Latest news with #NWSLChallengeCup
USA Today
07-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
North Carolina Courage fire coach Sean Nahas, no interim coach named
The North Carolina Courage have parted ways with head coach Sean Nahas. The National Women's Soccer League team announced the news on social media on Wednesday, Aug. 6. 'The North Carolina Courage remain focused on the continued development of the team and maintaining a professional, competitive environment for players, staff, and supporters,' the team said in a statement. An interim coach has not yet been named. The Courage are currently ninth in the NWSL standings with a 5-4-5 (W-D-L) overall record. The team had won two of its last three games, with its most recent game resulting in a scoreless draw. Who is Sean Nahas? Sean Nahas was hired as the Courage's head coach in October 2021. With Nahas at the helm, the team achieved 15 wins, nine draws and 12 losses. He led the team to the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup championship. Nahas had been with the team since 2017 but initially took over the head coaching role as an interim coach, replacing Paul Riley. Riley was fired as part of the league's 2021 abuse scandal. When is the North Carolina Courage's next game? The Courage will play the Houston Dash on Friday, Aug. 8. The game will air on NWSL+ and Paramount+.
Business Wire
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
e.l.f. Hits the Pitch With San Diego Wave FC and Kansas City Current
OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--e.l.f. Cosmetics, a brand from e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF), scores again in its commitment to by teaming up with not one but two standout National Women's Soccer League clubs—San Diego Wave FC and Kansas City Current—through immersive, fan-first experiences that bring beauty, sport and community together. e.l.f. Cosmetics teams up with San Diego Wave FC and Kansas City Current through immersive, fan-first experiences that bring beauty, sport and community together. Earlier this year, e.l.f. became the first official makeup and skincare partner of the NWSL and was named Presenting Partner of the NWSL Challenge Cup through 2027. 'As a brand, we don't just show up—we show up with purpose,' said Patrick O'Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Communications Officer at e.l.f. Beauty. 'Soccer in the U.S. is experiencing incredible growth, reflecting both its global popularity and cultural relevance. We're leaning in to help level the playing field and change the game for women in the sport. Teaming up with San Diego Wave and Kansas City Current for these fan-first moments—and through our partnership with the NWSL—is about more than visibility; it's about creating meaningful impact. From the players on the field to the fans in the stands, we're here to Empower. Legendary. Females. and inspire the next generation to dream bigger, play harder, and always show up as their bold, authentic selves.' In San Diego, e.l.f. joins Wave FC as a Presenting Sponsor on June 22, 2025, at the Club's Pups at the Pitch match. As part of the match, Wave FC is partnering with The Animal Pad, a local dog rescue, to feature adoptable pups in-venue, including a photo moment as Wave FC players arrive to Snapdragon Stadium. Alongside the Club, e.l.f. will help shine a light on the rescue dogs — bringing to life its purpose to stand with every eye, lip, face and paw as a cruelty-free brand. Fans will have the opportunity to adopt the dogs at the match. 'We're thrilled to team up with e.l.f. Cosmetics for Wave's first-ever Pups at the Pitch match and to officially kick-off their larger NWSL partnership here in San Diego. This fun and inclusive event celebrates the unique bond between our fans and their furry friends—something that aligns perfectly with e.l.f.'s bold, joyful spirit. Together, we're bringing a fresh, feel-good energy to Snapdragon Stadium and creating unforgettable matchday moments for our Wave community,' said Alyssa Haynes, San Diego Wave FC Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships. On August 16, 2025, e.l.f. will head to Kansas City Stadium as the KC Currents take on Orlando Pride. 'Ahead of our August 16th match against Orlando Pride, e.l.f. is partnering with the Kansas City Current to create a one-of-a-kind activation at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women's professional sports team,' said Kansas City Current SVP of Commercial Missy Jenkins. 