DAVIE, Fla. -- Brian Flores made his first significant lean in the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback competition, giving the strong early edge to veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick over Josh Rosen.

"It's pretty clear to me that Ryan Fitzpatrick is leading the way," the first-year Dolphins coach said. "He's done that in a lot of areas, from leadership to production on the field to the meeting rooms to the walk-throughs. This is an ongoing competition, but right now he's leading the way."

Flores' words confirm what has been apparent to those who have watched practice since the spring. Fitzpatrick has dominated the starting reps and has been clearly the more consistent quarterback since the competition began in May.

But in what Flores has called a "wide-open" and "even" competition publicly for months, this comment that Fitzpatrick is the clear leader marks a checkpoint in the Dolphins' quarterback battle.

Fitzpatrick has already developed some good chemistry with projected starting receivers Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker.

"He's been more productive, and at the end of the day that's what it comes down to," Flores said. "He runs the offense very efficiently. He has great rapport with the entire team. He has a lot of leadership ability, and we need that to continue. We need him to grow in that role."

The Dolphins acquired Rosen, who is entering his second season, from the Arizona Cardinals for a 2019 late second-round pick and a 2020 fifth-round pick during draft weekend just one year after the former UCLA product was the 10th overall pick in 2018.

Rosen has been seen as a potential long-term answer at quarterback if he can turn it around after a tumultuous rookie season. Fitzpatrick, 36, has acknowledged that this is a temporary arrangement for him with the Dolphins given he's at the end of his career, but he signed as a free agent in March because the team provided an opportunity for him to start.

Debate has raged for months about whether the rebuilding Dolphins would choose Fitzpatrick's short-term performance edge or Rosen's long-term potential in this quarterback battle.

Flores' comments Tuesday make it clear that the best man will win, and right now it looks like that is Fitzpatrick.

"It's still a competition. Every day is a competition, I think they all know that but as we stand today I think Ryan has done a really job," Flores said. "Hopefully he continues to improve and is consistent and that will help this team for sure."

Flores also discussed his decision to fire offensive line coach Pat Flaherty, saying there were a lot of factors in the move, not a specific incident. He listed communication and fit as reasons for making the change to Dave DeGuglielmo.

"The easy decision would have to be do nothing and hope it got better," he said.

Kansas City Chiefs star wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered an apparent leg injury at Tuesday's practice.

Hill was hit by cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who was breaking up a pass, and stayed on the ground before eventually hobbling over to a medical tent.

After being examined, Hill was driven off the field, seated in the passenger seat of a cart.

This is Hill being taken off the field with what appears to be a right leg injury. pic.twitter.com/BywVbQW6fp

— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) July 30, 2019

There is no word yet on the severity of the injury.

On Sunday, Hill answered questions publicly for the first time since being investigated for child abuse, saying he planned to become a better person from the lessons he learned over a tumultuous offseason.

The NFL recently said Hill would not be disciplined and cleared him to report to training camp after he was suspended from offseason practices by the Chiefs.

Hill, a three-time Pro Bowler, caught 87 passes last season and was fourth in the NFL with 1,479 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Joc Pederson was substituted in the eighth inning of Monday's 9-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies because he didn't run out a ground ball, manager Dave Roberts said.

Pederson grounded out in the eighth to first baseman Daniel Murphy, scoring catcher Will Smith. But Pederson, who went 0-for-4 in the game, didn't reach first base and stopped running.

Tyler White replaced him at first in the bottom of the inning.

"There's a certain way to play the game and I didn't see the effort there," Roberts told reporters.

Added Pederson: "Yeah, it was unprofessional. I let the emotions get the best of me. ... I'm better than that."

It was a light schedule of games Monday, although the Nationals did have a big win over the Braves, with Anthony Rendon's grand slam in the sixth inning off Chad Sobotka breaking a 2-2 tie. The Blue Jays' Bo Bichette delivered the first hit of his career in his first game. We had two other grand slams -- from the Reds' Jose Iglesias and the Pirates' Colin Moran -- to give us nine grand slams over the past three days. The Mets traded Jason Vargas to the Phillies, and Jon Gray delivered a gem to beat the Dodgers at Coors Field.

