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In the loop — Claire Watkins
Is Gotham building an NWSL superteam?
Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Gotham FC might be following up their 2023 NWSL Championship with the biggest free agency haul in NWSL history.
Unrestricted free agency was introduced to the NWSL in 2022 and restricted free agency in 2023.
And Crystal Dunn has been reported to have mutual interest with Gotham.
That’s four World Cup winners who could be coming to a roster already stacked with stars.
So how can Gotham afford this? Without firm numbers on the 2024 NWSL salary cap, it’s difficult to figure out where the club is finding the money for this many high-profile stars, even if they’re possibly taking a pay cut to join a contender.
Ali Krieger’s retirement makes some room for an ostensibly large contract, though the team still carries stars like Esther González, Lynn Williams, Midge Purce and Kristie Mewis.
Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya speculated at Friday’s expansion draft that the new salary cap might be set at $2.7 million, but that number hasn’t yet been verified.
Bottom line: The NWSL has a long history of stacked teams, but free agency adds a new element of player choice to the proceedings. Is Gotham about to go back to back?
The Mexico women’s national team player’s three year deal (with a fourth mutual option year) is worth nearly $1.5 million, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Big picture: The signing breaks the $1.1 million record set in 2022 by Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit, also for a four-year contract.
Sánchez was a restricted free agent entering the 2024 offseason, meaning that Houston had to match offers from other clubs looking to sway the 27-year-old away from her current club.
Dash general manager Alex Singer thinks terms like Sánchez’s might become par for the course:
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see deals of even greater significance get executed here shortly, just given where this league is headed and the growth of the league.”
Texas’ win averaged 1.7 million viewers on ABC, with the broadcast peaking at 2.1 million viewers, breaking the previous record of 1.6 million set by FOX earlier this year.
The Washington Spirit might have convinced FC Barcelona manager Jonatan Giráldez to make the jump to the NWSL.
Giráldez confirmed he will be leaving the reigning Champions League winners at the end of this season for a job “outside of Europe.”
2023 NWSL Champions Ali Krieger, Midge Purce and Kelley O'Hara will start the ball drop on New Year's Eve in Times Square as the official special guests for the 60-second countdown into 2024.
The WNBA announced changes to the 2024 Commissioners Cup, streamlining the competition into a two-week period in June.
The 2024 regular-season schedule also has been announced, with a 40-game season running from May 14 to Sept. 19, with a break from July 18 to Aug. 14 for the Paris Olympics.
College hoops: No. 2 UCLA firmly defeated No. 13 Ohio State on Monday, 77-71, in a preview of two future Big Ten rivals.
Undefeated TCU also has snuck into the Top 25 rankings for the first time this season at No. 25.
Quote of the Day:
"I admire her game. I think it’s great for the game. That’s what you need. You need that competitive fire. And I hope that spreads not only from Iowa and LSU, but to many other teams."
Caitlin Clark on fellow Sporting News Athlete of the Year honoree Angel Reese.
Number of the Day
11
There are only 11 undefeated teams left in all of Division I women's college basketball.
