EDMONTON — After being outscored by 14 goals during the first three games of the 2025 Rivalry Series, Canada coach Troy Ryan had his eyes wide open Saturday night to see how his team responded after having its pride tested, especially following Wednesday’s shocking 10-4 pounding from the United States.

And while Saturday night ended with a fourth straight loss to the Americans in the final tune-up before the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy, in less than two months, at least the Canadians snapped back with a hard-fought effort rather than rolling over and dying on the vine.

The United States beat Canada 4-1 at Rogers Place to complete a four-game sweep, but the Canadians at least looked the part after captain Marie-Philip Poulin said her team didn’t show up three nights earlier.

“I thought the (Thursday and Friday) was spent wisely, a lot of meetings, a lot of soul searching, a lot of just kind of diving into what happened and maybe why things happened,” Ryan said before the game. “So I thought it was productive. I know the leadership had some chats. The players had some chats. I had chats with the leadership group.

“We took a break and had a little gift exchange and a Christmas dinner, and then went right back to video. We broke down everywhere (Wednesday night).”

That was hardly the case Saturday, but goaltender Aerin Frankel made 12 of her 23 saves in the first period before defenders Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards scored during a second period where the U.S. did have the edge in play with an 18-8 shot lead.

Hilary Knight scored two goals in the third period, including an empty-netter, to give the United States breathing room.

The women’s tournament begins in Milan, a day before the opening ceremony on Feb. 5. The preliminary round for Group A begins with the U.S. playing Czechia and Canada facing Sweden. The U.S. and Canada wrap up the prelims with a Feb. 10 meeting nine days before the gold medal game.

The United States will tentatively name its 23-player roster on Jan. 2, along with the men’s and sled hockey rosters on NBC’s “Today” show. Canada’s roster will be announced sometime in January, while the men’s is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 31.

Heise has exceptional Rivalry Series

Two-time PWHL champ and 2022 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Taylor Heise was simply outstanding in every way for the United States in the four games as she preps for her first Olympics.

The PWHL’s first No. 1 pick led the Americans with eight assists and nine points in the four games, including assists on both United States second-period goals Saturday. But she was terrific in every area, especially defensively and with her checking — the two areas coach John Wroblewski wanted to see improvement.

Heise’s linemate, Abbey Murphy, was tied with Knight for the lead in goals with five apiece. Murphy also finished second in points behind Heise, while Knight and Edwards finished third and fourth.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

NHL, Olympics, Women's Hockey

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DURHAM, N.C. — Although the WNBA and players union remain divided in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, star players at the Team USA training camp said they’re hopeful the 2026 season can be fully salvaged.

“This is the biggest moment the WNBA has ever seen, and it’s not something that can be messed up, and we’re going to fight for everything that we deserve,” Caitlin Clark said Friday at her first Team USA camp at Duke. “At the same time, we need to play basketball. That’s what our fans crave, and that’s what all of you crave as well, is you want the product on the floor. At the end of the day, that’s how you make the money.”

“It’s important that we find a way to play this next season,” Clark said. “Our fans and even everybody that has played in this league that has come before us deserve that as well.”

“Obviously, I can’t speak to every number, it’s pretty complicated, but I think there are different things that we can find ways to say, ‘No, we certainly deserve that, and we’re not going to compromise on that.’ And then other things that we can probably compromise on.”

Clark and a younger cohort of WNBA players aren’t on the front lines of the CBA fight, even though the young stars recognize the gravity of the situation. Clark is constantly in the ear of the Indiana player representatives Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull as well as Fever veteran Brianna Turner, the treasurer of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association executive committee. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has regularly attended Zoom union meetings, and reigning rookie of the year Paige Bueckers has been educating herself on the particulars of the negotiations.

The trio emphasized the continued need for solidarity as players attempt to secure their stake in the growing WNBA business.

“It’s continued negotiations, as you guys know, but we’re pretty firm on what we believe and what we stand for … in what we believe that we have earned, and the people before us have earned,” Bueckers said.

