Talks are ongoing between players for the World Cup-winning U.S. womens national team and the U.S. Soccer Federation in advance of the Dec. 31 expiration of their current contract.The team played its final two matches of the season last week in California. On Sunday, the CBS news show 60 Minutes is set to air an interview with a group of players.The team has been playing under a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Womens National Soccer Team Players Association and the USSF that was struck in March 2013 and runs through the end of this year.Earlier this year, a group of players filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging wage discrimination. They claimed that they are not paid the same as their counterparts on the mens national team.Defender Becky Sauerbrunn told The Associated Press this week that the two sides met a couple of weeks ago and more talks are scheduled for this month and December.Were still fighting very hard for equal pay, she said. Were not going to move on that. Were always encouraged because we know thats what were fighting for and we feel like were in the right to fight for something like that. Really, its convincing U.S. Soccer that we deserve that.U.S. Soccer reiterated Friday that it is working to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with the womens national team.Much of the disparity in wages between the mens and womens teams stem from the different ways the players are paid. The women earn salaries while the men are paid based on national team appearances, results and other factors.The pay structure was set up under separate collective bargaining agreements negotiated by unions for the mens and womens teams.There has been no decision in the EEOC complaint, which was brought by Sauerbrunn, Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd. All five were on the team that won the World Cup last year in Canada.The U.S. womens team is coming off a disappointing showing at the Olympics this summer in Brazil, where they were ousted by Sweden in the quarterfinals. The U.S. had won three straight gold medals going into the Rio Games.---AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report. Kendrick Nunn Heat Jersey . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Tim Hardaway Heat Jersey . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. https://www.heatlockerroom.com/Tyler-Johnson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Edrice Adebayo Heat Jersey . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Tyler Herro Heat Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. As the countdown to the big three of Australian racing -- the Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup -- reaches that exciting time when the major local contenders are shown their wares on track, the next unknown -- the internationals -- are just beginning their quests for these cherished prizes.Thirteen horses have entered quarantine centres across England and Ireland, where they well serve a mandatory 14-day stay before jetting-in to Melbourne on 1 October.Upon arrival, theyll call Racing Victorias International Equine Centre at Werribee, west of Melbourne, home for the duration of their southern hemisphere spring campaigns. Theyll be joined by a second group of Emirates Melbourne Cup-focused campaigners on 15 October.Of this first group, the newer headline acts are Wicklow Brave, trained by Irish master Willie Mullins, and former UK galloper Exopshere who will be a new acquisition to five-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Lee Freedmans yard.Sheikh Mohammads Godolphin team, meanwhile, have sent an unprecedented first group of five horses into Englands Newmarket quarantine complex.Godolphin, with a greater focus on the Melbourne Cup, have historically sent his charger in the second shipment, which meant their quarantine period didnt end until Derby Day. For those contenders allocated lighter weights in the Melbourne Cup, a last-ditch effort to win a feature race on Derby Day made for a touch-and-go situation.The 2016 UK-based Godolphin runners are taking a different approach this year under trainer Charlie Appleby. They will be looking also to tackle races such as the Geelong, Moonee Valley, and Bendigo Cups, together with the final roll option of the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day - a win-and-youre-in race towards the Cup. Some may even aim solely towards the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the final day of the Flemington Carnival.With the exception of Dermot Welds grand Irish stayer Vintage Crop winning the Melbourne Cup in 1993, history has shown it is all-important for a visiting contender to have run in a race in Melbourne before taking out our biggest race. This seems to be a point now heeded by foreign trainers with the increased number being sent to Melbourne to include a final preparatory start.Global racing and breeding giant Coolmore Stud is understood to have entered six horses into quarantine in Ireland last Wednesday. However, and unusually, they are yet to advise Racing Victoria, or allow to be made public, the names of those horses. That group could include 2015 Hong Kong Vase winner Highland Reel.The great unknown is how well all of these horses will travel, recover, and take to their new surroundings. Time will tell for all, but for now here is a guide to the know new names on the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival block.WICKLOW BRAVE (IRE) -- (Trainer: Willie Mullins - Likely Jockey: Frankie Dettori)Last start: 13/9/16 - 1st Group 1 Irish St Leger, 2800m at The Curragh (IRE)There