Liz Clarke

The U.S. women’s soccer team, in France for the World Cup, has a big challenge back home: a battle against gender discrimination.

It never unfolded this way in Ashley Wagner's dreams, qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team on the heels of the former Eagle River skater's most error-strewn performance in years, the tears fresh in her memory if not on her face.

When it comes to coaches dishing out "tough love" to players, the terrain is changing rapidly, and so are the consequences.

Would-be Winter Olympics athletes are meeting the press this week in Park City in advance of February's Sochi Games, and many are fielding questions about Russia's anti-gay legislation.