<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="109928" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lindsey-Vonn">Lindsey Vonn</keyword> and P.K. Subban stopped by Dwayne "<keyword id="484001" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="The-Rock">The Rock</keyword>" Johnson's home gym in Virginia for a special training session on Monday.</li><li>"Name a better workout partner... I'll wait," Vonn said on Twitter alongside a clip of the trio working out. </li><li>In a separate video, Subban can be seen lifting weights with the help of Johnson, which he captioned: "Today, I became a man."</li><li>Vonn, an Olympic gold medal winning skier, and Subban, a three time NHL All Star, are one of <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> great power couples, and got engaged last summer.</li></ul><p>Olympic gold medal winning skier Lindsey Vonn and her fiance, New Jersey Devils star P.K. Subban, stopped by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's home gym in Virginia for a special training session on Monday.</p><p>Vonn and Subban, who were engaged in August 2019, shared videos of the workout on social media.</p><p>"Name a better workout partner... I'll wait," Vonn said on Twitter alongside a video of her, Johnson, and Subban enduring some cardio. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—lindsey vonn  (@lindseyvonn) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1287771355593621504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2020</a></blockquote><p>In a separate clip, Subban can be seen lifting weights with the help of Johnson to the tune of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man."</p><p>"Today, I became a man," wrote the Devils defenceman on Twitter.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—P.K. Subban  (@PKSubban1) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1287757168872046592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2020</a></blockquote><p>Vonn, 35, retired from ski racing in February 2019 after a near two-decade career in which she won four World Cup overall championships, 20 World Cup crystal globe titles, and an Olympic gold medal, making her the sport's most decorated ever female.</p><p>Vonn also became <a href="https://about.underarmour.com/news/2019/03/project-rock-welcomes-lindsey-vonn">the first global ambassador for Johnson's "Project Rock" collaboration</a> with sportswear giant Under Armour in May 2019.</p><p>Subban, 31, is a three-time NHL All Star, and is currently out of action due to the fact the Devils failed to qualify for the NHL's expanded Stanley Cup playoffs, which have replaced the remainder of the regular season amid the coronavirus pandemic. </p><p><strong>Read more:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-rock-on-george-floyd-protests-where-is-donald-trump-2020-6">'Where are you?': Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson gave a passionate 8-minute speech calling out Trump for his response to the George Floyd protests</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-movies-ranked-from-worst-to-best-2020-4">All 40 Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson movies, ranked from worst to best</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/wwe-the-rock-ric-flair-daughter-fight-2020-3">Wrestling legend Ric Flair is pushing for a 'phenomenal' match between his WWE star daughter and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's daughter, Simone</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-moana-song-daughter-hand-washing-video-2020-4"></a></p>

'Today, I became a man': The Rock schooled NHL all-star P.K. Subban and ski legend Lindsey Vonn in a workout at his 'Iron Paradise' gym

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5935c22b79474cf4008b6d45-1500/pk%20subban.jpg" alt="pk subban" /><p class="source"><span>Bruce Bennett/Getty</span></p><p>A debate over some alleged trash talk between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators has become one of the biggest stories in the Stanley Cup Final.</p><p>At the end of the Predators' 5-1 Game 3 win, Predators defensemen P.K. Subban began jawing with Sidney Crosby before referees pulled the two apart.</p><p>After the game, Subban was asked by NBCSN's Pierre McGuire about what the two players said to one another, and Subban said Crosby told him his breath smelled.</p><p>"He <span>told me my breath smelled," Subban said. "But I used some Listerine before the game, so I don't know what he's talking about."</span></p><p><span><a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/news/p-k-subban-happily-trolling-penguins-stars-off-ice-153113825.html">According to Yahoo's Greg Wyshynski</a>, Subban's comment was a reference to an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_wv43t5Ig">interview McGuire had last season with the Penguins' Phil Kessel</a> when Kessel mistook a question about his conditioning to be a question about his breath.</span></p><p><span>Subban continued in the locker room after the game, saying, "Usually when guys chirp after the game or during the game, it's usually about your game or something personal. He went on to tell me that my breath smelled bad, and I really don't understand why, because I use Listerine before the game."</span></p><p><span>Crosby was asked about it on Sunday and said Subban made it up, referencing the two players' past confrontations.</span></p><p><span>"Yeah, he made that up. I didn't say that ... He likes the attention, and things like that. If he wants to make stuff up, what can I do?"</span></p><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2017/06/04/subbans-preds-leave-little-breathing-room-for-pens-arthur.html">According to Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star</a>, Crosby seemed to be annoyed when asked about the interaction with Subban, saying that he hasn't actually spent all that much time across from him on the ice.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"To be honest, guys, I haven't seen him much. I haven't seen P.K. much. We haven't been in the zone probably enough. But I don't feel like every time I'm out there P.K.'s out there. You know, you guys probably watch closer than I do, but that's how it feels. I'm pretty sure that they're not locked in on a certain pairing being out there against a certain line. They're pretty comfortable with each pairing, and I'm kind of seeing a bit of both."</p><p>Subban and the Predators have continued the bit, however. On Sunday, Subban said his breath was better and that his teammates left a bottle of mouthwash for him. Meanwhile, Predators defenseman Roman Josi said Subban's breath smells "great" and goalie Pekka Rinne said Subban always flosses.</p><p>Subban, who has a reputation for making headlines, also admitted that this is part of his tactic, saying, "<span>The gamesmanship's awesome. That's what you love, and that's what you probably miss the most when you're finished playing. For those battles. For that game within a game."</span></p><p>The Predators seemingly have momentum on their side, despite trailing in the series. Going into Monday's Game 4, they have the Penguins right where they want them - answering silly questions about Subban's breath while Subban and his teammates continue poking them with sticks. The results still have to bear it out on the ice, but at the moment, the Predators seem to have the kind of mental edge that can turn a series.</p><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crosby and <a href="https://twitter.com/PKSubban1">@PKSubban1</a> exchanged words and bad breath following Game 3 😂😂😂 <a href="https://t.co/IEvXwZSVhv">pic.twitter.com/IEvXwZSVhv</a></p>- NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLonNBCSports/status/871205073862381568">June 4, 2017</a></blockquote>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ddp-yoga-diamond-dallas-pages-fitness-wwe-2017-5">We took an intense yoga lesson from a WWE legend</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video                    

