From high in the mountains early in the day to intense drama at an ice rink in southern Milan late at night, today was a day of medals for Team USA, which now owns 12. We also saw men’s hockey begin, with the reigning gold medalist falling in an upset.
Our correspondents have it all covered below and at NBC News. Catch it all streaming on Peacock.
Live from Milan Cortina
In the past four years, the married American figure skating pair of Madison Chock and Evan Bates had become the sport’s dominant pair. But one final accomplishment had eluded them in 15 years of competing together — the Olympic gold medal in ice dance.
Skating second to last in today’s ice dance final, Chock and Bates performed a spirited routine that put them in first place. Before they could celebrate, however, they had to wait out a final pair from France led by reigning Olympic champion Guillaume Cizeron and his partner of less than a year, Laurence Fournier Beaudry. In a dramatic reveal, the French pair’s score was better by less than 2 points, vaulting them into gold. The American and French pairs, who train under the same coach in Montreal, hugged one another in a melancholy moment for the Americans.
American speedskating star Jordan Stolz won the 1,000 meters and shaved a second off the Olympic record by finishing in 1:06.28. The 21-year-old from Wisconsin will also be favored in the 500 meters and the 1,500 meters and may also compete in the mass start, and he is trying to join Eric Heiden as the only American, man or woman, in any sport to win three-plus gold medals in a single Winter Olympics.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States compete during the ice dancing free skate in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy on Feb. 11, 2026. Francisco Seco / AP
The U.S. added to its medal haul on the slopes, where it earned two medals in women’s moguls as Liz Lemley won gold and Jaelin Kauf earned silver. And snowboarder Chloe Kim, less than a month after she tore the labrum in her left shoulder in training, left little doubt that she’ll be a threat for gold in the halfpipe by registering the highest score in qualifying. The U.S. has medaled in every Olympics since the halfpipe debuted in 1998.
Italy’s sensational Olympics continued when it won gold medals in both the men’s and women’s double luge. Thus far, Italy is one of just three countries to have earned double-digit medals. And men’s hockey has begun — with a surprise. Finland, the reigning champion, didn’t just lose its opening game; it was crushed by Slovakia, 4-1. The U.S. men open tomorrow against Latvia.
Athlete Spotlight
It had been a rough couple of days for Ryan Cochran-Siegle.
The Vermont native suffered from food poisoning, just about managing to battle it down enough to run in Saturday’s downhill, before his beloved New England Patriots lost the Super Bowl on Sunday. Bouncing back from his illness, he managed to prove his 2022 silver was no fluke as he claimed second again in the men’s super-G.
“It’s super emotional,” Cochran-Siegle told NBC Sports’ Heather Cox when he was asked how it felt to come back from illness to claim silver. “Definitely had to fight some demons with the toilet before my run.”
Ryan Cochran-Siegle of Team United States competes during the Men’s Super G on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Stelvio Alpine Skiing Centre on Feb. 11, 2026 in Bormio, Italy.Christian Petersen / Getty Images
Cheering him on was his mom, Barbara Cochran, who won gold at the 1972 Sapporo Games — 50 years to the day before he got silver in Beijing. His fiancée, Jessica Lucas, was also in attendance.
“I was selfish, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted my mom to come here, just because it is such a big event,” he admitted. “She was a little sick the last few days, too, so I got to see her from a balcony yesterday, but I haven’t actually seen her in person; [that’ll] be nice. And then, obviously, Jesse, too. She’s a huge part of my life. Sharing this moment with them is cool. I did not expect this, but obviously it’s nice to bring home some hardware.”
Photo of the Day
Florian Auer of Team Austria participates during Men’s Training Heat 6 on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Cortina Sliding Centre on Feb. 11, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Carmen Mandato / Getty Images
When to Watch
Thursday will be a stacked day of action. We’ll see U.S. men’s hockey for the first time, as it takes on Latvia. Chloe Kim has a chance at history, and we get to witness the chaotic glory that is short track speedskating.
All times are in Eastern, and an asterisk signifies a medal event.
