The Soccer Tournament unveils groups for 16 women's teams battling for $1 million prize
Founded by TBT Enterprises, which also created The Basketball Tournament, The Soccer Tournament (TST) was unveiled in 2022 with 32 men's teams. Games are played on a smaller field to speed up the action, with each game featuring two 20-minute halves, but the real twist comes after the last whistle. TST borrows the 'Elam Ending' from its basketball roots and gives it a soccer spin. Instead of heading to overtime or penalties, teams race to hit a target score — one goal more than the leading team's total at the final whistle. If no one scores after five minutes, the game gets wilder as each team loses a player every three minutes until there's a two-on-two duel for the winning goal.
Advertisement
TST added the women's tournament in 2024 and doubled the size of the women's side this year, expanding from eight to 16 teams after receiving more than 50 applications for the coveted spots. More than 500 players will compete across four groups of four teams each, with matches held over four days from June 6-9.
'Our inaugural women's championship game viewership performed exceptionally well, as we grew our audience 452 percent from the beginning of the game until the moment the game-winning goal was scored,' Jon Mugar, the founder and CEO of TST, told . 'Both fans in attendance and people at home loved the product.' The tournament renewed its broadcast deal with ESPN+, which will stream 27 men's and women's matches live. An additional 20 matches will also air on ESPNU.
That surge in interest comes just as some of the biggest names in women's soccer take the field.
Led by USWNT and UNC legend Heather O'Reilly, the U.S. Women's team — the reigning TST champion — is back to defend its crown. This year's squad is stacked with star power, including World Cup defender Ali Krieger and 2025 Soccer Hall of Famer Carli Lloyd. The team's roster also features former Bay FC and Scottish national team player Jen Beattie, USWNT defenders Cat Whitehill and Jo Lohman, and top players from the University of North Carolina.
Advertisement
O'Reilly's side will kick off Group A play on June 5 against Austin Rise FC — a 100-percent women-owned, semi-professional team from the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) making its tournament debut. The match will be televised on ESPNU and streamed on ESPN+.
Austin Rise is part of a batch of new entrants, including Albion SC from San Diego, Atlanta-based Process FC, Speedy Turtles, Bumpy Pitch, Reunion City Dallas and Drunken Monkeys, led by legendary midfielder Brazilian national Formiga, who is making her TST debut.
Another former USWNT legend making a comeback at TST is former USWNT and Seattle Reign goalkeeper Hope Solo. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2015 World Cup winner will captain Solo FC, a team of legends and rising stars from around the world, with a focus on giving opportunities to players from underrepresented communities around the world.
'I want to shine a light on those players from around the world who you've never heard of who are great players who have the ability to get NCAA scholarships and professional contracts,' Solo explained during TST's podcast back in February. 'They're playing for the experience because it might pull them out and get them a college scholarship or a pro contract.'
Advertisement
Solo's side will debut against Speedy Turtles, one of the newcomers, on June 5, also broadcast on ESPNU/ESPN+.
USWNT legends won't be alone in chasing the title, with plenty of returning heavyweights ready to make a run at the $1 million prize.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham Red Dragons (Group B) are also returning to Cary, N.C., as is Streetball Canada (Group C) with an all-star squad featuring some of Canada's top national team players from the past. The NWSL's North Carolina Courage is also back to compete in Group D. Last year, the Courage fell to the U.S. Women in the final. This year, they are sending a squad that will feature current youth academy players, academy graduates currently playing in college and a few more well-known players. Angel City FC's TST team, Angel City 7, also returns to the tournament, competing in the same group as O'Reilly's U.S. Women, Austin Rise FC and Process FC.
In addition to the Courage and Angel City, the tournament welcomes the Kansas City Current this year. The team is sending players from its second team who currently play in the WPSL. Kansas City will play in Group B against Wrexham Red Dragons, Drunken Monkeys and Ultrain — a team supported by a soccer app founded in L.A. in 2020 and backed by pros like Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Curtis Jones (Liverpool) and Katie Zelem (Angel City).
