Good Morning, Footies! 🎯⚽ This weekend was a feast of braces and hat tricks with superstars like Ewa Pajor, Guro Reiten, Alexia Putellas, Lindsey Horan, Viktoria Pinther, Ivonna Chacon, and Natalia Padilla Bidas lighting up the scoreboard with multiple goals! 🌟🔥

But that’s just the beginning—dive into the rest of the newsletter for all the updates on UWCL groups, the groundbreaking Katie Meyer Law ⚖️, rising NWSL valuations 📈, and so much more! 👀

GOAL OF THE WEEK

Tabitha Chawinga’s first goal in a Lyon jersey was a stunner!

POST OF WEEK

Jun Endo had her first run after an ACL injury and there were cheers & tears.

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UWCL NEWS

⚽️  Group Stage Battle

The UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage draw has blessed us with some heavyweight matchups! Lyon, Wolfsburg, Roma, and Galatasaray will battle in Group A, while Chelsea faces Real Madrid, Celtic, and Twente in Group B. Meanwhile, Group C sees Bayern, Arsenal, Juventus, and Vålerenga lock horns, and the reigning champions Barcelona have their eyes set on defending their crown, starting against Manchester City in Group D.

🎇 Key Matches to Watch:

• Lyon vs. Galatasaray: A powerhouse versus the newcomers—can Galatasaray handle the heat in the lion’s den? 🦁🔥

• Chelsea vs. Real Madrid: Expect fireworks as these two giants meet for a battle of wits and flair. ✨⚡️

• Barcelona vs. Manchester City: The holders face their toughest opener yet—will City rise, or will Barca continue their European dominance? 🌟

Not to be outdone, Celtic makes their debut, and after their hard-fought qualification, they’ll be looking to make waves in Group B alongside Chelsea. Juventus will want redemption against Arsenal, while Bayern’s disciplined style could pose a tactical nightmare for everyone in their group.

With just the top two teams advancing to the quarter-finals, expect every match to feel like a final. Time to buckle up for some scintillating football, as the journey to Lisbon’s grand stage in May begins! 🏆

NWSL NEWS

👋🏼  Sinc-credible Farewell

Christine Sinclair, the GOAT of international soccer, is calling time on her extraordinary career at the end of the 2024 NWSL season. With 190 goals for Canada, yes, that’s more than any human ever—men or women—Sinclair has written her name in the soccer history books. After leading Portland Thorns to three NWSL titles and earning Olympic gold, the soccer world is ready to give her a grand farewell. 🎉 Her final (regular season) match will be on November 1st, where she’ll be honored at Providence Park, the place she called home for over a decade.

From winning NCAA titles at the University of Portland to lifting the NWSL trophy, Sinclair’s passion, grace, and winning spirit have been unstoppable. 🌍 Her Instagram post says it best: she may be retiring from playing, but she vows to continue inspiring the next generation. 👑

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

🦁 Changing the Game

The Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph wasn’t just about silverware—it’s become a game-changer off the pitch too! In the last four years, we’ve seen a 56% spike in women and girls playing football across England, with 113% more female referees blowing their whistles and 88% more women coaching future stars. The FA’s “Inspiring Positive Change” strategy has paid off—big time. But while 85% of primary schools now offer girls equal access to football, secondary schools are still dragging their studs. ⏳

England’s success has kicked open doors, but some barriers remain. Only 4 out of 12 Women’s Super League teams are led by female head coaches, falling well below the FA’s goals. Still, the pitch is shifting, and the Lionesses are at the heart of this beautiful game revolution. ⚽

NWSL NEWS

📊 NWSL: 1.5 Million and Counting!

The National Women’s Soccer League has been kicking down barriers and setting new standards, officially surpassing 1.5 million fans in attendance this season—with 49 games still to go! The Chicago Red Stars helped seal the deal in their match against Orlando Pride, marking the moment the league hit this historic milestone. 📈 This is the third straight year the NWSL has surpassed 1 million in attendance, and they’re eyeing a 2 million fan finish by the end of the season.