The Stanley Cup Final has been sidetracked by a strange debate over whether or not Sidney Crosby told P.K. Subban he has bad breath

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10147840" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="angel-city-fc">Angel City FC</keyword> — the National Women's <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">Soccer</keyword> League's expansion franchise in <keyword id="6354803" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Los-Angeles">Los Angeles</keyword> — has added an additional slate of investors to its star-studded roster of owners.</li><li>Tennis legend <keyword id="95530" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Billie-Jean-King">Billie Jean King</keyword>, Los Angeles Sparks superstar <keyword id="25669" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Candace-Parker">Candace Parker</keyword>, Olympic skiing icon <keyword id="109928" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lindsey-Vonn">Lindsey Vonn</keyword>, NHL star P.K. Subban, and host <keyword id="6396613" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="James-Corden">James Corden</keyword> are among the club's latest backers.</li><li>They join an <a href="https://www.insider.com/la-nwsl-team-ownership-natalie-portman-serena-williams-uswnt-stars-2020-7">already impressive list of investors</a> including Natalie Portman, Uzo Aduba, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach, and Serena Williams.</li></ul><p>Los Angeles is a city full of stars, and it's newest <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> franchise is living up to the name.</p><p>Angel City FC — the National Women's Soccer League expansion franchise set to begin playing in the City of Angels come 2022 — has added yet another wave of big names to its star-studded roster of investors.</p><p>Tennis legend Billie Jean King, Los Angeles Sparks superstar Candace Parker and her 11-year-old daughter, Lailaa, Olympic skiing icon Lindsey Vonn, New Jersey Devils star P.K. Subban, "The Late Late Show" host James Corden, and actress Sophia Bush are all among the club's latest backers.</p><p>"We need everyone to invest in women's sports and Ilana [Kloss] and I are proud to stand with the Angel City FC ownership group and help make new history in Southern California sports," King said, per an <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword> press release.</p><p>"Angel City's mission to make an impact on and off-the field, and to provide an opportunity to some of the best professional female athletes in the world to play on a stage as powerful as Los Angeles, sends a strong message to young girls in the community and beyond."</p><div type="image" title="North Carolina Courage's Heather O'Reilly, center, holds the championship trophy following the team's win over the Chicago Red Stars in an NWSL championship soccer game in Cary, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)" height="3580" width="4775" msid="78794194" hostid="261"></div><p>King and the latest shareholders join an already incredibly impressive <a href="https://www.insider.com/la-nwsl-team-ownership-natalie-portman-serena-williams-uswnt-stars-2020-7">list of investors</a> in the club, which to date totals more than 50 individuals more than two years removed from the team's expected kickoff date.</p><p>Actresses Natalie Portman, Uzo Aduba, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Garner, America Ferrera, and Eva Longoria teamed up with more than a dozen US Women's National Team icons — including Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Abby Wambach — as part of the founding group.</p><p>Tennis icon Serena Williams and her husband, tech guru Alex Ohanian joined the ranks along with their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr.</p><p>Talk show host Lilly Singh, YouTube superstar Casey Neistat, author Glennon Doyle, and many others have also been involved since the first announcement of the club's founding back in July 2020.</p><div type="image" title="tziarra king.JPG" height="1666" width="2223" msid="78794200" hostid="261"></div><p>"On behalf of the NWSL and our member clubs, we are thrilled to officially welcome Angel City Football Club, and this exciting and committed ownership group, to the league," NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird said.</p><p>"The soccer community in Southern California is filled with passionate fans of the game and I can't wait to see them rally around their own team and help us continue to grow the NWSL."</p><p>The NWSL is widely considered the world's top women's soccer league and, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, was home to all active members of the USWNT. </p><p>The league currently boasts nine clubs but announced earlier this year that it would add a Louisville-based franchise — Racing Louisville FC — in 2021.</p><p>The NWSL has also long been on the brink of welcoming a Sacramento-based club into its ranks, which would bring the league to an even 12 teams by 2022.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/la-nwsl-team-ownership-natalie-portman-serena-williams-uswnt-stars-2020-7">Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, and more than a dozen women's soccer icons are part of a star-studded ownership group for NWSL expansion team in LA</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">European clubs are poaching US Women's Soccer stars thanks to the coronavirus pandemic</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/utah-royals-sexism-sexy-photoshoots-players-too-ugly-for-ads-2020-9">An executive for a club in the women's top soccer league is accused of pushing for 'sexy' photoshoots and preventing players deemed 'too ugly' from being featured in ads</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-rocky-rodriguez-first-portland-thorns-goal-celebrates-early-2020-10">An NWSL superstar pulled a Steph Curry after scoring a stunning first goal with her new club</a></li></ul>

