Claire Watkins
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scoutripley.bsky.social
Claire Watkins
@scoutripley.bsky.social
Newsletter lead writer and host of The Late Sub for Just Women’s Sports
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“I think this year has been a lot of mental growth. How do I weather storms?“

Jaedyn Shaw is answering the questions many former soccer prodigies face, and she’s becoming the player Gotham needs as they make a championship push. Spoke to her about it for JWS:

justwomenssports.com/reads/gotham...
2025 NWSL Semifinals: Gotham FC Star Jaedyn Shaw Is Hitting Her Stride
Star Gotham forward Jaedyn Shaw sits down with JWS before squaring off against the Orlando Pride in the 2025 NWSL semifinals.
justwomenssports.com
Went 0-2 bad this weekend I never want to see the red zone again
December 8, 2025 at 12:34 AM
No matter how this ends the Bears looking like a normal football team for most of this game is a genuine marvel to me
December 7, 2025 at 11:49 PM
If that’s it that’s a really shitty way for Zach Ertz to go out
December 7, 2025 at 9:09 PM
A big ten championship where both teams score one touchdown apiece feels spiritually correct
December 7, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Can’t say I’ve caught a ton of Big 12 CFB this year but watching the title game I get why some of the better 2-loss at large CFP schools are making a ruckus
December 6, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The demise of Stanford women’s soccer appears to be a little overstated
December 6, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Oh no the wall
jasmine mf'n aikey
December 6, 2025 at 2:50 AM
“Come on, FIFA!” - Lauryn Hill
December 5, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The World Cup draw means little to me as an average viewer I like to know who is playing who approximately 25 minutes before kickoff
December 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I'm late to tonight's NCAAW scores but Flau'jae Johnson has specifically been working on her 3PT% as she preps for the pros - and she's currently shooting 15% over her college career average. It's going to go down once LSU hits the SEC but she's making strides in intentional areas.
December 5, 2025 at 7:40 AM
They shot the Merrily We Roll Along pro shot almost entirely in close up and the fucked up thing is that it totally works
December 5, 2025 at 3:53 AM
As with any report I assume there are details that didn’t make it out into the open but yes it would be great if the league office could articulate their position
What justification did the league then use to reject it?
December 4, 2025 at 4:10 AM
It is explicitly stated in the CBA that there is no maximum salary under the current salary cap, which it seems the Spirit are not contesting and simply want to pay a third of to Trinity Rodman
Another important note here: Bloomberg reports that the NWSLPA has filed a grievance "based on the details of the contract being fair and compliant" with the CBA.
December 4, 2025 at 3:30 AM
If the Spirit want to use a third of the cap on their star forward they should be allowed
December 4, 2025 at 3:27 AM
"I'm so ready to go pro. I really want to establish myself, to show I could be the number one pick in the draft.”

Got a chance to chat with Flau’jae Johnson in November, who is a multi talented delight with a singular focus on being the best player in college basketball:
LSU Star Flau’jae Johnson on Leadership, Family, NIL Deals, and WNBA Dreams
LSU star Flau'jae Johnson tells JWS all about coach Kim Mulkey, stepping up as a leader, and her ambitions for the upcoming WNBA draft.
justwomenssports.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The fixtures are getting….festive
December 2, 2025 at 10:12 PM
There’s no shame in losing to Japan in Japan but man the Canada WNT has not won a soccer game in a long time
December 2, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Insofar as it doesn’t actually affect major tournament qualifying I’m not sure the nationals league third place game and final actually needs to be two legs. Live a little
December 2, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Catarina Macario says in the USSF distributed postgame mixed zone that she was shocked when she got the armband to close out tonight's USWNT game — her first time captaining the US in her career
December 2, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Didn’t face the most shots in the world but good window from Claudia Dickey. The U.S. has two really good GK options right now, champagne problems
December 2, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Alyssa Thompson is starting to look a little like she’s played a whole lot of football this calendar year and I think it’s because she has
December 2, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Through the first 110 minutes this is just a uniquely bad matchup for Italy they are not fast or physical enough to track and contest possession in the midfield and it’s absolutely killing them
December 2, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Cat Macario in this form everyone should be so afraid
December 2, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Something to watch in the early going here is the USWNT was fairly open this week that they didn’t know if Italy were going to shift formation or tactical approach from game one
December 2, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Watching the first half of this USWNT game at the gym because that is the only relevant motivation I can gather to get there in this weather
December 1, 2025 at 11:47 PM