Adding to the excitement, Alex Morgan’s retirement match drew 26,516 fans to Snapdragon Stadium, outshining even Manchester United’s visit. 🏟️ And with new teams like Bay FC and Utah Royals boosting numbers, the future looks as bright as ever for women’s soccer.

But the real buzz is in the team valuations! 💰 The average NWSL team is now worth a whopping $104 million, led by Angel City at $250 million! Teams like Kansas City Current and San Diego Wave are also cashing in on the boom, with new stadiums and soaring revenues. With Boston joining the league in 2026 and another team on the horizon, the NWSL’s growth shows no signs of slowing down. 🚀

NCAA NEWS

⚖️ Katie Meyer’s Law

The passing of Katie Meyer’s Law marks a significant step toward improving mental health support for students, especially athletes, in California. Named after Stanford’s star goalkeeper, Katie Meyer, who tragically died by suicide in 2022, the law ensures that students facing disciplinary actions in public secondary schools will have access to trained advisors during such challenging times.

Katie Meyer’s story underscores the intense pressures faced by student-athletes. Following a disciplinary notice related to an incident where she was accused of spilling coffee on a football player, Meyer found herself without adequate support. The disciplinary action, which threatened her academic standing, reportedly contributed to her emotional distress and eventual death.

Introduced by Assembly woman, Jacqui Irwin, who has personal ties to Stanford as her daughter also attended the university, the bill seeks to prevent future tragedies by providing students with a crucial resource: someone to turn to during disciplinary processes. After weaving its way through the California legislature, the bill was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 28, 2024.

Katie Meyer’s parents, who have been advocating for this legislation, believe the law will save lives and offer future students the mental health support their daughter didn’t receive. As they continue to grieve, they remain dedicated to ensuring no other family has to experience this kind of loss. Through Katie’s Law, her legacy will be one of protection and support for generations of students to come.

(Naomi Girma, who was one of Katie Mayer’s best friend, wrote a beautiful piece about her friend for Player’s Tribune. Click to give it a read)

USL NEWS

🏙️ Building the Future

Brooklyn FC has announced Jessica Silva as the head coach of their inaugural women’s team in the USL Super League. Silva, a coaching powerhouse with a UEFA A License and a track record of success, is ready to take the reins and build a professional women’s club in the heart of Brooklyn. Her excitement is palpable: "I want to represent women’s sports and build something special here." 🙌

Silva’s coaching journey has seen her rise through the ranks, including assistant roles with Canada’s national teams and a successful stint at FC Metz, where she helped the club soar. Under her guidance, Brooklyn FC kicked off their season with a bang, winning their debut match against Dallas Trinity FC 2-0! ⚡

Meanwhile, over in Pittsburgh, the Riveters are getting their game face on with the appointment of Scott Gibson as their first-ever head coach for the upcoming USL W League season. A long-time director at the Riverhounds Academy, Gibson is ready to pave the way for aspiring female players. "This is another step forward in the growth of women’s soccer in Pittsburgh," he stated.

With a proven track record of nurturing talent and connections to the local community, Gibson aims to create a team that will make Pittsburgh proud when they debut in May 2025.

USWNT NEWS

💵  Equal Pay Gone Awry

In a plot twist that would make a soap opera jealous, the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) has abandoned its equal pay structure for coaches, igniting a firestorm of debate in women’s soccer! Under the new management of Emma Hayes, the USWNT is soaring high after their Olympic gold victory, but the salary saga could put a damper on their success. 🌟

Hayes, who signed on for a hefty $1.6 million per year (equal to the previous men’s team head coach, Gregg Berhalter), now faces the stark reality that her successor, Mauricio Pochettino, will earn nearly six times that amount! 🤯 This shocking disparity raises eyebrows and questions about U.S. Soccer’s commitment to gender equality.