Here's Bichette's hit, in his first at-bat:

All the talk, however, continues to center around Wednesday's 4 p.m. ET trade deadline. With that in mind, here are the six teams I would suggest are under the most pressure to make a significant deadline deal:

Trade deadline roundtable: What we think will happen before Wednesday's deadline

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are on their way to a seventh consecutive National League West title and so far have two losses in the division series, two losses in the championship series and two losses in the World Series to show for it. This might be their best team yet, and another trip to the World Series won't be enough to placate a hungry fan base. The Dodgers have not won the final game of the postseason since 1988 -- 12 playoff trips ago.

As good as they are, their main vulnerability is the same as it was in October: the late-game bullpen, and that's not even factoring in Kenley Jansen's issues over the past two World Series (three blown saves and a loss). When the Cubs were in this position in 2016, they overpaid to get Aroldis Chapman, giving up prized prospect Gleyber Torres. Will the Dodgers be willing to make a similar deal for a reliever such as Felipe Vazquez of the Pirates? Vazquez is the most dominant reliever potentially available and is signed through 2023, so he'll cost a bounty in prospects.

Will the Dodgers do it? They'll do something. In recent years, they've added Rich Hill, Yu Darvish and Brian Dozier at the deadline, but they didn't really have to part with any of their very best prospects in any of those deals. Vazquez, with his contract and years of control, will cost more than those three players did. The Dodgers should be willing to pay.

2. New York Yankees

It has been 10 years since the Yankees have played in the World Series. They're running away with the American League East at the moment, and they haven't won the division since 2012, which seems almost impossible given all their financial resources. Their current winning percentage of .638 would be their best since 2002. All that would be nice: a division title, 100-something wins, a dream season despite all the injuries.

But it won't be enough. The pressure is on general manager Brian Cashman to deliver a championship. As Sam Miller pointed out in his Monday column, the teams with a clear lead in their division race usually make the biggest deals at the deadline. I would expect the Yankees to do likewise -- making a strong team even better. With Marcus Stroman now with the Mets and the uncertainty about the trade status of Madison Bumgarner, Trevor Bauer and Noah Syndergaard (not that the Mets would trade him to the Yankees), that might not necessarily be a starting pitcher. Cashman could add a reliever or two and build a super bullpen for the postseason.

3. Milwaukee Brewers

Coming off last year's trip to the National League Championship Series, the Brewers put all their chips on the table for 2019, running up the largest payroll in franchise history. They've managed to hang in the NL Central race even though they're seventh in the NL in runs per game and 13th in runs allowed per game. So there's plenty of room for improvement -- and Jordan Lyles, acquired Monday from Pittsburgh, is hardly a solution to their pitching problems.

The pressure on GM David Stearns is that the window for the Brewers might close suddenly after this season. This isn't a young team -- the lineup actually is the second-oldest in the NL, behind the Giants, based on Baseball-Reference's weighted playing time. Mike Moustakas and Yasmani Grandal both have mutual options for 2020, so they could opt out of their contracts and elect free agency after the season. Keston Hiura looks like a great addition alongside Christian Yelich, but the farm system is rated as one of the worst in the majors. It could be now or never for the Brewers.

4. Atlanta Braves

The Braves are a good team, but as that Rendon grand slam showcased, the bullpen is still in need of an addition or two:

The Braves are in a better long-term position than Milwaukee with their young core of hitters and strong farm system, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be willing to improve their chances to win in 2019. The Dodgers aren't invincible.

Plus, while Mike Soroka has had a terrific rookie season, the rest of the young starters have delivered mixed results: Max Fried started out hot and has slowed down; Sean Newcomb is now in the bullpen; Touki Toussaint has been up and down; and Kyle Wright has struggled in his few major league starts and been merely OK in Triple-A. In other words, you don't know what the future will hold. If you have a chance to win, try to improve your chances. If Bumgarner can be had, the Braves have the prospects to trade for him and Giants closer Will Smith in a package deal.

5. Washington Nationals

I have the Nats high up on the list for two reasons: (1) With Monday's victory, they've cut their deficit in the NL East to just 4½ games behind the Braves; and (2) they have a glaringly obvious hole to fix in the bullpen. The Braves can be caught -- assuming Max Scherzer's upper back strain that forced him to the injured list doesn't become a long-term thing -- but it's hard to envision this team going deep in the playoffs with its present bullpen, even with a healthy Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg headlining a rotation that has dominated of late.