More huge names buy into new LA soccer club in what has rapidly become the most star-studded ownership group in sports

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dwayne "<keyword id="484001" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="The-Rock">The Rock</keyword>" Johnson's muscular physique apparently left the director of his new movie scrambling at the last minute to shoot a car-chase sequence because Johnson couldn't fit into a Porsche.</li><li>Johnson wrote on Instagram that he couldn't fit because of his wide back and felt like a "big ass brown marshmallow getting shoved into a coin slot."</li><li>"F--- it. Welcome to 2020," he concluded.</li></ul><p>Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's hulking frame is now becoming too big for his own good.</p><p>On Sunday, Johnson shared a story of how the director of his new movie, "Red Notice," had to alter a car-chase sequence at the last minute because the former WWE superstar was too big to fit into a Porsche Taycan <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> car.</p><p>"Guess who's too big to fit in yet another sports car and now we have to change the entire shot sequence around," Johnson wrote on Instagram.</p><p>He said the film's director, Rawson Thurber, "wrote this INSANE chase sequence where I hop in this iconic Porsche and be the bad ass behind the wheel that I am."</p><p>"Well, after months of prep and costs buying and shipping this car over to the states — it's time to rehearse the big chase sequence," he continued.</p><p>Johnson went on to write that Thurber asked him to get in the car but that he couldn't fit because of his wide back and felt like a "big ass brown marshmallow getting shoved into a coin slot."</p><p>"After about 15 seconds of uncomfortable silence, Rawson, myself and the entire crew just started laughing our asses off!" Johnson added. </p><p>"F--- it. Welcome to 2020."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHlusgsFrZ4" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by therock (@therock)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><p>Fortunately for the film, Johnson said Thurber did manage to find a "creative" way to get the shots he needed.</p><p>"Red Notice," which also stars Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds, is expected to hit Netflix next year.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-black-adam-movie-the-rock">Everything we know about The Rock's antihero movie 'Black Adam'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-rock-lindsey-vonn-pk-subban-iron-paradise-workout-2020-7">'Today, I became a man': The Rock schooled NHL all-star P.K. Subban and ski legend Lindsey Vonn in a workout at his 'Iron Paradise' gym</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-movies-ranked-from-worst-to-best-2020-4">All 40 Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson movies, ranked from worst to best</a></li></ul>

The Rock is so muscular the director of his new movie had to change a chase scene when his back was too big to fit in the car

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d2f4af1699e5c306e7b4892-2000/lebron%20james%20anthony%20davis.jpg" border="0" alt="Lebron james anthony davis" data-mce-source="AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes" /></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>LeBron James, Steph Curry, and JuJu Smith-Schuster are among the athletes participating in the #AgeChallenge.</li><li>The challenge took social media by storm because of FaceApp's realistic age filter. It shows what people may look like in 50 years.</li><li>Sports couple P.K. Subban and Lindsey Vonn also took part.&#xa0;</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</strong></li></ul><p>The FaceApp #AgeChallenge took social media by storm on Tuesday and it gave some athletes a chance to see what they might look like in 50 years.&#xa0;</p><p>The photo editing app launched in 2017, but with improved technology has resurfaced with its realistic age filter.</p><p>From Steph Curry to JuJu Smith-Schuster, athletes from all sports joined in on the fun.&#xa0;</p><p>Take a look at some of the transformations below.</p>

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and more are among the athletes having fun with the #AgeChallenge