'We are excited to partner with an industry-leading brand that raises the bar for fans and the community. This opportunity will amplify our fan experience ahead of a great matchup on the pitch.' Both matches will feature experiential, on-site activations designed to celebrate fandom and inspire the next generation of players. The e.l.f. Training Center will invite the community to test their soccer skills, recharge in a glow-up recovery area, and envision their future se.l.f. as a soccer star through a photo experience and custom trading cards. A storytelling wall will highlight iconic female soccer legends, and the events will be livestreamed on e.l.f. You!, the brand's Twitch channel. e.l.f. continues to show up in unexpected places to support women who are breaking barriers and redefining what's possible. A bold voice for women's empowerment, e.l.f. also supports the Billie Jean King Cup, Kendall Coyne Schofield and the National Women's Hockey League, professional race car driver Katherine Legge, Paralympic swimmer Anastasia Pagonis and the Wonder Women of Wrestling Varsity Tournament, among other initiatives that democratize access for all on the playing fields. About e.l.f. Cosmetics e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF) is fueled by a belief that anything is possible. We are a different kind of company that disrupts norms, shapes culture and connects communities through positivity, inclusivity and accessibility. e.l.f. Cosmetics, our global flagship brand, makes the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip and face by bringing together the best of beauty, culture and entertainment. Our superpower is delivering universally appealing, premium quality products at accessible prices that are e.l.f. clean and vegan, all double-certified by Leaping Bunny and PETA as cruelty free. We are proud to have products made in Fair Trade Certified™ facilities. Learn more at About San Diego Wave Fútbol Club San Diego Wave Fútbol Club, founded in 2021, competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Since its inception, the Wave has quickly emerged as one of the premier clubs in global women's soccer - setting the NWSL single-game attendance record, reaching the playoffs in its inaugural season, and capturing its first trophy with the 2023 NWSL Supporters Shield. In 2024, the Club continued to make history, ranking #2 worldwide in women's soccer attendance. Committed to excellence on the pitch and impact off it, the Wave is deeply rooted in the San Diego community and proudly led by the Leichtman Levine Family. The team plays its home matches at Snapdragon Stadium, a state-of-the-art venue in the heart of the city. For more information, visit About the Kansas City Current Founded in December 2020, the Kansas City Current is led by the ownership group of Angie Long, Chris Long, Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes. The team competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The Kansas City Current plays its home matches at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium purpose-built for a professional women's sports team. Named The Most Ambitious NWSL Club for two consecutive seasons by ESPN, the Current is proud of its many precedent-setting accomplishments. To receive updates on the Current, visit The National Women's Soccer League is the premier women's professional soccer league in the world featuring national team players from around the globe. The clubs are Angel City FC, Bay FC, Boston, Chicago Stars FC, Houston Dash, Kansas City Current, NJ/NY Gotham FC, North Carolina Courage, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns FC, Racing Louisville FC, San Diego Wave FC, Seattle Reign FC, Utah Royals FC, and Washington Spirit.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Portland Thorns' Bella Bixby on returning to play after motherhood: ‘It changes your body'
Bella Bixby entered Snapdragon Stadium Saturday night the same way she has entered every stadium for weeks — not just as Portland Thorns' starting goalkeeper but also mom to toddler Ruby, who was perched happily between her right arm and hip. For the 29-year-old, the 2025 NWSL season has been more than just returning to the field after the offseason. It has been a balancing act between being an elite athlete and a new mother — a transformation she does not sugarcoat. Advertisement 'It changes your body,' she tells . 'I think I underestimated how much pregnancy was gonna change my body.' Planning for a family was not a simple process for Bixby, especially with limited guarantees in her sport. That uncertainty lingered through the entire 2023 season, even before she started trying to get pregnant. After 14 years with her husband, Elliot, she knew it was time, but making the decision was hard. Her teammate Crystal Dunn just returned to play after having her son, Marcel. Another former teammate, Iceland's Dagny Brindisdóttir, who had a son at the time, was also able to come back to the team. Despite these role models, she was still unsure. 'I was anxious about what it might mean for my career,' she explains. 'Will I come back? Can I even do it? Is this going to be my last season?' A Portland native and an Oregon State alumnus, Bixby was drafted by the Thorns in 2017. After loan spells in Germany and Israel, she made her NWSL debut for the Thorns in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup – only to suffer an ACL injury and be sidelined for the rest of the tournament. Advertisement She returned in 2021 with a statement, setting an NWSL record for most consecutive shutout minutes (269) across her first three games, and earned a spot as one of three finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year that same year. In 2022, she helped lead the Thorns to an NWSL championship. The Thorns offered her a contract extension through 2025 (with an option for 2026), signaling the club's belief in her continued impact, especially following her return from maternity leave in 2024. The NWSL's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which included protections for mothers and extended support for families, gave Bixby more confidence that having a family earlier in her career was possible. 