Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson are icons in the women’s soccer world, not just for their accomplishments on the pitch but for the way they’re openly gay in a world that isn’t always accepting of LGBTQ+ people. But even they have heroes, and this week they spoke with one of their role models, USWNT star Megan Rapinoe.
It's easy to criticize American soccer, but in doing so, we can't embrace the unique stage of development the game is going through right now.
Soccer in the states has only gotten consistent traction in the last few decades, and there are very few professional sports leagues across the world that are actively expanding — none are doing so at the rate of American soccer.
This leads to the constant restructuring of leagues and teams moving between divisions — both of which are further complicated by the lack of promotion and relegation within our footballing pyramid.
Editor’s Note: See update at bottom.
The Orlando Pride are, by their very name, a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community. Many of the Pride’s most prominent players have been gay, and Exploria Stadium includes 49 rainbow-colored seats as a memorial to the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub mass shooting. But apparently, the word “gay” is too political for the team.
Angel City and San Diego Wave drew 1-1 Saturday night as both teams made their debut in the NWSL Challenge Cup. The star power was on display for both sides with massive names like Christen Press, Alex Morgan, Abby Dahlkemper and Sofia Jakobsson all featuring at Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.
March Madness is finally here. No, not that silly basketball tournament that once again left your school out (what, just me?). I’m talking real madness: The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup. If it’s anything like the start of last year’s edition, you won’t want to miss a minute.
The National Women's Soccer League named former National Lacrosse League and National Hockey League executive Jessica Berman its new commissioner on Wednesday.
Berman assumes the role for a four-year term beginning April 20, taking over from interim CEO Marla Messing.
A new era is set to begin ✨
Hope Solo had some choice words for Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe on Wednesday. The former U.S. goalkeeper used a Twitter thread to blast the USWNT players for Tuesday’s landmark settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation, saying it was “an easy out of a fight they were never really in.” It highlighted the divide in opinion over whether the settlement was good or bad for women’s soccer in the U.S.
The USWNT bounced back from a poor performance against the Czech Republic by crushing New Zealand 5-0 on Sunday. It helped to have Football Ferns defender Meikayla Moore score a perfect hat trick of own goals, but the Americans were far more adventurous on offense, creating better scoring opportunities than in the stunning 0-0 draw a few days earlier.
The women’s soccer world anxiously awaits the outcome of a much-needed investigation into widespread abuse of players in the National Women’s Soccer League.
USWNT stars have demanded answers. On Thursday, they got some, but they probably won’t appease immediate concerns over systemic abuse in women’s soccer.