasn’t done in over a year. Good next step for him,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said during his press conference Wednesday.

The immediate goal is to get Watson, who did not speak to reporters Wednesday, into individual drills. Depending on how things go, Stefanski said he could eventually get repetitions with the scout team. However the need to get work for inexperienced players like Sanders and Gabriel remains a priority.

“I feel like it’s great he’s going out to practice,” Sanders said of Watson. “He’s been working hard to recover.”

Do the Browns want Deshaun Watson to play in 2025?

The circumstances pretty clearly signal no, though Stefanski deflected when asked about the three-time Pro Bowler’s outlook for this season.

“Really not my focus, not his focus right this minute,” he said. “His focus is putting a helmet on again for the first time, shoulder pads, throwing a football – that’s where the focus is.”

Has Deshaun Watson been a good mentor for Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel?

According to Stefanski, the relationships among the Browns’ quarterbacks is outstanding – and Watson has been part of team meetings and attending games well before his practice window opened.

“He’s been so supportive in the meeting room, on the game field with the players,” said Stefanski. “I know he’s excited to get back out there practicing with his teammates.”

The coach later added: “I think having a guy like Deshaun in there, who’s seen so much and has been through different situations and can provide great counsel to young quarterbacks, I just think that’s invaluable.”

Watson has been the most experienced quarterback on the Browns’ extended roster since Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in October, and Stefanski thinks having him on the practice field is an added opportunity for Watson to convey his NFL experience.

“Deshaun’s been outstanding with all those guys,” Stefanski said while referencing the team’s other QBs. “It’s really an impressive group that helps each other.

“Having all those guys on the field I think is beneficial.”

Are the Browns hoping to showcase Deshaun Watson for a subsequent trade?

It’s a plus for Watson to get onto the practice field in hopes of resuming and resurrecting his career. Whether it will actually happen is anyone’s guess.

Even if he’d played well for the Browns – he hasn’t, losing 10 of his 19 starts during his injury-riddled stint in Cleveland and compiling an 80.7 passer rating with the club – his contract and off-field issues likely make him essentially radioactive moving forward.

Watson’s rampantly lurid behavior at Houston-area massage parlors when he was a member of the Texans led to more than two dozen lawsuits and an 11-game suspension from the NFL, which also mandated that he undergo evaluation and counseling. His acquisition by the Browns caused many supporters to turn in their fan cards and also necessitated the trade of then-incumbent quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has since blossomed into a Pro Bowler for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Asked if the Browns are hoping to salvage the trade, Stefanski replied: “Not my focus … really just excited for him to be able to get back out there on the field. I think for any player when you’re rehabbing, the next step getting out there on the practice field is a big step, so I’m excited for him.’

Were the Browns compelled to open Deshaun Watson’s practice window?

Any notion that Watson forced the team’s hand or that the NFL Players Association helped on his behalf is apparently a misguided theory.

“Absolutely not,” a person familiar with Watson’s situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person received anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.

“It’s simply the next phase of his rehab.”

Will Deshaun Watson play in 2025?

Never say never. Quarterbacks get injured, and Gabriel and Sanders both have been. Gabriel was concussed last month, paving the way for Sanders’ first regular-season action, and both players dealt with assorted issues during training camp and preseason. Bailey Zappe is also on the practice squad. It seems unlikely they’d all get hurt over the final five games and effectively force Watson on to the 53-man roster, but stranger scenarios have developed before in this league.

What happens at the end of Deshaun Watson’s practice window?

Watson’s three-week clock now initiated, the Browns must ultimately make a decision on his status. If Watson isn’t restored to Cleveland’s 53-man roster by the end of the window, he’ll revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Will Deshaun Watson be released in 2026?

Obviously, TBD. But the tea leaves suggest this is his last year in Cleveland – especially given the rookie passers on the roster and strong likelihood another one will join them in five months.

Watson’s restructured deal expires following the 2026 season. He’s still owed a fully guaranteed $131.2 million from the Browns, but his contract’s new architecture would allow Cleveland to spread the cap hit into 2027 if he’s designated as a post-June 1 release next year.

When it comes to Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s plenty of smoke for there to be concern about a fire.

The 30-year-old nine-time All-Star had been sidelined with a groin strain but has since returned. The Milwaukee Bucks, however, are still struggling, limping out to a 9-13 record.

Antetokounmpo scrubbed his social media accounts of almost every reference or photo from his time with the Bucks, sparking speculation about trade rumors. That was Tuesday. But on Wednesday, Dec. 3, ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo and his agent have begun conversations with the Bucks about Antetokounmpo’s future and his fit with Milwaukee.

ESPN also reported that a resolution was expected in the coming weeks.

Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is a singular talent, unstoppable in transition and freakishly athletic for someone his size. Any potential trade may involve multiple teams and will certainly be an exchange of significant assets.

One thing to note: the NBA trade deadline is Thursday, Feb. 5, though some Antetokounmpo deals may be easier to execute over the offseason, when draft picks become available to trade.

In the meantime, here’s a look at possible trade destinations for Giannis Antetokounmpo:

New York Knicks

According to a different ESPN report, Antetokounmpo already asked for a trade and specifically asked to be sent to the Knicks. While that may be his preferred destination, the Bucks would be under no obligation to facilitate a deal to New York. Still, Antetokounmpo is wildly talented, so the Knicks could theoretically intensify any potential offer, should the interest be mutual.

Any deal for Antetokounmpo would likely involve forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns and would make the Knicks a legitimate threat to win the Eastern Conference — more than they already are. The bigger issue is New York’s salary cap situation, as it has little breathing room under the punitive second apron.

Brooklyn Nets

Perhaps a more likely scenario is across the East River. No team has been amassing draft capital more than the Nets, who have at least 12 first-round selections over the next seven drafts. Given the state of the Bucks’ roster, draft picks might be the most appealing asset, anyway, and the Nets have the salary cap flexibility to accommodate Antetokounmpo.

In April, Brooklyn also became the first team in NBA history to use five picks in the first round of a draft, so the Nets could offer any current rookies that Milwaukee may find intriguing.

San Antonio Spurs

This would almost be unfair. Pairing Antetokounmpo alongside phenom Victor Wembanyama would present a nightmare for opposing defenses and would give San Antonio a roster that would compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

To make it happen, the Spurs have plenty of talented guards that could entice Milwaukee. Stephon Castle won Rookie of the Year last season and No. 2 overall selection Dylan Harper has flashed through his first six weeks of the season. San Antonio also has De’Aaron Fox. Still, that won’t be nearly enough, as the Spurs would also need to include valuable draft capital.

Houston Rockets

This is an interesting case. Typically, when a player like Antetokounmpo becomes available, just about every team shows some interest. The Rockets have plenty of intriguing young pieces like Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. to entice the Bucks. The question is whether Houston would already want to revamp its win-now build with Kevin Durant as the centerpiece.

Atlanta Hawks

This might be more of an under-the-radar candidate, but the Hawks do have some young assets like last season’s No. 1 overall selection Zaccharie Risacher and Jalen Johnson, though Atlanta also may be looking to move on from veteran point guard Trae Young.

Los Angeles Lakers

Antetokounmpo has said he wants to compete for NBA titles, and pairing him alongside Luka Dončić creates a dynamic threat. But the Lakers don’t have very many assets to ship — at least not now. Aside from Austin Reaves, they lack young assets to send. They are also unable to offer multiple first-round draft picks until the offseason.

The field

As mentioned above, pretty much every team would want a player like Antetokounmpo. Teams that are currently competitive but maybe a star away — teams like the Pistons, Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Mavericks, and Heat — may consider packaging their assets in an offer. Still, the ESPN report makes clear that anything related to Antetokounmpo’s future will involve an ongoing conversation with Milwaukee. Because the Bucks, undoubtedly, do not want to move him and likely won’t, unless he asks out and makes things a little messy.

He may have been a Louisville Cardinal, but Will Stein grew up a ‘die-hard’ Kentucky Wildcats fan. Now, the former Oregon offensive coordinator will lead the Wildcats football program after being hired to replace Mark Stoops.

Stoops was the all-time winningest coach at Kentucky, racking up 82 wins. He barely finished his career there above .500, going 82-80 in that span. Kentucky missed bowl games in consecutive years for the first time in 10 seasons, exacerbating the urgency to show Stoops the door.

Here’s how we grade the hire:

Grade: B

Going the hotshot offensive coordinator route makes sense for Kentucky when you consider realistic options. The Wildcats landed a coach who’ll need no introduction to Kentucky. Stein is a Louisville native who played for the Cardinals — but, hey, he says he grew up rooting for the Wildcats, so all good there.

Mark Stoops served up some of the best seasons in Kentucky football history, but those days were finished. With the program heading in reverse, Kentucky swallowed a $38 million buyout to pull the plug.

Stein, 36, shot up the ranks quickly. As recently as 2019, he was an assistant coach at a Texas high school. His fast rise speaks to his success and ability to impress.

At Oregon, Stein coordinated one of the nation’s best offenses the past three seasons. He won’t have the same caliber of athlete at Kentucky, but after the Wildcats consistently produced one of the SEC’s most meager offenses under Stoops, Stein offers hope of fresh air — and hope of success through the air. Perhaps with Stein, Kentucky finally will produce a quality quarterback, a position that’s plagued Kentucky for years.

Stein coached Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore at Oregon. That’s a heck of a run.