The added pressure on GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez is that they missed the playoffs last season. The Nationals, of course, have made the playoffs four times since 2012 and have lost all four times in the division series. Rizzo signed an extension that runs through 2020, and Martinez's contract also runs through 2020 (with a 2021 club option), but a second consecutive non-playoff season would likely put the jobs of both in jeopardy.

6. Cleveland Indians

Speaking of windows, the Indians are trying to balance the difficult task of a small-market franchise (that also draws poorly) trying to win now while also keeping an extended window of contention going. They've won three straight division titles and are just two games behind the Twins. It helps that the other three teams in the AL Central remain in poor shape -- not just for 2019, but probably for 2020 as well. Still, if Bauer isn't traded now, he'll be traded in the offseason, and Francisco Lindor is under team control through only 2021, so he also becomes trade fodder down the road.

That means this could be their best chance to break their World Series drought -- they haven't won it all since 1948 -- and their final chance with this group of players that broke through in 2016. I'd keep Bauer and look to add a bat or two -- maybe Domingo Santana from the Mariners or Yasiel Puig from the Reds.

Happy MLB Trade Deadline Day Eve! With just one full shopping day remaining until this year's single deadline and plenty of intrigue remaining, we asked our MLB experts to dive into the players, teams and themes that could make the biggest splash before the clock strikes 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Here's what Bradford Doolittle, Sam Miller, Buster Olney and Jeff Passan had to say about key questions going into the deadline.

Schoenfield: Which teams most need to make a move? | Fantasy impact of deadline deals

Who is the biggest name who will be traded before the deadline?

Sam Miller: Noah Syndergaard.

Buster Olney: Edwin Diaz. If the Dodgers get him -- and they are trying -- Los Angeles would be a prohibitive favorite to roll through the National League in the playoffs.

Jeff Passan: Edwin Diaz. Where he goes -- or, more accurate, who ponies up -- is the ultimate question.

Bradford Doolittle: I hope I'm wrong, but I fear that Marcus Stroman will be it. Ordinarily you'd at least plug in a pending free agent on a bad team who would make no sense to stay put, but this market even lacks one of those.

Who is one big name we will hear in trade rumors until the deadline who will ultimately stay put?

Passan: Madison Bumgarner. Even as the starting-pitching market shrinks and teams up their offers, the Giants' above-.500 record will prove too alluring to deal Bumgarner.

Olney: Madison Bumgarner. The Giants players have earned the right to try to ride out the wave and put Bruce Bochy in the playoffs one final time before he retires.

Doolittle: It's hard for me to see how the acquisition of Stroman makes sense for the Mets if you turn around and deal Syndergaard for a return that only improves New York's outlook for 2020. So I say Thor stays put.

Miller: Kyle Tucker. Also MacKenzie Gore. Gavin Lux. In 2019, the best thing for a general manager's job security is to have the bossest prospects.

What will be the one big theme we remember this trade deadline for?

Olney: It turns out that the new trade deadline is something nobody likes. Some clubs are already griping that it should be pushed back to Aug. 15 because so many teams are on the fence about whether to be buyers or sellers.

Miller: Ambiguity and ambivalence. Over the past few weeks, many of the same teams have been rumored to be both buying and selling, caught between this year's goals and next year's, and spun dizzy by the jumbled crowdedness of the wild-card races.

Doolittle: Risk aversion. I really hope I'm wrong about this.

Passan: What the Mets did -- and didn't do.

Come Wednesday at 4:01 p.m. ET, will we have any idea what the Mets were doing this week?

Doolittle: Why would this week be any different from the past nine months or so? But it does look like they are getting a head start on their hot stove season, which given a thin free-agent class might not be the worst idea.

Passan: It's the Mets. Trying to forecast what they do is like trying to predict waves in the ocean.

Miller: You figured the Mets would be trying to compete in 2020, so trading for Stroman makes some sense: He's the free-agent starter they might have wanted to acquire this winter, but without the long-term commitment. It's surprising that they, and not a 2019 contender, would be willing to pay the most in prospects for Stroman's next 15 months, but on the other hand they didn't have to give up all that much.

Olney: Yes, absolutely. They are trying to win now. But we'll continue to debate how in the world they believe this ambition matches the collection of talent they possess.

Will the Yankees get a starter before the deadline?

