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Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NWSL is still plenty chaotic, actually. Plus, Americans headed to Champions League final
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is 's weekly women's soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. Cut your bangs, it's chaos season. Emily Olsen here with Tamerra Griffin, Melanie Anzidei and Meg Linehan — welcome to Full Time! What Is Going On? Never question the chaos If the NWSL was a person, it'd be that one friend who finds joy in keeping the people around them on their toes. Tease them for being too afraid to cut their hair, and their next Instagram post will be a selfie from a barber's chair, holding a tube of semi-permanent dye. You know the kind. Advertisement This weekend the NWSL saw the hand-wringing — some of it on the latest 'Full Time' podcast, to be fair — about the crystallizing of an Elite Four and the other eight teams being left to the spots beneath them, and shrugged, 'Say less.' Our bad! Gotham FC had a roller-coaster week, which included a 4-1 spanking by the Portland Thorns on Tuesday night, followed by a vengeful 3-0 dub over the Washington Spirit on Saturday afternoon. Angel City FC had a revival, nearly beating Orlando Pride a week after a 4-0 loss to Gotham. The reigning league champion Pride were about 20 minutes away from their second consecutive loss of the season before Marta redirected the tides and Carson Pickett went beast mode to lift the team to a thrilling 3-2 victory. Not a crumb of popcorn was left at the bottom of the bowl after that one. In Portland yesterday, just when it appeared that Racing Louisville was set to head home with a coveted road victory, the Thorns poked back. Rookie defender Jayden Perry converted her second penalty of the week to bring the home team level with Racing at 3-3 in the waning minutes of stoppage time. This match was brimming with goals and officiating controversy, and on the whole, the weekend was a humble reminder to everyone who dared question the chaos quotient in this league: The limit does not exist. Advertisement However, the chaos wasn't limited to the top of the table. After a winless start to the season, the North Carolina Courage finally found themselves with the biggest statement win possible, beating the formerly undefeated Kansas City Current 3-2 at WakeMed on Saturday evening. Courage defenders Ryan Williams and Kaleigh Kurtz scored the first two, and Ashley Sanchez, who's been relatively quiet so far this season, got the go-ahead. 🔮 Someone who saw it coming all along, head coach Sean Nahas, joined the 'Full Time Focus' podcast on Friday. You can listen to the full interview here. Goalkeeper throw-ins should count for something Gotham scored three unanswered goals for all three points against the Washington Spirit on Saturday. But as the skies opened up and the rain poured down, the Spirit got at least one positive stat: most goalkeeper throw-ins. That counts for something, right? Even if it's only a less-than-ideal consolation for the loss and the red card to head coach Jonatan Giráldez in the final moments of the match. Meg's Corner: Rivalries need time even if entertaining doesn't Beyond our collective enjoyment from this weekend's NWSL action, there was a helpful reminder that this league loves to buck off tidy narratives. Advertisement If you didn't watch Friday night's match between the Orlando Pride and Angel City FC, it'd be easy to assign a couple of quick takes about that final result. Orlando's still good; Angel City with yet another collapse. Both of those things are true on the surface, but barely sum up that wild 90-minute ride, plus the all-important stoppage time. Angel City had Orlando on the ropes for a while, making last year's seemingly invincible team look all too human. The Pride had to find some reserve they had never needed to tap for the comeback victory, led by — who else — Marta and Barbra Banda. Angel City's had too many games end like that, but Friday night will be a different level of hurt, one a new coach can harness to better the young core. The league desperately wants rivalries to be one of the main stories driving attention as the front office works to build star power (see: Spirit vs. Gotham, a good game but certainly not in the top three for entertainment this weekend alone). Outside of Portland and Seattle, however, everything else needs real time and history to develop. Fortunately, this weekend proved that what's happening naturally on the field is providing the spark in the meantime. Need to Know NWSL applies to add a new league The NWSL has submitted application paperwork to U.S. Soccer for sanctioning of a potential Division II league, theoretically starting in 2026. Commissioner Jessica Berman wrote in the application that having a Division II league was 'essential for the development and sustainability' of the NWSL. There are some details in the document: Advertisement Eight teams to start with proposed markets Every NWSL team would have a DII side by 2030 The lower-division teams would use the NWSL's existing training facility and stadium infrastructure While it's an interesting proposal, there's a lot more that we don't know. That includes if this league will even start by 2026. And not all of the teams listed in the proposal were on board before the information was submitted. Some of the pushback centered on the price of operating a second team. As Jeff wrote today in his column, filling in the second division on the U.S. women's soccer pyramid is a good thing for the game, there are just big existential questions right now about how that pyramid should be built. Jeff called it 'a conundrum of U.S. Soccer's own creation by opening the landscape like a marketplace