USWNT

The USWNT’s friendly against Australia on Saturday (well, Friday in certain parts of the States), was in many ways a changing of the guard. Lindsey Horan took over the vaunted No. 10 jersey from Carli Lloyd. Alana Cook and Tierna Davidson started together at center back. And Casey Murphy looked like a star in the making between the sticks.

Murphy made eight saves in her first career U.S. start, helping the USWNT blank the Matildas 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Sydney, Australia. 

Back when allegations first arose against former NWSL coach Paul Riley’s sexual coercion and verbal abuse, I made a timeline of all the women’s soccer coaches and staff in America who had been fired, resigned or were otherwise accused of some sort of abuse. Even then I said there were probably more cases out there that hadn’t been reported upon yet. Sadly, it looks like I was right. 

The U.S. Soccer Federation said on Wednesday it reached a long-term deal with Nike to extend their apparel partnership along with a focus on elevating the profile of the women's game globally and promoting inclusivity.

Terms of the deal, which U.S. Soccer said is the largest commercial agreement in the history of the national governing body, were not disclosed but multiple media reports said it was a 10-year agreement.

Mal Pugh and her Chicago Red Stars are preparing for a trip to the NWSL postseason. But the 23-year-old American winger took a slight detour ahead of her quarterfinal showdown against Carli Lloyd and Gotham FC on Sunday in Chicago. Pugh was in Houston on Tuesday, watching her boyfriend win the World Series.

Carli Lloyd’s career on the field has already been badass enough. She had one last trick up her sleeve during Tuesday night’s 6-0 thumping of South Korea when she revealed she had played the game (or at least 20 minutes of the second half) with two jerseys on. When her curtain call came, she took off her Lloyd jersey to reveal a Hollins jersey.

Lloyd has been married to her husband, Brian Hollins, since 2016. Hollins and Lloyd have been together since high school and officially tied the knot five years ago. Here was the special moment when Lloyd revealed the second jersey.

What’s the appropriate way to send off a player who has reached heights few before her have achieved? As Carli Lloyd prepares for her final USWNT match, everyone from her male and female U.S. Soccer counterparts to Tom Brady has weighed in on the legendary player. But is it too much? Some people certainly think so, given her uncomfortable, often undiscussed stances on certain off-the-field issues.