STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford produced six national team championships during the 2024-25 athletic campaign while extending its NCAA team title streak to 49 consecutive years.

Boasting its most national team championships since winning seven in 2018-19, the Cardinal maintained one of the most recognizable streaks in college athletics. Stanford, which has claimed at least one NCAA team crown every year since 1976-77, kept its streak alive with a victory in women’s water polo before adding a title in women’s rowing three weeks later.

Both women’s water polo and women’s rowing featured similar NCAA championship paths, emerging as clear favorites after dominating their regular seasons and capturing conference titles. The Cardinal now shifts its focus to the 2025-26 campaign and an opportunity to make it 50 years in a row with at least one NCAA trophy.

Stanford added four other national team championships, with artistic swimming earning its first crown since 2021 while sailing closed its historic season as the women’s and coed squads combined to deliver three titles.

Stanford (1,251 points) also maintained its streak of top-3 finishes in the Learfield Directors’ Cup, presented annually to the nation’s most successful intercollegiate athletic department. The Cardinal placed third overall, only 4.5 points behind Texas (1,255.25) and 2.75 points behind USC (1,253.75) in the closest margin of the award’s history. The Cardinal has won the trophy in 26 of the possible 31 seasons, including a 25-year streak from 1995-2019.

In the Capital One Cup race, Stanford finished second with 135 points behind North Carolina (140) in the women’s standings. The only school to deliver a season sweep of the men’s and women’s titles in the history of the Capital One Cup, Stanford is a three-time winner in the men’s category and seven-time champion of the women’s program, including four of the last eight years.

Seven years after overtaking UCLA as the nation’s all-time leader in NCAA team championships, Stanford enters the 2025-26 campaign with 137 overall, outdistancing its closest competitors in UCLA (124) and USC (115). The Cardinal has won 173 national team championships overall.

Stanford made an immediate impact during its debut season in the ACC, establishing itself among the conference’s top schools in broad-based athletic excellence. Joining North Carolina as the only ACC schools to claim two NCAA team championships, Stanford also produced a conference-best three NCAA runner-up finishes with near misses in women’s swimming and diving, men’s gymnastics and women’s golf. The Cardinal won three ACC championships (women’s gymnastics, men’s tennis, women’s rowing), trailing only North Carolina (4).

The Cardinal produced 13 individual national championships in 2024-25, increasing its all-time totals to 565 (NCAA) and 658 (overall). Asher Hong of men’s gymnastics achieved NCAA titles in floor exercise and still rings while the women’s swimming and diving program featured six student-athletes combining to win four NCAA crowns.

Highlighting Stanford’s individual performances was Ryann Neushul, named the Cardinal’s eighth recipient of the Peter J. Cutino Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding women’s water polo player. Neushul, who closed out a unique seven-year career which began as a freshman in 2019, became Stanford’s first four-time NCAA champion in school history and was also recognized as the ACWPC Player of the Year. A four-time All-American, Neushul departed The Farm with 228 career goals, ranking fifth all-time in school history.

Among the Cardinal’s other notable accomplishments: 11 conference championships (regular season and tournament combined), 33 individual conference champions and 113 All-Americans.

Stanford’s academic prowess also remained unparalleled, producing 25 CSC Academic All-Americans across 14 different sports. A total of 28 programs (10 men, 18 women) finished the year with a team GPA of 3.50 or higher. Meanwhile, Stanford also registered an overall graduation rate of 98 percent in the latest Graduation Success Rate (GSR), with 21 varsity teams earning a 100 percent graduation rate.

Key Points:

• PubMatic’s new Live Sports Marketplace allows ad buyer clients to target key moments during live sports in real-time.
• PubMatic has partnered with FanServ at launch, allowing marketers to buy opportunities against major franchises like the NFL, NHL, MLB and WNBA, and teams like the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians.
• The Live Sports Marketplace aims to address key challenges with sports advertising, including low engagement during irrelevant game moments and managing unpredictable audience spikes.

Independent ad tech firm PubMatic has introduced a new AI-powered Live Sports Marketplace aimed at revolutionizing programmatic advertising for live sports across streaming platforms.

The offering enables advertisers to target high-impact moments in real-time, leveraging proprietary technology that analyzes live game data to deliver granular, event-level curation.

The platform debuts with FanServ as its launch partner, providing immediate access to premium sports content from the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The partnership also includes exclusive local programming for teams such as the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, and Cleveland Guardians.