instead of working to ensure a coherent structure.' Advertisement Expect more on these big questions in Wednesday's episode of 'Full Time.' Americans headed to Champions League final Barcelona and Arsenal will meet in the Champions League final on May 24. Yesterday's dramatic semifinals saw both teams topple their opponents in dominating fashion. The championship game will also feature two USWNT defenders, with Emily Fox and Jenna Nighswonger both members of Arsenal's backline. Both previously played in the NWSL, with Fox signing with the English club in 2024 and Nighswonger joining after her exit from Gotham FC this past offseason. Barcelona outscored Chelsea 4-1 for a second time, bringing the aggregate score over the two matches to a shameful eight goals to two for the Blues. Meanwhile, Arsenal stunned Lyon, an eight-time UWCL champion, taking advantage of the French side's poor defending and picking up on the early momentum from an own goal just five minutes in. Advertisement Arsenal's legendary performance earned them a return to the UWCL final for the first time in 18 years. They'll be up against a dominant Barcelona team, a three-time champion that has featured in the last four finals. 'Life-changing' treatments help freeze time Seattle defender Lauren Barnes remembers the process of freezing her eggs well. The 35-year-old took advantage of her team's partnership with a local clinic last year, but said it took six months for her to feel like herself again. Barnes isn't alone. Asli Pelit spoke to players who are taking advantage of fertility treatment options in NWSL that didn't exist even five years ago. Advertisement But it's not just about freezing eggs — it's about trying to freeze time, to buy a chance in the game, on the pitch and off. What to Watch 📺 Birmingham City vs. London City Lionesses Who doesn't love a winner-takes-all finale? The lone spot for promotion to the Women's Super League in England comes down to a single match. Will Michele Kang's investment in London City make the difference or will Birmingham City finally claw its way back to the top? Full Time First Looks Vested interest: Two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup winner Lauren Holiday has joined the ownership group of North Carolina Courage. Previously an investor in Angel City, Holiday is said to be taking a hands-on approach to Courage ownership. Along with husband, Jrue, the Holiday Family Trust will hold a main stake in North Carolina going forward. Advertisement Foot in the door: A new partnership between IDA Sports and the USL Players Association will give every player in the USL Super League access to cleats specifically designed for women's feet. Even cooler, the players will have a chance to give direct feedback and input on future designs. Research has suggested a link between improper footwear and ACL injuries, which makes this hopefully a revolutionary move. Lonely milestones: Jacqui Oatley, who was a frequent voice on NWSL games last year, was the first woman to commentate on England's Match of the Day program 18 years ago. She started that week thinking her biggest challenge would be adapting to the nuances of TV commentary, then came the stomach-drop moment when she realized she had become the story. Oatley recently reflected on the milestone and the isolation that followed. 📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo's women's sports hub, in partnership with Also, check out our other newsletters. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. NWSL, Full Time Newsletter 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
29-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NWSL is still plenty chaotic, actually. Plus, Americans headed to Champions League final
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is The Athletic's weekly women's soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. Cut your bangs, it's chaos season. Emily Olsen here with Tamerra Griffin, Melanie Anzidei and Meg Linehan — welcome to Full Time! Never question the chaos If the NWSL was a person, it'd be that one friend who finds joy in keeping the people around them on their toes. Tease them for being too afraid to cut their hair, and their next Instagram post will be a selfie from a barber's chair, holding a tube of semi-permanent dye. You know the kind. This weekend the NWSL saw the hand-wringing — some of it on the latest 'Full Time' podcast, to be fair — about the crystallizing of an Elite Four and the other eight teams being left to the spots beneath them, and shrugged, 'Say less.' Our bad! However, the chaos wasn't limited to the top of the table. After a winless start to the season, the North Carolina Courage finally found themselves with the biggest statement win possible, beating the formerly undefeated Kansas City Current 3-2 at WakeMed on Saturday evening. Courage defenders Ryan Williams and Kaleigh Kurtz scored the first two, and Ashley Sanchez, who's been relatively quiet so far this season, got the go-ahead. Advertisement 🔮 Someone who saw it coming all along, head coach Sean Nahas, joined the 'Full Time Focus' podcast on Friday. You can listen to the full interview here. Goalkeeper throw-ins should count for something Gotham scored three unanswered goals for all three points against the Washington Spirit on Saturday. But as the skies opened up and the rain poured down, the Spirit got at least one positive stat: most goalkeeper throw-ins. In fact, Aubrey Kingsbury just became the first NWSL goalkeeper to take a throw-in since May 12, 2023 (Alyssa Naeher). [image or embed] — Jeff Rueter (@ April 26, 2025 at 11:53 AM That counts for something, right? Even if it's only a less-than-ideal consolation for the loss and the red card to head coach Jonatan Giráldez in the final moments of the