NWSL

Younger generations are making their mark on the footballing world, and Sophia Smith is one of many that have the proven ability to make everyone around them feel old.

Smith graduated early from Stanford University after winning an NCAA Championship to pursue her dream of playing professionally in the NWSL. After being the No. 1 overall 2020 NWSL College Draft pick and scoring her first professional goal in her debut with the Portland Thorns, Smith has shown she's capable of playing at any level.

We’re still well over a year away from even seeing Angel City take the pitch, but the NWSL club might already be the most popular team in the league. Now we know where they’ll be playing their games and who will be footing some of the tab.

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) will bring back the Challenge Cup before moving forward with a 24-game regular season beginning in May next year, the league said on Wednesday.

Players will report to camp on Feb. 1 for the month-long Challenge Cup, which was introduced in June as the NWSL became the first major North American league to return to action amid the coronavirus outbreak, held in a quarantined setting in suburban Salt Lake City, Utah.

Looking forward to 2021 

      

The Houston Dash of the NWSL and Dynamo of MLS took a massive step in their club’s history on Tuesday with a rebrand featuring new logos. The new Houston Dynamo logo has strayed far away from the original badge the club donned in its inaugural 2006 season. The Dash logo took a similar approach as well.

We grind. We shine. We are Houston.

H-Town #HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/M2Jm2GUXsn

Racing Louisville FC grabbed two U.S. Women's World Cup champions in the National Women's Soccer League expansion draft Thursday, selecting midfielder Tobin Heath and forward Christen Press with their final two picks.

The Louisville squad is set to become the NWSL's 10th team when it kicks off play in 2021.

The rights to Heath were selected from the Portland Thorns, and the rights to Press were obtained from the Utah Royals. However, it is unclear when or if either of the stars might play for Racing Louisville.

On Friday, USA TODAY Sports revealed that sporting power couple Julie (USWNT, Chicago Red Stars) and Zach Ertz (Philadelphia Eagles) had pledged to provide 2,500 meals to local food banks for every touchdown scored over the Eagles next three home games at Lincoln Financial Field.

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.