NWSL

An honor at a Washington Nationals game proved costly for standout Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune.

The U.S. national team player was placed on the season-ending injury list on Wednesday after sustaining a torn meniscus away from training last week, the team announced.

Spirit coach Jonatan Giraldez filled in the rest of the story: Bethune was injured while throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Nationals game.

Croix Bethune first pitch injury

Donovan had some interesting things to say about U.S. Soccer.

U.S. men’s national team legend, Landon Donovan, was invited as a guest on Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast, with the former U.S. goalscorer giving some pretty interesting takes on the state of the men’s national team, the possibility of coaching the United States, what we can expect from the extraofficial appointment of Mauricio Pochettino and the brewing problem of the USMNT — youth soccer.

The National Women's Soccer League and the NWSL Players Association have agreed to a collective bargaining agreement that will eliminate the draft, guarantee contracts and grant unrestricted free agency to all players.

The deal runs through the 2030 season and already has been ratified by the players. It replaces the previous CBA that was set to expire in 2026.

New NWSL CBA details

New Zealand captain Ali Riley has revealed her soccer career may be over due to the nerve injury that ruled her out of the Paris Olympics.

The 36-year-old defender was withdrawn from selection on the eve of the Football Ferns' opening match against Canada at the Games.

"Even now, when I don't know if I'll ever be able to play soccer again, that's the reality of the injury I have now," Riley told a Q&A session at an event promoting girls in sport in Los Angeles.

Kelley O’Hara made her grand return to the pitch Sunday night for Gotham FC after missing the previous five months battling a knee injury. The home crowd gave the 36-year-old United States women’s national team icon a roaring ovation when she entered the game in the 85th minute during a friendly against Chelsea.

O’Hara is playing in her final NWSL season as she’s announced she will retire at the end of the year. Her last season with Gotham FC hasn’t been a dream final chapter of her career as she’s been sidelined since March.

Thursday night was special for Angel City FC as they welcomed back United States women’s national team icon Christen Press for the first time in two years.

An ACL injury and four surgeries have kept Press off the field since the knee injury she sustained during a game in June 2022. 

Press’ cameo on Thursday was brief as she came on in the 88th minute, but it didn’t take anything away from the emotional and amazing return of a USWNT great.

Christen Press returns

San Diego Wave FC President Jill Ellis filed a defamation suit on Monday against a former team employee who accused Ellis on social media of creating a harsh work environment.

Brittany Alvarado, previously a video and creative manager for the Wave, wrote in a July 3 social media post that the treatment she and her co-workers endured under Ellis "has been nothing short of life-altering and devastating to our mental health."

Thirteen-year-old McKenna Whitham signed a professional contract with the NJ/NY Gotham FC on Friday, making her the youngest player in NWSL history.

Whitham, who turns 14 on Saturday, reportedly signed a guaranteed contract that becomes effective Jan. 1, 2025, and runs through 2028. She also signed a signed a national team replacement player contract, which makes her available to play in upcoming NWSL x Liga MX Summer Cup matches.

Gotham FC sign McKenna Whitham

Smith is not looking to slow down, continuing to extend her amazing goalscoring season with Portland.

Watch: Sophia Smith amazing goal vs. Kansas City Current

U.S. women’s national team star Sophia Smith scored an amazing goal to add onto her Golden Boot-chasing season with NWSL club Portland Thorns, scoring the only goal in her club’s 4-1 home defeat to the Kansas City Current on Sunday.