match. Beyond our collective enjoyment from this weekend's NWSL action, there was a helpful reminder that this league loves to buck off tidy narratives. If you didn't watch Friday night's match between the Orlando Pride and Angel City FC, it'd be easy to assign a couple of quick takes about that final result. Orlando's still good; Angel City with yet another collapse. Both of those things are true on the surface, but barely sum up that wild 90-minute ride, plus the all-important stoppage time. Angel City had Orlando on the ropes for a while, making last year's seemingly invincible team look all too human. The Pride had to find some reserve they had never needed to tap for the comeback victory, led by — who else — Marta and Barbra Banda. Angel City's had too many games end like that, but Friday night will be a different level of hurt, one a new coach can harness to better the young core. The league desperately wants rivalries to be one of the main stories driving attention as the front office works to build star power (see: Spirit vs. Gotham, a good game but certainly not in the top three for entertainment this weekend alone). Outside of Portland and Seattle, however, everything else needs real time and history to develop. Fortunately, this weekend proved that what's happening naturally on the field is providing the spark in the meantime. NWSL applies to add a new league The NWSL has submitted application paperwork to U.S. Soccer for sanctioning of a potential Division II league, theoretically starting in 2026. Commissioner Jessica Berman wrote in the application that having a Division II league was 'essential for the development and sustainability' of the NWSL. There are some details in the document: While it's an interesting proposal, there's a lot more that we don't know. That includes if this league will even start by 2026. And not all of the teams listed in the proposal were on board before the information was submitted. Some of the pushback centered on the price of operating a second team. As Jeff wrote today in his column, filling in the second division on the U.S. women's soccer pyramid is a good thing for the game, there are just big existential questions right now about how that pyramid should be built. Jeff called it 'a conundrum of U.S. Soccer's own creation by opening the landscape like a marketplace instead of working to ensure a coherent structure.' Advertisement Expect more on these big questions in Wednesday's episode of 'Full Time.' Americans headed to Champions League final Barcelona and Arsenal will meet in the Champions League final on May 24. Yesterday's dramatic semifinals saw both teams topple their opponents in dominating fashion. The championship game will also feature two USWNT defenders, with Emily Fox and Jenna Nighswonger both members of Arsenal's backline. Both previously played in the NWSL, with Fox signing with the English club in 2024 and Nighswonger joining after her exit from Gotham FC this past offseason. Barcelona outscored Chelsea 4-1 for a second time, bringing the aggregate score over the two matches to a shameful eight goals to two for the Blues. Meanwhile, Arsenal stunned Lyon, an eight-time UWCL champion, taking advantage of the French side's poor defending and picking up on the early momentum from an own goal just five minutes in. Arsenal's legendary performance earned them a return to the UWCL final for the first time in 18 years. They'll be up against a dominant Barcelona team, a three-time champion that has featured in the last four finals. 'Life-changing' treatments help freeze time Seattle defender Lauren Barnes remembers the process of freezing her eggs well. The 35-year-old took advantage of her team's partnership with a local clinic last year, but said it took six months for her to feel like herself again. Barnes isn't alone. Asli Pelit spoke to players who are taking advantage of fertility treatment options in NWSL that didn't exist even five years ago. But it's not just about freezing eggs — it's about trying to freeze time, to buy a chance in the game, on the pitch and off. What to Watch 📺 Birmingham City vs. London City Lionesses Sunday at 9 a.m. ET on YouTube Who doesn't love a winner-takes-all finale? The lone spot for promotion to the Women's Super League in England comes down to a single match. Will Michele Kang's investment in London City make the difference or will Birmingham City finally claw its way back to the top? Vested interest: Two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup winner Lauren Holiday has joined the ownership group of North Carolina Courage. Previously an investor in Angel City, Holiday is said to be taking a hands-on approach to Courage ownership. Along with husband, Jrue, the Holiday Family Trust will hold a main stake in North Carolina going forward. Advertisement Foot in the door: A new partnership between IDA Sports and the USL Players Association will give every player in the USL Super League access to cleats specifically designed for women's feet. Even cooler, the players will have a chance to give direct feedback and input on future designs. Research has suggested a link between improper footwear and ACL injuries, which makes this hopefully a revolutionary move. Lonely milestones: Jacqui Oatley, who was a frequent voice on NWSL games last year, was the first woman to commentate on England's Match of the Day program 18 years ago. She started that week thinking her biggest challenge would be adapting to the nuances of TV commentary, then came the stomach-drop moment when she realized she had become the story. Oatley recently reflected on the milestone and the isolation that followed. 📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo's women's sports hub, in partnership with The Athletic. Also, check out our other newsletters.
