The U.S. Soccer Federation said on Wednesday it was shutting down its youth development academy permanently due to the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Soccer, the sport's governing body in the United States, said in a statement the decision to shutter the academy, which it founded in 2007 and included competitions across five age groups, was effective immediately.
Many female footballers are at risk of losing their livelihoods due to the global soccer shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a report by global players' union FIFPRO said on Thursday.
The report said specific measures were needed to help women's football during the crisis, which has brought world sport to a standstill and caused the postponement of major international events including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Otherwise, it said, the women's game could be facing an existential threat.
The Orlando Pride made the best of being quarantined by having fun with a 70’s themed Zoom workout this week.
The Pride’s strength and conditioning coach, Ivi Casagrande, led the team in a fun workout with some guest appearances from pets, family members and some 70’s workout attire (Marta’s attire was my favorite hands down). No better way to workout than with your teammates and have some fun.
Donald Trump’s feud with women’s soccer players continued on Saturday as he spoke with the commissioners of every major sports league in the U.S. with one exception: the NWSL.
To no one’s surprise, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and PGA commissioners were all invited. Somewhat surprisingly, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, LPGA’s Michael Whan and MLS’s Don Garber also got invites. Also included were UFC and NASCAR, which probably speak to Trump’s base, and WWE, which is more akin to Broadway than sport.
But no National Women’s Soccer League.
These days, Alexi Lalas is known for his outlandishly stupid hot takes. But like most American soccer broadcasters on TV, Lalas had quite the playing career back in the day, including a stint in Serie A and two World Cups.
Aside from play-by-play men and women like John Strong and JP Dellacamera and studio hosts like Rob Stone and Max Bretos, most American soccer broadcasters were experienced players before they joined the world of television.
Alex Morgan is having a baby.
The global women’s soccer icon posted a baby announcement on social media on Oct. 23, confirming the two-time Women’s World Cup winner is pregnant and expecting to give birth in April. Morgan is married to former LA Galaxy midfielder Servando Carrasco.
According to the announcement post, the Carrascos are expecting a baby girl. This is the couple’s first child.
When North American sports leagues return to action after the coronavirus crisis, questions are sure to linger over whether the fans will be willing, or have the resources, to pack stadiums as they once did, sports analysts have said.
The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal aired again on March 28 so we could relive the excitement of the USWNT’s run. Becky Sauerbrunn joined in on @FoxSoccer to answer questions on Twitter, and she did not hold anything back about her teammates. Here are some of my faves:
12/10. As Sam told me after the tournament, "I felt like crying before every game." https://t.co/pJPfAw97MN
Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris are making the most of staying inside during quarantine without any soccer. Krieger overestimated her goalkeeper abilities as she attempted Harris’ hand-eye coordination training. After Krieger’s attempt, she credited goalkeepers and admitted it was not easy whatsoever.
Whereas her partner Harris effortlessly caught every single ping pong ball, Krieger, despite being very concentrated, well, she did the best she could. This is the kind of entertaining content the world needs.
Julie Ertz might just be the most dominant player in soccer right now — and the most magnanimous.
The two-time Women’s World Cup winner teamed up with her husband to donate $100,000 to Philabundance, a Philadelphia-area food bank, to provide meals to those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ertz and her husband, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, announced the donation on Friday evening through their Ertz Family Foundation.