Advertisement
'Our goal is to become the preeminent soccer festival in the world,' Mugar said in a statement. 'Judging by the number of returning fans and teams, we are well on our way. I can't wait to see the level of competition this June!'
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
US Women's national team, Soccer, NWSL, UK Women's Football
2025 The Athletic Media Company
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Status of 49ers early position battles revealed in first training camp practice
The San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday held their first training camp practice and offered a glimpse of what the early defensive depth chart looks like. ESPN's Nick Wagoner in a tweet ran through some of his observations from Wednesday's session and noted who the first-team reps went to on that side of the ball. Here's what that group looked like per Wagoner's tweet, along with our own takeaways from the personnel choices: DE: Mykel Williams, Sam Okuayinonu Nick Bosa will hold down one of the starting jobs. He didn't participate in team drills. Okuayinonu getting the initial first-team reps is a good sign for his chances of making the roster. He posted 3.0 sacks in 16 games last year and had enough flashes to be interesting as a fourth pass rusher. It looks early in camp like he's in line for that spot. DT: Kevin Givens, Jordan Elliott It's not a huge surprise the two veterans got the initial first-team reps. Draft picks Alfred Collins and CJ West should be worked into some first-team looks eventually. The 49ers will be in trouble if they go into the year with Givens and Elliott as their starters at DT. LB: Fred Warner, Dee Winters, Luke Gifford Winters was first up in the Will LB battle. He'll be fighting Kyle Shanahan's confidence in 49ers rising star could set table for new Super Bowl windowfor that three-down job with rookie third-round pick Nick Martin. There's no real surprise it was the third-year veteran Winters getting the early first-team reps. Gifford hasn't played a ton defensively over his six-year career, but he did play a career-high 203 defensive snaps for the Titans last season. There will likely be other players in the mix for the Sam LB spot, but the veteran Gifford got the first shot to start in the base defense. CB: Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green This isn't the notable CB thing. The notable CB thing is that Tre Brown, an offseason free agent signing, got the first nickel CB reps in the slot with Lenoir and Green playing outside. Rookie third-round pick Upton Stout also get some work in the nickel according to Wagoner. This battle is going to be a fun one, and the opening salvo saw the four-year vet with two-career INTs get the nod. S: Jason Pinnock, Ji'Ayir Brown There's an open safety spot because of Malik Mustapha's knee injury. Pinnock appeared to be the frontrunner to start alongside Brown since he spent one season under 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh when Saleh was the New York Jets head coach. That was confirmed with his early first-team reps. It'll be interesting to see if rookie Marquis Sigle gets a look. Free agent Richie Grant could also get a shot at some first-team snaps. Brown's status as a starter may also be in flux if he struggles in camp. For now he's still getting the first-team looks. More 49ers: Kyle Shanahan's confidence in 49ers rising star could set table for new Super Bowl window


Hamilton Spectator
5 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Owen Farrell returns to Lions bench. Andy Farrell makes 3 changes to starting XV for second test
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Owen Farrell has been selected on the bench in a British and Irish Lions overhaul for the second test against Australia that includes three changes to the starting lineup that won the first test 27-19 in Brisbane last weekend. Farrell led the Lions in their last midweek tour game — a win over the First Nations and Pasifika squad — and is now set to make his first test appearance since England's World Cup campaign in 2023 on Saturday. He is on his fourth Lions tour. His father, head coach Andy Farrell, recalled Bundee Aki to start at inside center to replace Sione Tuipulotu in the only change to the starting backline. England's Ollie Chessum was drafted in to partner skipper Maro Itoje as a replacement for injured Ireland lock Joe McCarthy and Andrew Porter replaced Ellis Genge at loosehead, giving the Lions an all-Ireland frontrow. Joining Owen Farrell on the bench will be Jac Morgan, restoring a Welsh player to the test squad after an historic absence last weekend. 