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Is Angel City a surprise contender in NWSL? Plus, feeling ‘Unwell' about a brand activation
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is The Athletic's weekly women's soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. I get nervous every time I see someone do a backflip, no matter how cool it is. Emily Olsen here with Jeff Rueter and Meg Linehan — welcome to Full Time! Angel City isn't waiting around At this point, it feels like I can just copy and paste, 'Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride won again.' Both teams remained perfect this weekend, winning against Seattle Reign and San Diego Wave, respectively. It appears the top teams from 2024 are rolling right into the new year. However, something less expected is Angel City's hot start (2-2-0). Especially considering: Despite having one of the highest valuations in the league, Angel City has yet to find hardware for its cabinet in its first three seasons. This offseason, the team added several young talents, including Savy King among more veteran names like Miyabi Moriya and Alanna Kennedy (the league's toughest player). The additions bolstered an already young roster with names like Kennedy Fuller and the Thompson sisters, Alyssa and Gisele. On Saturday, two rookies, Macey Hodge and Riley Tiernan, and Alyssa Thompson tallied goals. There is little doubt that ACFC's future is bright, but how quickly things are working out is a pleasant surprise. The team sits in fourth in the league's table but also has the third-most goals scored this season — just behind the aforementioned league giants. A good weekend to take a trip The NWSL's return after the international break was especially joyous for the weekend's away teams. Six of seven matches saw the visitor leave with all three points, with Gotham FC being the sole host to take care of business in friendly territory. (The Bats took another win with the long-awaited return of Midge Purce, a year after she tore her ACL.) For the traveling Chicago Stars, it was just the break it needed, finally securing its first points of the season while visiting Bay FC: Ludmila was literally flipping out over the win. Flipping out over this Ludmila goal for Chicago Stars! 🤸♀️ — National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) April 13, 2025 The other away wins were a bit less surprising, especially from reigning finalists Orlando (1-0 at Seattle) and Washington (2-0 at Louisville) as well as fellow contender Kansas City (2-0 at San Diego). The Portland Thorns secured a big 1-0 win at Utah, while Angel City notched a statement 3-1 win at Houston. Even after a brief break, the NWSL remains delightfully unpredictable. During the SheBelieves Summit in Los Angeles earlier this month, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman spoke about the league's partnership with 'Call Her Daddy' podcaster Alex Cooper's Unwell brand. During her panel, Berman pitched one of their planned activations to the crowd. 'Go with me here, a league supporter's group called Unwell FC that is going to be at select games throughout the season. They're going to have a full section with bespoke merch, and (Cooper) essentially leading those groups in their excitement and support of women's soccer,' Berman said before comparing it to actors Natalie Portman or Jennifer Garner leading the supporters' groups in chants at an Angel City match. Advertisement Cue the alarm bells from the supporters' groups who have helped build this league across all the clubs. They're right. I've got a laundry list of why this activation is a bad idea, but let's go with the top three: 🚨 Sure, everything is up for sale in the NWSL, but this is grim confirmation. The culture of independent supporters' groups has existed long before this league; co-opting it for a brand is a terrible decision. 🚨 There's a reason why the Rob Lowe NFL hat meme came out in force. No one is doing 'Let's go NWSL' chants during a game. Portman hopping up as Capo for a chant for the team she co-founded is in a different universe from this idea. 