INSIDER
Emma Hayes names USWNT roster for first matches since winning gold at the Olympics
Read full article: Emma Hayes names USWNT roster for first matches since winning gold at the OlympicsForward Trinity Rodman will miss a trio of upcoming matches for the U.S. women’s national soccer team as she continues to recover from a back injury.
San Diego Wave president sues former employee for defamation for alleging abusive behavior
Read full article: San Diego Wave president sues former employee for defamation for alleging abusive behaviorSan Diego Wave President Jill Ellis sued former team employee Brittany Alvarado for defamation following allegations of a poor work environment.
A women's pro soccer game was bumped for a music festival; Red Stars looking for a place to play it
Read full article: A women's pro soccer game was bumped for a music festival; Red Stars looking for a place to play itThe Chicago Red Stars are looking for an alternative venue for their Sept. 21 home game against the San Diego Wave because of a just-announced music festival at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Sophia Smith signs contract extension with Portland for highest annual NWSL salary
Read full article: Sophia Smith signs contract extension with Portland for highest annual NWSL salaryThe Portland Thorns have announced that they have signed Sophia Smith to a contract extension through 2025, with a player option for 2026.
KC Current hold off Portland for a 5-4 victory in their new stadium
Read full article: KC Current hold off Portland for a 5-4 victory in their new stadiumVanessa DiBernardo scored the first goal for Kansas City in its new stadium and the Current held off the Portland Thorns 5-4 in the regular-season opener for the National Women’s Soccer League.
Alex Morgan has late goal, leads San Diego past Gotham FC 1-0 in the Challenge Cup
Read full article: Alex Morgan has late goal, leads San Diego past Gotham FC 1-0 in the Challenge CupAlex Morgan scored in the 88th minute and the San Diego Wave won the Challenge Cup with a 1-0 victory over Gotham FC Friday night in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Banda acquired by the Orlando Pride for second-highest transfer fee in women's soccer
Read full article: Banda acquired by the Orlando Pride for second-highest transfer fee in women's soccerThe Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League have acquired Zambian forward Barbra Banda for a club-record transfer fee.
Ally Sentnor of North Carolina is top pick in NWSL draft. Teammate Savy King chosen second
Read full article: Ally Sentnor of North Carolina is top pick in NWSL draft. Teammate Savy King chosen secondAlly Sentnor of North Carolina was the No. 1 overall selection in the National Women’s Soccer League draft on Friday night, and her teammate Savy King was picked second.
National Women’s Soccer League announces new media deal with CBS, ESPN, Prime Video and Scripps' ION
Read full article: National Women’s Soccer League announces new media deal with CBS, ESPN, Prime Video and Scripps' IONThe National Women’s Soccer League on Thursday announced a new media rights deal that will feature the league’s matches on ESPN, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime Video and Scripps Sports.
NWSL announces new San Francisco Bay Area team
Read full article: NWSL announces new San Francisco Bay Area teamA group of former players — including Aly Wagner and Brandi Chastain — has joined with global investment firm Sixth Street to bring a National Women’s Soccer League team to the San Francisco Bay Area.
5 NWSL players have been with the same team all 11 seasons
Read full article: 5 NWSL players have been with the same team all 11 seasonsThe Portland Thorns' Christine Sinclair is one of just five players who helped launch the National Women's Soccer League in 2013 and are still with their same teams.
US Soccer announces program to ensure player safety
Read full article: US Soccer announces program to ensure player safetyU.S. Soccer has introduced a Safe Soccer program that will require comprehensive vetting of individuals involved in the sport as the federation continues to address the abuses uncovered in its investigation of coach misconduct in the National Women’s Soccer League.
NWSL bans 4 from coaching, takes other disciplinary actions
Read full article: NWSL bans 4 from coaching, takes other disciplinary actionsThe National Women’s Soccer League has permanently banned four coaches and announced disciplinary action against several other individuals and teams in response to an investigation into alleged abuse and misconduct.