are some very good reasons why Wicklow Brave is so high in the order of the Melbourne Cup market, and it isnt just because of his latest strong victory in Ireland, where he was victorious over the previous Cup favourite, Order of St George.After that win, Wicklow Brave firmed from $35 into Melbourne Cup favouritism with UBET at $15 (which could well be value come Cup Day). Mullins seems to have set this horse on a path to Melbourne throughout 2016 as he has been keen to return for Australias big races as soon as possible, and especially with the right sort of horse.It might sound obvious, but so much of what Mullins has achieved with his horses in Melbourne has been down to the training.He brought Simenon to Melbourne in 2013. Written off by most experts just a hurdler, that type of stamina-sapping style was the way Simenon was trained while at Werribee in the lead-up to his run in the 2400 metres Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on Guineas Day, when he finished a very creditable third.In the week following, Mullins changed Simenons training; it still consisted of a lap-after-lap three- or four-mile canter each morning, but it included also a sharp sprint of about 400 metres at the end of each circuit.The difference? Simenon wasnt just a dour stayer at Flemington on Cup Day, when he displayed a newly acquired extra zip when it counted to finish fourth behind Fiorente.Similarly with Max Dynamite in 2015, Mullins brought a fine looking animal to Melbourne that glided around the training track and earned the consistent praise from most onlookers of gee, hes a nice mover.That he was at Flemington, too, as he powered to the line under global riding headliner Frankie Dettori behind Prince Of Penzanze in that most famous of Cup editions.Rated a $51 chance by UBET to win the BMW Caulfield Cup, punters would be well advised to keep an eye on his progress over the next six weeks. Frankie is looking likely to take the reins this time as well.Wicklow Brave also wasnt missed by Melbourne Cup handicapper Greg Carpenter, who allocated 55.5kg to the Irish raider in that race; but he has 52.5kg in the Caulfield Cup. Should he snatch victory at Caulfield, that Melbourne Cup impost may just edge a little higher should Carpenter decide to impose a penalty.EXOSPHERE (UK) --?(Now with trainers Lee and Anthony Freedman)Last start: 17/8/16 - 5th Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes, 2100m at York (ENG)Last win: 30/4/16 - 1st Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes, 2400m at Newmarket (ENG)Although purchased by Australian interests who also own Cups contender Our Ivanhoe, the appearance of Exopshere during the Melbourne Carnival is a bit of a coup. At his best over a distance, there is a lot to suggest that this colt, previously trained by Sir Michael Stoute at Newmarket, can be more than competitive particularly once he settles in to his new home.Although failing to win at his three latest starts, Exosphere has been placed behind smart performers such as Postponed and Big Orange; the connections of Postponed have abandoned their Melbourne-bound plans, but Big Orange is due to make a second trip to Australia with the next shipment.Exosphere has been a big market mover, tumbling from $51 to become a $15 equal favourite with UBET for the BMW Caulfield Cup. Exospheres dominant four-length victory at Newmarket has him right in the mix for Lee Freedman to claim a fifth win in the 2400 metres feature.VADAMOS (FRA) --?(Trainer: Andre Fabre - Recent Jockey: Vincent Cheminaud)Last start: 11/9/16 - 1st Group 1 Prix du Moulin, 1600m at Chantilly (FRA)Heading this way for the Cox Plate, the Moonee Valley Racing Club seem well pleased to have attracted this Group 1-winning six-year-old and his trainer.Settling near the lead over the mile trip, then pinching a break at the top of the long Chantilly straight and maintaining that momentum up the short but steep enough rise, Vadamos was ridden out nicely to the line by Cheminaud late last week.In the Group 1 Prix dIspahan over 1800 metres in May, Vadamos led but was beaten by Japanese topliner A Shin Hikari by 12 leengths.ddddddddddddTwice a Group 2 winner over 1600 and 1800 metres, and likely to take a forward position in anything he runs in, UBET rate Vadamos a $26 chance for The Valleys big one.The biggest question on punters minds could be if Vadamos is a risk over the Group 1 2040-metre trip on 24 October?SCOTTISH (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby - Recent Jockey: William Buick)Last start: 20/8/16 - 1st Group 3 Strensall Stakes, 1800m at York (UK)Hes four-years-old and $15 equal favourite (UBET) for the Caulfield Cup. Hes not, however, a winner over 2400-metres. Yet, anyway.Hes the right age, though, as Mongolian Khan was in 2015, as four-year-olds have been most successful in the races 138-year history.OCEANOGRAPHER (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby - Recent Jockey: William Buick)Last start: 20/8/16 - 7th Ebor Handicap, 2800m at York (UK)Last win: 30/7/16 - 1st Class 2 Handicap, 2100m at Doncaster (UK)At $81 with UBET for the Melbourne Cup and allocated 50kg for the race, Oceanographer will need to do something very special -- once if not twice -- after his quarantine period ends to make it into the Cup field.Taking the increasingly traditional path through the Ebor Handicap towards Flemington, Oceanographer finished more than nine lengths behind Heartbreak City, who is in the Melbourne Cup market at $26.FRANCIS OF ASSISI (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby)Last start: 27/7/16 - 6th Class 2 Handicap, 2800m at Goodwood (UK)Last win: 16/10/15 - 1st Class 4 Handicap, 3200m at Doncaster (UK)What we do know is that this one is a stayer. This six-year-old isnt one of the better-credentialed Godolphin visitors, but that staying capability might be something to consider in the country Cups should he be a starter.SECOND WAVE (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby)Last start: 26/7/16 - 4th Class 2 Handicap, 2000m at Goodwood (UK)Last win: 26/12/15 - 1st Class 2 Handicap, 1900m at Wolverhampton (UK)Without getting too excited, this one might be a blackbooker, or at least one to keep an eye on.Similar to Oceanographer, Second Wave will need to lift a few notches to make the Melbourne Cup field -- especially with the light weight of 50kg.However, Second Wave does have form around Sir Issac Newton, who finished fourth just in front of Exosphere at York in August.QEWY (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby)Last start: 26/7/16 - 2nd Class 2 Handicap, 2400m at Goodwood (UK)Last win: 7/2/15 - 1st Novices Hurdle, 3300m at Newbury (UK)Despite this European six-year-old remaining winless since early 2015, over the jumps no less, there is an interesting factor to his recent form: in his second placings at his last two starts, he was ridden by James McDonald - including in the 4000 metres Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting in June.Another Godolphin contender that will need the results of lead-up runs to go his way to lift him higher up the Melbourne Cup order of entry, it may pay to keep a look out if the top Sydney-based Kiwi jockey partners with this Irish-bred UK galloper in Melbourne.Of the others to have entered quarantine:ARTICUS (GER) --?(Trainer: Andreas Wohler)Last start: 31/7/16 - 5th Group 1 Grosser Dallmyar-Preis, 2000m at Munich (GER)Last win: 12/7/16 - 1st Group 3 Hanover Trophy, 2000m at Hanover (GER)Yet to win beyond 2000 metres, 2014 Melbourne Cup winning trainer Andreas Wohler should know the type of horse required to be competitive in our biggest races. Rated a $19 chance in the Caulfield Cup, Articus has a handy record of four wins in seven starts.Four other horses have entered quarantine and will be heading to new homes with Australian trainers: Irish middle-distance performer Endless Drama and Royal Ascot Duke of Edinburgh Stakes winner Kinema head to Chris Wallers stable, while Ballarat-based Matt Cumani will welcome French galloper Grey Lion to his yard and Group 1 Canterbury Stakes winner Holler returns to John OSheas Sydney stable after a stint in the UK.UBET Market UpdateMelbourne CupOur Melbourne Cup market has been adjusted more than a few times in the past week after a shock victory in the Irish St Leger, the unveiling of the weights, and several leading international contenders pulling the pin. As it stands, Wicklow Brave, from the powerful Willie Mullins stable, is the outright $15 favourite having leaped into calculations with a storming win in the Irish St Leger over former cup favourite Order Of St George and 2015 Melbourne and Caulfield Cup placegetter Trip To Paris. Prior to his victory in the final Irish classic of the season, Wicklow Brave was rated $35 to take out the race that stops the nation. Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George had headed the Cup Futures for months, but he was ruled out of travelling to Australia and will instead head to France to contest the Prix de lArc de Triomphe. 2014 Melbourne Cup champion Protectionist is also doubtful to make the trip. As a result, the Aiden OBrien-trained colt Idaho has been promoted to the second line of betting at $17, alongside top Australian contender Signoff, who was fourth in the great race in 2014 and absent from the 2015 edition due to a leg injury. After opening at $41, the Darren Weir stayer has been backed and backed all year, including one wager of $1000 at $41, and is, by the length of the Flemington straight, the worst result for the UBET fixed odds team. Money has also for Japanese hope Carren Mirotic -- $36 into $19 -- who was beaten a lip in the recent Group 1 Tenno Sho. Gun hoop Tommy Berry has been booked to ride Curren Mirotic, who easily accounted for Fame Game, last years top Melbourne Cup fancy, in the vaunted spring feature.Click here for?UBETs Melbourne Cup market.Caulfield CupAs for the Caulfield Cup, the big mover has been Exosphere, no relation to the recently retired Godolphin colt by the same name. Recently purchased from European giant Juddmonte by a Melbourne-based syndicate who intend to aim him at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, the five-year-old stallion has been backed in from $51 to $15 co-favouritism. Given the interest, and the fact hell be trained by cups legend Lee Freedman, our traders will be keeping Exosphere very safe. He beat UK St Leger winner Simple Verse by four lengths and Big Orange, who ran fifth in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, by nine lengths, in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket so hes a serious horse. Fellow import Hartnell, who blew them away in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes, is also $15, in from $26 prior to the slashing seven and three-quarter length win, alongside well-travelled Irish stayer Highland Reel, Godolphin four-year-old Scottish and the best credentialed Australian horse, ATC Derby runner-up Jameka, from the Ciaron Maher camp. Mick Kent stallion Tarzino, well below his best thus far this preparation, is the best backed runner at $17, although most of that investment came in March after his Group 1 Rosehill Guineas win.Click here for?UBETs Caulfield Cup market. ' ' '