In terms of all-around talent, I’m not sure there’s a better player in the world than Crystal Dunn. A world-class striker, she’s also proven to be a stellar fullback and midfielder — wherever she’s asked to play she’s one of the best at that position.
So it’s stunning to see one of the world’s best footballers traded around the NWSL for what amounts to a pittance compared to the value of this superstar.
Angel City FC has officially joined the NWSL.
Welcome to the party, @weareangelcity
Get the details on the #NWSL's newest addition below— NWSL (@NWSL) October 21, 2020
Seattle Storm's Sue Bird believes women's soccer players in the United States are more widely supported than their counterparts in the WNBA because of the public perception of them as "cute little white girls."
Point guard Bird, who won her fourth WNBA title this month, said in an interview with CNN that elite basketball players were more quickly judged by people based on their appearance.
CeCe Kizer is, like many Americans in the NWSL, playing in Europe this fall as the U.S. fails to contain Covid-19. The Houston Dash midfielder didn’t go on loan to a well-known club in England like Tobin Heath and Christen Press (Manchester United), Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis (Man City) and Alex Morgan (Tottenham). Instead she found herself a club to get some playing time while the NWSL plays a mostly meaningless Fall Series back home.
After an exciting weekend of NWSL matches with plenty of goals and quality plays, the games continue on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10:00 p.m. EST with the Portland Thorns welcoming OL Reign to Providence Park.
The Thorns are coming off their first match — and win — of the Fall Series after defeating the Utah Royals 3-0 on Sunday, Sept. 20. Simone Charley, Lindsey Horan and Sophia Smith all tallied goals. Smith debuted for Portland, scored her first professional goal and truly showed why she was the No. 1 draft pick in 2020.
Rookie defender Madison Hammond collected a bunch of firsts after her OL Reign faced off against the Utah Royals in their Fall Series debut.
Hammond, a graduate of Wake Forest University, made her first appearance for the Reign during the match and became the first Native American to play in the NWSL. (Hammond is Navajo.)
Richie Laryea and Sophie Schmidt made history by becoming the first Canadians ever to simultaneously win MLS and NWSL Player of the Week honors. Laryea was named MLS Player of the Week after he tallied one goal and two assists for Toronto FC. Houston Dash midfielder Schmidt scored, had an assist and played a crucial role in the Dash’s third goal to defeat Orlando Pride, earning herself Budweiser Woman of the Week.
Both of the Canadians showed off their composure and creative abilities, and they are both, without a doubt, representing their nation one accolade at a time.