He’s shifting from a program awash with NIL resources to a basketball school, and Stoops persistently grumbled he didn’t receive enough financial support. This is one of the SEC’s toughest jobs, and it’s not getting any easier. The Wildcats were on a downward trend throughout the NIL era, but sometimes a new hire can galvanize more booster bucks.

Stein’s lack of head coaching experience makes him a bit of a gamble, but he’s a gamble worth taking for Kentucky.

And then there were four.

Four teams  — No. 1 seeded Stanford, No. 2 seeds TCU and Duke and No. 3 seed Florida State — punched their tickets to the 2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Final Four consists of three Atlantic Coast Conference teams, the fourth consecutive season multiple ACC teams have advanced to the Women’s College Cup.

While ACC powerhouses have been a staple, with at least one conference representative participating in the College Cup in every year of the tournament’s 44-season history, TCU is a newcomer. The Horned Frogs will make their first College Cup appearance on Friday, Dec. 4.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup, including a breakdown of each semifinal matchup and players to watch:

2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup semifinal schedule

No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 2 TCU | Fri. Dec 5, 6 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 2 Duke | Fri. Dec 5, 8:45 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup bracket breakdown

No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 2 TCU

Florida State women’s soccer will make its 15th College Cup appearance, the second-most all-time behind North Carolina. The Seminoles are on the brink of a dynasty. A championship would be their fifth title overall and third in five years (2014, 2018, 2021, 2023). Florida State is riding an eight-game winning streak into the semifinals and have outscored their opponents 19-5 in the NCAA tournament.

Although TCU is set to make its Final Four debut, the Horned Frogs are far from underdogs. TCU has turned in its best postseason run in school history and doubled its previous program-high for wins in a single NCAA Tournament. The Horned Frogs have outscored opponents 14-2 in the tournament.

Florida State advanced to the semifinals by defeating Samford (4-0), Lipscomb (1-0), Georgetown (3-1) and Ohio State (4-1). TCU advanced with wins over Grambling State (7-0), Memphis (4-0), North Carolina (1-1, 4-3 in PKs) and Vanderbilt (2-1).

Players to watch

Florida State forward Jordynn Dudley (11 goals, 14 assists), who recorded her second postseason brace and third of the season against Ohio State; TCU F Seven Castain (17 goals, 4 assists), who is as clutch as they come with seven game-winners this season, second-best in the nation; Florida State F Wrianna Hudson (13 goals, 1 assist), who leads the Seminoles in scoring; TCU GK Olivia Geller (six shutouts, 58 saves), who had a career-high nine saves in TCU’s quarterfinal win over Vanderbilt.

No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 2 Duke

Duke advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive year, becoming one of 12 teams to make back-to-back NCAA Women’s College Cup appearances. Head coach Kieran Hall is the third coach in NCAA history to take their team to the College Cup in their first season. The Blue Devils did so in dominant fashion by shutting out all four opponents during their NCAA tournament run.

That streak will be difficult to keep alive against Stanford, the highest-scoring offense in the nation. The Cardinal, the lone remaining No. 1 seed, has 95 total goals (24 more than the next closest team) and averages 4.13 goals per match. Stanford is riding an 16-game unbeaten streak into the semifinals and is outscoring opponents 21-5 in the tournament, a record for goals through four games. The Cardinal also lead the nation in shots on goal (23) and will surely keep Duke goalkeeper Caroline Dysart busy.

Duke advanced to the semifinals by defeating Elon (3-0), UCF (1-0), Kansas (2-0) and Washington (3-0). Stanford advanced by beating Cal Poly (3-1), Alabama (7-3), BYU (6-0) and Michigan State (5-1).

Players to watch

Stanford M Jasmine Aikey (20 goals, 11 assists), who has scored in three consecutive matches, while ranking fourth-best in the nation in goals and 14th in assists this season; Duke F Kat Rader (12 goals, 12 assists), who has scored or assisted in 17 of her 21 matches and moved to seventh all-time in Duke career goals (32) and points (84); Stanford F Andrea Kitahata (17 goals, 10 assists), who scored a brace in the Cardinal’s quarterfinal win against Michigan State in less than four minutes; Duke F Mia Minestrella (18 goals, six assists), who ranks first in the tournament with six goals and sixth nationally in total goals; Stanford M Charlotte Kohler (12 goals, 17 assists), who leads the nation in assists and scored in five of the last seven matches; Duke GK Caroline Dysart (11 shutouts, 53 saves), who has recorded four straight clean sheets in the tournament and has not allowed a single goal.

2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup championship schedule

The winners of the semifinals will face off for the championship on Monday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. ET at CPKC Stadium, the home of the NWSL’s KC Current, in Kansas City, Missouri.

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