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The 2025 Little League World Series began on Thursday with an international clash but culminates with a U.S. bracket match that will continue the dreams of either the Las Vegas, Nevada team or the squad from Irmo, South Carolina.

Irmo fought its way back into contention by dispatching of Sioux Falls in a hard-fought battle, 7-6. Las Vegas, on the other hand, will need to battle back from the sting of losing to Fairfield, 7-3. While Connecticut goes on to play in the U.S. championship game Saturday, Nevada will take on Irmo on short rest for a chance to stay alive.

Stay tuned for all the action from a must-watch U.S. bracket matchup between Las Vegas and Irmo, a game that will determine the fate of both teams in the 2025 Little League World Series.

How to watch 2025 Little League World Series

The 2025 Little League World Series will be broadcast on ESPN platforms, with the championship game airing on ABC. Games will also be available to stream on ESPN+.

  • Date: Thursday, Aug. 21
  • Times: International game, 3 p.m. ET; U.S. game, 7 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN
  • Stream: Fubo
  • Location: South Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Stream the Little League World Series on Fubo

What time is the 2025 Little League World Series today?

Thursday, Aug. 21

All times Eastern

International Bracket

  • Game 33: Aruba v. Venezuela: 3 p.m. @ Lamade

United States bracket

  • Game 33: Las Vegas v. South Carolina: 7 p.m. @ Lamade
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Walmart on Thursday raised its full-year earnings and sales outlook as its online business posted another quarter of double-digit gains, even as the company said costs are rising from higher tariffs.

The big-box retailer topped Wall Street’s quarterly sales estimates but fell short of earnings expectations, the first time it missed on quarterly earnings since May 2022. The company said it felt pressure on profits for the period, including from some one-time expenses, such as restructuring costs, pricier insurance claims and litigation settlements.

Walmart said it now expects net sales to grow 3.75% to 4.75% for the fiscal year, up from its previous expectations of 3% to 4%. It raised its adjusted earnings per share outlook slightly to $2.52 to $2.62, up from a prior range of $2.50 to $2.60 per share.

In an interview with CNBC, Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said the company is working hard to keep prices low — including speeding up imports from overseas and stepping up the number of Rollbacks, or limited-time discounts, in its stores.

“This is managed on an item-by-item and category-by-category basis,” he said. “There are certainly areas where we have fully absorbed the impact of higher tariff costs. There are other areas where we’ve had to pass some of those costs along.”

But he added “tariff-impacted costs are continuing to drift upwards.”

Even so, Rainey said Walmart hasn’t seen a change in customer spending. For example, sales of private label items, which typically cost less than national brands, were roughly flat year over year, he said.

“Everyone is looking to see if there are any creaks in the armor or anything that’s happening with the consumer, but it’s been very consistent,” he said. “They continue to be very resilient.”

Yet on the company’s earnings call, CEO Doug McMillon said middle- and lower-income households have been more sensitive to tariff-related price increases, particularly in discretionary categories.

“We see a corresponding moderation in units at the item level as customers switch to other items, or in some cases, categories,” he said.

Here’s what the big-box reported for the fiscal second quarter compared with what Wall Street expected, according to a survey of analysts by LSEG:

Walmart shares fell about 2% in premarket trading Thursday.

Walmart’s net income jumped to $7.03 billion, or 88 cents per share, in the three-month period that ended July 31, compared with $4.50 billion, or 56 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Revenue rose from $169.34 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Comparable sales for Walmart U.S. climbed 4.6% in the second quarter, excluding fuel, compared with the year-ago period, as both the grocery and health and wellness category saw strong growth. That was higher than the 4% increase that analysts expected. The industry metric, also called same-store sales, includes sales from stores and clubs open for at least a year.

At Sam’s Club, comparable sales jumped 5.9% excluding fuel, higher than the 5.2% that analysts anticipated.

E-commerce sales jumped 25% globally and 26% in the U.S., as both online purchases and advertising grew. In the U.S., Walmart said sales through store-fulfilled delivery of groceries and other items grew nearly 50% year over year, with one-third of those orders expedited. The company charges a fee for some of those faster deliveries, and others are included as a benefit of its subscription-based membership program, Walmart+.