The presence of so many young players at the USAB camp is a visual reminder of who the union is fighting for. While much of the WNBPA leadership is in the latter stages of their careers, including president Nneka Ogwumike and vice president Alysha Clark, 10 first-time attendees on the senior national team stand to benefit the most from a shake-up to the WNBA’s economic model.

Clark, Bueckers, Reese, Aliyah Boston, Cameron Brink, Sonia Citron and Rickea Jackson are on rookie contracts, while Lauren Betts (UCLA) and JuJu Watkins (USC) are still in college. Their financial futures will be dramatically affected by the new CBA.

“The young and turnt crew is what we’re fighting for,” Reese said. “The vets have done a great job being able to speak up for us and do a lot of things. Nneka (Ogwumike), Satou (Sabally), (Napheesa Collier). All of them have done a great job, and they’re doing it for our generation, for the next to come.”

Despite the imperative to agree to a new deal, first vice president Kelsey Plum said talks haven’t progressed as hoped. The union and WNBA agreed to a 40-day extension of the CBA, which expires on Jan. 9. The previous CBA was agreed to on Jan. 14, 2020.

“It’s a little bit disheartening, just frustration in the negotiation and how far away we are,” Plum said. “As a player, of course, I want to play. … It’s really important to show that it’s not just about us, but it’s about the future, and it’s really about women in general and just really fighting for what needs to be done. Stand on that, stay strong, and chip away and hopefully get to something that we can be really proud of.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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USC star JuJu Watkins is participating in her first senior Team USA camp this weekend at Duke. But unlike the other 16 players present, Watkins is not taking the floor as she continues recovering from tearing the ACL in her right knee last March during the NCAA Tournament.

As a result, she’s been a keen observer.

“It’s definitely a pinch-me moment,” Watkins said. “I’ve dreamt of being a part of this atmosphere. To see that actually kind of come true in a sense and seeing that I’m headed towards the right direction, it’s definitely satisfying.”

Watkins said she is “finally” starting to work out again and getting her hands on the basketball. She said she is participating in some light individual shooting and ballhandling.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time, really enjoying the process,” she said. “I would love to be playing, but this is just where I’m at right now, and I’ve accepted that. I’m getting better physically. My body’s starting to feel stronger one day at a time.”

Watkins made first-team All-American appearances in her first two collegiate seasons, winning the Naismith and Wooden Awards last year. The Trojans were a No. 1 seed for the second consecutive tournament when Watkins tore her ACL during USC’s second-round game against Mississippi State. Without her, USC lost in the Elite Eight to UConn for the second straight season.

In September, USC officially ruled Watkins out for the season, eliminating the possibility of a return prior to 2026-27. Watkins has been relegated to the bench this college season, where she has watched USC and the Trojans’ latest star freshman Jazzy Davidson get off to a 7-2 start.

“She’s been killing it, and she’s such a great student of the game. So I’m just happy to help her in any way that I can,” Watkins said of Davidson, who is averaging 16.7 points, seven rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

Sue Bird, the newly-appointed managing director of Team USA, said that inviting Watkins to the national team camp was a no-brainer.

“I think it’s more about the exposure,” Bird said. “Even when you’re just around a team, it’s helpful, like something is building, something is happening there. So, I think it’s great for JuJu, who’s obviously incredibly talented.”

Team USA coach Kara Lawson, who was hired in September, said she is using the camp as an opportunity to get to know Watkins.

“We wanted her here,” Lawson said. “You can see there’s a great deal of talent there, and that’s somebody that’s gonna be in the conversation obviously in the future. We were really intentional about inviting her here and having her be part of it. I think there’s great value in having her observe and be around the group.”

Watkins was noncommittal about the prospect of playing in the World Cup in 2026, which would be 18 months after her injury. She’s set a goal of suiting up for Team USA at the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in her hometown of Los Angeles.

“That’s been my North Star this whole time, so to get this opportunity means a lot,” Watkins said.

She added that she enjoyed “feeling the energy” at the camp and picked up on the communication and leadership styles of her peers.

“It’s just something that you can see and automatically it brings up your standards,” she said. “I’ve just been maximizing it, meeting new people, making new connections. Just trying to get the most out of me being here.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

USC Trojans, Women's College Basketball, Olympics

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