Good morning, Footies! ⚽ This weekend is packed with games you don’t want to miss, including club friendlies and the kickoff of the USL Super League and NCAA season (links for game times)! The BBC, ITV, and EBU have secured broadcast rights for the 2025 Women’s Euros, and DAZN is taking on more European league coverage, making it easier to watch women’s football. Plus, we’ve got Leah Williamson's hometown honors, fresh trade news, a coaching legend retiring, the Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup semi-finals, and our new Rising Stars section to keep you on your toes.

WSL NEWS

👊 Girl Power

In a groundbreaking move, English women’s football has hit a major milestone with an all-female executive leadership team now steering the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Championship. The new power squad, helmed by CEO Nikki Doucet, includes Holly Murdoch (Chief Operations Officer), Ruth Hooper (Interim Chief Marketing Officer), Mirelle Van Rijbroek (Chief Football Officer), and Zarah Al-Kudcy (Chief Revenue Officer) 👩‍💼👊.

These trailblazers are set to shake things up, overseeing the top two tiers of women’s football with a fresh “startup mentality” 🌟. Their goal? To drive growth and put players and fans at the center of the action. The new company, Women’s Professional Leagues Ltd (WPLL), will manage these leagues, with a £20m loan from the Premier League and a seat on the WPLL board to keep things interesting 💷💼.

With the FA and 23 clubs as shareholders, the WPLL is geared up to elevate the women’s game to new heights. From Murdoch’s experience in horse racing to Hooper’s Nike branding genius, and from Van Rijbroek’s talent spotting in the Netherlands to Al-Kudcy’s F1 sponsorship savvy, the leadership team is a powerhouse of football and sports expertise ⚽.

As the WSL and Women’s Championship gear up for their new seasons, starting September 8th and 20th respectively, fans can expect a thrilling new chapter in women’s football 📅.

WSL NEWS

🚗 From Headlights to Floodlights

Leah Williamson, England’s Lioness captain, recently returned to her roots to celebrate the grand opening of the Leah Williamson Pitch at Newport Pagnell Town FC. This state-of-the-art facility 🏟️, lit with 3G floodlights, is among the first to benefit from the £30 million Lionesses Futures Fund. This initiative, inspired by the Lionesses’ success, aims to enhance women's football infrastructure, providing top-notch facilities and reserved peak-time slots for women and girls. Williamson humorously recalled her early days, “My mum used to drive me to practice at 6 a.m. with headlights on—now my name’s on a pitch. Crazy, right?” 🚗

The pitch represents a major milestone in improving access to quality football facilities, with the goal of upgrading 30 sites nationwide by January 2025. This move comes in response to a significant rise in female football participation—68,000 more girls have taken up the sport since the Lionesses’ EURO 2022 triumph. Beyond providing better playing conditions, the new pitches are set to boost community engagement and local economies, offering a bright future for grassroots women’s football. 🏆

As Leah Williamson prepares for a thrilling WSL season with Arsenal, she’s set to face her former teammate Vivianne Miedema, now with Manchester City, in a highly anticipated opener. Williamson is also looking forward to England’s upcoming match against Emma Hayes’ USWNT at Wembley, promising an exciting clash given Hayes’ recent Olympic gold success. Williamson’s journey from a young player with headlights as her only light to leading a legacy of change continues to inspire and set the stage for future stars. 🔥⚽️

USL W NEWS

🚀 Launch Time

Get ready to kick off an exciting new chapter in American soccer as the USL Super League launches its inaugural season this August! Fresh off the USWNT’s gold medal win in Paris, the Super League will feature eight teams battling it out from August to December, with the top four advancing to playoffs. Matches will be streamed live on Peacock, ensuring fans don’t miss a moment of the action. The league, with Division One status, aims to be a major player in women’s soccer while offering a streamlined pathway from youth to pro.

In Charlotte, Carolina Ascent FC is set to make history as the city’s first women’s professional soccer team since the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting. Kicking off on August 17, Ascent FC promises to bring a new level of excitement to the Queen City. With a roster featuring local talent and a strong community connection, the team is ready to inspire future generations of female soccer players in the area. The opening match at American Legion Memorial Stadium is already generating buzz, with 7,500 tickets sold for the 9,500-seat venue.

Meanwhile, Lexington Sporting Club is making headlines with its move to the USL Championship for the 2025 season. The team’s recent expansion into the top tier of men’s soccer is bolstered by their new 7,500-seat stadium, set to host games starting this September. This ambitious leap reflects LSC’s rapid rise and commitment to becoming a prominent force in American soccer, with a new professional women’s team also joining the USL Super League. The stadium is poised to be a hub for soccer fans and aspiring players alike.