Its global advertising business grew 46% year over year, including Vizio, the smart TV maker it acquired for $2.3 billion last year. Its U.S. advertising business, Walmart Connect, grew by 31%.

As Walmart’s online business drums up more revenue from home deliveries, advertising and commissions from sellers on its third-party marketplace, e-commerce has become a profitable business. The company marked a milestone in May — posting its first profitable quarter for its e-commerce business in the U.S. and globally.

Rainey said on Thursday that Walmart doubled its e-commerce profitability in the fiscal second quarter from the prior quarter.

In the U.S., shoppers both visited Walmart more and spent more on those trips during the quarter. Customer transactions rose 1.5% year over year and average ticket increased 3.1% for Walmart’s U.S. business.

As the largest U.S. retailer, Walmart offers a unique window into the financial health of American households. As higher duties have come in fits and starts — with some getting delayed and others going into effect earlier this month — Wall Street has tried to understand how those costs will ripple through the U.S. economy.

Walmart warned in May that it would have to raise some prices due to higher levies on imports, even with its size and scale. The company’s comments drew the ire of President Donald Trump, who said in a social media post that Walmart should “EAT THE TARIFFS.”

About a third of what Walmart sells in the U.S. comes from other parts of the world, with China, Mexico, Canada, Vietnam and India representing its largest markets for imports, Rainey said in May.

According to an analysis by CNBC of about 50 items sold by the retailer, some of those price changes have already hit shelves. Items that rose in price at Walmart over the summer included a frying pan, a pair of jeans and a car seat.

Rainey on Thursday declined to specify items or categories where Walmart had increased prices, saying the company is “trying to keep prices as low as we can.”

He said one of the company’s strategies has been bringing in inventory early, particularly for Sam’s Club as it gets ready for the second half of the fiscal year and its crucial holiday season. At the end of the quarter, inventory was up about 3.5% at Sam’s Club, Rainey said. It was up 2.2% for Walmart U.S.

On the company’s earnings call, McMillon said the impact of tariffs has been “gradual enough that any behavioral adjustments by the customer have been somewhat muted.”

“But as we replenish inventory at post-tariff price levels, we’ve continued to see our costs increase each week, which we expect will continue into the third and fourth quarters,” he said.

Yet even with higher costs from tariffs, Walmart has fared better than its retail competitors as it has leaned into its reputation for value, competed on faster deliveries to customers’ homes and attracted more business from higher-income households.

The Arkansas-based retailer’s performance has diverged sharply from rival Target, which posted another quarter of sales declines on Wednesday and named the new CEO who will be tasked with trying to turn around the company.

Walmart has gained from Target’s struggles. It has followed the Target playbook by launching more exclusive and trend-driven brands, including grocery brand BetterGoods and activewear brand Love & Sports. It has also expanded its third-party marketplace to include prestige beauty brands and more.

Sales of general merchandise, items outside of the grocery department, were a bright spot for Walmart in the fiscal second quarter, Rainey said. That category struggled during peak inflation in recent years, as consumers spent less on discretionary items because of rising grocery bills.

Comparable sales for general merchandise rose by a low-single-digit percentage and accelerated throughout the quarter, Rainey told CNBC. He added clothing and fashion sales “really shined for us.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

  • Shohei Ohtani was hit in the thigh by a comebacker during the Dodgers’ loss to the Rockies.
  • Ohtani left the game as a pitcher after four innings and was later removed for a pinch-hitter due to the injury.
  • Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects Ohtani to return to the lineup on Friday against the Padres.

Shohei Ohtani was hit in the thigh by a comebacker and eventually removed from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, but the National League MVP favorite expects to be back in the lineup for his team’s next game.

In the fourth inning at Coors Field, a line drive hit by Orlando Arcia struck Ohtani above the right knee. Manager Dave Roberts and the training staff came out to check on him, but Ohtani remained in the game and finished the inning.

Ohtani took his at-bat in the fifth but his night on the mound came to an end, getting roughed up for nine hits and five earned runs in four innings. Roberts removed Ohtani for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and said after the game he was worried about his star’s thigh tightening up.