Miller: I doubt it. Put it this way: If James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka or Domingo German were on this trade market, they'd be at least as in-demand as Robbie Ray, Bumgarner or Stroman. Even Syndergaard has a worse-than-average ERA this year; if he were already in the Yankees' rotation, we'd be asking whether the Yankees should be worried about him and whether that worry demands a trade. Given how strong their top five relievers are, you can already jot down zeros (and ever-so-occasional ones) for around half of their postseason innings, and asking the existing rotation to throw three or four innings per start in October seems safe.

Olney: Yes, because no GM is under greater pressure to make a deal than Brian Cashman. He'll get Ray, Trevor Bauer or some other starter.

Passan: Yes, though it won't be the front-line sort they would like to start Game 1 of the Division Series.

Doolittle: Sure, they'll get someone. I don't know if it'll be in the Bauer-Syndergaard-Bumgarner class. The Yanks would match up well with Arizona in a Zack Greinke deal, but there's a no-trade clause to work around, and I suspect Greinke would view the Bombers as too inconvenient. Given my skepticism about getting some splashy moves, I think we're looking at Mike Minor or Tanner Roark, someone on that level.

Which reliever are the Dodgers most likely to land to boost their bullpen?

Passan: With Ken Giles injured, the Dodgers could pursue Edwin Diaz, Kirby Yates or Felipe Vazquez to provide a lethal bridge -- or perfect complement -- to Kenley Jansen in the ninth.

Miller: The Dodgers have been ramping up their deadline activity by, say, 15% with each passing October defeat: They did nothing in 2014, got Mat Latos in 2015, Rich Hill and Josh Reddick in 2016, Yu Darvish in 2017 and Manny Machado in 2018. There's no 15% better than Machado on the trade market this year, but let's presume they'll get the best reliever available. That's Felipe Vazquez.

Doolittle: I've loved the idea of Vazquez for the Dodgers for weeks, and even now that they've turned the catching duties over to Will Smith, they could still dangle Keibert Ruiz if the Pirates can be moved. But if that isn't workable, then maybe L.A. can work the Mets for a Zack Wheeler-Diaz combo platter.

Olney: If the Rays or Red Sox don't outbid L.A., the Dodgers will get Edwin Diaz.

Are the Red Sox done dealing or do they have another move left to make?

Olney: They are aggressively chasing bullpen help and would love to have Diaz -- but they don't match up very well with the win-now Mets because their best prospects are not major-league-ready. On paper, the best possible match for the Mets and Red Sox in a Diaz deal might be Andrew Benintendi, who could play center field for the Mets -- and if Boston does this, it would solve its closer issue for the foreseeable future.

Miller: I think they'll get more relievers.

Passan: The Red Sox will add a bullpen arm. The quality depends on the willingness of teams with more assets to acquire the top-end arms.

Doolittle: They'll add more bullpen help, but I'm not sure how impactful it will be because it's such a seller's market when it comes relievers and the Red Sox don't have a ton of organizational depth from which to deal.

What about the Astros?

Passan: They're highly motivated to land a starting pitcher, and I think they will.

Miller: Should be looking at starting pitching. They're in an enviable position of needing only rotation depth, not a Game 1 or 2 (or 3!) starter at this point.

Olney: Some rival executives believe the Astros will wind up with Wheeler, because he's the type of pitcher they covet, and because GM Jeff Luhnow is loath to pay the high prices required for the likes of Syndergaard.

Doolittle: I don't see how they don't come away with a midrotation starter, whether it's Wheeler or Matthew Boyd or possibly Ray.

Of the other division leaders, which are we most likely to see make a splash before the deadline: Minnesota, Atlanta, Chicago or St. Louis?

Miller: The Twins have the most to gain. The other three front offices are led by men who have made some huge trade splashes in the recent past. But I'll say the Twins, who must be hearing footsteps behind them and be terrified of wasting a season as great as this one.

Olney: Atlanta is working hard to upgrade its bullpen and has been in the Diaz conversations.

Doolittle: I think all of those clubs will add something, but the Twins' need for pitching depth is probably the most glaring need and thus will make for the splashiest deal, relative to the overall tepid tenor of this year's market. Going hard after someone like Kirby Yates makes all kinds of sense for Minnesota.

Passan: All four are looking for pitching, and while all four may deal for some, the finite number of difference-making arms will differentiate the deadline success for each.

Which rumored potential seller that is still in contention is most likely to do something big before the deadline: San Francisco, Cleveland or Arizona?