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dwayne "<keyword id="484001" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="The-Rock">The Rock</keyword>" Johnson has revealed that he and his family all tested positive for COVID-19.</li><li>He also slammed politcians who had encouraged the public not to wear masks. </li><li>"I can tell you that this has been one of the most challenging and difficult things we have ever had to endure as a family," the 48-year-old said on Instagram.</li><li>"Wear your mask," he added. "It has nothing to do with politics."</li></ul><p>Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has revealed that he and his family have all tested positive for COVID-19.</p><p>Speaking in an emotional Instagram video on Wednesday, the 48-year-old wrestler-turned-actor also slammed politicians who had encouraged the public not to wear masks.</p><p>"My wife Lauren, as well as my two baby girls, as well as myself, we have all tested positive for COVID-19," he said. Johnson's daughters, Jasmine and Tiana, are two and four years old respectively. </p><p>"I can tell you that this has been one of the most challenging and difficult things we have ever had to endure as a family.</p><p>"And for me personally too, as well. And I've gone through some doozies in the past. I've got knocked about and got my ass kicked a little bit in the past with some challenges, but testing positive for COVID-19 is much different than overcoming nasty injuries, or being evicted or even being broke, which I have been more than a few times.</p><p>"The reason why I feel like this is different is because my number one priority is to always protect my family."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEppiNRlpvs" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Stay disciplined. Boost your immune system. Commit to wellness. Wear your mask. Protect your family. Be strict about having people over your house or gatherings. Stay positive. And care for your fellow human beings. Stay healthy, my friends. DJ  #controlthecontrollables</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by  therock (@therock) on Sep 2, 2020 at 3:26pm PDT<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2020-09-02T22:26:00+00:00">Sep 2, 2020 at 3:26pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><p>Johnson, who says he and his family contracted the virus about two-and-a-half weeks ago from family friends, went on to encourage fans to start living a healthier lifestyle to improve their chances of tackling the illness.</p><p>He also said wearing a mask was imperative, at which point he took aim at politicians who had suggested otherwise.</p><p>United States President Donald Trump previously said in April that wearing a mask is "voluntary," <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/calendar-confusion-february-august-trump-s-mixed-messages-masks-n1236088">according to NBC News,</a> while Vice President Mike Pence said in March that "unless you are ill, you have no need to buy a mask."</p><p>"Wear your mask," said Johnson. "It baffles me that some people out there, including some politicians, will take this idea of wearing masks and make it part of a political agenda.</p><p>"It has nothing to do with politics. Wear your mask. It is a fact. And it is the right thing to do, not only for yourself, but for your family and your loved ones, and also for your fellow human beings."</p><p><strong>Read more:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-rock-on-george-floyd-protests-where-is-donald-trump-2020-6">'Where are you?': Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson gave a passionate 8-minute speech calling out Trump for his response to the George Floyd protests</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-black-adam-movie-the-rock">Everything we know about The Rock's antihero movie 'Black Adam'</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-rock-lindsey-vonn-pk-subban-iron-paradise-workout-2020-7">'Today, I became a man': The Rock schooled NHL all-star P.K. Subban and ski legend Lindsey Vonn in a workout at his 'Iron Paradise' gym</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-mourns-shad-gaspard-death-2020-5">Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson paid an emotional tribute to former WWE superstar Shad Gaspard, who died after being swept out to sea while swimming</a></p>

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson revealed he and his family tested positive for COVID-19, before slamming politicians who encouraged people not to wear masks

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ae866ea19ee862f008b47e7-1200/crosby-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Crosby 2" data-mce-source="Andre Ringuette/Getty Images &amp; Bruce Bennett/Getty Images" /><p class="source"><span>Andre Ringuette/Getty Images &amp; Bruce Bennett/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">The NHL is a league full of both veteran and up-and-coming stars - here's what some of the most impressive players in hockey looked like at the start of their careers.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The Stanley Cup playoffs offers some of the most exciting action in sports.</p><p>With sudden death overtime and every team just one hot goalie away from Stanley Cup immortality, playoff hockey represents edge-of-your-seat action from the moment the puck drops.</p><p>At the center of it all are the stars of hockey - players like Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, PK Subban and more who brought astounding skill to the sport the moment they took to the ice.</p><p>Now veterans of the league and masked with playoff beards, these players look a bit different than when they first joined the league as fresh-faced youngsters. Take a look below to see how players have changed since their NHL debut.</p>

Photos of what the stars of the NHL looked like when their careers started

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/593a1445c4adeec3178b462b-1920/snapshot20170608222041.jpg" alt="Sidney Crosby" /><p class="source"><span>NBC</span></p><p>The Penguins beat the <span>Predators, 6-0,</span> to take a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Final. Here are the plays everybody will be talking about on Friday:</p><p><strong>Sidney Crosby gave PK Subban the business.</strong> The Stanley Cup Final got oddly sidetracked by Subban saying that Crosby accused him of having bad breath. The two renewed acquaintances on Thursday when they got tangled up behind the net. Crosby shoved Subban's head into the ice several times. Somehow, both players were given offsetting 2-minute minors ... for holding. </p><p><strong>Sidney Crosby threw a water bottle on the ice.</strong> Just prior to Phil Kessel scoring mid-way through the second period to make it 5-0, Crosby was on the bench and got angry when a slashing penalty was not called on the Predators. As the bench stood and yelled at the referee, Crosby threw a water bottle onto the ice. No unsportsmanlike penalty was called and Kessel's goal stood. Crosby later told the ref he didn't mean to throw the bottle.</p><p><strong>The first-minute penalty and double-five-hole goal.</strong> There were some goals in this game. In fact, the Pens scored six of them and they set the tone early. Crosby drew a penalty when he split the defense and had his shot clank off the frame as he was being pulled down. On the ensuing power play, <span>Justin Schultz went double-five hole to make 1-0. Sure enough, Crosby got the assist. </span></p><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/3scn2/iuzwfq?autoplay=1&amp;muted=1" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/ok0fp/ekrezf" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/awsxg/mmuirs?autoplay=1&amp;muted=1" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-lebron-james-responds-racist-graffiti-slur-on-home-in-la-race-emmett-till-nba-finals-2017-6">WATCH: LeBron James responds after his LA home was vandalized with a racial slur</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video                    

The 3 plays from Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final that everybody will be talking about

