Women's National Teams

The United States women’s national team is preparing for two January friendlies in New Zealand against the Football Ferns. USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski released the 24-player roster for the friendlies on Thursday and some fans were surprised to not see star player Mallory Pugh on the list.

What those fans didn’t realize was that a Mal Pugh name change had taken place since the last time the U.S. played. In December the Chicago Red Stars forward married Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson.

Tame would be an understatement when discussing the "One Love" campaign. A message that hopes to unite everyone, "One Love" promotes diversity of thought and acceptance, especially with regard to sexual orientation. Regardless, FIFA felt the need to threaten players with “sporting sanctions” if they were to make a statement on the world stage. While many European nations opted to abandon their message of inclusion, Alex Scott remained undeterred.

Staring at an unprecedented fourth straight defeat after Jule Brand had given Germany an early lead at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Sunday night, the USWNT's misfiring forwards sprang to life in the second half with two goals in a two-minute span to get the squad back on track.

Sitting on USWNT Zoom media calls before Thursday night's friendly against Germany in Fort Lauderdale, the answer to every question was some iteration of how the squad would rebound from back-to-back October defeats to England and Spain.

The idea of the U.S. not putting things right wasn't entertained. Lessons had been learned, Alex Morgan was returning and statements would be made.

The USWNT is looking to make a statement after losing consecutive matches for the first time in five years.

Alex Morgan is back on the U.S. Women's National Team roster with a chance to reach 200 caps for her stellar career.

Coach Vlatko Andonovski announced the 24-team roster on Monday for two upcoming friendlies against Germany with Morgan listed as one of the team's seven forwards.

After failing to advance beyond the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage last season, Chelsea made it two wins from two to start the 2022-23 campaign by hammering Albania's Vllaznia 8-0 at Kingsmeadow on Wednesday night.

With Real Madrid and PSG drawing 0-0 in the day's other match from Group A, Chelsea went top with six points followed by Real with four, PSG with one and Vllaznia on zero.

Chelsea's Woman of the Match was striker Sam Kerr with a four-goal haul. Pernille Harder also recorded a hat-trick and Kateřina Svitková got one for the Blues.

The draw made next summer's tournament in Australia and New Zealand come into focus, but we can really start to anticipate the event with FIFA now revealing the 2023 Women's World Cup kick off times. 

AUCKLAND - Four-times winners the United States will face the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2019 Women's World Cup Final after being drawn with the European side, debutants Vietnam and a playoff winner at Saturday's draw in Auckland for next year's showpiece.

European champions England will also take on a playoff winner, Denmark and China in Group D, while 2003 and 2007 World Cup winners Germany will play Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in Group H at the July 20-Aug. 20 tournament next year.