'The new CBA changed everything,' Bixby says. 'It's not just about me — it allows my husband to travel with us, so we don't have to be apart during these early years with Ruby.' But physically returning to play wasn't as simple for Bixby. Advertisement 'People think it's nine months and then you're done. But it is a much longer commitment on your body,' she says. 'My center of gravity changed, my hips are different, everything is different.' Before pregnancy, as an elite athlete, she felt there was nothing her body could not overcome with some rehab, hard work and time. But pregnancy and nursing affected her ligaments and joints, crucial parts of her body as a goalkeeper. 'There's a hormone that is in your body in high amounts when you're pregnant, it's called relaxin,' Bixby explains. While it prepares the body for childbirth by relaxing ligaments, especially in the pelvis, it's not ideal for a goalkeeper's body. Relaxin does not immediately go away after childbirth either, especially if the mother decides to nurse. 'By the time we get to October of this year, it'll have been two years since my body really has reset hormonally, which is insane to think about,' Bixby says. 'You really only think about pregnancy as a nine-month commitment to your body, but it's not.' Advertisement Since Ruby's arrival, it's not just her body that's changed; her entire routine has, too. 'I don't know what I did with all my time before,' Bixby laughs. While she calls Ruby the greatest gift, she doesn't downplay the reality of how motherhood has transformed her life. 'I used to sleep in till 10,' she says with a smirk. 'Now I'm up at six or seven —whenever Ruby is. I used to come home from training and just… decompress. Now I'm chasing a toddler.' Even with the upheaval, she still carves out time for recovery, nutrition, and sleep, all the non-negotiables of an elite athlete. Bixby is one of several NWSL players who have recently become mothers or are currently expecting. In February, Washington Spirit and U.S. women's national team midfielder Andi Sullivan announced that she and husband Drew Skundrich are expecting a baby girl. Bixby's teammate and U.S. forward Sophia Wilson announced she is having a baby with her husband, Arizona Cardinals' Michael Wilson. And last week, Chicago Stars and USWNT forward Mallory Swanson announced she is expecting a child. Advertisement While there might not officially be a best window of time for an athlete to get pregnant, this year has its perks, especially for the national team players between major tournaments. Bixby thinks that if there is a sweet spot, it is different for every player. She says the best is to come back in time to be cleared for preseason. 'That'll dictate when you want to get pregnant,' she explains. As more players announce pregnancies, Bixby sees the ripple effects of the league's evolving support for mothers. It's not just about what happens on the field anymore, it's about who's standing beside it. For her, this dual identity is a badge of honor, but she is still getting used to being the mom on the team. 'There is a misconception that motherhood changes you so much that you have to give up what you're passionate about,' she says. ' But this is our passion, and our dream. Some people, I'm sure, motherhood changes things for them. In my case, the moment I was pregnant, I was already picturing what it was going to look like to come back.' Advertisement This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Portland Thorns, Soccer, NWSL 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gotham fans allegedly hurl transphobic abuse at star previously targeted by JK Rowling
Barbra Banda Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda has once again become the target of transphobic vitriol among fans, despite not being trans herself. "I attended the Gotham-Pride game in NJ last night and was shocked and disgusted by the fan conduct in my section (107)," Redditor u/mitzibitsy alleged via a post in the National Women's Soccer League subreddit. "Multiple Gotham season ticket holders expressed bigotry towards Barbra Banda that stemmed from the racist, transphobic conspiracies that were spread about her after she earned the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award last year." Advertisement The 25-year-old soccer star signed with Orlando last March. Since then, she's made one hell of an impact, even scoring the goal that led her team to victory in the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup. She was named the Most Valuable Player and, as u/mitzibitsy said, was crowned the Women's Footballer of the Year by the