3:05 a.m.: Curling, women’s round robin (Korea vs. USA, Japan vs. Sweden, Italy vs. Switzerland, Canada vs. Denmark)
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Firing back at the state’s star witness, attorneys for Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, spent the day grilling a former employee in the state’s lawsuit accusing Meta of putting young users in danger. It was a tense courtroom on Wednesday, as Meta attorneys hit back at claims by the company’s […]
If your Wednesday is moving a little too slow, why not kick it into high gear with this Sepultura show from Pinkpop 1996? It opens up with “Roots Blood Roots”, so there’s no time to be eased into things – the ass kicking is imminent and fierce. It also sounds great for being a live show, though I do wish that kinda farty bass tone was taken down a decibel or two. Whatever. The show runs as follows:
“Roots Bloody Roots”
“Spit”
“Territory”
“Breed Apart”
“Attitude”
“Dusted”
“Straighthate”
“Arise” / “Dead Embryonic Cells”
“Slave New World”
“Refuse/Resist”
“Ratamahatta” / “Kaiowas”
Sepultura plans to wrap up their career at one final show sometime this year in São Paulo, Brazil and it seems pretty unlikely that former frontman Max Cavalera and former drummer Igor Cavalerawill join them despite being invited come jam at the final show. Which I guess isn’t surprising, given that Max has been pretty vocal and critical of Sepultura carrying on over the years without the Cavalera brothers.
So… enjoy this 1996 performance instead. It’s probably the closest thing we’re gonna get.
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Myron Medcalf covers college basketball for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2011.
Multiple Authors
On Feb. 15, the NBA will debut a new All-Star Game format that features three teams in a mini “USA vs. the World” tournament. The rosters are stacked with stars: The USA teams include future Hall of Famers, and the world squad has some of the top international talents in the NBA.
Based on that All-Star tweak, we’ve decided to put together our own “USA vs. the World” teams in college basketball.
The NBA’s international team features players from around the world — and Karl-Anthony Towns, who was born in New Jersey but whose late mother was from the Dominican Republic. He has stated his desire to one day honor her by playing for the Dominican national team in the Olympics.
We’ve used similar criteria to add players to our world team. They either were born in another country, have played for another country’s national team, or have a parent from another country and could qualify to represent that nation one day, even if they’re U.S.-born.
Each team has five starters, eight reserves and two alternates.
Who are you picking in this matchup? Team USA or Team World?
The Texas Tech star (19.6 PPG, 7.5 APG, 44% from beyond the arc) is the son of a German father and recently played for Germany’s 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup team. In that event, he averaged 17.3 PPG, leading the nation to a silver medal. He could be an All-American this season and represent Germany once again in the 2028 Olympic Summer Games.
The potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft was born and raised in Boston, and he has won three gold medals with Team USA in FIBA competition. He also has a connection to Jamaica, where his mother was born. Dybantsa recently launched a relief effort to help the country recover after Hurricane Melissa. He’ll also have a path to represent his mother’s homeland in international competition one day, if he so chooses.
Ament, a 6-foot-10 projected lottery pick, has averaged 25.4 PPG and connected on 50% of his 3-point attempts in Tennessee’s past five games. The Vols are 4-1 during that stretch. He’s on this roster because of his basketball prowess, but also because of his connection to his mother’s home country, Rwanda, where he also organized a basketball camp and charitable effort last summer.
Lendeborg is the leader of a Wolverines squad that is ranked first on KenPom. He has made 67% of his shots inside the arc this season. Off the court and on it, he has strong ties to the Dominican Republic, which both his mother and father represented in national competition. Lendeborg has stated a desire to follow in their footsteps and play for the country in future competitions.
He was born in Texas, but the Big East Preseason Player of the Year moved to Nigeria with his family when he was young before returning to the United States in the sixth grade — and incidentally discovering a love for basketball. Ejiofor, who had 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and three steals in his team’s win over UConn on Friday, has helped St. John’s win 10 games in a row.
In 2023, Holloway scored 15 points at the Nike Hoop Summit, where he represented Canada. His tie to the country? The Alabama guard’s mother was born in Calgary and raised in Toronto. This season, he’s averaging 17.2 PPG and connecting on 44% of his shots from beyond the arc.
The standout freshman helped Belgium secure a fourth-place finish in the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2023. At Virginia, De Ridder is averaging 16.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG and 37% from 3, helping to make the Cavaliers an ACC contender in Ryan Odom’s first season as head coach.
He has played a pivotal role in Florida’s turnaround in the second half of this season, making 69% of his shots around the rim and holding opposing players to a 40% clip in the same category, per Synergy Sports.