SWPL NEWS

🥅 Goals On Goals On Goals

The SWPL 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 opening weekend was a goal-scoring fiesta, with 48 goals lighting up the pitch across the league. Celtic kicked things off with a bang, demolishing Dundee United 9-0, thanks to a hat-trick of new signings and a double dose from Maria McAneny and Saoirse Noonan. ⚽

Rangers joined the party with an 11-0 shellacking of Aberdeen, spearheaded by Katie Wilkinson’s sensational four-goal debut. Hearts matched their enthusiasm, blitzing Queen’s Park 11-1, with a goal fest led by Kerry Beattie and Jackie Richards. 👏 Meanwhile, Glasgow City’s 7-0 triumph over Montrose and Motherwell’s 5-1 win against Spartans showed that this season is starting with a bang! 💥

IRELAND LEAGUE CUP NEWS

🇮🇪 Electric Ireland Cup: Final Four

The Electric 🇮🇪 Ireland Women's Challenge Cup is down to the final four! After a weekend of spectacular quarter-finals, we’ve got Glentoran Women, Cliftonville Ladies, Lisburn Rangers, and Derry City Women striding into the semis. Cliftonville's 7-0 demolition of Crusaders was a highlight, with Carla Devine and Victoria Carleton putting on a goal-scoring clinic, while Lisburn Rangers saw Amy Burden score five in their own 7-0 romp. Glentoran and Derry City also secured their spots with convincing wins, setting up two mouth-watering semi-final clashes: Glentoran vs. Cliftonville and Lisburn Rangers vs. Derry City. Both matches 🏆 are scheduled for Friday, September 13th, with kick-off at 7:30 pm, and the venues will be announced soon.

WSL NEWS

😎All Smiles For Bompastor

Sonia Bompastor is stepping into Emma Hayes’ hefty shoes at Chelsea with a grin and a game plan. Having just wrapped up her Lyon stint with a trophy-laden résumé, Bompastor is ready to keep Chelsea's winning streak alive and chase that elusive 🏆 Women's Champions League title. She’s not just here to add her name to the trophy list; she’s aiming to do so with flair, despite the grueling fixture congestion that even makes the French football calendar look relaxed. 📅

Bompastor, who describes herself as “a lucky manager” with “a lot to show,” is keen on making 💙 the Blues’ pursuit of European glory even more intense. While juggling domestic and European commitments, she’s set to make the most of Chelsea's squad, which now includes big names like Lucy Bronze and Sandy Baltimore. With a fresh perspective and a tactical edge, Bompastor is ready to make Chelsea’s fans proud and tackle every game head-on. ⚽

📚 Football Lexicon

What a staggered run?

A staggered run 🏃 in soccer involves players spreading out in different positions rather than lining up in a ➡️ straight row. This approach makes it tougher for opponents to track players and creates more passing options when attacking. Defensively, staggered positioning helps cover more of the field and block passes, making it harder for the attacking team to find open spaces.

NWSL TRADE NEWS

✈️ KC To Spain

Claire Lavogez and the Kansas City Current have decided to part ways, with Lavogez off to Real Sociedad Femenino in Spain. Known for her dramatic flair, Lavogez dazzled Kansas City with a clutch goal that earned her NWSL Player of the Week and a late-game brace in 2024. While she’ll be missed, fans will remember her as the midfielder who left them on a high note—literally and figuratively! ⚽

NWSL TRADE NEWS

 😎 California Dreamin’

Katie Zelem, the former Manchester United captain, is headed to Angel City FC on a free transfer through 2026. The 28-year-old English midfielder, known for her impressive 32 goals and 46 assists with United, is ready to spice up the NWSL and help boost Angel City’s current 11th-place standing. Despite being a self-proclaimed “home bird,” Zelem is eager for her LA adventure 🌟, reuniting with old teammate Christen Press and trading Manchester's portable buildings for Angel City's sunshine.

SERIE A FEMMINILE NEWS

🇮🇹 Roma’s Rising Star

Young Maltese forward Lexine Farrugia is trading in her Sampdoria Primavera jersey for a coveted spot with 🇮🇹 Italian champions AS Roma Women, signing a three-year deal. At just 17, Farrugia has been ✨ dazzling with her skills, including a standout brace against Roma last season. Now officially a Giallorossa, she’s excited to start this new chapter, having already impressed in pre-season training. With a promising future ahead, don’t be surprised if you see Farrugia making waves 🌊 in Serie A Femminile soon!

WSL NEWS

🇸🇪Swedish Sensation

Arsenal has scored a major win by signing 🇸🇪 Swedish forward Rosa Kafaji from Häcken. The 21-year-old, who dazzled with 15 goals last season and helped her team reach the Champions League quarter-finals, is set to make a splash in the WSL. Wearing the No. 16 shirt, Kafaji brings a fearless edge that Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall raves about, calling her one of the most exciting young talents globally.

Kafaji, who also impressed on the international stage by assisting Sweden’s equalizer against England, expressed her thrill about joining Arsenal. She’s eager to grow and compete for top trophies, and Arsenal’s director of women’s football, Clare Wheatley, is equally enthusiastic about her potential.

As Arsenal gears up for a Champions League 🏆 qualifier and a WSL season opener, Kafaji’s arrival is a clear statement of their title ambitions. Keep an eye on this young star—she’s ready to make her mark!

🥇You Are….

Alphabet Handwriting Workbook is the perfect alphabet book for young children learning to write. Each page features tracing exercises for upper and lowercase letters, accompanied by positive affirmations to boost self-esteem and confidence. From "A is for Amazing" ❤️ to "Z is for Zestful," this book is a fun and inspiring way to learn the alphabet and build a positive mindset.