BBC. That honor drew unwanted attention from the type of transphobes who believe they can tell when somebody is trans simply by looking at them. And they decided Banda fit the bill, despite the fact that she is a cisgender woman. Conspiracy theories insisting otherwise began to spread, spurred on by the likes of ultra-loud anti-trans activist J.K. Rowling . Advertisement The NWSL and Gotham FC said that the incident is under investigation and that they will "take additional action where appropriate under the league's Fan Code of Conduct." The Orlando Pride further added that "Barbra is an outstanding role model and an influential advocate for soccer both in Africa and here in the United States. We look forward to continuing to celebrate and support her on and off the pitch." Although the statements were appreciated, concerned fans are still uncertain as to how the league and individual clubs plan to address similar situations moving forward. Several questioned why any involved fans weren't ejected immediately, although it's unclear whether anyone with the authority to do so was made aware at the time. u/mitzibitsy, however, followed up their post alleging that Gotham's chief business officer reached out to them via phone to gather more details about what happened and the fans involved, leaving them with the impression that further action was indeed a possibility. Advertisement "He assured me that he understands WHY this rhetoric was racist and transphobic (a nuance I had worried might get missed), and he said flat out that this is the opposite of the culture they are trying to build at Gotham," the Redditor wrote. "I felt really reassure by this conversation." Unfortunately, it would appear this bigotry and derision has continued to be directed Banda's way into the new year. After the reddit post gained traction, the NWSL, Gotham FC, and Orlando Pride all issued seemingly coordinated statements acknowledging "an incident involving hateful language."
USA Today
14-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NWSL games today: How to watch opening night as 2025 season begins
NWSL games today: How to watch opening night as 2025 season begins Show Caption Hide Caption Sydney Leroux gives her expectations for the future of the NWSL Angel City forward Sydney Leroux shares her thoughts on what the future of the National Women's Soccer League holds. Sports Seriously The NWSL is back, with the women's soccer league beginning its 2025 season Friday night with both of last year's championship finalists in action. The Orlando Pride may have fallen on penalties in last week's NWSL Challenge Cup (effectively a curtain-raising preseason showcase), but the defending champions are expected to contend once again in 2025. With arguably the best striker in the league in Zambia's Barbra Banda and a global icon in Brazilian playmaker Marta, the Pride will be favored as they host Chicago Stars FC, who will be without Mallory Swanson (personal reasons). The other major contender kicking the season off Friday is the Washington Spirit. Even with Trinity Rodman closing out recuperation from a long-standing back problem, a deep Spirit squad is being talked up as a threat to win it all by season's end. Washington begins 2025 on the road against a rebuilt Houston Dash side hoping that some big offseason additions (including emerging USWNT prospect Yazmeen Ryan) will make them a more formidable challenge after a rough 2024 campaign. Here's how to watch Friday's games as the NWSL embarks on another season: 2025 NWSL Season: How to watch the regular season kickoff weekend NWSL season begins: Opening weekend schedule, times All times Eastern. Home teams listed first. Friday, March 14 Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Stars FC: Prime Video, 8 p.m. Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit: NWSL+, 8 p.m. Saturday, March 15 Kansas City Current vs. Portland Thorns: ABC/ESPN+, 12:45 p.m. Racing Louisville vs. North Carolina Courage: NWSL+, 5 p.m. Utah Royals vs. Bay FC: Ion, 7:30 p.m. Seattle Reign vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Ion, 10 p.m. Watch NWSL on Saturday with Fubo Sunday March 16 Angel City FC vs. San Diego Wave: ESPN2/ESPN+, 6:50 p.m. NWSL 2025 season: How to watch Friday games, TV channel, live stream The two NWSL matches on opening night see last year's championship finalists in action on Friday. The Orlando Pride will host the Chicago Stars, with the match broadcast on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET. A few hundred miles west, a revamped Houston Dash welcome the Washington Spirit. That game also begins at 8 p.m. ET, with NWSL+ — the league's free direct-to-consumer platform — carrying the stream. Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Stars FC Date: Friday, March 14 Friday, March 14 Time: 8 p.m. ET 8 p.m. ET TV : None : None Stream: Prime Video Watch Orlando vs. Chicago on Prime Video Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit Date: Friday, March 14 Friday, March 14 Time: 8 p.m. ET 8 p.m. ET TV: None None Stream: NWSL+ We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
