When the NWSL players and league agreed to a landmark first-ever Collective Bargaining Agreement in February, most of the focus was on guaranteeing players a living wage, and for good reason. But among the other benefits NWSL players carved out for themselves was a mandatory seven-day break in the middle of the season — an NWSL summer vacation.
Alex Morgan is done sipping tea. She’s moved on to adult beverages. And she’s recreating all the summer’s best trophy celebrations while she’s at it.
It seems to happen every time the U.S. women’s national team plays in a major tournament. Fans flock to stores online and in person seeking USWNT merch. Almost without fail, Nike, the U.S. Soccer Federation and other outlets quickly run out of stock, never learning from past mistakes to properly prepare for spikes in demand.
No more.
The USWNT Players Association launched its own line of USWNT merch on Thursday, taking full advantage of bargaining for their name, image and likeness rights in 2017.
Megan Rapinoe became the first soccer player to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Joe Biden bestowing the highest civilian award in the country on the USWNT star on Thursday at the White House. Biden also explained why Rapinoe was given Presidential Medal Of Freedom honors.
On Tuesday, June 28, the U.S. women’s national team hosted Colombia in a friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. It might be the last time the USWNT plays a match in a state like Utah.
Final prep for World Cup Qualifying.
USA vs Colombia
10 PM ETRio Tinto Stadium
@ESPN— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 28, 2022
San Diego Wave midfielder Taylor Kornieck had an unforgettable night on Saturday when made her USWNT debut and netted her first goal. The 23-year-old got on the end of a Megan Rapinoe free kick in the 90th minute and flicked it off her head to the far post to make it 3-0.
The USWNT plays Colombia in a friendly on Saturday and spoke to the media Friday ahead of the game. Originally only head coach Vlatko Andonovski and Lindsey Horan were supposed to be interviewed, but Megan Rapinoe took center stage. The Megan Rapinoe Roe v Wade speech to the media on Friday was emotional.
Across the United States, trans inclusion in sports has been a major topic of discussion. As of May 2022, 18 states had either enacted laws or issued rules limiting or outright banning transgender athletes from participating in youth sports such as soccer. Even if you hate her politics, you might actually agree with how Megan Rapinoe feels about transgender athletes.
Jordyn Huitema joined OL Reign on Saturday, joining USWNT stars Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle.
to Seattle, @JordynHuitema! #BoldTogether pic.twitter.com/5smnCxTm88
— OL Reign (@OLReign) June 18, 2022
For all her talk off the field, Megan Rapinoe usually lets her play do the talking on the pitch. Except on Saturday night during NWSL After Dark. The OL Reign beat Angel City 1-0 at Lumen Field, but not before the first Megan Rapinoe red card of her career.