Good Morning Footies! 🚨 What a week in women’s soccer! Just when we thought we had it all figured out, the UWCL group stage threw us a curveball with some top teams tripping over their own shoelaces. 🤦‍♀️ As we gear up for a thrilling weekend, Arsenal is set to clash with Chelsea at the Emirates 🏟️, promising fireworks! 📝 Check out the rest of the newsletter for the latest WSL results, some tough news for San Diego Wave, Christine Sinclair taking on a new role as an owner, and US Soccer bringing in the dough! 💵

POST OF THE WEEK

🏆 The Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, is here, and the fan vote is open! 🌟 Jen Beattie of Bay FC is currently leading the pack, showcasing the incredible community spirit of our nominees. 🗳️ Voting ends on October 31st, so head to the link in our bio to cast your vote for the Fan Winner! Each nominee could win up to $30,000 for their chosen charity, so let’s show some love! 💖✨

GOAL OF THE WEEK

It might not win any beauty contests, but Naomi Layzell just bagged her first senior goal! 🎉 Scoring in the UWCL against the reigning champs? Talk about a perfect moment! ⚽️✨

UWCL NEWS

⚽ UWCL Group Stages Recap

The UWCL kicked off with high drama, upsets, and brilliant individual performances! 🔥 Roma stunned two-time champions Wolfsburg with a tight 1-0 victory, thanks to a composed penalty by Manuela Giugliano 🎯 and solid goalkeeping from Camelia Ceasar 🧤, making Roma’s dreams soar higher than ever. 🚀 Meanwhile, Lyon effortlessly handled debutants Galatasaray, with Kadidiatou Diani leading a header fest to secure a 3-0 win. 🎯🦁 Hammarby took the W against St. Pölten with a score of 2-0. 💪 Chelsea made it a nail-biting affair, edging out Real Madrid 3-2, despite some shaky defending late in the game. 😬⚡ Elsewhere, Manchester City and Bayern Munich took the spotlight on Wednesday, with City shocking Barcelona 2-0 🌟 and Bayern’s Pernille Harder delivering a rapid hat-trick 🎩⚡ to crush Arsenal 5-2.

Key Insights:

• Roma's resilience shone as they held off Wolfsburg’s persistent attack, proving that last year’s group stage woes are long behind them.

• Lyon’s aerial dominance was on full display, with all their goals coming from headers.

• Chelsea’s rollercoaster ride saw them take control early but barely hold on as Real Madrid fought back.

• Man City’s fierce start against Barcelona and Bayern’s lethal Harder both point to new contenders emerging this season.

WSL NEWS

🧤 WSL Recap

Manchester City cruised to the top of the table with a smooth 2-0 win over West Ham. Lauren Hemp dazzled, but it was Bunny Shaw’s cameo that sealed the deal, assisting Mary Fowler's header to keep City unbeaten. ⚽️  Meanwhile, Arsenal fired blanks in a frustrating 0-0 draw with a rock-solid Everton. Despite 21 shots, the Gunners couldn’t break the deadlock, hitting the post late on in a game that felt like a case of déjà vu for Jonas Eidevall’s side.

Liverpool played in a heart-pounding thriller, edging Spurs 3-2, thanks to Marie Höbinger’s stunning set-pieces and a cool penalty in stoppage time! The Reds fought off two own goals, but Spurs’ last-minute penalty gave them the win. Crystal Palace made history, celebrating their first-ever WSL win after beating Leicester 2-0, led by Annabel Blanchard’s clinical brace. It’s safe to say the Eagles have officially landed 🦅.

USWNT NEWS

🌍  Fresh Faces

The U-17 USWNT is ready to bring the heat in the 2024 FIFA Women’s World Cup 🌎🔥! With four standout NWSL stars—Kennedy Fuller, Melanie Barcenas, Kimmi Ascanio, and Ainsley McCammon—leading the charge, the U.S. squad is looking fresher than ever! 💪 These rising stars, representing Angel City, San Diego Wave, and Seattle Reign, are breaking new ground as the first professional players on the roster. Add in coach Katie Schoepfer, a former NWSL player herself, and you've got a team brimming with experience and determination. ⚽️

Fuller, the youngest to sign an NWSL contract, is already turning heads at Angel City, while Barcenas, Ascanio, and McCammon are making their marks too, bringing their game-changing talents to the world stage. With reigning champs Spain as their first opponents on October 16, the U.S. will need all that pro experience to pull off an upset! 🇺🇸✨

WSL NEWS

▶️ Stream Dreams

🎥 The Women’s Super League is getting a major viewership glow-up since switching to YouTube! 📈 Fans have flocked to the platform, pushing streaming figures to new heights—more than triple last year’s numbers. Arsenal’s match against Everton drew 148,000 live views, while Leicester vs. Arsenal smashed previous records with over 250,000 viewers. And it’s not just the big names—WSL and Women’s Championship games alike are attracting tens of thousands. The move comes as broadcasters and the league gear up for a mega TV rights deal showdown in 2025. 🌟

NWSL NEWS

🦵 Sullivan Sidelined

Tough break for the Washington Spirit as midfielder Andi Sullivan is out for the season with a torn ACL. 😔 The injury occurred late in a 2-0 loss to the Orlando Pride, leaving the Spirit scrambling just as the playoffs loom. Sullivan, a key USWNT player, has been the heart of Washington’s midfield, contributing 2 goals and starting every game this season. This is another major blow for a team already plagued by injuries, with stars Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger, and Ouleymata Sarr sidelined.

