Bienvenue, Footies!  Get your game face on—it's quarterfinal time at the Olympics 🎉⚽ ! The knockout stage is officially set, and guess what? Spain topped Group A, France reigned supreme in Group B, and the USA flexed their muscles in Group C. Despite FIFA's six-point penalty, Canada still clawed their way into the quarters. Germany, Japan, Columbia and Brazil also booked their spots in the knockout rounds, but Brazil’s Marta won’t be joining the fun due to a red card. Here are the quarterfinal fixtures set for Saturday, August 3rd:

9 am 🇺🇸  United States v 🇯🇵  Japan

11 am 🇪🇸  Spain v 🇨🇴  Colombia

1 PM 🇨🇦  Canada v 🇩🇪  Germany

3 PM 🇫🇷  France v 🇧🇷  Brazil

All kick-off times are EST

📣 VOTE! 📣

IT’S TIME TO VOTE….. For Concacaf Player of the Year! Sophia Smith, Khadijah Shaw, Charlyn Corral, Melchie Dumornay, Adriana Leon, Jacqueline Ovalle have been nominated. Vote for your pick here!

INJURY NEWS

▶️ Press Play

“You have to accept that things won't go the way you think they will, but maybe they'll go even better” — Christen Press

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After two years of battling injuries and four knee surgeries, Christen Press is back and ready to prove she's still got it 🙌. The two-time World Cup winner made her much-anticipated return during Angel City's Summer Cup match against San Diego Wave FC. Entering in the 88th minute, Press received a roaring ovation from the crowd and coolly converted a penalty kick to help secure the win.

Her journey back hasn’t been easy, marked by setbacks, including a fourth surgery in 2023. But Press’s resilience and optimism have shone through, as she turned her recovery into a time of self-discovery. Now officially cleared and back in training, she’s eager to make her true start with Angel City, reminding everyone why she's one of the all-time greats. As she says, “Today was the start of a new chapter.” 🥹 

OLYMPIC NEWS

💔 Red Card Woes

In what could be her final major tournament appearance, Brazilian legend Marta exited the pitch in tears after receiving a red card for a high boot during Brazil's 2-0 loss to Spain in the Olympic women's football tournament. The 38-year-old, who is set to retire this year, was dismissed just before halftime after her boot connected with Spain’s Olga Carmona. Despite the setback, Brazil advanced to the quarterfinals as one of the best third-placed teams, but Marta will be suspended for their next match against France. With Brazil as hosts of the 2027 World Cup, fans are left wondering if Marta might be tempted to come out of retirement for one last hurrah on home soil.

INVESTMENT

💸 Kang’s Kynisca 🏅

Michele Kang 🌟 is shaking up women’s sports with the launch of Kynisca Sports International, Ltd., a pioneering multi-team organization for women’s football ⚽. Named after the ancient Olympic champion Cynisca of Sparta 🏅, Kynisca is set to transform the game with a massive $50 million investment and the creation of the Kynisca Innovation Hub . This hub will tackle the lack of sports science research for female athletes, offering a specialized training model that views women as more than just smaller versions of men.

Kang’s impact extends beyond football; she’s also investing $4 million into the USA Women’s Rugby Sevens team , boosting their quest for Olympic gold in 2028 🥇. With these groundbreaking moves, Kang is not just changing the game but rewriting the playbook on funding and developing women’s sports 📚.

NWSL NEWS

🏛️ Legal Waves

San Diego Wave FC President Jill Ellis, a former U.S. Women's National Team coach, is embroiled in a defamation lawsuit against ex-employee Brittany Alvarado, who accused Ellis of fostering a toxic work environment. Filed in San Diego County Court, the lawsuit claims Alvarado made false statements on social media, supported by allegedly fabricated emails, including one supposedly from a senior Wave FC official resigning in protest.

Alvarado’s social media posts, which went viral, describe a damaging work culture under Ellis, with other former employees echoing her claims, including extreme mental health struggles. Alvarado's legal team argues that she was exercising her First Amendment rights to expose systemic gender discrimination and emotional abuse within the club.

