USA

The Seattle Sounders face Los Angeles FC for the first time since knocking them out of last year's playoffs when they meet in the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16 on Monday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.

After winning the 2019 Supporters' Shield by earning the most points in MLS history, LAFC were eliminated from the postseason in a 3-1 defeat to eventual MLS Cup champions Seattle in the Western Conference final.

The Houston Dash claimed the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup by defeating the Chicago Red Stars 2-0 in Sunday’s final at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. 

Kristie Mewis earned a penalty for Houston in the fourth-minute and veteran Canadian midfielder Sophie Schmidt sent Alyssa Naeher the wrong way for the game’s opening goal before Shea Groom added the second in second half stoppage time. 

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Challenge Cup final kicks off on Sunday between the upstart Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars a month after the league returned from the COVID-19 hiatus, the first in North America to do so.

A year since the U.S. national team won a fourth World Cup, Commissioner Lisa Baird said the goal was simple — to build on the momentum for the women's sport on a tight timeline and show live sport can happen in the novel coronavirus era.

Atlanta United’s first three seasons set a new standard for an expansion team in MLS. So finishing as the worst team in the MLS Is Back Tournament in Orlando over the last month was clearly not good enough. Atlanta United coach Frank de Boer and the club “mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately” on Friday, putting an end to a tumultuous 18 months in charge.

Atlanta United, Frank de Boer mutually agree to part ways.https://t.co/NYkeoA4kjk

The moment we have all been waiting for over the past month is here: the NWSL Challenge Cup final. These extraordinary females have put their bodies through hell between a rushed preseason, playing four-to-six games with minimal recovery and playing in the Utah heat on turf.

The NWSL Challenge Cup is coming to a close with the final set between the Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars on Sunday, July 26 at 12:30 p.m. EST, which raises the question: What next for NWSL players?

The NWSL board is in discussion as to whether or not more games will be added to the 2020 season.

June 3, 2020: Megan Rapinoe is sitting out the NWSL Challenge Cup? That’s OK, that’ll give rising stars a chance to shine!

July 22, 2020: I would sell my soul to see Rapinoe cross the ball.

When is the next USWNT game? Good question. Women’s soccer is undoubtedly on the rise (psst, the NWSL just shattered viewing records), and new fans are streaming in on the daily. If you aren't supporting these wonderful ladies yet then you're just plain wrong. 

Before this year, the Houston Dash had never made it into the NWSL playoffs. Thanks to the Orlando Pride pulling out of the 2020 campaign, that kinda changed as all eight clubs reached the knockout stage of the NWSL Challenge Cup. Now they have a chance to win a league title.