USWNT

The Best FIFA Football Awards were unveiled on Thursday, which means it was once again time for soccer’s world governing body to highlight just how little it knows about women’s soccer. Even Megan Rapinoe questioned her own inclusion in the award ceremony.

Game week 9 of the FA Women’s Super League came to a close on Sunday, and it was a massive weekend for USWNT stars in the division as Tobin Heath helped Manchester United stay top, Alex Morgan converted from the spot for Tottenham and Sam Mewis scored in Manchester City’s massive clash with Arsenal.

Man United remains undefeated after a 2-1 victory over Reading. Heath went the full 90 and delivered the corner in the 83rd minute that was eventually turned home by Hayley Ladd for the win. 

Chelsea stayed within striking distance of Manchester United and Arsenal at the top of the FA WSL table after defeating West Ham 3-2 on Sunday at Kingsmeadow. Sam Kerr did the business with her first-ever hat trick for the Blues as the club set a league record for most consecutive home wins with 12.

Fans returned to Chelsea’s home ground for the first time this season and were on their feet in the 15th minute after Kerr’s sliding finish from Fran Kirby’s low cross. 

FIFA is slowly being dragged into the 21st century. On Friday, soccer’s global governing body approved increased protection for female players and coaches by establishing minimum standards for employment, including guaranteed paid maternity leave.

FIFA’s only a few decades late in catching up to the rest of the world on this matter, but at least it plans to do far more than the U.S. government.

The U.S. women's national team and U.S. Soccer Federation reached a settlement in their long-running lawsuit over working conditions on Tuesday.

The parties filed in court a proposed settlement in which U.S. Soccer agreed to implement various policies regarding working conditions for the women's team related to hotel accommodation, staffing, venues and travel.

Sam Mewis is a familiar face among the USWNT squad and has been a solid midfielder for the World Cup champions. Her sister Kristie, on the other hand, had not made an appearance for the USWNT since 2014.

However, after suffering an ACL injury and returning back to the NWSL stronger and more confident, Kristie earned herself an NWSL Challenge Cup with Houston and a roster spot on the USWNT as they faced the Netherlands. After a six-year hiatus, USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski decided two Mewis’ were better than one. He was definitely right!

Younger generations are making their mark on the footballing world, and Sophia Smith is one of many that have the proven ability to make everyone around them feel old.

Smith graduated early from Stanford University after winning an NCAA Championship to pursue her dream of playing professionally in the NWSL. After being the No. 1 overall 2020 NWSL College Draft pick and scoring her first professional goal in her debut with the Portland Thorns, Smith has shown she's capable of playing at any level.

Rose Lavelle and Kristie Mewis scored when the U.S. women's national team played for the first time since March in a 2-0 win against the Netherlands 2-0 at Rat Verlegh Stadium in Breda, Netherlands, on Friday.

Lavelle made it 1-0 in the 41st minute and Mewis, who replaced Lavelle in the 61st minute, extended the lead in the 70th.

We wear Black Lives Matter to affirm human decency. This is not political, it’s a statement on human rights. pic.twitter.com/QHDAx4iv7k

FIFA is to introduce new regulations to protect the rights of women players, including mandatory maternity leave, world soccer's governing body said on Thursday.

The reforms have been put forward by FIFA's Football Stakeholders Committee (FSC) and will go to FIFA's Council next month for approval.

While many players in Europe are already protected by employment law in their given countries, FIFA says its aim is to create "new global minimum standards" for female players all over the world, given the rapid emergence of new clubs and leagues globally.