To add to the misery, Croix Bethune, who was making waves with 10 assists, also went down earlier in September with a meniscus tear... while throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game! 🥲 With a growing injury list and key players out, the Spirit's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.

NWSL NEWS

🌊  Waves of Trouble

The San Diego Wave is caught in a legal storm 🌪️ as five former employees, including ex-video manager Brittany Alvarado, have filed a lawsuit accusing the club and the NWSL of fostering a toxic work environment. The allegations include claims of sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and retaliation. Jill Ellis, former USWNT coach and current president of the Wave, is not named as a defendant but is heavily implicated in the lawsuit. According to the plaintiffs, Ellis allegedly created an abusive culture that left employees in tears. While Ellis denies the accusations and has countersued for defamation, the lawsuit paints a grim picture of workplace conditions that the plaintiffs say were "life-altering." As this legal drama unfolds, the Wave and the NWSL have been tight-lipped, citing ongoing investigations. ⚖️

USWNT NEWS

💵  $200M and Counting!

US Soccer is riding a financial wave as it sails past $200 million in revenue, driven largely by a remarkable 243% spike in commercial earnings—up from just $32 million under the old Soccer United Marketing deal. 💰⚽ With big-name sponsors like Visa and Nike on board, the federation is cashing in as excitement builds for major events like the 2026 World Cup and the LA Olympics. U.S. Soccer is making moves, too, with plans to build a $250 million National Training Center in Atlanta and marquee coaching signings, including Emma Hayes for the women’s team and Mauricio Pochettino for the men’s. With 122 million fans now and expectations to exceed 150 million post-2026, US Soccer is proving that breaking free from SUM may just be their smartest play yet! 🏅🌟

NWSL NEWS

⚽️ 150 Goals!🇨🇦 From Player to Owner

Christine Sinclair is stepping into a new role as part-owner of Vancouver Rise FC, the latest addition to Canada’s National Super League set to launch in April. 🌟 Passionate about inspiring young female athletes, she believes that having professional women's soccer available will change lives, noting, "If I had seen women’s pro soccer as a kid, who knows, I might’ve traded my baseball dreams for a pair of cleats!" ⚽ With her rich experience, Sinclair emphasizes starting the league realistically to ensure its sustainability, declaring, “The time is now for women’s sports!” Sinclair is ready to elevate the game for the next generation, proving that even after retirement, she’s still making plays for women's soccer. 💪

SERIE A NEWS

⚽️ Del Piero Part 2

A new chapter in Juventus history begins as Dorotea Del Piero, daughter of the legendary Alessandro, joins the Women’s U17 squad! ⚽️ This marks the first Del Piero to wear the black and white since Alessandro hung up his boots in 2012, and it’s safe to say the family legacy is alive and kicking. 🌟 While Dorotea has her work cut out for her—after all, Dad boasts 190 goals and a cabinet full of trophies—she’s ready to carve her own path and show the world that the Del Piero magic runs in the family! 💪✨

UPCOMING GAMES

UWCL GROUP STAGE

OCTOBER 16TH

Juventus v Bayern 12:45pm

St Pölten v Man City 12:45pm

Barcelona v Hammarby 3pm

Arsenal v Valerenga 3pm

OCTOBER 17TH

Real Madrid v Celtic 12:45pm

Galatasaray v Roma 12:45pm

Twente v Chelsea 3pm

Wolfsburg v Lyon 3pm

Check out the rest of the UWCL matches here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

WSL

OCTOBER 12TH

Arsenal v Chelsea 8:45am

OCTOBER 13TH

Man Utd v Tottenham 7:30am

Everton v West Ham 9am

Crystal Palace v Brighton 9am

Aston Villa v Leicester City 9am

Liverpool v Man City 10am

Check out more WSL matches here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

NWSL

OCTOBER 11TH

Thorns v Pride 10pm

OCTOBER 12TH

Red Stars v Gotham FC 4pm

Courage v Angel City FC 7:30pm

Bay FC v Current 10pm

OCTOBER 13TH

Royals v Reign 5pm

Spirit v Racing 5pm

Wave v Dash 8pm

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

USL

OCTOBER 11TH

Brooklyn FC v DC Power FC 7pm

OCTOBER 12TH

Tampa Bay FC v Fort Lauderdale FC 7pm

Spokane Zephyr FC v Lexington SC 9pm

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Liga F

OCTOBER 12TH

UD Tenerife v Levante 7am

OCTOBER 13TH

Eibar v Athletic Club 6am

Valencia v Granada 6am

Barcelona v Espanyol 12:30pm

Real Madrid v Atl. Madrid 2pm

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Serie A

OCTOBER 12TH

Sassuolo v Fiorentina W 9am

Como W v Inter 12pm

OCTOBER 13TH

AC Milan W v Sampdoria W 6:30am

Juventus v Roma 9:30am

Lazio W v Napoli W 12pm

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Bundesliga

OCTOBER 11TH

Potsdam v SGS Essen 12:30pm

OCTOBER 12TH

Wolfsburg v Bayern Munich 11:45am

OCTOBER 13TH

Koln v Hoffenheim 8am

OCTOBER 14TH

Eintracht Frankfurt W v Freiburg 12pm

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Vrouwen Eredivisie

OCTOBER 12TH

Twente v Excelsior 8am

Ajax v Fortuna Sittard 10:30am

OCTOBER 13TH

Heerenveen v PSV Eindhoven 6:15am

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

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