‘It was getting stiff and there was some swelling in there,’ Roberts said. ‘It was in the thigh, fortunately, and not off the knee. But it got him square. … I felt as the game was going to go on, it was going to stiffen up more.’

Is Shohei Ohtani playing today?

Roberts said before Wednesday’s game – and the injury – that he was planning on resting Ohtani on Thursday, a day game after a night game in which he pitched. Ohtani was indeed left out of the Dodgers’ starting lineup for the series finale at Coors Field on Thursday.

Detailing after the game that Ohtani had a thigh contusion, Roberts said he’s ‘hopeful’ that Ohtani will be back in the lineup Friday for the first game of a huge series against the Padres in San Diego.

‘That’s my intention,’ Ohtani said through his interpreter, ‘is to make sure I get my treatment, and the goal is to make sure that I’m back to normal again. … I got hit in the same spot, hit by a pitch (earlier this season). Right now, it feels pretty good. I’m going to do everything in my ability to make sure that it doesn’t affect me moving forward.’

The Dodgers lead the Padres by just one game in the NL West, and the three-game set at Petco Park beginning Friday is the final time the teams will meet in the regular season.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

MANCHESTER, England — U.S. rugby player Ilona Maher said she is contemplating an offer to participate in WWE wrestling as a stepping stone to Hollywood after the Women’s Rugby World Cup that kicks off on Friday in England.

‘I’ve been approached before by the WWE,’ she told the BBC, joking that her ring name would be ‘Maher-vellous’. ‘I should think about it, there is great money in it.’

Maher is the world’s most followed rugby player with nearly nine million followers across Instagram and TikTok. She was also a contestant on ‘Dancing with the Stars’, posed for Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue and was named best breakthrough athlete at this year’s ESPYS, ESPN’s annual award show.

‘I would love to get into the acting space and the scripted space. I think a Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson, John Cena progression – I would love to do that,’ Maher said.

‘It would be exciting to see my body type on the screen. I’ll start off small – probably like a hot assassin or something, let’s not get too crazy. I’m not going to be in a rom-com just yet.

‘We’ll see. The world is open, but I do see myself coming back to rugby.’

The United States play favorite England to open the World Cup on Friday at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

NASCAR lost a legend on Wednesday as former president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Howard Augustine ‘Humpy’ Wheeler Jr., died of natural causes, Charlotte Motor Speedway announced. He was 86 years old.

Wheeler was a prominent figure in the rise of NASCAR. He was a master at marketing races and played a pivotal role in making Charlotte Motor Speedway the track that it is today.

Wheeler was a pioneer in the sport. Whether it was bringing Janet Guthrie to the 1976 World 600, becoming the first woman to qualify for a race at a NASCAR superspeedway or delivering NASCAR’s first night race in 1993, Wheeler was constantly breaking new ground in stock car racing.

Wheeler’s exuberant personality made him a natural fit for the NASCAR scene. He was also never afraid to get his own hands dirty. In 2007, Wheeler donned an apron and hat in order to pitch hot dogs and popcorn to fans alongside Joey Chestnut. His larger than life demeanor and humility made him one of the most beloved figures in racing.

Is Humpy Wheeler in the Hall of Fame?

Not yet.

Wheeler will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Landmark Award in the Class of 2026.

In a statement regarding this distinction, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France referred to Wheeler as a ‘visionary whose name became synonymous with promotion and innovation in our sport.’ France continued, ‘Humpy transformed the fan experience through his creativity, bold ideas and tireless passion. His efforts helped expand NASCAR’s national footprint, cement Charlotte as a must-visit racing and entertainment complex and recently earned him the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s prestigious Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The latest addition to the pool of Democrats seeking to challenge Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is doubling down on Zohran Mamdani-style socialism, says the chief of Maine’s Republican Party.

Democrat Graham Platner launched his campaign highlighting his history as an Army and Marine veteran as well as an oyster farmer, but state GOP chief Jason Savage told Fox News Digital that rural accolades aren’t policy positions. He pointed to Platner’s hiring of a top Mamdani adviser, Morris Katz, to produce his campaign launch video.