🚨 Unwell FC, with its bespoke merch, does everything for Cooper. What does it do for the NWSL? Maybe some metrics will prove me wrong in a couple of years when the league gets a ton of new fans who actually stick around, but I have major doubts. Hopefully, there's still time to scratch this idea and come up with something — anything — else. IOC adds more teams to Olympic tournament International soccer is expanding, again. The Olympic women's soccer tournament will grow from 12 teams to 16 in 2028, making it larger than the men's tournament for the first time in the Games' history. The men's tournament — which is for players under 23 years old, with three exceptions per team — will be reduced from 16 to 12 teams. The IOC said its effort to achieve gender equality was a key consideration for the additions. There are now 161 women's events, 165 men's events and 25 mixed events in the L.A. program. In other international news, the USWNT will face China and Jamaica at the end of May and early June. Originally, the U.S. was set to face China twice. The change comes after China informed U.S. Soccer it could only make one match. They'll still face the USWNT at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday, May 31. Advertisement European update Emma Hayes may no longer coach in the Women's Super League, but that hasn't stopped the U.S. coach from making waves there. After the USWNT's first game against Brazil, Hayes said Manchester United didn't play a lot of build-up, alluding to it as a reason why U.S. and United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce might not be totally up to speed yet. Well, United head coach Marc Skinner wasn't going to nod along to that. He defended his team's playing style and Tullis-Joyce ahead of United's 2-0 FA Cup semifinal win over Manchester City. 'I don't know if it's lost in translation or the way it was said, but for us, I'm really happy with the style that we play,' he said. 'You have to play the style you want that meet your fan base, meet your outcomes and I know that Phallon has such a high ceiling that she's going to be the best goalkeeper in the world.' The goalkeeper position for the U.S. is up for grabs for the first time in three decades, but it's not the only position Hayes is looking at. She put her USWNT players in 'the frying pan' this past international window, as she looks for her core group. Who can handle the heat? What to watch 📺 NSL: Vancouver Rise vs. Calgary Wild Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ The first professional women's soccer league in Canada kicks off on Wednesday. The six-team league was founded by former NWSL midfielder Diana Matheson. Before things get started, see how Full Time host Jillian Sakovits rates the new jerseys in the league. 📺 UWCL semifinals Lyon vs. Arsenal Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET on DAZN/YouTube Barcelona vs. Chelsea Sunday at 12 p.m. ET on DAZN/YouTube The first games of the two-game series kick off this weekend with a trip to Lisbon, Portugal, with the May 24 Champions League final on the line. Bella is back: The Thorns' first triumph of the season also saw the return of goalkeeper Bella Bixby. The NWSL champion was on maternity leave for the 2024 season. She capped her return with a clean sheet. Before the game, Baby Bixby also made a debut. Another one: Debinha scored her 50th goal in NWSL this weekend, helping KC Current to victory and providing another option up top to take ~some~ of the pressure off MVP Temwa Chawinga. The 33-year-old is one of 16 Brazilians signed to an NWSL team. Asli Pelit asked why Brazilian players are finding success in the NWSL, and spoiler, it starts with Marta. Advertisement International headache: Venezuela and Thorns forward Deyna Castellanos was unable to travel with her team during the past international window, citing the current 'political situation.' She is unsure when it will be safe for her to travel outside of the United States, given the uncertainty around looming travel restrictions that could be imposed on citizens from dozens of countries. Not stopping now: Billie Jean King is 'the thread that runs through women's sports history,' as World Cup winner Julie Foudy says. Meg Linehan sat down with King shortly before her Hollywood Walk of Fame honor to discuss women's sports, player security and what's next 📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo's women's sports hub, in partnership with The Athletic. Also, check out our other newsletters.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Previewing USWNT's gold medal rematch. Plus, meet our new writers!