While the equal pay treaty signed in 2022 after a hard-fought battle by the players initially offered hope, it appears this new coaching pay structure is waving goodbye to that agreement. U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson attempted to address concerns during a podcast with former defender Alexi Lalas, but his evasive responses only fueled the fire. 🔥 “Historic investments” and “long-term success” were his buzzwords, but they didn’t quite hit the mark when it comes to fairness.

As the team prepares for upcoming challenges, one thing is clear: the USWNT’s fight for equality continues both on and off the field. Will they score a victory in salary equality next? Only time will tell! ⏳⚽

NWSL NEWS

🧤 Berger Extends to 2026

In a move that has fans cheering louder than a last-minute goal, NJ/NY Gotham FC has extended the contract of their star goalkeeper, Ann-Katrin Berger, through 2026! 🥳 The bronze medalist from the 2024 Olympics and Germany’s freshly minted Women’s Footballer of the Year has become an indomitable force on the field since joining the team in April.

With an impressive 82.6% save percentage and seven clean sheets this season, Berger is not just stopping shots; she’s stopping time with her incredible skills! Last week, she added another victory to her tally, hitting a club record with her 12th win of the season. Talk about a keeper! 🥅

Berger is thrilled about her future with Gotham: “I have really enjoyed my time here and I am very excited for the future with this club. This environment is truly special.” 🌟 And with her Olympic bronze medal in tow, it seems she’s ready to lead Gotham FC to even greater heights in their playoff run.

UPCOMING GAMES

UWCL GROUP STAGE

OCTOBER 8TH

Lyon v Galatasaray 12:45pm

Roma v Wolfsburg 12:45pm

Chelsea v Real Madrid 3pm

Celtic v Twente 3pm

OCTOBER 9TH

Bayern v Arsenal 12:45pm

Hammarby v St Pölten 12:45pm

Valerenga v Juventus 3pm

Man City v Barcelona 3pm

Check out the rest of the UWCL matches here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

FA WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP

OCTOBER 2ND

Birmingham City v Brighton 2pm

Leicester City v Bristol City 2pm

Man Utd v Liverpool 7am

OCTOBER 3RD

Sheffield Utd v Sunderland 2pm

Check out the rest of the matches here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

WSL

OCTOBER 5TH

Brighton v Aston Villa 7:30am

OCTOBER 6TH

Chelsea v Man Utd (POSTPONED)

Man City v West Ham 8am

Arsenal v Everton 9am

Tottenham v Liverpool 9:15am

Leicester City v Crystal Palace 10am

Check out more WSL matches here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

NWSL

OCTOBER 4TH

Dash v Red Stars 8pm

Reign v Angel City 10pm

OCTOBER 5TH

Courage Wave FC 7pm

Gotham v Bay FC 7:30pm

Racing v Current 7:30pm

Thorns v Royals 10pm

OCTOBER 6TH

Pride v Spirit 5pm

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

USL

OCTOBER 4TH

DC Power FC v Tampa Bay FC 7:30pm

OCTOBER 6TH

Lexington SC v Carolina Ascent FC 4pm

Fort Lauderdale FC v Brooklyn FC 7:30pm

Spokane Zephyr FC v Dallas Trinity FC 9pm

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Liga F

OCTOBER 4TH

Real Madrid v Valencia 1pm

OCTOBER 5TH

Athletic Club v Atl. Madrid 6am

Madrid CFF v Barcelona 10am

Levante v Sevilla 12pm

OCTOBER 6TH

Espanyol v Eibar 10am

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Serie A

OCTOBER 5TH

Fiorentina W v Como W 6:30am

Sampdoria W v Juventus 12pm

OCTOBER 6TH

Lazio W v Sassuolo 6:05am

Napoli W v AC Milan W 8:30am

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

UPCOMING GAMES

Bundesliga

OCTOBER 4TH

Wolfsburg v RB Leipzig 12:30pm

OCTOBER 5TH

Bayern Munich v Koln 8am

OCTOBER 6TH

SGS Essen W v Eintracht Frankfurt W 8am

OCTOBER 7TH

Bayer Leverkusen v Jena W 12pm

Check out the rest of the fixtures here.

ALL TIMES ARE EST

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