Ellis, known for leading the USWNT to back-to-back World Cup victories, has faced significant professional fallout from these allegations, including lost speaking engagements and a postponed honorary degree. Despite the accusations, an investigation found no violations of league policy, and Ellis maintains that mental health remains a top priority at the club.

The case highlights ongoing tensions within the organization, with Ellis and her supporters denying any wrongdoing, while critics call for substantial reforms to address the alleged toxic environment.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

🔊 SWEET CAROLINE! 🦁

The Lionesses are gearing up for a blockbuster end to 2024 with four high-profile home friendlies, including clashes against football heavyweights Germany 🇩🇪 and the USWNT 🇺🇸. England will first face Germany at Wembley on October 25—a rematch of their thrilling Euro 2022 final victory 🏆. Then, they'll take on South Africa in Coventry before returning to Wembley on November 30 to host the United States, now led by former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes. The year's final friendly sees England battle Switzerland 🇨🇭 at Bramall Lane on December 3.

Coach Sarina Wiegman is pulling no punches with this lineup, aiming to prepare her squad for the Euro 2025 challenge in Switzerland. With these friendlies, she’s set on testing the Lionesses against a variety of playing styles and strengths, all while giving fans more memorable nights at Wembley.

It's a high-stakes preparation for England, who will enter next summer's Euros as defending champions for the first time. With Wiegman and Hayes, two of the game’s top coaches, set to clash, these friendlies are more than just warm-ups—they’re a sneak peek at what’s to come in women’s football. ⚽

OLYMPIC NEWS

🚁 Ariel Appeals 🇨🇦

The Canadian women’s soccer team, fresh off a headline-making scandal involving a spy drone (yes, really!), decided to tackle their Olympic group stage with flair and determination. Facing a six-point deduction and coaching suspensions, they didn’t let it bring them down. Instead, they turned the pitch into their own stage.

Despite the setbacks, Canada won all three of their group games, capping it off with a 1-0 win over Colombia thanks to Vanessa Gilles’ dramatic header. Their resilience shone through as they clinched a quarterfinal spot, leaving scandal and critics behind.

The moral of the story? When life throws drones at you, score more goals. With their eyes on the prize, Canada’s women are showing that nothing can ground their high-flying dreams in Paris. 🏆🇨🇦

📚 Football Lexicon

What does top bins mean?

In football, a "top bins" goal is a shot that finds the upper corners of the net, out of reach for the goalkeeper. A "top bins" moment is not only a spectacular sight but also a rare and thrilling display of a player’s talent! Learn more about top bins here!

UWCL NEWS

🏟️ Gunners’ Gauntlet

Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League adventure is shaping up to be another nail-biter, with a challenging first round ahead. It’s déjà vu for the Gunners, who are back at the starting line of Europe’s top competition, just like last year when they were knocked out by Paris FC.

This time around, Arsenal kicks off with a fierce clash against Scottish giants Rangers. If they make it through, they’ll face either Spanish powerhouse Atletico Madrid or Norwegian upstarts Rosenborg for a chance to advance to the next round. Talk about a gauntlet! ⚔️

Arsenal’s journey is more than a fight for survival; it’s their shot at rewriting their European narrative and proving their strength on the big stage. The action begins on September 4, with a potential do-or-die match on September 7 to secure their spot in the next stage. Tickets are already flying off the shelves, so grab yours fast if you want to catch the drama live! 🎟️

US SOCCER NEWS

📒 Cone’s Playbook

Cindy Parlow Cone, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is now making waves off the pitch as the first female president of U.S. Soccer. After stepping into the role in 2020 amid a contentious equal pay lawsuit, Cone leveraged her experience as an athlete to secure a landmark equal pay agreement in 2022, closing the gap between the men’s and women’s national teams and even pooling World Cup prize money—a revolutionary move in sports.

Under Cone's leadership, U.S. Soccer has become a model for addressing gender inequality, contributing to the rising popularity of women's sports. With record-breaking viewership and growing league attendance, Cone is focused on sustaining this momentum as the U.S. prepares to co-host the 2026 Men’s World Cup and bids for the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Her leadership style prioritizes diversity and innovation, ensuring that U.S. Soccer is not just catching up but setting the pace for the future.