Miller: Arizona. The Diamondbacks have been at exactly .500 23 times this season, and they know that's not going to get them there.

Olney: Other teams say the Diamondbacks are going to be among the most aggressive sellers. My guess is that the Indians trade Bauer to cash in on his value, getting major league-ready talent in return, and then add a lesser depth starter (like the Reds' Roark) to plug the Bauer hole in their rotation as they wait for the return of Corey Kluber.

Doolittle: I could see the Giants and Indians adding on the margins but not doing anything splashy, whether it's with incoming or outgoing players. For San Francisco, letting its veterans play this one out would be the splash move, while the Indians just aren't likely to add payroll. Arizona can try to move Ray or even Greinke without totally punting on its chances to eke into the playoffs, so insofar as anyone will do something big, I'd peg the D-backs as most likely.

Passan: Arizona is the clear choice here. The Diamondbacks are selling, and they could wind up the busiest team on July 30 and 31.

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Hockey Hall of Famer Denis Potvin has announced his retirement as a television broadcaster for the Florida Panthers.

Potvin, a former captain for the New York Islanders, was part of the Panthers' first broadcast team in 1993-94 and spent 21 seasons as their TV analyst.

Potvin, 65, was the first overall pick of the 1973 draft and a cornerstone of the Islanders' four Stanley Cup championship teams from 1979-80 to 1982-83. He ranks second in playoff goals among NHL defensemen with 56.

Terrence Boyd has joined German third division side Hallescher FC after mutually parting ways with Major League Soccer's Toronto FC on Monday.

Boyd, 28, signed with Toronto in February and played in 13 games across all competitions.

Boyd has 14 caps for the United States national team, with the last one coming in 2016.

Born in Germany, Boyd has spent most of his professional career in his native country. Before signing with Toronto in February, Boyd played with SV Darmstadt 98, who were regulated from the top-level Bundesliga to Germany's second tier during his time with the team.

According to the Toronto Sun, Boyd wanted to return to Germany due to his struggles in the MLS and the upcoming birth of his second child. Boyd and Toronto FC reportedly worked on an agreement for about a week.

Boyd has not scored a goal in a competitive game since March 2018.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- MLS All-Star coach James O'Connor doesn't expect the war of words between two of the league's biggest stars in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Carlos Vela to spill over into the North American team's friendly match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

Less than two weeks ago, Ibrahimovic told ESPN's Ahora o Nunca that he is "by far" superior to Vela, despite the Mexico international leading the league in goal scoring -- six ahead of the Swede. After scoring a hat trick in the LA Galaxy's 3-2 win over Vela's LAFC just three days after his first shot across Vela's bow, Ibrahimovic followed up, saying it was a mistake for anyone to compare the two players.

But O'Connor says that the two are professionals, and he expects the pair to be "fine" as they take on Atletico's newly reconstructed back line.

- Power Rankings: LAFC top of MLS at All-Star break
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"Not really any impact, to be honest with you," he said in a news conference on Monday when asked about how the exchange of words between Ibrahimovic and Vela could affect his All-Star team. "I think they're both very professional lads, I don't see anything being an issue, so I think everything will be fine.

"I think both players, and all the guys, are just really excited and just looking forward to the game on Wednesday night."

What's occupying more of O'Connor's brain space is an issue every All-Star manager is tasked with: building a cohesive team and implementing a tactical structure in just four hours' worth of training sessions. The All-Stars trained together for the first time on Monday, and will do so just once more on Wednesday, before taking on an Atletico side that have been La Liga runners-up the past two seasons and lifted the Europa League barely 12 months ago.

But amid the friendly nature of the All-Star Game, O'Connor is more concerned with his players building relationships with one another and enjoying their experience in Orlando rather than carrying out a tactical plan to upset one of Europe's most talented sides.

"Well I think obviously we have a very short period of time to try to get to know the players," he said. "Obviously we've seen all the players play for their clubs, but I think it's different to get a personal understanding.

"So I think the biggest thing that we try to foster is just to encourage all the guys to try to get to know each other, especially the players who are coming on their own and perhaps don't know as many people. Just to try to create a friendly atmosphere, make sure that the players create that relationship, have a little fun in training."

The All-Stars will get another opportunity to do that in Tuesday's 90-minute session, but that evening's skills competition (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+) could be their best chance yet to really let their hair down before Wednesday's encounter with Atletico.