'We have put ourselves in a good position after the first test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team,' Andy Farrell said. 'We will have to be a lot better than we were last week.' The Wallabies need a win on Saturday in Melbourne to keep the three-test series alive. Australia coach Joe Schmidt made three changes to his starting pack with blindside flanker Rob Valetini and lock Will Skelton and hooker David Porecki all returning from injuries to add some size and weight. Langi Gleeson returns as forward cover on the eight-man reserves bench which only has two backs — scrumhalf Tate McDermott and utility Ben Donaldson. Australia trailed 24-5 two minutes into the second half last week in Brisbane but rallied to close the margin to eight points. 'The squad has recovered well after a very physical first test,' Schmidt said. 'We took some confidence from the second half last week, but we know we'll need to improve further against a Lions team that will bring plenty of fire to the contest.' The Lions are now 7-0 in Australia, including the victory in the first test and wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force, Queensland Reds , Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams. The Lions have taken leads into the Melbourne match in the last two tours to Australia in 2001 and 2013 but lost the second test there both times. In 2001, Australia rallied to clinch the series in Sydney in the third test. The Lions won the Sydney decider 12 years ago. ___ Squads: Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Nick Frost, Allan Ala'alatoa, David Porecki, James Slipper. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Wiliams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson. British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Tommy Freeman (England), Huw Jones (Scotland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), James Lowe (Ireland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Jack Conan (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Ollie Chessum (England), Maro Itoje (England, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Andrew Porter (Ireland). Reserves: Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England). Will Stuart (England), James Ryan (Ireland), Jac Morgan (Wales), Alex Mitchell (England), Owen Farrell (England), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland). ___ AP rugby:


Fox Sports
5 hours ago
- Fox Sports
TBT Round of 16 Recap: We Are D3, Heartfire, Sideline Cancer Advance
Three games, three nail-biters — The Basketball Tournament delivered edge-of-your-seat drama from start to finish on Wednesday night as all three matchups went down to the wire. We Are D3 kicked off the action with a thrilling win over Stars of Storrs, a team loaded with former UConn standouts. Heartfire followed that game with a dramatic win over JHX Hoops, while Sideline Cancer closed out the night of action with an impressive victory over LA Ignite. Here is a recap of Wednesday night's TBT action! We Are D3 76, Stars of Storrs 68 We Are D3 got the job done in the Round of 16 on Wednesday with a hard-fought 76–68 victory over Stars of Storrs. Marcus Azor scored a team‑high 22 points, while Ty Nichols added 18 points in the win. RJ Cole led Stars of Storrs with 15 points off the bench. Isaiah Whitehead and Elijah Thomas were the only starters in double-digits, both with 14 points. Stars of Storrs will now advance to the Quarterfinals (Round of 8) and are set to take on Fail Harder at 7 p.m. ET Sunday on FS1. Marcus Hall scored a game-high 16 points, Tevin Mack poured in another 14 points and Eric Griffin added 12 points and eight rebounds in Heartfire's 71–68 win over JHX Hoops on Wednesday night. On the losing side, David McCormack led JHX Hoops with 15 points off the bench, while Billy Preston had 14 points and Zeke Mayo chipped in 12 points. Heartfire will now advance to the quarterfinals and take on Aftershocks at 9 p.m. ET Sunday on FS1. Sideline Cancer 74, LA Ignite 71 Sideline Cancer erased a 12-point deficit and found a way to beat LA Ignnite, 74-71. Alonzo Verge Jr. led the way with 16 points, while Chris Coffey added 14 points of his own to go with nine rebounds. Jermaine Marrow also had 14 points off the bench, helping Sideline Cancer get the win. Dakarai Tucker had a game-high 24 points, knocking down six 3-pointers for LA Ignite. Terrel Carter II had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Cameron Smith added 13 points off the bench. Sideline Cancer advances to the quarterfinals and is set to take on Eberlein Drive at 8 p.m. ET Monday on FS2. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 2 Get more from the The Basketball Tournament Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more