In that video, Platner rails against the ‘oligarchy’ and endorses universal healthcare. His website features messaging that claims the U.S. has a ‘billionaire economy,’ and that – if elected – Platner would view it as a key part of his job ‘to dismantle’ it.

‘Graham Platner is Maine’s Mamdani,’ Savage told Fox News Digital in an interview. ‘He brought in the Mamdani team to support his campaign. He’s out doing a lot of work with socialist groups.… He’s a Bernie bro.’

‘What we’re seeing here is the exporting of the Mamdani ideology to the state of Maine because they think that they can gain ground in a small state where things aren’t as expensive,’ he added.

‘You can look through Graham Platner’s donor history, and you can see that he donated to Harris for President, Bernie Sanders, Ilhan Omar,’ he continued, arguing that far-left candidates are a major threat to the Democratic Party.

Platner’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

‘If common-sense Democrats, and then the leadership like [Sen.] Chuck Schumer don’t do something and say that isn’t the future of our party, then they’re gonna run in a bunch of these races. and we’re gonna beat them,’ he said.

Savage argued that the Democratic Party’s embracing of the far-left is a ‘double-edged sword.’ He said Democratic candidates can’t succeed without the ‘extreme wing’ of the party, and now ‘they’ve created a monster that they don’t have the ability to control.’

‘In the long run, it’s going to be catastrophic for them. I mean, Graham Platner advocates for allowing men to be in girls’ and women’s sports,’ Savage said. ‘He advocates for all sorts of policies that are very, very unpopular, and the Democrats can’t say anything to stop that.’

The Democratic challenger list against Collins is growing, and reports say those already in office are trying to tap Janet Mills, the state’s 77-year-old Democratic governor, for the seat.

Republicans currently control the majority of the Senate by a 53-47 margin. Democrats would need to flip four seats in the 2026 midterm elections to take the majority. 

A spokesperson for Collins told Fox News Digital that Platner is ‘just another progressive entering the race.’

Fox News’ Pilar Arias contributed to this report 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The Day 9 action of the 2025 Little League World Series will start with an international matchup that will end one team’s LLWS dreams while allowing the other to continue their quest for the championship title.

After a hard-fought battle, Venezuela was unable to overcome Chinese Taipei, losing 7-3. This defeat has set the stage for a high-stakes game for the Latin American team, as they now face a must-win situation against Aruba. Aruba secured their spot in the next round after a quick turnaround, having played the night before and successfully overcoming another elimination game by defeating Japan, 3-0.

Stay tuned for all the action from a must-watch international matchup between Venezuela and Aruba, a game that will determine the fate of both teams in the 2025 Little League World Series.

What time is the 2025 Little League World Series today?

Thursday, Aug. 21

All times Eastern

International Bracket

Game 33: Aruba v. Venezuela: 3 p.m. @ Lamade Stadium

United States bracket

Game 33: Las Vegas v. South Dakota/South Carolina: 3 p.m. @ Lamade Stadium

Six teams still in the hunt for the LLWS title, here are the teams left

Chinese Taipei has clinched a spot in Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. ET international championship game on ABC. Their opponent? Well, that will be settled today as Venezuela and Aruba play an elimination game for the other spot in the international championship game.

Connecticut has secured a spot in Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. ET U.S. championship game on ABC. Who will Connecticut play? That answer comes tonight as Nevada and South Carolina have an elimination game showdown for the other spot.

As Day 9 of the Little League World Series gets underway, here’s a look at the modified double-elimination bracket.

How to watch 2025 Little League World Series

The 2025 Little League World Series will be broadcast on ESPN platforms, with the championship game airing on ABC. Games will also be available to stream on ESPN+.

  • Date: Thursday, Aug. 21
  • Times: International game, 3 p.m. ET; U.S. game, 7 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN
  • Stream: Fubo
  • Location: South Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Stream the Little League World Series on Fubo

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Historically, the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry is one of the fiercest, nastiest, and most important in Major League Baseball history.

For well over a century, the AL foes, geographically separated by about 200 miles, have battled – both on and off the field – providing memories forever etched in the game’s lore.

The list of highlights is long and includes Babe Ruth being sold by Sox owner Harry Frazee to the Yankees in 1919; thus, beginning the Curse of the Bambino.