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/592cc57eb74af46e008b4f64-1515/capture20170529195551.jpg" alt="capture_20170529_195551" /><p class="source"><span>NBC</span></p><p>It looked like the Nashville Predators had taken an early lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final when PK Subban scored what appeared to be the first goal of the series. But a few minutes later the goal was waived off after a controversial challenge.</p><p>The play came a little over seven minutes into the first period of Game 1. After Subban intercepted a careless mid-ice clearance by the Penguins, he passed the puck forward for Filip Forsberg. After a wild scramble, the puck eventually found its way back to Subban's stick where he wristed a shot past Matt Murray.</p><p>But just before the ensuing face-off, the Penguins challenged the goal, arguing that Forsberg had been offside.</p><p>The question was whether or not Forsberg's right skate came off the ice before the puck completely passed the blue line and hit the blade of Forsberg's stick. If Forsberg's right blade is off the ice first, he is completely in the zone and offside.</p><p>To the naked eye, it certainly seems plausible, but is there convincing evidence that the skate is off the ice first? On top of that, it is not even entirely certain that Forsberg didn't touch the puck before it completely passed the blue line.</p><p>However, after a brief review, the referees waived the goal off and the Pittsburgh crowd went wild.</p><p>The Penguins seemed to be energized by the reversal. Instead of being down 1-0 at home, they were still tied and went on to score three goals to take a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period.</p><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/h7g1e/mqufpz?autoplay=1&amp;muted=1" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/b76yg/pftdni?autoplay=1&amp;muted=1" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/55vyx/qcslcm" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ddp-yoga-diamond-dallas-pages-fitness-wwe-2017-5">We took an intense yoga lesson from a WWE legend</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video                    

A controversial replay review waived off what appeared to be the Predators' first goal of the Stanley Cup Final

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/591ed4f534911b075c8b46e0-800/untitled-1.png" alt="Untitled 1" /><p class="source"><span>Sportsnet; PGA Tour; MLB.tv</span></p><p>Good morning! Here are the plays everybody will be talking about Friday:</p><p><strong>Corey Perry's lucky OT winner.</strong> The Nashville Predators erased a 2-0 deficit in the third period of Game 4 against the Anaheim Ducks, including the tying goal with 35 seconds to go in regulation. But about 10 minutes into overtime, Perry was just trying to feed a teammate in front of the net when P.K. Subban deflected the pass right into his own net. It was a huge break as the Ducks evened the series at 2-2.</p><p><strong>Julio Teheran hits Jose Bautista.</strong> One day after Bautista flipped his bat on a home run and then later seemingly apologized, Teheran hit Bautista with a pitch. According to ESPN, the pitch was 96 mph, Teheran's fastest pitch in two seasons.</p><p><strong>Patrick Reed from way downtown.</strong> In the opening round of the Byron Nelson Classic, Reed had the putt of the day, nailing one from 64 feet that had to go up and over a ridge in the green.</p><iframe width="800" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Z-PR0CQRbMg" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=1402078883&amp;topic_id=6479266&amp;width=600&amp;height=336&amp;property=mlb" width="600" height="336" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">64 feet ➡️ 🕳!<br /><br />Loudest roar of the day comes from <a href="https://twitter.com/PReedGolf">@PReedGolf</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QuickHits?src=hash">#QuickHits</a> <a href="https://t.co/BhfNgzK5IP">pic.twitter.com/BhfNgzK5IP</a></p>- PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) <a href="https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/865336474186661893">May 18, 2017</a></blockquote>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wwe-john-cena-fitness-diet-nutrition-exercise-strategy-2017-4">John Cena reveals how he stays in incredible fighting shape</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video                    

The 3 plays in sports everybody will be talking about today

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/592d5b5279474c1c008b4f59-800/untitled-1b.jpg" alt="3 Plays" /><p class="source"><span>Gene J. Puskar/AP; NBC</span></p><p>Good morning! Here are the plays everybody will be talking about Tuesday:</p><p><strong>The P.K. Subban goal that never happened.</strong> For a moment it looked like the Nashville Predators had scored first in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final and taken a 1-0 lead in a game they would mostly dominate. But the goal was waived off after a controversial challenge by the Penguins. The referees ruled that Filip Forsberg's right skate came up off the ice before he handled the puck as it passed the blue line, making him offside. Many felt it was not clear that his skate was off the ice. In addition, it appears that the puck first hits Forsberg's stick before crossing the blue line, which would have been onside. Instead of being up 1-0, the Preds were still tied and the Pens would score three goals over the next 13 minutes (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pk-subban-goal-replay-challenge-reverse-stanley-cup-final-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">read more here</a>).</p><p><strong>Bryce Harper charges the mound and punches were thrown.</strong> Things got ugly between the Washington Natonals and San Francisco Giants when <span>Hunter Strickland hit Harper with a pitch. After a brief pause, Harper charged the mound and both players appeared to land punches. On a side note, Giants catcher Buster Posey is coming under fire for just watching as Harper charged the mound</span> (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bryce-harper-hunter-strickland-fight-nationals-giants-brawl-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">read more here</a>).</p><p><strong>The Jake Guentzel goal.</strong> The Penguins went more than 35 minutes without registering a single shot as the Predators dominated the second period and much of the third period, erased a 3-0 deficit, and tied the game at 3-3. But when the Penguins finally took another shot, they made the most of it as Guentzel beat Pekka Rinne with what turned out to be the game-winning goal. The Pens would later add an empty-net goal and won 5-3.</p><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/h7g1e/afclyx?autoplay=1&amp;muted=1" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/b76yg/dsbsq?autoplay=1&amp;muted=1" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=1442622683&amp;topic_id=6479266&amp;width=600&amp;height=336&amp;property=mlb" width="600" height="336" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/evbqd/lfmtjb?autoplay=1&amp;muted=1" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ddp-yoga-diamond-dallas-pages-fitness-wwe-2017-5">We took an intense yoga lesson from a WWE legend</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video                    