The freshman standout scored 40 points in a win over Georgia Tech on Saturday and has now scored at least 25 points in 11 games. He’s currently sixth in the nation in scoring (22.4 PPG). His family is from Nigeria, and he has done nonprofit work there as well.
The Australian forward withdrew from the NBA draft in the offseason for a chance to win another national title. He has positioned the Gators to do exactly that with a strong start to his junior season, averaging 13.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 3.7 APG and 1.5 BPG.
The Kansas big man has held the Jayhawks together in a turbulent season full of injuries and adversity. Hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he’s averaging an impressive 14.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG and 2.6 BPG.
Veesaar’s clutch 3 in the final minutes of UNC’s win over Duke on Saturday was his biggest moment in a season full of highlights. The Estonian center is averaging 16.8 PPG and 9.0 RPG for the Tar Heels after transferring from Arizona.
The Dominican forward is on the midseason top-10 watch list for the Julius Erving Award (the nation’s top small forward) after averaging 18.3 PPG and connecting on 37% of his attempts from the 3-point line for USC. He lived in the Caribbean country until he moved to the United States for high school.
Averaging 17.7 PPG and 2.1 SPG for the struggling Bears, the 6-5 wing is a projected first-round pick in the upcoming draft and could become the first NBA player from Benin, a nation of 14 million.
Nebraska’s undefeated streak came to an end versus Michigan on Jan. 27, a matchup Mast missed because of injury. But when on the floor, the 6-10 forward from the Netherlands is averaging 14.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 3.0 APG for the Cornhuskers, who are chasing their first conference title in more than 70 years.
Kelvin Sampson rarely trusts young players to lead his teams. But Flemings, who’s averaging 17.1 PPG, 37% from 3 and 5.9 APG, has earned that responsibility in a stellar freshman season. Against BYU on Saturday, he helped his team make a second-half run to win a fourth consecutive game. With him at the point, the Cougars are now one game behind Arizona in the race for the Big 12 title.
The narrative surrounding Peterson has switched between injury concerns (11 missed games) and a buzz that he’s not only the potential No. 1 draft pick but also possibly the best player in America. He has made the case with his numbers: 20.5 PPG, 42% from beyond the arc, 55% inside the arc, 79% from the charity stripe.
UNC’s freshman superstar put his stamp on the season with his 23-point effort in Saturday’s thrilling 71-68 victory over rival Duke. The 6-10 big man had been playing at a high level well before, but his effort in the biggest rivalry in the sport might have helped him secure a spot on one of the AP All-America teams at the end of the season.
play
0:27
Joe Lunardi: ‘Beware of the Tar Heels’
Joe Lunardi breaks down UNC’s recent wins and what they’ll need to do to keep climbing the bracket.
Last season, former Duke superstar Cooper Flagg put together one of the greatest freshman seasons in recent college basketball history. Boozer (23.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 38% from 3) is having a year that’s superior in many categories. He also has been the frontrunner — without any real competition — all season in the national player of the year race.
The Iowa State standout is the anchor for a team that’s chasing a top-three seed in the NCAA tournament. Jefferson (17.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 41% from beyond the arc) is one of the most versatile offensive players in the country and an excellent defender. At 6-9, he’s one of America’s most difficult matchups.
The only returning AP first-team All-American entered the season as the favorite to win the Wooden Award. He’s second in the nation in assists (8.7 APG) in what has also turned out to be a better season than a year ago (43% from 3).
The Arkansas point guard is the latest ball handler for John Calipari with All-American aspirations. He’s an excellent shooter (42% from 3) and playmaker (6.3 APG). He’s also trustworthy (3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio). Acuff is a complete guard and could lead the Razorbacks in making some noise in the NCAA tournament.
A year after the Tigers reached the Final Four under his father, first-year head coach Steven Pearl could lead a brand-new roster to the NCAA tournament. Hall (21.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 40% from the 3-point line), a transfer from UCF, is the catalyst for the 12th-best team in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
He was a four-star prospect in the 2025 class after winning a high school state title in Kansas last year. He has turned into a strong contender for Big Ten Player of the Year after leading Illinois to the top of the league standings despite the Illini missing standout Kylan Boswell due to a wrist injury.
Momcilovic was named to the Julius Erving Award midseason top-10 list following a strong start to the 2025-26 season. Not only is he averaging 18.7 PPG, but he’s also the top 3-point shooter in the country by a healthy margin (53.3%).