There was Bucky Dent connecting on a Mike Torrez hanging breaking ball for a home run; a blast which gave New York the 1978 pennant. And, New York’s Aaron Boone hitting a walk-off series-winning homer against Boston’s Tim Wakefield in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS.

While the Yankees have won about 55% of their over 2,317 regular-season matchups, the Red Sox have also enjoyed monumental victories over the Yankees.

After trailing the 2004 ALCS 3-0, Boston reeled off four straight wins to send the Yankees packing. With the victory, Boston advanced to the World Series, where they would capture their first title in 86 years.

The rivalry has seen its share of fights including a 2004 dustup which pitted New York’s Alex Rodriguez against Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek, and of course who could forget Sox star pitcher Pedro Martinez shoving 72-year-old Yankees coach Don Zimmer to the ground one year earlier?

But while these teams have engaged in fisticuffs, notable games, and perhaps the most lopsided trade in sports history, it can also be said that the rivalry has been on hiatus for some time.

“I mean it was like hatred,” said Brian Doyle, a reserve infielder, who hit a team leading .438 for the Yanks in the 1978 World Series. “It’s just not the same as it was back then.”

Dent concurred with Doyle telling USA TODAY Sports, “I don’t think it is quite as intense because back in the 70’s you didn’t change teams very often. It was always (Thurman) Munson, (Carlton) Fisk, (Graig) Nettles, Bill Lee.”

While the rivalry has featured some of baseball’s juiciest storylines, it’s also cyclical.

“Early in my career, when the Red Sox didn’t have much of a good team, when I first came up in the late ‘60s, the rivalry was not as intense,” said Roy White, who spent his entire 15-year career with the Yankees. “Once they came up into prominence and we got into prominence also, in the late 70s – those were series to be remembered.”

That era featured historical matchups and more than a few memorable dust-ups including a 1976 bench-clearing brawl which began when New York’s Lou Piniella collided with Boston catcher Carlton Fisk.

The most impactful result of the fight was a separated left shoulder for Lee, which forced “The Spaceman” to miss 51 games that year.

The rivalry remained strong until Boston broke the supposed Ruth curse.

“Once they started winning the World Series, it kind of calmed down,” said Tino Martinez, who was a key member of the 1999 Yankees, which defeated the Red Sox in the ALCS before winning the World Series. “You play them so many times now, it takes away a little of the rivalry.”

Still, whether or not the players on this year’s Boston and New York squads maintain animosity for each other based solely on the names on the front of the opponents’ jerseys, both sides know their upcoming series, which begins Thursday in the Bronx, is pivotal, and fans just may once again be treated to fireworks in this latest battle between baseballs Hatfields and McCoys.

The stakes are high with both teams clinging to AL wild card spots and only six weeks left in the season.

But while both teams have their eyes squarely on the games ultimate prize, a championship, they know their fortunes would gain a huge boost with a successful series against their most hated rival.

“Not saying we don’t want to beat everybody, but the Red Sox are the number one team you want to beat,” said Mickey Rivers, the speedy leadoff batter who patrolled center field for the champion 1977 and ’78 Yankees.

“It’s always going to be a rivalry. It’s always Boston – New York,” said Dent.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

  • The 2025 U.S. Open main draw starts Aug. 25 and concludes Sept. 7.
  • Top seeds are defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka.
  • The tournament will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and streamed on the ESPN app.

The final Grand Slam event of the tennis season – the U.S. Open – is already underway with qualifying matches in progress. But the real action doesn’t start for another couple of days.

The official unveiling of the men’s and women’s singles brackets provides the first glimpse of how the fabled tournament might unfold over the next two weeks.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is back to defend the 2024 men’s title he won over American Taylor Fritz. Meanwhile, top-ranked woman Aryna Sabalenka is set to defend after defeating Jessica Pegula a year ago.

One interesting note in this year’s women’s draw: Two-time champion Venus Williams received a wild-card entry and will compete at age 45. Her first-round match will be a challenge as she faces 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.

U.S. Open officials announced the seeds and pairings for the tournament on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Who are the top seeds at the 2025 US Open?

Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka will be the No. 1 seeds in this year’s U.S. Open men’s and women’s singles competition.

  • Men’s singled draw
  • Women’s singles draw

Sabalenka will begin her quest to repeat with an opening round match against Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, who’s ranked No. 109 in the world.

Sinner plays his first match against 87th-ranked Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic.

Women’s top seeds

  1. Aryna Sabalenka
  2. Iga Swiatek (Poland)
  3. Coco Gauff (USA)
  4. Jessica Peguls (USA)
  5. Mirra Andreeva
  6. Madison Keys (USA)
  7. Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
  8. Amanda Anisimova (USA)
  9. Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)
  10. Emma Navarro (USA)

Men’s top seeds

  1. Jannik Sinner (Italy)
  2. Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)
  3. Alexander Zverev (Germany)
  4. Taylor Fritz (USA)
  5. Jack Draper (United Kingdom)
  6. Ben Shelton (USA)
  7. Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
  8. Alex de Minaur (Australia)
  9. Karen Khachnov
  10. Lorenzo Musetti (Italy)

When does the 2025 US Open start?

The main draw of the 2025 U.S. Open begins Monday, Aug. 25, and will continue over the next two weeks, with the men’s singles final closing out the event on Sunday, Sept. 7.

How can I watch the 2025 US Open?

The 2025 U.S. Open will be broadcast on various channels, including ABC and ESPN, with streaming coverage available on the ESPN app.

Where will the 2025 US Open take place?

The U.S. Open will be played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York.

What is the schedule for the 2025 US Open?

  • Men’s and women’s singles competition: Monday, Aug. 24 through Sunday, Sept. 7
  • Doubles and mixed doubles competition: Began Monday, Aug. 18 and runs through Saturday, Sept. 6
  • Women’s doubles final: Friday, Sept. 5
  • Men’s doubles final: Saturday, Sept. 6
  • Women’s singles final: Saturday, Sept. 6
  • Men’s singles final: Sunday, Sept. 7

What is the purse for the 2025 US Open?

Men’s and women’s singles

  • Winner: $5,000,000
  • Finalist: $2,500,000
  • Semifinalists: $1,260,000
  • Quarterfinalists: $660,000

Doubles

  • Winner: $1,000,000
  • Finalist: $500,000
  • Semifinalists: $250,000
  • Quarterfinalists: $125,000

Who were the men’s and women’s singles winners at the 2024 US Open?

At the 2024 U.S. Open, Jannik Sinner held off Taylor Fritz, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5, to win his first U.S. Open Championship.

In the women’s singles final, Aryna Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 7-5. Sabalenka reached the finals in 2023 but lost to Coco Gauff.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Fashion designer Kristin Juszczyk first noticed the limited options in women’s sports apparel back in 2020 when she was looking for something to wear to cheer on her All-Pro fullback husband Kyle Juszczyk and the San Francisco 49ers.

When she couldn’t find a game-day look that successfully merged fashion and fandom, Juszczyk took matters into her own hands and taught herself how to sew by watching YouTube. Little did Juszczyk know her upcycled creations, like the viralTravis Kelce-themed puffer jacket handmade for Taylor Swift, would redefine sports merchandise and shine a light on a massive “gap in the industry.”

Juszczyk launched the sports apparel company Off Season alongside business partner Emma Grede in January, offering elevated merchandise that could become a staple on game day and beyond. After dropping an NFL ready-to-wear collection last month, it was only a matter of time before Juszczyk and Grede set their sights on the WNBA and women’s sports.

“We’re so excited to branch out to the WNBA, because women’s sports is just the ultimate movement,” Juszczyk told USA TODAY Sports. “Knowing how much my husband puts into his work every single day, I know how much these girls live, breathe and eat the sport. And to see the whole world give them the recognition that they deserve has just been so amazing … For us to have a little blip in the WNBA story is just such an honor.”

Off Season’s expansion into the WNBA has been a “natural evolution” for the brand, according to Juszczyk, who’s the “biggest fan” of the league’s culture and community. She has her good friend Claire Kittle, who played basketball at the University of Iowa, to thank for that. Kittle, 49ers tight end George Kittle’s wife, introduced Juszczyk to Hawkeye basketball. She became a Caitlin Clark and the rest, as they say, is history. 