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is 's weekly women's soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. Sue Bird says her former coach, Geno Auriemma, wasn't crying when Paige Bueckers left the podium last week, but there had to be some emotion when the 23-year-old sank a career-best 40 points to help the Huskies reach the Elite Eight. Maybe we'll see whose tears fall tonight when UConn faces USC at 9 p.m. ET. Advertisement This is soccer-adjacent and just good sports — welcome to Full Time! USWNT Returns Who's ready for camp? Two groups of U.S. internationals will be in California for face time with head coach Emma Hayes this week, including a group of under-23 players who will train alongside the first team. Twenty-four senior team players will be available for the Olympic final rematch games against Brazil on Saturday in Inglewood and April 8 in San Jose. Here's how some of the top players did over the final weekend before the international window: Crystal Dunn was in vintage form for Paris Saint-Germain, scoring a brace in the team's 6-0 league win over Saint-Etienne. Midfielder Korbin Albert also tallied an assist in the match. Advertisement Lily Yohannes, 17, had a double of her own in Ajax's 4-0 win over Den Haag. The teen continued to show her keen ability to read passes and find where the space is. Elsewhere in France, midfielder and U.S. captain Lindsey Heaps was not on the roster for Lyon in their 4-0 win yesterday. In NWSL, Alyssa Thompson scored an absolute banger for Angel City FC just in time to make the forward depth chart conversation more interesting. The U.S. also has a new fan this week, as former captain Alex Morgan and her husband Servando Carrasco announced the birth of their son, Enzo, yesterday. I can't think of a better way to spend your first week of life than by watching a USWNT game. Good or bad news first? We'll start with the good. U.S. forward Trinity Rodman earned her first start of the year for the Washington Spirit on Friday. The 22-year-old, who has missed time intermittently throughout the last two years due to back issues, played more than an hour for her team. Though she didn't mark the score sheet, the Spirit won 2-0 over the visiting Bay FC. Advertisement After the match, Rodman said that it felt good to be back. However, she doesn't think her back 'will ever be 100 percent,' saying it's more about managing the issues rather than a 'curable fix.' She added: 'I don't think my back will ever be the way it was my rookie year, which is unfortunate.' The other bad news is that yet another U.S. defender will miss time due to injury. On Friday, Gotham FC center back Tierna Davidson was injured during the match against Houston Dash. Davidson walked off the pitch with limited support from trainers but looked distraught as she headed to the locker room. The U.S. announced Gisele Thompson will replace her on the U.S. roster. That means both Naomi Girma (who continues to recover from injury with Chelsea) and Davidson are unavailable for the back line. Advertisement The 26-year-old Davidson has an injury history. She tore the ACL in her right knee while with the Chicago Red Stars and missed the remainder of the 2022 season. Before that, in 2018, she fractured her ankle while playing for Stanford. Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros spoke to Davidson's strength after the game: 'Tierna is a warrior. She's our captain.' Meg's Corner: Kansas City is the real deal I generally find power rankings for any sport to be empty calories, designed to drum up engagement, but there's no denying we're seeing a clear top tier form in the NWSL as the 2025 season starts — with the same teams as last year. Sure, there are some promising signs early on for teams like the Dash and San Diego Wave as they work through rebuild processes, but so far it's been a top-three experience through the first three weeks thanks to the Washington Spirit, Orlando Pride and Kansas City Current. Advertisement The Pride started the season with that eye-popping 6-0 win over Chicago, but the Current has consistently looked locked in. Last year's MVP Temwa Chawinga, now harnessing the power of teal hair, scored in her eighth straight game, tying her own record from last season. Bia is off the season-ending injury list and back on the pitch. Michelle Cooper and Debinha have both already added a couple of goals. It's early still, but all the pieces are there for another deep run — and through three games, they've only allowed a single goal. Consistency in March doesn't guarantee anything in November, but right now, KC looks legit. In the News Welcome, Asli and Tamerra! We are proud of our women's sports coverage at but we also have room to grow. That's why I'm so excited to introduce two new writers, Asli Pelit Basker and Tamerra Griffin (who you most definitely recognize). Advertisement Both journalists have impressive backgrounds and unique perspectives that you can read about here, but we also like to ask the hard questions here at Full Time… What is your go-to karaoke song? Pelit Basker: I'm not a great singer, and out of fear of getting booed, I've always avoided singing in front of a crowd. Seriously, you do not want to hear me sing! But a year ago, my husband (who has an excellent singing voice and loves karaoke) and I picked 'Islands in the Stream' as our go-to karaoke song. Griffin: I do not have a go-to karaoke song. And I do believe that's a revealing fact about me because I am very much a 'vibe check' person. How am I feeling when I get on that karaoke stage, and what song best reflects that