Haugh decided to return to college this season to improve his NBA draft stock. It appears to have been the right move. He’s averaging 17.8 PPG and 6.4 RPG, including scoring 22 points in an 86-67 win over Texas A&M on Saturday — a win that catapulted the Gators to first place in the SEC.
The Texas Tech star has developed rapidly in recent years. He was an unheralded freshman at New Mexico before taking home Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. He secured a second-team AP All-America nod last season. As a junior, he’s averaging 21.8 PPG and 10.6 RPG, and could pick up more awards this season.
Philon’s 25-point effort Saturday helped the Crimson Tide knock off rival Auburn. It wasn’t an unusual performance from one of the top players in the SEC, however. The combo guard has had 11 games this season with at least 17 points and five assists.
The Gonzaga star has improved every season, and this campaign, he has an offensive rating that’s among the best in the nation. The 6-9 forward has made 60% of his shots inside the arc and 37% of his shots outside. He’s also a critical part of one of Mark Few’s best defensive teams.
Karaban could finish his fourth season in Storrs with a third national title. He averages 13.5 PPG and 42% from 3 and remains the steady leader on a stacked Huskies roster featuring multiple players who can step up on any given night.
Lindsey Vonn says she underwent a third round of surgery Wednesday and is making “slow” progress as she recovers from a crash that broke her leg during her downhill Olympic race on Sunday.
The surgery was successful, she said in a post on Instagram. She also shared photos of herself in her hospital bed with a metal frame attached to her leg.
“Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago,” she posted. “I’m making progress and while it is slow, I know I’ll be ok.”
Vonn, who calls Colorado home, said she is thankful for the incredible medical staff, family and friends who have been by her side and for “the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world.”
“Also, huge congrats to my teammates and all of the Team USA athletes who are out there inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for,” she posted.
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn shared a photo from the hospital where she’s recovering after breaking her leg in a crash in the women’s downhill race at the Winter Olympics, Feb. 11, 2026.
@lindseyvonn via Instagram/via REUTERS
Vonn crashed seconds into her race after deciding to compete despite rupturing her left ACL in a prior crash during a World Cup event in the Swiss Alps a week before.
The 41-year-old American came out of retirement to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics and had said she felt confident she could still complete the race with the help of a knee brace.
A high-profile trial against social media company Meta continued into its second day in Santa Fe, with prosecutors accusing the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp of intentionally targeting teens and preteens to maximize advertising revenue while exposing young users to sexual exploitation and other online dangers.On Tuesday, jurors heard testimony from Arturo Béjar, a former senior Facebook leader who oversaw engineering and product efforts related to site integrity, security, safety and customer support.Béjar testified that Facebook maintained a proactive internal standard for addressing user harm when he left the company in 2015. He said he returned in 2019 after his daughter received sexually explicit photos online, hoping to help drive change, but found the company had shifted to a less responsive environment.Béjar said research and recommendations aimed at reducing harm were often ignored. “So many examples of people with good ideas for good things that would reduce harm within, as it got reviewed and went through the pipeline, would get pushed down,” he said.During his testimony, Béjar used a car analogy to describe platform responsibility. He said people expect a car to operate safely regardless of who is driving and argued the same standard should apply to social media products. He also said parents and children share responsibility for online harm.Béjar conducted an internal survey called the Bad Experiences and Encounters Framework, or BEEF, in 2021, which included nearly 238,000 Instagram users between the ages of 13 and 15. The survey asked whether they had experienced multiple types of online harm.According to the survey, about one in three users reported witnessing online bullying, while about one in 10 said they had personally experienced it. One in five reported seeing sexual images.Béjar became emotional while discussing the findings, highlighting the scale of potential harm among teenage users.”270 million teenagers on Instagram today. But it’s 1 in 10 out of 270 million kids, right? That’s half the population of the United States. When you see this number to act on it, because you’re going to, you have such a responsibility to the safety of every single one of those kids,” Béjar said.Béjar testified that he presented the results in an email to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other top executives. He said leadership was aware of the reported harm but did not implement changes and alleged the company prioritized growth and competition with other social media platforms, including TikTok and Snapchat.Béjar testified that while Instagram’s policy in 2021 during the time of the study states harmful behavior is not allowed, internal data shows such behavior continues and policies do not adequately warn parents about potential risks.Béjar said Meta focused on building new features and directing resources toward growth rather than addressing safety concerns. He also criticized the company leadership’s response to safety issues.”I think they (executives) really care about making people think that they care. But I think in practice they don’t care,” Béjar said. “Caring is the moment you become aware of something, you engage with it, you understand it, you work on it, you do things that make it better.”The defense has not yet cross-examined Béjar.