“FanServ was built by fans, for fans, and now, with PubMatic, we’re redefining how brands reach and engage fans through programmatic sports advertising,” said FanServ CEO Brad Friedman. “This partnership is about more than just access, it’s about precision and possibility.”

“By combining FanServ’s deep sports expertise with PubMatic’s unique event-level curation, we’re empowering brands to connect meaningfully at the exact moments that matter most, across every platform they love,” added Ben Goodfriend, the Vice President of Demand Partnerships at FanServ.

The launch comes as PubMatic reports significant momentum in its sports advertising business. Live sports activity on its platform more than tripled in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The company has already surpassed its total 2024 live sports volume, setting the stage for another record-breaking year.

In addition to FanServ, the new marketplace offers access to major sports publishers and platforms, including MLB, Spectrum Reach, Fubo, DirecTV and Roku. Coverage spans professional leagues like MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, and WNBA, along with alternative and international sports such as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), NASCAR, Formula 1 surfing, tennis, cricket, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Live Sports Marketplace addresses persistent challenges in programmatic sports buying, such as inefficient ad placements during low-engagement moments and the inability to scale during audience spikes. PubMatic’s solution introduces several key features:

• Event- and Channel-Level Targeting: Advertisers can target specific teams, games, or pivotal moments using AI-driven insights across fragmented streaming environments.
• Dynamic Scheduling: The platform continuously imports live TV schedules, allowing advertisers to engage viewers in real time.
• Infrastructure Resilience: PubMatic’s proprietary tech stack is built to handle sudden surges in viewership, ensuring smooth ad delivery even during peak moments.
• Automation and Scalability: Designed for future growth, the marketplace supports automated deal creation and reporting to streamline campaign management.

“This revolutionary technology and premium partnership with FanServ transforms fragmented live sports inventory into programmatically accessible, of-the-moment opportunities, setting a new standard for precision and impact in digital sports advertising,” said Nicole Scaglione, the Vice President of Connected TV and Online Video at PubMatic.

Live sports viewership is expected to reach more than 114 million TV viewers this year, according to research from eMarketer. At a time when the industry is rapidly shifting away from traditional TV, PubMatic says the Live Sports Marketplace aims to position it at the front of this transformation by offering advertisers the tools they need to continue delivering impactful campaigns when audiences are the most engaged.

Once sidelined and underestimated, women’s football has risen with remarkable force over the past two decades — transforming from a marginalized pursuit into a global movement. Historic wins, record-breaking transfers, sold-out stadiums and increasing media coverage have all signaled a long-overdue shift. Yet, the fight isn’t over. Female players continue to push for parity in pay, resources, visibility and respect — not just as athletes, but as voices for equity and change. We need to continue to champion and celebrate the women at the heart of that evolution.

So, we’ve rounded up some of the best female footballers around the world — from Beth Mead‘s creative dominance at Arsenal W.F.C and outspoken advocacy and Bunny Shaw‘s Golden Boot-winning brilliance for Manchester City Womens to Ada Hegerberg‘s pioneering stand for equality, each of these athletes embody more than just skill, they represent resilience, leadership and vision. With the Euros 2025 currently playing out in Switzerland, we wanted to include the players we are keeping an eye on, too.  There obviously so many more than these sixteen amazing players to have on your radar, but keep scrolling to see some of our absolute faves.

Alexia Putellas

A midfield magician for both Spain and FC Barcelona, Alexia Putellas is arguably one of the game’s most influential figures today. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner and Nike ambassador is a symbol of technical excellence and is leading Spain’s Euro 2025 campaign with calm authority and pinpoint passing precision. Whether orchestrating play from midfield or showing up in a tailored suit (she’s fronted fashion campaign for Mango before) she totally owns the moment. Though she has nothing to prove in this tournament, she did miss the last Euros after tearing a ligament and has made her return to the pitch completely unmissable. She came back in early 2023 and went on to win that year’s World Cup.

Klara Bühl

Klara Bühl brings electric pace and Gen Z energy to both Germany and Bayern Munich. She’s only 24 but is already approaching 70 caps and has won four Bundesliga titles with Bayern. A creative forward with the ability to shift momentum in a split second, she’s been crucial in Germany’s efforts at Euro 2025. On the pitch, she’s all about directness and flair; off it, she’s quickly become one of football’s emerging style muses. (She isn’t sponsored by a brand yet, so definitely one to watch.) But she’s also got quite the side-hustles, too. During the men’s Euros last summer she wrote a column for Zeit Online, dishing tea and insights about the difference between how men and women approach the beautiful game. She’s also quite the crochet queen.

