USWNT

If Thursday's USWNT vs. Portugal friendly was just an adventure in playing without Julie Ertz, it wasn’t the most pleasant trip. Defensively, Lindsey Horan did a great job of protecting the back four with Alyssa Naeher recording only one save. 

But it was all sluggish going forward in Houston with the temp reading 86° and 69% humidity. The front three of Alex Morgan, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe failed to largely trouble Inês Pereira, while Rose Lavelle wasn’t able to make her mark over 90 minutes.

As much as people love to hate on 2020 for being a crappy year, the sad truth is that as the calendar turns to 2021, our problems won’t magically go away. It’ll be many months — years even — until the Covid-19 vaccine can be fully administered to the global population. Most of the world’s governments are still doing everything in their power to ignore climate change. And let’s not forget police officers are still shooting unarmed Black men with near impunity. But one thing the change in year will bring about is more games on the 2021 USWNT schedule.

Vlatko Andonovski is trying to form an unstoppable USWNT squad and several young players have clearly been on his radar. While many of these youngsters have worked their way into the senior squad, they've bumped off some familiar faces in the process. Competition at the national team level is fierce and the best of the best will earn their spot, but for those that have not made the cut they must now work their way back under immense pressure.

Hopefully USWNT fans haven't forgotten about a few of these players that've not been consistent additions to Andonovski’s roster. 

It was a massive Sunday for USWNT players abroad as Alana Cook’s PSG hosted Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal showdown, while over in England Christen Press’s Manchester United continued its push for a place in next season’s tournament by welcoming Tottenham.

After knocking out eternal rival Lyon in the quarterfinals, PSG was sent crashing back down to Earth in the 13th minute after Jennifer Hermoso opened the scoring for Barça. 

After a year deferred, it’s time to get excited about Tokyo with the Olympic soccer draw completed on Wednesday morning via a live stream on FIFA’s YouTube channel.

After crushing all challengers at the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament with five wins, 25 goals scored and zero conceded, things get serious in Tokyo with the USWNT scheduled to open play against 5th-ranked Sweden on Wednesday, July 21.  

While the soccer world was turned upside down early this week with the announcement of the European Super League — and its impending demise — the non-soccer world has been glued to the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who was filmed murdering George Floyd, a Black man, in broad daylight last year.

Paris Saint-Germain ended Lyon’s five-year reign as European champions as they progressed to the women's Champions League semifinals on away goals after securing a 2-1 win on Sunday.

Leading 1-0 from the first leg in Paris, Lyon doubled their advantage inside four minutes when Catarina Macario found the net from close range, before PSG midfielder Grace Geyoro equalized in the 25th minute.

Macario goal, Cascarino assist pic.twitter.com/odmoTqUY0O

Tobin Heath’s season at Manchester United is over, manager Casey Stoney confirmed on Friday, a disappointing end after a second Tobin Heath injury for the USWNT winger. 

Heath had four goals and two assists in eight matches with United since joining (along with Christen Press) in September. She hasn’t played since Dec. 20, a two-goal performance against Bristol City.