A high-profile trial against social media company Meta continued into its second day in Santa Fe, with prosecutors accusing the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp of intentionally targeting teens and preteens to maximize advertising revenue while exposing young users to sexual exploitation and other online dangers.
On Tuesday, jurors heard testimony from Arturo Béjar, a former senior Facebook leader who oversaw engineering and product efforts related to site integrity, security, safety and customer support.
Béjar testified that Facebook maintained a proactive internal standard for addressing user harm when he left the company in 2015. He said he returned in 2019 after his daughter received sexually explicit photos online, hoping to help drive change, but found the company had shifted to a less responsive environment.
Béjar said research and recommendations aimed at reducing harm were often ignored. “So many examples of people with good ideas for good things that would reduce harm within, as it got reviewed and went through the pipeline, would get pushed down,” he said.
During his testimony, Béjar used a car analogy to describe platform responsibility. He said people expect a car to operate safely regardless of who is driving and argued the same standard should apply to social media products. He also said parents and children share responsibility for online harm.
Béjar conducted an internal survey called the Bad Experiences and Encounters Framework, or BEEF, in 2021, which included nearly 238,000 Instagram users between the ages of 13 and 15. The survey asked whether they had experienced multiple types of online harm.
According to the survey, about one in three users reported witnessing online bullying, while about one in 10 said they had personally experienced it. One in five reported seeing sexual images.
Béjar became emotional while discussing the findings, highlighting the scale of potential harm among teenage users.
“270 million teenagers on Instagram today. But it’s 1 in 10 out of 270 million kids, right? That’s half the population of the United States. When you see this number to act on it, because you’re going to, you have such a responsibility to the safety of every single one of those kids,” Béjar said.
Béjar testified that he presented the results in an email to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other top executives. He said leadership was aware of the reported harm but did not implement changes and alleged the company prioritized growth and competition with other social media platforms, including TikTok and Snapchat.
Béjar testified that while Instagram’s policy in 2021 during the time of the study states harmful behavior is not allowed, internal data shows such behavior continues and policies do not adequately warn parents about potential risks.
Béjar said Meta focused on building new features and directing resources toward growth rather than addressing safety concerns. He also criticized the company leadership’s response to safety issues.
“I think they (executives) really care about making people think that they care. But I think in practice they don’t care,” Béjar said. “Caring is the moment you become aware of something, you engage with it, you understand it, you work on it, you do things that make it better.”
Josh Ross is building his career in the U.S. after establishing himself in his native Canada, and his burgeoning success is why Taste of Country has chosen him as one of its RISERS: 2026 Artists to Watch.
Who Is Josh Ross?
The 29-year-old Canadian-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter built his career independently for years before releasing his debut EP, Complicated. The project earned Ross his first-ever Juno Award in 2025 for Country Album of the Year.
Ross scored his first No. 1 hit at U.S. country radio with “Single Again” in 2025, making him the first male Canadian country artist in almost 30 years to lead the U.S. Country Airplay chart.
His genre-blending sound mixes country and rock, focusing on a raspy vocal delivery and strong hooks.
What Are Josh Ross’ Top Songs?
Ross scored four No. 1 songs in Canada before landing his breakthrough in America with “Single Again.” So far, that song remains his best-known hit in the U.S.
What Are Josh Ross’ Career Highlights?
Ross has scored a string of hits in Canada.
He’s the reigning CCMA Entertainer of the Year, a six-time 2025 CCMA Award nominee, and winner of the 2024 CMA Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award.
Ross has earned more than a billion streams, and he’s showcased his musical versatility by touring with artists as diverse as Nickelback, Brantley Gilbert, Bailey Zimmerman and Luke Bryan.
He supported Jelly Roll on the Beautifully BrokenGreat Northern Tour across Canada in 2025, as well as touring with Dylan Scott.
What’s Next for Josh Ross in 2026?
Ross is cementing his popularity in Canada with his headlining Later Tonight Tour, which runs from Feb. 6-March 9.
According to Ross’ tour calendar, most of the dates are already sold out.
Ross will also perform at the CRS New Faces of Country Music showcase in Nashville in March. The annual show is considered a rite of passage for future country stars.
