Good Morning, Footies! Juventus, Arsenal, Man City, and Celtic advance to the UWCL group stage, fans can expect some top-tier fixtures. The group stage draw takes place today, here. Meanwhile, Gotham FC made history as they celebrated their 2023 NWSL championship at the White House 🏛️, where President Joe Biden proudly declared that women can do anything men can, including being president. 🇺🇸 And that’s just the start! We’ve got Twila Kilgore bidding farewell to the USWNT, Jenni Hermoso continuing her brave fight against harassment, and Alyssa Naeher sticking around for another season.

GOAL OF THE WEEK

📢 MEAD-O MEAD-O MEAD-O

USWNT NEWS

❤️ Thank You, Twila!

Twila Kilgore is stepping away from her role as the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) assistant coach to pursue new coaching opportunities, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and transformation. As interim coach, Kilgore took the reins during one of the most turbulent periods in USWNT history, guiding the team to major victories in both the CONCACAF W Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. With a stellar 10-1-3 record under her belt, Kilgore set the stage for the arrival of Emma Hayes, with whom she collaborated to lead the team to gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite this seamless handoff, Kilgore’s impact on the USWNT was anything but temporary—her strategic insight and leadership left the team well-positioned for continued success. Kilgore's departure signals the end of a golden chapter for the USWNT, but it’s clear that she’s far from finished making waves in the soccer world.

What makes Kilgore's next move so intriguing is her pioneering spirit. As the first American-born woman to earn a U.S. Soccer Pro License, Kilgore has already broken new ground for female coaches, and her experience extends from the NCAA to the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) with the Houston Dash. Now, with several NWSL teams searching for head coaches, including San Diego Wave FC, Houston Dash, and Utah Royals FC, Kilgore could be poised to bring her Midas touch to any one of them.

WSL NEWS

💰 Billion-Dollar Blindspot

Women’s sports are no longer an underappreciated niche; they’re on the verge of becoming a massive economic force. The numbers don’t lie: from the record-breaking 19 million viewers for the 2024 Women's NCAA Tournament to the 511% surge in WNBA Draft audiences, the stage is set for explosive growth. Major brands, like Barclays, are recognizing this untapped potential, doubling down on their investments to the tune of a historic £45 million ($60M) sponsorship deal with the Women's Super League (WSL) and Women's Championship ⚽💼. The bank’s commitment isn't just about title sponsorship; they’re also fueling grassroots football with programs reaching 20,000 schools, laying the foundation for future stars. The message is clear—investing in women’s sports is no longer about equality, it’s about opportunity.

This new wave of investments presents one of the best opportunities in sports. Robert Daugherty argues that women’s sports have all the ingredients to thrive: growing fan communities, iconic athletes, and serious financial potential through ticket sales, media rights, and sponsorships. With women’s sports predicted to break the $1 billion barrier by the end of 2024, the time for investors to get in on the action is now. Barclays' record-setting deal is just the beginning; this decade will be defined by the rapid rise of women’s sports, and those who catch the wave early will ride it all the way to the bank. 📈🏆

EUROS NEWS

🧤 Battle Of The Bids

Germany has thrown its hat in the ring to host the 2029 UEFA Women’s Euros, joining competitors Portugal and a joint bid from Denmark and Sweden. 🇩🇪 Their goal? To build on the success of previous events and take women’s football to new heights. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf emphasized that this could give a powerful boost to women’s football development. Meanwhile, Denmark and Sweden have united to organize the "biggest ever" Euros, hoping to inspire the next generation. 🇩🇰🇸🇪

✊🏼Contingo Jenni

Jenni Hermoso, Spain’s World Cup winner, continues to endure despicable abuse following the infamous non-consensual kiss from Luis Rubiales during the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Recently, she shared a hateful audio message she received, revealing the ongoing harassment. Despite Rubiales stepping down and facing legal charges, Hermoso's torment persists. The former president was banned from football for three years, yet the damage continues, with Hermoso standing tall in the face of adversity.

