Women's Soccer

76,893 fans packed into Wembley Stadium on Friday to watch England defeat the United States women’s national team 2-1 in a wildly entertaining friendly. The game had a bit of everything including two controversial VAR decisions that went against the U.S.

The game got off to a brutal start for the USWNT when Alana Cook had a nightmare at the back. In the ninth minute a dangerous but clearable cross from Beth Mead came into the box and Cook failed to get it clear. Lauren Hemp jumped on the failed clearance and tucked in the game’s opener

United States women’s national team fans watching Friday’s friendly might be asking, “why is Alex Morgan not playing vs England?”

Morgan is among several big-name players for the U.S. that will miss the massive game between the defending World Cup champions and the Euro 2022 winners.

England and the United States will come together to show their support for the victims of the abuse scandal that has rocked the U.S. National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) when the countries meet in a friendly on Friday, Lionesses forward Beth Mead said.

An independent investigation this week showed abuse and misconduct "had become systemic" in the American top-flight and that the league, teams and governing body U.S. Soccer failed to adequately protect players.

The women’s soccer head coach of the University of Texas Permian Basin, Carla Tejas, is on paid administrative leave while an investigation goes on after an anonymous group of players sent out an email full of accusations. Some of the allegations against the UTPB soccer coach include her asking players to pay her bail, kissing members of the men’s soccer team, encouraging her players to injure opponents and more.

Tejas, 28, ironically has featured on a podcast about building team culture.

S E A S O N 3!

NEW YORK - United States women's coach Vlatko Andonovski is hoping a sold-out Wembley Stadium will create an atmosphere to give his team a real test in an October friendly against England, with the World Cup less than a year away.

NEW YORK — An independent NWSL abuse investigation released on Monday showed misconduct "had become systemic" in the top-flight National Women's Soccer League and the governing body U.S. Soccer said it would move immediately to implement reforms.

MADRID — Spain women's coach Jorge Vilda on Friday left out of his squad the 15 players who have reportedly told the Spanish FA (RFEF) they would quit international duty while he is in charge.

According to sources close to the situation, the players are unhappy with the management of injuries, the atmosphere in the locker room, Vilda's team selection and training sessions.

Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi will become the first female official to take charge of a Serie A match when Sassuolo host Salernitana on Sunday, the Italian Referees' Association (AIA) said.

Ferrieri Caputi became the first woman to officiate a top-level Italian match last year when Cagliari played Cittadella in the Coppa Italia. She joined Serie A's officiating team in July.

"This is a historic moment," AIA president Alfredo Trentalange told a news conference on Wednesday.