Sandy Baltimore

Sandy Baltimore doesn’t do quiet entries. Whether it’s a breakneck run down the wing or showing up in head-to-toe Martine Rose, the Chelsea and France star is pure statement energy. At Euro 2025, she’s bringing that same edge, adding creativity, tempo and unpredictability to France’s attacking setup. The 25-year-old winger can play on the left or right, at wing-back or in midfield, just enjoyed the best season of her career, winning all three domestic titles with the Blues, so is going into the Euros on a real high.

Alisha Lehmann

Alisha Lehmann has the kind of profile most players dream about: equal parts footballer, influencer and pop culture magnet. Representing hosts Switzerland at Euro 2025, the Juventus winger brings flair and tenacity on the pitch, while her off-pitch life has made her a social media phenomenon with 16.8+ million followers. She works with brands like Adidas, EA Sports and Boomerang Sportsbook, and has modelled for lingerie brand Tezenis. Beyond that, she’s outspoken on gender pay equity and is constantly challenging stereotypes, creating meaningful discourse around representation in sport. Her time in the Euros has been limited so far, but her role for the host nation is huge nonetheless.

Michelle Agyemang

Three-and-a-half years ago Agyemang was a ballgirl for an England match at Wembley. Fast forward to her England debut in April 2025 and she scored a stunning goal against Belgium just 41 seconds into hitting the pitch, and with only her second touch. Currently on loan to Brighton from Arsenal, the forward was named Brighton’s Young Player of the Year after a breakthrough WSL season this year and is becoming known for her authenticity on and off the pitch. Less about edited reels and more about earning every split second, she’s arguably England’s most exciting breakout stars.  She may be a super-sub, deployed by England coach Sarina Wiegman to cause major disruption at the Euros 2025, but she’s already cementing herself as one to watch at just 19.

Lia Wälti

A calm presence in the midfield and captain of the host nation Switzerland, Lia Wälti brings poise, precision and serious leadership to Euro 2025. After a major health scare last year and losing her starting lineup spot at Arsenal, she remains a key player for the national team and has made a stronger, more vocal return to the game, especially about subjects related to resilience, mental health and growing the women’s game. Together with her sister, Meret, Wälti published a children’s book Lia am Ball in early 2025, which tells the story of a girl who loved playing football and chose her own path. She’s also quietly using her platform to highlight Swiss culture and wellness, running a behind-the-scenes series called Lia’s Switzerland.

Alessia Russo

A Champions League winner with Arsenal and a member of the 50+ England caps club, Alessia Russo doesn’t just score goals, she is also busy building brands. Taking the charge for England’s front line at Euro 2025, the Arsenal striker is part Lioness, part CEO. Russo’s launched her own label, ET7, turning her signature into a fashion-forward identity that reflects her dual interest in performance and personal style. On the pitch, she’s sharp, instinctive and physical. The former Manchester United striker was the WSL’s joint top-scorer this past season with 12 league goals, alongside Khadija “Bunny” Shaw.

Vivianne Miedema

We’re aware Netherlands didn’t make the Euros 2025 quarterfinals, but still, Vivianne Miedema deserves a mention. Considered a living legend, Miedema scored her milestone 100th goal for the Netherlands during the opening match against Wales in the Euro 2025 making her the first Dutch player – male or female – to reach that accolade. Leading the Dutch line, the Arsenal striker combines ruthless finishing with a cerebral, unflashy brilliance. After a long injury layoff (she tore her cruciate ligaments with her former club, Arsenal, in December 2022) her comeback narrative has become a source of inspiration for many. She’s since moved to Manchester City and is also known for championing social causes, including LGBTQ+ rights, and is an active member of the Common Goal movement, which encourages athletes to donate 1% of their salaries to community organizations.

Beth Mead

Beth Mead joined Arsenal Women’s Football Club in January 2017 from Sunderland, UK, and has since become one of the team’s most influential players. Initially a central striker, Mead transitioned into a wide attacking role at Arsenal, where her creativity, pace, and vision have flourished. She is renowned for her ability to deliver precise crosses and create chances, holding the record for being one of the top three players with the most assists in the Women’s Super League (WSL). On the social front, Mead has continued to use her platform for good — most recently teaming up with Arsenal and Persil in a powerful campaign challenging the stigma around periods in sport, helping to create a more open and supportive environment for young athletes everywhere.