“It was the natural progression of … seeing Caitlin go from NCAA to WNBA and seeing how much the league as a whole has just skyrocketed has been so fun to watch,” Juszczyk said. “We knew that we wanted to bring (Off Season) to more female customers.”

USA TODAY Sports caught up with Juszczyk and Grede on their WNBA Collection, the inspiration behind their favorite pieces and how the trailblazing partnership came to be: 

Introducing the WNBA Collection

Off Season’s WNBA Collection will launch with apparel for four teams — the Golden State Valkyries, Indiana Fever, Las Vegas Aces and defending champion New York Liberty — in addition to league merch. Juszczyk and Grede said they have plans to create merchandise for all 13 WNBA teams, but want to start by “taking baby steps” as they continue to scale their startup business. “We’ve just scratched the surface,” said Grede, the CEO and co-founder of Good American and founding partner of Skims.

The line will feature Juszczyk’s signature style of graphic prints, layered fabrics, distinct embroidery and different textures, plus an added sporty flair.

“What’s so important for us is to have a standard to Off Season too, that no matter what league we’re at, people know right away that’s an Off Season piece,” Juszczyk said. “We also wanted to bring the sporty element into it, like the oversized sleeves, the button up, the collars, the cargo shorts … while also having the authenticity of Off Season.”

When asked who Juszczyk would like to see in Off Season’s WNBA Collection, she responded without hesitation: ‘I would love to dress (Dallas Wings guard) Paige (Bueckers). She’s just amazing. She’s so fun to watch … She also has amazing style. I love seeing what she comes out for game days.”

WNBA hoodie inspired bye Kobe Bryant

Juszczyk said her favorite piece in the collection is a WNBA logo hoodie inspired by late Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, who was an advocate for women’s sports as the father of four daughters. 

‘There was such an iconic moment where Kobe (Bryant) wore that orange WNBA sweatshirt,’ Juszczyk said, referring to Bryant and his daughter Gianna attending a Lakers game in late December 2019, the duo’s last public appearance before their death in January 2020. ‘We took that as a reference.”

The unisex WNBA logo hoodie showcases the silhouette surrounded with a spray painted, graffiti border on the back. “We really had a lot of fun with the WNBA graphic to give it a little twist, but at the same time keep the authenticity of the WNBA logo,” she said. The front of the sweater features an additional WNBA logo in orange.

Off Season started with a DM

The partnership between Juszczyk and Grede started like many relationships do in this day and age — social media. Juszczyk slid into Grede’s Instagram messages because “I had these designs in front of me, but I’ve never built a business before in my life.” 

Grede has built her career on anticipating consumer needs and was instantly sold on the idea of forging a new lane in sports apparel.

“There is so much merch out there, but there’s nothing that I want to wear,” Grede told USA TODAY Sports. “We’re designing for ourselves, we’re designing for our friends, for our community of followers. And I think there is just such a need for fashion forward stuff in this space. … I think that everybody just wants to represent their teams and to look good and to feel good. And what we’re doing feels so fresh.”

Juszczyk will no longer make every piece by scratch ‘which my fingers are very happy for,’ she joked but she said the quality won’t be compromised. ‘My goal for Off Season is that it will be that vintage piece in your closet,’ Juszczyk said.

Kristin Juszczyk’s game-day videos will continue

Juszczyk may have her hands full running her brand, but her signature game-day videos aren’t going anywhere. Juszczyk said she’ll “definitely” continue sharing her looks across her social media channels, where she boasts nearly 1.5 million followers. Grede added Juszczyk’s posts are “imperative for our brand.’

“It’s almost like we get to test the market,” Juszczyk said. “We put stuff out there and whatever has the most engagement or people are like, ‘I want this.’ Great, we’ll add it to the 2026 (collection). So it’s been really fun to just play around. And also for me, I get to add all the extra details I want.”

When asked if we’ll see a game-day look at Super Bowl LX — which will be hosted at the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium, where Kyle Juszczyk is set to begin his 13th season in the league — Juszczyk laughed and said, “Fingers crossed… that’s the wish.”

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