Inquiry finds widespread misconduct in women's pro soccer
Read full article: Inquiry finds widespread misconduct in women's pro soccerAn investigation commissioned by the National Women’s Soccer League and its players union found “widespread misconduct” directed at players dating back to the beginnings nearly a decade ago of the top U.S. women’s professional league.
MVP Sophia Smith scores, Thorns top KC 2-0 for NWSL title
Read full article: MVP Sophia Smith scores, Thorns top KC 2-0 for NWSL titleSophia Smith, the season’s Most Valuable Player, scored early and the Portland Thorns won their third National Women’s Soccer League championship with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current.
Paulson steps away as CEO of Timbers, Thorns amid scandal
Read full article: Paulson steps away as CEO of Timbers, Thorns amid scandalMerritt Paulson has removed himself as chief operating officer of the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer and the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League.
US players 'horrified' by report of abuse in women's soccer
Read full article: US players 'horrified' by report of abuse in women's soccerPlayers on the U.S. women's national soccer team are trying to process an investigation that found emotional abuse and sexual misconduct are systemic in women’s soccer.
Thorns owner Paulson steps away after damning abuse report
Read full article: Thorns owner Paulson steps away after damning abuse reportPortland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson has removed himself from a decision-making role with the National Women’s Soccer League club until the findings are released from an ongoing investigation into numerous scandals around the league.
Abuse in women's pro soccer league was systemic, report says
Read full article: Abuse in women's pro soccer league was systemic, report saysAn independent investigation into the scandals that erupted in the National Women’s Soccer League found emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were systemic in the sport, impacting multiple teams, coaches and players.
Women’s team players, US Soccer extend labor deal 3 months
Read full article: Women’s team players, US Soccer extend labor deal 3 monthsThe U.S. Soccer Federation and the union for its women’s national team agreed to a three-month extension of their labor contract through March, a move announced on the same day players filed a brief asking a federal appeals court to reinstate their equal pay claim.
Spirit wins NWSL title 2-1 in extra time over Red Stars
Read full article: Spirit wins NWSL title 2-1 in extra time over Red StarsKelley O’Hara scored in the 97th minute and the Washington Spirit won the National Women’s Soccer League championship with a 2-1 extra time victory over the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday.
NWSL announces new executive group after harassment scandal
Read full article: NWSL announces new executive group after harassment scandalFollowing the resignation of the National Women’s Soccer League commissioner amid a sexual harassment and misconduct scandal involving a longtime coach, a three-woman executive committee has been formed to oversee league operations.
Mahomes' fiancee part of NWSL expansion team ownership in KC
Read full article: Mahomes' fiancee part of NWSL expansion team ownership in KCKANSAS CITY, Kan. – The National Women's Soccer League is returning to Kansas City after an ownership group led by local businesspeople that includes the fiancee of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was awarded an expansion franchise Monday. Matthews, who is expecting the couple's first child in the new year, now lives in Kansas City and is a fitness entrepreneur. Shortly after signing a deal that could pay him $500 million over the next decade, Mahomes purchased an ownership stake in MLB's Kansas City Royals. The city's previous women's soccer team, FC Kansas City, won back-to-back NWSL championships in 2014 and '15 before it was sold to a Minnesota-based ownership group. The new Kansas City club already has announced that former FC Kansas City general manager Huw Williams will be back as its head coach.
JJ Watt hints at interest in ownership, promotes womens sports
Read full article: JJ Watt hints at interest in ownership, promotes womens sportsJ.J. Watt does not want to hear your knock on womens sports. Watt is married to Chicago Red Stars Kealia Ohai Watt, an accomplished athlete in her own right. On Sunday, Watt took to Twitter to express potential ownership interest in a National Womens Soccer League franchise, the Utah Royals. When a Twitter user expressed Watt would lose money, he provided a thought-provoking response. Bravo, J.J.
