U.S. Soccer teamed up with the You Can Play Project to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month in early June's international friendlies. The You Can Play Project is centered on securing equality, respect and safety for all athletes, coaches and fans of any sexual orientation or gender identity.
Week eight in the NWSL saw the North Carolina Courage continue their run at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over FC Kansas City. The Washington Spirit won the table’s toilet bowl against Houston 2-0, lifting them into ninth place. On Sunday, the Seattle Reign couldn’t break down the Chicago Red Stars, who held on for a 1-0 victory and their third straight win.
On Thursday Olympique Lyonnais topped Paris Saint-Germain in the Women’s UEFA Champions League final. Lyon took home the trophy after eight rounds of penalty kicks, topping PSG 7-6. The win gave Lyon their second straight treble and saw them tie the record of most Champions League titles at four.
USWNT superstar striker Alex Morgan started up top for OL after putting in a wonderful debut season with the club. And, while she will gladly take the UEFA title in her first attempt, her night was marred by an injury in the 23rd minute.
Last week’s NWSL results shortened the gap among the top six teams. The Courage still lead the league, but 6th place FC Kansas City is only four points back. The statement result from week seven was Chicago’s 3-2 victory over the NC Courage. The Red Stars have now won three of their last four and are up into second place in the table.
Meanwhile, the Washington Spirit continue to languish at the bottom of the table, after having made the 2016 NWSL Final. They’ve lost their last three games, and take on fellow bottom table side Houston Dash on Saturday.
It required extra time — and ultimately extra penalties – to break the stalemate between Lyon and PSG and determine the champion of women's soccer in Europe.
After two hours without a goal and a 6-6 deadlock in penalties, each keeper took her turn from the spot. PSG goalie Katarzyna Kiedrzynek pushed a shot wide left, opening the door for her counterpart to seal the victory. Lyon's Sarah Bouhaddi stepped up and drilled her penalty to give Lyon its fourth UCL title in the past seven seasons.
The massively experienced Bibiana Steinhaus, who will officiate this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League final, has been promoted to refereeing the Bundesliga after six seasons in the second division. Steinhaus will become the first female referee in the history of the Bundesliga when she officiates a match next season.
FIFA have made it known they plan on including more women in leadership roles and championing the women's game around the world.
This is how they are doing that:
Just asked Mahfuza Kiron who women's world champs are. 1st she said NKorea. I clarifiedworld, she said Japan then mumbled USA. 1/2
— Mani Djazmi (@BBC_Mani) May 8, 2017
Carli Lloyd’s Champions League ambitions may soon be at an end after Alex Morgan’s Lyon defeated Manchester City 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal. City will now need to travel to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on April 29 to overturn the large deficit.
City and Lloyd got off to the worst possible start in the opening minutes. An attempted Lyon cross was blocked in the box by Lloyd’s elbow, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
Sydney Leroux made her first competitive appearance since June 30, 2015, and she opened the scoring for FC Kansas City against Boston. Leroux and husband Dom Dwyer, who plays for Sporting Kansas City, announced that they were expecting their first child back in January of 2016 and that Leroux would miss the 2016 NWSL as a result.
Cassius Cruz Dwyer was born on September 10, 2016, and Leroux made her highly anticipated FC Kansas City debut on Saturday and provided a great finish after a sensational pass from Becky Sauerbrunn.
Marta, the five-time FIFA World Player of the Year, has joined the Orlando Pride on a two-year contract with an option for a third year. With the possibility of Alex Morgan’s short-term loan deal at Lyon running through June (Lyon will have to navigate a Champions League semifinal against Carli Lloyd’s Manchester City to make that a reality) the Orlando Pride have moved quickly to add more star power.
Home