<ul class="summary-list"><li>National Women's Soccer League viewership was up 493% in 2020.</li><li>Thanks to a new partnership with CBS, the premier women's soccer league recorded its seven most-watched games ever, headlined by a record 653,000 viewers of the NWSL Challenge Cup championship.</li><li>In addition to the viewership spike, the league enjoyed a 152% increase in social mentions year-over-year and a 55% bump in traditional media mentions.</li><li>Insider spoke to NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird, Utah Royals FC defender Kelley O'Hara, Houston Dash striker Kristie Mewis, and Portland Thorns star Crystal Dunn about the league's success in 2020.</li></ul><p>2020 has wreaked havoc across many industries, and American sports are amongst those impaired by the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>But not all professional sports leagues in the United States struggled this year.</p><p>As the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB each saw double-digit drops in viewership in 2020, the National Women's Soccer League enjoyed a whopping 493% bump in viewership year-over-year.</p><div type="image" title="tziarra king.JPG" height="1666" width="2223" msid="78940011" hostid="261"></div><p>The NWSL is the world's top women's soccer league and, entering the year, was home to all 23 current US Women's National Team players and many international stars. And thanks to a new partnership with CBS and Twitch, more people than ever were able to watch them play; the league recorded its seven most-watched games ever this year, headlined by a record 653,000 viewers tuning in to CBS for the NWSL Challenge Cup championship between the Houston Dash and the Chicago Red Stars at the end of July.</p><p>"A lot of people saw that women's sports had momentum," NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird told Insider. "Our ownership, our players, and the staff all got together and said, 'This is going to be an extraordinary year. How do we figure out how to give these amazing players the platform they deserve?'"</p><p>"To say it's been rewarding is an understatement," she added.</p><h2>Baird was put to the test right away, becoming the NWSL's top executive just as everything ground to a screeching halt</h2><p>On March 10, Baird officially took on her new role as the NWSL's first commissioner in more than three years. The following day, <a href="https://www.insider.com/rudy-gobert-utah-jazz-even-stronger-post-coronavirus-conflict-2020-7">the entire sports world came to a standstill</a> as NBA star <a href="https://www.insider.com/nba-season-suspended-rudy-gobert-coronavirus-2020-3">Rudy Gobert returned a positive COVID-19 test</a> just before his Wednesday-night Utah Jazz game was scheduled to tip.</p><div type="image" title="crystal dunn.JPG" height="1601" width="2135" msid="78940014" hostid="261"></div><p>In the subsequent 24 hours, most major professional sports leagues in the United States shuttered their doors, and the former IBM, NFL, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee marketing executive was left to spend her first months at the NWSL's helm formulating a plan to get her league's players back on the pitch.</p><p>A little more than three months later, the <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-first-professional-us-contact-sports-league-return-not-mls-2020-6">2020 Challenge Cup</a> — a bubble-style, 23-game tournament — <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-players-kneel-national-anthem-wear-black-lives-matter-shirts-2020-6">kicked off at Zions Bank Stadium</a> in Herriman, Utah, locking in the NWSL as the first American professional contact sports league to return to action since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.</p><p>"Every year, the NWSL is definitely improving in many ways. This year was a very difficult year, but for us to be the first [league] returning back to sports was incredible," newly-minted Portland Thorns star Crystal told members of the press while attending the USWNT's October camp. "The commissioner played a big role in that. She's done well to get sponsorships and TV deals for us because that's really big-time for this league."</p><p>"To really solidify how we're going to get viewership and how we're going to get those partnerships — she's done a really good job with that," Dunn added.</p><p>With the tournament's opener and championship games both broadcast on CBS, the league shattered its previous viewership records. The June 27 match between the Portland Thorns and reigning champion North Carolina Courage garnered an audience of 572,000 on average, while the event's finale on July 26 stands as the NWSL's all-time most-viewed match with an additional 80,000 viewers. Even more, soccer fans tuned in on Twitch, where fans outside of the United States could stream the games.</p><div type="image" title="zions bank stadium.JPG" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78940016" hostid="261"></div><p>Baird and the league's leadership carried that momentum into autumn with the NWSL fall series, an 18-game, seven-week pseudo-season featuring regional "pods" with three clubs apiece to help minimize travel during the pandemic. Five of those games aired on network television via CBS, averaging 383,000 viewers.</p><p>"We've had a very passionate fanbase that's been supporting this league from the beginning, and I'm really attuned into them," Baird said. "They're the ones we play for. I never forget that we're playing for the fans."</p><p>In the past, the NWSL has only been available on cable networks, limiting fans' ability to access the league's games. Baird thinks the switch to network television contributed significantly to the league's huge ratings spikes in 2020.</p><p>"The numbers you're seeing are truly the increase, but last year, most of our games were on cable," Baird said. "The comparison is broadcast to cable, so let's just be very upfront about that. That is one of the major reasons we had such tremendous growth."</p><h2>Women's professional sports leagues have long struggled to secure the prime TV and media real estate the major leagues garner</h2><p>For years, a blanket assumption that "the audience just isn't there" for women's sports created a self-fulfilling prophecy, leaving leagues like the NWSL and WNBA without a significant platform upon which to share their product.</p><p>But more recently, the tides have begun to turn. Just as the NWSL secured a breakthrough deal with CBS in 2020, the WNBA struck gold with an extensive schedule of games broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC throughout the summer. The deal marked ESPN's largest WNBA schedule ever, including 37 live regular-season games, a plethora of playoff matchups, and the entirety of the 2020 Finals.</p><p>"We and the WNBA deserve to be proud of women's sports and what we've done," Baird said.</p><p>Both leagues managed to buck the negative trend in viewership plaguing the rest of the sports world, with the WNBA Finals seeing a 15% bump year-over-year and the NWSL reaching an astounding triple-digit mark in the same metric.</p><p>"It's just having that platform to tell the stories," Baird said. "We worked really closely with CBS. They were pretty bullish on women's soccer and said, 'Yeah, we're going to give you an enormous platform.' And we were able to carry that audience that we developed and bring it in to show people great games."</p><p>"This is about great sport, great athletes, women's soccer, and letting Americans and international [fans] find them week after week," she added.</p><div type="image" title="kristie mewis.JPG" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78940020" hostid="261"></div><p>During the USWNT October camp, Dash star Kristie Mewis lauded Baird for guiding the league to success through objectively difficult circumstances.</p><p>"Lisa has been amazing," Mewis said. "Obviously what has happened this year with the pandemic and everything — it's honestly been terrible. But I do think that we made the best out of it. With the two competitions and getting a lot of attention on us and on the league, I think it's been so great."</p><p>"It's really putting us in a good position for next year," she added.</p><p>But even with the league posting record numbers throughout 2020 and a nearly 500% growth on the year, some individuals still managed to disregard the NWSL while assessing the state of sports viewership. Just days before the league's fall series was set to conclude, sports business reporter Darren Rovell tweeted a Sports Media Watch-curated graph of viewership trends for various professional sports leagues and events. Curiously, the graphic did not include the NWSL's statistics on the year.