Upstart Dash win the Challenge Cup 2-0 over the Red Stars
Read full article: Upstart Dash win the Challenge Cup 2-0 over the Red StarsHouston Dash forward Rachel Daly holds the trophy alongside teammates as they celebrate their Challenge Cup championship win over the Chicago Red Stars, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Sandy, Utah. Today nothing broke our circle.The Red Stars went to the NWSL championship game last season, but were routed 4-0 by the North Carolina Courage. Kristie Mewis was on the run when she was fouled by Kayla Sharples for a Dash penalty kick. The Red Stars nearly drew even in the 15th minute, but Savannah McCaskill's header off a rebound hit the post. The Red Stars were the tournaments sixth seed going into the knockout round.
Portman group will bring NWSL to Los Angeles in 2022
Read full article: Portman group will bring NWSL to Los Angeles in 2022Actress Natalie Portman and venture capitalist Kara Nortman lead a group that will bring an expansion National Women's Soccer League team to the Los Angeles area in 2022. Then she and Nortman met Becca Roux, the executive director of the U.S. Women's National Team Players Association. The women also reached out to a local supporters group that has been campaigning to bring a team to Los Angeles. The group is partnering with the LA84 Foundation, a nonprofit formed after the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics that promotes youth sports. The official name of the Los Angeles club, and where it will play, are expected to be announced later this year.
Ertz, Short say soul-searching led to vulnerability on field
Read full article: Ertz, Short say soul-searching led to vulnerability on field(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)Chicago Red Stars teammates Julie Ertz and Casey Short say hard conversations over the past several weeks led to their vulnerability in the moment they shared an emotional embrace while they knelt during the national anthem as the NWSL opened its season. Short sobbed as she was held by Ertz before Chicago's match against the Washington Spirit on Saturday night, the second game of the National Women's Soccer League tournament in Utah. Currently, every time the national anthem is played, our country continues to become more and more divided on what the visual symbol of unity looks like, Short and Ertz said in a joint statement they released Tuesday. Often these opinions are presented through the individuals lens and do not accurately portray how the two of us truly feel, Short and Ertz said. The NWSL players association released a statement in support of all players, no matter their decision.
NWSL players kneel during the national anthem
Read full article: NWSL players kneel during the national anthem(AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)Players for the Portland Thorns and the North Carolina Courage knelt during the national anthem Saturday when the National Women's Soccer League opened the Challenge Cup tournament in Utah. In addition to the anthem, the players knelt for a moment of silence before kickoff. The league said Friday that it would play the national anthem before the Challenge Cup games and that it would support the players in whatever they chose to do. The monthlong Challenge Cup opened Saturday with a pair of games at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. Megan Rapinoe, who plays for OL Reign but opted out of the Challenge Cup, was criticized when she knelt at a NWSL game and a pair of national team games in 2016.
Williams' stoppage time goal lifts Courage over Thorns 2-1
Read full article: Williams' stoppage time goal lifts Courage over Thorns 2-1(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)HERRIMAN, Utah Lynn Williams scored in stoppage time and the North Carolina Courage defeated the Portland Thorns 2-1 in the opening game of the National Women's Soccer League's Challenge Cup tournament on Saturday. Williams scored the go-ahead goal on a header off a cross from Samantha Mewis. The Courage are the NWSL's two-time defending champions and considered the favorites at the Challenge Cup. In the previous meeting between the two teams last season, the Courage routed the Thorns 6-0, led by Williams with three goals. It is our duty to demand that the liberties and freedoms this nation was founded upon are extended to everyone, the Thorns and Courage said in a joint statement released before the game.
Rapinoe, Press among players opting out of NWSL tournament
Read full article: Rapinoe, Press among players opting out of NWSL tournamentU.S. national team players Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath and Christen Press have opted out of the National Women's Soccer League tournament kicking off this weekend in Utah. Heath and Press, who played with Rapinoe on the champion World Cup team last summer in France, cited concerns about the coronavirus for their decisions not to play. Among the national team players taking part in the tournament are Chicago's Julie Ertz, U.S. Soccer's Player of the Year, and teammate Alyssa Naeher, North Carolina's Crystal Dunn and Portland's Becky Sauerbrunn. The league was rocked by the announcement Monday that the Orlando Pride were dropping out of the tournament after six players and four staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Like all NWSL players, she was given the option to participate.