Bunny Shaw

Since joining Manchester City Women in 2021, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw quickly made herself one of the most dangerous strikers in the WSL. With her mix of strength, smart movement and sharp finishing, she’s become the focal point of City’s attack. In the 2023–2024 season, she scored 21 goals in just 18 games — enough to win the WSL Golden Boot even after an injury ended her season early. Her link-up play with teammates like Lauren Hemp has been key to City’s success, and her ability to hold up the ball and finish under pressure sets her apart. Off the pitch, she’s captain of Jamaica and their all-time top scorer, proving her impact goes far beyond club level.

Mayra Ramirez

Born and raised in Colombia, Mayra Ramírez joined Chelsea W.F.C. in January 2024 as the most expensive signing in women’s football history at the time. (Her £384k deal was later overshadowed by Naomi Girma in at the beginning of 2025.) Ramírez’s journey reflects serious dedication — before turning pro, she travelled 35 kilometres from her hometown of Sibaté each day to train, a work ethic that still defines her game. Known for her power, athleticism and goal-scoring ability, she made an immediate impact at Chelsea. In the final game of 2024-2025’s season, she scored twice and assisted two more in a 6–0 win over Manchester United Women to help seal the WSL title. She carried that momentum into this year, playing a key role in her team’s 3-0 triumph over Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup final. Strong, direct and technically sharp, she’s added real presence to Chelsea’s front line, especially in the absence of Sam Kerr, and has quickly adapted to the pace and demands of the English game.

Fridolina Rolfö

Hailing from Sweden, Fridolina Rolfö is a key player for FC Barcelona Femeni since arriving in 2021, bringing strength, pace and versatility to the team. Usually out on the left wing but just as comfortable leading the line, she’s no stranger to the big stage, with her winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final proof of that. Off the pitch, Rolfö is equally driven. In our recent interview, she spoke openly about the importance of giving women’s football the same visibility, accessibility and funding as the men’s game. It’s something she’s passionate about, and as a PUMA ambassador, she uses her voice to help push the sport forward while continuing to perform at the highest level.

Trinity Rodman

In 2023, Trinity Rodman became the youngest player in WSL history to hit double digits for both goals and assists and to this present day, she’s a key force for both the Washington Spirit and the U.S. Women’s National Team, the latter team she won Olympic gold with in 2024. But there’s more to her than highlight reels. During her episode of Alex Cooper‘s Call Her Daddy podcast last year, she spoke candidly about growing up largely without her father, NBA legend Dennis Rodman, and the ongoing challenges in their relationship — a side of her story fans rarely see. Still, she’s carving her own path, combining fearless play with a powerful voice off the pitch. As an Adidas athlete and author of a children’s book, she’s using her platform to push for better visibility and investment in women’s sport.

Racheal Kundananji

Zambian forward Racheal Kundananji is known for her exceptional goal-scoring prowess — netting 33 goals in 43 Liga F appearances, playing a pivotal role in this landmark move. In february last year, she joined Bay FC from Madrid CFF for $788,000 at just 23. Her expensive transfer is thanks to her exceptional dribbling, goal-scoring ability and knack for breaking down defenses. With all her achievements, she’s proved her consistency and impact on the field. Kundananji is already a key figure for both club and country, and before turning pro, she played barefoot in local Zambian tournaments, showcasing her passion and determination from a young age.

Ada Hegerberg

In 2018, Ada Hegerberg became the first woman to win the Ballon d’Or, cementing her status as one of the game’s greats. As Lyon’s star striker, she holds the all-time record for goals in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and has helped the club to multiple European titles. But her impact goes beyond the pitch. In 2017, she stepped away from Norway‘s national team in protest over gender inequality in football, returning five years later when she felt progress had been made. Now back as captain, she continues to lead by example.

Sakina Karchaoui

Sakina Karchaoui has become a standout figure in French football, known for her dynamic play and leadership on the field. Born in Salon-de-Provence in 1996, she began her football journey playing with boys in her neighborhood, but her professional career took off with Montpellier, followed by a stint at Lyon and now, she brings her talents to Paris Saint-Germain. Karchaoui’s versatility has seen her excel as both a left-back and a midfielder, a transition encouraged by former coach Hervé Renard, who recognized her potential to influence the game more centrally. Beyond her club success, Karchaoui has been a vital part of the French national team, earning over 85 caps and contributing to their international campaigns.