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Darren Rovell  (@darrenrovell) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1316523441915387904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2020</a></blockquote><p>One day after the initial post, Baird made a point to inform Rovell in the comments that the league's 493% growth on the year was "not a typo," as if to say 'We really did that.'</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Lisa Baird  (@lisainog) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1316921622096478209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2020</a></blockquote><p>"Exactly," Baird said. "I hope I can do it with good grace. I think that's what I want to do is just remind people that we're a great sport, and we're here."</p><p>It's far from the first instance of Baird's league getting overlooked. More than two weeks after the NWSL announced its plans for the Challenge Cup, Major League Soccer announced its own proposal to salvage its 2020 season with the "MLS is Back Tournament" beginning July 8, <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-first-professional-us-contact-sports-league-return-not-mls-2020-6">prompting some outlets to forget — or outright ignore</a> — the return to play on the women's side.</p><p>In covering the men's league's return, reporters from <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/11/mls-plans-for-new-broadcast-formats-when-suspended-season-returns.html">CNBC</a>, <a href="https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article243425216.html">the Fort Worth Star-Telegram</a>, NBC Sports, and more suggested the MLS' Florida-based tournament would constitute the first instance of professional contact sports returning in the US. Of course, the NWSL's late-June start date meant that its players would not only take the pitch before MLS players but that Baird's league would be the first in North America to return to action.</p><div type="image" title="dash parade.JPG" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78940022" hostid="261"></div><p>"When people ignore the NWSL — or not ignore, that's too hard a word," Baird said. "When people go, 'Oh, I forgot to do that,' a gentle reminder is for the players who work their butts off, our owners who have invested in this league for years to get it where it is, and for the fans who've been supporting us."</p><p>Dunn put it a bit more bluntly, asserting that "it's time people paid even more attention to the NWSL."</p><p>"This league is special," she added. "This was a really good start this year for people to really acknowledge that these girls can play."</p><h2>Social engagement and media coverage also jumped for the NWSL in 2020, and the league has plans to carry that momentum onward</h2><p>Television wasn't the only platform on which the NWSL thrived this year. According to the league, mentions on social platforms up 152% from 2019. And just last week, NWSL clubs accounted for half of the top-10 highest cross-platform engagement rates across all professional sports teams, per FOS Insights.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—CBC Sports  (@cbcsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1321528432065449986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2020</a></blockquote><p>"Social media, for us, is a thriving, good place," Baird said. "And I think [the fans] are as responsible for growing the profile of the league as what we do as the league office and the teams. I'm really grateful that our players interact with the fans a lot on social media — I think that's really great."</p><p>Similarly, NWSL coverage on news media platforms was up 55% in 2020. Considering women's sports traditionally receive just 4% of total sports media coverage, according to the <a href="https://www.cehd.umn.edu/tuckercenter/projects/mediacoverage.html">Tucker Center for Research on Girls &amp; Women in Sport</a> at the University of Minnesota, a double-digit uptick in reporting from traditional outlets is quite a victory. </p><p>"You have to have it be a combination of visibility, logistics, getting creative, figuring out how we present this as the best product to the fans, and maybe not necessarily following the blueprint that we've always followed," Utah Royals and USWNT star Kelley O'Hara told Insider. "As the world evolves, leagues and teams and sports have to evolve with it, and I think the NWSL has done a good job of that."</p><p>"If we have a normal season next year, it hopefully will be even better than what we anticipated for this year to look like," she added.</p><div type="image" title="kelley o'hara" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78940025" hostid="261"></div><p>The league is already positioned to further its growth in 2021 and beyond. In October 2019, the NWSL officially announced plans to add a new franchise — the league's 10th — in Louisville, Kentucky. Some nine months later, the club announced its new name as Racing Louisville FC and introduced its crest and violet color scheme.</p><p>Though Racing Louisville FC is the only new team joining the NWSL's ranks in 2021, there was more to come on the expansion front this year. In July, the <a href="https://www.insider.com/la-nwsl-team-ownership-natalie-portman-serena-williams-uswnt-stars-2020-7">league welcomed a Los Angeles-based franchise</a> — later dubbed Angel City FC —  with a star-studded ownership group including Natalie Portman, Uzo Aduba, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach, Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, Billie Jean King, Candace Parker, Lindsey Vonn, P.K. Subban, and James Corden, among others.</p><p>"That is an incredible ownership group," Baird said. "We're really proud that these are owners who really believe in the values of the league. I know it's a star-studded group and all that, but the reason they got into it was the values of this league and to continue to push women's sports up where it belongs."</p><p>"To be able to announce an expansion like that in the middle of 2020 — that's pretty extraordinary that they came on," she added.</p><p>But an impressive roster of investors isn't the only exciting aspect of the NWSL's most recent expansion. Baird acknowledged that, for a soccer league looking to grow, finding a foothold in the most populous state in the union is a major advantage.</p><p>"When you get a chance to go to a city like Los Angeles, I mean, it's a huge soccer city with enormous resources potential," Baird said. "That will in and of itself help us expand into one of the most important soccer markets in the United States, which is California, and we've not been there."</p><div type="image" title="lisa baird" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78940027" hostid="261"></div><p>Though it may be the NWSL's first, Angel City FC may not be the league's only club in The Golden State. Rumors have swirled for quite some time that the NWSL has plans to add a franchise in Sacramento. As recently as mid-August, a <a href="https://theathletic.com/2008254/2020/08/19/sources-nwsl-to-add-sacramento-team-for-2021-season/">report from The Athletic's Meg Linehan and Paul Tenorio</a> suggested that a club in California's capital city could begin playing in the NWSL as soon as next year.</p><p>Though Baird did not confirm any expansion franchises beyond those already announced by the league, the commissioner expressed her commitment towards growing the league even further.</p><p>"We're oriented towards the future," Baird said. "An expansion strategy is obviously really important to us as we look forward."</p><p>"What we do beyond [recent expansions will be] thoughtful, and I'm doing it in concert with our owners," she added. </p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-angel-city-fc-investors-billie-jean-king-lindsey-vonn-2020-10">More huge names buy into new LA soccer club in what has rapidly become the most star-studded ownership group in sports</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-tottenham-hotspur-prep-for-tokyo-olympics-with-uswnt-2020-10">The pandemic pushed Alex Morgan to move to the UK so that the new mom could get back in match-shape for the Tokyo Olympics</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-world-cup-champion-yuki-nagasato-joins-mens-soccer-club-2020-9">A women's World Cup champion is set to make history as the first female soccer star to play professionally with a men's club</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-first-professional-us-contact-sports-league-return-not-mls-2020-6">Sorry, MLS, the NWSL is actually the first professional contact sports league to return in the US</a></li></ul>

