As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to look back at all of the moments that made 2025 such a banner year for women’s sports. This year has been one of growth as record crowds showed up for the WNBA, NWSL, PWHL and AUSL, and television ratings followed suit. The WNBA added an expansion franchise and announced three more, while the NWSL announced two new teams, and AUSL announced the addition of a new team for next season.
With so much growth, the women’s sports landscape was packed with memorable moments. Here are the 12 that stood out, in chronological order.
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Unrivaled Basketball, League One Volleyball debut
Women’s sports’ growth wasn’t limited to established leagues. Two new leagues launched in January, providing opportunities in the U.S. for women so they didn’t have to go play overseas. In basketball, WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart launched Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league that featured some of the WNBA’s biggest stars. Players were treated to six-figure salaries and the chance to win $250,000 in a 1-on-1 tournament (which was won by Collier). The league’s first title was won by the Rose BC, with Chelsea Gray being named MVP.
In volleyball, LOVB (pronounced love) started with six teams. Players, including Team USA legend Jordan Larson and Kelsey Robinson-Cook, signed on to help launch the beginning of this new league. Games were played in volleyball-mad cities like Omaha, Nebraska, and Madison, Wisconsin. Led by Asjia O’Neal and Madisen Skinner, LOVB Austin won the league’s first title. In September, LOVB signed a media rights deal with Versant, which will air games on USA Network.
Mikaela Shiffrin breaks win total record in the World Cup
Last November, Mikaela Shiffrin suffered a puncture wound to her abdomen during a crash in a race in Killington, Vermont. Injuries aren’t anything new to her, as she has healed from various knee injuries and kept winning races. This is what she did again in the 2025 season, as in February, just a few months after her puncture wound, Shiffrin won the slalom in Sestriere, Italy. This was her 100th win on the World Cup circuit, making her the first skier ever to earn that designation.
Alysa Liu made an incredible comeback in figure skating, and is poised to make waves in Milan for the Olympics. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(Jamie Squire via Getty Images)Alysa Liu wins world championships coming out of retirement
After the 2022 Olympics and world championships, Alysa Liu walked away from competitive figure skating. Though she was just 17 at the time, she had a trophy case full of wins, including two U.S. championships and a bronze at worlds. But before the 2024-25 season, she had the itch to compete again. She won gold at a few lower-level competitions and then took second at the U.S. Championships.
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It was at the world championships, held at the TD Garden in Boston, where Liu demonstrated how she had found joy in skating again. Wearing a shimmery, gold dress, she skated to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” and nailed every jump and spin. She won gold and is now well-positioned for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Paige Bueckers drops 40 during NCAA tournament
During UConn’s run to the 2025 NCAA championship, Paige Bueckers owned March Madness, averaging 24.83 points per game. It was against Oklahoma during the Sweet 16 where the eventual No. 1 pick showed how she can take over a game. Bueckers scored 40 points against the Sooners, who appeared to have no idea how to stop her, particularly as she shot 6-of-8 from the 3-point line. Bueckers continued to be a menace to opponents through the tournament, helping UConn win it all.
Liz Schepers scores overtime goal to win PWHL title
In the two seasons of the PWHL’s existence, the Minnesota Frost have been the toast of the league. They’ve twice won the Walter Cup, but this year’s win over Ottawa was not easy. In overtime in Game 4, Liz Schepers made the incredible Walter Cup-winning shot as she was falling down.
Texas dominates Texas Tech, Nijaree Canady to win WCWS
Oklahoma has long reigned supreme in the women’s softball world, having won four consecutive titles heading into the 2025 Women’s College World Series. Across the Red River, Texas and Texas Tech had not ever won a title. Too often, it was Oklahoma who stood in the way of the Longhorns and Red Raiders.
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But this year, it was the two Texas teams who emerged in the final of the WCWS. With superstar pitcher Nijaree Canady on the mound for Texas Tech, the Longhorns still managed a five-run first inning in the final game of the series. Texas held on to win the game 10-4, giving the Longhorns their first-ever NCAA title in softball.
Kayla Harrison wins UFC title
As a star of the judo world, Kayla Harrison won two Olympic gold medals, and she won plenty of fights in the PFL after transitioning to MMA. But it wasn’t until this past summer that she finally won an MMA title. Harrison won the UFC’s bantamweight title with a second-round kimura submission of Julianna Peña. Immediately after her win, she faced off with former champion Amanda Nunes in the UFC cage. They are scheduled to fight in January.
‘Pay us what you owe us’
The WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis was a celebration of the league’s growth, with big crowds at every event and big parties every night. During warmups for the game, players wore shirts demonstrating just how aware they were of that growth; the shirts simply said “Pay us what you owe us.” The message was clear, and showed a united front heading into what has become a contentious battle for a collective bargaining agreement that will likely go into 2026.
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England vs. Spain goes to penalty kicks for Euro 2025 title
You didn’t have to be a big fan of England or Spain to get excited about the ending of the Euro 2025 final. You didn’t even have to be a soccer fan to appreciate it. England’s goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was strong in net, and the final shot came to Chloe Kelly. She was steady and knocked the ball in before celebrating with her teammates at the stadium in Switzerland, before heading home and celebrating with all of England. The Lionesses had knocked off the defending World Cup champions.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce says goodbye with one last relay medal for Jamaica
Starting with the 2008 Olympics, Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce owned the short-distance races. In her nearly two decades at track’s highest levels, Fraser-Pryce won three Olympic golds, 10 world titles, and the heart of Jamaica. In 2025, she announced she would be walking away from the sport. She had the lead-off in the 4×100 meter relay, facing off with Jamaica’s fiercest rivals, the United States. Fraser-Pryce helped the team win silver, finishing just 0.04 behind the U.S. team with Sha’Carri Richardson in the anchor spot. As a light rain fell onto the track, Fraser-Pryce flashed her trademark smile and waved goodbye to fans.
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A’ja Wilson pushes Aces to incredible turnaround to win 2025 title
On Aug. 2, the Las Vegas Aces lost 111-58 to the Minnesota Lynx. It was the worst moment of what had been a dismal season for Las Vegas. A’ja Wilson sent a text message to her teammates: “If you weren’t embarrassed, don’t come to the gym.”
The loss ended up being a turning point for Las Vegas. They caught fire, winning 16 games in a row. In the first best-of-seven WNBA Finals, the Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury in just four games. Wilson won the league’s MVP, co-Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP, cementing her spot atop the basketball world.
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Rose Lavelle leads Gotham to NWSL title
Much like the Aces, Gotham struggled in the regular season. They had the eighth seed in the playoffs and had to win games against the top-seeded Kansas City Current and the reigning champion Orlando Pride to even get to the championship game. In the final against the Washington Spirit, Rose Lavelle scored in the 80th minute to secure the 1-0 win for her team and the championship MVP.