NWSL NEWS

🦇 Bats at 1600 Pennsylvania

Gotham FC made history by becoming the first NWSL team to visit the White House 🏛️, celebrated by President Biden for their "worst-to-first" 2023 championship season 🏆. Biden highlighted their leadership on and off the field, stating, “A woman can do anything a man can do... including being president 👩‍⚖️.” Gotham's resilience, transforming from last place to champions, symbolizes hope for future generations 🌟. With a playoff berth secured, Biden joked about their next White House visit, promising, “I won’t be president, but ask if I can come and listen 👂.”

NWSL NEWS

🔟 Ten Seasons Strong

The Chicago Red Stars have officially announced that superstar Alyssa Naeher will be defending their goal for another season, signing on through 2025. As she gears up for her 10th season with the team, Naeher isn't just any goalkeeper—she’s a two-time World Cup champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and the undisputed queen of saves in the NWSL. With her record-breaking skills and steadfast leadership, she’s more than ready to add another chapter to her storied career.

“I’m excited to be returning to Chicago for my 10th season,” Naeher said, radiating enthusiasm like a goalie catching a penalty kick. After all, she played every minute in goal during the USWNT’s Olympic victory last month, snagging her a well-deserved Ballon d'Or nomination. 🏆

Her tenure with the Red Stars has been nothing short of legendary, marked by her ability to elevate the team to two NWSL Championship appearances. General Manager Richard Feuz expressed sheer joy at her return, emphasizing how crucial her “world-class talent” is for the team's prospects as they aim for a strong finish in the season’s playoffs.

Sitting currently in sixth place with five matches left, the Red Stars are banking on Naeher's heroics to boost their playoff hopes. After all, if there's one thing we know, it's that when Alyssa Naeher is between the posts, the opposition has a lot to think about! ⚽💪

UPCOMING GAMES

WSL

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Crystal Palace v Chelsea 2:30pm

SEPTEMBER 29TH

Man City v Brighton 7:30am

Everton v Man Utd 9am

West Ham v Liverpool 10am

Leicester City v Arsenal 10am

Aston Villa v Tottenham 11:30am

Check out more WSL matches here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

NWSL

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Angel City FC v Spirit 10pm

SEPTEMBER 28TH

Current v Gotham 1pm

Royals v Racing 7pm

Pride v Dash 7:30pm

Wave FC v Thorns 10pm

SEPTEMBER 29TH

Red Stars v Courage 6pm

Reign FC v Bay FC 6pm

Check out more NWSL matches here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

USL

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Carolina Ascent v Tampa Bay FC 7:30pm

SEPTEMBER 28TH

DC Power FC v Spokane FC 2pm

Brooklyn FC v Lexington SC 7pm

SEPTEMBER 29TH

Ft Lauderdale FC v Dallas Trinity FC 7:30pm

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Liga F

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Atl. Madrid v Madrid CFF 2pm

SEPTEMBER 28TH

Eibar v Levante 6am

Barcelona v Granada 12:30pm

SEPTEMBER 29TH

Valencia v Sevilla 7am

UD Tenerife v Real Madrid 1pm

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Serie A

SEPTEMBER 28TH

Como W v Sampdoria W 9am

SassuoloW v Inter W 12pm

SEPTEMBER 29TH

Roma W v Napoli W 6:30am

AC Milan W v Lazio 9am

SEPTEMBER 30TH

Juventus W v Fiorentina W 12pm

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Premiere Ligue Women

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Lyon v Strasbourg 3pm

SEPTEMBER 28TH

Dijon v Fleury 11am

Montpellier v Reims 3pm

SEPTEMBER 29TH

Paris FC v Le Havre 9am

PSG v Guingamp 9am

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Bundesliga

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Leverkusen v Hoffenheim 12:30pm

SEPTEMBER 28TH

Koln v Freiburg 6am

Potsdam v RB Leipzig 8am

SEPTEMBER 29TH

Werder Bremen v Bayern Munich 8am

Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg 11am

SEPTEMBER 30TH

Carl Zeiss Jena v SGS Essen 12pm

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

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