You Searched For "pk subban" and got 12 results

'Today, I became a man': The Rock schooled NHL all-star P.K. Subban and ski legend Lindsey Vonn in a workout at his 'Iron Paradise' gym

Barnaby Lane

The Stanley Cup Final has been sidetracked by a strange debate over whether or not Sidney Crosby told P.K. Subban he has bad breath

Scott Davis

More huge names buy into new LA soccer club in what has rapidly become the most star-studded ownership group in sports

Meredith Cash

The Rock is so muscular the director of his new movie had to change a chase scene when his back was too big to fit in the car

Barnaby Lane

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and more are among the athletes having fun with the #AgeChallenge

Alexandra Licata

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson revealed he and his family tested positive for COVID-19, before slamming politicians who encouraged people not to wear masks

Barnaby Lane

Photos of what the stars of the NHL looked like when their careers started

Tyler Lauletta

The 3 plays from Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final that everybody will be talking about

Cork Gaines

A controversial replay review waived off what appeared to be the Predators' first goal of the Stanley Cup Final

Cork Gaines

The 3 plays in sports everybody will be talking about today

Cork Gaines

The 3 plays in sports everybody will be talking about today

Cork Gaines

TV ratings for North America's top women's soccer league are up a whopping 493%. Here's how they succeeded as other sports are losing viewers.

Meredith Cash