See the Most Played Country Song from the Year You Were Born
Who had the most played country song during the year you were born? This list is a fascinating time capsule of prevalent trends from every decade in American history. Scroll through to find your birth year and then click to listen. Some of these songs have been lost through the years, many of them for good reason!
Most Popular Country Album From the Year You Were Born
Find out which country singer dominated on this list of the most popular albums from the year you were born or graduated high school.
This list is based on sales date from the Soundscan era (1991 to 2022) and total weeks spent atop Billboard‘s Hot Country Albums chart (1964-1990).
In 1999, Shania Twain‘s Come on Over album became the first to top the year-end chart in back-to-back years, but that feat has been done four times since, most recently in 2022. Which country album defined your childhood? Scroll down to find out.
Just when you think the NWSL preseason is settling ahead of the new calendar year, the big moves keep coming. Kansas City Current have acquired midfielder Croix Bethune from Washington Spirit, sources tell CBS Sports. Washington Spirit are set to receive a record-matching fee for Bethune. The deal is finalized though not set to be announced until a later date.
North Carolina Courage currently holds the record for intraleague funds ($1.25 million) after trading Jaedyn Shaw to Gotham FC last year.
Bethune is coming off a successful two-year stint with the Washington Spirit, where she won the 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year. In her first pro season, she tied Tobin Heath’s decade-old single-season assist record in just 17 games thanks to a season-ending torn meniscus. She also won the league’s inaugural NWSL Midfielder of the Year award. Her impressive rookie season earned her a place on the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. women’s national team, and she’s recorded seven caps so far.
Sources also confirmed that the player requested the trade, and her former club worked to complete the deal. Bethune received interest from other teams, though now she’ll be joining the league’s reigning NWSL Shield winners.
She often showcases her vision with short, elegant passes and is a certified playmaker. Her move to Kansas City is a welcome arrival following the departure of recent playmaker and goal scorer Bia Zaneratto. The Brazilian international left the club after her contract expired and returned to Palmeiras in free agency.
Bethune’s rise to prominence was anything but easy. The player has had to bounce back from a torn meniscus that cut her NWSL rookie season short. In college, the player tore her ACL twice, but was drafted into the NWSL after earning two-time first-team All-American and Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year honors with a career that saw her start at Southern California and finish at Georgia.
She’s shown she can bounce back and contribute and now joins Kansas City after her recent camps with the U.S. women’s national team and a short preseason stint with the Spirit.
Washington Spirit make it official
Following CBS Sports’ reporting that Bethune’s movement came by way of request, the Spirit announced Bethune’s departure on Wednesday. Bethune’s move to Kansas City yielded a club-record $100k in allocation funds and $900k in transfer threshold funds, the third-largest return in NWSL history.
“We are grateful to Croix for her contributions over the past two seasons. After conversations about her desire to explore development opportunities in a different environment, we were able to structure a deal that honored her request while securing significant value for our club, making it the third-highest intra-league transfer in NWSL history and a top ten mark globally,” said club president of soccer operations Haley Carter.
“We evaluate every situation on its individual merits, and in this case, the alignment of player goals and organizational value made sense for all parties. That said, our focus is on the talented core we have returning. We’re heading into 2026 healthy, deep, and ready to win.”
Claire Hutton moves on from Kansas City Current
Kansas City Current also traded midfielder Claire Hutton to Bay FC on Wednesday. The Midwest club received $1.1 million in intraleague transfer funds for the 2025 NWSL Best XI honoree, who is also a member of the USWNT.
“Claire is an important signing for us. She’s a top-quality player who is tight on the ball, and she has the mobility and physical presence to break up play,” said Bay FC head coach Emma Coates.
“Despite her age she brings experience and a strong mentality, and we believe she has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world. The most exciting part for us is her desire to keep getting better, and we’re excited to support her through the next stages of her career and even more excited to see the impact she will have at Bay FC.”
The 20-year-old Hutton was a 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year finalist and leaves Kansas City Current as a rising star in the NWSL and U.S. women’s national team. Hutton signed her first professional contract in 2024 at 17 years old with Kansas City, the sixth player signed under the league’s Under-18 Entry Mechanism, and she has since become a regular club starter with a bright future for her new club and her country.
She has 13 appearances for the USWNT since her debut in 2025, and recently, head coach Emma Hayes discussed a leadership role with the midfielder, who is the youngest player to captain the national team in the Hayes era.