feeling or that moment? That said, if you shoved a microphone into my face right now and asked me to pick a song, it would be 'No Scrubs' by TLC. Advertisement Utah Royals up for sale? Maybe. In the second iteration of the Utah Royals in NWSL, the team is facing another round of ownership change reports. Majority owner David Blitzer is in advanced talks to sell controlling stakes in both MLS' Real Salt Lake and the Royals, multiple sources confirmed to . Though nothing is done, the sale would mean the Larry H. Miller family becomes the majority owner of both teams while Blitzer stays on as a minority owner. Blitzer bought RSL in 2022 after former owner Dell Loy Hansen put the team up for sale following revelations of racist behavior reported by in 2020. The Royals were sold and relocated to Kansas City, but Blitzer and Jazz owner Ryan Smith maintained the expansion rights in Utah and brought a new team under the same name in 2024. Advertisement C'est chic celebration Ashley Hatch became the fifth-leading goal scorer in NWSL when she scored two against Bay FC on Friday, but it was what she did after the first goal that caught our attention. This full-team celebration, including goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, was epic — even if Hatch wasn't initially on board. While Rodman and Croix Bethune were known for their celebrations in 2024, it was defender Esme Morgan who earned her teammates' approval to coordinate the celebration. Originally, it was supposed to be a full catwalk, but after negotiating with her team's leading goal scorer, they settled for the mock photo shoot. Everyone bought in. Advertisement '(Hatch) didn't really have much choice in the matter,' said Morgan. 'I'm glad she was up for it when the time came along.' Full Time First Looks History makers: Did you know a man walked on the moon before a woman ran in a sports bra? That's just one of the eye-opening details Megan Feringa shared in her story about the history of the sports bra and its impact on athletes and women's rights. That's not my name: The NWSL's 15th team officially unveiled its new name last week, dropping BOS Nation FC and going with Boston Legacy FC. The club surveyed the public and got feedback from team advisers and community listening sessions. They received over 500 suggestions during the name change process. The biggest takeaway: steer clear of colonial, Revolutionary War and nautical themes. Advertisement Must-see moment: This goal from 19-year-old Nigerian forward Chiamaka Okwuchukwu came from her very first touch of the game, 1 minute and 48 seconds into her debut. It is the second-fastest goal scored by a player in her regular-season season debut. Feedback loop: For those wondering what the consensus was on public marriage proposals from last week… 📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo's women's sports hub, in partnership with Also, check out our other newsletters. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, International Football, NWSL, Full Time Newsletter 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
04-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Our thoughts on the new NWSL kits, plus a Women's Club World Cup update
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is The Athletic's weekly women's soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. Cut your bangs, dye your hair or spray-paint your jersey pink — whatever makes you happy. Emily Olsen here with Meg Linehan and Melanie Anzidei — welcome to Full Time! NWSL unveils 2025 jerseys Do you know what you're wearing to the NWSL season openers? With less than two weeks to go, now you do. The league recently showed off its 2025 collection of jerseys to mixed reviews. From the vinyl pool cover look in San Diego to the Houston Dash's chaos and whatever Gotham is doing, The Athletic broke down every look. Advertisement For most teams, last year's primary kits (what they typically wear at home matches) will carry over to this season. What the league shared last Thursday was all 14 teams' new secondary kits, which they will regularly wear on the road. In its sophomore season, Bay FC is getting fresh looks for both, now that the team's identity is complete. The Dash's 'Cosmic Storm' immediately went on my wish list, because when all is going wrong, you can always find solace in bold fashion. There was so much to discuss that we kept the conversation going on Slack: A championship rematch The Washington Spirit will likely debut their new look, which feels inspired by Australia, in the NWSL Challenge Cup on Friday when they meet the Orlando Pride at Inter & Co Stadium (8 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video). Last year, the competition transitioned to a one-off game between the NWSL champions and the league's Shield winners (most regular-season points). Because the Pride nabbed both those honors last season, this year's Challenge Cup will be a rematch of the NWSL championship game. It's the ceremonial start of the season with a trophy on the line. We can't think of a better way to spend a Friday night. 