January can't come soon enough for new Stoke manager Mark Hughes, who watched his striker Jon Walters miss a penalty kick in Saturday's 1-0 EPL season opening loss to Liverpool. By Peter Nolan

No. 4 Sky Blue FC, No. 3 Portland Thorns, No. 1 WNY Flash and No. 2 FC Kansas City prepare for the NWSL playoffs this Saturday with the Blues taking on the Thorns on home turf in Overland Park. By Courtney Lambert