U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro contended Monday that analysis of federation finances showed that it paid members of the women's national team millions of dollars more than members of the men's national team over a period of nearly a decade.

Responding publicly for the first time to weeks of public and even congressional criticism since the U.S. won the Women's World Cup while national team players are in the midst of suing the federation for gender discrimination, Cordeiro sent an open letter to federation members that included the results of what he termed extensive analysis of 10 years of financial data.

Among the conclusions, which U.S. Soccer said were verified by an independent accounting firm, are that women's players were paid $34.1 million by the federation from 2010 to 2018 in salaries and bonuses (2018 the most recent fiscal year for which information was available). That also includes the National Women's Soccer League salaries paid by U.S. Soccer for national team-contracted players. Members of the men's national team were paid $26.4 million by the federation over the same period, the analysis concluded.

"Just as our WNT players have shared their perspective, I strongly believe that you -- as U.S. Soccer members, stakeholders, sponsors and partners -- deserve to hear ours," Cordeiro wrote Monday. "Now that the Women's World Cup is behind us, a common understanding of key facts will also help advance our shared work to grow women's soccer in America as well as the larger national discussion about equality."

The men's and women's teams operate with separate collective bargaining agreements and with separate pay structures.

Cordeiro's letter stipulated that the totals do not include money received by U.S. Soccer from FIFA for World Cup bonuses. With that money included, federation analysis said that the men earned $41 million for the same nine-year period, compared to $39.7 million for the women.

U.S. Soccer contends that it should not be held responsible for the inequity in FIFA prize money, with the winner of the men's tournament in Russia last year receiving more ($38 million) than the total prize pool for the 24 teams in the recently concluded women's tournament. Cordeiro said he continues to push FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the sport's global governing body to increase prize compensation for the signature event in the women's game.

As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, U.S. Soccer and lawyers representing the 28 players who filed suit in March have agreed to mediation. Cordeiro said he chose this time to commission and release the financial analysis because the federation did not want to disrupt the team's preparation for and participation in the Women's World Cup.

"This is a sad attempt by the USSF to quell the overwhelming tide of support the USWNT has received from everyone from fans to sponsors to the United States Congress," Molly Levinson, a spokesperson for the players, said in response to the letter. "The USSF has repeatedly admitted that it does not pay the women equally and that it does not believe the women even deserve to be paid equally. This is why they use words like 'fair' and 'equitable,' not 'equal,' in describing pay.

"The numbers the USSF uses are utterly false, which, among other things, inappropriately include the NWSL salaries of the players to inflate the women's players' compensation. Any apples-to-apples comparison shows that the men earn far more than the women."

While broadcasting and sponsorship revenue doesn't differentiate between the men's and women's teams, U.S. Soccer also pointed to ticket revenues as evidence in its favor.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that women's game produced more total revenue than men's games in the three years after the U.S. won the 2015 Women's World Cup. U.S. Soccer countered Monday that from 2009 to 2019, the women's game produced a net loss -- ticket sales minus expenses -- of $27,544,953 compared to $3,130,980 for the men over the same period.

U.S. Soccer has faced significant public criticism for its stance on pay in the wake of the Women's World Cup, beginning with large numbers of fans in the stadium in Lyon, France, chanting "equal pay" minutes after the final against the Netherlands. A week after the final, Procter & Gamble, an official sponsor of U.S. Soccer, took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times in support of the players and pledged more than $500,000 to the players association.

Congress has also weighed in to support the players in recent weeks.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., introduced a bill earlier this month that would deny federal funds for the 2026 Men's World Cup, to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, until the American federation agrees to pay its men's and women's teams equally. Last week, Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., introduced a similar bill in the House.

"The USSF fact sheet is not a 'clarification.' It is a ruse," Levinson said. "Here is what they cannot deny: For every game a man plays on the MNT, he makes a higher base salary payment than a woman on the WNT. For every comparable win or tie, his bonus is higher. That is the very definition of gender discrimination. For the USSF to believe otherwise is disheartening, but it only increases our determination to obtain true equal pay. If the USSF cannot agree to this at the upcoming mediation, we will see them in the court of law and the court of public opinion."

The U.S. women play their first game since the World Cup on Saturday against Ireland in the Rose Bowl, site of the famous 1999 World Cup final that cemented the team's place in the mainstream sporting consciousness.