🎧 Listen to last week's 'Full Time' episode, recapping the SheBelieves Cup and weighing in on the latest NWSL jerseys. The inaugural women's Club World Cup looks likely to be postponed until 2027 at the earliest, per reporting from our Matt Slater. On the one hand, I'm glad FIFA has realized the whole tournament — which was originally planned for early 2026 — has not come together in any meaningful way. Still, the update also has me once again questioning how necessary this tournament is. Yes, I absolutely wanted competition at one point between all the top clubs in the world, especially after seeing the potential of these sorts of matchups from smaller outfits like the Women's ICC and Women's Cup tournaments here in the U.S. But considering the state of the men's Club World Cup, which has become another obligation on the calendar and a challenge for FIFA's media rights operation (ending up with DAZN), maybe now is the perfect time to truly put the brakes on and ask if trying to follow the same path is the right idea at all. Advertisement A potential four- or six-team tournament might be the immediate solution, but again, it's copying the men's structure of the Intercontinental Cup played in between Club World Cups. It makes more sense to start small, and then aim for a signature event, but so far there hasn't been any compelling argument for players, clubs and leagues to invest themselves in qualification — beyond the abstract idea of bragging rights. From my vantage point, this vague shell of a tournament certainly doesn't provide a reason for a men's club to form a women's club, one of the motives FIFA president Gianni Infantino cited at last year's FIFA Council meeting. Girma injured in first start Naomi Girma's Chelsea debut didn't exactly go as expected. The 24-year-old U.S. women's national team center back played 59 minutes in Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Brighton yesterday, a month after she became the most expensive player in women's football history. She spent most of the first half battling former Stanford teammate Madison Haley and working to adjust to Chelsea's midseason switch to a formation with three center backs alongside Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze, who Jessy Parker Humphreys reminds us is not really a typical center back. In the second half, Girma pointed to her calf and looked at the bench before needing attention from the athletic trainers. She headed to the sideline under her own power, and manager Sonia Bompastor eased concerns postgame with her lack of serious worry. However, she said Girma would likely get scans today. The defender missed the last two national team camps with a minor calf injury. The crossover we deserve The links between the WNBA and NWSL continue to grow. The latest is a hometown collaboration in the Bay Area. Today, Bay FC announced New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu has joined the club as an investor. The 2024 WNBA Champion and Bay Area native will also serve as commercial adviser to the team, focusing on commercial strategy and supporting players in building their brand portfolios. Advertisement Ionescu, 27, was the first women's basketball player to have a unisex signature collection with Nike, with her Sabrina 2 becoming the most-worn current basketball shoe in the NBA in 2024. Last month, RAJ Sports, which owns the Portland Thorns and the WNBA's expansion team in Portland, unveiled plans for a $150-million training facility that will be the first shared between teams in NWSL and WNBA. In the fall, Caitlin Clark expressed interest in NWSL club ownership when she was unveiled as part of the ownership group fighting to bring an NWSL club to Cincinnati. While Cincinnati lost the expansion race to Denver, Clark's interest, and now Ionescu's investment, is a sure sign the synergies between the leagues will only continue to grow. At the World Cup final in 2023, Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso's life changed. But not in the way it should have. In a moment that became more widely known as 'The Kiss,' former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales grabbed Hermoso's face and kissed her on the lips. Last month, Rubiales went on trial for one count of sexual assault and one of coercion. In the end, he was found guilty of sexual assault. Meg guides us through the full story in a special edition of the 'Full Time' podcast, with the help of The Athletic's Spanish reporters — from the pitch in Sydney, to the hills of south Spain, over to the court room of Madrid — to answer one question: Se acabó? This is 'It's Over: The Trial of Luis Rubiales.' Bright side: The USWNT fell 2-1 to Japan last week in the final game of the SheBelieves Cup. Japan captured its first SheBelieves title and ended the Americans' five-year run as champions. But U.S. head coach Emma Hayes called it 'mission accomplished' in terms of beginning her developmental era. Presidential matters: U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone is running for another term in the role. Her five years in charge, across one and a half terms, have presented numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, an equal pay lawsuit, two collective bargaining agreement negotiations and the Sally Yates report. She discussed her experiences and why she's going for a second full term with Paul Tenorio. Advertisement On the move: Everton is considering making Goodison Park the new home for the club's women's team. Right now, only Leicester City shares its main stadium between the men's and women's teams for all home matches, though Arsenal Women committed to playing 11 matches at the Emirates this season. Backing out: BOS Nation hit another speed bump last week. However, this one gets a lot smaller the closer you get. Boston Globe chief executive Linda Henry is no longer an investor in the NWSL expansion team. Despite her expansive portfolio, Henry's investment had been considered a minority and non-controlling one. 📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo's women's sports hub, in partnership with The Athletic.
